DeSantis Signs Tax Package With Sales Tax Holidays, Insurance Cuts
May 8, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed multiple tax holidays into law, which he says will provide $1.07 billion in tax relief for Floridians this year.
The tax package will help homeowners by providing a one-year exemption on taxes on residential property and flood insurance premiums. This is in addition to the $200 million that was signed last month for the My Safe Florida Home Program, bringing the total investment to the program to over $600 million since 2022. Since the governor signed reforms in 2022 and 2023, eight new companies have joined the homeowners insurance market in Florida. The success of these reforms is becoming increasingly clear in rate filings for insurers. In fact, 10 companies have filed a zero percent increase and 10 more have filed a rate decrease to take effect in 2024.
Additionally, this year’s tax cut package is a continuation of our annual tax holidays. These tax holidays include:
- Two Disaster Preparedness Holidays; June 1—14 and August 24—September 6, families can prepare for hurricane season with items like tarps, batteries, and flashlights, sales tax free.
- The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 29—August 11, families can save on pens, pencils, computers, clothing, and other school supplies.
- The Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday: September 1—7, Floridians can save on power tools, hand tools, toolboxes, and other items.
- The Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday: July 1—31, Florida families can purchase summer items like pool floats, fishing supplies, and outdoor equipment, in addition to admissions to museums and state parks, sales tax free.
More information is in the graphic below.
Among other savings, the tax relief package also includes a sales tax credit for businesses that employ persons with disabilities. Additionally, the bill increases the cap for the Strong Families Tax Credit Program from $20 million to $40 million, which supports organizations focused on child welfare.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Foiled By Strong Pitching In Series Opener Against Barons
May 8, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
No team so far has been able to fully crack Birmingham Barons pitcher Drew Thorpe.
The Blue Wahoos were unable to do so, either.
Thorpe, rated the No. 3 prospect in the Chicago White Sox minor league system and ranked among the game’s top overall prospects, showed his command and calm Tuesday in his sixth start as the visiting Barons produced a 2-0 victory against the Blue Wahoos in a series-opening clash of the league’s two division leaders.
Thorpe (5-1) lowered his earned run average to 1.01 after allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out five in 5.2 innings. He was the New York Yankees’ second-round pick in 2022 after an All-American season at Cal-Poly where he set a school record with 149 strikeouts in a season.
He’s played a big role in the Barons’ (20-7) dominating first month of the schedule, which is by far the best record in the Southern League. The Blue Wahoos (15-13) entered with four wins in six road games last week against the Mississippi Braves.
A crowd of 3,682 at Blue Wahoos Stadium – the largest Tuesday crowd so far this season – again included a wide array of various dog breeds on Doggone Tuesday where people are allowed to bring their pups to the park.
The fans saw strong pitching and defense on both sides.
Neither team had a hit or a baserunner through three innings. Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermúdez again excelled in his fifth start.
The only two pitches he didn’t locate exactly as desired left the ballpark.
After retiring the first two batters in the fourth inning, Barons catcher Edgar Quero blasted a fastball from Bermúdez over the left-center wall for the game’s first run.
In the fifth, the Barons’ Tim Elko led off with a moon shot over the left field wall on a well-timed connection on a changeup pitch.
That was the offense in the game. The Blue Wahoos bullpen had three relievers combine to pitch four scoreless innings the rest of the way.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Nathan Martorella, who joined the team Tuesday, had Pensacola’s first hit in the fourth inning with a two out double down the right field line. Martorella was part of a four-player trade of San Diego Padres prospects for Miami Marlins star Luis Arráez, a former Blue Wahoos player in 2019, who has won batting titles in the American and National League the past two seasons.
Martorella also had a hard out in the ninth inning, leading off with a ball driven deep to center that was caught.
The Blue Wahoos had their best scoring chance thwarted when Jacob Berry was thrown on in the sixth inning trying to score after tagging up from third on Cody Morissette’s fly ball to centerfielder Jacob Burke. But Burke’s one-bounce strike to the plate was a perfect throw to get Berry.
