It’s Still Winter: Lows Down Near 40 Tonight
March 2, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
House Approves Prescription Limits In Opioid Fight
March 2, 2018
While the sponsor acknowledged the bill won’t solve the state’s problem with opioid abuse, the House on Thursday unanimously passed a measure that includes imposing prescription limits.
“I don’t think it (the problem) is going to completely go away, but I think this is a way for us to fight back,” Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said Thursday as he finished presenting his bill (HB 21) to the House.
The bill, in part, would limit opioid prescriptions to three-day supplies, though seven-day supplies would be allowed if deemed medically necessary by physicians. The restrictions wouldn’t apply to patients suffering pain related to cancer, terminal illness, palliative care or serious traumatic injuries.
The goal is to help prevent people from getting hooked on prescription opioids, which can lead to turning to street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl.
Physician groups have had concerns with the bill and the prescription limits.
Rep Julio Gonzalez, a Venice Republican who is an orthopedic surgeon, warned Thursday that the limitations would be too restrictive for some patients and that 10 days may be more appropriate for people who have had major surgery or who have suffered major trauma.
But Boyd told the stories of two people he knows who underwent surgery. One person had complete knee reconstruction and walked out of the facility with a walker hours later. He had a follow-up four days later, Boyd said.
Another friend of Boyd was treated for a heart-valve replacement and an aneurysm repair. Boyd said his friend took Tylenol for three days in the interim between being released and a follow-up visit.
In both instances, Boyd said, the men were given 90-day prescriptions for opioids to relieve the pain.
“We are not trying to be doctors,” Boyd said, addressing Gonzalez’s criticism. “We are not trying to tell doctors how to do what they do, because they are the professionals. But I think there’s a little bit of work that needs to be done communicating, that with this horrible problem, we need to take dramatic steps to try to fix it.”
Opioid addiction and overdoses are now the leading accidental cause of death in the U.S. According to research, 80 percent of heroin users first abused prescription drugs, whether their own drugs or someone else’s supply. Other studies show that a patient’s chances of addiction increase as the number of days a first prescription for opioids lengthens.
The data has spurred state lawmakers to focus not only on treating drug users but on trying to keep patients from getting hooked in the first place.
To ensure that patients aren’t “doctor shopping,” or seeking prescriptions for addictive drugs from multiple physicians, the bill also would require physicians to consult a statewide database before prescribing or dispensing controlled substances, something many physicians have been loath to do. Only about 27 percent of Florida health care providers authorized to prescribe controlled substances currently use the database, known as the prescription drug monitoring program.
The bill includes accommodations if the database is down or if there are electrical or technical issues. But in such instances, physicians would be required to document information in patient medical records and would be limited to prescribing three-day supplies or less of pain relievers.
The bill also would authorize the Department of Health to share and exchange database information with other states and would authorize the database to interface with electronic health systems used by health-care practitioners and facilities.
Lawmakers have directed about $1 million for improvements to the prescription drug monitoring program, but Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, worried that the funding may not be enough to ensure that the database properly interfaces with electronic health systems used by physicians.
Harrell, who is married to a physician, said she shared Gonzalez’s concerns that the restrictions may go too far.
“I think the 10 days seems much more reasonable,” she said.
A Senate version of the bill (SB 
is ready to be heard by the full Senate.
But the House and Senate bills have differences. Among other things, the Senate bill would not allow exclusions from the prescription restrictions for cancer patients, trauma patients and the terminally ill.
Boyd, who will leave the House this fall because of term limits, said the bill would help in the fight against opioid abuse but said he knows it won’t fix the problem.
“I’ll be gone next year but I hope that others of you will take up the fight and take the next steps to fight this problem, because I don’t think it’s going to completely go away,” he said.
by The News Service of Florida
BBB Warns Of Local Bail Bonds Scammer
March 2, 2018
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning of a scam in the Escambia County area.
The BBB said someone is calling area residents claiming to be from Any Hour Bail Bonds informing them that a family member is in jail and they need to purchase Green Dot money cards and meet them at a certain location.
Reports indicate that the caller has the name, birthdate and address of the family member and called the victim’s personal cell phone. In one report the name the caller used was Travis Nelson, and he was calling from (850) 206-6049.
The incidents have been reported to local law enforcement.
