E-Cigarettes Bill Draws Fire
March 28, 2014
Nobody in the Capitol, it seems, wants minors to buy electronic cigarettes.
But an effort to ban sales of the trendy nicotine-delivery tubes to people under 18 has run into controversy in the state House.
Health groups and local governments are criticizing a bill (HB 169) that would ban e-cigarette sales to minors because the measure also would prevent cities and counties from passing their own regulations on the sales of electronic cigarettes and tobacco products.
The House Regulatory Affairs Committee on Thursday voted 12-5 to approve the bill, after the proposed ban on local regulations — known in Tallahassee-speak as state “preemption” — drew criticism from groups such as the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties.
Rep. Frank Artiles, a Miami Republican who is sponsoring the bill with Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, said the bill seeks uniformity in the regulation of sales. Among the backers of the bill is the Florida Retail Federation.
“We can’t have 415 cities and 67 counties doing different ordinances,” Artiles said.
Electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular as they allow users to inhale vaporized nicotine without all the health risks of smoking regular cigarettes. While supporters point to those health benefits, critics of “e-cigarettes” warn that the devices can hook people on nicotine, which could lead to use of other tobacco products.
The Senate has already unanimously passed a bill (SB 224), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, that would ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. But that bill does not have the controversial preemption of local regulations.
A House analysis said several cities and counties, including Clay County, Alachua County, Indian River County and Marion County, have passed local regulations about e-cigarettes. As an example, Clay County passed an ordinance in 2013 that regulates the sales, marketing and public use of the devices, according to the analysis.
Casey Cook, a lobbyist for the Florida League of Cities, objected to the part of the House bill seeking to prevent local regulations, saying cities and counties should be able to “respond to their constituents.”
Artiles said his preemption proposal only addresses regulation of the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco products, not other issues such as the use. Also, he said the proposal is aimed at preventing local governments from passing new regulations and would not affect already-existing local regulations.
But preemption has long been controversial on smoking-related issues. For example, state law bars smoking in most indoor workplaces but also does not allow local governments to pass tougher smoking restrictions.
Brenda Olsen, chief operating officer of the American Lung Association in Florida, said such preemption laws interfere with efforts to help protect people’s health.
But Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, questioned opposition to the bill, pointing to growing use of electronic cigarettes among middle- and high-school students.
“This bill is getting these products out of the hands of children up to the age of 18,” Diaz said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Volunteer Meeting Next Week For Those That Seek To ‘Reimagine Century’
March 28, 2014
“You can make a change in your community today” — that’s the slogan of Reimagine, a local organization that is is determined to meet then needs of of the communities in which it commits to serve.
Reimagine Century will be held on Saturday, September 13 at Showalter Park. A volunteer meeting will be held next Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Ag Building on West Highway 4 in Century.
Organizer Linda English said the group is on a mission to serve those less fortunate.
“We do so by uniting churches, businesses, and organization within a particular community to meet an individual’s physical need, which in turn, opens the door to establishing a relationship, allowing us to then talk and discuss meeting a spiritual need,” she said.
Reimagine has held similar events in Brownsville, Warrrington, Thomaston, GA, Santa Rosa County and Peru. Events have included clothing giveaways, free haircuts, free food, free health checks and displays from community organizations.
For more information, contact Linda at (850) 454-5280.
Pictured: Scenes from Reimagine Warrington. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Critically Injured In Head-On Wreck North Of Flomaton
March 27, 2014
Four people were critically injured in a head-on collision on a dirt road north of Flomaton Thursday afternoon.
A pickup truck and Jeep Cherokee collided on Hall Creek Road between Sardine Road and Highway 113 about 12:30 p.m. At least two people, were airlifted to Pensacola hospitals in two different LifeFlight helicopters. Two other people were transported by ambulance to area hospitals. The teens involved reportedly ranged in age from 17-19.
Further details have not yet been released by Alabama State Troopers as they continue their investigation.
Responding agencies included the Flomaton Fire Department, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County (FL) EMS, Atmore Ambulance, D.W. McMillan (Brewton) Ambulance, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Alabama State Troopers.
