Wreck, Downed Power Line Shut Down Highway 29 In Century
November 12, 2013
A traffic accident shut down North Century Boulevard in Century Monday night.
A driver apparently ran off the road, collided with a power pole or guy wire and trees on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) at Highway 4A about 6:55 p.m. The collision sent a power line down across North Century Boulevard, shutting down traffic in all four lanes.
The driver, despite the downed power line, exited the vehicle and refused medical treatment from Escambia County EMS. Traffic was diverted along Century side streets for about an hour and a half.
Less than five Gulf Power customers were impacted by the down line, according to the company’s web page.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia School District Establishes Fraud Hotline
November 12, 2013
The Escambia County School District has launched a third party fraud, waste and abuse hotline.
The district contracted with an independent service to establish a reporting hotline. “The Network” provides an opportunity to report possible cases of fraud, waste, abuse, theft or illegal behavior.
“The School District is committed to upholding high expectations for the ethical conduct among its employees. The establishment of this hotline will serve as a tool to provide the support necessary to maintain the district’s integrity with taxpayers,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Situations that appear to involve fraud, waste, abuse, theft or illegal activities can be reported by calling toll-free (855) 819-1248 or using the online reporting tool at https://www.reportlineweb.com/escambia.
Individuals will not be required to provide their name when calling the hotline. When placing a call, individuals are encouraged to provide as much information as possible about the abuse. The hotline is available 24 hours per day/7 days a week.
“The majority of fraud, waste and abuse that is detected and reported typically comes from inside sources. This establishment of a fraud, waste, and abuse hotline for the Escambia County School District, where individuals can anonymously report wrongdoing without the fear of retribution, will have a tremendously positive impact in curbing fraudulent, unlawful activity–which will ultimately result in better protection of taxpayer assets” commented Jeff Bergosh, Board Chair.
House, Senate File Brief Against Medical Marijuana Amendment
November 12, 2013
Legislative leaders have formally joined Attorney General Pam Bondi’s attempt to block a medical-marijuana constitutional amendment from reaching the ballot in November 2014.
In a brief filed in the Florida Supreme Court, House General Counsel Daniel Nordby and Senate General Counsel George Levesque argued that the ballot title and summary for the proposed amendment are misleading and use inaccurate rhetoric in a number of areas to obscure the “true purpose” of the ballot initiative.
The brief doesn’t contest the policy expressed in the proposed amendment.
The proposal is heavily backed by Orlando trial lawyer and Democratic donor John Morgan, whose firm employs recently announced gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist. In the 50-page brief, Nordby and Levesque contend that while the title refers to use of marijuana for “certain medical conditions,” and the summary refers to “debilitating diseases,” the amendment instead provides an “open-ended authorization” for physicians when recommending marijuana use.
Also, they argue that the amendment violates the state constitution’s single-subject requirement by addressing three “logically-separable” subjects: the removal of criminal liability and civil sanctions on individuals, caregivers and physicians; the exemption from civil liability for “others” related to the use of marijuana for medical purposes; and the creation of a new regulatory structure to promote the use of medical marijuana.
“This classic example of ‘logrolling’ denies voters the opportunity to vote in favor of a simple decriminalization of medical marijuana use by individuals suffering from serious illnesses without also expanding the regulatory reach of state government or providing immunity from civil liability,” Nordby and Levesque argued.
Bondi has also told the court that the summary for the ballot initiative would deceive voters about the reach of the amendment. In a brief filed with the court on Friday, she noted that the ballot summary suggests medical marijuana is permissible under federal law.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments about the ballot language Dec. 5.
Thousands Honor Veterans During Annual Parade And Memorial Service
November 12, 2013
Thousands attended the annual Veterans Day Parade and Memorial Service in downtown Pensacola Monday. About 2,000 marchers were part of about 150 groups and organizations that marched in the annual event ending at the Wall South and the Veterans Memorial Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EWMS Winning Exhibit: Seeds Of A Great Nation
November 12, 2013
The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA won first place in the Pensacola Interstate Fair’s exhibit booth competition.
The winning theme was “Agriculture and FFA: Seeds of a Great Nation”. The focal point of the exhibit included the United States Great Seal which was created by arranging seeds, cotton, grass rope, wood, paint, glue and other agricultural products and byproducts.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Victims’ Names Released In Double Homicide
November 12, 2013
The names of the victims have been released in a weekend double homicide in Escambia County.
John Edward Gibbons, 36, and Christopher Lee Fehl, 34, were found dead Sunday afternoon in the 3000 block of Boulder Avenue, a few blocks from the intersection of Mobile Highway and Michigan Avenue in the Bellview area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not released any other information on the double homicide as they continue their investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 43-STOP.
Pictured: The scene of an apparent double murder Sunday in Bellview. Photos by Christina Leavenworth, WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is It A Cold Or Fall Allergies? Tips To Help Florida Kids
November 12, 2013
Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue and headaches: all can be symptoms of both allergies and colds. And when it’s a small child suffering, it can be hard to figure out the difference.
According to Dr. Michelle Lierl, a pediatric allergist, parents should look closely for the minor details. She said children with allergies to such things as leaf mold or outdoor fungal spores are more likely to have itchy noses, throats and eyes than those with a cold, who will generally just not feel well.
“They may run a low-grade fever, they may feel just kind of sick and achy, and they have more sore throats,” the doctor said. “And they’ll have nasal drainage and nasal congestion, but not so much itching of the nose and eyes.”
For seasonal allergies, Lierl said a daily antihistamine, such as Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec, or a prescribed nasal steroid spray are the best options. If it’s a cold, Tylenol or ibuprofen can help a child feel better. She also recommends talking to a pediatrician about having children screened for environmental allergens.
Lierl said taking allergy medicine throughout the season is important to prevent allergy symptoms, such as swelling and mucus build-up, from turning into something worse.
“That can stop up the sinuses and develop into a sinus infection, or it can stop up the middle ear and evolve into an episode of ear infection,” she warned. “So, keeping the nose open and less congested does help to prevent those secondary infections.”
When it comes to fall allergies, prevention is also important. She noted that allergy season is tough for asthma sufferers, and November is one of the worst months.
“We have higher rates of admission to Children’s Hospital for asthma attacks than at any other time of the year,” Lierl recalled. “So, it’s important for the parents of children with asthma to be especially careful that their children do not miss any doses of their regular asthma medication.”
She recommends keeping windows closed, changing air filters, and having children wash their hands and faces after being outside. And while it is fun, jumping into piles of leaves is off limits, because it can trigger an allergy attack.
by Stephanie Carroll Carson, Florida News Connection
Century Care Honors Veterans
November 12, 2013
Century Care Center honored their veteran residents on Monday.
Billy Bray, Ed Clemmens, Glen Dunaway, Larry Irwin, Paul Louvierre, John Rutherford, Johnny Tobert, Winford Johnson and Elbie Pugh. Each received a pin and certificate from Commander Ericl Steib of Jay.
Residents also held memorial for Eunice Ward, and honored the service of volunteer James Sexton who retired from the U.S. Air Force with 21 years of service.
Pictured top are veterans (L-R) Billy Bray, Ed Clemmens, Glen Dunaway and Larry Irwin. Pictured inset: The Northview High School NJROTC. Pictured below: Veterans Paul Louvierre, John Rutherford, Johnny Tobert and Winford Johnson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four-Wheeler Accident Claims Life Of Flomaton Man
November 11, 2013
A four-wheeler accident has claimed the life of a Flomaton man.
Jimmie Elicah Dixon, 62, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County (FL) EMS. He was discovered early Monday morning under his wrecked four-wheeler in a secluded location near Beasley-Dixon Road, just north of Highway 31.
Officials said Dixon was last seen leaving on his four-wheeler late Sunday afternoon. After he did not return, the family began looking for Dixon early Monday morning. It was not known exactly when the accident occurred.
Congressman Tasked With Looking Out For Veterans
November 11, 2013
It’s not just Veterans Day that Congressman Jeff Miller thinks about those who have served. Veterans are always on his mind, one of his top priorities.
The Chumuckla Republican represents the 1st Congressional District which is home to more veterans than any other district in the entire United States. He’s also chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $150 billion.
And right now, he’s not pleased with the answers his committee is getting — or, more importantly, not getting – from the VA.
“It’s unbelievable. In an agency and an administration that touts their transparency, there is very little transparency. It’s unbelievable,” Miller told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “We have been trying since I became the chairman to get information out of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and they have stonewalled us at every turn.”
The VA has not provided answered over 100 separate requests for information made by the Veterans Affairs Committee, with four of those requests dating back to 2012. Due to the unanswered requests, the committee created the Trials and Transparency website to highlight the problem.
Miller said he does believe the problem is partisan; many of the requests have been made by the committee’s ranking Democratic member Rep. Michael H. Michaud of Maine.
“We are not doing it from a partisan standpoint; we are doing it because our veterans deserve answers and, unfortunately, they are not getting them,” Miller said.
Regardless of problems getting answers from the VA, Miller’s office still works to get action for local veterans. One of his staff members in Pensacola is devoted solely to working for veterans.
“We will help them in any way that we can worth through the bureaucracy, and our success rate is usually pretty good,” the congressman said.
Politics and VA oversight problems aside, Miller said Veterans Day is an extremely important holiday.
“Veterans Day is important to all of us to say thank you and remembering those that have served and worn the uniform of this country,” he said. “It’s a day where Americans can stop and pay tribute to those who have answered the call and have run to the sound of the guns…We are the country we are today because there have been men and women throughout our history that have never wavered in their patriotic duty to this country.”
Pictured top: Congress Jeff Miller poses with veterans in Century. With Miller are (L-R) Herbert Boutwell III, a two-tour Vietnam veteran; his father, World War II veteran Herbert Boutwell, Jr.; and Benjamin Boutwell, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism and U.S. Air Force Retiree. Pictured inset: Rep. Jeff Miller addresses a Veterans Day event in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.