Fire Damages Atmore Apartment
January 23, 2014
A two-story single family apartment in Atmore sustained smoke and water damage during a fire Wednesday afternoon.
Officials said the residents of the apartment in the 100 block of South Trammell Street had left the kitchen with grease on a hot stove, apparently sparking the blaze. There were no injuries reported.
The Atmore and Poarch fire departments responded to the fire, which was reported about 12:30 p.m.
Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Report Says Law Against ‘No Fault’ Fraud Is Reducing Rates
January 23, 2014
Auto insurance costs will come down slightly, more than a year after reforms aimed at reducing fraud in the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance system were implemented, according to a preliminary analysis of rates by the state.
The Office of Insurance Regulation announced Wednesday that Personal Injury Protection coverage is projected to drop an average of 13.2 percent based upon on a review of 20 insurers that provide coverage for more than 75 percent of the Florida market.
The result of the decrease would be an overall 1.2 percent reduction in rates, because “no-fault” accounts for a small portion of auto coverage, the state insurance regulatory office stated in a release.
A spokesman for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who was a proponent of the 2012 law, called the report a “positive trend” for consumers.
“PIP fraud remains a criminal activity that we are vigilantly fighting, but the positive progress being made suggests that the recent PIP reforms should be allowed to continue working to help improve Florida’s auto insurance market,” Atwater spokesman Chris Cate said in an email.
According to OIR, the drop is in line with the projections from legislation (HB 119) that targeted what officials said had become a $1 billion overall increase in rates due to fraud.
“The estimated average statewide savings reflect a positive trend in comparison to 2011, when 86 percent of auto filings were for proposed increases in ‘no-fault’ premiums — the vast majority for double digit increases,” the study declared.
The report is expected to further temper efforts to dump the requirement that Floridians purchase “no-fault” coverage and instead allow them to carry just bodily injury coverage, which a vast majority of motorists in Florida already purchase.
Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, has been moving towards such legislation, but his effort was slowed after the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee rule on Oct. 23 that a challenge to the 2012 law needed to offer a “factual” motorist who is harmed by the law.
The challenge to the law presented an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, two massage therapists, along with a hypothetical “John Doe” representing health-care providers and a hypothetical “Jane Doe” representing motorists.
The case has been appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.
Donovan Brown, state government relations counsel for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, said the reduction in rates could have been even better, but some insurers may have been unsure how to proceed because of the lawsuit.
“That case causes mass confusion in the marketplace,” Brown said.
Still, Brown expects the debate to continue over the future of “no-fault” as the full impact of the new law may not be known until later this year, when the results of the second round of premium filings take hold.
“When these reforms are fully implemented, then we’ll have a better idea of what the true impact will be from the changes in 2012,” Brown said.
Staff analysis of the 2012 legislation projected a 13.2 percent drop in rates after October 2012 rate filings based upon the new law. The savings are projected to be between 14 percent and 24.6 percent when filings are calculated from the Jan. 1, 2014 filings.
Leading the charge in the rate reductions were Progressive Select Insurance and Progressive American Insurance, with reductions in “no-fault” coverage by 34.6 percent and 32.3 percent, respectively, with overall auto coverage down 15 percent and 11.7 percent.
Geico General Insurance Co., the state second largest auto insurance provider, had a 25 percent drop in “no-fault” coverage, while auto coverage grew 0.6 percent.
The state’s largest auto insurance provider, State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co., had its “no-fault” coverage down 1.7 percent, while overall auto coverage decreased 3.3 percent.
Not every company submitted decreases in “no-fault.”
A 58.1 percent increase in “no-fault” was filed by 21st Century Centennial Insurance, with overall auto premiums going up 26.9 percent, and Esurance Property & Casualty Insurance has “no-fault” increasing 20.9 percent with overall rates up 17 percent.
In the House, Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, has filed two measures (HB 267 and HB 269) directed at repealing the “Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law” and allowing Floridians to carry only bodily injury coverage.