The accident site is about 10 miles north of the Alabama/Florida state line.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Blues Are Back In Town: Over 25,000 Turn Out For Practice
March 27, 2014
Over 25,000 people turned out Wednesday morning to watch the Blue Angels in their first public practice of 2014 aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Coming off a year with most of their shows canceled due to budget cuts, the Blues were back in Pensacola with a show that wowed the huge crowd with spectacular aerial feats. Following the show, the pilots signed autographs for hundreds in the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
The Blue Angels have changed their Tuesday and Wednesday weekly practice demonstration times onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) for the 2014 air show season. The scheduled practice demonstrations will now begin at 11:30 a.m. onboard the air station.
Next month, Blue Angels are scheduled to practice in Pensacola on April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30 behind the museum. Autographs are signed after the Wednesday practices only. Admission and parking are free.
Pictured top and inset: The Blue Angels practice Wednesday morning at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Pictured below: The Blues meet fans and sign autographs in the Museum of Naval Aviation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Gets 20 Years For Violent Attack On Woman
March 27, 2014
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison and a prison releasee reoffender.
On February 5, 51-year old Robert Dale Hutslar pled no contest to two counts of aggravated battery with great bodily harm or with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault by threat with a firearm, false imprisonment and petit theft.
While at the victim’s apartment on August 8, 2013, Hutslar struck her in the head with a bottle and stole her wallet and food stamp card. Hutslar then strangled her with an extension cord and tied her hands with a telephone cord. Later he retrieved the victim’s firearm from the closet and threatened to kill her. The victim was able to break free from Hutslar and dial 911 before he took the phone and fled.
Hutslar was arrested later that day by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as he was walking down the road.
The sentenced was handed down by Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh.
Escambia’s Health Declines
March 27, 2014
A new study shows declining overall health rating for Escambia County as compared to the other counties in the state.
The fifth annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tool released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows Escambia County’s overall health outcomes rating fell from 55th to 57th among Florida’s 67 counties.
Compared to Florida’s 66 other counties, Escambia County ranked 51st for length of life, 59th for quality of life, 39th for health factors, 47th for health behaviors, 30th of 67 for clinical care, 38th in social and economic factors and 42nd for physical environment.
The study highlights the many community factors that influence health and using established data.
These rankings are a snapshot of the health of counties across the country and they emphasize that health is not a singular effort but a combined work in progress across all community partners, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County said in a news release.
“Health impacts each resident of Escambia County, Florida, both on a personal level and as members of our community,” said Dr. John Lanza, local health department director. “While today’s report presents county-level rankings, we realize that promoting optimal health requires the efforts of all branches of our community including government, education, business, and civic organizations.”
Senate Puts Brakes On Red Light Camera Bill For This Year
March 27, 2014
Red-light cameras won’t be turned off in Florida this year.
Without enough votes lined up, Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes put the brakes on a bill (SB 144) that focused on repealing the state’s red-light camera law. Instead, he proposed changes to increase regulations on the use of the devices.
But Brandes’ Transportation Committee on Wednesday didn’t act on the proposed changes, deciding to postpone a vote on his rewritten bill.
“That shows you the power of this (red light camera) industry,” said Brandes who maintained his opposition to the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of 2010, the state’s red-light camera law, after the postponement.
“What you’re seeing is municipalities that have become addicted to the funds, and in many of these cities it’s not about safety,” Brandes added. “It’s become a backdoor tax increase.”
While moving away from a repeal, Brandes proposed changes that would allow new cameras at intersections but only if their use is justified through traffic engineering studies — a requirement that is included in a House bill. Also, money generated from red-light camera tickets would have to be used for traffic safety improvements, and jurisdictions wouldn’t be able to use the cameras if they fail to provide annual camera-enforcement reports to the state.
Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Lake Worth Democrat who made a motion Wednesday for postponement, said the delay will give committee members “time to step back and take a better look at” the proposed changes.
“I’m not sure they were listening to me,” Clemens said of the support he got for the delay. “I think we’re just doing what was best at this point.”
Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, views the cameras as simply a revenue generator for local communities. But he acknowledged that there isn’t an enough support in the Senate to repeal the cameras. That was evident Wednesday when he couldn’t get his own committee to approve three amendments to his rewritten bill.
