Today: Possible Traffic Delays On Highway 97, Hanks Road, Bratt Road
May 13, 2014
Today, drivers can expect temporary delays on Highway 97, Hanks Road and Bratt Road in the Walnut Hill and Bratt areas.
Crews will perform pavement core sampling and surveying on Highway 97 over the Sandy Hollow Creek Bridge, Hanks Road over the Breastworks Creek Bridge and Bratt Road over Canoe Creek Bridge. Lane restrictions will be in effect from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Construction work could be delayed or rescheduled due to inclement weather. The Florida Department of Transportation is urging drivers to obey posted signs and use caution when traveling through the areas.
Escambia Extension Services Temporarily Relocated (With Phone Numbers)
May 13, 2014
The Escambia County Extension Services office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, has been temporarily relocated due to flood damage.
Extension staff have been relocated to the following locations:
County Extension Director and Administrative Supervisor: (850) 595-3118
CED Pam Allen and Administrative Supervisor Susan Hendrix will move between the Extension Office and the Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place. Hendrix can also be reach via email at shendrix@ufl.edu.
Agriculture: (850) 587-2404 ext. 3
Agriculture Agent Libbie Johnson will be housed at the Molino Farm Bureau Office, 153 Highway 97, Molino.
Coastal Sustainability and Marine Science:
Agents Carrie Stevenson, (850) 595-1882, and Rick O’Connor, (850) 595-0012, will be housed at the Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place.
Family and Consumer Sciences, Expanded Food and Nutrition and 4-H: (850) 941-6002
Agents Dorothy Lee, Angela Hinkle and the 4-H Office Assistant will be staged at the Langley Bell 4-H Center, 4810 West Nine Mile Road.
Horticulture: bbolles@ufl.edu
Agent Beth Bolles will move between the Extension Office on Stefani Road and the Central Office Complex. Contact Bolles by email.
Lawn and Garden help: (850) 595-2405
Horticulture Technician Carol Lord will be available at the Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, to help with gardening questions, plant diagnosis issues and other horticulture recommendations. She can also be reach via email at cml@ufl.edu.
County Promises Clear Inmate Access For Attorneys Following ‘Secret’ Memo
May 13, 2014
Attorneys will have clear access to inmates being held in county facilities now used as part of the Escambia County Jail, according to memo issued Monday by the county attorney.
Attorneys complained they were denied access to inmates at the Escambia County Road Prison over the weekend due to a “secret” memo that ordered shift supervisors to only allow listed attorneys of record and those from the public defender’s or State Attorney’s office to see inmates, Ricksblog.biz reported Monday morning. The memo was written by Escambia Road Prison Commander C.S. Snow.
The memo instructed road prison employees to search the Clerk of Court’s website to determine if an attorney was assigned to a case prior to allowing them to visit with an inmate. “Let’s make sure they are, who they say the are,” the memo stated.
“It should be noted that any inmate can request a legal counsel visit with a specific attorney of his choosing and the visit should be granted according to each inmates specific request,” Snow also wrote.
“This memorandum will shall not be copied or distributed to anyone without a properly signed and requested public records request through proper legal channels,” Snow instructed staff.
Escambia County responded with a statement Monday afternoon that County Attorney’s Office is working directly with Corrections officials and attorneys who believe they may have encountered unreasonable obstacles trying to visit or communicate with an inmate.
“A memorandum issued to Road Camp personnel concerning attorney visits with inmates was a result of increased requests from attorneys for client visitation. The Road Camp Prison and Work Release facility were not set up to facilitate attorney/client visits at the level that they were being requested,” the news release stated.
The release encouraged any attorney with concerns regarding their ability to communicate with inmates in the Escambia County Corrections Department to contact the County Attorney’s Office at (850) 595-4970.
Some attorneys claimed the county was attempting to block inmate access to attorneys for legal advice about any possible civil case following the jail explosion that killed two inmates and injured 184 people, including both corrections employees and inmates.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Construction Related Gas Fire At Ernest Ward Middle
May 13, 2014
There were no injuries Monday afternoon during a construction-related fire on the Ernest Ward Middle School campus.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to an acetylene tank fire inside the fenced-in construction zone at the school at 3:40 p.m., just minutes before afternoon dismissal time. The fire was quickly controlled with no damage to structures and no injuries.
Acetylene gas is often used in welding or metal cutting applications.
