Whitney Fike Named Communications Manager At International Paper Cantonment
November 2, 2017
International Paper announced Wednesday that Whitney Fike has been named manager, Communications for its Pensacola Containerboard and Pulp Mill in Cantonment. In her new leadership role, Fike will be responsible for the mill’s internal and external communications, which includes employee communications, media relations and community engagement.
Most recently, Fike (pictured left) owned a public relations company, Sparkplug Social, and worked with clients on public relations plans, social media management and content development. She has a vast background of communications experience and has worked in a variety of sectors including not-for-profit, government, tourism, financial, entertainment and events throughout her career.
Fike is a founding member of the local Lean In chapter, past-president of the Florida Public Relations Association Pensacola chapter and a 2012 graduate of Leadership Pensacola. Fike and her family reside in the Pensacola area.
In a related move, Janice Cooper Holmes has been promoted to Manager, Communications, Global Manufacturing System for International Paper. In her new leadership position, Holmes will provide strategic communications planning and support for IP’s Global Manufacturing System and serves as the subject matter expert for employee communications across the company, globally.
Most recently, Holmes (pitured left) was the Manager, Communications for the Pensacola Mill and prior to that Director, Communications for the University of West Florida. Holmes is a past-president of the Junior League of Pensacola, a 2003 graduate of Leadership Pensacola and currently serves as chair of the Creative Learning Academy Board of Trustees. Holmes and her family will continue to reside in the Pensacola area.
Walnut Hill VFD Fish Fry Set For Saturday
November 2, 2017
The Annual Catfish Fry at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97. Plates will be $8 each with your choice of catfish fillets or grilled chicken, plus baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, rolls and dessert.
There will also be drawing for door prizes beginning at 1 p.m. and a live auction. There will be bounce house and fire safety house for the kids. The Bloodmobile will also be on hand for a blood drive.
Escambia County EMS will also be on hand with equipment and personnel, and available to answer questions about their new service coming to Walnut Hill and Bratt.
Tate And Northview FFA Chapters Receive National Honors
November 2, 2017
The Northview High and Tate High FFA chapters received top awards at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Both the Tate and Northview FFA chapters were recognized in the 2017 National Chapter Award Program from the National FFA Organization.
The Tate FFA chapter received the national Three-Star Chapter Award, while the Northview FFA received the national Two-Star Chapter Award.
The chapter award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the country that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations and Agricultural Education using the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.
The Northview High School FFA Alumni received a national bronze award.
Northview graduate Mitchell Singleton received a silver ranking in Extemporaneous Public Speaking. The National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE is designed to recognize outstanding FFA members for their ability to prepare and present a factual speech on a specific agricultural issue in awell thought out and logical manner. Members select one topic from a choice of categories, have 30 minutes to prepare a four to six minute speech, and respond to five minutes of questions following delivery.
Four other Northview graduates — Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Bethany Reynolds, Haylee Weaver and Courtney Weekley — were awarded the American FFA Degree. Miranda Vidak, a West Florida High School graduate also earned her American FFA Degree but did not attend the convention. The degree is presented after the FFA member graduates from high school. [Read more...]
The American FFA Degree is the highest honor bestowed upon any regular member of the National FFA Organization. The degree is presented to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences.
Pictured top: The Tate High School FFA Chapter at the National FFA Chapter in Indianapolis, IN. Pictured below: The Northview High School FFA Chapter at the National Convention. Pictured bottom: The Tate FFA also visited Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, and other landmarks. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
November 2, 2017
The following students were named Students of the Month for October at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
- Caleb Madison
- Cameron Parmer
Kindergarten
- Sawyer Sandavol
- Brylee Peters
- Zoey Davidson
- Jonah Carter
- Calee Satterwhite
First Grade
- Keylashia Randle
- Landon Barlow
- Jaxon Byrd
- Jepp Godwin
Second Grade
- Breah Shelly
- Jacob Dove
- Oneisha Dubose
- Cassie Stillwell
- Camden Jacobson
Third Grade
- Jake Taylor
- Presley Johnson
- William Classen
Fourth Grade
- Aakira Davis
- Reece Starns
- Jackson Bridges
- Desiray Bagwell
Fifth Grade
- Taliyan Johnson
- Colton Criswell
- Bryce Stabler
- Ashton Covan
In addition, Oneisha Dubose and Desiray Bagwell were selected to represent Bratt Elementary as Escambia County Students of the Month for October.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Brewton Teen Sentenced For Deadly Hit And Run
November 2, 2017
An Alabama teen that struck a middle school student with her vehicle in 2016 before leaving the scene was sentenced to prison Wednesday.
