Free Hog And Deer Management Program Offered
March 13, 2012
Escambia County Extension will offer a free Managing Hog and Deer Damage program. The class will be held on Friday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
Topics reviewed during the program will be:
- Wild Hog History, Biology and Ecology
- Managing Deer Numbers to Mitigate Crop Loss
- Laws Governing Removal of Animals
- Hog Trapping: Things to Consider
- Hogs: Role of the Sport Hunter, Identification of Hog Signs and Night Hunting
- Coyote Considerations for the Hunter and Farmer
Pre-registration is required for the program. Contact Libbie Johnson at libbiej@ufl.edu or (850) 475-5230 by Tuesday, March 20, to register or receive more information.
Lunch will be sponsored by Scott’s Outdoor Sports.
Foreclosure Bill Dies
March 13, 2012
A controversial measure to speed up foreclosures fell by the wayside as lawmakers called it quits with the end of their regular session last week.
The proposal would have accelerated foreclosure proceedings on abandoned properties and also made it easier for lenders to complete proceedings in cases in which both parties agreed to end the process.
For consumers, the bill would have reduced the length of time lenders could go after a borrower following a foreclosure sale from five years down to one year.
Backers said the change would have allowed homeowners to get on with their lives.
Other provisions, however, were more lender friendly, including relaxing the restrictions on foreclosing on abandoned property and limiting damages in foreclosure cases to monetary damages.
By The News Service of Florida
Minor Injuries In Century Wreck
March 12, 2012
One person was injured in a two vehicle accident Monday afternoon in Century.
The accident happened about 3:20 near the intersection of East Highway 4 and North Century Boulevard. Following the accident, both vehicles were pulled into the parking lot of the Panhandle Restaurant.
An adult female was transported to Jay Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Multiple North Escambia Railroad Crossings Closed This Week
March 12, 2012
Several North Escambia railroad crossings are scheduled to be closed this week for maintenance.
The crossings are:
- Barth Road
- Brickyard Road
- Daffin Road
- Private road just north of Williams Ditch
- Williams Ditch Road
The crossings will be closed some or all of the period between Monday and Friday as work is performed.
Gulf Power Rate Increase Gets Final Approval
March 12, 2012
Monday morning, the Florida Public Service Commission gave final approval to a rate increase for Gulf Power Company.
On Monday, the Commission set new rates to reflect the increase. Beginning in mid-April, the price for a residential customer buying 1000 kilowatt-hours of electricity will increase to $126.53. The new price is $3.86 more than the price was before the utility asked for the increase last year. Customers are currently paying $127.16 per month for the same usage, since Gulf Power’s approved interim increase on September 22, 2011.
Commissioners reduced potential investor returns and also refused to allow the company to recoup money for land it bought in North Escambia for a possible future nuclear-power plant.
“Through the Commission’s careful, comprehensive rate review and the recent decrease in fuel charges, Commissioners were able to mitigate the potential financial impact on Gulf customers,” PSC Chairman Ronald A. Brisé said. “With today’s decision, Gulf can continue providing its great customer service, as we learned from customers at hearings last summer.”
“Base rates cover everyday expenses of providing electric service — bucket trucks, diesel fuel, wire, poles, transformers, customer service offices, and much more,” said Sandy Sims, Manager of Public Affairs for Gulf Power. “These expenses have increased over the last 10 years, some by more than 250 percent. We absorbed these increases as long as possible, but we’ve reached a point that an increase is necessary to cover these rising costs.”
While this is the first base rate increase in a decade, other factors have increased Gulf Power’s prices, primarily the cost of meeting new environmental regulations and the cost of fuel the utility uses to make electricity. For instance, Gulf Power recently installed a new state-of-the-art scrubber system at its largest generating plant. While this new system benefits the environment, it also carried a price tag of more than $650 million that is reflected in the company’s rates.
In addition, fuel costs have risen sharply in the last few years.
