UWF Campus Network Hacked; Students, Visitors Should Change Passwords
July 31, 2014
University of West Florida network users are being urged to change their passwords after the campus network was hacked. Officials say the information for at least 160 people, both students and non-students, may have been compromised.
UWF said unauthorized activity by individuals on certain portions of the Pensacola main campus network has been discovered.
It is believed that individuals attacked the network to intercept UWF ArgoNet usernames and passwords for approximately 90 people, as well as usernames and passwords for non-UWF systems (Facebook, Twitter, Hotmail, etc.) for approximately 70 people. These affected users will receive a separate notification from UWF by close of business this Friday, according to the university.
UWF said further steps have been taken secure their network from further attacks.
At this time, the university believes those most at risk are those who have used the network in the following UWF main campus buildings within the last 12 months: the John C. Pace Library, Building 4 (Science & Engineering) and UWF residence halls.
The university is strongly urging all individuals with UWF ArgoNet accounts to change their ArgoNet passwords as soon as possible.
In addition, this network attack may affect members of the general public who have utilized services of the John C. Pace Library within the last 12 months. For that reason, UWF is strongly urging anyone who has accessed online accounts by using computers or the network in the John C. Pace Library during this time to change passwords for those accounts as soon as possible.
Blood Drives Sunday In Molino
July 31, 2014
A community blood drive will be held Sunday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 97 from 8 to 11 a.m. and then at Highland Baptist Church on Highway 95A from noon until 3 p.m.
Requirements for giving blood are listed below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Escambia County, ECUA Reach Potential Recycling, Garbage Agreement
July 31, 2014
A potential garbage and recycling agreement between Escambia County and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is on the table for discussion.
The agreement was brokered and announced by State Rep. Clay Ingram after a series of meeting with both sides.
“Like many of my constituents, I am both an Escambia County taxpayer as well as an ECUA rate-payer and see this proposed partnership as a true win-win scenario. If adopted, the partnership will protect the financial well-being of the Escambia County Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, help control ECUA’s costs, and will result in the creation of 120-220 new jobs,” Ingram said. “This partnership would also have the positive effect of bringing to a halt the involvement of the courts in matters between Escambia County and ECUA.”
After the flooding, closure and bankruptcy of West Florida Recycling in Pensacola, ECUA recently entered into a two year agreement with the Infinitus Energy Park (IREP) in Montgomery. ECUA earns $10 per ton for single stream recyclables trucked to Montgomery — enough for the transportation and a net profit of a few dollars per ton.
The potential agreement brokered by Ingram would see a private company construct a similar facility in Escambia County — both the county and ECUA have acknowledged the lack of financial capacity to build and operate such a facility themselves.
Under the draft agreement:
- ECUA and Escambia County would work to reach the state’s 75 percent recycling goal reducing disposal costs and solid waste collection and extend the life of the Perdido Landfill.
- The regulatory and permitting authority over sold waste in Escambia County would remain with the county and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
- Escambia County and the ECUA would agree to eliminate or drop all legal challenges and regulatory and operational impediments via action by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and/or the ECUA Board.
- A public/private partnership will be developed utilizing the most viable technology to advance the practice of recycling in Escambia County and the surrounding region via an advanced mixed materials recycling facility (AMMRF). The AMMRF would be located in Escambia County, along with the 120-220 jobs it will provide.
- The selected private vendor would determine the most feasible and economically advantageous site on which to construct the AMMRF within Escambia County. Sites will be suggested by the county and ECUA, and the final site will be selected by the private contractor based on sound business considerations.
- Escambia County and the ECUA agree to allow the project to proceed without legal challenges. The facility would be entirely funded by the private vendor, with no capital, operating or property acquisition expenditures from the county or ECUA. This means there would be no cost to either the County or the ECUA. The estimated $35-$50 million investment for the property and the AMMRF will be the sole responsibility of the private vendor.
- Escambia County and ECUA agree that monies required for Escambia County programs that were previously funded through tipping fees at the Perdido Landfill would be provided through operating cost savings at the Perdido Landfill, host fees paid by the vendor for all tonnage delivered to the AMMRF for processing, the economic benefits from property taxes and jobs created at the facility, and a reasonable increase in the existing commercial waste franchise fees and/or a new franchise fee on residential solid waste collection.
- An appropriately sized Perdido Landfill would continue to be operated by Escambia County to accept residue from the AMMRF, bulk waste, special waste, and other materials that cannot be processed at the AMMRF.
- There will be an interlocal agreement between Escambia County and the ECUA to support the public/private partnership. The county would remain responsible for disposal of solid waste; the ECUA would be responsible for collection of solid waste, and the private company would be responsible for construction, operation and all of the costs associated with the AMMRF. The ECUA and the county would guarantee their waste streams would be delivered to the AMMRF for processing. Any residue would be disposed of at the Perdido Landfill.
- The private sector partner will be selected and the contractual details negotiated as expeditiously as possible.
- Other agencies in adjoining counties and states would be encouraged to utilize the facility with a host fee applied to the tonnage that is processed at the facility. The host fee would be received by Escambia County.
