Health Officials Warn Of Syphilis Outbreak In Escambia County
October 4, 2011
There is an outbreak of syphilis cases in Escambia County, according to the Escambia County Health Department.
So far this year, 69 cases of syphilis have been reported — a number equivalent to last year’s total. Before this outbreak began, the county averaged 25 cases a year. Local health officials are consulting with Florida regional and state health officials to combat the increase of syphilis infections.
Syphilis is spread by intimate contact with an infected partner. Left untreated, it can lead to severe disease and even death. Studies indicate a two to five times increased risk for transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in the presence of syphilis. Syphilis may also be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her baby. These infants are at risk of lifelong disabilities and death.
The Escambia County Health Department is encouraging inviduals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of syphilis. In the initial stage, a sore might be visible in the genital area or the mouth (usually painless). In the second stage, a rash on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet, moist lesions in the mouth, and/or unexplained hair loss may develop. When sores and lesions are present, they are extremely infectious, and intimate contact with them should be avoided. Early syphilis can include periods of “latency” with no outward signs or symptoms. Individuals experiencing these symptoms, or who have experienced them in the past should see their physician or local clinic for testing and treatment.
The best way to prevent syphilis is not to have sex with an infected partner. The health department said it is important to know your partner’s syphilis status. Proper use of a latex condom can help protect against acquired HIV, syphilis and a number of other sexually transmitted diseases.
Syphilis can be detected through a simple blood test at a physician’s office or clinic. Several local clinics provide free or low cost screening, diagnosis and treatment services. The Escambia County Health Department also provides these services.
For more information on local low cost clinics or for the Escambia County Health Department’s STD clinic hours and fees, visit www.escambiahealth.com or call (850) 595-6532.
FHP Releases Name Of Motorcycle Fatality
October 4, 2011
Monday, the Florida Highway Patrol released the name of a 55-year old woman that died September 27 when she was thrown from her motorcycle off an interstate ramp to the highway 30 feet below.
Roberta Lee Williams of Pensacola was northbound on I-110 headed for eastbound I-10 at 5:27 p.m. when she failed to negotiate the curve for the ramp and struck a barrier wall. She was ejected over the concrete wall, falling 30 feet to the emergency lane of eastbound I-10.
Williams was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The FHP delayed releasing Williams’ name while they worked to locate her next of kin.
ECUA Fire Hydrant Testing Could Impact Some Water Customers
October 4, 2011
ECUA will conduct fire hydrant tests during the next two days that could impact water pressure and create discolored water for some customers.
The affected area includes; Woodland Street in Cantonment, just west of Highway 29, Fort Deposit Drive in Beulah, north of the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Mobile Highway, Chimney Pines Drive in Beulah, north of Mobile Highway, Mers Lane, southeast of the intersection of Bellview Avenue and Mobile Highway, Belize Drive, south of Lillian Highway, west of Dog Track Road, Bertha Street, south of Gulf Beach Highway, off of Semmes Street on Perdido Key, Grindstone Lane, north of Kingsfield Road, Tree Swallow Drive, southwest of the I-10 and I-110 interchange, Yarrow Circle, in the Ellyson Field area, Norton Drive, northwest of the intersection of Bayou Boulevard and 12th Ave, and Calle Hermosa on Pensacola Beach.
ECUA said these tests have the potential to temporarily impact small segments of the service area, possibly resulting in isolated and/or short-term cases of lower-than-normal water pressure. The potential also exists for the appearance of discolored water for brief periods in areas where the testing will be conducted. ECUA crews will be on stand-by in the test areas to conduct system flushing to minimize any of these potential disruptions.
Century Approves Business Tax Rate, Bills In The Mail
October 4, 2011
The Town of Century has given final approval to the same business tax rate charged by Escambia County, backing down on plans to effectively double rate.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error. Under state law, Century could adopt the fee schedule of another Florida government. The town had settled on the Fellsmere, Fla., fee schedule, which would have increased average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — from the current $25 to $55 or more. Under the Fellsmere plan, some businesses such pharmacies, entertainment establishments and factories would have paid $100 or more per year.
Monday night, the Century Town Council gave final approval to the business tax receipt rate of $26.25 per year charged by Escambia County. The tax bills were to be printed and mailed Tuesday. The tax is normally due on October 1.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”, such as the “business tax receipt” in Escambia County.
