State Intends To Deny Farm Bureau Insurance Rate Increase
August 6, 2008
The state plans to deny a recent double digit rate increase for Florida’s third largest property insurer.
Florida Farm Bureau asked the state for a rate increase that averaged about 28 percent. But Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced Tuesday that the Office of Insurance Regulation has issued a Notice of Intent to deny that increase.
Some Farm Bureau policyholders could have seen an increase of as much as 96 percent in Dade County.
“The Notice of Intent is based on a thorough review of the information provided by Farm Bureau in its recent rate filing and the testimony it provided at the July 30 public hearing,” said Deputy Commissioner Belinda Miller. “Farm Bureau failed to provide necessary support for the rate increase it requested.”
Farm Bureau now has 21 days, if they choose, to petition the Office for an administrative hearing. In the meantime, the company cannot implement the proposed rate increases. The 24.9 percent rate reduction that became effective in June 2007 remains in effect.
The decision to deny the rate increase followed a public hearing in which a panel of representatives from the Office questioned various aspects of the rate filing.
Farm Bureau, which has over 100,000 property policy holders in the state, said in needed the rate increase to be able to pay claims in the event of a major hurricane hitting their insured in the state.
The state’s second largest property insurer, State Farm, has asked for a 47 percent rate increase. A public hearing on that request will be held on August 12. State farm insures about one million Florida homes.
Want To Learn About The Escambia Sheriff’s Office? Attend Free Academy
August 6, 2008
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department will hold a Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy beginning next week, and North Escambia residents are encouraged to apply.
“We’d love to have you there,” coordinator Rhonda Ray from the Escambia Sheriff’s Department told the Century Town Council.
The 10 week academy will introduce attendees to various aspects of the sheriff’s department and its daily operations. People that attend the academy will learn about the patrol, detention, traffic, DUI enforcement, swat, air operations, investigations, crime scene, K-9, narcotics and other divisions of the county’s law enforcement branch. Students will also have a chance to tour the jail and dispatch center.
The academy will be held on Tuesdays from six until nine p.m. beginning August 12. There is no cost, and meals are included.
If you are interested in attending the academy, you can download an application by clicking here.
Pictured above: Rhonda Ray from the Escambia Sheriff’s Department explains the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy to the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Church Looking For 100 Years Of History
August 6, 2008
A North Escambia church will celebrate 100 years in October, and they would like your help now to locate items related to church history.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will celebrate its 100th anniversary in October. If you have any information on the history of the church or photos of past events at the church, please contact Howard Hanks at 327-6278.
Could North Escambia Become Part Of The City Of Pensacola?
August 5, 2008
The entire North Escambia county area, including the Town of Century, would join the rest of Escambia County and the City of Pensacola under one unified government if a new political organization gets its way. The new combined government would form the fourth largest city in Florida.
“What the unified government model does is take those and put them into one government,” Jason Crawford, co-chair of the group Escambia All For One, said of the existing governments of Escambia County, Century and Pensacola. “We are talking about creating a new government that represents the people of Escambia County.”
The group publicly unveiled its plan for the first time Monday night at a meeting of the Century Town Council. The All For One Plan would possibly do away with the town’s mayor, council and even the town itself.
“Would the municipality of Century still exist?” Council President Anne Brooks asked.
“There’s opportunity to look at how to do that,” Crawford (pictured left) responded. But, he pointed out, attempts to keep smaller cities within larger consolidations have failed in other locations around the country.
“Tonight we came to you not with answers, but with questions,” he said. “Would it be smart for the city of Century to be part of a consolidated government?”
The consolidated Escambia County or City of Pensacola government would benefit the citizens in the county with reduced costs from the consolidation of services and the reduction of service duplication. That, Crawford said, would reduce taxes.
And being the fourth largest city in Florida would have other benefits as well, according to All For One.
“It’s going to impact economic development,” Crawford said. “One thing we need to do is improve our voice. It (the consolidated government) is your voice to Tallahassee and the state. It’s your voice to Washington, D.C.”
Crawford said the 90 members of Escambia All For One are not “the downtown crowd”, and they are not a “chamber of commerce” group.
He invited the Town of Century to become involved in the group, perhaps appointing a committee and hold town hall meetings to discuss the process. The council will attempt to hold a workshop with representatives of Escambia All For One in the future.
The Escambia All For One “Vision 2020″ reads as follows:
We the citizens of Escambia County respectfully petition the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, the city councils of the City of Pensacola and the City of Century, the Escambia County School Board, the elected constitutional officers of Escambia County, and any and all special districts and authorities to hear our plan and respond to our call for unified local government that is fair and just for all, efficient in the use of public resources, accountable and responsive to the general citizenry without regard to race, gender, creed, national origin, or social station.
Furthermore, we do humbly beseech you to establish a local government that is unified in mission, vision and values. We the people do not desire multiple masters located in the same geographic area, duplicating services and competing for the same precious resources.
To wit:
- We pray this new government will be a modern model of accountability and efficiency.
