Measure Filed To Ban Texting And Driving In Florida
November 21, 2012
Drivers would be banned from manually typing or reading texts, emails or other electronic messages while operating a car under legislation filed in the Senate Tuesday.
The measure (SB 52), filed by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, calls for the offense to be what is known as a “secondary offense,” meaning officers could only ticket people for texting while driving if they’ve stopped them for some other traffic violation. That is, if a police officer sees someone texting they wouldn’t be able to pull them over – but if they see someone speeding and texting, they could tack on extra charges for texting in addition to the speeding penalty.
Drivers would still be able to read navigational devices or electronic maps without incurring a penalty under the proposal. Reading weather alerts or other safety-related information would also be exempt, as would using a hands-free voice-recognition application.
Texting while driving would be a nonmoving violation, punishable by a $30 fine, under the bill.
Lawmakers will be in full session in March, but bills can be filed now and committee meetings on proposed legislation start Dec. 3. Detert’s was among the first measures in the Senate to emerge from bill drafting for the coming year.
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged Florida and other states to ban the use of cell phones for texting or talking while driving. The NTSB said last year that distracted driving, some of it due to cell phone use, contributed to nearly 4,000 highway deaths a year, citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. About a quarter of American drivers admit they sometimes text and drive. The issue is on the NTSB’s “most wanted” list for changes in transportation safety nationwide.
According to the National Conference on State Legislatures, Florida is one of only five states without some sort of ban on texting while driving. The others are Montana, South Dakota, Arizona, and South Carolina.
Detert has sponsored the proposal in at least the past two previous years with no success, despite generally bipartisan support.
The idea has generally been met with opposition from Libertarian-leaning lawmakers from rural areas who have a philosophical aversion to government imposing additional safety laws. It has also been opposed by some minority legislators, who fear giving police additional reasons to target drivers because of concerns about racial profiling – though Detert’s bill wouldn’t allow police to proactively pull drivers over just for texting.
Two legislators who in the past have held the legislation up in committee – former Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff in the Senate and former Rep. Brad Drake in the House – are no longer in the Legislature.
Ten states — California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia — and the District of Columbia have banned hand-held phone use by all drivers.
Several other states, including Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Florida’s neighboring states of Alabama and Georgia, have a primary enforcement ban on texting while driving. Some states, such as Texas, have a texting ban just for younger drivers.
Detert’s bill is yet to be referred to committee.
By David Royse, The News Service of Florida
Gaetz: Florida’s Election System Will Be Improved
November 21, 2012
Senate President Don Gaetz forcefully pledged that the Legislature will do something to avoid election embarrassment in two years, while also promising to reach out to Democrats and usher in a new era of more ethical conduct as he leads the Senate the next two years.
Gaetz, a Republican from Niceville, was sworn in Tuesday as the 85th president of the state Senate as the Legislature held a short organizational session to admit new members elected earlier this month, and formally choose its leaders, though they’ve been known for months.
Gaetz had already signaled that ethics improvements would be a top priority for him, but on Tuesday in brief opening remarks he also forcefully told his colleagues that they must do something about the elections process that broke down in some places on Election night.
“Floridians should never again have to stand in lines for six and seven hours to vote,” Gaetz said drawing standing applause from members.
“Floridians should never again have to wonder if their ballots were miscoded or misprinted or miscounted,” Gaetz continued. “Floridians shouldn’t be embarrassed that while most counties in our state run flawless elections, some counties keep running flawed elections.
“This isn’t a third world country. America shouldn’t have to wait for five days after the polls close to find out how Florida voted,” Gaetz said.
He said he doesn’t know yet what needs to be fixed, but vowed to find out. Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, have both elevated elections to the fore by giving full committee status to Ethics and Elections Committees in each chamber. Weatherford was also sworn in by the House on Tuesday.
