Lighting Sparks Fire, Causes Power Outage
July 2, 2011
Two different lightning strikes sparked a brush fire and caused a power outage for dozens of homes Friday evening in North Escambia.
Brush Fire
The brush fire was reported about 7:15 p.m. about 100 yards into a wooded area off Highway 168 near Wiggins Road. The fire was reported contained about 8:05 p.m. There were no structures damaged by the blaze.
The McDavid, Century and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. The Florida Division of Forestry was also dispatched to create a line around the fire using two bulldozers.
Power Outage
About 75 homes in the area of Gobbler Road in the Oak Grove area were without power Friday night, apparently due to a lightning strike. Escambia River Electric Cooperative restored power to the area within about an hour.
Weekend Gardening: A Red, White And Blue Garden
July 2, 2011
A patriotic flower garden is all about combining dazzling colors of red, white and blue. Red and white flowers are the easiest to find. Flowers that have a dark blue color like the American flag can be more challenging to locate. Generally the blue seen in flowers is a lighter blue, not a navy blue. But feel free to use dark purple flowers for a dark blue effect. Here are some plants that will perform in your garden throughout the summer, not just for the Fourth of July.
Firecracker Plant
Bright red, tubular flowers that resemble little firecrackers hang on this plant during much of the year. Known scientifically as Russelia equisetiformis, this tender small shrub has an unusual look. The rush-like stems are lacking obvious foliage. It has an attractive weeping growth habit with wiry branches that start out erect then fall over to cascade down in lengths as long as four feet.
Firecracker plant grows well in full or broken sun. It will tolerate different soil types but thrives in areas that are well-drained but are regularly watered. This is a must for the butterfly or hummingbird garden.
Bee Balm
Another flower that is a hummingbird and butterfly attractant is this easy-to-grow perennial. Its bright colors and nectar-filled blooms attract a wide variety of “flying jewels.”
The sweet and minty, citrus-scented plant isn’t just for our winged friends, however. Both the leaves and the flowers are perfectly edible-add them to salads or use as garnishes. The dried leaves have been used for centuries to make tea.
Bee balm, or Monarda didyma, comes in many different colors. ‘Jacob Cline’ is an outstanding dark red, powdery mildew-resistant cultivar.
Cat’s Whiskers
Cat’s Whiskers is a member of the mint family and is native to tropical East Asia. Its scientific name is Orthosiphon stamineus. In zone 8, consider this plant an annual since it is tender and will not reliably come back after a freeze.
Cat’s Whiskers has beautiful dark green leaves and unusual white flowers. The flowers consist of an upright spike that contains long flowers and even longer stamens, reminiscent of cat whiskers. Flowering occurs on new growth.
This plant performs best in full sun. It will however grow with several hours of filtered light or spotty direct sun. Cat’s whiskers is a shrub-type plant that will reach heights of two to three feet and spreads three to four feet.
Blue Mist
Caryopteris x clandonensis, sometimes called bluebeard or blue mist shrub, is a cross between two species, and is one of the best small shrubs for late color in the landscape.
It is a low mounding, herbaceous shrub that prefers loose, loamy soil and full sun. It produces sturdy stems with several whorls of blue flowers in the fall. There are several cultivars available. The famous variety ‘Longwood Blue’ has sky blue flowers.
Another popular type, ‘Worcester Gold’, has yellow foliage and blue flowers. Proven Winners has one called ‘Petit Blue’ that is known for its tight, compact growth habit.
Bees and butterflies love them, but deer don’t — a happy combination. The flowers are so attractive to the bees, that the insects aren’t bothered by the presence of people
For more information, contact Theresa Friday at 850-623-3868 or email tlfriday@ufl.edu. Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Man Charged With Robbing Grocery Advantage
July 1, 2011
A Cantonment man was jailed Thursday evening after robbing the Grocery Advantage armed with a knife.
Kenneth Lee Purifoy, 45, of 1240 Lake Drive in Cantonment, was arrested at a nearby apartment complex after deputies say he robbed the Grocery Advantage store at knife point.
Deputies responded to the store at 736 North Highway 29 for an armed disturbance just after 6 p.m. Thursday.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Purifoy entered the store with numerous shopping bags that he placed in an empty buggy. An employee observed Purifoy enter a restroom with the items in the buggy, but they were not visible when he came out of the restroom.
Moments later, Purifoy was carrying a pack of ribs when he approached a store employee and employees noticed a pack of steaks in his rear waistband. When he was confronted, deputies said Purifoy rain toward the exit, and another pack of steaks fell from the front of his pants.
An employee told deputies that he tried to stop Purifoy and detain him and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle Purifoy pulled a small folding pocketknife on the employee and reportedly stated “I will stab you”. Purifoy then ran out of the store.
“One of our K-9 units tracked the suspect to a nearby apartment complex, said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “Our deputies were able to locate him on the complex grounds and arrested him without incident.”
Purifoy was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft, robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked in the Escambia County Jail and held on a $20,000 bond.
Escambia County, City Of Pensacola Consider Joint Youth Curfew
July 1, 2011
A Pensacola city councilman wants a countywide curfew for youth, a idea briefly discussed at a joint meeting of the Pensacola City Council and the Escambia County Commission on Thursday.
Councilman John Jerralds is advocating a curfew modeled after one currently in place in Jacksonville. He wants to make a presentation about the ordinance to the county’s attorney or the entire commission in hopes that city and council will both adopt a youth curfew.
The Jacksonville youth curfew ordinance restricts any unmarried person under the age of 18 from being on the streets between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. weekdays or 6 a.m. on the weekend or holidays unless they are with a parent or guardian.
There are several exceptions in the ordinance, including teens on their way to or from work; a church, school or other organization and other events.
To read the entire Jacksonville youth curfew ordinance, click here.
Both the youth curfew violator and their parents can receive civil citations for violating the Jacksonville law.
Escambia Burn Ban Prohibits Private Fireworks
July 1, 2011
A burn ban remains in effect that prohibits private Fourth of July fireworks in Escambia County.
The entire county — including Century and Pensacola – remains under a burn ban for the July 4 holiday weekend. The ban prohibits open burning, campfires, bonfires, burning of trash and fireworks anywhere in Escambia County.
While fireworks can be purchased, fires resulting from fireworks can result in a $400 fine or a mandatory court appearance, not to mention serious damage and injuries, according to county officials.
The only exemptions to the burn ban are state permitted burns, authorized fireworks displays, fireworks sales authorized by state law and outdoor cooking cooking in barbeque grills, smoker and other outdoor stoves at private residences.
Escambia County is encouraging families to attend public fireworks displays planned across our area.
Judge Rules State Worker Pension Contributions To Begin
July 1, 2011
On the eve of government workers being forced to contribute 3 percent of their paychecks to Florida’s pension fund, a Leon County circuit judge late Thursday refused to require the state to set aside the money during a pending legal challenge.
Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford issued the ruling shortly before midnight, just minutes before a controversial pension law kicked in to require hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers to contribute to the fund.
The Florida Education Association, which is spearheading a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the law, sought a temporary injunction to require the money be set aside. It argued that such a move would ensure workers would receive refunds if the law is ultimately ruled unconstitutional.
Fulford acknowledged in an eight-page ruling that it is unclear what funds the state would use to pay back workers if the law is tossed out. But she also wrote that she must “assume that the state of Florida would comply with an order from this court to refund to employees any funds that have been wrongfully deducted from their salary.’’
“The state (during arguments Thursday) … stipulated that should they ultimately be ordered to refund the 3 percent employee contributions, it was not a matter of whether the refunds would be given, it was only a matter of the state of Florida determining from what source it would make the refunds, in the best financial interest of the public,’’ Fulford wrote.
The law, a priority of Gov. Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders, will lead to state and local government workers contributing about $800 million a year to the pension fund. Such contributions have not been required since the 1970s.
During a hearing earlier Thursday, Fulford repeatedly questioned attorneys about how the state could assure that workers would be able to recoup the money — especially during a time when the state is struggling with budget problems.
But Blaine Winship, special counsel in the Attorney General’s Office, said setting aside the money could threaten the actuarial soundness of the pension fund. Also, he said the pension fund could refund money to workers if the law is found unconstitutional.
“There’s not any reason for these plaintiffs to be insecure,’’ Winship said.
FEA attorney Ron Meyer, however, said workers need a “pathway” to get the money back if the law is rejected. Meyer said he fears that the state Board of Administration, which runs the pension fund, would argue in the future that it can’t be forced to give the money back.
“That’s what we’re going to get, your honor,’’ Meyer said. “I can hear it now.’’
After Fulford’s ruling late Thursday, the FEA issued a statement saying it was disappointed. But it made clear it will continue to press the broader constitutional challenge to the law.
“While we are disappointed that the court didn’t take action to ensure the availability of funds to pay back to employees if we prevail in the lawsuit, this is a minor setback and cannot be viewed as a determination that our claims are not just,” Meyer said in the statement.
The FEA, backed by other labor groups, filed a class-action lawsuit June 20, arguing that the law violates contractual and collective-bargaining rights of employees.
The teachers union did not seek to block the state from collecting the contributions while the lawsuit moves forward. Instead, it sought the temporary injunction to require that the money be set aside and refunded to workers with interest if the lawsuit is successful.