Summer Dance Workshop Offered At Byrneville Community Center
May 13, 2014
A Summer Dance Workshop will be offered at the Byrneville Community Center June 9-13.
Classes will be offered as follows:
- 8:30 – 9 am — Pre-ballet (ages 3-4)
- 9:15 – 10:15 am — Ballet I (ages 5-7)
- 10:30 – noon — Ballet II and Jazz (ages 8-10) 0-3 years dance experience
- 12:30 – 2 p.m. — Ballet III and Jazz (ages 9-teen) 4 or more years dance experience
Proper dancewear and dance shoes are required. An optional Summer Dance Workship t-shirt will be available for $15 at registration time. The registration deadline is June 2. Contact Heather Leonard’s Danceworks by email at hldanceworks@gmail.com or on Facebook.
A registration will also be held Thursday at the Byrneville Community Center from 6-7:30 p.m.
Pictured: Last year’s Heather Leonard’s Danceworks recital at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
AAA Wants Scott Meeting, Veto On Higher Speed Limits
May 13, 2014
The nation’s premiere auto club is increasing pressure on Gov. Rick Scott for a face-to-face meeting in the hopes of persuading the governor to veto a proposal that could result in higher speed limits on Florida highways.
AAA asked Scott more than a week ago for a sit-down to talk about the narrowly-approved measure that could see maximum speed limits hiked by 5 mph. Auto club officials say they have yet to hear back from Scott’s office regarding the request.
A spokesman for Scott said Friday that the governor hasn’t made a decision on the bill and that his aides would be willing to discuss the bill.
“Our office would be happy to meet with AAA to hear any concerns they have with this legislation,” said Scott spokesman John Tupps.
But Karen Morgan, AAA manager of public policy, said Friday the governor’s office had not responded to AAA Senior Vice President Kevin Bakewell’s May 1 request for a meeting.
“Increasing speed limits on Florida roadways would result in more speed-related crashes, injuries and deaths and hinder the state’s effort of moving toward zero traffic fatalities,” Bakewell wrote.
The proposal was not among the 58 bills forwarded to Scott on Thursday to be signed, vetoed or allowed to become law without gubernatorial action by May 23.
The bill (SB 392) would change state law to hike the maximum allowable speed limit on limited access highways from 70 mph to 75 mph, and on four-lane divided highways outside urban areas from 65 mph to 70 mph. The Department of Transportation would be responsible for decisions about the speed limits, and would also have the authority to set minimum speeds on certain highways.
Bakewell in his letter contends the bill is “a green light for higher speeds” that will enable motorists to travel up to 80 mph without fear of being fined, resulting in more accidents, deaths and higher costs to the state. Under current law, the penalty for driving up to six miles above the posted speed limit is a warning.
“Throughout the legislative session, no compelling argument was offered as to why the speed limits should be raised,” Bakewell wrote.
AAA points to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study showing that one-third of the nation’s motor vehicle fatalities in 2012 were speed-related. But proponents of the bill contend that many motorists are already driving at the higher speed and that the measure takes the issue out the hands of politicians, giving the transportation agency the ability to decide the safest speeds for state roads.
Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad told lawmakers during committee appearances that his agency, which didn’t request the bill, would only conduct the speed studies in select areas where conditions may warrant an increase.
Lake Worth Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens, one of the sponsors of the bill, argued during session that a 5 mph increase is unlikely to impact road safety.
Still, the proposal faced opposition from lawmakers at every stop in the committee process before being passed by a narrow 58-56 vote in the House and a more comfortable 27-11 Senate vote.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
4,700 Escambia Residents Register For FEMA Help (With Registration Info)
May 13, 2014
As of Monday, 4,700 residents of Escambia County have registered for FEMA assistance.
FEMA opened Escambia County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Sunday at the Brownsville Community Center, 3100 West Desoto Street, Pensacola, where applicants may go with questions or for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance.