“As part of the energy charge on the electricity bill we recover the costs of fuel from our customers without any markup,” Sims said. “So when fuel prices increase, the price of electricity usually increases. We strive to maintain a fuel mix that provides reliable, stable prices for our customers. In fact, we just recently passed along two decreases in fuel costs to our customers — one in January and one this month.”
The PSC also approved a $4 million step increase to include Gulf’s Turbine Upgrade Projects for Crist Units 6 and 7 in rate base rather than through the Environmental Cost Recovery Charge on the bill. Effective in January 2013, the base rate step increase will have a $.48 impact on the base rate portion of a customer’s 1,000 kWh bill.
Morning Wreck Slows Traffic On Nine Mile Road (Updated)
March 12, 2012
(Updated) There were no serious injuries in a wreck that shut down a portion of Nine Mile Road Monday morning.
About 9:30, the Florida Highway Patrol said Richard G. Pierle, age 73 of Pensacola, pulled his 2005 Mercury Marquis from the stop sign on Jernigan Road into the path of 2002 Jeep Cherokee, causing the Jeep to overturn.
The driver of the Jeep, 47-year old Michele Millit of Pensacola, received only minor injuries. Pierle was not injured.
Pierle was cited by the FHP for violation of right of way.
Pictured: There were no serious injuries in this wreck Monday morning on Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Special Weather Statement
March 12, 2012
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WESTERN ESCAMBIA…
BALDWIN AND EASTERN MOBILE COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA…ESCAMBIA
COUNTY IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA…THROUGH 915 AM CDT…
AT 738 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 18 MILES
NORTHEAST OF CREOLA TO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DAPHNE TO 3 MILES WEST OF
DAUPHIN ISLAND…AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
CODEN… POARCH CREEK RESERVATION…
PERDIDO BEACH… ORANGE BEACH… GULF SHORES…
FLOMATON… WARRINGTON… WALNUT HILL…
MOLINO…
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 IN FLORIDA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 10.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 IN ALABAMA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 6 AND 66.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 73.
THE PRIMARY THREAT IS WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. SEEK SHELTER
UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
More Showers Possible
March 12, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms through the night. Areas of fog after midnight. Lows around 60. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog in the morning. Chance of showers and thunderstorms through the day. Highs around 80. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Cantonment Man Charged With Beating Woman, Drug Offenses
March 12, 2012
A Cantonment man is now behind bars on outstanding warrants for felony battery and multiple drug charges.
Patrick Davison, age 36 of Welcome Circle,was charged last week with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
While arresting Davison on other outstanding warrants, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported finding cocaine and marijuana in his vehicle, which was located at an apartment on Tippin Avenue.
Davison was also charged with aggravated battery for an October 2011 incident in which he was accused of beating the mother of his children. He allegedly punched her in the face multiple times on Fields Lane. The female suffered cuts, bruises and had a tooth knocked out in the incident, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Due to another outstanding warrant for failure to appear, Davison is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Jay Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Medicare Scheme
March 12, 2012
A Jay man was sentenced Friday to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a Medicare fraud kickback scheme that funneled patients through a fraudulent mental health company.
Barry Nash, 69, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Nash pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Nash was the owner and operator of Starter House, a halfway house operating in Broward County.
Nash admitted that, in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks, he agreed to refer Medicare beneficiaries who resided at Starter House to American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and American Sleep Institute (ASI), a company related to ATC. Nash knew that ATC and ASI fraudulently billed Medicare for partial hospitalization program (PHP) services and sleep treatment purportedly provided to his referrals. PHP is a form of intensive mental health treatment.
According to court documents, ATC’s principals paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI. In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks. Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services. Ultimately, ATC and ASI billed Medicare for more than $200 million in medically unnecessary services.
According to the plea agreement, Nash’s participation in the fraud resulted in more than $959,901 in fraudulent billing to the Medicare program.