County Commissioner, Public Works Boss Tour North Escambia Projects
March 23, 2017
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry and Public Works Director Wes Moreno toured several North Escambia locations Wednesday afternoon. They checked on the progress of paving several dirt roads and the progress of other current and potential future infrastructure projects. Pictured above: Barry (right) and Moreno discuss the upcoming paving of Bradberry Road off North Highway 99 near the Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senate Looks To Put Together Marijuana Plan
March 23, 2017
More growers, access to treatment for snowbirds and greater flexibility in the relationship between patients and doctors are among the items likely to be included in a Senate proposal to carry out a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November to broadly legalize medical marijuana.
The Senate Health Policy Committee held a workshop Wednesday on the implementation of Amendment 2, which garnered the support of more than 71 percent of Florida voters, as lawmakers try to reach consensus on five pieces of legislation floating in the Senate.
The most controversial issues include how many licenses the state should award to marijuana growers, now limited to seven. Also, they include who should be deemed eligible to qualify for the treatment and whether to maintain the “vertical integration” system — requiring medical marijuana organizations to grow, process and distribute cannabis products — currently in use.
Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who was instrumental in the passage of medical marijuana laws in 2014 and 2016 and is the sponsor of the chamber’s highest-profile piece of cannabis-related legislation this year, was the only senator to appear before the committee.
The 2014 law allowed non-euphoric marijuana for limited types of patients, such as children with severe seizures. The 2016 legislation allowed full-strength marijuana for terminally ill patients. But the constitutional amendment will make cannabis available to a far-broader group of Floridians.
Under Bradley’s bill (SB 406), the state would have to issue five new licenses by the end of the year and could see another 20 marijuana operators — nearly quadruple the seven current licensed “dispensing organizations” — once the number of patients registered for the treatment reaches 500,000. The number of licenses would go up as the number of registered patients increases.
Bradley, a former prosecutor, acknowledged that his bill was likely too restrictive but cautioned against an open market for marijuana, which he pointed out is still an illegal drug under federal law.
“I hear a lot of talk about the current system as being a cartel,” he said. “This is not the selling of lawnmowers or office supplies. In those cases, there should be unlimited markets free from government oversight. This is very different. … Mom and pop stores don’t grow and sell medication that treat your wife’s cancer.”
But Bradley stressed the importance of having “a lot of different options from different providers” to keep prices down and guarantee patient access to the once-demonized substance that is now medicine in Florida.
Bradley frequently referred to a measure sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, that would require the state to issue 10 new licenses by October, and, like Bradley’s bill, includes a component requiring more licenses as the number of patients grows.
Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Dana Young, who referenced the other Senate measures throughout the meeting, told reporters her panel will propose a bill during the first week of April, at the earliest, giving time for the House and the Senate to hash out differences before the legislative session is scheduled to end on May 5.
The final product will likely be a hybrid of the Senate measures already filed, Young indicated.
“I do think that more licenses up front and different thresholds will be something almost certainly we’ll move to. The question is how many and what thresholds,” Young told reporters after Wednesday’s meeting.
Ben Pollara, the campaign manager for the political committee that successfully promoted Amendment 2, said Wednesday he felt “pretty good about” the Senate’s approach, in contrast with a House proposal that drew Pollara’s wrath.
House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, is steering a measure (HB 1397) that would, among other things, bar all but terminally ill medical marijuana patients from using vaporizers or edibles to consume cannabis products.
Young, R-Tampa, said she has not been in negotiations with her House counterparts on the issue.
“I have not had any conversations with Leader Rodrigues or any members of the Florida House on this legislation,” Young told reporters when asked. “Obviously, we have got to pass a bill through both houses, but beyond that, no.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Phalrose Lane, Cooley Road
March 23, 2017
UPDATE: The following boil water notice has been lifted.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for some customers of the Cottage Hill Water Works System.
The following areas are included in the notice: Phalrose Lane and Cooley Road.
The notice was issued following a water main break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use six drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water drinking or cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
A crew has repaired the main and is flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If you have questions, contact the Cottage Hill Water Works, office at (850) 968-5485.
Blessed Are The Peacemakers: Special Visitors At Century Sheriff’s Precinct
March 23, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Century Precinct had some special visitors Wednesday from Byrneville United Methodist Church. They presented the deputies with “Blessed Are The Peacemakers” coffee mugs. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Traffic To Switch At County Road 97A Boggy Creek Bridge
March 23, 2017
Construction of the detour (acrow) bridge on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon in Escambia County is complete. Traffic was to be transitioned to the temporary structure Thursday, March 23. Drivers were reminded to use caution as workers make necessary adjustments to move traffic.
Crews will now begin replacing the existing structure with a new, modern bridge encompassing 12-foot travel lanes, eight foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches will also be replaced. Work is anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2017, weather permitting, on the $3,041,965 project..
