Eunice (Stokes) Qualls
August 27, 2015
Eunice (Stokes) Qualls, age 87, of McLellan Community in Milton, passed away August 25, 2015.
She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Reverend William F. Qualls; son, Allen Qualls; and daughter, Faye (Rodney) Brown, 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 11 great- great-grandchildren. She considered all her church as her family and their children as her grandchildren.
A visitation will be held Friday, August 28, 2015, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Services will be held Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 10 a.m. with Bro. Danny Carnley and Bro. Jimmy Pitman officiating.
Burial will follow at Valley Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be great-grandsons.
The family would like to thank Santa Rosa Health and Rehab care facility for the good care they provided her.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Car, Burglary
August 26, 2015
A Cantonment man is behind bars after allegedly using force to steal a car and then using it as transportation as he committed a burglary the following day.
James Christopher Gulsby 32, punched and choked his live-in girlfriend to get the keys and take a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi car belonging to her father, according to an arrest report. The following day, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office receive a suspicious person call on Hound Chase Way, with the individual reported to be walking around with a black plastic box and a green garden hose.
They responded to find Gulsby in the backyard of a residence with a small crowbar and pair of pliers. Deputies discovered the back door of the residence with pry marks that matched the use of a crowbar, and they reported finding a black box with tools and a green garden hose inside.
Gulsby was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, criminal mischief with property damage, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, possession of burglary tools with the intent to use, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Escambia Legislative Delegation Sets Public Hearing
August 26, 2015
The Escambia County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing September 21, according to Sen. Greg Evers, delegation chairman.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2016 Legislative Session. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend.
Those who wish to make a presentation or provide testimony should contact Dave Murzin at murzin.dave@flsenate.gov or cell, (850) 380-8249 to receive a Meeting Participation Form and return it to Evers’ office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.
Local bill submissions should includeda brief summary of the proposal, a draft of the proposed bill, and a 2016 Economic Impact Statement Form, must be received by Evers office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14th.
The public hearing will be held from 5-7 p.m. on September 21 at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard. in Pensacola.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Mike Hill.
Cool Mornings, Nice Afternoons; Record Lows Set
August 26, 2015
The official overnight low in Pensacola was 66, tying a record that had stood since 1927. Mobile set a new record low Wednesday morning of 63, and it dropped to 59 at the NorthEscambia.com office in Walnut Hill. The great early fall-like weather will continue.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Lineworker Appreciation Day Marked
August 26, 2015
One of the most dangerous and deadly jobs in America is that of electrical lineworkers, cracking the top 20 at number 10 on a recent Washington Post list. These jobs are considered by many to be the fourth most dangerous occupation in the world.
Working with live wires is dangerous enough. Add to that working in all types of weather, from torrential storms to oppressive heat to responding to the scene of an accident. All to make sure electricity continues to flow safely and reliably to homes and businesses.
It’s a tough job with little thanks. But Gulf Power, with the State of Florida, recognized the contributions and dedication of lineworkers during Lineworker Appreciation Day on Aug. 26, a day set aside by the state Legislature in 2012.
Gulf Power paid special tribute to the nearly 190 employees that work on the company’s 9,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines between Pensacola and Panama City, which serves more than 447,000 customers.
One of those lineworkers, Ed Morrell, has worked 17 years at Gulf Power as a distribution service and line technician.
“I have a great job, with a great company, and I’m very thankful,” said Morrell. “I get to help people improve their quality of life everyday. Whether it’s just hot outside and they need their air conditioning on or if customers need electricity for artificial respiration or other medical equipment, it feels good to know I play a critical part in their lives.”
Morrell started working at Gulf Power after a church member mentioned possible job opportunities. He applied and interviewed, but was not chosen after his first interview. “It’s all in God’s timing,” he said. Nonetheless, he interviewed a couple of months later and eventually joined the company as an apprentice.
