Learn About Florida KidCare Insurance Today In Bratt
April 8, 2010
If your children are uninsured or are on the Medicaid share of cost program, there is an easy opportunity today to get Florida KidCare insurance for your children.
A Florida KidCare outreach advocate will be at Bratt Elementary School from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. today. Anyone with children is welcome to attend and sign up, not just those with children at Bratt.
This is a direct computer application process, but the advocate will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance.
In order to apply for Florida KidCare for your children, you will need to bring:
- Picture Identification
- Social Security numbers for the children
- Pay stubs from past four weeks (or), 2009 W-2 form (or) Most recent tax return
- Proof of child support, Social Security and or unemployment benefits
- Information on cost to add child to parent’s health insurance through employer
For more information, contact Sara Knighten, RN at (850) 327-6137 ext. 249, click here for a printable information sheet, or visit floridakidcare.org for information and eligibility requirements
Northview Falls To Bozeman
April 8, 2010
The Northview Chiefs will stay on top of District 1-2A despite a Wednesday night loss to Bozeman.
Bozeman beat the Chiefs 8-0 in a non-district game. Bozeman held the Chiefs to just two hits in Bratt.
The Chiefs will be just across the state line Friday against Escambia County High School in Atmore. The JV plays at 4:00, and the varsity is scheduled for 6:30.
Powder-Puff Football Tonight
April 8, 2010
Girls from Escambia Academy will take on girls from Escambia County High School this afternoon in a benefit Powder-Puff football game.
The event is a fundraiser for a Youth Leadership Atmore Class of 2010 service project to purchase books for Atmore area elementary schools. The game will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Escambia County High School football stadium.
Admission is $3 at the gate. Concessions will be available.
State Attorney: No Wrongdoing By Commission; Grand Jury To Investigate Valentino
April 8, 2010
The State Attorney’s Office has found that no crime was committed by the Escambia County Commission when a drainage contract was rebid last year, but allegations of improper solicitation of campaign funds against Commissioner Gene Valentino will be presented to an Escambia County Grand Jury for their consideration.
When bids were opened on November 18, 2009, for a Maplewoods drainage project, Gulf Equipment Company of Mobile was low bidder at $1,768,621. Road, Inc. of Cantonment’s bid was $22,982.26 more. The county’s purchasing department recommended to the Escambia County Commission that they approve the Gulf Equipment bid.
Six days later, on November 24, Valentino admits that he met for about 45 minutes in his office with Roads, Inc. officials, including the company’s president Cody Rawson and Russell Weaver. Valentino tells the daily newspaper that he met with Rawson to ask for campaign support, but retracts that statement but does not explain what was discussed in the meeting.
Roads, Inc. officials then contacted commissioners Kevin White, Grover Robinson and Wilson Robertson, telling them that they could correct a mistake on their bid and save the county $100,000.
Valentino made a motion on January 7 to rebid the project because of errors made by county staff. County Administrator Bob McLaughlin and staff members object. The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Marie Young against.
A week later, January 14, White made a motion at a Committee of the Whole meeting to reverse the rebid. White, Robinson and Robertson apologized, while Valentino points blame at county staff and the bid process. The vote to reverse the rebid and award the contract to Gulf Equipment was ratified at the January 21 meeting.
“Commissioner White began to question his decision,” Gregory Marcille, assistant State Attorney write in his findings. “There was considerable public concern as a result of media reports. Much of this concern revolved around Commissioner Valentino and his meeting with Cody Rawson and Russell Weaver and alleged discussions of political support.”
“We will present the issues involving Commissioner Gene Valentino and his alleged solicitation of political support to the Grand Jury for their consideration,” Marcille said.
The commission later approved a new set of rules to prevent any attempted contractor influence. Now, commissioners can sanction or even disqualify bidders that attempt to influence the board or any county employee in the time between the receipt of a sealed bid and the contract award date. The Purchasing Department already had a similar internal policy, but now it is an official county-wide policy.
Contractors that violate the policy could see a contracted terminated or even suspension from future bids on county projects. The lobbying policy does not impact a contractor’s other lobbying efforts during zoning procedures, proposal requests or letters of interest on a project.
To read the entire report from the State Attorney’s Office, click here.
Attack On A Mall: 300 Responders Conduct Counter Terrorism Drill
April 8, 2010
Hundreds of emergency personnel converged on University Mall in Pensacola Thursday for a counter terrorism exercise.
With an active shooter inside the mall, a hostage situation, a hazardous materials incident and explosives, the exercise allowed first responders to practice for a variety of scenarios.
About 300 emergency personnel from 17 agencies took part in the exercise funding by a Department of Homeland Security grant.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the exercise, click here. (Some readers may find a portion of the photos to be graphic.)
