Gulf Power Bills Headed Up
November 5, 2013
Customers of three of the state’s largest utilities — including Gulf Power — will see their monthly electric bills increase in 2014, after regulators Monday approved charges for expenses such as power-plant fuel.
Residential customers of Gulf Power Co. who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month will see their bills jump in January from $118.88 to $127.94. an increase of $9.06 per month. Utilities typically point to 1,000 kilowatt hours as a benchmark, though residential use varies widely and business customers are billed differently.
By Florida statute and established Public Service Commission policy, electric utilities may recover certain expenses from customers through cost recovery charges adjusted annually by the PSC. Cost recovery is allowed on fuel and purchased power, capacity , conservation, and environmental requirements. Utilities may not, however, earn a profit on fuel charges.
Most of the increases approved Monday by the PSC are related to fuel and are included in the fuel charge on customers’ bills.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Trying To Kill Deputy
November 5, 2013
An Escambia County man has been convicted on charges that he tried to kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
Ryan Lewis Toler, was convicted of attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement office and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The incident took place on May 20, 2013, inside the Oakwood Terrace Apartment complex at approximately 9:00 a.m. Escambia County Deputy Michael Runge was in the process of contacting Toler on the property when the defendant fled on foot. Deputy Runge gave chase and during the chase Toler withdrew a pistol and pointed it at Runge and pulled the
trigger. The firearm did not discharge due to a faulty magazine.
Toler was apprehended shortly thereafter and the firearm was recovered on Market Street.
Toler faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh on November 18. Toler also has a pending charge of possession of firearm by a convicted felon that may be addressed at his sentencing.
Century Develops Plan To Regulate Barnyard Animals
November 5, 2013
The Century Town Council has developed a plan to deal with barnyard animals in the town limits.
During a Monday night workshop, the council formulated rules to be included a new ordinance that bans hogs and limits other animals.
Under the ordinance, barnyard animals — horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep or cattle — will be allowed only in areas currently zoned as agricultural or rural residential. Minimum acreage of one acre per donkey or horse or one-half acre per goat will be required. The animals must not be within 200 feet of the primary dwelling on the property or 200 feet of any property line.
The setback requires would make it impossible to have barnyard animals on a single acre or smaller size lot, council members acknowledged.
“I’m really having to dig deep to allow this at all,” council member Jacke Johnston said. “I don’t think in the Town of Century you should have have barnyard animals at all.”
Once the ordinance is written, it will be presented to the council twice and a public hearing held. After the law is in place, existing barnyard animals will be grandfathered in and allowed to remain in the town. Once an animal dies in an area that does not meet the minimum acreage and setback requirements, it cannot be replaced.
Residents wishing to have their animals grandfathered in, once the ordinance becomes law, will be required to register their barnyard animals with the town hall.
If a property has six goats grandfathered in under the new ordinance, for example, they can’t exceed that number of animals in the future.
When asked what would happen if the goats should become pregnant, Council President Ann Brooks stressed the original number of grandfathered animals could not be exceeded on property not meeting the acreage and setback requirements.
“You will have to get rid of them,” Brooks said of any goats born after the ordinance becomes law. “You can barbecue them.”
Pictured top: Century council members Ann Brooks (right) and Sandra McMurray Jackson (middle) listen to council member Jacke Johnston Monday night. Pictured inset: Johnston explains her views on barnyard animals. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Headed To Playoffs
November 5, 2013
The Tate High School Aggies sweet comeback season is continuing with a trip to state playoffs.
After a three-way “shootout” between Tate, Crestview and Niceville tonight, the Aggies emerged as District 1-7A runner-ups. In the first game of the shootout, Tate beat Crestview 7-6. In the second game, Niceville beat Tate 14-0. That made Niceville the district champions with the Aggies finishing second.
The playoffs begin on November 15, with the Tate Aggies (7-2, 1-1) traveling to Tallahassee Lincoln High School (6-3, 2-0). It will be the first playoff appearance since 2008.
Evers, Senate Panel Satisfied After Fradulent Document Inmate Escape
November 5, 2013
.After the high-profile releases of two convicted murderers who used fraudulent documents to walk out of prison, the members of a Senate panel on Monday said they were satisfied with the progress made by law-enforcement and court-system officials toward a long-term solution.
“Everybody is doing the best job they can under the circumstances,” said Senate Criminal Justice Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker. Evers represents the North Escambia area.
Authorities have been investigating the recent releases of Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins from Franklin Correctional Institution. The two men, who were later caught in Panama City, were released because of bogus court paperwork that indicated their sentences had been reduced.
The state expects to begin using a “secure e-system” in February 2014 to transmit court orders so as to close the door on similar attempts in the future.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey told lawmakers his agency is still investigating how the inmates were able to walk out of the prison.
“To date we have found nothing to indicate any criminal actions by anyone inside Franklin Correctional or the clerk’s office in Orange County,” Bailey said. “However, without a doubt … there was a fraud ring going on among a group of inmates at Franklin CI.”
