Coast Guard Searching For Former Jay Resident Missing In Gulf
August 30, 2011
The Coast Guard is searching the Gulf for a former Jay resident that reportedly did not return home after a fishing trip Saturday south of Pensacola Pass.
About 8:30 Sunday morning, family reported 41-year old Lee Kent, now a resident of Gulf Breeze, missing after he did not return from a fishing trip aboard a 37-foot boat named Monkey Bar II.
The Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144A Ocean Sentry and the Guard Cutter Seahawk, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Carrabelle, Florida., are searching the Gulf for signs of the missing boater.
“We are searching an area larger than Maryland in order to locate Kent,” Ensign Torry James, public affairs officer with Sector Mobile, said Monday afternoon, according to the Mobile Press-Register. “We have searched for approximately 18 hours offshore Pensacola Pass. ”
The Coast Guard also has issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to mariners in the area.
Proposal Would Tax Bottled Water In Florida
August 30, 2011
A proposal to tax bottled water was filed Monday in the Florida Senate, re-igniting a water war that has pitted Sen. Evelyn Lynn against bottlers and business groups.
Lynn’s bill (SB 118) is identical to a bill filed last year by Lynn that failed to get a committee hearing.
Given $700 million in budget cuts to water management districts and other cuts to statewide water quality programs, Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said providing a source of money to pay for mitigating the environmental damage caused by discarded bottles may find more sympathy.
“This would be an effective way to set aside money for environmental cleanup,” Lynn told the News Service of Florida on Monday.
But opposition is expected to be fierce as Lynn battles bottlers like Nestle North American Waters and business groups who rely upon bottled water sales for a growing part of their businesses. She will also face an uphill fight against leaders in her own chamber, who have taken an ardent anti-tax stance.
“Florida’s bottled water industry generates millions of dollars in revenue for local communities and any efforts to penalize Florida’s bottled water consumers will ultimately drive business to neighboring states where it is not taxed,” said Ryan Duffy, a Nestle spokesman. “The industry supports 8,800 jobs in Florida while utilizing less than one tenth of one percent of all water usage in the state.”
The bill would levy a 6-percent surcharge on the sale of bottled water in containers under a 1 gallon size. The money would be deposited in the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund.
Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour, making the bottled water industry a $7.7 billion market in the United States alone, according to some industry estimates. If recycled, bottles save energy, but uncollected containers have become increasingly targeted by recycling groups and have been banned in some municipalities.
Past efforts to bring a surcharge to Florida have been opposed by bottling companies, convenience stores and the national groups representing vendors, including the National Automatic Merchandising Association and their state affiliate.
“Most vending machine companies are small businesses,” said Bill Baker, a Clearwater vending company owner and president of the Automated Merchandising Association of Florida, “A tax would be bad for those mom and pops. It will also raise the price to customers.”
Environmental groups have also been relatively quiet on the issue. Charles Lee, advocacy director for Audubon of Florida, said Monday the organization has not yet taken a stance on Lynn’s bill, which is yet to gain a committee assignment.
By Micheal Peltier
The News Service of Florida
New Poll Ranks Northview No. 2 In Florida 1A Football
August 30, 2011
The Northview Chiefs are ranked No. 2 in Florida in Class 1A in a preseason football poll released Monday by the Associated Press.
Jefferson County is No. 1 in the poll with more points that Northview, although Northview actually received more first place votes from sportswriters across the state.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are the No. 1 Class 1A football team in Florida, according to a poll released recently by the national sports website Maxpreps.com.
The Chiefs lost in the state semifinals last year, just one win away from the state championship game.
The Chiefs opened 2011 with a 26-17 preseason fall classic win over Bay High School last Friday night. Northview begins regular season play September 9 on the road at Marianna.
Click here for a photo gallery from last Friday night’s Northview defeat of Bay.
Pictured: Northview picks up a fall classic win last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos. click to enlarge.
Brush Fire Burns At ‘The Pipes’
August 30, 2011
An unknown number of acres burned during an early evening brush fire Monday at “The Pipes” on the Perdido River.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to the brush fire at the area known as “The Pipes” off Jacks Branch Road about 6:30 Monday evening. The fire did not pose a threat to any structures; the cause of the fire was not immediately available.
Pictured: A brush fire burns in the woods at an area known as “”The Pipes” off Jacks Branch Road along the Perdido River Monday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Man That Starved 10 Horses Gets House Arrest, Ordered To Write Letter
August 29, 2011
The Walnut Hill man who starved 10 horses has been sentenced to probation and will be required to write a letter to his probation officer.
James Benjamin Bethea, 62, was found guilty on two felony and eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He was sentenced to four years probation with the first year under house arrest, allowed to leave home only for medical, work or other reasons approved by his probation officer. He will be allowed to serve his house arrest and probation in Alabama.
