Texting And Driving Is Now Illegal In Alabama
August 1, 2012
It’s now illegal to text and drive in Alabama.
Beginning today, Alabama became the 38th state to ban texting and driving. The ban extends to most manual electronic communications — so email, Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging are out too on public highways.
The fine for violating the law is $25 for a first-time offense, $50 for a second offense and $75 for a third or subsequent offense. Those fines can easily reach $200 in some counties after court costs are added. Also, for each offense, it’s two points on a driver’s record, potentially leading to higher insurance rates.
The ban includes cell phones, PDA’s, personal computers and most any other electronic device used to send or receive messages or email.
Drivers can still send and receive messages using voice commands — such as with Siri on the iPhone. And drivers can also send text messages or emails while legally parked on the shoulder of the road.
The ban does not preclude the use of GPS devices, as long as the device destination is programmed before the vehicle is on the road. Entering a phone number and talking on the phone are still legal.
Also, the ban does not extend to drivers obtaining emergency services.
Pictured top: Texting and driving is now illegal in Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New $9 Million County Sports Complex To Open In Escambia
August 1, 2012
Escambia County’s newest $9 million sports complex will open Friday.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Southwest Escambia Sports Complex, 2020 Bauer Road, will be held on Friday, August 3, at 11 a.m. A fish fry will follow the ceremony.
The sports complex sits on approximately 200 acres and with lighted baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, an open play area, walking trails, playground, covered pavilions and ample parking.
“This facility is a huge asset to Escambia County and I’m looking forward to seeing it filled with action,” Wilson Robertson, District 1 commissioner said.
The new facility was funded with Local Option Sales Tax monies.
Local Delegation Meets With BP Claims Chief In New Orleans
August 1, 2012
A delegation of local leaders met with BP Oil Spill Claims Chief Patrick Juneau in New Orleans.
The delegation included Representative Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze), Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker), Gulf County Commissioner and Florida Association of Counties President Bill Williams, and Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino.
“Mr. Juneau again gave us his assurance that they will perfect this new program for BP claimants including those affected in the Panhandle,” Broxson said, adding that Juneau will soon visit the local area to promote the new claims process and encourage area citizens and businesses to file or re-file their claims.
“The new BP claims administration will be great for the Gulf Coast. Patrick Juneau appears to be an honest broker for doing what is right,” Evers said, a feeling echoed byValentino.
“It was a pleasure meeting Mr. Juneau. Not only is he a part of the local fabric of the Gulf Coast, but he has put together a structure for the settlement of these personal and business
claims that makes sense,” Valentino said.
Florida Education Commissioner Out Amid Testing, School Grade Controversy
August 1, 2012
Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson resigned late Tuesday amid a months-long controversy over the state’s testing regimen and errors on school grades that forced the department to change the marks for dozens of schools.
In letters to Gov. Rick Scott and State Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan, Robinson said he was proud of his work with the department but wanted to spend more time with his family. Robinson was secretary of education in Virginia before taking over the Florida job in August 2011.
Robinson’s resignation is effective August 31, when he will have been on the job a little more than a year.
“Living far away from my family has proven to be the one challenge all this progress could not overcome,” Robinson wrote after listing his accomplishments. “So it is with sincere appreciation and deep regret my time of service to Florida’s students, parents, teachers, superintendents, college and university presidents, business and community organizations is cut short.”
Scott, who backed Robinson after reportedly pushing out former Education Commissioner Eric Smith, issued a brief statement praising Robinson.
“I appreciate Gerard’s service to the state of Florida and his commitment to ensuring Florida’s students receive a first class education,” the governor said. “He has been a tireless advocate for creating quality learning opportunities for all of Florida’s students and he will certainly be missed.”
But Robinson’s tenure had been dogged in recent months by the public-relations pounding the department took after FCAT scores collapsed, followed a few months later by the school grades mix-up.
The Florida Board of Education was forced to lower passing grades for the statewide writing tests in May after the passing rate plunged from 81 percent to 27 percent for fourth graders and showed similar drops in eighth and 10th grades.
