Final BP Claims Protocols Released After Deluge Of Last Minute Filings
November 25, 2010
BP claims administrator Ken Feinberg on Wednesday released the set of protocols for final payment of damages following a deluge of last-minute emergency claims that came in prior to the November 23 deadline.
Saying that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has already paid $2 billion to 125,000 recipients of emergency claims, Feinberg said the rush of last-minute requests will take until Dec. 15 to process. After that, the facility will turn its attention to making final payments from the $20 billion BP fund over the next three years.
Feinberg said the next round of final payments will compensate individuals and businesses for future losses in exchange for agreements by the claimants to end legal action against the company. Under the voluntary program, claimants must sign a release to waive any rights to sue BP and any other potentially liable parties.
Claimants not ready to make that commitment can still collect interim payments for past losses up until August 2013. Businesses and individuals unsatisfied with the compensation package can also take their claims to court.
Some business groups located inland or in other parts of the state also say the spill hurt their businesses as tourists canceled or cut short businesses to Florida destinations, some of which were hundreds of miles away from the tar balls and sheen the came ashore in Florida’s Panhandle.
Under the Federal Pollution Control Act of 1990, proximity to actual oil exposure is a “major requirement for a valid legal claim, according to a 48-page memorandum of law penned by Harvard Law Professor John Goldman. The memorandum goes on to say that businesses not directly affected by the blobs of oil will likely not fare well if they take their cases to court.
Feinberg has said repeatedly that proximity alone will not be the sole determinant for whether claims are valid, but affected businesses and individuals must provide credible evidence that any loss of business was attributable to the spill.
“The GCCF will be much more generous than current Federal or State Law,” Feinberg said in a statement. “Proximity is not a bar to a GCCF claim, but damage must still be proven.”
Thanksgiving Travel: Pensacola Airport Expecting 2,700 Travelers Per Day
November 25, 2010
No major problems were reported Wednesday at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, which was expecting about 2,700 people per day to travel through the terminal during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Security delays were reported to be minor at the Pensacola airport, which does not have the new full-body scanners that have been installed at some airports.
Pictured above: The passenger lines at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport were short early Wednesday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm-City Week Recognizes Importance Of Local Agriculture
November 25, 2010
Before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, the Florida Farm Bureau would like everyone to remember that the meal they will enjoy is made possible by Farm-City partnerships.
National Farm-City Week, celebrated annually on the week leading to and ending on Thanksgiving Day, recognizes the importance of this cooperative network to the success of America’s agricultural industry.
The following was submitted by Dorthy Cunningham from the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
This Thanksgiving Day, as we gather with family and friends to count our blessings, let’s give thanks for the bounty we enjoy not just on this holiday, but every day. The safe, plentiful food that is available to us, and the products used to produce the clothing, housing, medicines, fuel and other products we use on a daily basis, didn’t just appear in a store. They got there thanks to a tremendous partnership of farmers and rancher, processors, brokers, truckers, shippers, advertisers, wholesalers and retailers.
In appreciation of this farm-city partnership, the President of the United States annually proclaims the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving Day as National Farm-city Week.
Rural and urban residents are “Partners in Progress” who produce the products, consume the products, and make them readily available through an efficient production and marketing chain. Farmers and ranchers are just the beginning of that chain. Farm workers, researchers, processors, shippers, truck drivers, inspectors, wholesalers, agribusinesses, marketers, advertisers, retailers and consumers all play important roles in the incredible productivity that has made our nation’s food and fiber system the envy of the world.
This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s remember the vital farm-city partnerships that have done so much to improve the quality of our lives. Rural and urban communities working together have made the most of our rich agricultural resources, and have made significant contributions to our health and well-being and to the strength of our nation’s economy. For this, we can give thanks.
Dorothy Cunningham
Chair, Women’s Committee
Escambia County Farm Bureau
Pictured top: Wheat is one of the crops produced in North Escambia. Pictured inset: Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Manhunt For Man After Bail Bondsman Gives Chase
November 24, 2010
A manhunt turned up empty Wednesday evening for a local man wanted on a felony failure to appear warrant.
Deputies searched over two hours for a suspect identified as Tabarin Oneil Wesley, 30, by Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Wesley was described as being a black male, last seen wearing a red shirt and blue shorts with no shoes.
The manhunt was centered around Showalter Park and the old Century Elementary School.
A bail bondsman reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about 4:50 Wednesday afternoon that he had located Wesley in Showalter Park. The bail bondman gave chase and last reported seeing Wesley as he scaled a fence behind the school.
A K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institution arrived in the area bout 5:30 p.m. to assist in the search. The search was called off about 7:15 p.m.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Wesley should call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: Tabarin Oneil Wesley in April of 2010. Escambia County Jail photo.
Murder Suspect Now Behind Bars
November 24, 2010
Escambia murder suspect Aaron Cornelius Mitchell is now behind bars.
Mitchell turned himself in Wednesday afternoon to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators, according to Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. . Aaron Mitchell is accused murdering Prentiss Mitchell Friday night. The two were not related.
Escambia Deputies responded to a shooting call at at the Moorings Apartments on Old Spanish Trail about 9:20 p.m. Friday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Prentiss Mitchell in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased a short time later.
