AARP: 40% Over 50 Have Problems Paying Utility Bills; Concerns Over Phone Deregulation
March 15, 2011
AARP says 40 percent of Florida’s over 50 population finds it difficult to pay their electric bill each month, and the organization is raising concerns about a proposed deregulation of telephone rates, which supporters say would simply bring the state’s telecommunications rules into the 21ist century.
Jeff Johnson, interim state director for the organization in Florida, said AARP is still studying the measure. But he said the prospect of completely deregulating the phone rates in the state alarmed the organization.
“It looks to us like one that’s going to be bad for consumers, and it’s going to be a real challenge for us this session,” Johnson said.
The organization mentioned its concerns at a press conference called to unveil a survey of Floridians age 50 or older, including their concerns about utility costs.
That survey showed about 40 percent said it was difficult to pay their electricity bill and 78 percent were at least “somewhat concerned” about potential increases in the price of electricity.
Johnson said the organization didn’t know about the bill when it commissioned the survey and didn’t ask specifically about phone bills. Still, he said the survey indicated the challenges faced by older Floridians, including seniors on a fixed income.
“When you talk to folks who are 50 and over…. raising those fixed costs for no good reason is something that they’re not going to put up with,” said Johnson.
The bill – sponsored in the Senate by Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, and in the House by Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee – would add land-line telephone services to the list of utilities exempt from regulation by the Public Service Commission.
Simmons said his bill is simply an acknowledgment of the changing industry landscape, where cell phones play a larger role and landlines are beginning to decline. Cell phone rates are not regulated by the PSC.
“The telecommunications industry has seen dramatic changes over the last 10 years, and the technology has increased exponentially so that the prior concepts of the telecommunications industry as a monopoly are truly archaic,” he said.
Particularly with wireless and other technologies unregulated, the old-line services “should be opened up to free enterprise just like any other part of the telecommunications industry,” he said.
Utility companies are stepping behind the bill, offering the same reasons as Simmons.
“Florida’s telecommunications laws should reflect the reality of the current competitive marketplace and encourage jobs and investment,” said Stephanie Smith, a spokeswoman for AT&T Florida. “We are operating under rotary dial regulation in an iPhone world, and if this bill passes, consumers will benefit from a competitive marketplace that continues to ensure consumer protection.”
While it’s not clear how hard telecom interests will push the measure, AT&T showed a willingness to spend to advance its agenda last year, shelling out $1.7 million in compensation for lobbyists.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Molino Man Injured In Motorcyle Vs. Deer Crash
March 14, 2011
A Molino man was injured Monday night when he struck a deer with his motorcycle.
Marc Eugene Cayson, 42, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital following the crash about 7:30 on Jacks Branch Road near Barrineau Lane. The Florida Highway Patrol said Cayson was thrown from his motorcycle after coming into contact with the deer. An independent witness verified seeing the deer, which had fled the area by the time emergency workers arrived.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Losing Saturday Post Office Retail Service
March 14, 2011
Saturday lobby service at the U.S. Post Office in Walnut Hill is coming to an end.
The post office retail lobby will be closed beginning April 4. However, mail will still be placed in post office boxes by no later than 9:30 each Saturday. The retail lobby will continue to be open from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
The U.S. Post Office in Walnut Hill is a contract facility operated by Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
Pictured: The U.S. Post Office in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fox 10 Back On Dish Network
March 14, 2011
Some good news today for Dish Network satellite television subscribers — American Idol, Glee, NASCAR and the Simpsons are back.
LIN Media, owner of WALA Fox 10 in Mobile, and Dish reached a new retransmission agreement, restoring WALA to the Dish lineup. Dish customers lost WALA on March 4 when the two companies failed to reach a retransmission agreement as Dish blasted LIN for being “greedy”.
But a new deal was reached over the weekend, the terms of which were not disclosed.