Democrats have blamed Republicans for the problems. The Republican-led Legislature, with backing from Gov. Rick Scott, cut early voting days from 14 to 8, and while half the state’s voters cast a ballot early, critics said if more had been able to vote early, the lines would have been shorter on Election Day.
Elections officials, while acknowledging problems, have noted that in most counties, the process went smoothly.
“We’ll probe. We’ll listen. If we need to change laws, we’ll change them,” Gaetz said. “But I won’t be satisfied and neither should you unless the 2014 elections in Florida are a model for America.”
Gaetz also gave a general outline of the GOP Senate’s priorities for the coming two years: job growth, encouraging education changes that make school more tied to the types of jobs available, and raising the standard of ethical conduct.
Gaetz also criticized Congress for divisive partisanship that doesn’t serve people well, drawing a contrast with state lawmakers
“The difference between Tallahassee and Washington is that here, unlike there, the campaign is over,” Gaetz said. “Congress – both parties – has an approval rating of 11 percent. Muammar Gaddafi had an approval rating of 14 percent and his people killed him.”
He also noted that voters don’t want to hear the parties blame each other.
“I cannot go home to Niceville with the excuse that I did nothing about job growth and blame the Democrats,” said Gaetz, who was a school board member and superintendent in Okaloosa County and a health care executive before being elected to the Senate.
The public also has a low esteem for politicians because of ethical lapses, he said.
“In my medium-sized north Florida county, a commissioner was just removed for official misconduct, the (tourism development) director committed suicide after he stole bed tax
and BP money, the Speaker of the House was forced to resign, the Tax Collector was run out of office, our college president was fired and our sheriff is in federal prison,” Gaetz said. “That’s just my county.”
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: Senate President Don Gaetz (left) is sworn in Tuesday. Pictured inset: Gaetz addresses the Senate. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary G. Powell Mooney
November 21, 2012
Mary G. Powell Mooney, 84 of Atmore, passed away November 20, 2012, in Mobile.
She was born November 28, 1927, in Gadsden. She was a member of Presley Street Baptist Church and was a retired fabric examiner from Vanity Fair. She is preceded in death by her parents; Elisha Edward and Laura Wright Gay; husbands, Johnny P. Powell and Elmer R. Mooney, Sr.; son; Johnny Wayne Powell; son-in-law, Edward “Shorty” Tyree; one great granddaughter, Anna-Grace Faith Stanley and her brothers Willie Edward Gay and James Edward Gay.
She is survived by her son, Billy Edward Powell (Brenda) of Atmore; daughters; Mary Alice Turner of Flowery Branch, GA; Patricia Ann (Bobby) Freeman; Linda Tyree; Glenda (Damon) Bell all of Atmore, and Rita Faye Parker of Bratt and Aunt Hattie Snyder of Molino.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active allbearers will be Tim Turner, Justin Bell, Kevin Bell, Robbie Stanley, Keith Bell, John Donaldson, Trent Freeman and Phillip Myrick. Honorary pallbearers will be her first born grandson; Steve Freeman and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 22, 2012 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Edward Raymond Carden
November 21, 2012
Mr. Edward Raymond Carden, age 73, of Keego Road in Brewton, passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2012.
Mr. Carden was a native and life long resident of Escambia Conty, AL. He was a 1957 graduate of Flomaton High School, and worked for 37 years with the Monsanto Corporation as a Chemical Operator. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Carden was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Rutha Mae Carden; and his wife, Martha Ann Carden.
He is survived by one son, Rusty (Frances) Carden of Brewton; two daughters, Terri (Jim Fulford) Waller of Atmore, Robin (Cory) Johnson of Brewton; one brother, Ronnie (Audrey) Carden of Brewton; six grandchildren, Mandy Bondurant, Tiffany Emmons, Chad Coburn, Christopher Coburn, Josh Carden, and Brooke Carden; two great-grandchildren, Kyleigh Coburn and Landon Bondurant; and his beloved pet, Bear.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Richburg officiating. Interment will follow in Catawba Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Friday from 12 Noon until service time at 2 p.m. Pallbearers: Josh Carden, Chad Coburn, Christopher Coburn, Jason Bondurant, David Carden, and Nick Bloodsworth.