Donnavia Zandra Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter for hitting and killing 12-year-old Devon Spencer.
Williams was sentenced to 20 years in state prison by Judge Bert Rice. Under the sentencing, the first five years are mandatory to be followed by five years probation. If Williams completes both the prison sentence and probation without any disciplinary action or reincarceration, the remaing 10 years of her sentence will be waived.
Williams was 17 in February of 2016, when the deadly crash occurred. She told police her windshield was icy, and she’d thought she hit a mailbox.
Devon Spencer, 12, and a friend were walking on Williamson Street, traveling from an apartment complex to W.S. Neal Middle School. The friend was not seriously injured, but Devon died a few days later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Williams was 17 in February of 2016, when the deadly crash occurred. She told police her windshield was icy, and she’d thought she hit a mailbox.
Devon Spencer, 12, and a friend were walking on Williamson Street, traveling from an apartment complex to W.S. Neal Middle School. The friend was not seriously injured, but Devon died a few days later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Pictured top: Devon Spencer.
Escambia Seeks Volunteer To Serve On Disability Awareness Committee
November 2, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering for an “at-large” appointment to the Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee, which was established by the board in 2013.
Escambia County Residents interested in serving on the committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business Wednesday, November 8. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, Florida 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
Resumes submitted for consideration are subject to public records requests and are included in Escambia County Commission meeting information, including the agenda and official meeting minutes.
The purpose of the committee is to make recommendations to the board of county commissioners regarding issues relating to the disabled community and any other issues requested by the board. The committee is composed of seven voting members, and all members of the committee must be electors of Escambia County. Each commissioner on the board of county commissioners appoints one member to the committee, and each member serves concurrently with his or her appointing commissioner’s term. The board collectively appoints two at-large members, who each serve a four-year term.
There are four meetings scheduled each year on the third Wednesday of the month. Meetings begin at 3 p.m. and typically last until 5 p.m. Special meetings may be scheduled if needed. There is no travel required.
FHP Identifies Man Killed In Fiery Santa Rosa Crash
November 2, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified a man killed in a fiery high-speed crash Wednesday night in Santa Rosa County.
The FHP said 30-old Darius Hunter of Pensacola was driving a two-door Nissan east on Highway 90 near Woodbine Road about 10:40 p.m. He was traveling at a high rate of speed when he passed a slower vehicle, left the roadway and traveled down the shoulder of the road. After striking several trees, the vehicle caught fire.
Hunter was pronounced deceased on scene. This investigation is ongoing.
The FHP is currently seeking a dark colored sedan that may have been racing Hunter when the crash occurred. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact CPL L. Slick of the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 471-6927.
Florida Businesses To Get Worker’s Comp Rate Cut
November 2, 2017
State Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has ordered a 9.8 percent decrease in the premiums businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance beginning next year.
He also ordered the National Council on Compensation Insurance to include in all future recommended rate filings a “quantitative analysis” of the impact that eliminating attorney-fee caps have had on the workers’ compensation system. NCCI is an organization that files recommended rates on behalf of insurance companies.
In a final order Tuesday, Altmaier rejected a recommended 9.6 percent rate reduction filed by NCCI and ordered it to file by Nov. 7 a slightly larger 9.8 percent reduction.
The Office of Insurance Regulation said a 2 percent profit and contingencies provision in the NCCI filing was “excessive” and ordered it lowered to 1.85 percent.
In a statement, NCCI said it’s in the process of reviewing its filing to comply with the order by Nov. 7.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system meant to protect workers and employers. It is supposed to provide workers who are injured on the job access to medical benefits they need to be made whole. Those who are injured for at least eight days also are entitled to indemnity benefits, or lost wages. In exchange for providing those benefits, employers generally cannot be sued in court for causing injuries.