“We are pleased that our negotiations with Dish Network resulted in fair resolution and a news retransmission consent agreement,” LIN CEO Vince Sadusky said in an issued statement. “We thank our viewers and our advertisers for their tremendous support.”
“We appreciate your tremendous support throughout these negotiations. This fair resolution ensures that we can continue to provide top quality news, sports, entertainment, and other local programming that is most important to you,” said a statement posted Sunday morning by WALA on their website.
NWS Releases Data, Graphics Detailing McDavid Tornado
March 14, 2011
Data released by the National Weather Service details the track of an EF1 tornado across McDavid last Thursday.
Here is the NWS data on the storm:
- Event date: March 9, 2011
- Event time: 9:28 a.m.
- Intensity: EF1 with max 3-second wind gust of 105 mph
- Damage path length: 0.5 miles
- Max damage patch width: 80 yards
- Injuries/Fatalities: None
- Discussion: the tornado first touched down as an EF1 near Highway 164 just west of U.S. Highway 29. The tornado tracked southeast across Highway 29 and lifted near the intersection of Main Street and Railroad street. Eleven homes were damaged along the path. Two homes were damaged by falling trees. A home on Main Street was shifted off of its foundation, while another suffered significant roof damage.
The following data corresponds to the numbered locations on the map at the top of the page:
Location 1 — Highway 164
- Damage — Trees snapped and fell into front of a house.
- Wind Speed: 88 mph / EF1 Tornado
Location 2 — Highway 164
- Damage — Trees downed, debris damaged house
- Wind Speed: 90 mph / EF1 Tornado
Location 3 — Main Street
- Damage — Uplift of roof deck and significant loss of roofing material, collapse of chimney, garage door collapse inward, failure of porch and carport
- Wind Speed: 90 mph / EF1 Tornado
Location 4 — Main Street
- Damage — Entire house shifted off foundation, total roof failure
- Wind Speed: 105 mph / EF1 Tornado
Location 5 — Main Street
- Damage — Roof blown off house with walls still standing. Numerous pine trees snapped in half around the home. Outbuildings destroyed.
- Wind Speed: 105 mph / EF1 Tornado
NorthEscambia.com Previous Stories/Photos:
- For more information on how the National Weather Service determined the data above, click here.
- For more information on the storm and a photo gallery, click here.
Bond Revoked For Pharmacy Robbery Suspect
March 14, 2011
The woman accused of being the getaway car driver in last September’s armed robbery at a Molino pharmacy is back behind bars.
Judge Ronald Swanson granted Assistant State Attorney Jeff Gaddy’s request to revoke bond for Krystal Lynn Collins, 24. She is facing multiple charges in connection with the robbery at Scott’s Pharmacy, including robbery with a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and multiple felony drug charges.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies believe Collins drove the getaway car and took part in the robbery with Joseph Daniel Flowers of Molino. Flowers, who was allegedly wearing underwear on his head at the time of the holdup, is using the insanity defense.
Flowers was later charged with beating Collins with a two liter bottle of Coke in an unrelated incident.
Both Collins and Flowers remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Pictured: Krystal Lynn Collins (with blond hair in September, 2010) was briefly taken into custody after the September, 2010 robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. The inset on the photograph shows her current mugshot. NorthEscambia.com/courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Dixie Group, Masland Carpets Turn First Quarterly Profit Since ‘08
March 14, 2011
For the first time since 2008, Dixie Group — the parent company of Masland Carpets — has posted a quarterly profit.
“We are cautiously optimistic that 2011 will be a year of steady growth as we recover from the unprecedented downturn of the last few years,” said Daniel K. Frierson, chairman and chief executive officer. The company reported a net income of $516,000, or four cents per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $3,623,000, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the year-earlier period.
Across the industry, carpet sales were up less than one percent last year, but Dixie Group sales were up 14 percent.
Masland has added about 50 employees during the last six months to its Atmore facility for a total employment of about 410. The company also employees 160 in Saraland, Alabama.