After Aaron Mitchell was named as a “person of interest” in the homicide, a 1998 Honda registered to him was found at an address near West Brainerd St. and North S Street in Pensacola at around 4:00 pm on Monday. Upon locating the vehicle investigators found damage to the exterior which appeared to be bullet holes, Welborn said.
On Tuesday afternoon, investigators officially named Aaron Mitchell as a suspect and a felony murder warrant for his arrest was issued.
Aaron Mitchell is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail with no bond.
Police: Man Hit By Truck After Stealing Bottle Of Wine From Store
November 24, 2010
An Atmore man is recovering after being hit by car after allegedly stealing a bottle of wine from a local convenience store.
The Atmore Police Department released more information Tuesday about the accident about 7:15 Friday night that injured Marvin L. Russell, 34. Police said Russell entered the Kangaroo Express store at Main and Howard streets where he attempted to purchase a bottle of wine but did not have enough money. He returned to a cooler and then exited the store with the bottle of wine hanging out of his jacket pocket. Atmore Police said he did not pay for the wine.
Russell then ran east into the path of a 2005 Ford F150 driven by Eric V. Lewis, 38, of Atmore who was traveling south of North Main Street.
Russell was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and then transferred by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. He has since been released from the hospital.
Atmore Police did not say if Russell was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Sports Roundup: High School Basketball And Soccer
November 24, 2010
Here’s a roundup of basketball and soccer action from around the North Escambia area Tuesday.
(Don’t see you team? Make sure your coach or stats person emails us after each of your games!)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tate 43 PCA 30
The Lady Aggies of Tate defeated Pensacola Christian Academy Tuesday, 43-30.
Courtney Brown paced the Aggies with a team-high 15 points.
Tate— Courtney Brown 15, Ali O’Brien 2, Alex Loomis 3, Marina Cobbs 8, Jasmine Baldwin 4, Jarden Ward 3, Katie Clark 4, Showni Colony 4.
Tate 17 11 8 7 – 43
Catholic 9 6 3 12 – 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Walton 50 Jay 44
The Jay Royals lost their season opener to South Walton, 50-44.
Todd Laney led the Royals with 23 points. The Royals will be in action again on November 30 at Pace.
Jay (0-1) — Chandler Burgess 3, Tate Upton 2, Conner Weekes 9, Tyler Prescott 7, Todd Laney 23.
Catholic 65 Tate 63
It was a close loss for the Tate Aggies Tuesday, 65-63 to Catholic High School
Tate — Rhodes 4, Griffin 3, Jones 18, Gray 14, Wilson 8, Anderson 14.
Tate 13 2 25 23 – 65
Catholic 14 16 12 23 – 63
GIRLS SOCCER
Tate 8 Pine Forest 0
Tate (4-4) — Goals: Ashley Marquer 2, Ashton Mayne 2, Jessica Wiggins 2, Miranda Gonzalez, Madison Leonard. Assists: Gonzalez 2, Leonard 2, Marquer 2. Saves: Kelly Ewing 0, Laura Jennings 0.
Ribbon Cutting Set For $316 Million ECUA Wastewater Plant
November 24, 2010
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s new Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment has been in operation since late August, and now a grand opening is planned for the largest public works project in the history of Escambia County.
On December 2, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will hold a community celebration to mark the completion of the new, $316-million CWRF. The public is invited to join ECUA board members and staff, as well as federal, state and local officials, as the state-of-the-art facility officially begins operations.
The December 2 dedication ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. with an overview of the plant and recognition of the people and organizations responsible for completing the project on time and under budget. It will conclude at 3 p.m. with a ceremonial turning of the “valve” to officially launch the operations. The ceremony will be followed by a public reception in the on-site administration/operations building.
The new plant sits on 2,000 acres on land adjacent to Ascend Performance Materials (formerly Solutia) on Old Chemstrand Road near Cantonment. A full 15 miles north of the existing Main Street Treatment Plant, the facility is well above the flood plain and is built to resist hurricane-force winds. Redundant power and storage systems help to ensure that the facility can remain operational during conditions that crippled the Main Street plant during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
With the CWRF complete, ECUA plans to demolish the aging Main Street facility, which many believe will help encourage economic development in the area. Another benefit is that reclaimed water from that facility will no longer be discharged into Pensacola Bay. Thanks to innovative partnerships with Gulf Power Company and International Paper, reclaimed water from the CWRF will be reused by those two companies.
The CWRF was funded in large part through grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal sources, the State of Florida, Escambia County and the City of Pensacola. Several local firms, employing hundreds of Northwest Florida employees, participated in the design and construction of the facility and its 25 miles of pipeline.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Celebrate With Thanksgiving Feast
November 24, 2010
Camp Fire USA Century held a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday for children and their parents. The daycare’s children, many dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans, enjoyed a full Thanksgiving meal and learned about the Pilgrims and their trip to the New World.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Children enjoy a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday at Camp Fire USA in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Chili And Cornbread For Century Employees
November 24, 2010
Town of Century employees were treated to a pre-Thanksgiving lunch Tuesday, enjoying chili, cornbread, homemade desserts and more. Employees donated the items for the lunch; it was not taxpayer funded. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