Authorities know of five other attempted escapes using the same method of faked documents, including two that were in process when discovered. One of the prior attempts was by Jenkins. The attempts occurred at the Franklin Correctional and Gulf Correctional institutions and the Pinellas County Jail.
Bailey said three of FDLE’s six crime labs are involved in the case. The agency is using DNA testing on the documents and examining thousands of electronic messages to and from Jenkins and Walker.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We have other arrests on the horizon.”
Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Crews told lawmakers he had brought 40 staffers to Tallahassee to review 9,400 court orders, with 5,400 completed as of Monday’s meeting.
“At this point, we’ve not had any others that have risen to the level that Jenkins and Walker did,” Crews said.
According to Lee Adams, chief of the department’s Bureau of Admission and Release, the agency had examined records dating back to Jan. 1, 2010, without finding any that were fraudulent.
Bailey commended Crews and Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., for the steps they’ve taken to prevent further fraudulent releases.
Last month Perry issued an order changing procedures for criminal-court documents to try to prevent any other inmates from making similar escapes.
The forged documents used by Walker and Jenkins included the seal of the Orange County clerk of court’s office and signatures of circuit officials, including Perry and Orange County State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton.
Ashton also attended Monday’s committee meeting, telling lawmakers, “It might be helpful if the judge’s signature was not in the public domain.”
Because Perry and Ashton gained national fame through the 2011 Casey Anthony murder trial, their signatures have been readily available online.
The “secure e-system” will allow authorities to check an order with a judge “if it changes the sentences or looks fishy for some reason,” Ashton said after the meeting. “It’s sort of interrupting the bureaucracy to actually look at something and make sure it’s accurate and real.”
According to Karen Rushing, representing the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers, the “secure e-system” was already funded and being implemented when Walker and Jenkins escaped.
“We’re always going to be subject to the ingenuity of criminals,” said Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
ECUA Conducting Smoke Testing In Cantonment Area
November 5, 2013
Smoke testing for sewer system leak detection in the Cantonment area south of Muscogee Road began Monday morning.
ECUA’s consultant performing the work, Constantine Engineering, Inc., has previously notified the property owners in the area and the appropriate emergency response agencies. The smoke testing should take approximately two weeks to complete.
The smoke testing in Cantonment started Monday morning on the eastern side of the area depicted on the map and will work towards the west. Monday’s testing included the Ransom and Griggs street areas.
Pictured: Smoke testing area in Cantonment, click to enlarge.
Family Night Set At Jim Allen Elementary Book Fair
November 5, 2013
The annual Scholastic Book Fair at Jim Allen Elementary School is underway through Friday. Book Fair Family Night will be held today from 3-6 p.m. in the school’s media center. Jim Allen Elementary is located at 1051 Highway 95A North in Cantonment. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Valentino Pre-files To Run Again For Escambia Commission
November 5, 2013
Incumbent Gene Valentino pre-filed Monday to run for Escambia County Commission District 2 in the 2014 election.
Valentino was elected to the commission in 2006 and 2010 after running unsuccessfully for the seat back in 2002.
A democrat, Ray Guillory, pre-filed to run for the seat on July 1.
Southwest Airlines Arrives In Pensacola
November 5, 2013
Southwest Airlines launched service this weekend from Pensacola International Airport, creating more options for Northwest Florida and Southeast Alabama air travelers. The conversion of the Dallas-based carrier’s service from wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways also marks the final phase in the integration of the two airlines’ domestic networks.
Southwest Airlines now offers twice daily nonstop service between Pensacola and Nashville and daily nonstop service between the airport and Houston Hobby, with additional same-plane or connecting service to nearly 70 total destinations served by Southwest Airlines’ all-Boeing 737 fleet.
On Monday the first weekday arrival of a Southwest jet was followed by a celebration and news conference in the departing gate area.
“This weekend’s conversion from AirTran to Southwest service brings bigger planes, with more than three thousand seats in and out of Northwest Florida every week,” said Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines vice president of Airport Affairs. “And we’re increasing by nearly half the number of places that our Pensacola Customers may travel to and from with the Southwest network. We are honored to continue the AirTran’s history of quality, low-fare service here.”
“Pensacola International Airport is one of the city’s greatest economic development engines,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “In addition to The Airport Commerce Park ramping up, we are thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines to Pensacola. Southwest’s presence expands Pensacola International Airport’s routes through Houston and Nashville, making Pensacola more accessible to business and tourists across the nation. Together, we are competing and winning.”
Pictured top: Southwest Airline’s first weekday flight arrives at Pensacola International Airport Monday. Pictures inset: Southwest’s terminal inside the airport. Pictured below: Water cannons welcome the flight to Pensacola. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash
November 5, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Monday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Three people were in a Suzuki SX4 that crashed into a culvert just before 10:30 p.m. One person was transported to an area hospital by ambulance, while two people refused treatment at the scene.
Exactly how the crash occurred remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