Pictured above: A SWAT team prepares to enter University Mall Thursday afternoon during a counter terrorism drill. Pictured below: A hazmat team begins their search for victims inside the mall. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Century Crash
April 7, 2010
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash on North Century Boulevard at State Line Road this afternoon.
Reports indicated that a Toyota Prius and a Nissa Titus collided in the accident about 5:30 p.m. near the Piggly Wiggly. A 49-year old male, a 24-year old female and an infant were sustained non-life threatening injuries in the collision. The 8-month old was reportedly properly restrained in a car seat; the baby’s injuries were not immediately considered severe.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Atmore Ambulance, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the collision,.
Sandy Hollow Road Bridge Closed For Emergency Repairs
April 7, 2010
Sandy Hollow Road at Sandy Hollow Creek in Davisville was closed this afternoon for emergency bridge repairs, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County’s public information manager.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s bridge consultant, Volkert and Associates, recommended that the bridge be closed after an inspection. One or possibly two of the pilings that support the bridge need replacing, according to Escambia County.
Highway 97 is the detour for the road, which runs from West Highway 4 to Gobbler Road. The bridge, located about a mile and a half south of Highway 4, already had a restricted weight limit of 20 tons.
The county is waiting for the contractor and county engineering staff to meet and provide an estimate time period for the bridge repairs.
Pictured above: Work crews place barricades on Sandy Hollow Road late Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Margaret Marie Roach Brown
April 7, 2010
Margaret Marie Roach Brown, 82 of Century FL. passed away Monday, April 5, 2010.
She was born October 12, 1927 in Bratt, FL. Margaret was a member of the Poplardale Baptist Church. Preceding her in death was her husband, J.D. Brown and her sons; Wayne Brown and James “Buddy” Brown.
She is survived by her sons and daughters in law; Dewey “Jody” Brown, Doug and Donna Brown, Charlie and Pamela Brown, Jackie and Kathy Brown, Anne Brown and a sister Mary Nell “Missy” Peacock. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 9, 2010 at 1 p.m. from Poplardale Baptist Church with Bro. Robert Gandy officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Family will receive friends at the church from 11a.m. until service time.
The family would like to thank Century Care Center, the doctors and staff of Jay Hospital and Covenant Hospice for their outstanding care.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 highway 29, Cantonment, FL. is charge of arrangements.
Man Wanted For Shooting At FHP Trooper Arrested In Connecticut
April 7, 2010
The man wanted for shooting at two Florida State Troopers on March 25 was arrested by U.S. Marshals, Connecticut State Police and local law enforcement officers early this morning.
Officials in Winchester, Conn., took Brody James Whitaker, 37, into custody after a brief struggle. Whitaker escaped authorities two weeks ago after shooting at two Florida troopers who attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.
After firing on the Florida troopers, Whitaker crashed the Chevrolet Suburban he was driving and fled on foot into the Lake Panasoffkee Wildlife Management area in Sumter County. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers joined the Florida Highway Patrol in a widespread search of the area for two days as Whitaker eluded his pursuers, which sparked a nationwide manhunt. Yesterday, authorities tracked him to a residence in Connecticut.
“The Florida Highway Patrol wants to thank all the agencies involved in the search and capture of this dangerous man wanted in two states,” said FHP Director, Colonel John Czernis. “Law enforcement officers throughout the area, including Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer and his deputies, worked tirelessly in a coordinated effort. Without the combined efforts of law enforcement across state lines, the arrest of this fugitive would not have been possible.”
Whitaker faces an assortment of charges, to include aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and aggravated assault on a police officer in Florida. He has a criminal history in several different states: Michigan, Virginia, California, Florida and Ohio. He is wanted in Michigan for illegal drug possession. From today’s arrest, Connecticut has charged him with being a fugitive from justice and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Currently, Whitaker is in custody and awaiting court proceedings before a judge in Connecticut. He will subsequently await extradition to Florida to face charges.
One Injured In Highway 4 Crash
April 7, 2010
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Bratt.
The accident happened just after 5:30 a.m. on West Highway 4 near Vaughn Road. The driver of a pickup told authorities that he was westbound on Highway 4 when he lost control and ran off the road. His truck traveled through fences on two different pieces of property and came to rest upright in the yard of home.
The driver was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
It was extremely foggy at the time of the accident, but it was not immediately known if fog contributed to the crash. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the call.
Pictured above: The driver of the truck was injured in an early morning crash Wednesday on West Highway 4 in Bratt. Pictured below: The truck traveled through two fences and some landscaping after the driver left the roadway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