Drivers are reminded to slow down to the posted speed limit of 30 MPH, use caution and be aware of the ‘S’ shaped curve when approached the temporary bridge. There will be weight restriction on the temporary detour bridge. Vehicles weighing over 88,000 ponds and cranes will be prohibited.
The bridge to be replaced was constructed in 1969.
Pictured: The CR 97A temporary bridge still under construction earlier this month. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
After A Record Hot Wednesday, Expect Upper 70’s Today
March 23, 2017
Wednesday’s high at the Pensacola airport was 90 degrees — a new all-time record for the month of March. The previous record was 88 on March 30, 1946 — 70 years ago.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tate Win Advances Aggies To Sarasota Classic Championship Game
March 23, 2017
The Tate High School Aggies have reached the finals of the Sarasota Baseball Classic with a 2-0 win Wednesday over Sarasota.
Trey LaFleur earned the win for the Aggies in five innings, allowing six his and striking out six.
For Tate – Reid Halfacre 1-3, R, RBI; Mason Land 1-3; Logan McGuffey 1-3, RBI; Logan Blackmon 2-3 2B; Ryan Greene 1-3, R; Jesse Sherrill 1-1.
The Aggies will play at 7:30 Eastern Thursday night against Trinity Christian in the Sarasota Classic championship.
Cantonment Man Get 25 Years For Attempted Murder After Robbery, Beating
March 22, 2017
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for beating a victim during an armed home invasion.
Zanterrial DeJohn Carter was convicted of an Escambia County jury of attempted first degree murder, burglary of a dwelling while armed with a dangerous weapon and grand theft.
In the early morning hours on November 14, 2015, Carter broke into an apartment on Spink Lane where the victim was severely beaten. entered a home in Escambia County and held a resident down on the bed while striking him repeatedly in the head with a knife or small hatchet. The victim suffered deep wounds to his scalp and a broken arm from attempts to block the blows.
Carter assisted in stealing multiple electronic devices from the victim and fled the scene. The victim was able to call for help from a neighbor’s house. A witness in the area of the crime was able to identify Carter and also provided property to law enforcement that had been stolen from the victim.
The victim told deputies that he believed Carter intended to kill him, and the only reason he survived is because he played dead during the attack.
Several items, including a TV, laptop computer and desktop computer were stolen during the incident, according to an arrest report. The total value of stolen item was $1,734.
Escambia County Alabama Looks To Increase Sales Tax
March 22, 2017
The county commission in Escambia County, AL, is asking the Alabama legislature to increase the county sales tax by 1 cent.
A 1-cent increase is expected to boost the county’s annual revenue by over $2.7 million. Without the increase, commissioners have said the county will be facing service cutbacks and possible layoffs due to lower general fund revenue, partially due to a decrease in revenue from oil and gas severance revenue and gas taxes.
The sale tax in Atmore, Flomaton in Brewton is currently 9 percent, while East Brewton already charges a 10 percent sale tax. The increase would mean a 10 percent tax in the cities, except 11 percent in East Brewton. Just to the south in Escambia County, FL, the sales tax is 7.5 percent, except for groceries and medications that have zero tax.
The commission has petitioned the legislature for the increase because Alabama law won’t allow a local county to pass a regulation to create new revenue.
Pictured top: The sales tax in Atmore, including at this Winn Dixie store, is currently 9 percent but may soon increase to 10 percent. A few miles away in Florida, shoppers pay no sales tax on groceries, 7.5 percent on most other items. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senate Poised To Vote On ‘Religious Liberties’ Bill
March 22, 2017
The Florida Senate moved forward Tuesday with a bill that supporters say would strengthen protections for expressions of religious faith in public schools.
The “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act” (SB 436) could come up for a vote as soon as Thursday after advancing through a routine procedural stage.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Dennis Baxley, would extend protection to religious activities and organizations and seek to prevent discrimination against students or school employees based on their faith. Unlike a House counterpart, the Senate version of the bill also would require school districts to approve a “limited public forum” policy for student speakers.
But some critics have questioned whether the bill would “open the door for domestic hate groups and other extremists that hide behind religious expression,” in the words of Sen. Victor Torres, D-Orlando. Baxley, R-Ocala, dismissed those concerns, saying it would instead give students a “moral compass” that could lessen tension.
“We spend an awful lot of time teaching students the ‘how,’ and there’s very little opportunity for them to capture the ‘why.’ … We protect all kinds of speech, and it shouldn’t be just that we protect filthy speech but that we actually protect inspirational and encouraging speech. So I think it will actually diminish hate, and people will find that they have much more in common,” he said. Some senators also suggested that the legislation might be unnecessary.
“What does this bill do that the First Amendment doesn’t currently do?” asked Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. Baxley said the bill was needed to clear up any misunderstandings about the religious freedoms of students and employees.
by The News Service of Florida