The hours of operations for the DRC are:
- Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Project Outreach Site Changes
Project Outreach field teams are stationed at tents throughout Escambia County to provide information and to connect citizens with the appropriate agencies. The following sites remain open and will be operational Tuesday, May 13, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Crescent Lake, 6105 Fairview Drive
- Damascus Road Mission Baptist Church, 8198 Untreiner Avenue
- Lake Charlene*, Corner of 6815 Kitty Hawk Circle – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Team (DSAT) will be on site in Lake Charlene from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Legion Field, 1301 West Gregory Street
Additionally, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will be going door-to-door in the following impacted neighborhoods tomorrow between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.:
- Downtown area
- Innerarity Point and Grand Lagoon areas
- Tonbridge Circle area
- Man o War Circle, Ashland Avenue and Ponderosa Drive
- Lake Charlene Outreach Tent – Corner of 6815 Kitty Hawk Circle
Help for Renters
FEMA’s “Individual Assistance” is also available to renters and anyone who has lost personal belongings in the recent flood is encouraged to file a claim with FEMA.
Applicants may register at a Project Outreach Site, FEMA’s main “Disaster Recovery Center” at the Brownsville Community Center, 3100 West Desoto Street, or they can register by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call (800) 621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT. You can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.femagov.
An American Red Cross shelter is located at the Fricker Community Center, 900 North “F” Street, Pensacola, and is currently housing 59 people. FEMA will be onsite from 6 to 9 p.m. today to register citizens for assistance.
Debris Removal
Escambia County will continue debris removal efforts and information on locations for pickup tomorrow will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
For more information on debris removal, please contact the Escambia County Solid Waste Management at (850) 937-2160 and for more information on obtaining FEMA or other assistance; call the Escambia County Citizens Information Line at (850) 471-6600.
Pictured: A Project Outreach tent on Bristol Park Road Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Cruise To 7-0 Win Over Barons
May 13, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos claimed their first win of the five-game set with Birmingham 7-0 on Monday afternoon at Regions Field. Jon Moscot (W, 3-2) dominated for the Wahoos turning in seven shutout innings on his way to his third win of the year.
Rey Navarro kick-started the offense by lacing a home run over the right field fence to lead off the game. The Wahoos scored in each of the next three innings and five of the next six frames. Navarro blew the game open with a bases-loaded two-run single in the sixth inning to make it a 6-0 Wahoos advantage.
Moscot was on cruise control after running into trouble in the third inning. The Barons loaded the bases against with no outs. Moscot coaxed the next three hitters into pop outs to wiggle out of the jam. He struck out six and walked just one in the winning effort.
Myles Jaye (L, 0-5) allowed four runs over five innings in the start for Birmingham. He walked three and fanned four in suffering his fifth loss of the year.
Navarro and Ross Perez paced the Wahoos offensively with three hits each. Navarro had three RBI while Perez scored three runs. Donald Lutz was held hitless in five at bats in his first full game back since getting sidelined with a hamstring injury back on April 24.
The series continues Tuesday night when the Blue Wahoos send RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 1.73) to the mound against LHP Scott Snodgress (1-2, 5.45). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT from Regions Field in Birmingham.
Scott Signs Tax Holidays For Hurricane Supplies, Back To School And Appliances
May 13, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott signed a wide-ranging tax cut package Monday that fulfills an election-year pledge and could boost s for businesses through a series of tax-free periods during the typically slower summer months.
The signing of the package (HB 5601) lets Scott campaign that he got lawmakers to make $500 million in tax and fee cuts, even if the total won’t reach that figure in the upcoming budget year, while providing shoppers with sales-tax holidays on hurricane gear, school supplies and energy saving appliances.
“The bill we signed today is $121 million right back in to Florida citizens’ hands,” Scott said during a news conference after he addressed the Governor’s Hurricane Conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Lawmakers already sent a larger part of the tax and fee cuts to Scott, rolling back vehicle registration fees that were increased in 2009. Scott signed that bill (SB 156) on April 2, giving motorists on average savings of $20 to $25 per vehicle.
The vehicle fee reduction is expected to collectively save motorists about $309 million during the upcoming 2014-15 budget year, with the new lowered rates going into effect Sept. 1. Those savings are expected to grow to about $395 million a year, once they are in effect for the full 12 months of a fiscal year.
Lawmakers approved the other tax-cut package May 2 and said it would save Floridians about $105 million. But Scott put the number Monday at $121 million, and his office also repeated that number in a news release.
The tax cut law, dubbed the “patchwork of awesomeness” by House Finance & Tax Chairman Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, goes into effect immediately. The three sales-tax holidays are projected to save $36.9 million for Floridians, according to the Legislature’s estimates.
“Retailers like the tax holidays because they boost store traffic considerably during the tax-free periods,” said John Fleming, a spokesman for the Florida Retail Federation.
