Tate Beats Escambia, Headed Into District Championship Game
April 26, 2012
The Tate High School Aggies advance to the District 1-6A championship game with an 11-1 defeat of the Escambia Gators Wednesday.
The Aggies (22-4) will face Pace (18-7) at 7 p.m. at Milton High School.
JT Granat pitched the win for the Aggies in five, allowing six hits, striking out five and allowing just one run. Hitters for Tate were: Hunter Black 1-2, 2 RBI, 2B; Austin Quina 2-3, 2B, RBI; Mac Seibert 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI.
Prescription Drug Round-up Saturday In Florida, Alabama
April 26, 2012
A prescription drug round-up is scheduled for Saturday in Escambia County, Fla., and in Flomaton, Ala., in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Flomaton round-up event will accept prescriptions drugs from both Alabama and Florida residents.
Pharmaceuticals are being discovered in our nation’s waterways at very low concentrations. While the sources of these pharmaceuticals may be numerous, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been studying unused pharmaceutical disposal practices. This study was prompted by the concern that potentially large amounts of pharmaceuticals are being flushed or improperly disposed of down the drain, ultimately ending up in our rivers, streams and coastal waters, according to ECUA.
Escambia County, Fla.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA), Pensacola Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Community Drug and Alcohol Council will conduct the round-up in Escambia County, Florida, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
On October 29, 2011, the most recent “Prescription Drug Round-Up” collected over 927 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The Saturday, April 28, 2012 event will feature 7 locations with deputies and officers from the Pensacola Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office participating in the effort.
In Escambia County, Florida, round-up locations will be at:
- CVS Pharmacy, 13430 Innerarity Point Road
- CVS Pharmacy, 8150 North Davis Highway
- CVS Pharmacy, 3880 North 9th Avenue
- CVS Pharmacy, 2100 West Cervantes Street
- Pensacola Police Dept., 711 North Hayne Street
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 1700 West Leonard Street
- Escambia SO Pensacola Beach Substation
Flomaton, Ala.
The prescription round-up event in Flomaton will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Flomaton High School gym.
“Anyone is welcome to participate, including residents of Century and the rest of Escambia County, Florida,” said Flomaton Police Chief Daniel Thompson.
Citizens Insurance Board Weighs Higher Rates
April 26, 2012
Homeowners who join the state-backed insurance pool after January 1 could see rates more than 10 percent higher than current premiums under a proposal up for debate Thursday by Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s governing board.
Existing Citizens policyholders are protected from large rate bumps by a statutory 10 percent cap on premium increases – and will continue to be. Under the proposal to be considered Thursday, new policyholders could be charged initial rates far more than similar customers who have already been in the pool.
Going forward, however, all customers would be protected by the 10 percent limit in effect for the company’s nearly 1.5 million current policies.
Struggling with actuarially unsound rates and political pressure to winnow its number of policy holders to bolster private competition, Citizens’ board members say new policies aren’t subject to the 10 percent limit on increasing premiums precisely because they’re new policies. Since new customers have no current premium, they aren’t protected by a limit on premium increases.
The limit on increases was meant to protect policyholders in the pool, which insures some of the riskiest properties in the state, from making insurance unaffordable.
The recommendation to remove the cap on new policies has already come under fire from consumer groups and a leading Senate critic of attempts to raise Citizens premiums. Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said the company’s board of governors is trying to circumvent the Legislature, which has said it does not want Citizens’ policyholders to see their rates skyrocket. It was the Legislature that put the 10 percent cap on premium increases in the first place.
“It’s not only a sneaky move, it is deceitful. It is a travesty,” Fasano said. “I tell you, they are clueless in Tallahassee as to the impact this will have.”
But a key Senate committee chairman says higher rates, though painful, are needed to reduce the exposure of Florida taxpayers who would be on the financial hook if a major storm hit and Citizens could not pay its claims.
Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples and chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, has been a long-time advocate of boosting Citizens premiums to bring them in line with the private market.
As long as Citizens has below market rates, Richter said private companies will not return and Florida taxpayers will continue to be on the hook in the event of a catastrophic storm.
“I believe that it is in the state of Florida’s interest to have Citizens rates that are adequate to pay claims,” Richter said. ”
Lawmakers in 2006 froze Citizens rates following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, which prompted a surge in claims and led some companies to leave the state, pushing more customers into Citizens. Lawmakers in 2010, under the leadership of Senate President Jeff Atwater, agreed to cap premium hikes at 10 percent, a level far below what industry officials said was necessary to bring the rates up to private competitors.
Atwater, who supported the cap, on Wednesday urged Citizens to keep premiums on new policies low as well.
“While I understand and support the efforts to facilitate the depopulation of Citizens and a return to a competitive private marketplace for Floridians, the removal of the cap for new business is beyond the scope of legislative intent,” Atwater wrote Citizens’ chairman Carlos Lacasa in a letter Wednesday.
