Another Local West Nile Case
September 25, 2012
A third case of the West Nile Virus has been reported in Santa Rosa County, bringing the two-county area total to 13 cases and one death.
Three human cases have now been reported in Santa Rosa, while 10 cases with one fatality have been reported in Escambia County. A death from West Nile was also reported in Okaloosa County.
Health departments in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have said the chances of more West Nile infections remains high.
Area residents are advised to attempt to avoid going outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are the most active, to use a mosquito repellent and to wear protective clothing. Residents should also work to remove any standing water around the outside of their homes.
Battle Over Early Voting In Florida Appears To Be Over
September 25, 2012
The war over early voting in Florida ahead of November’s presidential election appeared to wind down Monday, with a federal court refusing to block a portion of the state’s controversial 2011 elections law.
In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan denied a request from Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown and other black voters to issue an injunction to keep the state from reducing the number of early-voting days ahead of the Nov. 6 elections — when Florida could play pivotal roles in deciding which party wins the White House, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House.
The voters had argued that the changes, which would reduce the number of early-voting days from at least 12 to no more than eight, would disproportionately affect minority voters, who are more likely to take advantage of early voting than white voters.
The state had countered that elections officials were allowed to offer more hours on each of those days, and that the changes applied equally to all voters.
Corrigan relied heavily on evidence that many counties would offer as many as 12 hours a day in early voting and would require some Sunday voting, a potential opening for the “souls to the polls” get-out-the-vote efforts of some black churches.
“Because Florida’s Early Voting Statute allows early voting during non-working hours, as well as voting during the weekend, including one Sunday, voting times which are important to African American voters, as well as to (get out the vote) efforts, the Court cannot find that the 2011 Early Voting Statute denies equal access to the polls,” he wrote.
Brown and others had argued that the Sunday required for early voting, nearly a week-and-a-half before the election, was not as good as the Sunday immediately before Election Day, which some supervisors used for early voting under the old law.
“I had really hoped that the judge would allow counties to restore voting on the Sunday immediately before election day, but at least we will have one Sunday of early voting guaranteed,” Brown said in a statement issued by her office following the ruling.
Brown vowed to hold a pair of voter-registration drives Tuesday and Sunday in an effort to counter what she portrayed as an effort by the GOP to suppress the black vote.
Brown and the voters could still push forward with the remainder of their lawsuit against the changes, but Corrigan’s ruling means he doesn’t believe they have a good chance of winning the case. And the sides aren’t supposed to let him know whether they want to move forward until December — after the elections.
Corrigan’s order comes a few days after state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and a pair of voting-rights organizations abandoned an administrative case challenging the implementation of the law in 62 of the state’s 67 counties. That fight centered over whether Secretary of State Ken Detzner could require some counties to follow the new law while five counties that must gain federal approval for any voting changes held elections under the old law.
But federal officials eventually green-lighted the early voting change, making the challenge moot.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Citizens Moving 60,000 Insurance Policies To Other Companies
September 25, 2012
The Office of Insurance Regulation on Monday announced that 60,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp will be taken by private carriers as the state attempts to whittle away at the 1.4 million policies now held by the state-backed insurer.
Florida Peninsular Insurance Co. will take an additional 10,000 policies, bringing its Citizens takeout total to 45,000. American Integrity Insurance Co. will take 50,000 policies. The takeouts will begin in November.
“It is encouraging to see the commitment of these domestic companies to bring more jobs as well as additional insurance capacity to Florida,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a statement.
Citizens’ policyholders will be notified of the take-out request (assumption) on October 1 and have 30 days to accept or decline the offer. If policyholders do not respond, they will be transferred to the private company on November 6. Earlier this month, OIR approved a 150,000-policy takeout.
By The News Service of Florida
Deputies Seize Guns, $264,000 In Drugs And Cash
September 25, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized tens of thousands of dollars in cash and marijuana plants as search warrants were recently executed.
After serving three different search warrants, authorities seized over $35,000 in cash, 83 marijuana plants worth over $166,000, over 15 pounds of “high grade” marijuana with a street value of over $63,000 and a quantity of crack cocaine and prescription medications. Deputies also seized nine firearms including assault rifles and handguns, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said several people will face charges after the search warrants were served in Crescent Lake, Myrtle Grove and Monte Claire.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berrydale Wreck Claims Life Of Jay Man
September 25, 2012
One person was killed in wreck Monday night on Highway 4 in northern Santa Rosa County.
