International Paper To Hold Grant Application Info Meeting
November 6, 2013
International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill will award $50,000 in Foundation Grants in 2014 and is hosting a one-hour meeting to review the application process with qualifying non-profit organizations, schools, and state and local government entities. Amanda Morris, from the IP Foundation in Memphis, will be on site to review the grant process.
The meeting will take place at the mill located at 375 Muscogee Road in Cantonment on Wednesday, November 20 at 10 a.m. and will focus on eligibility, criteria and restrictions. Grant committee members will be available for questions.
Reservations to attend the meeting are required as space is limited, however; attendance is not mandatory to apply.
The deadline for all 2014 grant applications is Monday, January 13, 2014.
Applicants must be a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, school, or qualifying government entity to apply.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.ipgiving.com.
To reserve your seat at the workshop, contact Janice Cooper Holmes, communications manager, at 850-968-4203 or email janice.holmes@ipaper.com.
First Baptist Bratt Will Serve As Operation Christmas Child Central
November 6, 2013
Volunteers will soon be busy at the First Baptist Church of Bratt during “National Collection Week” for Operation Christmas Child. For the 20th year, the simple, gift-filled shoe boxes will bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in over 130 countries across the world.
National Collection Week for OCC is November 18-25. The First Baptist Church of Bratt will be the official OCC Relay Center for the north end of Escambia County, Florida. The FBC Bratt will also accept boxes from individuals, groups or churches in and Escambia County, Alabama, again this year.
“This is not about the FBC of Bratt”, says Student Pastor Tim Hawsey, Relay Center coordinator. “This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise. We have gone through the intense process of been approved as a church to be a Relay Center to collect the boxes from individuals, families, and churches of our area, document and pack them into special cartons and take them to the next level for Samaritan’s Purse, and we are blessed to do it.”
Collection hours at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will be:
- Monday, Nov. 18: 8 a.m. – noon, 4-6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 19: 8 a.m. – noon
- Wednesday, Nov. 20: 8 a.m. – noon, 4 PM – 6 PM
- Thursday, Nov. 21: 8 a.m. – noon
- Friday, Nov. 22: 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, Nov. 23: 8 a.m. – noon
- Sunday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – noon, 4-6 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 25: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
The boxes collected this year at FBC Bratt will go through the Atlanta Processing Center then will be shipped to the countries of Belize, Botswana, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Macedonia, Madagascar, Niger, Seychelles, Suriname, Trinidad, Tobago, and the Ukraine.
Operation Christmas Child boxes should be packed in a specific manner, and there are changes this year. For more information, call Hawsey at the First Baptist Church of Bratt at (850) 327-6529, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, or call (800) 353-5949. Resources are available for churches that wish to participate.
Students Dress To Impress
November 6, 2013
Northview High School recently held a “Dress To Impress” day, with students skipping jeans and t-shirts and wearing their favorite dress clothing instead. Submitted photos for NorhtEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northwest Escambia Claims Three Escambia River Championships
November 6, 2013
Three Northwest Escambia Eagles teams won Escambia River Conference championships Saturday in Jay.
Here are game summaries, as submitted by NWE. (Scroll down below photos for each summary).
NWE Sophomores were named ERC Sophomore Champions Saturday after defeating Poarch 26-6.
NWE and Poarch split regular season games at one win each. Poarch came out scoring quick but Eagles stop the extra point. Kaden Odom scored two touchdowns and one extra point for the Eagles. TJ Wright completed a 50 yard touchdown pass to Nolin Godwin for the play of the game.
Arquavian Smith had two long runs for more than 40 yards each, including one for a touchdown. TJ Wright punched in the extra point for the Eagles. The Eagles defense was able to hold Poarch scoreless for three quarters. Luke Bridges, John Michael Ward, Nathan Chavers, Aiden Broadhead and Braeden McGhee all made stops for the Eagles to help shut down Poarch’s running game.
Kaden Odom was named ERC’s Sophomore MVP for his outstanding performance and leadership on the field. The sophomores are coached by Gordon Godwin, David Nolin, Carl Ward, Ted Bridges, David Odom and Joel Broadhead.