Florida businesses paid nearly $3.8 billion in workers’ compensation premiums in 2016, up from about $2.8 billion in 2012. The costs for the mandatory coverage are the 33rd highest in the nation, according to NCCI.
Bill Herrle, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business-Florida, said small-business owners will benefit under Altmaier’s order.
“Any rate reduction is welcomed news,” Herrle said. “We have the confidence in the insurance commissioner that the rate reduction is merited.”
Altmaier’s near 10-percent reduction is more conservative than what the group Florida Workers’ Advocates proposed at a public hearing last month. Stephen Alexander, an actuary for the association, testified that rates should be reduced by an average 15.4 percent.
Nevertheless, the reduction in 2018 rates is in stark contrast to a 14.5 percent increase that was approved last year. That hike went into effect in December 2016 and was filed to reflect two Florida Supreme Court rulings as well as increases in the rates paid to health providers who treat injured workers.
The 2016 filing, NCCI said, was a “law only” filing, reflecting changes to the system. The 2017 filing was based on experiences for policy years 2014 and 2015 as they were valued at year-end 2016.
In Tuesday’s order, the Office of Insurance Regulation directed NCCI to include in its future recommended rate filings a detailed analysis of the impact of Castellanos v. Next Door Company, a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling that struck down caps on fees for attorneys who represent injured workers.
“The analysis may include alternative data sources and should examine changes to the Florida workers’ compensation market that are attributed to or observed as a result of the recent court decision,” the order said. “These changes include, but are not limited to, reopening of claims from older years, changes in reserves or payment patterns, changes to claim closures or settlement rates, changes to claim frequency and severities, increasing attorney involvement and fees paid to attorneys.”
Florida Workers’ Advocates President Mark Touby in a statement said he was pleased that Altmaier recognized deficiencies in the existing rate process.
“It is tremendously troubling that NCCI has admitted that last year’s 14.5 percent rate increase was not based on any relevant data, but was instead based on market projections. The fact that we are now facing a significant rate reduction raises the question of whether last year’s hasty rate increase was justified — or alternatively, whether it was an avenue to over-collect premiums from Florida businesses based upon NCCI’s myth that there was an unfunded liability. Either way, this process is in serious need of reform, and we are pleased that Commissioner Altmaier has recognized the deficiencies in the existing NCCI process,” the statement said.
NFIB’s Herrle is confident that NCCI”s analysis will show the elimination of the fee caps will increase attorney involvement in the system and, therefore, drive up rates.
“We’re OK waiting to get our I-told-you-so’s on that one,” he said. “We believe that unrestricted attorneys’ fees will eventually catch up with us.”
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Autopsy: Evers Died From Drowning, Heart Disease Contributed
November 1, 2017
An autopsy report has been released showing that former state Sen. Greg Evers drowned after crashing his pickup truck off a bridge and into a creek not far from his home on August 21, possibly as the result of a heart problem.
The autopsy, conducted by Dr. Cameron Snider of the First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office, lists the official cause of death as drowning, The autopsy report states that arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease contributed to Evers’ death.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside arteries and can lead to narrowing of the arteries over time, leading to a heart attack, stroke or death.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Evers ran off Griffith Mill Road near Baker sometime late in the day August 21. He apparently missed a curve and his vehicle was found submerged in Penny Creek after going through a guardrail.
Evers was partially ejected though a broken windshield when the truck landed in the creek. Evers and the vehicle were found the following day.
A native of Milton, Evers, a Republican, served nine years in the Florida House before his election to the Senate in 2010. Evers left his Senate seat last year to make a bid for the U.S. House but lost the Republican primary to U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Related: Greg Evers Remembered As Champion For Florida, North Escambia
Pictured top. Sen. Greg Evers consoles a victim in the days following an EF-3 tornado in Century. Pictured inset: Evers removes debris out of the roadway on Front Street in Century. Pictured below: Evers signs a letter from the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation encouraging Gov. Rick Scott to release funding for Century tornado victims. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Week Becomes Warmer
November 1, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.