- This government should be dedicated to the elimination of poverty and committed to shielding citizens from the harsh realities of inadequate housing, homelessness, inadequate health care and hunger.
- We long for a strong government that is a solitary, unified voice in pursuit of jobs, economic opportunity and prosperity for all people.
- This government should be the lead supporter for the recruitment of new business and industry.
- This government should be the primary representative to business and industry re-locators, economic developers and the resident political powers in Washington and Tallahassee.
- This government should build upon the long-standing relationships that exist between the local community and the military.
- This government should provide quality public health and safety services, including fire prevention and suppression, law enforcement, sewage disposal and treatment, trash collection and clean potable water.
- This government should be the prime coordinator of community planning, including transportation, recreation and emergency planning.
- This government should respect natural assets, the waterfront, beaches, bays, bayous and rivers of the region.
Wrecks in Molino, Walnut Hill Injure Two People Monday Night
August 5, 2008
Two different wrecks Monday night in North Escambia sent two people to area hospitals.
The first accident (pictured below) happened about 7:30 at the intersection of Arthur Brown Road and Juniper Street in Walnut Hill. Witnesses tell NorthEscambia.com that the driver of a Honda Accent was making a U-turn at the intersection when the vehicle was struck on the passenger side by an older model Ford pickup. The driver ofthe Accent was transported from the scene by Atmore Ambulance.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call.
The second accident (pictured above) about 9:30 Monday night in Molino sent one female to the hospital with minor injuries. Authorities say the driver of the vehicle ran through the stop sign at the end of Highway 95A and Highway 29. The vehicle became airborne, landing in an upright position in the median of Highway 29 just over a half mile north of Highway 97.
The exact cause that accident is also under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Volunteer Fire Department and Escambia County EMS also responded to that scene.
Pictured above: The driver of this car sustained minor injuries in an accident at the intersection on Highway 95A and Highway 29 in Molino Monday night. Pictured below: Witnesses say this pickup hit a Honda Accent (pictured bottom) as the driver attempted to make a U-turn on Arthur Brown Road at Juniper Street in Walnut Hill about 7:30 Monday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Sports Park To Be Named For Pro Football Player
August 5, 2008
A local sports complex will be named for a former pro football player.
The Showalter Park Expansion will now be known as the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex after a vote Monday night by the Century Town Council. The 22 acre expansion to Showalter Park in Century is currently under construction.
Pleasant, a Century native, is a former pro football player selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. During his 14 year NFL career, Pleasant played for the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots.
He played a total of 202 NFL games and racked up 58 sacks and two interceptions and a defensive end.
Town To Get Drunks Out Of Parks, Determines Location Of Town Limits
August 5, 2008
The Century Town Council took steps Monday night to eliminate alcohol consumption in the town’s parks and determined where exactly the city limits are on Pleasant Hill Road.
“The sheriff’s department has refused to do anything because they don’t have jurisdiction,” Council President Anne Brooks said of calls to the Escambia Sheriff’s Department to remove people drinking in a town park.
It’s a situation that has become a problem for a nearby business. Brooks said the Country Bumpkin has had problems with drunks in the nearby Roadside Park yelling at their customers. Calls to the sheriff’s department have not solved the problem, she said.
Brooks told the council that she spoke with Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, and he suggested that the town notify the sheriff’s department that anyone consuming alcohol in a town park was violating a town rule. That would allow the town to have the person removed from the park for trespassing.
The council voted to have Mayor Freddie McCall send a letter to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department notifying them that anyone consuming alcohol in any town park was trespassing and should be removed.
In other business, the council know knows where the town limits are on Pleasant Hill Road. A map located by the town’s engineer clearly shows six lots on the west side of Pleasant Hill Road to lie within the town limits.
The town limit discussion began at a recent meeting of the town council. The council voted to forgive a past due garbage bill for a resident on Pleasant Hill Road who has not had a can for years but has run up a $446 garbage bill. The council also voted to require the resident to pay a garbage bill from now forward.
“When did I get in the city limits?” the man asked at the council’s July 21st meeting. “I’ve been on that hill for 36 years.”
But the map from the town’s engineer indicates the man’s property is in the Town of Century.
“There’s been some shady deals going on to get people in the city limits from the former administration,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said. He asked the mayor for a date the Pleasant Hill lots became part of the town.
“It it possible to satisfy the people on Pleasant Hill that we can get a date?” Council member Gary Riley asked.
Also at Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting, the council:
- Heard a report from the mayor that there were no new developments following the apparent closure of Helicopter Technologies
- Presented a certificate to Brooks for attending the Florida League of Cities 2008 Institute For Elected Officials
- Approved McCall’s request to attend the Florida League of Cities meeting next week in Tampa
- Delayed action on spending $1,210 to create a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) land use map for the town’s upcoming new comprehensive plan
- Scheduled a public hearing at 6:30 on August 18 for public input on a $200,000 grant application for work at the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex
- Heard a request from Hawkins to consider a vision statement he presented to the council several months ago. Brooks suggested that the council schedule a workshop to review the document
- Heard from a representative from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department about an upcoming law enforcement academy. NorthEscambia.com will have a story about the law enforcement academy posted on Wednesday.