NWE Juniors were named ERC Junior Champions Saturday as they defeated Jay 35-0.
Jayden Jackson started the Eagles off by scoring a 60 yard touchdown on their first possession of the game. Michael Merchant added the extra point with a quarterback sneak.
Jaden Cunningham followed on the next possession scoring with at 55 yard touchdown. Jaheem Durant punched in the extra point for the Eagles. Michael Merchant completed a pass to Dariontae Richardson for a 65 yard touchdown reception. Jaden Cunningham scores the extra point for the Eagles.
Jay drove the ball down to their 5-yard line when Ki-Jauna Carter forces the fumble and Dariontae Richardson recovered for the Eagles. Eagles took advantage of the recovery on the next play with Jayden Jackson running for 95 yards to score a touchdown.
Jaheem Durant scored with a 35 yard touchdown late in the game with Jaden Cunningham scored the extra point bringing the final score to 35-0.
Key plays on defense were made by Logan Bryan who stopped the Royals at their 5-yard line twice, Ki-Juana Carter and Hayden Thrower who each had a sack each. Jackson, Durant, Richardson, Thrower and Cunningham all made stops to prevent the Royals from scoring. Jayden Jackson was named ERC’s Junior Division MVP for his outstanding season.
The junior team has the opportunity to travel to Gulf Shores over Thanksgiving weekend to compete in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Championships, where teams from all over the United States will compete. The Juniors are coached by Patrick Boone, Eric Jefferson, Johnnie Carter, Kevin Bryan, Chris Singleton and Charles Davis.
Northwest Escambia won the Senior Championship 40-30 over Flomaton.
The Seniors Championship Game was a match-up of two undefeated teams, with both Flomaton and NWE coming in with 8-0 records. The game started with a 65 yard scoring drive by NWE, Aunterio Minor picked-up the bulk of those yards running strong through the middle of the Flomaton defense. Minor capped the drive off with a 5 yard TD run, Seth Killam added the successful two-point kick to make the score 8-0.
Flomaton started their first possession at their own 35 and was able to put together a nice drive, ending it by out running the Eagles around the right side of the defense for a TD. The Hurricanes kicker added the two point kick and the score was all tied up at 8-8.
On NWE’s next possession began at their 35 and the Eagles continued to work the middle of the Canes defense behind strong running from Trent Kite. After two hard runs by Kite, the Eagles were in Canes territory. NWE QB Seth Killam then completed a 20 yard pass to Keaton Solmonson, who used great concentration to pull to make a tremendous catch. The Eagles then went back to the run game, and Kite capped off the drive with a 10 yard TD run, Killam’s two point kick was good, and the score stood at 16-8 to begin the second quarter.
The Hurricanes first possession of the second quarter was capped off with a long TD pass, on which the Canes receiver out jumped a NWE defender for the ball. The Canes two point kick was good and the score was all tied up 16-16. The Eagles continued to use a strong running game and some timely passes to move the football, with Killam capping the drive on a QB sneak from the two yard line. Killam added the two point kick and the score was 24-16. The Canes then put together another strong drive, punching the ball into the endzone with only seconds left in the half. The Canes two point kick attempt was no good and at half time the scored stood at NWE 24,Flomaton 22.
NWE held Flomaton on their first second half possession and forced a punt. NWE’s next possession ended on a fumble. After the turnover the Eagles defense stepped up and held the Canes on downs behind strong play from Keegun Johnston, Jovantaye Wright and Minor. The Eagles took advantage of their next possession going back to the run game, attacking the middle of the Canes defense. Minor capped off the drive with a 10 yard TD run. Killam’s two point kick was good to make the score 32-22. On the Canes next possession the Flomaton ball carrier was able to out run the Eagles defense on 50 plus yard TD run. The Flomaton two point kick was good, to make the score 32-30 to begin the 4th Quarter.
On the Eagles next possession the middle of the Flomaton defense seemed to stiffen a bit. The Eagles were faced with a 3rd and 8, inside their own territory, Cameron Cloud the Eagles back up QB came in and completed a great pass down the right sideline to starting QB Seth Killam for the first down. Killam moved back to QB and then out ran the Canes defense on a QB bootleg around the right side for a 20 yard TD run. Killam added the two point kick to make the score NWE 40 Flomaton 30 half way through the 4th quarter.