Lawmakers earlier this year rejected major changes to Citizens, including a controversial provision to automatically shift policyholders to surplus lines companies (they could opt back into Citizens at any time.) Fasano, who led the charge against the surplus lines bill, said the board is continuing its efforts to de-populate the pool.
“This is just another way to get people out of Citizens,” Fasano said of the recommendation.
The Office of Insurance Regulation, which would have to approve any premium increase, has not received any formal filing so has not carefully considered the issue, OIR spokeswoman Amy Bogner told the News Service Wednesday.
“However, we do understand the argument that is being made regarding this situation,” Bogner said. “Our actuaries and lawyers will need to look at the specifics of any proposed rate change and also review the issue of essentially having two sets of rates — one for new policies and another for renewals.”
By The News Service of Florida
Blue Wahoos Attempt Comeback, Jacksonville Gets 6-5 Win
April 26, 2012
The Blue Wahoos overcame a 5-0 deficit to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning, but the Jacksonville Suns capitalized on a leadoff triple in the bottom of the ninth to down Pensacola 6-5 in the series opener from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Wednesday night.
The Suns took a 3-0 lead by scoring three times in the second inning against Wahoos starter Pedro Villarreal. Kyle Skipworth homered to start the inning. Later, Ryan Patterson doubled home Curt Smith from first. Patterson would score later in the inning on an RBI single by the pitcher Jose Alvarez. Jacksonville plated two more in the fourth when Patterson singled home Kyle Jensen, and Patterson later came home on Donnie Webb’s RBI triple.
After a leadoff double by Ryan LaMarre to begin the game, Suns starter Jose Alvarez proceeded to retire the next 15 Blue Wahoos batters in order.
The Blue Wahoos came alive offensively with a four-run sixth. It all began on single by Brian Peacock who later scored on a sacrifice fly by LaMarre. Yordanys Perez came home on a single by Didi Gregorius, who later came around on a Henry Rodriguez double. Rodriguez advanced to third on a base-hit by Joel Guzman, but a throwing error allowed him to score pulling the Blue Wahoos within one.
All four runs were charged to Alvarez who was only able to get one out in the inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Blue Wahoos capitalized on an error by the second baseman on a pop up in short right field that allowed Cody Puckett to reach safely and advance to second to open the inning. Peacock drove him in on a single to centerfield to tie the game at five.
Justin Freeman (L, 2-2) allowed a leadoff triple by Donnie Webb to begin the bottom of the ninth. He scored two batters later on Dalls Poulk’s game-winning single to centerfield. Freeman was charged with the loss after allowing two hits and the winning run in the ninth inning. Despite allowing the game-tying run in the top of the ninth, Evan Reed (W, 1-1) got credit for the win. The run was unearned on one hit over his one inning.
The two teams continue their series on Thursday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Tim Gustafson (1-0, 3.09) to the mound against Suns righty Bryan Evans (0-1, 5.94). First pitch is set for 6:35 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured top: Ryan LaMarre collected two hits, including a double in the Pensacola Wahoo’s losing effort Wednesday in Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
19-Year Old Killed In Early Morning Accident Near Jay
April 25, 2012
A 19-year old was killed in a single vehicle traffic accident early Wednesday morning southeast of Jay.
Jasmine Celest Wuesthoff of Pace was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2:04 a.m. crash near the intersection of Sandy Landing Road and Mineral Springs Road, about a mile from the Sandy Landing Boat Ramp on the Escambia River.
She was a passenger in a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 23-year old Calan Floyd Lewis of Pace. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lewis was eastbound on Sandy Landing Road, when he lost control. The Blazer began to spin and ran off onto the north shoulder of the roadway where it hit several trees and shrubs. The vehicle then came to rest upside down on top of the trees and shrubs.
Neither the driver or passenger were wearing a seat belt. Charges are pending a traffic homicide investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Lewis was transported to West Florida Hospital in serious condition, according to the FHP.
Molino Pharmacy ‘Underwear Robber’ Declared Competent To Stand Trial
April 25, 2012
The Molino man accused of robbing a local pharmacy in 2010 while wearing underwear on his head has been declared competent to stand trial.
Monday, Judge Gary Bergosh denied a defense motion to renew competency concerns, setting trial for Joseph Daniel Flowers, now 58, to begin on Thursday. That trial is expected to last at least two days.
Flowers is facing multiple charges for the September 20, 2010, robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy on Highway 29, including robbery with a firearm and several drug possession charges.
Flowers allegedly robbed the pharmacy while wearing a bathrobe, slippers, yellow kitchen gloves and underwear on his head. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
For a photo gallery from the robbery scene and Flower’s home, click here.