Local Cheerleader To March In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 21, 2012
A local cheerleader will march in Thursday morning’s 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Ashley Cunningham of Molino, a senior at Northview High School, will march with The Spirit of America Varsity Cheerleaders at the beginning and end of the parade with Santa Claus.
“The best part is meeting new girls from around the nation,” Ashley said Tuesday night, on her way from the Statue of Liberty to a tour at the Empire State Building. “It is definitely an honor to represent Northview.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be nationally televised Thursday morning on NBC and seen locally on WPMI TV 15.
Pictured top: Ashley Cunningham (left) at the Statue of Liberty Monday in New York City. Pictured inset: Ashley at the Empire State Building Tuesday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
November 21, 2012
The Escambia County Health Department is emphasizing the importance of safe food preparation and storage to prevent possible foodborne illnesses.
“While family celebrations are being prepared, everyone should practice proper food hygiene,” said Dr. John Lanza, health department director. “Floridians should wash their hands and counter tops thoroughly before and after preparing foods to help eliminate bacteria. Foods should be cooked at the appropriate temperature and leftovers should be stored properly.”
Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses include:
- Improper food storage (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature). Safe refrigeration temperature is less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe hot holding temperature is greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improper cooling of foods. Safe cooling of foods is getting the foods to less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a four-hour time period.
- Cross contamination (such as from uncooked meat to salad ingredients)
- Improper cleaning and sanitizing of eating and cooking utensils, work areas and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils and equipment from flies, roaches and other pests
Tips to prepare turkeys safely:
- A whole turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- An 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey should be cooked for 2-3 hours.
- Preparers should use a meat thermometer. Every part of the turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Frozen turkeys should be kept frozen until ready to thaw prior to cooking.
Individuals with liver disease or diabetes or who have had gastric surgery or are immune-compromised should avoid eating raw oysters or other raw animal protein during the holidays. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked or have been post-harvest treated can be consumed by people with these conditions to minimize the risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus.
For more information about food safety, click here.
Thanksgiving Recipe: Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake
November 21, 2012
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are featuring recipes on NorthEscambia.com this week. Today’s featured recipe, from columnist Janet Tharpe is a Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake.
One Arrested In Escambia Shooting
November 20, 2012
One person was arrested after a shooting Tuesday afternoon at the Sunrise Apartment complex on Fairfield Drive in Escambia County.
Deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance at 12:07 p.m. in the apartment complex. Deputies discovered an adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported by EMS to a local hospital.
A witness was able to follow the two male suspects for a short distance before the suspects were involved in a car wreck and fled on foot. Deputies responded to the area with a K-9 unit in an attempt to track two suspects. A firearm was recovered in the area, deputies said.
Tevin Watson, 20, was arrested during the search and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, deadly missiles and criminal mischief. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $31,000.
Deputies are still looking for a second suspect, who is described as a black male in his early 20’s. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at a (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Bridge On Sunshine Hill Road Closed For Three Weeks
November 20, 2012
The bridge on Sunshine Hill Road in Molino was closed this morning for repairs and is expected to remain closed for about three weeks. The bridge, located just south of Cedar Springs Road, is expected to reopen by December 10.
The Sunshine Hill Road bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced with a new structure with construction beginning in February 2013.
Fire Departments Respond To Smoke At Molino Park Elementary
November 20, 2012
Area fire departments were dispatched to Molino Park Elementary School this morning for a report of smoke filling the gym.
The fire firefighters on scene moments after the call determined that the smoke was from a faulty air handling unit, and there was no fire. Some students were evacuated as a precaution.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid and Ferry Pass stations were dispatched to the call. Most were canceled before arriving on scene.