“After graduating from high school, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years,” said Morrell. “I thought it would be hard raising a family in the military by being gone all the time so after the first Gulf War, I did electrical work for myself back home to support my family.”
However, Morrell quickly found that utility line work is very different from wiring a house. He said adhering to the safety standards of Gulf Power is extremely important and always job one.
“We have to constantly be aware of our surroundings and remain safe at all times because your first mistake may as well be your last,” he said.
Morrell began his career assisting in the daily construction and maintenance of the distribution systems in order to provide service in a safe, timely and economical manner. He quickly responded to and corrected problems with the electrical distribution system during normal working hours, after hours, nights and weekends and in extreme weather conditions.
“Sometimes it’s tough working different shifts and being on-call, but I love helping other people and working with our crews. We have a special bond among us. After Hurricane Ivan, we worked for more than two weeks with no power at our own homes. We were inspecting, testing and repairing power lines and other equipment using special reading and testing devices. We rebuilt entire lines, set poles, hung transformers and connected service throughout our area. Working with customers in the field and seeing our communities come together was particularly gratifying,” he said.
He tells fellow lineworkers that when times get tough to remember that others may have it even worse during natural disasters. “We have worked with crews in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy and with crews in Tuscaloosa, Alabama after tornadoes,” said Morrell in a solemn tone. “Both of those areas were completely devastated, homes destroyed, people were missing, and to bring hope to so many families was indescribable. There is always someone, somewhere out there that needs us.”
Morrell advises others wanting to become a lineworker to have a good attitude, be adaptive and flexible, expect to work hard and play hard, develop safe habits, follow directions and do the best you can.
“There is no such thing as a typical day. I sometimes wake up when it’s raining and I’m surprised I haven’t gotten a call. Other days, I’m prepping my truck for when I have to depart at a moment’s notice,” he said.
Throughout Morrell’s career, his very supportive family has stood behind him. Morrell’s wife Kristie, and their three children look forward to him returning home safely each and every day. They, too, continue making sacrifices.
“It’s funny that sometimes heroes look like ordinary people,” said Kristie. “Most people only dream of meeting their hero, but I married mine.”
Citizen’s Customers May Face Rate Hike Due To Spike In Water Claims
August 26, 2015
A “disturbing” rise in water-damage claims in South Florida is driving Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to seek an average 3.2 percent increase in rates for many homeowners, the president of the state-backed insurer said Tuesday.
Without the surge in reported residential water damage over the past two years, which is causing the agency to alter its approach to such claims, Citizens would be asking for an average statewide rate decrease, Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said during a rate hearing before the Office of Insurance Regulation.
“You can’t move away from the fundamental issue, when you take a look at Miami-Dade, and you take a look at the rest of the state, there really is no major differences in ages of home or any other characteristics,” Gilway told Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. “So it leads you to the obvious conclusion, and the conclusion basically is there is more fraud associated with these types of claims.”
As it is, Citizens customers in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties, which comprise a large portion of Citizens’ portfolio, are more likely to see rates increases than homeowners in other parts of the state under the rate proposals. And the reason is the water claims, Gilway said.
“If the Miami-Dade average (water damage) claim were the same as the rest of the state, 99 percent of all Miami-Dade policyholders would be getting an 8 to 9 percent decrease, not an 8 to 9 percent increase,” he said.
McCarty gave no hint if his office would approve the proposed rates.
The new rates, if approved by the state regulators by the second week of September, would go into effect Feb. 1.
The rates vary by county and depend on a property’s location, the home’s style, and the type of policy.
The overall statewide average increase would be 3.2 percent, with homeowners’ multi-peril personal-line accounts going up an average of 1.3 percent and wind-only coastal accounts going up 9 percent. Multi-peril coverage for mobile-home owners would go down 5.3 percent on average. There is no proposed change to sinkhole rates.
The increase in claims, primarily in Miami-Dade County, is driven by attorneys who specialize in water damage, which adds to attorney fees and adjuster costs, Gilway said.