The getaway car driver in the robbery, 24-year old Krystal Lynn Collins, was found guilty of armed robbery with a firearm and a half dozen felony drug charges. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers is detained by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. Pictured below: Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino was robbed September 20, 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Flag Flying Again For The First Time Since Hurricane Ivan
April 25, 2012
Old Glory is once again flying over the Byrneville Community Center, the first time since the county-owned facility’s previous flagpole was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
Walt Porz, president of the Byrneville Community Center’s board of directors, said a replacement had been requested numerous times since 2004. He said the newly installed flagpole is not actually new; it was moved from a county facility were it was no longer being used.
“It’s good enough,” Porz said. “We are very grateful for what we can get from out tax dollars at work.”
Alabama Man Charged With Abusing Horses
April 25, 2012
An Escambia County, Ala., man has been charged in connection with starving five horses.
The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.) seized the horses last weekend. The four mares and a stallion were hundreds of pounds underweight and being kept in a yard filled with dangerous debris, according to Renee Jones, director of the humane society.
“There was no grass at all and no water on the property. A generous neighbor ran a garden hose from her yard daily and filled containers for the horses,” Jones said. She said the owner had been warned numerous times to improve living conditions for the horses, but their conditions continued to deteriorate.
Lavon William Fuqua of East Brewton was booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton on five counts of animal cruelty.
Monday Is Escambia Real Estate, Tangible Tax Deadline
April 25, 2012
All 2011 unpaid real estate and personal property taxes must be paid and a receipt issued by 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 30 to avoid being advertised as delinquent, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Online, automated phone payments, and drop box payments may be made at the April rate by midnight April 30 but will not prevent advertising if not paid by 4:30 p.m.
Payments must be processed:
- in person at one of four branch offices by 4:30 p.m. April 30;
- through the call center at (850) 438-6500 x3252 by 4:30 p.m. April 30;
- online at www.escambiataxcollector.com by midnight April 30;
- on the automated telephone number (800) 601-1055 by midnight April 30;
or
- left in any 24-hour drop boxes available at all offices by midnight April 30.
All late payments will be returned for additional fees, according to Holley.
Gopher Tortoises Emerging, New Wildlife Conservation Efforts Aim To Protect
April 25, 2012
As gopher tortoises are emerging across the North Escambia area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering information and tips to protect the species, while the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida is taking applications from landowners for technical and financial assistance to restore and protect the gopher tortoise habitat.
Gopher tortoises move slowly through ‘spring training’ of grazing, burrow-digging
The gopher tortoise is emerging from winter dormancy and moving slowly and steadily through the landscape in search of greenery to eat and a new place to dig its burrow.
Look for gopher tortoises’ distinctive domed brown shells and stumpy legs, as these land-dwellers make their way through Florida’s open canopy forests and sandy areas. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) asks people to remember that gopher tortoises are good neighbors, so leave them and their burrows alone.
“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission works with, and is grateful to, the homeowners, landowners, businesses and public agencies willing to share their lands with gopher tortoises and their burrows,” said Deborah Burr, the FWC’s gopher tortoise plan coordinator. “This state has made progress in reversing the decline of gopher tortoises by providing direction to developers, including re-locating tortoises if necessary, and help to people interested in making room for tortoises.”
Since the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan took effect in 2007, an annual average of 36,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat has been restored and managed; protected tortoise habitat expanded by more than 6,500 acres; and more than 4,000 gopher tortoises were humanely relocated from development sites.
“In addition to changes in Florida’s economy, the needs of the gopher tortoise have changed since the plan was first approved in 2007,” Burr said. “The proposed revisions to the plan include new actions that the FWC and our partners can implement together to improve the status of the species, and help secure viable populations well into the future.”
In Florida, it is illegal to harm gopher tortoises or their extensive burrows, which provide shelter to more than 350 other native species. Generally, the only time people should pick up and move a gopher tortoise is to help it get across a road. Remember, though, not to put the tortoise in your car. Do point the tortoise in the same direction it was going when you picked it up, but never put it in the water because it is a land animal.
The gopher tortoise can live 40-60 years in the wild.
New Wildlife Conservation efforts to protect gopher tortoise habitat
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is currently taking applications for technical and financial assistance on a new innovative partnership approach to restore and protect the habitat for targeted threatened and endangered species, while also helping other vulnerable and game species. Florida landowners can sign-up for assistance to help manage and restore habitat for the gopher tortoise.
Interested producers and landowners in Florida can enroll in the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) on a continuous basis at their local NRCS field office. NRCS funds from WHIP will share the cost of conservation practices with landowners. All eligible applications received by the application cutoff date of April 30, 2012 will be assigned a priority and ranked as needed. If funds are available a second ranking cut-off date will be May 30, 2012.
Escambia County’s NRCS field office is located at 151 Highway 97 in Molino. For more information, call (850) 587-5345. In Santa Rosa County, the NRCS field office is located at 6277 Dogwood Drive in Milton, call (850) 623-2441.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.