Expansion Of Private Flood Insurance May Get Extra Review
February 7, 2014
As thousands of coastal residents worry about higher flood-insurance rates, an effort to attract more private insurers to offer flood coverage in Florida may go back to the start of the Senate review process.
After concerns were expressed by several senators on Thursday about technical changes in the Senate proposal (SB 542), sponsor Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said he will meet with Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, to discuss whether the revisions need another review from Simmons’ committee.
“This is an attempt to open this market, there’s obviously going to be to be a lot of questions … we’re going to make sure all of our senators understand this policy going forward,” Brandes said after the hearing. “The upside for us is that (the legislative) session doesn’t start for another two weeks.”
The Banking and Insurance Committee on Jan. 8 supported the proposal, which is the state’s reaction to increased rates under the National Flood Insurance Program.
On Thursday, the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee agreed not to oppose the changes to Brandes’ measure.
But the nature of the changes drew subcommittee members Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Nancy Detert, R-Venice, to say that such “dramatic” alternations should be made in a committee where staff has a better understanding of the proposed changes.
“I’m a little concerned about basically a strike-everything amendment being made in a committee not expert on the subject matter,” Latvala said. “I’m not sure this is the way we want to do business.”
Brandes’ proposal is intended to provide “flexibility” to homeowners now covered through the National Flood Insurance Program and to open the Florida market to companies offering flood coverage.
Among the changes added or redefined on Thursday: Homeowners would be able to negotiate rates without private carriers needing the state Office of Insurance Regulation’s consent; commercial coverage would be excluded; and flood coverage could be limited to the principal building or the amount of a property owner’s outstanding mortgage.
Also, rules would be eased for surplus-line carriers, which offer higher risk alternative types of coverage to people who can’t get standard coverage and whose claims are not guaranteed by the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association if a company goes bankrupt.
The changes to Brandes’ proposal came two days after the U.S. House rejected the latest attempt to delay most of the rate hikes in the National Flood Insurance Program for four years.
Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement Wednesday saying he was disappointed with the Republican-dominated U.S. House and saying that “President Obama needs to act immediately to undo these outrageous flood insurance hikes he forced on Floridians.”
Real-estate and business leaders have claimed there could be a potentially cataclysmic hit to the state’s real-estate market as rates go up because of changes approved in the federal 2012 Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.
Florida accounts for about 2 million policies in the federal program, with state staff estimating that about 268,500 policies receive subsidized rates.
Some properties, primarily in the Tampa-St. Petersburg and Southeast Florida markets, have been projected to face the biggest hikes as the rates in the federal program are made actuarially sound.
While there have been examples of some homeowners seeing rates go from $4,000 to $40,000, Detert questioned if the Senate proposal will actually bring affordable rates for those homeowners.
“If you open this to more agents to sell flood, it may reduce the cost from $40,000 to $38,000,” Detert said, “but that original buyer was still used to $4,000.”
Latvala said Biggert-Waters is an example of how laws and regulations get approved without the proper reviews, as he emphasized a desire for further analysis of the state proposal.
“Biggert-Waters is an example of how a major piece of legislation, that is impacting hundreds of thousands of lives, was passed that dramatically impacts our state,” Latvala said. “All but one member of our congressional delegation voted for it, because they didn’t know what was in there.”
Former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack cast the only vote in the House from Florida against the 2012 bill, which eventually made it through the Senate as part of a larger negotiated measure that included student-loan interest rates and BP oil spill money.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Gaetz Files Bill To Legalize Non-Euphoric Pot
February 7, 2014
After a month of discussions, House Criminal Justice Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, filed a measure Thursday that would legalize a marijuana extract known as “Charlotte’s Web” that proponents believe can dramatically reduce seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy.
The measure would legalize all forms of cannabis that contain .5 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol and more than 15 percent of cannabidiol, along with the resin extracted from the plant.
Gaetz’s proposal would also make it legal to manufacture the compound.
The federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved the product but supporters say it reduces seizures in children and adults diagnosed with a form of epilepsy that does not respond to other treatments.