At last report, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
Pictured: The Century Town Council in session Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Registration Continues For Chief Challenge 5k Run/Walk; Students Handcraft Awards
October 4, 2011
The Second Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is coming up Saturday morning at Northview High School.
This week, Northview’s Materials and Processes Class students are making the awards for first through third place in each category. The students designed the award tomahawks in the class that has a focus on mass production techniques and use of materials.
The event will be held Saturday, October 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the school campus in Bratt.
Awards will be broken down to each grade level for males and females, as well as awards for adult, master and grand master. For a registration form and more details, click here.
Over 140 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge.
The Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com, Pepsi and Atmore Family Medicine.
Pictured: Instructor Bill Welch and Northview’s Materials and Processes Class students Wayne Bolton (left) and Trevis Redmond (right) worth to create awards for Saturday’s Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman That Tossed Her Dead Toddler In Trash Can Gets 15 Years
October 4, 2011
An Escambia County woman that tossed her dead toddler into a trash can and left her other two children home alone while she reported them missing has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Christian Rochelle Woods, 23, received the 15-year prison sentence and 30 years probation Monday afternoon on an aggravated manslaughter charged.
Woods left her two children, ages 18-months and two years, home alone for two days in a home with no power or water. The children were left with only a few cups of Jello to eat.
Authorities said that the little girl who was found dead in a trashcan, Myleahya Woods (pictured left), weighed just 11 pounds. Prosecutors say she starved to death. The other two children found in the home, Myleahya ’s twin sister, Mykayhala (pictured right) and Jaterius Woods, 2, were also severely malnourished. When deputies found Mykayhala under a bed in the filthy Escambia County home, she was in a coma. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said deputies first thought Mykayhala was dead until her eyes fluttered.
Woods called deputies to report that her children were missing. But deputies became suspicious. They found Jaterius and arrested Woods on child neglect charges because he showed what they said was obvious signs of abuse. About 12 hours after her arrest, Woods admitted that Myleahya was dead in a trashcan on the back porch of her home.
Prosecutors said Woods’ family members had no idea what was going on with the children, and that she never asked for help.
Some Law Enforcement Against Caylee’s Law Proposals
October 4, 2011
Proposals to strengthen penalties against parents for not reporting a missing child right away could have disastrous consequences, according to several law enforcement officials who testified Monday at a Senate panel charged with examining “Caylee’s Law” bills.
The Select Committee on Protecting Florida’s Children was convened in the aftermath of the much-publicized Casey Anthony murder trial this summer. The Orlando woman was charged with murdering her two-year-old daughter but was found not guilty by a jury, sparking outrage and a cry for legislative reform.
In reaction to the acquittal, several Florida lawmakers filed bills that would make it a felony to not report a child missing within a certain time frame, with proposals ranging from 12 hours to 48 hours. The committee is trying to determine if there is a need for a Caylee’s Law bill. There is no similar committee in the House.
But law enforcement officials invited to testify before the Senate committee said instilling a strict time limit to report a child missing could actually have the opposite of the intended effect.
One Senate proposal that requires parents to report a child missing within 48 hours could be confusing, said Connie Shingledecker, a major with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office who oversees child abuse and death cases.
“It could have the unintended consequence of confusing parents and having them feel they have to wait 48 hours to report,” Shingledecker said. “Any time you put a time frame on situations like this it can be confusing.”
Already, law enforcement officials say many parents delay reporting their children missing because they are under the mistaken assumption they have to wait 24 hours to do so. Adding another requirement into law would only confuse parents further, said representatives from several sheriffs’ offices.
And just because a parent calls 911, that doesn’t mean a law enforcement officer has been notified, adding another wrinkle to the proposed law that could unintentionally cause some parents to violate the law.
Instead, law enforcement officers pressed the committee to consider strengthening penalties for lying to law enforcement officers during an investigation of a missing, endangered, or murdered child.
“We’d like another tool in our toolbox,” said Sheriff Jeffrey Dawsy with Citrus County.
Anthony was found guilty of providing false information to a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor. Law enforcement officials say they would like to see the penalty increased from a misdemeanor to a second-degree felony, which carries with it the potential for more prison time than a misdemeanor would.
Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, the chairman of the committee, pressed law enforcement officials for details on how common it is for a parent to not report a child missing for an extensive period of time. One criticism of Caylee’s Law proposals is that the bills may address a non-existent problem based on the rare example of Casey Anthony.