Then, in July, the department had to reissue grades for 213 elementary and middle schools and nine school districts as part of a “continuous review process.”
That came after the number of schools receiving an “A” had plummeted from 1,481 in 2011 to 1,124 this year. The new grades showed 1,240 schools getting the highest mark — a jump of 5 percentage points from the first cut of the numbers.
Shanahan, who said the board would consult with Scott while looking for a new commissioner, also praised Robinson in a statement released by the Department of Education.
“He has worked with the board as we have raised standards for our students and our schools,” she said. “He is a leader who embodies and understands the importance of education reform. We wish him the best as he makes the decision that is best for his own young children.”
by The News Service of Florida
Davis Named Sacred Heart CEO
August 1, 2012
Sacred Heart Health System and Ascension Health announced Tuesday the appointment of Susan Davis as the president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System.
Davis was selected as the interim President and CEO of Sacred Heart in February and recently was named the permanent CEO. Davis said that when she arrived in Pensacola to succeed Laura Kaiser as the Sacred Heart CEO, she intended to serve as only the interim leader until a permanent CEO was chosen.
“After discussions over the past few months with the leaders at Ascension Health and Sacred Heart’s Board of Trustees, I decided to make a long-term commitment to lead Sacred Heart,” Davis said. “I am excited about the opportunity to lead a great team of employees and to build stronger relationships with the many loyal physicians who have made Sacred Heart a leader in excellent patient outcomes.”
“A number of factors led to my decision to stay as Sacred Heart’s CEO,” she added. “Over the past four months, I have fallen in love with the Sacred Heart family and the communities it serves. I also saw the opportunity to provide Sacred Heart with a vision for the future and a renewed focus on quality, safety and patient satisfaction.”
Davis will lead a health care system that includes hospitals in Pensacola, Walton County, Panama City and Port St. Joe, as well as a network of physicians stretching from Gulf Shores to Apalachicola, Fla.
In addition to her role at Sacred Heart, Davis also will serve as Ascension Health’s Ministry Market Leader for Florida, the Gulf Coast, New York and Connecticut. Ascension Health, the parent organization for Sacred Heart, is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system.
Davis has served as the CEO of St. Vincent’s Health in Bridgeport, Conn., since 2004. She began her healthcare career as a nurse in New York City. She served for 18 years in leadership roles at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where she began as vice president of patient care services and then became the chief operating officer and eventually the CEO. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College, a master’s degree in nursing administration from Columbia University in New York, and a doctorate in education from Columbia.
Scott Appoints Three To Judicial Nominating Commission
August 1, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday the appointments of Pamela E. Langham, Thomas F. Gonzalez, and Lennard B. Register III to the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.
Pamela E. Langham, 47, of Gulf Breeze, has been a sole practitioner since 2005. Previously, she was an assistant attorney at the University of West Florida from 2002 to 2003 and an assistant public defender with the Jacksonville Office of the Public Defender from 1992 to 1996. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law. She succeeds Susan N. Marks and is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2016.
Thomas F. Gonzalez, 45, of Pensacola, has been a partner with Beggs and Lane since 1999. He served in the United States Navy from 1984 to 1996. Gonzalez received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a law degree from the Catholic University of America. He is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2015. He is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.
Lennard B. Register III, 58, of Pace, has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office in Pensacola since 2002. Previously, he served as an assistant state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit from 1989 to 1993. Register received bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. He succeeds Sally B. Fox and is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2016. He is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.
Wahoos’ Sulbaran Involved In Big League Trade
August 1, 2012
A Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher is involved in a big league trade.
Right-hander J.C. Sulbaran has been dealt along with former Blue Wahoo left handed pitcher Donnie Joseph in the deal with the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Jonathan Broxton. In 19 games with Pensacola he was 7-7 with a 4.04 ERA. He worked 104.2 innings and walked 54. He was third in the Southern League in strikeouts with 111.