“The issue for us is, we don’t even have a chance to work with a policyholder to come up with a fair settlement,” Gilway said after the hearing. “You saw the numbers, 30 percent of all the water damage claims come in with representation. We have not even talked to the insured. And 90 percent of all the claims coming in with representation come from Miami-Dade.”
In 2012, about one in 12 homeowners in Miami-Dade County with a Citizens policy made a water-damage claim, with the average cost just under $9,000. In the past 12 months, Gilway said, one in eight Miami-Dade policyholders with Citizens filed such a claim, with damage costs running on average approaching $15,000.
“We’re averaging 1,000 water-damage claims a month,” said Gilway, who described the increase as “disturbing.”
John Rollins, Citizens chief risk officer, said a majority of the claims come from reports of pipe failure. Citizens doesn’t cover flood and storm surge.
One change being made is that only Citizens adjusters, who are being trained as to what to look for in water claims, will respond to water claims in South Florida, Gilway said.
Gilway said he doesn’t anticipate the need to get the Legislature to enact new laws to address the increase in water-damage claims. But he said he’s working with Rep. Frank Artiles, a Republican from Miami who has been a critic of the agency, on rules for making water-damage claims with the state-backed agency.
The proposal would establish “mandatory” appraisal rules — similar to sinkhole claims — in which both sides on a water-damage claim would get to select an appraiser and if the two sides don’t agree, the issue would go before a mediator. The move would keep attorneys out of the issue, Gilway said.
The rate proposals come as Citizens has dropped from 1.5 million policies in 2012 to 589,456 policies as of July 31. Gilway said he expects the number of policies to be just above 500,000 by the end of the year.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NHS To Hold Meet The Chiefs (With Bonus Cheerleader, Dance, Band Photos)
August 26, 2015
Northview High School will hold “Meet The Chiefs” Thursday at 7 p.m. Fans will have a chance to meet the football players and cheerleaders ahead of the regular season.
A meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. for parents of football players.
For cheerleader, dance, band and NJROTC photos, click here.
Pictured: The Northview band, cheerleaders, dance team and NJROTC from last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State, Seminole Tribe Headed Into Mediation
August 26, 2015
The state and the Seminole Tribe are headed into mediation — shepherded by a lawyer whose past clients include Mick Jagger and Leona Helmsley — to resolve a possible standoff over the future of blackjack and other banked card games at most of the tribe’s Florida casinos.
The tribe formally requested mediation last month after negotiations over the card games — part of a $1 billion, five-year deal — stalled this spring.
While those talks appear to be back on track, the state has agreed to the Seminoles’ request, and both sides have settled on a mediator, according to documents provided by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which oversees gambling in the state.
“We have not formally responded to the merits of the request for mediation; however, we have been in contact with them regarding the selection of a mediator and working toward mediation dates and location,” department spokeswoman Chelsea Eagle said in an email Tuesday.
The Seminoles and officials with Gov. Rick Scott’s administration have “mutually agreed” on New York lawyer Loretta Gastwirth, Department of Business and Professional Regulation chief attorney Jason Maine wrote in an Aug. 13 email to Marvin Harris, the American Arbitration Association’s manager for alternative dispute resolution.
The lawyer both sides initially agreed to, Thomas Brewer, “declined to serve” due to scheduling conflicts, according to an email sent earlier the same day from Harris to Maine.
Gastwirth is a partner with the Long Island-based Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein and Breitstone law firm. According to her bio on the firm’s website, the one-time entertainment industry lawyer’s previous clients include Mick Jagger, Luther Vandross and Leona Helmsley. Gastwirth has served as an arbitrator on the Commercial Arbitration Panel of the American Arbitration Association for a decade, according to the website.
