FPL Customers Could See Rate Increase In 2023
September 7, 2022
Florida Power & Light customers could be facing higher bills in 2023.
FPL, and two other utilities in the state, filed petitions last week with the Florida Public Service Commission detailing higher costs for 2023, mostly from natural gas. If the proposals are approved, it will mean higher monthly bills next year.
In the FPL’s Northwest Florida territory, which was previously served by Gulf Power, the typical 1,000 kwh a month customer will see their bill go from $155.61 in 2022 to $160.43 in 2023. FPL customers in the rest of the state pay less, and would see an increase from $120.67 now to $130.23 in 2023.
“FPL believes it is appropriate to continue to monitor the market to determine whether the conditions and international events that have sharply impacted the natural gas market will moderate, such that a future fuel forecast may mitigate the projected fuel costs to be recovered,” the FPL petition stated. “FPL will continue to update its fuel cost calculation with additional data reflecting actual gas prices, actual sales and actual revenues. At the appropriate time toward the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023, FPL will file a request for recovery based on an updated calculation, to be considered by the commission in early 2023 for implementation following the customer notice period.”
More Fraud Claims Against Fence Contractor, Including Elderly Woman That Loaned Him Money
September 7, 2022
More alleged victims are coming forward claiming they were scammed by a local fence contractor, including an elderly woman that loaned him money.
Cody William Brown, 33, is facing new charges that include three counts of grand theft, giving a worthless check, exploitation of the elderly, and three counts of organized scheme to defraud. He was released on a new bond of $20,000.
He was previously charged with three counts of an organized scheme to defraud, multiple counts of grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and multiple worthless check counts.
New victims came forward after NorthEscambia.com was first to report the original allegations and a second arrest.
The latest allegations are detailed below, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reports.
“Boy Was I Fooled”
The victim told investigators that Brown previously did good work on fence jobs in the past. In April 2022, he told her that his son was sick and “would need to be seen in a different part of Florida for a specific medical treatment” before asking her for a loan, according to an arrest report. The 77-year old woman accompanied him to a local Regions Bank where she gave him $10,000 after she wrote a contract that was notarized by a bank employee, the report continues. The loan was due on May 30, but Brown never made a payment, she said.
She did not file a report until late August with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman told deputies that Brown took advantage of her, and later revealed that Brown did deposit a $5,000 check that was returned. A text message history shows that when confronted, Brown said he had COVID and was unable to handle the transaction, the report states.
“I thought I was dealing with an honorable person that needed help, boy was I fooled,” the 77-year old texted back.
According to the sheriff’s office, bank records corroborate the victim’s statements about the financial transactions.
Grand Theft, Scheme To Defraud Charges
Another victim reported that he gave Brown a $3,100 down payment to cover materials in a $6,200 fence job on Mobile Highway. The lawyer sent a letter to Brown and said no response was received.
The victim told deputies that he made contact with a lawyer to file a civil suit against Brown, but he was advised to file a police report due to previous news coverage about Brown.
“Cody Brown has even generated flyers which he passed out in neighborhoods in order to generate victims,” the ECSO report states.
The White Fence
According to the ECSO, Brown also accepted a $1,800 credit card down payment, half of a fence job’s total cost, from a victim.
The victim said a white fence was required in his neighborhood off Nine Mile Road, but Brown never started work. The victim told investigators that he texted Brown in January and February 2022, but the only response from Brown stated that materials were on backorder.
The victim called and filed a report in late August with the ECSO after news coverage about Brown.
Beulah Man Accused Of Sexual Battery Of Juvenile Girl
September 7, 2022
A Beulah man is accused of the sexual battery of a juvenile girl.
Jesse William Craig, 40, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim age 12 to 16, child abuse with great bodily harm, and sexual battery on a victim age 12-18.
In late August, the juvenile female victim told investigators that Craig had been sexually assaulting her since May 13. She later disclosed the abuse to a family member, according to an arrest report.
She told investigators that Craig began to touch her after smoking marijuana on the porch and giving her “gunshots”, which she described as him blowing marijuana smoke in her mouth. She said the sexual abuse escalated in mid-June.
The victim provided a consistent and detailed disclosure of sexual abuse with no obvious motivation to falsify her allegations, the report continues.
Craig remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $300,000.
Tate Freshmen Defeat Northview JV (With Photo Gallery)
September 7, 2022
The freshmen Tate High Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs junior varsity 30-14 Tuesday night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
Northview (2-2) will travel to Atmore next Monday evening to take on Escambia County High School at 6:00.
Tate will travel to Navarre on September 15. The JV will play at 5 p.m. and junior varsity at 7:00.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Tentatively Approves Static Millage Rate, Defined By State As Tax Increase
September 7, 2022
The Escambia County Commission Tuesday night gave tentative approval to a static property tax rate for next fiscal year, which is defined by the state as a tax increase.
