Florida Confirms First Zika Related Birth
June 29, 2016
Florida has its first confirmed case of an infant born with Zika-related microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development.
The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday that the mother had contracted the mosquito-borne virus while in Haiti. The mother traveled to Florida to give birth, officials said.
Gov. Rick Scott, who met with health officials in Palm Beach County on Tuesday, used the news of the state’s first Zika-related birth to press the federal government for more support. Scott planned to attend a second roundtable discussion regarding Zika at the Duval County Department of Health in Jacksonville Tuesday afternoon.
“Now that a baby has been born in our state with adverse impacts from Zika, it is clear that every available resource is needed to prevent local transmissions in our state,” Scott said in a press release. According to state health officials, babies with microcephaly often have a range of problems including developmental delay, intellectual disability, problems with movement and balance, hearing loss and vision problems.
Scott on Tuesday also asked the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to host a conference call with Florida health care professionals to discuss the neurological impacts of Zika and how the virus impacts new and expecting moms.
Last week, Scott issued an executive order to pump $26.2 million into the fight against the Zika virus. Scott directed state Surgeon General Celeste Philip to oversee distribution of the money to county health departments, local mosquito districts and laboratories for training, mosquito surveillance, and the purchase of Zika prevention kits from the CDC. Scott asked President Barack Obama on June 1 to use his presidential authority to release federal funds to fight Zika.
The president sought $1.9 billion in Zika-related funding from Congress, but the House and Senate have been divided on how much to allocate to combat the disease. The House, which initially offered $622 million, on Thursday approved a measure matching the Senate’s $1.1 billion funding proposal.
But Democrats and the White House appeared to balk at the House plan, which included provisions unrelated to fighting Zika.
by The News Service of Florida
Library Accepting Blood Donations For Fines
June 29, 2016
The West Florida Public Libraries is now accept blood in lieu of library fines.
The library will waive fines up to $50 for participating patron in exchange for the cardholder donating blood, or making a good-faith effort to donate, at blood drives held at the West Florida Public Libraries. A blood drive was held Tuesday at the main library; blood drives will be held once at each library branch during the next year.
The blood donation credit will only apply to fines, not replacement charges for lost materials. If a patron wishes to donate their credit to another individual or family, the library will honor this request. But library patrons will not be allowed to accumulate credit on their account.
A blood drive at a different library location every two months, rotating to each of the library branches in Escambia County. Donors will also receive a free t-shirt and a special edit “I Blood for Books” library card.
Pictured: The first blood drive in lieu of library fines was held Tuesday at the Main Library in Pensacola. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Wreck Involving TV News Crew
June 29, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Tuesday on Highway 29 at Byrneville Road.
A woman reportedly pulled her vehicle from Byrnevlle Road into the path of a vehicle occupied by a TV news crew that was northbound on Highway 29. The TV station vehicle was struck in the side rear, causing the driver to lose control, leave the roadway and strike a culvert before the vehicle went airborne for a short distance.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Janie Vernon St. Clair
June 29, 2016
Janie Vernon St. Clair, 92, of Pensacola, was called home June 27, 2016. She was born April 15, 1924, to the late Rual and Martha Vernon, in McDowell, WV. Janie was a long time member of Olive Baptist Church and a proud homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, Clarence Henry St. Clair, Sr.; a son, Clarence “Buster” St. Clair; her parents; and a brother and sister.
She is survived by her grandson, Jerry Nash (Cristy); great-grandson, Justin Nash; great-granddaughter, Mackenzie Brennan; special family members, Jack and Linda Nash and her nieces, church family and close friends.
Visitation will be Friday, July 1, 2016, from 10 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South with Dr. Jerry Passmore officiating.
There will be a graveside committal service at Mountain View Cemetery in Roanoke, VA, on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 10 a.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Police Issue Warning After Smashing Window To Save Puppy From Hot Car
June 28, 2016
The Pensacola Police Department has issued a warning about leaving pets in a hot vehicle, after smashing a window to save a puppy.
“Don’t. Just don’t. If you leave your dog in a hot car and that dog is suffering, we will do whatever we have to do to free him. Or her. Doesn’t matter, we like both kinds of dogs. We will drive your pooch to the caring folks at the Escambia County Animal Shelter and we will drop you off with the caring folks at the Escambia County Detention Facility. You will both receive attention, food, and shelter, albeit different kinds. So, don’t,” the PPD posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon, along with the two photos on this page.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Looks To Add More Wind Energy
June 28, 2016
Gulf Power is seeking to further diversify its energy mix by adding more wind. Monday, the company filed a petition asking the Florida Public Service Commission to approve adding 94 megawatts of wind energy from the Kingfisher Wind farm in Oklahoma.
Gulf Power is already a leading purchaser of wind generation among Florida utilities. Since January of this year, Gulf Power’s original Kingfisher Wind project has been producing 178 megawatts of wind-generated energy. The energy company is seeking approval of a second agreement involving the Kingfisher Wind project that would add an additional 94 megawatts of wind energy to its energy mix, for a total of 272 megawatts.
