Florida House Unanimously Passes Ban On Synthetic Drugs
February 23, 2012
The House on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation that bans new forms of synthetic drugs that cropped up after lawmakers banned other substances last year.
The bill was needed, said sponsor Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, because as soon as lawmakers ban one substance, chemists alter the chemical make-up of designer drugs to make it not technically illegal.
“These dangerous synthetic drugs pose a serious threat to Floridians,” Representative Ingram said. “Last year the legislature made great strides in the effort to stamp out these chemicals. It is my sincere belief that this bill will complete that objective and punish those who peddle these toxins in our communities.”
The bill adds dozens of chemical variations of synthetic cannabinoids and psychoactive bath salts to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. The bill now goes to the Senate.
“The House of Representatives demonstrated strong leadership by unanimously passing a bill that will protect Floridians from dangerous synthetic drugs,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “We will not allow these creative chemists to skirt state law and pose serious harm to our residents.”
Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, the sponsor of the Senate companion bill, said, “I commend Representative Ingram for all his hard work on getting this good bill passed, and I am honored to be the Senate sponsor for this much needed legislation. Its passage today brings us one step closer to the protection of our children and young adults from these synthetic drugs.”
Sneak Peek: Century’s New Website Coming Soon
February 23, 2012
A website for the Town of Century will soon be live. Town officials have been given a draft preview of the design that will be finalized, with their approval, in the coming weeks.
Late last year, the town purchased a $11,450 package from Ideawörks in Pensacola that included $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the site, and $5,500 for a five-year comprehensive marketing strategy to include “grant identification, development, PR plan, five-year marketing plan and budget”. The marketing plan will be finalized after the website is completed.
The images above and below are from the website preview presented to the town this week. The preview is meant to show the basic layout of the site, with photos and wording to be updated before it goes live on the web.
Pictured: A layout preview of Century’s upcoming website as provided by Ideawörks for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
John Dana Lowery
February 23, 2012
John Dana Lowery, age 56 of Ridge Road Brewton, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2012, in a Pensacola hospital after a brief illness. He was a native and life long resident of Brewton. Mr. Lowery was a member of Ridge Road Baptist Church. He attended W.S. Neal High School, and was retired auto parts salesman.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Thomas Lowery, and his wife, Vanessa Belveal Lowery.
He is survived by his monther, Idelle Lanier Lowery of Brewton; one son, Patrick (Holly) Lowery of Brewtonl four daughters, Rhonda (Terry) Pate of Brewton, Jennifer (Danny) Smith of Brewton, Sarah Lowery of Brewton, Katie (John) Fowler of Flomaton; two brothers, Mike (Sue) Lowery of Brewton, Joel (Carla) Lowery of Milton; and five grandchildren, Billie Strength, Caleb Strength, Regan Strength, Josie Smith and Dalton Fowler.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 23, 2012, from 6-8 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton.
Funeral aervices are scheduled for Friday morning February 24, 2012, at 10:00 at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Fort Crawford Cemetery in East Brewton.
Grenade Found In Busy Intersection
February 22, 2012
What appeared to be a rusty grenade was found Wednesday morning lying in a busy Atmore intersection, tying up traffic for about an hour as officials decided their next move.
The grenade was found in the intersection of Highway 31 and Trammell Street, prompting Atmore Police to direct traffic around the area. After consultation with members of Atmore’s National Guard unit, officials determined the object was likely just a practice grenade.
A bomb squad was notified. After a phone consultation with experts, authorities decided it was just a harmless dummy grenade. Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean then picked up the dummy grenade from the intersection, placed it in a box and transported it away.
Officials are still working to determine just how the dummy grenade ended up in the intersection.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week
February 22, 2012
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program. On Monday, students prepared refreshments for bus drivers.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
FFA week activites include:
Monday: Bus Driver Refreshment/ FFA T-Shirts
FFA members prepared refreshments for all bus drivers to give to them in the morning as they arrived at school.