Bethea will also be required to undergo a physiological evaluation and complete any recommended counseling. He will be required to pay $126.80 in restitution to Panhandle Equine Rescue and $800 to Lee Veterinary Clinic.
Judge John Parham also ordered Bethea to write a letter to his probation officer “detailing how this could have been prevented”, according to court records, and he is not allowed to care for or have any animals whatsoever and not allowed to have any animals at his residence.
Bethea had 20 horses on his property in the 5000 block of Highway 97A in Enon when Panhandle Equine Rescue arrived to investigate an abuse complaint on February 2. A neighbor told deputies she observed a horse lying in the pasture the previous morning that did not move all day.
For more photos from the scene, click here. WARNING: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.
One of the horses was so severely malnourished, according to PER President Diane Lowery, that it was euthanized in the pasture by a licensed veterinarian.
Another was in critical condition, unable to stand. The thin animal shivered in the February cold and sleet as rescuers worked to load it into a trailer for transport to a veterinarian for evaluation. Nearly a dozen volunteers were forced to push and pull the horse into a trailer as it lay nearly motionless on a tarp.
Another eight horses were seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
“They won’t survive the night in this cold and sleet if we don’t get them out of here,” Lowery said as a small army of volunteers assembled with horse trailers to load the animals for transport.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene unit was called to the scene to photograph the horses and their surroundings, including empty food troughs and old bathtubs that were presumably the water source for the horses. The bathtubs were dry.
Many of the horses gathered around a fresh roll of hay that, according to Lowery, appeared to have been placed in the pasture sometime Wednesday. Other horses, bones clearly visible under their skin, stayed away. Another horse gently nudged volunteers, seeking attention and closely following those that would rub it on its face.
For more photos from the scene, click here. WARNING: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.
Pictured top: One of nine horses being seized last February in the Enon community. Pictured inset: This horse was in critical condition, unable to stand even with assistance. Pictured below: Another of the seized horses. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Family Of Fallen Marine LCpl Travis Nelson Offers Letters Of Thanks
August 29, 2011
To the communities of Northwest Florida and South Alabama, words cannot express how we felt during the funeral of our Marine son, Travis. The support of the community has been remarkable to say the least.
You have shown that Americans still have a heart and patriotism for the country and her people. Travis would have been proud to know he gave his life and the people come together as they did to show their respect. Its nice to know that we haven’t given up on what our country was founded on, God, love, patriotism, honor, respect and the old fashioned neighbor.
I will learn from my son and this community and strive to be a better American and neighbor.
Travis, you will always be your beautiful mom’s and my HERO. We will miss you to the point we cannot describe but will join you, pawpaw, papa and the other heroes in heaven.
My prayers go out to the rest of the troops, its time we bring these men and women home. God Bless America.
– Scott Nelson
The family would like to thank everyone who helped with the funeral meal. We fed over 125 family and friends, and there was enough left over to feed the first responders of Atmore and the children of Abundant Life Assemby in Century. It was unbelievable to see the support of so many churches and businesses. Words cannot express the gratitude of this family during their time of sorrow.
Special thanks goes to the Alabama Wing House in Atmore, Wind Creek Casino and First Baptist Church of Atmore. Others who contributed were David’s Catfish, Pizza Hut, Subway in Atmore and Flomaton, Piggy Wiggly in Davisville, and the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore.
Special thanks also goes to Abundant Life Century, First Assembly Atmore, First Baptist Bratt, Bratt Assembly of God, Poplar Dell Baptist, Little Escambia Baptist and East Brewton Methodist.
So many friends and family also brought meals to our home. To all we are forever grateful.
– The Family of Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson
BP Pays Out $415 Million In Escambia, Santa Rosa
August 29, 2011
Over 33,000 Escambia and Santa Rosa County claims have been paid totaling almost $415 million through the Gulf Coast Claims Facility since the April 20, 2010, explosion above the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf.
Overall, Florida individuals and businesses have so far received more than $2 billion in payouts because of the BP oil spill but the going may get tougher for some with federal overseers having earlier this week tightened requirements for future payments under the $20 billion program.
In Escambia County, 22,012 claimants have collected $259,179,591, and $155,643,138 has been paid to 11,686 claimants in Santa Rosa County. The average claim was $11,774.47 in Escambia County and $13,318.77 in Santa Rosa County.
Citing signs of economic recovery around the region, the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has said publicly that the effects of the April 2010 spill are dissipating rapidly. The group reiterated that message with a notice on its website that modifications were being made to its payout parameters.