Since 2010, the Seminoles have had exclusive rights to offer banked card games, including blackjack, at five of the tribe’s seven casinos. In exchange, the tribe promised to pay the state a minimum of $1 billion over five years, an amount which it has exceeded. But the agreement regarding the cards, part of a 20-year deal called a “compact,” expired on July 31. Under the terms of the compact, however, the Seminoles have 90 days after the agreement expires to continue operating the banked card games.
Both sides hope to finalize a new pact before that time period runs out, but the Seminoles insist they won’t have to stop the games even in the absence of an agreement with the state.
Meanwhile, negotiations between top legislators, Gov. Rick Scott’s general counsel and the Seminoles appear to be moving forward. Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said last week that he, his House counterpart and Scott’s top lawyer, Timothy Cerio, met with representatives of the tribe as late as last week.
The Legislature has to authorize any agreement between the governor and the tribe, although Scott can sign a compact before the 90-day deadline runs out and lawmakers could ratify it later, according to Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. Galvano, then a House member, was the lead negotiator for the Legislature in 2010 and helped craft the current compact.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees gambling on tribal lands, has to give final approval to any agreement reached between the state and the Seminoles.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Update: Tropical Storm Erika Moving Westward
August 26, 2015
The latest on Tropical Storm Erika is in the graphic above from the National Hurricane Center.
Wahoos Beat The Braves
August 26, 2015
Thanks to Tim Adleman and the Pensacola defense, the Blue Wahoos pulled back within half a game of the Southern League South Division lead behind the Mississippi Braves.
Needing just one run, Adleman threw six scoreless innings and Pensacola held on for a, 1-0, victory over front-runner Mississippi in front of 4,222 Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was Adleman’s second, 1-0, victory over Mississippi with the last coming on June 27. In the second half of the season, Adleman is 7-2 with a 1.90 ERA after playing in the Southern League All-Star game. He improved to 9-8 with a Southern League-leading 2.12 ERA.
“I told you,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said. “We got him one and that was plenty. He wasn’t sharp today but he just battled and battled.”
Meanwhile, Pensacola closer Zack Weiss entered the game with one out in the eighth inning and earned a franchise record 23 saves, surpassing the 22 Shane Dyer saved last season.
“You give him the ball and you know the game is over,” Kelly said. “That’s a great feeling as a manager.”
Pensacola, playing in its first playoff race in franchise history, is now 32-26 and in sole possession of second place after dropping the first two games of the five-game series to Mississippi. The Braves are 32-25 in the second half. The Mobile BayBears lost to the Biloxi Shuckers and fell to 30-27 and third place.
The Blue Wahoos went ahead, 1-0, when first baseman Ray Chang scored with the bases loaded on a walk by shortstop Alex Blandino. The run stood up with great defense from the outfielders and crucial double plays. The squad has a league leading 153 double plays this season.
In the fifth inning, Mississippi pinch hitter Emerson Landoni hit a broken bat blooper that Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin charged and then threw the baseball on a rope to catcher Kyle Skipworth at home plate to nail the Braves’ Sean Godfrey trying to score.
In the eighth inning, Pensacola right fielder Juan Duran slid to catch a soft liner and it popped out of his glove. But he jumped up and threw Braves center fielder Matt Lipka out trying to reach second.
In the same inning, Weiss struck out Mississippi right fielder KD Kang and Skipworth caught second baseman Levi Hyams going to second. It was a boom, boom double play.
Both Adleman and Kevin Shackleford started double plays from the mound in the second and seventh innings, respectivelly.
For Kelly it was a routine day at the ball park.
“The key to our club is playing great defense,” Kelly said. “Our pitchers fielded their positions today. Whenever you can get two outs on one pitch, that’s huge.”
Weiss said he was happy to set the Pensacola record but even happier to pitch well in a game with playoff ramifications.
“It’s a pretty special experience,” the 23-year-old said. “When you’re competing for a playoff spot, every pitch is a big pitch in a series like this. The record is cool but tonight was pretty much a must win.”