Neither bill has been reviewed by a committee.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Fire Damages Flomaton Mobile Home
January 23, 2014
Fire damaged a mobile home in Flomaton Wednesday afternoon, but the owner says it’s salvageable and he will rebuild.
The fire was reported about 1:40 p.m. in the 2300 block of Cary Street in Flomaton, just north of the Alabama/Florida line. Smoke was showing from the attic upon arrival, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton.
Firefighters from Flomaton, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Lambeth Volunteer Fire Department were able to quickly bring the fire under control and save the home.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge Rules Teen Incompetent To Stand Trial For Mom’s Murder On Christmas Eve
January 22, 2014
Circuit Judge John Simon ruled this afternoon that William Brandon Aydelott is not competent to stand trial for the first degree premeditated murder of his mother, Sharon Lynn Aydelott, on Christmas Eve.
The judge ordered Aydelott to spend six months in the Florida State Hospital for treatment at which time he will be reevaluated.
Aydelott beat and stabbed his mother to death in her Gulf Breeze home on Christmas Eve, according to prosecutors. He is scheduled to be arraigned on January 23. Investigators said William Aydelott had been arguing with his mother for some period of time before stabbing her several times with kitchen knives and striking her with a baseball bat.
William Aydelott fled the scene and was located by deputies about three hours later at a nearby residence. Deputies surrounded the home, and he surrendered without incident.
Cold Weather Continues
January 22, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 46.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
Bratt Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
January 22, 2014
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
All A’s
- Raegan Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Erich Amerson
- Luke Amerson
- Sarah Bailey
- John Bashore
- Olivia Boatwright
- Lakyn Bodiford
- Luke Bridges
- Conner Byrne
- Emilee Cabral
- Kadence Calvert
- Jakyra Carter
- Abby Coker
- Shelby Cotita
- Sophie Cotita
- Colton Criswell
- Callie Davis
- Kylie Davis
- Savannah Doremus
- Jacee Dortch
- Noah Faulkner
- Aaliyah Fountain
- Makayla Garrett
- David Gilley
- Amber Gilman
- Jamison Gilman
- Emma Gilmore
- Maggie Godwin
- Ava Guganus
- Zane Gurganus
- Tucker Hall
- Leah Hetrick
- Sarah Hetrick
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Hannah Hughes
- April Johnson
- Laura Laborde
- Aden Lashley
- Kaitlin Lloyd
- Sara Kennedy Long
- Kaya Mason
- Leila Mason
- Elianna Morales
- Alyssa Moya
- Mary Paige Nassar
- Taviana Parker
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Madison Peterson
- Colby Pugh
- Kenna Redmond
- Ally Richardson
- Bryan Romeros
- Maggie Scott
- Madelin Sheedy
- McKenna Simmons
- Zakyla Smith
- Mia Starns
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Autumn Williams
- Clay Wilson
All A’s and B’s
- Rabekah Abbott
- Maggie Amerson
- Ethan Bingham
- Riley Blackwell
- Kyle Blanton
- DeMorris Bowens
- Destiney Bradley
- Jaden Brown
- Gracie Buckhault
- Abbie Buford
- Gabby Burklund
- Jaquorious Burt
- Paris Burt
- Anyis Cabral
- Ashlynn Cabral
- Kayla Campbell
- Landon Chavers
- Tyler Ray Cloud
- Noah Condrey
- Cassandra Davis
- Da’shawn Davis
- Donavon Davis
- Franki Daw
- Payton Daw
- Carsyn Dortch
- Ryan Dove
- Tyteanna Dubose
- Mayson Edwards
- Gage Eicher
- Scotty Elliot
- Ja’Kayla Evans
- Jamyla Feagin
- Jacob Findley
- Zykuria Fountain
- Rachel Franklin
- Caitlyn Gibson
- JP Gilman
- Gracie Godwin
- Shelby Godwin
- Berklee Hall
- Bryce Hall
- Abbie Hardy
- Kara Hawkins
- Joshlynn Helton
- Martina Howard
- Cole Huges
- Gracie James
- Hunter Johnson
- Markavia Johnson
- Allyson Jones
- Leo Kelson
- Crista Kinley
- Derek Kinley
- Justin Kinley
- Trent Knighten
- Gage Lambert
- Taylor Lashley
- Houston Lowry
- Kaleigh Mack
- Kayla McCall