Flomaton’s next possession ended when Killam intercepted a Canes pass. The Eagles looked to put the game away on their next possession drove down deep into the Canes territory with strong ruining from Trent Kite, but the drive ended with a fumble on the Flomaton 12 yard line. Canes mounted a valiant attempt moving the ball near mid field before the NWE Defense stiffened and sacked the Canes QB on fourth down. After a couple of running plays NWE then took a knee to win the championship 40-30
The NWE Seniors are coched by Greg Gibson, Matt Olsen, Jared Peebles, Brett Roberson, and Zach Windham.
Bill Would Bar Insurers From Considering Gun Ownership
November 6, 2013
State Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, filed a bill this week that would prevent property and auto insurers from refusing to issue or renew policies based on customers’ legal use, possession or ownership of firearms.
The proposal also would bar insurers from charging a “discriminatory” rate because of guns. The proposal, which will be considered during the spring legislative session, would take effect July 1, 2014, if passed.
House, Senate Look At Ditching No Fault Insurance
November 6, 2013
A House Republican is driving forward with plans to replace the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance coverage, two years after lawmakers passed reforms to try to rid the system of fraud.
However, the proposal continues to be reviewed in a “deliberative and thoughtful manner” in the Senate as a number of insurance officials have tempered their call for a change after a constitutional challenge to the 2012 reform law was recently sidetracked.
Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, on Tuesday filed two measures (HB 267 and HB 269) directed at making bodily injury coverage, which a vast majority of motorists in Florida already purchase, the replacement for no-fault.
The measures replicate a draft being put together by Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs.
Simmons said he will continue to gather input on the proposal after his committee reviewed the potential change on Tuesday.
Simmons had been advancing the measure at the request of some insurance officials who said they didn’t expect reforms to the decades-old Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance system — also known as no-fault — to fully take hold.
But Simmons noted that some of those advocates have taken a wait-and-see attitude after the 1st District Court of Appeal tossed out a challenge to the law Oct. 23. The court found that an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, two massage therapists, a hypothetical “John Doe” representing health-care providers and a hypothetical “Jane Doe” representing motorists lacked legal standing.
Michael Carlson, executive director of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, a three-year-old trade association which includes Allstate, Progressive and State Farm, was among those on Tuesday saying the Legislature should continue to see if the 2012 reforms hold.
“There’s some very, very initial trend data showing that some claims are decreasing,” Carlson said. “It seems to indicate some of the costs in the system are being addressed. We’re hopeful the (HB) 119 reforms will continue to address those costs.”
Donovan Brown, state government relations counsel for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, also encouraged lawmakers to give the 2012 law time to work.
“After nearly a year and a lawsuit later, the reforms finally have the ability to be fully implemented,” Brown stated.
Still, Simmons said language in the appeals-court ruling indicates the no-fault system doesn’t have a future.
The court “told us the wrong plaintiffs were involved in that lawsuit but certainly used language that would indicate that there are significant questions that need to be resolved of the 2012 amendments,” Simmons said.
“That 1st DCA opinion, decision provides no solace to an insurance company who is trying to deal with PIP,” Simmons continued. “As someone told me, it’s just a stay of execution.”
Instead of a “hypothetical claim,” the plaintiffs failed to offer a “factual” motorist who is harmed by the law, the judges wrote.
The order reversed a March ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who said the law illegally prevented accident patients from using PIP claims to pay for treatment by acupuncturists and massage therapists and limited services from chiropractors.
Lewis also found fault with the law’s lower limit on how much will be paid for non-emergency medical care.
The 2012 law, signed by Gov. Rick Scott and backed by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, requires that people involved in motor vehicle crashes seek treatment within 14 days and allows up to $10,000 in benefits for emergency medical conditions and $2,500 for non-emergency conditions.
The bill was considered a last ditch effort to maintain the PIP system, which requires motorists to carry $10,000 in medical coverage.
Ditching no-fault for bodily-injury, which provides coverage if a motorist causes an accident that hurts someone else, is expected to put more questions of medical coverage into the courts as injured parties seek to recoup expenses from at-fault drivers.