The package has a wide swath of targets, including reducing electricity taxes for businesses and helping bail bondsmen, Habitat for Humanity, construction contractors, parents buying car seats and bicycle helmets for their children, college students buying meal plans and pet owners.
Scott focused Monday on hurricane preparations, with an emphasis on the recent heavy flooding in the western Panhandle. The hurricane sales-tax holiday runs from May 31 through June 8.
During that time, no state or local sales taxes will be collected on items such as tarpaulins selling for under $50, first-aid kits worth $30 or less, self-powered radios at $50 or less, gas tanks at under $25, portable generators worth up to $750, and non-electric food storage coolers priced at $30 or less, and most battery packages under $30.
Hurricane season begins June 1.
The back-to-school holiday, meanwhile, will run from Aug. 1 through Aug. 3 and will allow Floridians to buy clothes, school supplies and personal computers without paying sales taxes. The back-to-school holiday expands a discount introduced last year on computers and raises the tax-free bar from $75 to $100 on the prices of clothing, bags and backpacks.
Last year, sales taxes weren’t collected on personal computers and related gear worth under $750. This year, no sales taxes will be collected on the first $750 of any computer and related gear, regardless of the overall cost of the piece of electronics.
After the back-to-school holiday, shoppers from Sept. 19 through Sept. 21 will be able to avoid sales taxes on the first $1,500 of the price of new Energy Star and WaterSense products, an energy conservation proposal from Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
The tax package also includes such things as a permanent elimination of the taxes on college meal plans. Also, pet lovers can receive a tax discount on therapeutic pet food only available from licensed veterinarians. Among other things in the package are permanent sales-tax exemptions for car seats and bicycle helmets for kids; an expansion of the New Markets Tax Credit program for investments in low-income communities; a temporary lifting of sales taxes on the purchase of cement mixers; a measure that would reduce by 20 percent the insurance premium tax on Florida-based bail bond premiums; and a projected $14.7 million savings through a community contribution tax credit that benefits Habitat for Humanity.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Scott Hits Common Core In Signing Florida Education Bills
May 13, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced Monday he had signed a trio of bills aimed at allaying fears about the state’s version of the Common Core education standards — even though Scott apparently didn’t have one of the bills when the signing was announced.
Scott also signed another education bill dealing with school grades.
According to Scott’s office, the three Common Core-related measures he signed Monday included:
—SB 864, which requires school districts to set up a process through which parents can contest the selection of certain textbooks and classroom materials.
—HB 7031, which among other things removes all references to “Common Core” from state law. A set of state standards based on Common Core and using the overwhelming majority of the Common Core standards would remain in place.
—SB 188, a bill barring schools or school districts from collecting biometric and other personal information.
But there appeared to be a crimp with one part of Scott’s announcement: SB 188, meant to tamp down fears that the new standards would allow school districts to vacuum up sensitive information about students. The Legislature had not sent the bill to the governor by the time Scott announced he had signed it.
At the request of Scott’s office, the bill was sent to the governor after the announcement.
Each of the bills addresses one of the concerns raised by activists, mostly but not exclusively conservatives, who have slammed Common Core.
“The legislation I am signing today will set Florida students and families up for education success and prevent unnecessary collection of data from our students and reaffirm that Florida school boards will select the textbooks with historic opportunities for public input,” Scott said in a statement announcing the signings.
Conservatives have criticized the standards, which were commissioned by the governors and chief education officials of dozens of states, as a federal intrusion into school operations that should be handled locally.
Under an executive order signed by Scott in September, the state pulled out of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, an effort by many of the states involved in Common Core to develop tests to measure student learning under the new standards. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announced in March that the non-profit group American Institutes for Research would develop Florida’s tests.
Also under Scott’s executive order, the State Board of Education voted in February to go forward with dozens of changes to Common Core, including reinserting creative writing into the standards and explicitly including calculus guidelines. Stewart and others have argued that the changes justify calling the benchmarks the “Florida Standards.”
Scott also signed a bill (SB 1642) related to the new tests from American Institutes for Research, being instituted in the 2014-15 school year. That plan, modeled on a blueprint developed by Stewart, would simplify the formula for grading schools. It would also do away with the penalties schools could currently receive for the grades assigned in the 2014-15 school year — a plan meant to provide a transition year as schools adjust to the new standards and tests.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida