Jay Woman Killed In Highway 4 Crash
September 22, 2014
A Jay woman was killed Sunday in an accident on Highway 4 in Santa Rosa County.
The accident happened about 11:10 a.m. near Hidden Trail Circle, just east of the Highway 4 bridge over the Escambia River from Century. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 32-year old Caitlan Irene Bonds was traveling west on Highway 4 when she over-steered coming out of a downhill curve. She crossed the oncoming lane, and the vehicle was spinning as she ran onto the shoulder of the road. The vehicle struck a group of trees.
Bonds was pronounced deceased on the scene by a Lifeguard paramedic. She was wearing her seat belt, and alcohol was not factor in the crash, according to the FHP.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
RV Fire Shuts Down Highway 29
September 22, 2014
Fire destroyed a RV on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive in McDavid Sunday afternoon. The occupants reported that the fire began in the engine compartment about 5 p.m., but they were unable to contain the blaze.
The fire blocked southbound Highway 29 for about a half hour. There were no injuries reported.
The McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze.
Reader submitted photos by Lisa Brooks and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All West Florida Libraries Closed Tuesday
September 22, 2014
All West Florida Public Library System locations will be closed to the public Tuesday. During this time the libraries will undergo a new software migration featuring expanded services to better serve the community. All library staff will receive training on these days.
While the libraries will be closed, patrons will be able to view the library system’s website, MyWFPL.com and online databases accessible through the library system.
Citizens: There May Be An Early End To Storm Tax On Propery Insurance
September 22, 2014
A 1 percent charge imposed on most homeowners’ policies to help the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. cover losses from the last of the 2005 hurricanes may come off the books two years early.
Citizens’ Board of Governors will be asked Wednesday to put an end date of July 1, 2015, on the storm assessment, which has been slated to continue until June 30, 2017, according a proposal on the board’s agenda.
Citizens Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Montero is recommending the change, noting that the state-backed insurer is on track to have collected enough money to meet its remaining debt obligations by the middle of 2015, according to the agenda item.
Citizens imposed the storm assessment in 2007 on insurance policyholders throughout the state —- whether they were Citizens customers or not — to recoup $887 million of the roughly $1.7 billion deficit created by Hurricane Wilma, which hit South Florida in October 2005. The state picked up $623 million of the costs from Wilma, while the remainder was covered by additional assessments on Citizens policyholders.
The storm assessment, initially set at 1.4 percent and reduced to 1 percent in 2011, is imposed on a variety of types of property-insurance policies.
The potential early end of what critics have labeled a storm “tax” comes two months after the Office of Insurance Regulation issued orders for insurance companies to end on Jan. 1 a 1.3 percent “emergency assessment” for the state-run Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which provides backup coverage to insurers.
The so-called “Cat Fund” charge, imposed on most home and auto policies, had previously been set to end July 1, 2016.
That assessment has hit policyholders for $2.9 billion, which has gone to reimburse insurance companies for claims from the eight hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004 and 2005, the last time any hurricane made landfall in Florida.
Citizens officials have moved more than a half-million policies the past couple of years into the private market, in part to lessen the potential assessments that could be needed after future storms.
Citizens, which will reduce rates next year for most customers, had 933,807 overall policies in place as of July 31. The company has an eye on bringing the number to around 850,000 later this year and to about 650,000 by the end of 2017.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
FWC: Floridians Hunting Deer Out Of State Need To Know CWD Laws
September 22, 2014
Florida hunters planning to hunt deer, moose or elk out of state this year need to be aware of certain laws and regulations aimed at preventing chronic wasting disease (CWD) from entering the state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
CWD is a contagious neurological disease that has been found in captive and wild cervids (white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose and elk) within 22 states, two Canadian provinces and in South Korea. The disease causes degeneration of the brains of infected animals, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. There is no known evidence that CWD can be transmitted to livestock or humans.
The disease has been detected in New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia, Missouri, North Dakota, Maryland, Texas, Alberta and Saskatchewan Canadian provinces, and in South Korea.
Hunters need to know that it is against the law to bring into Florida whole carcasses of any deer from any of the above-listed areas. The purpose of this measure is to prevent CWD from being brought into the state. The infective agent is more likely to be concentrated within the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen of the animal. This infective agent, called a prion, can be accidentally deposited into the environment, where it can remain for years and can infect other deer. Many states have a prohibition in place that is similar to Florida’s.
It is not illegal to bring into Florida deboned meat and finished taxidermy mounts, tanned hides, cleaned skulls, antlers and teeth from any of these places, as long as all soft tissue has been removed.
For more information about CWD or the rule, visit MyFWC.com/CWD.
Another Group Launches Another Challenge To Florida Pot Rule
September 22, 2014
A trade association has challenged the Florida Department of Health’s plan for carrying out a new medical-marijuana law, adding to two challenges filed last week.