Gerald Wester, a lobbyist for the American Insurance Association, said PIP continues to see fraud and recommended that if the Legislature were to change the system, bodily injury should have minimum of $10,000 coverage for a single person injured in an accident and $20,000 for all liable injuries in an accident.
Wester, Paul Sanford, legislative counsel for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and the American Council of Life Insurers, and Paul Jess, the general counsel and deputy executive director of the Florida Justice Association, recommended that the changes in the insurance system include a form of “Medical Payments to Others” — also known as Med Pay — that covers medical payments for all passengers in a vehicle if they are injured in an accident.
Sandra Starnes, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation director of property & casualty product review, said eliminating no-fault could result in savings for most drivers, with the most significant savings in South and Central Florida, where PIP fraud has been most prevalent.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Hilrey “Don” Entrekin
November 6, 2013
Mr. Hilrey “Don” Entrekin, 84, passed away on Sunday, Novmeber 3, 2013, in Mobile.
Mr. Entrekin was a native of Century and had resided in Brewton since 1994. Mr. Entrekin was a member of Norris Masonic Lodge #301, Scottish Rite and Shriners Abba Temple in Mobile. His parents, Joel & Lena Entrekin; brothers, Vernon Entrekin and Aubrey Entrekin; and sister, Ethel McElvoy precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie Entrekin of Brewton; one son, James V. Entrekin of West Carrolton, OH; three daughters, Nicole Santoro of Greenfield, OH, Donna (George) Ferenczi of Trotwood, OH and Patricia Santoro of Tucson, AZ; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Rusty Burnham officiating.
Burial was at the Serenity Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers were James Entrekin, Charles Proctor, Justin Proctor, Lloyd Proctor, Nathan Gillis and Bernie Raines.
Honorary Pallbearers were the Masons.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Report Blasts Florida For Child Deaths As Lawmakers Zero In
November 6, 2013
Florida’s recent series of child-abuse deaths took center stage at the Capitol on Tuesday, as a report blasted the state child-welfare system and as both chambers of the Legislature signaled they would craft bills to address the system’s shortcomings.
Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo briefed lawmakers on a report by the Casey Family Programs, a private group she had asked to review the spate of deaths when she was tapped to lead the agency in mid-July.
The Casey staff examined 40 recent child deaths suspected to have been caused by maltreatment. In each case, the family had at some point previously been investigated by DCF. The report concluded that child-welfare workers often failed to develop safety plans for at-risk kids or to follow up when they did. Many ignored the signs of families struggling with substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and other dangerous conditions for children.
“A number of babies in these families later died from asphyxia resulting from co-sleeping with parents under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” noted the Casey group.
The report also found that many families need services in order to be safe for their children — including substance-abuse and mental-health treatment — but can’t get them in Florida.
“I don’t think any of the findings were a surprise to us,” Jacobo told members of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee.
Jacobo was one of six panelists who briefed senators Tuesday morning about the children’s deaths. The others were Judge Katherine Essrig, a dependency court judge in the 13th Circuit; Pam Graham, a professor at the Florida State University School of Social Work; Barbara Wolf, who serves on the child abuse death-review panel for five counties; Christina Spudeas, executive director of the advocacy group Florida’s Children First; and Kurt Kelly, CEO of the Florida Coalition for Children, which represents the privatized community-based care agencies.
Chairwoman Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, asked them to explain why Florida children are dying and to suggest legislative solutions.
Spudeas, the advocate, pointed to a lack of oversight.
“In the past five years, DCF has reduced the quality-assurance staff by 72 percent,” she said. “The department’s quality-assurance process and contract oversight have been decimated.”
Graham, the professor, called for well-trained, professional social workers making key decisions about the futures of troubled families.
“Imagine (private investigators) who have been on the job 10, 15 years,” she said. “Think of the kinds of information and experiences that they’ve had. Imagine a foster kid who has had the same caseworker. We know from working with foster children that it only takes one person to make a difference in their lives.”
Wolf agreed with Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, on the need to bring back his 2013 bill assuring confidentiality for child death-review panels, which was vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott.
The meeting also included some testy exchanges.