The Blue Wahoos had two baserunners for the only time in the sixth inning after singles by Jakob Marsee, who also was part of the Arráez trade, and Paul McIntosh. Martorella struck out on a high fastball from reliever Eric Adler to end the inning.
The second game of the series on Wednesday will feature an 11:05 a.m. start for the second Education Day of the season. The gates will open at 10 a.m. The broadcast will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Blue Wahoos.com/radio or the MILB app.
GAME NOTABLE
— This series-opening game Tuesday is one of 18 meetings – the most since the Blue Wahoos joined the Southern League – with the Barons. The Blue Wahoos will twice play in Birmingham this season.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
PROMOTION: Education Day. The second of this season’s mid-day, matinee games will feature more than 2,000 area school children from schools in four different counties. Tickets are available for the general public as well.
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Portion of Chemstrand Road And Area
May 7, 2024
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS LIFTED ON MAY 9.
For the fourt time in recent weeks, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of Chemstrand Road and the surrounding area due to damage to a six-inch water main by a contractor working in the area.
Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
- 8815 – 9254 Chemstrand Rd.
- 301 E. 9-Mile Rd.
- Holly Rd.
- Etta Rd.
- Greenbridge Rd.
- 101~200 Camden Rd.
- Beland Rd.
- Kokomo Rd.
- Bellington Rd.
- Arcadia Rd.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours, and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the notice is lifted.
State Conducts Random Inspection of Escambia County EMS. Here’s What They Found.
May 7, 2024
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) conducted a random inspection of Escambia County EMS recently, reviewing the department on multiple compliance topics.
EMS passed the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight’s Compliance Monitoring site survey with no deficiencies found, with the Bureau praising Escambia County EMS for its exemplary service and organization.
The inspection marked Escambia County EMS’s second state inspection since 2021, both of which were passed with zero deficiencies.
Escambia County EMS was reviewed on the following:
- Employee training records and certifications
- Compliance with controlled substance medication storage, how medications are distributed for use by EMS, and tracking of medication administration by EMS
- How EMS orders, stocks, distributes, and replaces medical equipment and supplies
- Random ambulances were selected for complete inventory inspection in compliance with state requirements
- Patient care records and storage of records
- Quality assurance and quality improvement measures with patient care and patient care reports
- Training and in-service records for all EMS employees
- Compliance with state requirements for medical direction
The inspector noted Escambia County EMS vehicles and records were “outstanding” and considered EMS a “role model of excellence as an EMS provider.”
“This is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition, and it speaks volumes of our team at EMS,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “These site surveys are held at random, meaning our facilities, ambulances, service and training records, and equipment must always be at their best. I’m thankful to our men and women at EMS and extend my congratulations for their outstanding work and dedication to the citizens of Escambia County
DEP Finds Century Using Pump Not Meant For Drinking Water To Supply Prison
May 7, 2024
The Florida Department Environmental Protection (DEP) has discovered that that a temporary pump being used to provide drinking water to the Century prison was not certified safe for drinking water.
In a warning letter to Mayor Luis Gomez on Monday, DEP said the temporary bypass pump on Tedder Road was not National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) 61 certified as safe for drinking water as required by Florida Administrative Code.
“Violations of Florida Statutes or administrative rules may result in liability for damages and restoration, and the judicial imposition of civil penalties,” Elizabeth Mullins Orr, DEP Northwest District direct, wrote. “Please be advised that this Warning Letter is part of an agency investigation, preliminary to agency action.”
In May 2020, the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the Century Correctional Institution failed. A permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system was completed in May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison.
The town later installed a diesel temporary bypass pump on Tedder Road next to the Century Fire Station to allow water to be pumped from wells in town to the prison. The was in operation for several months before DEP received a tip that alleged the pump serving the prison was not certified as a potable (drinking) water pump but instead may have been previously used to pump sewage.