The proposed agreement is expected to go before the Escambia County Commission on August 12 and the ECUA Board on August 28.
“Speedy adoption of the proposal is imperative as interests from outside of the region have shown intent to build a recycling facility here without participation from either party, which would have a devastating financial impact on our community. I am excited about the spirit of cooperation exemplified by both parties for the good of our community and look forward to working together to seeing the project completed,” Ingram said.
Woman Gets Probation For Allegedly Tossing Brick Into Vehicle With Husband, His Girlfriend
July 31, 2014
A Century woman that allegedly chased down her estranged husband and his new girlfriend and tossed a brick through his car windows has been sentenced to probation.
Judge Michael Allen placed 29-year Tasia Valenta McCall on probation for 36 months while withholding adjudication on criminal mischief and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. Additional charges of deadly missile and aggravated assault were dropped.
McCall was also ordered to pay $718 in fees and court costs.
The victim told deputies he and his girlfriend were driving along Highway 29 south of Century when McCall began to follow them and attempted to maintain contact. When they arrived at their destination on Hilltop Road, McCall followed them down a long driveway. Before they could exit the vehicle, McCall began cussing and yelling at them before tossing a brick though the rear window of the occupied vehicle, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. There were no injuries.
Seasonal Help Job Fair Today In Jay
July 31, 2014
A job fair for the 2014 peanut season will be held today in Jay.
The job fair will take place at the Jay Community Center from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Positions are available for seasonal help in Jay or Allentown. Attendees should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to stay for an interview.
Amazing July Weather Continues One More Night
July 31, 2014
Pictured: A Molino farmer took advantage of dry, sunny weather Wednesday to cut hay. Photo courtesy Escambia County Extension for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Northview Mini Cheer Camp Set For Next Week
July 31, 2014
The Northview High School cheerleaders will host their annual mini-cheerleading camp next week.
The camp will be held August 5 from 4-6 p.m. and August 6 from 1-3 p.m. Registration is $25 for the camp or $35 for the camp and a shirt. The camp is open to anyone age three through the eighth grade. Mini-cheerleaders will admitted into the first Northview football home game for free and cheer the entire first quarter with the varsity NHS cheerleaders.
‘Pot Trucks’ Coming To Florida?
July 31, 2014
Florida pot dispensers could truck their product to patients, under a revised rule proposed by health regulators in advance of a workshop Friday about the state’s move to a limited type of medical marijuana.
The latest plan also would loosen restrictions on who could own the dispensing organizations. Nurseries with only one-quarter ownership of pot distribution businesses would be eligible for licenses, according to the draft rule released late Tuesday by the state Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use.
Despite numerous complaints expressed by nursery owners, lobbyists and others at a rule-making workshop earlier this month, health officials aren’t backing away from a lottery-based system to choose the recipients of five licenses, a competition drawing operators and investors from around the world.
The state has until Jan 1. to come up with the regulations regarding a strain of marijuana, authorized by the Republican-dominated Legislature and approved by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year, that purportedly does not get users high but can alleviate life-threatening seizures in children with severe epilepsy. Under the new law, patients who suffer from severe muscle spasms or cancer would also be eligible to get cannabis that is low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD, if their doctors order it.
The law restricts dispensary applicants — who would grow, process and distribute the low-THC product, usually a paste or oil — to nurseries that have done business in Florida for at least 30 years and grow 400,000 plants or more. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has identified at least 55 nurseries that currently meet the criteria.
Nursery owners have been bombarded by offers from investors and operators eager to cash in on the state’s newest regulated industry. Rumors are rampant about nurseries that are demanding millions from potential partners or growers who are being offered money to stay on the sidelines. Many of those interested in “Charlotte’s Web,” a low-THC strain named after a Colorado girl, are hoping to get started in the pot business now with an eye on a proposed constitutional amendment going before voters in November that would allow doctors to order “traditional” medical marijuana for certain patients.
In the meantime, eligible nursery operators are pairing up with lobbyists and lawyers as they wade into turf unfamiliar to even the most sophisticated regulatory experts.
The law allows one dispensing organization in each of five regions around the state. It also allows the dispensing organizations to have “an infrastructure reasonably located to dispense low-THC cannabis to registered patients statewide or regionally as determined by the department.”
At the rule-making workshop earlier this month, health officials heard that just five locations would be inadequate to meet patients’ needs.
The new draft rule would allow dispensing organizations to deliver 30-day supplies of the medical marijuana derivative directly to patients. Potential operators are divided on the transportation issue.
“An infrastructure cannot be a truck. An infrastructure is a place,” said Louis Rotundo, a lobbyist who represents the Florida Medical Cannabis Association, a coalition of growers, investors and others interested in the pot business.
The proposed rule may also mean that dispensing organizations can transport their product statewide.
Giving dispensers the ability to distribute statewide as the law permits is critical, said Ron Watson, a lobbyist who is consulting for a group of former pharmaceutical executives who want one of the five licenses.