“Gulf Power is committed to renewable energy that makes economic sense for our customers,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Our renewables team worked very hard to make these projects affordable. These smart renewables, like Kingfisher Wind, can actually put downward pressure on prices.”
Located in Oklahoma, the Kingfisher Wind project has a total of 136 wind turbines capable of producing enough energy to power approximately 77,150 homes for a year.
“Adding alternate sources of renewable energy to our portfolio is important for our customers and takes careful planning,” added DelaHaya. “By diversifying our energy supply with an ‘all of the above’ approach that includes renewable energy, our customers can count on us for their energy needs today and well into the future.”
If the additional 94 megawatts are approved by the FPSC, and once construction of Gulf Power’s military solar projects are complete, renewable energy sources are projected to be approximately 9 percent of the company’s energy mix, helping to diversify the power supply. Kingfisher is the energy company’s sixth renewable energy project following the Perdido Landfill Gas-to-Energy Facility, which has produced more than 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity since 2010.
Gulf Power is also bringing large-scale solar to Northwest Florida at three military solar energy projects across Northwest Florida. Located at Eglin AFB (Air Force), Saufley Field (Navy) and Holley Field (Navy), the projects are expected to provide approximately 30MW, 50MW and 40MW of renewable energy respectively.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 28, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending June 23 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing conducted fisheries inspections near the Pensacola Pass. During one inspection, the occupants on board claimed to have only king mackerel and mingo snapper. While on board, Officer Cushing discovered an undersized gray triggerfish. The season for gray triggerfish is closed. A citation was issued to the individual who caught the fish.
Officer Cushing received a phone call from a concerned citizen who had observed an individual on the beach at Ft. Pickens carrying an oversized redfish from the beach toward the parking lot. After beaching his vessel on the bayside, he proceeded to the parking lot and observed one of the individuals described to him by the complainant. Upon initial contact, the individual slumped his head and confessed that he had the oversized redfish in his truck. Upon further inspection, the individual had a total of three oversized redfish in a cooler in his truck. Citations were issued for oversized and over‑the‑bag limit of redfish.
On board the FinCat, officers patrolled in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They approached a vessel that was fishing and asked the captain if they had any fish on board. The captain stated that they only had white snapper on board. After boarding the vessel, the officers discovered a large triggerfish. The crew claimed they forgot putting the fish on the vessel. The captain of the vessel was issued a federal citation for the violation.
Officer Land conducted a derelict vessel investigation on a sailboat that had been left in a wrecked condition at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. The vessel had become grounded and the interior had filled with water. The registered owners of the vessel were notified and given a deadline to remove the vessel or restore it to working order. The vessel remained untouched by the owners and continued to deteriorate. Officer Land issued a notice to appear to each of the registered owners for abandoning a derelict vessel on the waters of the state.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Hahr and Officers Hutchinson and Clark were on foot patrol at the steel bridge on Coldwater Creek. They observed a group of individuals on a sandbar smoking cannabis. The officers made contact and interviewed the subjects. Upon conclusion of the interviews, three of the subjects surrendered baggies of cannabis and one cannabis cigarette. A total of four citations were issued for possession of cannabis under 20 grams and one citation was issued for possession of paraphernalia.
Officers Hutchinson and Clark were on foot patrol on Coldwater Creek and observed a group of males and females on the sandbar drinking alcohol. They made contact and asked if everyone was 21 or older. Four of the females stated they were not. One of the males who was 21 years old was observed sharing an alcoholic beverage with one of the underage females. Four citations were issued for possession of alcohol by persons under 21 and one citation was issued for contributing to the delinquency of a minor: giving alcohol to a person under 21.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Afternoon Thunderstorms Likely
June 28, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Independence Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Bricks For Century High Monument Now On Sale
June 28, 2016
Bricks from the former Century High School are now for sale.
Engraved bricks will be sold at $50 each to be placed around a 1936 monument and flagpole salvaged from the former school, which was demolished due to tornado damage. In total, about 2,100 bricks were saved from the school building for the project. The $50 covers the cost of engraving the brick and construction of the monument; there is no profit made.
To print an order form, visit CenturyHighBricks.com.
The design of the monument and its exact location are yet to be determined. A committee established by the town is exploring the possibility of constructing the monument at, or very near, the actual site of the former Century High School on Hecker Road.
Summer Reading Club: Dr. Magical Balloons At The Library This Week
June 28, 2016
The Summer Reading Club continues this week at the West Florida Libraries.
West Florida Public Libraries present Dr. Magical Balloons for a free summer reading club performance. Enjoy amazing balloon sculptures and original stories as he captivates and astounds readers of all ages.
Dr. Magical Balloons will perform at multiple branches on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 28, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, located across from Southwest Branch Library. Show your library card for free all day park access.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Century Branch Library, 7991 N Century Blvd
- 4 p.m. at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
Thursday, June 30, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A