Sen. Nancy Detert, a Venice Republican known for championing kids in foster care, asked Jacobo and Kelly how the community-based care agencies account for the $769 million they get yearly from the state. Known as CBCs, the private agencies deliver adoption, foster care and case management services at the regional level.
“I’ve heard that some of them have gone out of business, leaving millions of dollars in debt,” Detert said. “I’ve also heard that some of them, in order to manage their budgets, are taking some of the money that was meant for the kids through the independent living program. Where’s the responsibility and accountability?”
Kelly said the CBCs were accountable to the Legislature, the courts and their own boards of directors.
Jacobo said if the CBCs misuse their funding, the department can bring in an inspector general and ask for repayment out of non-state funds.
“If they’ve gone out of business, they can’t pay it back,” Detert said.
Jacobo and the writers of the Casey report also addressed the House Healthy Families Subcommittee later Tuesday. Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, has led her panel through three meetings on the child deaths.
Jacobo told House members she asked the CBCs to analyze which services are available in their regions, with special attention to children with disabilities, substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic violence — all key factors highlighted in the Casey report.
“It’s a matter of what services are available and what services CBCs can leverage in their communities,” she said
The good news for DCF was that the Casey report said Florida’s new safety methodology “appears to be well designed to address many of the problematic child protection practices identified in this review.”
Both Harrell and Sobel say they anticipate bringing committee bills on child protection to the 2014 Legislature.
“I’m hearing a lot about process and not a lot about solutions,” Detert said after the meeting. “But I think the solutions are probably going to come from our side of the table.”
by The News Service of Florida
David E. Dean
November 6, 2013
Mr. David E. Dean, Jr. 88, of Lottie, Alabama, passed away November 4, 2013, in Bay Minette. He was born June 21, 1925, to the late David E. Sr. and Willie Jones Dean. He served in the United States Navy in the Atlantic during WWII and later in the Pacific. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW Post 7016. He was a farmer for many years. He served his community and his church. He worked for Production Credit and was chairman of the Baldwin County Soil and Water Supervisors for 20 years. He was a board member of Southern Pine Electric, Baldwin County Farm Bureau, Perdido Alumni and a member of Lottie United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of the board of Trustees and was finance chairman for many years. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Frank Dean, Herbert Dean, Albert Dean, Ruby Hayles, Myrtle Shiver and Claude Dean.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marjorie Taylor Dean; three daughters, Cheryl Dean (Burk) McWilliams of Arley, AL, Karen Dean (Stephen) Caldwell and Susan Dean (Jim) McCracken, both of Lottie; seven grandchildren, Jason, Vaughn, Rachael, Josh, Thomas, Jim and Jennifer; and 12 great-grandchildren and numerous family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. from the Lottie United Methodist Church with Dr. Doug Williams and Rev. David Edwards officiating.
Burial will follow in Lottie New Home Cemetery with VFW honors.
Active pallbearers will be Jimmy Hayles, Claude Dean, Bill Sigler, Wayne Dean, Wendell Dean and Jack Weatherford.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Darden, Jason Caldwell, Vaughn McWilliams, Josh Caldwell, Thomas McWilliams and Jim McCraken.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 8, 2013, from 10 a.m until service time at 11 a.m. at the Lottie United Methodist Church.
Contributions can be made to the Lottie New Home Cemetery Fund.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gaetz: Common Core Educational Standards Are Not A Conspiracy
November 5, 2013
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, defended the Common Core State Standards against attacks by some conservative activists who fear the standards could lead to federal overreach in the state’s education system.
Answering a question from the audience after a speech on education policy Monday, Gaetz dismissed some of the concerns that were raised by conservatives during a series of public hearings on the standards, based on national benchmarks developed by state officials.
“You can’t dip them in milk and hold them over a candle and see the United Nations flag or Barack Obama’s face,” Gaetz said. “They’re not some federal conspiracy.”
The Senate president did leave open the possibility that the standards might be tweaked as a result of the public hearings if they’re not strong enough in some areas.
“I think the common core standards are good, solid standards. … So if there are ways that we ought to raise standards in order to reach higher and expect more of our students and more of our educational system, then let’s do that,” Gaetz said.
by The News Service of Florida