Meatless Mondays: Health Dept. Encourages Skipping Meat One Day
January 4, 2013
The Escambia County Health Department is advocating a program called “Meatless Monday” — encouraging residents to reduce the amount of meat in their diets.
The health department says eating less meat will improve personal health and the health of the planet. Supporting the international Meatless Monday movement, the Escambia County Health Department will provide information and resources about the benefits of eating more plant-based proteins and less meat.
“We’re not advocating complete avoidance of meat – that’s not realistic,” says Registered Dietitian and Community Health Education and Nutrition Director, Versilla Turner. “This campaign is about helping residents take small, manageable steps toward better health.”
The Escambia County Health Department will work with local restaurants, schools, and other establishments to promote eating less meat as a step toward a healthier diet. Weekly recipes, frequently asked questions, and an overview of why and how to eat less meat can be found on the campaign webpage on EscambiaHealth.com.
According to the Escambia County Health Department — Eating less meat can improve health, save money, and help sustain the environment. Excess meat consumption is linked to increased risks of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Replacing some meat with plant-based proteins improves health by increasing the variety of vitamins and minerals consumed, as well as providing more fiber and less saturated fat. Individuals can easily meet protein needs and still feel full and satisfied by eating more plant-based proteins and less meat. Finally, eating less meat can also help sustain the planet by decreasing energy usage and dependence on fossil fuels.
Escambia Commission Honors State Champion Northview Chiefs
January 4, 2013
The Northview Chiefs were honored Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission.
The commission adopted a proclamation congratulating the players and coaches of the 2012 Northview High School Chiefs football team for winning the Florida Class 1A state football championship last month. (The complete proclamation is below, click to enlarge.)
“It’s been a tremendous season,” head coach Sid Wheatley said after receiving a standing ovation. “I’m so proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
Pictured top: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry (right) reads a proclamation honoring the Northview Chiefs as NHS head coach Sid Wheatley (left) looks on Thursday night. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County High Principal Resigning
January 4, 2013
Escambia County High School Principal Zickeyous Byrd has announced he is leaving the Atmore school.
Byrd, who is in his third year at ECHS, will become the administrator of the Alabama Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Leading. The office provides services related to teacher and educator recruitment in Alabama, testing, place, professi0nal development and the identification of highly qualified teachers based upon federal guidelines.
Byrd’s last day at Escambia County High School will be January 15; he will begin his job with the state on January 16.
Prior to taking the principal’s post at ECHS, Byrd served as principal of Escambia County Middle School. He was named ECMS principal in 2005, making him the youngest principal in Alabama at age 26.
He applied earlier this year for the Escambia County School System superintendent’s job, but was not selected.
Florida Revenue Beats Forecast
January 4, 2013
Florida general revenue tax collections in November were $10.3 million higher than expected, putting the year-to-date revenue collection estimate at $260.2 million above the earlier forecast, state officials said.
The amount is barely a blip, but shows a continuing improvement in the economy that’s slightly outpacing earlier rebound projections. Sales tax collections slightly outpaced the August estimate, though in a barely statistically significant way, according to the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
The good news, however, was that sales tax collections in the building sector came in nearly 7 percent higher than earlier projected, and documentary stamp tax collections – which reflect real estate transactions – were also slightly higher than expected back in the summer.
Corporate income tax collections were also higher, but much of the difference there was due to audit assessments.
By The News Service of Florida
Transocean To Pay $1.4 Billion To Settle Deepwater Horizon Claims
January 4, 2013
Transocean Deepwater, Inc., will plead guilty and pay $1.4 billion in civil and criminal penalties for its role in causing the nation’s largest oil spill in 2010, the U.S. government said Thursday.
The Justice Department said in a statement that the company would plead guilty to violating the federal Clean Water Act, saying that it had filed the proposed settlement Thursday in U.S. District Court in Louisiana. The proposal is subject to court approval.
Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, confirmed the proposed settlement in its own release sent to investors from its headquarters in Switzerland. The company said that as part of the agreement, the Justice Department won’t pursue further action against it.
The company admitted wrongdoing and will pay $400 million in criminal fines, and continue to help in a federal criminal investigation, DOJ said. Also, Transocean Ocean Holdings LLC, Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., Transocean Deepwater Inc. and Triton Asset Leasing GMBH agreed to pay an additional $1 billion to resolve federal Clean Water Act civil penalty claims for the three-month-long spill at the Macondo Well and the Transocean drilling rig Deepwater Horizon.
The April, 2010 spill shut down the northern Gulf of Mexico and, in addition to biological damage, caused a massive slowdown in the fishing industry and tourism in Gulf economies, including along the Florida Panhandle. Eleven workers were killed and the spill was the largest in U.S. history. The spill also had an effect on oil drilling politics in Florida – effectively ending for the time discussions about opening more of the Gulf closer to Florida shores to new drilling.
The settlement also requires the company and its subsidiaries to put in place measures to improve safety and emergency response ability at all drilling rigs in U.S. waters.
“This resolution of criminal allegations and civil claims against Transocean brings us one significant step closer to justice for the human, environmental and economic devastation wrought by the Deepwater Horizon disaster,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in the statement. “This agreement holds Transocean criminally accountable for its conduct and provides nearly a billion dollars in criminal and civil penalties for the benefit of the Gulf states. I am particularly grateful today to the many Justice Department personnel and federal investigative agency partners for the hard work that led to today’s resolution and their continuing pursuit of justice for the people of the Gulf.”
In agreeing to plead guilty, Transocean Deepwater Inc. admitted that members of its crew, at the direction of the British oil company BP, were negligent in failing to fully investigate indications the Macondo well wasn’t secure, the Justice Department said.