Some Republican lawmakers are concerned that support for Charlotte’s Web could be confused with support for a medical marijuana proposal on the ballot in November. Because it has such a small amount of THC, the psychoactive compound in pot, Charlotte’s Web does not get users high, unlike the marijuana that patients with severe illnesses could get with a prescription from doctors under the proposed constitutional amendment.
Donnie Faye Nobley
February 7, 2014
Mrs. Donnie Faye Nobley, age 70, of Brewton passed away Thursday, February 6, 2014, in a Pensacola hospital.
Mrs. Nobley was a native and lifelong resident of Brewton. She worked in the lunchroom at Flomaton High School. Mrs. Nobley was a member of Red Oak Baptist Church.
She is survived by a son, Fred (Christi) Morris of Brewton; two brothers, Gilbert White of Pineview, AL, and Kenny White Houston of Texas; four sisters, Sylvia Hammonds of Pensacola, Brenda Dunn and Bonnie Oglesbee both of Pineview, and Wanda Brown of Bessemer, AL; and one grandson, William Morris of Brewton.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2014, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Red Oak Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 1 p.m. until service time.
Martin Dubose “Tab” Turberville
February 7, 2014
Martin Dubose “Tab” Turberville, 96 of Atmore passed away Thursday, February 6, 2014, in Atmore. He was a retired farmer, born in Mineola, AL on December 7, 1917 to the late Daniel Arnold and Mattie Boone Turberville.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jones Turberville; sisters, Alva Lee Duncan and Danny Dean Rosetko; brothers, Floyd and Henry Turberville; and daughter-in-law, Barbara Rachel Turberville.
Survivors include his son, James A. Turberville of Atmore; brother, Calvin Coolidge Turberville of Atmore; and sister, Cleo Dean Gwatney of Fairhope.
Services will be Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Chris Pruitt officiating.
Interment will follow in Mineola United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Charles Agee, William Baggett, Claude Dean, Terry Roberts, Mark Rosetko, and Wayne Turberville.
Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Baggett, Benny Biggs, John Day, Rufus Dickey, Otha Martin, Lester Peavy and Marvis Taylor.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge of all arrangements.
Slight Chance Of Sleet, Snow For Tonight
February 6, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Tonight: A slight chance of rain and snow before 9pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 29. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Little or no accumulation expected.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 64.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
National Weather Service graphic, click to enlarge.
County Tables Extension Of Century Gas Franchise For Walnut Hill, McDavid, Bratt
February 6, 2014
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission tabled a public hearing and action on a new natural gas franchise ordinance for the Town of Century. The request will be considered at a later meeting.
Pensacola Energy Director Don Suarez appeared at the commission’s Agenda Review meeting Thursday morning requesting the action be tabled because he was unaware the issue was up for a vote until a phone call Wednesday afternoon.
Century currently holds franchise rights from the county to provide natural gas service from the Escambia River westward to almost the Perdido River and from the Alabama state line southward to near Bogia. The franchise area includes Century, Byrneville, Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and McDavid.
The franchise was granted by the county in 1968 to the Town of Century (then known as the Town of South Flomaton) to provide natural gas services to the northernmost part of the county.
Century is now considering significantly upgrading its capacity for servicing residents and businesses located in this franchise area, but the present franchise expires in five years. Rather than extending the current franchise agreement, the town is requesting that the BOCC adopt a new franchise ordinance that provides it with the same rights and responsibilities, including payment of franchise fees, as those franchises that the commission recently approved with Gulf Breeze and Pensacola.
This new franchise will expire in 2045 would not extend beyond the geographical franchise area previously designated in 1968. Century currently provides gas service only in a portion of their franchise area — near the town limits, south along Highway 29 to and including a portion of Highway 164, and west into Byrneville.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said the town is first looking to expand natural gas service to an area of the Gandyville community near State Line Road.
“We just wanted this new franchise agreement in place before we starting investing in expansions and then the county take it away from us when the franchise agreement now expires in five years,” he said.