The BBB is cautioning consumers to be on alert when answering calls that their loved ones are in trouble and money is needed right away. You should never give money (via pre-paid cards, cash, wire transfer, etc.) to anyone you do not know and always check with your loved one as to their current situation, according to the BBB.
West Florida Libraries Bookmobile Is Permanently Out Of Service
March 2, 2018
The West Florida Public Libraries Bookmobile service will resume this summer with a new vehicle.
“We are in the process of realigning the routes, and a replacement vehicle is out for bid,” Jamie Gillispie-Turner, communications specialist for the WFPL said.
WFPL’s former Bookmobile had excessive mechanical damage last week and is no longer in service. The bid for the replacement vehicle closes Friday, March 23. When bidding has ended, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will vote for approval. Once approved, it will undergo a transformation to become the new Bookmobile service vehicle.
In the meantime, current Bookmobile patrons will be served by the Books-by-Mail program. For more information contact any library branch.
The Bookmobile previously made regular scheduled stops at locations across Escambia County, including North Escambia area stops in Cantonment, Gonzalez and Davisville.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Pleads For School Safety Plan Amid Divisions
March 2, 2018
Accompanied by the father and brother of a student slain during last month’s mass shooting in Parkland, Gov. Rick Scott made a rare appearance before the House and Senate on Thursday to urge lawmakers to pass a sweeping measure aimed at making schools safer and keeping guns out of the hands of mentally ill people.
The governor’s direct message to the Legislature, with the aid of grieving parent Ryan Petty, came as the House earlier in the day put a school-safety plan on hold. Republican leaders acknowledged the plan — opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association, black lawmakers, some survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and others — needs more work.
Scott is touting an alternative plan that relies heavily on putting law enforcement officers in schools.
“If this devolves into a gun control debate, we are going to miss our opportunity to get something done. What’s different about the governor’s plan is that we are focusing on securing our schools,” Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina was among the 17 people killed by gunman Nikolas Cruz on Feb. 14, told reporters after pleading with lawmakers in both chambers to pass a bill.
But with little more than a week until the end of the legislative session on March 9, the school safety proposals — which address a wide range of issues including mental-health screening and services and school hardening — face pushback from politicians on both ends of the gun-control spectrum.
Many House Republicans and the NRA are opposed to proposed regulations that would raise age requirements from 18 to 21 and impose a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns. Proposals would also allow law enforcement officers to seize weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or others and ban the sale of what are known as “bump stocks.”
Democrats are frustrated because the proposals, crafted by Republican leaders, fail to include a ban on assault-style weapons such as the semi-automatic rifle used by Cruz in killing 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
But much of the debate has focused on a contentious component of House and Senate proposals known as the “school marshal” program. It would allow specially trained teachers and other school workers, who are deputized by local law enforcement authorities, to carry guns to school, a program Scott, Democrats and many of the Parkland parents and students are shunning.
“I want to make sure that there’s a law enforcement presence at our schools. I don’t believe in arming the teachers. I’ve been clear about that since I put out my proposal last week,” Scott, flanked by Petty and Petty’s son Patrick, told reporters after speaking during House and Senate floor sessions Thursday afternoon.
Scott later summoned a half-dozen Republican and Democratic legislative leaders to his office, seeking input on how to ensure the passage of a school safety measure.
The House and Senate are in negotiations about their bills, which would allow school boards to decide whether they want to implement the marshal program. If school boards opt for the plan, the House proposal would require sheriffs to participate, while the Senate proposal would not.
The House was supposed to begin debate Friday on its measure (HB 7021) but instead will wait until the Senate acts on its version, according to House Rules & Policy Chairman Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.
“The conversation has been about making sure that our bills line up, so that we can take up a bill that we can all agree on, at least in large part, and that we can pass out of the House,” Oliva told the House on Thursday.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran late Thursday denied that his chamber lacks the votes to pass the proposal.
“We’re good. We’ll be fine,” Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, told reporters.
But many Republican members are balking at casting a “yes” vote for a bill the NRA opposes.
Rep. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party, said a vote in favor of the proposal could doom the political futures of Republican House members seeking higher office. The Second Amendment is the primary issue for 18 percent of GOP primary voters, he said.