“We do have parents who fail to report their children as missing and usually it is because they have some culpability,” Shingledecker said. “They are impaired and have left kids with folks they don’t even know.”
But she acknowledged that instances like the Casey Anthony case, where two-year-old Caylee Anthony was not reported missing for a month and a body wasn’t found until nearly six months later, are “very rare.”
Negron said the committee will likely meet one more time before developing recommendations on whether a Caylee’s Law was needed and if so, what it should contain.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Scott Addresses Gulf Power Symposium, Announces Economic Grants
October 4, 2011
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s message was clear Monday during Gulf Power’s Annual Economic Symposium in Miramar Beach – Florida is open for business.
The first term governor said there is no reason for companies to locate in Alabama or Georgia instead of Northwest Florida.
Scott also announced nearly $2.5 million in defense grants to local communities and organizations which support Florida military installations — including $300,000 to the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and $257,726 to TEAM Santa Rosa.
“I am proud that Florida continues to support our military bases, military service members and their families, and the defense industry through the defense grant programs,” said Scott. “Additionally, these programs work to protect a $65 billion economic impact, and the over 686,181 direct and indirect jobs, which the defense industry annually infuses into Florida.”
James J. “Skip” McKinney
October 4, 2011
James J. “Skip” McKinney, age 59 of Cantonment, passed away Saturday, October 1, 2011, in the comfort of his home surrounded by family and friends, losing a courageous battle with cancer. Skip was born November 24, 1951, and was a Vietnam War veteran, a retired lieutenant at the city fire department, and an owner of many businesses in the area. Skip loved coaching his children, and grandchildren. Some of Skip’s most wonderful times were when he was coaching his granddaughter Katelyn in girls softball. Skip was an avid fan of the University of Alabama football.
He was preceded in death by his father, Shelton McKinney, his mother, Dorothy Langley and his stepfather, Carter Langley.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Karen; his two sons, Brad McKinney (Shauna), and Wade McKinney (Michelle); his best friend Thomas Noel; his sisters, Sandra “Fay” Barrett and Sharon Wigg (Tim). His grandchildren, Katelyn McKinney, Cooper McKinney, Tucker McKinney, Paige McKinney and Madden McKinney also survive him.
Memorial service will be 3 p.m. Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Olive Baptist Church with Pastor Ted Traylor officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
The family would like to express a special thanks to the caring staff from Emerald Coast Hospice, and two very special ladies, Miss Julie and Miss Evelyn.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice, 1555 North Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida 32501.
Evie Elizabeth Rigby Hall
October 4, 2011
Evie Elizabeth Rigby Hall, age 90, went to be with the Lord and loved ones gone before her, on October 01, 2011. She was born in Oak Grove in Escambia County where she went to school and graduated from Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill.
Mrs. Hall attended Oak Grove Baptist Church when she was young. She was a long time member of East Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola where she was Sunday School teacher of an adult class she loved dearly – Love Bible Class. She and her class did many “gifts of love” projects for the local nursing homes over the years.
Mrs. Hall and her sister, Gladys, had a special love for the Children’s Home and Mrs. Hall received the Child Advocate of the Year Award in 1997 from the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Western Division. It was presented by Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s.
Mrs. Hall retired from the Naval Air Station after 36 years of Civil Service, where she retired as budget officer for the Naval Supply Center.
She was the youngest and the last of a large family, born to Jesse Lee Rigby and Evie Elizabeth “Babe” Rhoad. She was preceded in death by her husband of 19 years, William F. “Bill” Hall; her parents and 12 siblings; Leslie, Huddie, Olive, infant brother, Leila, Gladys, Herman, J.D., Daniel, Margaret and a set of twins.
She is survived by her two children, John M. Hall (Andrea) of Kingston Springs, TN and Judy J. Hall of Pensacola, FL; two grandsons, Joshua M. Hall (Mandy) of Valencia, CA and Kellen M. Hall of Fort Meyers, FL; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 05, 2011, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Dr. Dale Patterson officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Ron Rigby, Adam Rigby, Chad Rigby, Jesse Rigby, Joey Darby and Warren Post.
The family wishes to thank Covenant Hospice at West Florida Hospital for the manner in which their mother was treated in her last days, with dignity and compassion.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the Children’s Home Society, Western Division, 1300 N. Palafox St., Suite 103, Pensacola, FL 32501.