- Reid McCall
- Braeden McGhee
- Megan Mcghee
- Michael McGhee
- Bailie Merchant
- Michael Merchant
- Adannaya Mondaca
- Kai Morton
- Lexi Moya
- Abigail Nelson
- Travis Nelson
- Jaylon North
- Blaize Parrish
- Libby Pugh
- Dallon Rackard
- Shelby Rice
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Angel Schoonover
- Makayla Sells
- Vivyan Smith
- Jacob Spence
- Devon Spencer
- Eli Stephens
- Emily Stillwell
- Jon Stilwell
- Jaimee Taylor
- Cody Thomas
- Ja’Mya Thomas
- Brayden Victor
- Halona Walker
- Shelby Ward
- Summer Waters
- Raycer Watson
- Chris Weber
- Zyonne Wesley
- Addie White
- Jordan Wilson
- Lane Wilson
- Connor Wolfe
- Leonte Wright
Century Residents Offer Ideas For Local Economic Development
January 22, 2014
About 20 Century residents turned out Tuesday night to discuss the good — and the bad — about their town as part of a process to create a future economic development plan.
“We have everything to go forward,” said Robert Mitchell, a Century resident for 59 years. “We always come up short. We always end up with nothing.”
When Century updated its Comprehensive Plan in March 2012, the need for an economic development strategy was identified as one of the critical issues facing the Town.
Last July, Century was awarded a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The grant provided the Town the opportunity to contract with the University of West Florida’s Haas Center to develop the plan. The public input from Tuesday night will be used in the plan’s development.
“We can’t seem to land anything; they always pack up and leave,” Mitchell added, pointing out Century had lost it schools and there had been (false) rumors of the post office closing. “We can’t stop, we can just plead for everybody to give us a chance here in Century. We always get cut short; the support is not there. We can’t up with the right support to land something in Century.”
“We need to have something here in Century where we can be proud; we deserve the very best,” stated Sandra McMurray-Jackson, town council member.
Jobs in almost any industry sector should be a top priority, said resident James McMurray. And Century needs a motel for a prospective businessperson to stay, according to Rozetta Hamilton.
The public input, along with input gathered last week from business owners and input to be gathered next week from economic development agencies, will be invaluable in preparing a future economic direction and plan for Century, according to Cindy Anderson, recently hired to manage economic development for the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. She said it will be the tool she needs — all the facts and figures – to help market Century.
The group also learned the choosing Century is not always about facts and figures, with several discussion panel member saying they had returned to the town after retirement — some to be closer to relatives, some to open a business and some to care for an aging loved one. And for Robert Lasher, the choice to move to Century was a bit more divine.
The financial consultant and his wife were looking to move somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a change of lifestyle. “We were just generally looking for hte country; God put us in Century,’” said.
Picture top: Robert Mitchell (left) speaks as Century council member Gary Riley (right) listens during an economic development planning meeting Tuesday night. Pictured inset: Resident James McMurray. Pictured below: Lomonica Shoemo and Dorothy Newton listen during the meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Medical Marijuana Signatures Top 540K Of 683K Needed
January 22, 2014
With a surge of petitions before a February 1 deadline, backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana had submitted 542,211 valid signatures to the state as of mid-day Tuesday, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.
People United for Medical Marijuana must reach 683,149 valid signatures by Feb. 1 to get the proposal on the November ballot.