“These important agreements, which the company believes to be in the best interest of its shareholders and employees, remove much of the uncertainty associated with the accident,” Transocean said in its own statement. “This is a positive step forward, but it is also a time to reflect on the 11 men who lost their lives aboard the Deepwater Horizon. Their families continue to be in the thoughts and prayers of all of us at Transocean.”
Under the order that was filed in court, $150 million of the $400 million criminal recovery is dedicated to restoring and preserving marine and coastal environments in the affected states. Some of the money will be used for barrier island protection off the coast of Louisiana and research on oil spill prevention and response, but it’s not clear how the total will be split among the states. In addition to Louisiana and Florida, Mississippi and Alabama were also affected.
Transocean said it will make payments totaling $560 million in the coming year, and $460 million in 2014, followed by progressively smaller payments in the out years through 2017.
By The News Service of Florida
2012 In Photos: November
January 4, 2013
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2012. Today, we are featuring photos from November.
Two people were charged after a Davisville lottery store owner was shot and killed during a robbery.
The Pen Air Federal Credit Union was robbed in late November by a man claiming to have a gun.
The Northview Chiefs defeated Freeport during an overtime thriller in Bratt for the Chief’s third consecutive Region 1-1A championship.
A November sunset behind a Walnut Hill cotton field, giving the appearance of “southern snow”.
Children enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center.
A church purchased the Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry and Campground just weeks after the country music landmark closed due to the owner’s retirement.
Firefighters took part in a live burn training exercise in Atmore.
The Tate High School Army JROTC marched in Pensacola’s Veterans Day Parade.
An emotional program honored veterans at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
A program honoring veterans was held at Northview High School.
Tens of thousands of people attended the annual Blue Angels homecoming air show at Pensacola NAS.
Prison Health Care Privatization Contract Signed
January 4, 2013
The state’s efforts to privatize prison health care services across roughly the southern third of Florida is moving ahead, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.
Agency spokeswoman Ann Howard said DOC and Wexford Health Services, Inc., signed a $48 million contract on Dec. 18 and hope for a 90-day transition period, allowing the company to finish taking over operations some time in March.
The state expects to save about $12 million a year with the privatization. Employees are being notified of the change and are guaranteed an interview with Wexford, Howard said.
An initiative to turn over health-care services in other parts of the state to Corizon, Inc., is currently tangled up in court after a Leon County judge struck down a decision by the Legislative Budget Commission to authorize that transfer. The judge ruled that the 14-member commission overstepped its authority by allowing the privatization to go forward in areas where the full Legislature had not authorized it.
The state has appealed that decision.
By The News Service of Florida
Woman Charged After Toddler Found Wandering Street
January 3, 2013
An Escambia County woman was arrested early Thursday morning after leaving her three young children at home alone.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 600 block of Prichard Avenue in Ensley just after midnight after callers reported a small child running down the street wearing only a shirt and diaper.
Deputies were able to determine where the 2-year old lived, and they discovered two other children, ages 4 and 6, inside and unattended.
About an hour later, the mother of the children, identified as Amanda Lynette Wiggins, returned home. She told deputies that she had left home just prior to the babysitter, known to Wiggins only as Christie, arriving. Deputies were unable to verify Wiggins’ story.
Wiggins was charged with three counts of child neglect and jailed without bond.
The children were no injured. The Department of Children and Families was called and made arrangements for the children.
Two Arrested After Cantonment Manhunt
January 3, 2013
A man that was the subject of a New Year’s Eve manhunt in Cantonment remains in the Escambia County Jail, and a woman was charged with obstructing deputies in finding him.
Several Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 310 Booth Avenue in an attempt to arrest 40-year old Michael Anthony Hare on outstanding warrants. Deputies were unable to immediately enter the fenced yard at the residence due to two large dogs. Deputies reported seeing Hare and and a female, later identified as 27-year old Regan Nichole Daniel, run out the back door of residence.
A seven-year old child that lived in the home approached deputies and told them that Hare had been in the home all day, an arrest report states.
Daniel later exited the house, denied that Hare had been there and refused to allow deputies to enter the home or yard. She later took control of the dogs, and deputies unsuccessfully searched the residence for Hare.
Deputies established a perimeter around the area and began a K-9 search that lasted for a couple of a hours. Hare was eventually located hiding in an attached garage at the Booth Avenue residence and taken into custody.
Hare was booked into the Escambia County jail without bond on two outstanding probation violation warrants, resisting an officer/obstruction of justice and contempt of court on an domestic violence injunction that forbid him from contact with Daniel. Hare was on probation on stalking charges, according to an arrest report.
Daniel was charged with obstructing justice/resisting an officer and later released from jail on a $500 bond.
Pictured and below: Deputies searched for hours for 40-year old Michael Anthony Hare Monday in Cantonment. Reader submitted photo by Paula Butler for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested For New Year’s Eve Party Stabbing Near Munson
January 3, 2013
A Santa Rosa County man was arrested Wednesday night in connection with a stabbing at a New Year’s Eve party in Munson.
Camrin Bass, 19, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Bass reportedly became upset at a comment 23-year old Dillan Fretwell made at a female at the party at 12299 Munson Highway. Bass then stabbed Fretwell multiple times, deputies said, including one stab wound that barely missed Fretwell’s heart. Bass had fled the scene before deputies arrived.
Fretwell was stabbed a total of four times — one in the chest and three times in his back. He was driven by private vehicle to Jay Hospital for treatment.
Pictured: Camrin Bass, 19, was arrested Wednesday night in connection with a New Year’s Eve party stabbing in Munson. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.