Pensacola Energy, formerly known as Energy Services of Pensacola, currently provides natural gas service to commercial customers in Bratt and Walnut Hill — within the Town of Century’s gas franchise area. Pensacola Energy provides natural gas to Ernest Ward Middle School and at least one more large commercial customer in Walnut Hill, and Bratt Elementary and Northview High School in Bratt. They also provide natural gas service to an unknown number of residential customers near Kansas Road, Green Village Road and North Highway 99 in Bratt.
McCall said he did not know what effect, if any, an extension of the town’s gas franchise agreement would have on Pensacola Energy’s service in the area.
Don Suarez, Pensacola Energy director, referred our questions Wednesday to Tamara Fountain, communications administrator for the City of Pensacola. Fountain requested our questions be presented in an email. Our email to Fountain had not been answered or acknowledged by Thursday evening.
In the afternoon email to Fountain, NorthEscambia.com asked if an extension of Century’s gas franchise might “impact Pensacola Energy’s service that is currently provided within the Town of Century’s franchise area?”. We also requested information about commercial customers within the area and the number of residential customers served by Pensacola Energy within Century’s franchise area.
Pictured top: A Pensacola Energy meter in front of Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, inside the Town of Century gas franchise area. Pictured below: The Town of Century’s gas franchise map (click to enlarge). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Winning $121K Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In Century
February 6, 2014
Someone is over $120K richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Century.
The ticket sold at Becky’s Mini Mart, 9010 N Century Boulevard, was one of two winning tickets sold for Wednesday’s drawing worth $121,183.96. The second winning ticket matching all five numbers was sold in Boynton Beach.
The 294 tickets matching four numbers won $132.50 each. Another 9,637 tickets matching three numbers won $11 each, and 99,008 tickets won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Wednesday’s winning numbers were 11-19-25-30-31.
Man Charged With Hitting Deputy’s Cruiser With Stolen Motorcycle
February 6, 2014
A Cantonment man has been charged with allegedly hitting a deputy’s cruiser with a stolen motorcycle.
Charles Black, who provided an address on McKenzie Road at the time of his arrest, was charged with fleeing/eluding law enforcement, grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning with bond set at $55,000.
Back on December 2, a deputy parked at Blue Angel Parkway and Mobile Highway observed a motorcycle with no lights being driven erratically by Black. The deputy followed, attempting a traffic stop at about Mobile Highway and Massachusetts Avenue. After the motorcycle stopped, the deputy reported Black appeared to be reaching for something. Then the motorcycle accelerated and ran into the deputy’s patrol vehicle.
A short time later, Black lost control while turning onto Fairfield Drive and crashed into a utility pole. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the 2008 Kawaski motorcycle had been reported stolen on November 30, 2013. The motorcycle was extensively damaged in the crash.
Black was also implicated in the theft of a Ford Ranger on November 10, 2013.
Black also received traffic citations for running a red light and careless driving.
Photos: Northview NJROTC Annual Inspection
February 6, 2014
Northview High School’s NJROTC Area Manager’s Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny.
The inspecting officer was CDR Vince Bindi, Executive Officer, Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola where he is responsible for the delivery of exceptional aviation specific training to more than 16,000 sailors and marines annually.
The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. Other events Wednesday included a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
Cadets Dakota Craft, Zacarra Davis, Jessica Brown, Willie Owens, David Donald, Douglas Dunkle, Emily Walston, Alyssa Borelli and Donald Baity were recognized for Exemplary Personal Appearance and awarded a medal for their efforts.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Area Manager’s Inspection Wednesday morning at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two More Nights: Tate Drama Dept. To Present “Good News”
February 6, 2014
The Tate High School Drama Department will present the popular 1920’s musical “Good News” on the school cafetorium stage Friday and Saturday. Performance time is 7:00 p.m. all three days. Tickets are $10 for reserved section and $7 for general admission.
“Good News” takes place on the campus of Tait College. This musical tells the tale of the star football player who will not be allowed to play in the big game due to failing an exam, and it is up to the new teacher to decide if he will be given a second chance to pass. Popular songs include “You’re the Cream in my Coffee”, “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” and the popular dance number “Varsity Drag”.
Pictured: The Tate Drama Department production of “Good News”. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
