Learn How To Do Business With ECUA At Workshop
November 13, 2013
This Friday, the Florida Small Business Development Center and the University of West Florida’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center Program, will offer a free workshop entitled, “How to do Business with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority”.
The event, re-scheduled from early October when Tropical Storm Karen was expected to affect our area, will be held in Pensacola at 9999 University Parkway, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This will be the last of the quarterly-scheduled meetings offered in 2013.
The informational meeting will educate attendees about the potential of doing business with the ECUA, while increasing participation in obtaining future ECUA contracts. Participants will learn about the bidding process, qualification requirements, future business opportunities, and how the ECUA hiring process is conducted.
ECUA speakers will include; Stephen P. Holcomb, director of wastewater infrastructure, Peter Wilkinson, purchasing and store manager, and Frances Webb, HR generalist.
The workshop is free; however, pre-registration is recommended. For additional information contact Laura Subel, PTAC procurement specialist, via email at lsubel@uwf.edu, or by calling (850) 474-2549. Participants may register on-line at https://clients.floridasbdc.org/center.aspx?center=41080&subloc=0
Florida Lieutenant Governor Vacancy At Eight Months
November 13, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott gave little indication Tuesday about how the search for a lieutenant governor is proceeding, as the vacancy in the position hit eight months.
“I’m still reviewing it,” Scott said. “Look, there’s a lot of great people around the state that could be great at lieutenant governor, and so we’re still going through the process.”
Former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll stepped down March 12. If Scott were unable to fulfill his duties before a lieutenant governor is named, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over as governor.
by The News Service of Florida
Freeze Warning For Tonight
November 12, 2013
There is a freeze warning in effect for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Another freeze is expected for Wednesday night.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Hunt Continues For Molino Armed Burglary Suspect
November 12, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their search for a man wanted in connection with an armed burglary in Molino.
Garland David McKenzie II, 20, is wanted for an October 17 burglary in the 200 block of Oreo Drive. During the burglary, currency, jewelry and electronics were stolen.
The Sheriff’s Office has not said if McKenzie is suspected in two October 10 Molino burglaries that they termed “significant”. One burglary occurred in the 600 block of Brickton Road and another the same day in the 6000 block of Brickyard Road. Electronics and a significant amount of valuables were stolen in both incidents.
Anyone having information as to the whereabouts of Garland David McKenzie II or any of the Molino area burglaries is asked to contact Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators at (850) 436-9580 or (850) 436-9620.
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.