Half Million Dollar Expansion Underway At Cantonment Park
March 14, 2011
A nearly half million dollar expansion is underway at the Cantonment Athletic Park. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of June.
The Escambia County Commission awarded the $492,197.50 construction contract to low-bidder Roads, Inc., of NWF. The project consists of the addition of two multi-use practice fields at the park, including a grass parking lot, landscaping and drainage improvements.
The proposed site is currently wooded and almost completely surrounded by wetlands. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit will allow access to the site from the current park with a paved entrance road with a culvert structure.
The park expansion will be funded with local option sales tax monies.
There were a total of nine companies that bid on the project. The second lowest bidder was Gulf Equipment Corp. at $509,312.50 while the highest bid was $653,243.57 from J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc.
The Cantonment Athletic Park is an 80 acre regional park at 681 Well Line Road. The park has 12 baseball and softball fields, one football field, restrooms, concessions, playground and security lights. A partnership with Cantonment Baseball Club and Cantonment Football Club provides for various youth athletic programs at the park.
Pictured: An aerial view of the Cantonment Athletic Park showing 12 baseball and softball fields and one football field. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Week Ahead In Florida Government
March 14, 2011
Here’s a look at some of the big issues in Florida government this week:
DOLLARS AND CENTS
While there are several big policy issues making their way through the Legislature, for budget watchers Friday is the big day of the coming week. The Revenue Estimating Conference on Friday will give lawmakers the latest look at the amount of money expected to be coming in, which gives them an amount to work with when writing the budget. Generally, the expectation is that there won’t be too much change from the $3.6 billion shortfall economists projected a few months ago.
MERIT PAY
The proposal to shift the way teachers are paid to a merit-based system depending in part on how well students do on tests is on the House floor on Tuesday. The bill, which would put an end to tenure pay systems for new teachers, is one of the most controversial before lawmakers, but has wide support among controlling Republicans and is expected to pass. Teachers generally don’t like it, and the state teachers union opposes it. A Senate version of the bill (SB 736) has already passed the Senate, and the House version is expected to largely conform to that, meaning the bill could be one of the first to go to Gov. Rick Scott this year.
MEDICAID OVERHAUL
The House also begins the serious work of revamping the Medicaid system, shifting patients into privately-run managed care plans. The proposal, which has been discussed for several years, is in two proposed committee bills rolled out last weekend and those two measures will be workshopped in the House HHS Committee on Monday.
CENSUS FIGURES OUT THIS WEEK
Lawmakers and others champing at the bit to begin redrawing political boundaries can get started this week as the U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to release population data for Florida as part of its national rollout that is by law to be completed by April 1. Population and demographic data will be released for Florida, Georgia and a handful of other states sometime this week, the bureau announced Thursday. Census takers are going to give state lawmakers a 24 hour head start before releasing the figures to the public, under a protocol federal officials say is meant to ensure the accuracy of the data.
By The News Service Florida
Pensacola Man Dies In Escambia, Ala. Wreck; Santa Rosa Crash Claims One
March 13, 2011
A Pensacola man was killed in a single vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Escambia County, Alabama, and a Baker man died in a Santa Rosa County crash.
Donald Joseph Mandel, 28, of Pensacola, died in an accident about 3:10 a.m. on Appleton Road about seven miles north of Brewton. His 1998 Hyundai left the road at a high rate of speed, and struck a fence and tree before overturning according to Alabama State Troopers. Mandel was pronounced dead at the scene.
Alabama State troopers are continuing their investigation into the accident.
About 9:45 Saturday morning on I-10 in Santa Rosa County, a single vehicle crash claimed the life of Gerald Thompson, 21, of Baker. He was a passenger in a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Patricia E. Thompson, 65, of Baker. She was critically injured and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Patricia Thompson was westbound on I-10 when she lost control and overturned twice before the Blazer came to rest on its roof. Charges are pending the result of an ongoing investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.