Tuesday: Teacher Breakfast
All teachers, staff and invited guests were invited to eat a home cooked breakfast before school started that was prepared by FFA officers and members.
Wednesday: Ag Olympics
All agricultural classes will participate the Ag Olympics program with several events. Members are invited to have a coke float in the Agriculture department during the student’s lunch.
Thursday: Minute To Win It/Ag Style
There will be a workshop put on by the FFA officers/Minute To Win It Ag style.
Friday: Dirty Truck Contest
There will be a Dirty Truck Contest on Friday, along with a game of Don’t Forget the Lyrics in Ag classes.
Saturday: Ruritan Auction
FFA members will assist with the Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction Saturday as a community service project.
Pictured: FFA members served breakfast Tuesday morning at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, W.S. Neal Split Double Header
February 22, 2012
Northview’s JV baseball team split a double header with W. S. Neal Tuesday in Brewton. W. S. Neal won the first game 5-3, with the Chiefs taking the second game 5-3.
Destin Pizzolato led the Chiefs at the plate in the first game with two singles and a run scored. Chason Freeman and Jody Bonner also scored a run for the Chiefs. Daulton Tullis pitched 5 innings for Northview.
In the second game, the Chiefs’s Destin Pizzolato got the win on the mound, with strong relief from freshman Aaron McDonald. Leading hitters for Northview were Dalton Daniel and Daulton Tullis, each with a hit.
Northview’s JV will be back in action Thursday as they host Central at 4:00.
Approved: New Ernest Ward Middle School, $50 Million In Building Projects
February 22, 2012
Tuesday night, the Escambia County School Board unanimously approved the construction of a new $16.5 million Ernest Ward Middle School, part of $50 million in construction projects using half-cent sales tax money.
In addition to Ernest Ward, the district will rebuild A.K. Suter Elementary in Pensacola for $21.5 million and spend at least $75,000 at every other school in the district.
Projects planned for North Escambia area schools include:
- Bratt Elementary will receive $75,000 for general renovations to include casework in classrooms (bookshelves and cabinets)
- Jim Allen Elementary will receive $100,000 for general renovations including the replacement of windows in the cafeteria
- Molino Park Elementary will receive $100,000 for sitework, including a 6-foot wide asphalt walking trail
- Ernest Ward Middle will be rebuilt for $16,500,000.
- Ransom Middle School will receive $90,000 for general renovations including updated video and audio for the cafeteria stage
- Northview High School will receive $100,000 for new construction to include a storage facility
- Tate High School will receive $100,000 for general renovations to include the old gym
- West Florida High School will receive $100,000 for sitework, including additional paved parking
The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945, while portions of Suter were build in the 1920’s. They are the oldest schools in the county. Both of the rebuilds will be constructed on the existing school properties.
For a photo gallery from the current EWMS campus, click here.
“With the Ernest Ward rebuild, you will have high performing schools with very adequate facilities across the north end of the county,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said recently.
“It’s about time,” Escambia County School Board District 5 member Bill Slayton said recently. “The superintendent and I have talked about the need since we were elected. This has been my number one priority once the funding was in place. Since we are using sales tax money, this is a case of money being raised in Escambia County and being put right back into Escambia County.”
Architectural design work on the new Ernest Ward facility will begin as early as this week. The new school, Thomas said, will be completely state of the art, including smart boards and related electronics in each classroom.
In February 2010, the school board approved $480,000 for a new Ernest Ward cafeteria. Design on the cafeteria is currently underway in such a way that it will be part of the new school campus.
Students will be on site during the construction of the new school; it will be built either in front of or behind the current facility. Once the new building is complete, the current building will be torn down, and portables and modular buildings currently on the campus will be removed.
Most of project work in 2012 will include the design and permitting stages. Construction, Thomas said, will likely be underway by 2013. Students could be attending classes in the new building by the 2013-2014 school year in a best-case scenario, Thomas said, but that could easily be postponed to 2014-2015 by any permitting or construction delays.