Voting to “diminish the constitutional rights of citizens regarding the Second Amendment” is “alienating a huge portion of your base,” Gruters, who said he’s leaning toward a “yes” vote, told The News Service of Florida.
“But I can tell you, as a party chairman, as a 10-year leader of the Republican Party of Sarasota, I’ve been losing sleep every night over it,” said Gruters, who is leaving the House this year to run for the Senate.
He said he agrees that gun owners shouldn’t be punished for the actions of people who break the law, a talking point espoused by the NRA.
“What you’re asking Republicans to do, if you vote for this, you’re toast. If you want to move up, you’re toast,” he said. “Policy-wise, you may think it’s reasonable and the right thing to do. But if you’re on the right, and you sign onto this bill, you vote for this bill, it’s going to cost you. At home. And it’s going to cost you your next election.”
For the past three days, the governor has held a series of press conferences with sheriffs around the state to highlight his $500 million package, which would require, among other things, school boards to assign a law enforcement officer to each school and at least one resource officer for every 1,000 students.
Scott also wants an $185 million increase to the state’s “safe schools” funding, currently at $64.5 million. The House’s plan would increase the safe schools program, used mainly to pay for school resource officers, by $97.5 million, and the Senate would boost the program by $75 million. The funding is part of ongoing budget negotiations between the two chambers. The House and Senate have also included $67.5 million for the school marshal program.
Schools would need an extra $116 million to cover the cost of a single resource officer in each of the state’s 4,000-plus schools, according to data gathered by the Department of Education from school districts after the Parkland catastrophe.
Scott — whose plan does not include the three-day waiting period on gun purchases — would not say whether he would veto a measure with the school marshals in it.
But Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who is the Senate’s chief negotiator with the House and Scott, said everyone needs to compromise, as many of the Parkland parents have indicated they are willing to do.
“Eventually we’re going to have to agree between the two chambers and we’re going to send him some legislation,” Galvano, who will take over as Senate president this fall, told the News Service before meeting with Scott. “There’s too much positive for some disagreement on a plan that has not even been elected to go into place for him not to support the bill.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Coral Springs Democrat who graduated from the Parkland high school, said he is conflicted about the measure.
Many of his constituents, including those who oppose the marshal program, are demanding that the Legislature take action. They support other elements of the proposals, such as early mental health screening and sharing of information between social service agencies, schools and law enforcement.
But Moskowitz, who also met Thursday with Scott, said survivors and grieving family members “have been taken hostage” by the legislative process.
“The only thing we’re talking about is arming teachers. We’re not even talking about the most serious gun control package in the state of Florida in 20 years. Nobody’s even talking about how this will help keep guns out of the hands of people like Nikolas Cruz,” Moskowitz said in an interview. “All we’re talking about is the fact that this is going to put guns in teachers’ hands. I know a hijacking when I see one. … It’s poison.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Northview Track Results
March 2, 2018
Here are results from two recent Northview High track meets:
Recent meet at Jay, where the Northview boys placed first overall over Jay, Baker, PCA and Central
Boys
110 High hurdles-3rd place Jarius Moorer
100m- 1st Brandon Spencer, 2nd Joseph Wright, 3rd Quay Thomas
1600m-3rd Oscar Rodriguez
4×100- 1st Brandon Spencer, Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, and Jarius Moorer
400m-1st Daniel Merit
200m- 1st Brandon Spencer, 2nd Joseph Wright, 3rd Daniel Merit
4×400-1st Brandon Spencer, Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Daniel Merit
High Jump-2nd Tim Bush
Long Jump-2nd Ray Bush
Triple Jump-2nd Ray Bush
Girls
4×800- 3rd Shelby Bashore, Karly Crisswell, Lexi Broadhead, Marissa Rothrock
100 hurdles-3rd Celeste North
100m-1st Crystal Douglas, 3rd Nene Findley
4×100-1st Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Celeste North, Myisha Syria
300 hurdles-2nd Shelby Bashore
200m-1st Crystal Douglas, 2nd Nene Findley, 3rd Celeste North
Discus-3rd Shelby Bashore
High Jump-3rd Aaliyah Tucker
Previous meet at Baker:
Boy’s 4×800 2nd place Colten Dockens, David Lamb, Oscar Rodriguez, Keaton Brown
100m 1st place Joseph Wright, 2nd place Tim Bush
Boy’s 4×100 1st place Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Quay Thomas, Jarius Moorer
400m Daniel Merit 2nd place
3200m David Lamb 3rd place
200m 1st place Joseph Wright, 2nd place Daniel Merit, 3rd place Quay Thomas
Boy’s 4×400 2nd place Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Daniel Merit, Joseph Johnson
High Jump 1st place Tim Bush
Boy’s Long Jump 2nd place Ray Bush, 3rd place Quay Thomas
Boy’s Triple Jump 1st place Ray Bush
Shot put 2nd place Ray Bush
Discus 3rd place Ray Bush
Girls 100 High Hurdle 2nd place Celeste North
100m 1st place Crystal Douglas, 2nd place Nene Findley
4×100 1st place Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Myisha Syria, Celeste North
300m Hurdles 3rd place Karlee Crisswell
200m 1st place Crystal Douglas, 2nd place Nene Findley
Girls 4×400 2nd place Myisha Syria, Celeste North, Nene Findley, Crystal Douglas
Girls Discus 1st place Shelby Bayshore
Two Escambia Men Indicted For February Murders
March 2, 2018
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted two Escambia County men for unrelated murders last month..