The accident happened about about 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 4 and Gordon Landing Road, about a mile east of the Berrydale Forestry Camp.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Joshua David Holland, age 30 of Jay, was attempted to cross Highway 4 from Gordon Landing Road to Mason West Road when he pulled his 1988 Ford pickup into the path of an 18-wheeler drive by William Mathew Connell, age 47 of Ochlocknee, GA.
Connell swerved in attempt to avoid a collision but was unable to avoid the wreck, according to FHP.
Holland was pronounced deceased at the scene. His passenger, 22-year old Lacey Lefay Harris of Jay, was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition. Connell refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Century Signs Off On New $2.9 Million Budget
September 25, 2012
The Town of Century approved a $2.9 million budget Monday afternoon for the upcoming fiscal year that is about $2.14 million less than last year.
Century’s 2012-2013 budget was set at $2,889,827. Last year’s $5,032,816 budget was unusually large for Century due to grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000.
There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, which begins October 1.
To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here or the image below.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Marion “Bud” Albritton
September 25, 2012
Mr. Marion “Bud” Albritton, 88, passed away on Monday, September 24, 2012, in Pensacola.
Mr. Albritton was a native of Nokomis (FL) and a former resident of Bratt and Nokomis and has resided in Atmore since 2000. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Atmore Branch. He was retired from Federal Civil Service after 18 years of service and was also retired from Escambia County Florida Road Department where he worked as a fuel truck driver. He loved horses and dogs.
Survivors include his five sons, Ronnie and Linda Albritton of Atmore, Lloyd and Gwen Albritton of Atmore, Phillip Albritton of Atlanta, GA, Greg and Deborah Albritton of Range, AL and Avis and Nelia Albritton of the Philippines; one daughter, Susan Denman of Atmore; three sisters, Jean McGhee of Poarch, Edna Raines of Pensacola and Yvonne Kirkley of Deland, FL; 25 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 28, 2012, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Brother Bill Beach, Brother Lloyd Albritton, Brother Greg Albritton and Brother Gary Godwin officiating.
Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 27, 2012, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Preston Albritton, Steven Albritton, Randy Albritton, Mark Harrell, Preston Routh and Steven Reynolds.
Honorary pallbearers will be the VFW and Aaronic Priesthood of Atmore Branch, Jordon Coon, Sammy Ellestad, Donny Ellestad, Brent Akins, Dylan Jones, Kyle Jones and Austin Kyzer.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Betty Ann Hicks
September 25, 2012
Mrs. Betty Ann Hicks, 79, of Atmore, passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2012, in Atmore. She was native of Seoul, South Korea, and a resident of Atmore since 1972, settling there after traveling the world as an Army wife for 20 years. She was a former employee of K-Mart and Wind Creek.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Hicks and daughter-in-law Audrey Hicks.
Survivors include her three sons. James D. Hicks (Kathy) of Atmore, Donald L. Hicks of Cantonment and Dennis H. Hicks of Atmore; three grandsons, Timothy Hicks (Christy), Anthony Hicks (Sarah) and Daniel Hicks; two great-grandchildren, Brittany Cheyenne Hicks and Hunter James Hicks.
Funeral Services will be Friday, September 28, 2012, at 10 a.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Bro. D. L. Harville officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 27, 2012, from 6-8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel in Atmore.
Mosquito Spraying Planned Tonight In Molino, Walnut Hill Area
September 24, 2012
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division plans to spray in an area in the Cantonment and Gonzalez areas from 6:30 until 10:00.
Spraying will occur in four areas, bounded by:
Area 53B
North Boundary — Arthur Brown Road
South Boundary — Crabtree Church Road
East Boundary — Highway 97
West Boundary — Pineville Road
Area 57A
North Boundary — Alabama State Line
South Boundary — Arthur Brown Road
East Boundary — Highway 99
West Boundary — Pineville Road
The following information was released by the Escambia County Mosquito Control Division:
Mosquito control administration and operations teams have directed surveillance activity, identified target mosquito species and determined that today’s justified actions are warranted. Methods used to determine necessary fogging mission activity include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts and receiving focally located service requests from the public.
Fogging mission hours vary by start and conclusion times, but generally adult mosquito pesticides are applied in the early evening hours. We ask residents to keep travel in these areas to a minimum during spray times.
For additional information or to request service, please contact the Mosquito Control Division during normal business hours at 937-2188.
Cool Night, Low About 53
September 24, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.