“Clearly if I don’t have the votes to adopt simple amendments that are common sense, such as standardizing turns throughout the state of Florida, clearly you would see that the broader issue was not long for this world,” Brandes said.
Two of the amendments failed on 4-4 partly line votes, with Republican Senators Greg Evers of Baker and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of Miami absent.
One of those amendments, opposed by the Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Sheriffs Association, would have allowed motorists to employ a “rolling stop” at speeds up to 15 mph when taking a right-on-red turns if no pedestrians were in the crosswalk at camera-monitored intersections.
The committee also rejected, by a 5-3 vote, an amendment that would have required only warnings to be issued to owners of vehicles caught on camera going through traffic signals 0.5 seconds after the colors changed from yellow to red.
Brandes said he might reintroduce the amendments when the bill returns next week.
Groups such as the Florida League of Cities have opposed Brandes’ bill and similar attempts in the House to dramatically change red-light camera programs. Those groups contend the cameras are a public safety tool. Across Florida, at least 77 county and city governments operate red-light camera programs.
Rep. Frank Artiles, a Miami Republican who is an outspoken critic of the cameras, changed a House bill (HB 7005) on Monday as it went successfully before the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Previously, Artiles sought to ban new cameras from going up and wanted to reduce the fines. But the revised House bill would not go as far, calling for steps such as requiring traffic-engineering studies to justify the need for new cameras.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Motor Vehicle Fee Cuts Await Scott’s Signature
March 27, 2014
The largest portion of Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed $500 million in tax and fee cuts is on the way to Scott’s signature.
The House and Senate formally sent a reduction in vehicle registration fees (SB 156) to Scott’s office Wednesday, giving him a week to sign or veto the bill. Scott is certain to sign the measure, which he has touted for months.
The bill, which takes effect September 1, would reduce the fees by a total of $309 million in the budget year that begins July 1 and $395 million the following year. The savings for each vehicle will vary by type, but many motorists will see the fees drop by $20 to $25.
Woman Convicted In Toddler’s Drowning In Neighbor’s Landscaping Pond
March 27, 2014
An Escambia County woman was convicted Wednesday on negligent manslaughter and three counts of child neglect stemming from the drowning of her toddler in a neighbor’s small pond.
Jennifer Lynn Eiland, 32, will be sentenced April 10. Her 14-month old, Alana Mae Eiland, was found unresponsive in her neighbor’s landscaping pond in August 2013 in the 10600 block of Betmark Road, just off 10 Mile Road.
The neighbor was alerted to the child by one of the child’s siblings. First responders attempted rescue efforts, but Alana Mae was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a local hospital.
Neighbor Larry Kruger made the discovery in his front yard after one of Eiland’s children knocked on his door. The little girl’s body was under a small bridge the crosses the pond, which is less than two feet deep.
Investigators found “unsanitary living conditions” in the Betmark Road home where Eiland and her children were living at the time of the drowning, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The child’s father, a Merchant Marine, returned home from being at sea following the incident.
Eiland has had prior abuse allegations in Alabama. According to investigators, the children,whose ages range from three to eight,had been placed in foster care and were only returned to the care of their mother in the recent months before the drowning.
Two of Eiland’s surviving children are living with a friend of the father, and two are in foster care.
Pictured top and bottom: Larry Kruger (bottom photo) discovered the lifeless body of a nieghbor’s 14-month old girl in his landscaping pondin August 2013. Photo by Joe Douglass WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DUI: ‘Choose Your Ride’ Vehicle Unveiled
March 27, 2014
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office has a new taxi cruiser to bring attention to driving under the influence.
In 2013, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office had over 200 DUI related arrests. This was in addition to arrests made by other agencies in the county.
The “Choose Your Ride” vehicle highlights the choice individuals make to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or call a taxi or make other arrangements.
The front of the old Ford cruiser is painted as a taxi while the rear retains the Sheriff’s Office markings. The side windows read: “Ride in the front seat $24″, ““Ride in the back seat $10,000.”
“Our intention is to showcase this vehicle to reduce the amount of DUI related accidents. As we all know, if just one DUI is prevented by this project, it is well worth the effort,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The project was completed with the help of sponsors and was done at no cost to taxpayers.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.