Patrick Miles Smith
An Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Patrick Miles Smith for first degree premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, Mary Ellen Williams.
On February 9, deputies found Williams lifeless in the front yard of an Ensley residence where Smith had beaten her head into the concrete, according to prosecutors.
Gregory “Dallas” Taylor, II
An Escambia County Grand Jury also indicted Gregory “Dallas” Taylor, II for first degree premeditated murder in the death of Frances Timmons Cooley.
Taylor allegedly transported Cooley, who was suffering from four gunshot wounds to the abdomen, to West Florida Hospital on February 12. Taylor originally told the hospital that they had been robbed. But when separated from Taylor, the Cooley told hospital staff that he had shot her, according to deputies.
Cooley succumbed to her wounds nine days after the shooting.
Northview Beats Central In 10 Innings
March 2, 2018
The Northview Lady Chiefs improved to 4-0 Thursday night with a 10 inning 5-4 win over Central.
Tori Herrington had a two-run walk-off single in the 10th to drive in Heather Knowles and Kendall Enfinger. She also pitched the win on the mound for the Chiefs, striking out 15.
For the Chiefs: Herrington 2-4, R, 3B, 3RBI; Enfinger 1-4, BB, R; Knowles 2-4, 3B, R; Ashley Ragsdale 3-5, 2R, SB; Aubree Love, 1-4, BB, RBI; Lydia Smith 1-4; SB.
Up next for the Northview Chiefs is the T.R. Miller Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday before traveling to Baker next Tuesday.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 2, 2018
The following students were named Students of the Month for February at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
Kaisen Robbins
Henry Clark
Kindergarten
Emma Southard
Teagen Black
Makiah Spates
Tripp Gilly
Aiden Keen
1st Grade
Amora Rodriguez
Payton Coon
Joey Fontenot
Alexis Amerson
2nd Grade
Blake Faith
Dayton Burroughs
Jackson Sellers
Brayden Faircloth
3rd Grade
Jamie Roberts
Hayden Gipson
Kylar Davis
4th Grade
Wade Bailey
Carley Moore
Addy Eicher
Cheyenne Keen
5th Grade
Justin Kinley
Laura Laborde
Raylee Wooten
Jonathan Stillwell
Amora Rodriguez and Wade Bailey were chosen to represent Bratt Elementary for Escambia County Students of the Month for February.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two People Injured In T-Bone Collision With School Bus In Atmore; All Students OK
March 1, 2018
Two people in a passenger car were injured in a crash involving a school bus Thursday afternoon in Atmore.
The accident occurred just after 3 p.m. on South Main Street near McRae Street. It appeared that the Escambia County (AL) Schools bus collided with the passenger side of a Ford Focus in a T-bone type crash. One passenger was extricated by firefighters.
There were no injuries to the driver or any of an unknown number of children on the bus. Two people in the car were reported to be seriously injured, with both transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. One was then airlifted to another hospital by medical helicopter.
There was no official word on which driver was at fault in the crash as Atmore Police continue their investigation.
Further details were not available.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