“A regional distribution system has no checks and balances and will punish the patient through cost and availability. A patient should be able to choose the best medicine regardless of where it is grown,” said Watson, who also represents the Florida Medical Cannabis Association.
The proposed rule also would restrict dispensaries from opening near schools, day-care centers, churches and public parks, which Rotundo said is too far-reaching.
“Why should they not be allowed to open as if they were any other drug store in the jurisdiction? They’re dispensing a medicine and certainly a medicine much less dangerous than every pharmacy carries. I’m not following the logic of this,” said Rotundo, who also represents several municipalities.
The latest version of the rule also restricts nurseries to applying in only one region, meaning that at least five nurseries would be able to participate in the industry. Growers are forging partnerships in some areas of the state.
And the proposed rule also addressed some concerns that potential owners expressed earlier this month regarding a lack of clarity about a $5 million performance bond required by the law. Under the draft rule, a condition of the bond would be that the money would be used to destroy all of a dispensing organization’s pot if the dispensary loses its license or chooses not to renew it. The condition of the bond may help potential businesses secure funding from investors or even banks.
Rep. Katie Edwards, a Plantation Democrat who was instrumental in getting the low-THC measure passed, said she was pleased that health officials took some of the concerns expressed at the last meeting into consideration.
But Edwards said the “million dollar question” regarding pot’s future in Florida remains unresolved — how the original plants, seeds or tissue culture will get into the hands of growers. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
University of Florida scientists recently revealed the school would not participate in research — the law contains $1 million for the university to study the effect of low-THC, high-CBD marijuana on epileptic children — because it could lose millions of dollars in federal grants.
“I equate it to the ‘what came first the chicken or the egg’ question. In Florida, we are trying to figure out what comes first —the low-THC cannabis plant or the Charlotte’s Web medicine?” Edwards said.
Kerry Herndon, owner of Kerry’s Nursery in Apopka, blasted health officials for keeping the lottery provision in the proposed rule.
“It’s a disaster for the patient population. You’re making medicine for sick children. So it’s like anybody at random within the pool and not the most qualified? Really?” said Herndon, whose nursery is eligible for one of the licenses and who is interested in pursuing one.
Health officials are doing the best they can to meet “a very aggressive timeline” set by the Legislature, said Sen. Rob Bradley, one of the bill’s sponsors.
“We have told them that they need to produce a rule by Jan. 1, 2015, and they need to come up with a system whereby we can get this in the hands of the parents of the suffering children. I trust the department to come up with a practical way to get Charlotte’s Web in the hands of these suffering families,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said.
by Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida
Sex Offender Gets Life Without Parole
July 31, 2014
A man was sentenced Wednesday to spend the rest of his life in prison for a kidnapping and sexual attack.
Bret Randall May was sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to life without parole for one count of kidnapping and two concurrent life sentences without parole for two counts of sexual battery.
The charges stemmed from allegations that in the early morning hours of August 25, 2013, May forced an intoxicated woman into his car, transported her to a secluded area of Pensacola Beach and sexually battered her. Witnesses notified law enforcement who located the defendant’s vehicle and witnessed the attack.
May is a registered sexual predator having been convicted previously of three sexually related offenses in Alabama. In one of the Alabama cases, May’s victim was a nine year old female.
Wahoos Win In Extra Innings
July 31, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (15-25, 46-64) won the series finale in extra innings, 1-0, over the Mississippi Braves (22-18, 61-48). With the win in the 10th inning, the Wahoos snapped their four-game losing streak to the Braves.
The Wahoos finally broke the scoreless tie in the 10th inning. Devin Lohman walked to begin the inning and Ray Chang laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. After a wild pitch moved Lohman to third base, Yorman Rodriguez singled sharply up the middle to give Pensacola the lead. Rodriguez and Kyle Waldrop had multi-hit games for the Wahoos.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Braves’ left fielder Mycal Jones began the inning with a walk. The Braves had successfully used the running game all series long, but for the second time in the game, Wahoos’ catcher Chris Berset threw out a runner at second. The Braves put together a couple of singles, but Shane Dyer was able to get Barrett Kleinknecht to ground into a double play to end the game.
RHP Michael Lorenzen had a terrific start for the Wahoos; he went 5.0 innings and allowed no runs on three hits. LHP Scott Maine, RHP Tim Adleman and RHP Carlos Gonzalez put together four straight scoreless innings before the game was sent to extra-innings. The trio struck out four batters and allowed just two hits. Gonzalez moved to 3-0 on the season with the win and Dyer earned his 12th save of the season.
RHP Mitch Atkins produced a fantastic start for the Braves. He went 7.0 innings and surrendered six hits while striking out four batters. RHP Jorge Reyes fell for the first time this season for the Braves.
Pensacola continues along their 10-game road trip as they head to Kodak, Tenn. RHP Ben Lively (0-5, 3.68) is set to start game one for the Wahoos. The Tennessee Smokies will send RHP Matt Loosen (4-5, 5.69) to the mound.
by Joey Truncale