“This will be a win-win for the community,” Slayton said. “This will pump millions into the economy and save jobs in Escambia County. It’s long overdue.”
For a photo gallery from the current EWMS campus, click here.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Evers Bill To Allow Oil Drilling In State Parks Appears Dead
February 22, 2012
A bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers that would have allowed drilling for oil and gas on state lands appears dead after it failed to advance from a key Senate committee that does not intend to meet again this session.
Facing multiple questions and concerns from environmental groups, state regulators and the governor’s office, the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee adjourned without taking action on SB 1158, a bill that would help a company seeking oil and gas on state lands including Blackwater River State Forest.
The committee’s chairman, Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, said there were too many unanswered questions surrounding how the bill would affect the state’s ability to control what happens on environmentally sensitive land.
“Until those issues are clearly settled, I don’t think it’s feasible at this time to go into that type of program, Dean said.
State regulators already have a process to approve such activities on state-owned land. The bill however, would speed up the process by limiting the amount of time state regulators have to complete environmental impact reviews.
Further, the bill and its House companion, HB 695, would grant the company that did the exploration exclusive drilling rights within the permit region.
The bill drew fire from groups like Audubon of Florida, which worried that it could make it easier to drill in the Everglades as well as points farther north where Fairways Exploration and Production is exploring for oil.
Audubon said the company is seeking an agreement that would protect it from spending money to test for oil and then have competitors step in.
“It would have provided exclusivity to the exploration company, which would have kept the market from looking out for the public interest to make sure we’re getting our money’s worth,” said Julie Wraithmell. Audubon’s director of wildlife management.
“It’s dead until there is an agreement with other parties that have a concern,” Dean said. “We’re not having another meeting but I guess it could be voted out of another committee….It could be, but I doubt it.”
The House version of the bill is up before the State Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
By The News Service of Florida
PSC Staff: Don’t Let Gulf Power Raise Rates For North Escambia Nuclear Plant
February 22, 2012
The Florida Public Service Commission staff has recommended slashing a requested Gulf Power base rate increase and is against letting Gulf Power raise rates for a potential nuclear power plant in North Escambia.
The staff would not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential North Escambia nuclear-power plant site. The recommendation says Gulf Power has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
So far, Gulf Power has spent $13 million buying 2,700 acres near McDavid for what the company says might be a nuclear plant.
The final decision will come next week, but PSC staff is recommended that Gulf Power be allowed a base rate increase of $62.3 million.
The utility, which has 431,000 customers in the Panhandle, requested a $93.5 million hike last year, but attorneys for consumers and business groups argue the company should only receive a $17.2 million increase, according to a 250-page PSC staff recommendation filed last week.
Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the rate increase Monday, and staff recommendations typically play a key role in PSC deliberations. The staff, in part, would reduce the potential investor returns that Gulf has included in its proposal. The staff recommended a 10.25 percent return on equity —a closely watched measure of profitability — while Gulf requested an 11.7 percent return.
Pictured top: One of many house that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. On of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Escambia County Names New PIO
February 22, 2012
Kathleen Dough-Castro has been named the new Public Information Officer for Escambia County. She will be responsible for all public relations activities for the county including developing branding, marketing and communications strategies.
Dough-Castro brings 22 years in communications experience, including 16 years in the public sector. Most recently, she was the marketing and communications director for the City of Sunrise in Broward County. She previously served as a public information specialist for the City of Fort Lauderdale and worked in economic development for the City of North Miami Beach.
Since 2009, Dough-Castro has been working as a marketing communications consultant specializing in advising clients focused in industries such as water/wastewater engineering, law, government, construction services and land use development.
Her first day on the job will be March 27.
“I look forward to Ms. Dough-Castro being part of the senior management team in Escambia County and to the breadth of experience she brings to the county,” Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said.