The proposed millage rate is 7.4679, which is not an increased millage rate but is a 13.20% increase over the rolled back rate of 6.5969 mills.
The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and must be advertised as such.
“I’m very happy that we are leaving the millage rate static; that provides a little revenue based upon the growth of the tax roll,” Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh said. “Keeping the millage rate static provides the additional revenue necessary for us to provide raises to our first responders and our employees, and keep up with the inflation that we are dealing with.”
“We have not raised the millage rate in all the years (of service by current board members), so that’s fiscal prudence that I’m proud to say we’ve done,” Commissioner Lumon May said.
The BOCC will hold a second public hearing later this month to adopt their budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.
Volleyball: Jay Tops Northview 3-2 (With Photo Gallery)
September 7, 2022
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-2 in high school basketball Tuesday night in Bratt.
The Royals came out on top 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 15-8.
In junior varsity action, Jay won in two straight, 25-15, 25-23.
For a photo gallery from the varsity matchup, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Claims $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
September 7, 2022
An Escambia County woman has claimed a $1 million scratch-off lottery prize.
Zabetti Pappas, 66, claimed the Gold Rush Limited prize at the Florida Lottery Pensacola District Office on Tuesday.
Pappas purchased her winning ticket from Publix on Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.
The $20 game launched in September 2021 and features 32 top prizes of $5 million and 100 prizes of $1 million.
Smokies Beat The Wahoos 14-4
September 7, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell in their series opener against the Tennessee Smokies on Tuesday night by a score of 14-4.
Jake Slaughter hit a pair of homers, scored four runs and drove in six to lead Tennessee’s winning effort as the Smokies inched closer to clinching a North Division playoff berth.
Slaughter opened up the scoring right away in the first inning with a two-run homer against Zach King (L, 2-5), who allowed four more runs in the third on RBI doubles from Nelson Maldonado and Chase Strumpf.
The Smokies added two more runs in the fourth on a Miguel Amaya sacrifice fly and Andy Weber RBI double. Pensacola got their only run against Tennessee starter Chris Clarke (W, 7-4) with a Norel González RBI double in the sixth to bring the score to 8-1, but Yonathan Perlaza answered back with a solo homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning as Tennessee got their bats back to work.
Bryce Ball hit an RBI double in the seventh before Slaughter capped his night with a grand slam in the eighth. Will Banfield’s third single of the game brought home a Pensacola run in the eighth, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance drove in another in the ninth with a sacrifice fly, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Tuesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Construction Progressing On New Dollar General Stores In Molino, Walnut Hill
September 6, 2022
Construction is well underway on new Dollar General stores in Molino and Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill store is located at 7100 Highway 97, on the north side of the intersection of South Highway 99. The development was limited to 2.08 acres of a 4.12 acre property, including a 10,769 square-foot store with 43 parking spaces and a new driveway connection to Highway 97 directly across from South Highway 99.
The store near Molino is located at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 196. The 10,640 square foot Dollar General is located on a 1.5 acre parcel with driveway access to Highway 196, not Highway 29.
At an Escambia County development review meeting in May, several area residents spoke out against the Molino area store. Most cited traffic concerns about the intersection, including several fatal accidents that have occurred. They also expressed that the store is not needed due to the proximity of other Dollar Generals on Highway 29, including at Molino Road 2.5 miles to the north and Neal Road four miles to the south.
Pictured top: The Dollar General Store under construction at Highway 97 and South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. First two photos below show the store at Highway 29 and Highway 196 near Molino, and the bottom photo shows the Walnut Hill store as seen from South Highway 99. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Above: Molino area store.
Above: Molino area store, seen from Highway 29.
Above: Walnut Hill store, seen from South Highway 99.
Traffic Stop Leads To Fentanyl, Meth Arrest
September 6, 2022
Two people are facing drug charges after a traffic stop along Highway 29.
Harvey Drexel Heath, age 66 of McDavid, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (fentanyl), possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine) and driving without a license.
James Tyler Josey, a 42-year old who listed an address of homeless, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Nissan Titan driven by Heath at the Winn Dixie on Highway 29.
Josey, the passenger, was taken into custody due to an outstanding warrant from Santa Rosa County. The deputy noted a small bag containing methamphetamine and a straw in the passenger seat where Josey was seated.
A white powder that tested positive for fentanyl was found on a mirror in the center console, along with two bags containing fentanyl and two bags containing methamphetamine, according to an arrest report.
Heath told the deputy that a woman stole his truck in the past and had been driving it for a week, and the narcotics were not his, the report states.
Heath remained jailed Tuesday with bond set at $7,000 bond, while Josey was jailed with a $4,000 bond.
Pictured: Harvey Drexel Heath (left) and James Tyler Josey.