Fulford on Thursday scheduled an Oct. 26 hearing on broader questions about the law’s constitutionality. Whatever she rules on that issue, attorneys say they expect the Florida Supreme Court to ultimately decide the case — a usually lengthy process.
The FEA largely pins the case on a 1974 law that says the rights of retirement system members are “contractual in nature” and “shall not be abridged in any way.’’ Meyer contends that lawmakers can only require future employees, not current workers, to contribute to the pension system.
“Employees were told, ‘If you work, you’re going to be paid X,’ and after tomorrow, they’re going to be paid X minus 3 percent,’’ Meyer said during Thursday’s hearing.
But Winship said the 1974 law does not prevent the Legislature from making changes that will affect current employees. He said it prevents lawmakers from making retroactive changes that would affect workers, such as seeking contributions for past years.
“Our Legislature must have the power going forward to change the deal,’’ Winship said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Man Gets 32 Years For Kidnapping; Victims Saved By Bathroom Note
July 1, 2011
A Louisiana man has been sentenced to prison for the kidnapping of his ex-fiancé and two children that were eventually saved by a note left in a Flomaton gas station bathroom.
Therral Hatfield, 26, was sentenced Thursday to 32 years in prison by Federal Judge W. Keith Watkins.
On April 21, 2010, a customer found a note scribbled on a paper towel in a women’s bathroom at the Yellowhammer truck stop at I-65 and Highway 113 in Flomaton. The note said that the female and her two children had been kidnapped and were being taken to Atlanta by their abductor. The note also contained a description of the vehicle and its license plate number.
An Alabama state trooper patrolling just inside Butler County near Garland spotted the vehicle, ending the kidnapping attempt.
Yellowhammer Truck Stop clerk Connie Kinman said after the incident that she noticed Hatfield outside the women’s bathroom door the entire time she was inside.
“She had to know he was there,” she said. “She was very brave.”
Septic Tank Inspections Still On Hold
July 1, 2011
Florida’s new septic tank inspection requirement legally takes effect today, but the inspections won’t begin any time soon, if ever.
The Senate tried — and failed — to repeal the mandatory inspections after a public outcry about cost and an unfair burden on rural residents. But language was inserted into a budget bill by Sen Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that prohibits the Department of Health from spending a dime on the inspections without the approval of the Legislative Budget Commission, of which Gaetz is a member.
“In my view, the septic tank mandate is an unnecessary policy,” Gaetz said. “It wrongly assumes that rural North Florida ought to be treated the same as heavily populated urban South Florida.”
The Senate failed to take up a bill sponsored by Greg Evers, R-Baker, repealing the measure prior to the end of the 2011 session.
“I regret that the importance and the need to pass this good piece of legislation was not acknowledged,” said Evers, who represents the North Escambia area. “Although my colleagues were unwilling to support the septic tank repeal at this time, I will keep fighting to reverse this law and I encourage you to keep fighting with me. This will remain my number one priority until we get it accomplished.”
The Florida House passed a measure in mid-April to repeal the mandatory inspection law that was passed in 2010 as part of a broader springs protection bill.
The House bill’s sponsor, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marrianna, expressed her disappointment.
“I am very disappointed that the Senate chose not to repeal the septic tank inspection,” Coley said, adding that she was encouraged that the Senate stymied the effort with the budget committee approval requirement.
“With these provisions in place to protect our citizens, the fight to repeal this burdensome mandate will continue,” she said.
Backers of the law said it was necessary to protect springs and other waterways from pollution, but opponents argued it would drive up costs for homeowners. Opponents believe that tests — the financial responsibility of the property owner — could cost up to $500 for each of Florida’s 2.6 million septic tanks.
“No property owner in Florida need fear a swarm of bureaucrats and tank-testers invading their property,” Gaetz said. “The moratorium remains in effect.”
Fla. Senate Boss: No Offshore Drilling
July 1, 2011
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Thursday that while he’s in favor of boosting domestic oil drilling, and interested in studying “all options,” the Legislature will not pursue new drilling in near-shore Florida waters in the coming legislative session.
“Not in Florida waters, not this session,” Haridopolos said.
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island said he and House Speaker Dean Cannon have agreed that the technology around the safety of oil drilling and what led to last year’s BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill need to be fully understood before moving forward with new drilling in Florida’s nearshore waters.
By The News Service Florida
Longtime EREC Employee Brenda McCall Retires
July 1, 2011
A longtime Escambia River Electric Cooperative employee retired Thursday. Brenda McCall, who worked in customer service/benefits, was employed at EREC for 20 years.
Pictured: A retirement party for 20-year Escambia River Electric Cooperative employee Brenda McCall was held Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.