The Florida Medical Cannabis Association is asking an administrative law judge to reject a department rule unveiled this month. The earlier challenges were filed by nurseries Plants of Ruskin, Inc., and Costa Farms.
The cases stem from a law passed this spring that allows strains of marijuana low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD. Supporters say the substances can help children with severe forms of epilepsy and some people with other medical conditions.
Plants of Ruskin and Costa Farms meet legal requirements to apply for licenses to grow, process and distribute the substances. But the association and growers take issue with parts of the rule and contend, in part, that that department has overstepped its rulemaking authority. Similar to the challenge filed by Plants of Ruskin, the association argued Wednesday that department’s proposals “fail to establish even minimum criteria to evaluate (a license) applicant’s financial, technical and technological ability to securely cultivate and produce low-THC cannabis.”
Montaree Flora Shelby
September 22, 2014
Montaree Flora Shelby, 92 of Pensacola, died on Saturday, September 20, 2014.
Mrs. Shelby was a lifelong resident of the Beulah Community and a member of Beulah Baptist Church.
She was the matriarch of the Shelby family and her greatest joy in life was her family. She delighted in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was loved by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Shelby; her son, Terry Shelby; and her granddaughter, Tammy Shelby Hicks.
Mrs. Shelby is survived by her daughter and husband, Sheila and Danny White; her son and wife, Harvey and Linda Shelby; her grandchildren, Ricky Shelby, Matthew Shelby, Gaden and wife, Leigh White and Brant White; and her great-grandchildren, Seth Shelby and Savannah Shelby.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Bill Flannigan officiating.
Burial will follow in Beulah Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m., one hour prior to services.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Frances Stewart
September 22, 2014
Mrs. Frances Stewart, 58, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2014, in Rabun, Alabama.
Mrs. Stewart was a native and lifelong resident of Rabun. Mrs. Stewart attended the Dean’s Chapel and New Providence Baptist Church. Her parents, George Hadley and Luella Stacey; daughter, April Lynn White; and grandson, Joshua Jay White, precede her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Byron Stewart; one son, Stephen Allen White; two daughters, Regina Godwin and Melinda Ann Jackson; one brother, Elick Stacey; three sisters, Sarah Nell Windom, Lena Mae Debose and Linda Parker; and seven grandchildren, Aaron, Tyler, April, Nicole, Jasmine, Hunter and Abby Kate.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the New Providence Baptist Cemetery with Rev. Joey Brown, Sis. Helen Stewart and Rev. Ron McGhee officiating.
Burial will follow at the Dean Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Aaron Godwin, Tyler White, Hunter Jackson, Matthew Williams, Alonzo Sims and Larry White.
Donations may be made to USA Mitchell Cancer Center or Springhill Home Health and Hospice.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Frankie Lee Lewis, Sr.
September 22, 2014
Frankie Lee Lewis, Sr., 91, passed away Saturday, September 20, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Lewis was a native of Atmore and a resident of Bay Springs, for most of his life. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. He attended the Pine Grove Holiness Church. His son, Rodger Dale Lewis; four sisters; and two brothers, precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby Lewis of Bay Springs; one son, Frankie Lewis, Jr of Barrieau Park; two daughters, Elizabeth Faulk of Walnut Hill and Sarah Nell Figuried of West Pensacola; one sister, Lottie Hall of Bay Springs; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, September 27, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Bay Springs Full Gospel Church with Rev. Brandon Stophel officiating.
Burial will follow at the Bay Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, September 26, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Frankie Nicholson, Kevin Nicholson, Jason Nicholson, Peter Nicholson, Richard Lewis and Brandon Lewis.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jeffrey Fox and Michael Fox.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Richard “Rich” Francis Andrews
September 22, 2014
So many friends and family will remember this good man, too many to enumerate here, but please know that Rich led a life of service, to his family, friends, and country. Originally an iron worker in Boston, he joined the Navy in 1969 and served as a Seabee for thirty years. His service took him around the world. A former enlisted man, he was promoted to the rank of CWO4 in the Naval Civil Engineering Corps. Upon retirement he joined the Escambia County Engineering Department as a Project Director for the Dirt Road Paving Program. As he took on more responsibilities with his “can do” attitude he was promoted to Chief of Construction Management. Rich was a loyal Red Sox and Patriots fan as his co-workers were very aware of. His lasting legacy is his two fine sons, everything he built in his lifetime, and our fond memories of his friendship and love for people. If he were he writing this he would say with a smile, “Enough, back to work.” So be it.
Good bye friend, husband, father, brother.
Rich is preceded in death by his brothers, Ron and Mike Andrews.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Cathy; his sons, Matt and Dan; his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Donna Andrews, and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and inurnment will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.