“It is clear, that as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine whether changes in revenue and earnings are due to the oil spill or other factors,” the notice reads.
As of last week, the GCCF had received 314,098 claims from 190,831 separate individuals and businesses in Florida who say their livelihoods were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that shut down fisheries and kept vacation rentals empty all along the Gulf Coast. So far, the GCCF has paid 148,623 claimants a total of $2.05 billion.
The payouts represent about 41 percent of the $5.1 billion in GCCF payouts to individuals and businesses in all Gulf states affected by the spill. In all, the agency run by Ken Feinberg has resolved requests from 447,544 claimants, about 85 percent of those who have filed.
The most claims in the state have been filed in Okaloosa County, with 34,594 claimants and a payout of $478,920,172. Second was Bay County with $419,806,767 for 33,863 claims. Escambia County’s $259.2 million payout to individuals and business was third in the state.
But coastal businesses aren’t the only recipients. A Gilchrist County resident has collected $21,880 while a claimant in inland Glades County has received $23,400 from four claims filed.
Others are still waiting, Shannon Hartsfield, president of the Franklin County Seafood Workers Association, is still seeking payment for losses to his commercial fishing livelihood.
“I haven’t heard anything from them,” said Hartsfield, whose initial final claim request was denied.
Florida’s cities and counties have collected more than $31 million from BP for efforts to respond to and clean up the worst oil spill in U.S. history, according to the latest figures tracked by the company.
Also Tuesday, the agency published a change to its final settlement protocol as it tries to limit future payments as the economic effects of the spill lessen with the return of tourists to the region.
Citing local and state revenue figures, the agency has said that much of the economy has rebounded and payment in many cases should begin tailing off.
The agency also spelled out a mechanism for further determining whether the losses were really caused by the spill. The GCCF said in its new rules that if a claimant can now show they’re starting to recover along with the rest of the economy, it can be presumed their losses were spill related. If they’re not bouncing back, then something else is wrong and the losses weren’t related to the spill.
Florida oyster harvesters with unused leases located west of Apalachicola Bay will continue to be eligible for benefits for lost business for 2011 under a formula established by the GCCF that takes into account freshwater intrusion, oil contamination and damage caused by recovery efforts. Oyster bed leaseholders east of Apalachicola Bay will not be eligible for future losses.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: Oil from the Gulf spill washed onto Pensacola Beach on June 23, 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Football Season Begins Thursday
August 29, 2011
The football season begins Thursday evening for Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Golden Eagles will play host to Perdido at 6 p.m. Thursday to open their seven game schedule. Ernest Ward Middle was undefeated last year. EWMS is the only public middle school in Escambia County, Florida, to offer football. As a result, all games are against Alabama schools.
The complete 2011 schedule is as follows:
- 9/1 — Perdido
- 9/6 — at Excel
- 9/13 — OPEN
- 9/20 — Uriah
- 9/27 — Escambia Academy
- 10/4 — at Uriah
- 10/11 — Excel
- 10/18 — at Escambia Academy
All games are at 6 p.m.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School beats Escambia Academy last October to end their perfect 2010 season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Replacement Underway On Nearly $200K Sewage Lift Station Damaged In Wreck
August 29, 2011
A six figure insurance settlement is paying to replace a sewage lift station and electric generator that were totaled in a December 2010 wreck on Highway 29 in Century.
The Great Western Casualty Company settled with the town for $190,250.51. That’s “every penny” of the town’s cost for repairs, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. The new lift station and generator are being installed this week on Highway 29 at Jackson Street.
The truck driver, Freddie Pelzer, 67, of Douglasville, Georgia, was not injured in the crash. He was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top: Work is underway in the $190,250 replacement of a sewage lift station knocked out of service by a December 2010 wreck, pictured below. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Working Post Hurricane Near Washington DC
August 29, 2011
A Gulf Power storm restoration team of 65 employees began work in the Upper Marlboro, Md. area Sunday, helping electric utility Pepco restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.
Upper Marlboro is located about 20 miles east of Washington, D.C. and is near Andrews Air Force Base.
As of 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Pepco reported that 194,000 customers were without power, down from 220,000 outages at the height of the storm. Along the Eastern seaboard, 4 million people were without power following the storm.
Gulf Power sent 48 line personnel and 17 support staff members. They are among 800 out-of-state utility workers helping Pepco, which delivers power to nearly 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey, making it one of the largest electricity delivery companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Our crews are prepared to restore power for up to two weeks,” said Jeff Rogers of Gulf Power. “It’s great that all these crews are out here to help get the power back on.”
Pictured above and below: Gulf Power crews prepare to depart Pensacola Friday morning for Washington, D.C. to assist with power restoration after Hurricane Irene makes landfall. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