“We’re really going to miss J.C. Sulbaran. He took the ball every fifth day for us and competed well for us,” said Blue Wahoos manager Jim Riggleman. “It’s one of those things if you’re going to get something, you’ve got to give up something. For us to get Broxton for our big league club, J.C. was going to have to be a part of that deal. He goes over there and we wish him nothing but the best and thank him for everything he did for us here.”
Sulbaran was drafted in 30th round by the Reds in 2008 out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla.
Joseph was a third round pick of the Reds in 2009 out of the University of Houston. He worked in 26 games with the Blue Wahoos this season earning 13 saves while compiling a 4-2 record with a 0.89 ERA.
Sulbaran was scheduled to start next for the Blue Wahoos on Thursday against the Tennessee Smokies in Kodak, Tenn. No corresponding move has been made to the Double-A roster at this time.
Wahoos, Smokies Suspended Due To Weather
August 1, 2012
A severe thunderstorm storm hit Smokies Park in the bottom of the fourth inning with Tennessee leading the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 2-1 on Tuesday night. The game was delayed for 45 minutes before it was officially suspended.
All the offense came in the first inning for each team. Pensacola picked up a run in the top of the first inning before the Smokies responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. After a Josh Fellhauer triple, Ryan LaMarre singled him home giving the Wahoos an early lead.
Matt Szczur was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the first inning. He was followed by a walk to Logan Watkins, and both came home to score. Justin Bour singled home Szczur to tie the game before Greg Rohan doubled home Watkins to give the Smokies the lead.
Wahoos starter Kyle Lotzkar gave up the two runs in the first inning before retiring the next nine batters. After collecting two first inning hits and a run, the Blue Wahoos picked up just one more single over the next three innings against Smokies starter Dae-Eun Rhee.
It stayed 2-1 Tennessee until the storm hit in the fourth. The game was suspended with the bases loaded for the Smokies in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and a 1-1 count on Matt Szczur. The game will be completed as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The resumption of Tuesday’s game will be a nine-inning conclusion followed by a seven-inning game.
By Tommy Thrall
Central Water Works Rescinds Boil Water Notice
July 31, 2012
Central Water Works has rescinded a precautionary boil water notice for customers in Century and McDavid living in the areas of Bratt Road, Commalander Road, Cox Road, Holland Road and Roach Road due to a loss of pressure due to a water main break on Bratt Road at Canoe Creek.
From Central Water Works:
The July 26, 2012, “Precautionary Boil Water Notice” is hereby rescinded following the repair of the water main break on Bratt rRoad where it crosses CanoeCreek and the satisfactory completion of the bacteriological survey showing that the water is safe to drink.
If you have any questions you may contact Lisa Fuller, Central Water Works, Inc., 1101 Byrneville Road, Century, FL 32535. (850) 256-3849.
Drive-by Shooting Fugitive Captured By U.S. Marshals On NAS Pensacola With Crack Cocaine
July 31, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force has arrested an Escambia County man that is a suspect in a drive-by shooting that took place in Pensacola several months ago.
While conducting surveillance of his girlfriend’s apartment Monday afternoon, Task Force officers from the U.S. Marshals and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office followed Michael Allan McCants and Ikanime Ptomy as they drove toward NAS Pensacola where Ptomy is employed as a civilian.
The Task Force immediately notified NAS security forces who quickly found the couple and stopped them. The passenger was identified as McCants and was arrested without incident.
McCants, 24, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, use or display of a deadly weapon during a felony, firing or discharging a firearm from a vehicle, firing a missile into a dwelling, vehicle, building or aircraft and possession of a firearm or concealed weapon by a convicted felon.
The shooting in which McCants is the suspect happened on the 300 Block of Ensley Street in late May. McCants also had a failure to appear warrant on an earlier, separate charge of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and marijuana possession not more than 20 grams.
While searching Ptomy’s car Task Force officers found a purse that appeared to contain approximately 13 grams of powder cocaine, 6 grams of crack cocaine and a scale.
An initial investigation conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) concluded that the narcotics and paraphernalia belonged to McCants.
Ptomy was detained for questioning and will possibly face federal charges including her involvement in bringing the fugitive on base, according to Marshals.