DEP responded to the tip with a site visit on April 30 and inspected the pump, finding it to not meet drinking water standard.
NorthEscambia.com also received an anonymous tip regarding the pump on April 29. When we photographed the pump that day, flexible connection hoses were labeled as being for potable water, but there were no obvious certifications or drinking water markings visible on the pump.
Century has since removed the temporary diesel pump and installed an in-line electric pump.
Pictured: A diesel powered temporary bypass pump provided water to the Century Correctional Institution on April 29. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Win $1 Million In 500X The Cash Scratch-off Game
May 7, 2024
On Monday, a McDavid man claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X The Cash game.
Mack Morris of McDavid purchased the winning scratch-off ticket Saturday at Kynette’s Place at 101 North Century Boulevard, across the McDavid Fire Station.
Kynette’s Place will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game 500X The Cash features a top prize of $25 million—the largest ever offered on a Florida scratch-off game. As of Monday, the Florida Lottery said two of two $25 million prizes have been claimed, but nearly 30 $1 million tickets remain unclaimed. Odds of winning $1 million in the game are 1 in 274,004.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
May 7, 2024
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for April. They are Jaquez Moorer and Adrianna Atallah, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ascend Cares Donates New Gear Extractor To Flomaton Fire Department
May 7, 2024
The Flomaton Fire Department has a new fire gear extractor thanks to a donation from Ascend Performance Materials. Gear extractors are specially designed washers that clean the protective uniforms and equipment firefighters wear while responding to a fire.
Extractors decontaminate the gear and remove harmful toxins so the equipment is safe for firefighters to wear again. A typical extractor costs approximately $5,000.
Ascend donated the machine through a community impact grant from its Ascend Cares Foundation.
“Community Impact Grants allow our employees to support community organizations they care about and where they are personally involved as volunteers,” said Ben Bryant, senior production manager for Ascend. “In this case, we have many employees who are dedicated first responders at our Pensacola site and who also serve or volunteer in their community emergency response services. We are happy to be able to support the Flomaton Fire Department with this new extractor.”
Ascend invested more than $2 million in communities near its operations last year, including over 90 community impact grants to organizations where employees serve and volunteer.
Pictured: (L-R) Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, fireman Jeremy Lee and training officer Jared Carnley with a new fire gear extractor machine from the Ascend Cares Foundation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Farm Fire In Canoe, Alabama
May 6, 2024
Firefighters from the Atmore Fire Department and Escambia County, Florida, were dispatched a reported barn fire in Canoe, Alabama, Monday morning.
They arrived to find a large pile of mostly unused farm equipment burning behind a large barn at a residence in the 1100 block of South Canoe Road, about a mile north of the Florida/Alabama state line.
“My biggest concern was two 500 diesel tanks. One of those was venting,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles said. “We worked to keep those tanks cool as we put out the fire.” One of the tanks was empty.
Peebles said the fire did consume numerous farm and machinery chemicals, including pallets of Roundup weed killer.
There were no injuries reported and no word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Former Davisville Store Clerk Charged With Stealing Lottery Tickets, Cash, Merchandise
May 6, 2024
A Walnut Hill woman was arrested recently on an outstanding 2022 warrant for allegedly stealing merchandise, lottery tickets and cash while employed at a Davisville convenience store.
Janie Vonciel Kite, now 24, was charged with felony grand theft. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5.000 bond.
The store manager at the Marathon gas station in the 10,000 block of Highway 97 reported in March 2022 that the thefts occurred during a six-day period in October 2021 when Kite was an employee.
Security footage showed Kite taking lottery tickets and other items, along with Kite giving items from the store to several people including family members without having them pay, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report says.
Kite was accused of taking $1696.07, including:
- $691.07 in merchandise
- $750 in scratch off lottery tickets
- $280 in cash from winning scratch off tickets.
The store declined to press charges against the other individuals allegedly involved.