The group also still needs Florida Supreme Court approval of the proposed ballot wording, which has drawn opposition from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Republican legislative leaders. Gov. Rick Scott also maintained his opposition Tuesday to legalization.
“I’ve said all along I’m against illegal drug use,” Scott told reporters after an appearance in Tallahassee. “I’ve watched how it impacts families. The attorney general gave her best advice to the Supreme Court.”
State Says Schools Will Now Follow ‘Florida Standards’
January 22, 2014
State education officials are pushing forward with a plan to rebrand the standards for what students are expected to learn in Florida schools, hoping to tamp down an uproar among conservative activists who view the current standards as part of a federal takeover of local schools.
Almost 100 changes to the “Common Core State Standards” will be considered by the State Board of Education in February, said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, who outlined some of the changes to board members during a meeting Tuesday.
“At that time, I think that it is completely appropriate for us to call our standards the ‘Florida Standards,’ ” Stewart said.
Supporters of the guidelines have taken to using the term “Florida Standards” in recent months as some conservatives have continued to decry Common Core. Those benchmarks were crafted by a coalition of officials from about four-dozen states, but have come to be seen by grassroots conservative groups as an example of federal overreach.
Earlier this month, a gathering of the Republican Party of Florida’s state committeemen and committeewomen voted to oppose Common Core, though the resolution is not binding on the GOP and is not expected to be taken up by the party’s executive board.
Stewart said the changes — which include 60 new standards, 37 clarifications and two deletions — and the inclusion of standards beyond the reach of Common Core, which only covers English and math courses, justifies the new name.
“I think when we strengthen our standards, make these standards our own, provide clarification of 37 standards — that clearly is saying that Florida is out on our own, making stronger standards and doing so in a very autonomous way,” she said.
About 52 of the new standards would restore calculus to the state guidelines, though some calculus courses would have been offered regardless. Stewart said the deletions were to get rid of redundant material.
“It’s picked up somewhere else, we don’t really need it and there’s no reason to have repetition,” she said.
John Padget, who said he was not aware when the board approved the math standards that they didn’t include calculus, said he was “overjoyed” at the change.
“I think I’m able to say that Florida Standards, with respect to math, are higher than the so-called Common Core,” he told Stewart.
But it’s not at all clear that the effort to rename the standards will calm groups opposing the benchmarks. A message posted Tuesday on the Facebook page “Floridians Against Common Core Education” slammed Stewart’s changes to “the Communist Core.”
“They really believe we are stupid,” the post says. “This re-branding is meant to make us feel they are doing something for our children.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Two Escambia Businesses Honored As Innovators By Governor
January 22, 2014
Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the winners of the 2013 Governor’s Innovators in Business Awards during Florida Business Innovators Week. The awards recognize Florida companies in select industries that have influenced the state’s economic growth and diversification over the last year.
“Businesses are able to thrive because we have created an economic climate in Florida that supports job creation. I want to congratulate all of the companies being recognized today for their hard work in creating jobs and helping to create an opportunity economy in Florida that supports jobs for generations to come. Florida families are able to live the American Dream with the help of the successful, innovative companies that call Florida home, and I am proud to recognize some of those companies today,” Scott said.
Winners from Escambia County were:
The Governor’s Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Award, for Florida companies that best exemplify innovation developed through product or process in the last three years, was presented to the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. As part of Florida’s tourism market, in particular the cultural heritage sector, Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum has grown from a volunteer organization to a booming business in a few short years. Through fiscally sound planning, the business experienced continued growth resulting in an increase in visitation from just 8,000 visitors in 2009 to more than 150,000 in 2013.
The Governor’s Business Expansion Award, for Florida companies that expanded their operations in 2012, investing capital and creating jobs, was awarded to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal’s largest regional operations center resides in Pensacola and they plan to continue their expansion and migration of personnel from Virginia to Florida. They recently announced a project that will add more than 1,500 jobs in Florida’s Northwest Region over the next five years.
Pictured: The Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.