Meth Lab Found In Molino Home, Five Arrested
August 4, 2008
One of the biggest meth labs in recent Escambia County history was discovered in Molino Saturday.
It took deputies and a hazardous materials team about 15 hours in to cleanup the methamphetamine lab in the 800 block of Nancy Lane off Highway 95A, about a quarter mile behind Highland Baptist Church. (A map is at the bottom of this story.)
Five people were arrested on various drug and child neglect charges due to a 10 year old living in the house.
Arrested were:
- Erica Diamond, 23, charged with child neglect, narcotics violation, trafficking, and possession/distribution chemical with known use to manufacture controlled substance. Her total bond was set at $21,500.
- Shannon Lee Boone, 22, charged with aggravated child abuse, two counts of narcotics violation, trafficking, possession/distribution chemical with known use to manufacture controlled substance, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, introducing contraband into a jail and violation of probation. His bond was set at $78,000.
- Amy Peavy, 28, charged with child neglect, narcotics violation, trafficking, and possession/distribution chemical with known use to manufacture controlled substance. Her total bond was set at $21,500.
- Doy Lynn Josey, 46, charged with aggravated child abuse, four counts narcotics violation, trafficking and possession/distribution chemical with known use to manufacture controlled substance. His total bond was set at $42,000.
- Johnny Ray Smith, 37, charged with driving while license suspended or revoked, child neglect, narcotics violation, trafficking, possession/distribution chemical with known use to manufacture controlled substance, failure of a defendant on bond to appear. His total bond was set at $34,500.
As of late Sunday night, all five suspects remained in the Escambia County Jail.
The meth lab was discovered in the quiet neighborhood after Smith was stopped about 6 a.m. for a traffic violation. Smith was discovered to be in possession of methamphetamines and other drug paraphernalia. Deputies were tipped off to the meth lab in the house by that traffic stop.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Century Men In Court Next Month On Dog Fighting Charges; Milton Man Gets 15 Years For His Part
August 4, 2008
Two Century men will face charges in court next month related to dog fighting in Santa Rosa County. Last week, a Milton man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raising put bulls to be used in those dog fights.
Raymond Eugene Teamer, 42, of Milton was charged with 35 counts of training or baiting animals for fighting and two counts of possessing or selling dog fighting equipment, all third degree felonies, in connection with a raid on his property in Milton back in November of last year. He was sentenced in court Friday to 15 years in state prison.
Jeffery Jay, 34, and Michael Anthony Jones, 38, both of Century, were charged with training or baiting animals for fighting.
The Century men were arrested in early November following a traffic stop as they left Teamer’s Milton home. Two fighting dogs were found in the back of their truck, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department. Other items that are used in the dog fighting community were also found in the vehicle. Both were released on $10,000 bond each the same day.
That traffic stop led to the search of Teamer’s home.
Investigators have been investigating Teamer for months in an effort to break up a large scale operation in which Teamer was breeding high dollar pit bulls for fighting other dogs in multiple states.
A search warrant was then obtained for Teamer’s residence. When the search warrant was executed, investigators found approximately 30 pit bull dogs located on the nine acre parcel of land owned by Teamer. These dogs were spread throughout Teamer’s property, chained fast to steel posts embedded in the ground with heavy industrial chains. The majority of the dogs had wounds, both fresh and healed, that are consistent with dog fighting activities. The investigation revealed that Teamer breeds these dogs specifically for the purpose of fighting. Numerous records, trophies, and other items were located on Teamer’s property that document Teamer’s activity of breeding, selling and fighting these dogs.
Multiple agencies and entities assisted with the investigation, including the collection and removal of the dogs from the property. The Flomaton Police Department as well as the Flomaton Animal Shelter also assisted in the investigation, due to the majority of the dog fights occurring in their jurisdiction.
Nominations Sought For Woman Of The Year In Florida Ag
August 4, 2008
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2008 “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. The award, now in its 24th year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture.
“This award spotlights the vital role of women in Florida agriculture and serves to encourage other women to get involved in the business,” Bronson said. “Many women have made significant contributions over the years in developing and sustaining this important industry, which has an overall economic impact estimated at more than $100 billion annually.”
Those nominated for the award will be judged by a panel familiar with Florida agriculture. The award will be presented in February at the opening-day luncheon of the 2009 Florida State Fair in Tampa.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which sponsors the event, has sent nomination forms to agricultural organizations around the state. The deadline for submitting nominations to the Department is November 1, 2008. Nominations remain active for two years; after that time they must be resubmitted in order to be considered.
For more information about the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award including screening criteria and biographies of previous winners, or to obtain nomination forms, call Richard Gunnels at (850) 488-3022 or visit www.florida-agriculture.com/agwoman/index.htm.