Bill To Map, Track And Require Septic Tank Inspections Passes First House Committee
March 27, 2019
A bill that would require the Florida Department of Health identify and map all septic tanks in the state by 2021 passed its first required House committee on Tuesday.
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee vote 12-0 for the bill. It will still go before two additional House committees.
The measure would require inspections of septic systems at least once every five years and require the Department of Health to develop minimum standards and requirements for pumping out or repairing failing systems. Those requirements would take effect July 1, 2022.
A companion bill in the Senate still faces several committees.
Attorney General Issues Consumer Alert For Tax, Identity Scams
March 27, 2019
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert ahead of the federal tax filing deadline to help Floridians avoid common tax scams. From now through the April 15 filing deadline, identity thieves and scammers will be ramping up efforts to steal taxpayers returns and sensitive identification information.
“Tax season is a busy time for identity thieves and scammers as they look for ways to steal returns and the identities of taxpayers. When filing, Floridians should take precautions to protect their identities and sensitive tax-filing information to avoid falling victim to these fraudsters, and if anyone encounters a scam they should immediately report it to our office,” Moody said.
The following are tips to help taxpayers avoid identity theft and scams when preparing and filing taxes:
- Get recommendations and research a tax preparer thoroughly before providing personal information;
- Use a secure internet connection when filing electronically. Do not use unsecure, publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots;
- Mail tax returns directly from the post office, not from home;
- After filing, shred any unneeded tax receipts or filing documents before disposal;
- Know that the IRS will never initiate contact by email, phone, text or social media. If the IRS needs information, it will first contact by mail;
- Do not give out Social Security numbers unless absolutely necessary; and
- If a Social Security number is compromised contact the IRS ID Theft Protection Specialized Unit at 1(800) 908-4490.
If anyone believes they are a victim of a tax scam, identity theft or any other fraud, they can report the incident to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
Sunny Day, Chilly Night
March 27, 2019
There’s no rain on our forecast until Saturday afternoon at the earliest. Expect a nice Wednesday with plenty of sun, and clear, chilly night with a low in the lowers 40s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 45.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Softball: Tate Pounds Washington, West Florida Over FWB; Baseball: Escambia Tops Northview; Pine Forest Wins
March 27, 2019
SOFTBALL
Tate 17, Washington 1
The Tate Lady Aggies destroyed Washington 17-1 Tuesday night in a run-rule three inning game.
Avery Beauchaine earned the win for Tate, allowing one run, one hit, walking two and striking out five.
Ryleigh Cawby had a homer for the Aggies, going 3-3 with two runs and five RBIs. Also for Tate: Amber Decoux 1-2, 2R, RBI; Hannah Halfacre 2R; Beauchaine R; Madison Cawby R; Lilly Locke 2-2, 2R, RBI; Cam Wolfenden 1-3, 2R; RBI; Shelby McLean 1-2, 2R, RBI; Taylor Noack 1-2, 2R, RBI; Gabby Locke R.
Tate 18, Washington 0 (JV)
The Tate Aggies JV sent the Washington Wildcats packing in short order Tuesday afternoon with an 18-0 shutout in three innings.
Courtney Lundquist earned the win for the Aggies, allowing no run, no hits, walking one and striking out eight on 44 pitches.
For the JV Lady Aggies: Lundquist 2-2 , 2R, 2RBI; Courtney Adams 2R, RBI; Christina Mason 2-2, 2R, RBI; Kennedy Turner 2-2, 2R; 3RBI; Ella Little 1-1, 2R, 2RBI; Alyssa Rowell 2R; RBI; Brianna Folmar 2R, RBI: Aaliyah Jordan 2-2, 2R, 2RBI; Taylor Green 2R, RBI.
West Florida 10, Fort Walton Beach 8
West Florida Jags Varsity nabbed the lead late in the game in a 10-8 victory over Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday. West Florida Jags Varsity trailed 8-7 in the top of the fifth inning when McKenzi Kent singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.
Meredith Morgan led the West Florida Jags Varsity to victory in the pitcher’s circle. She allowed four hits and eight runs over five innings, striking out one.
McKenzi Kent went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead West Florida Jags Varsity in hits. West Florida Jags Varsity tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Makayla Kent led the way with two.
BASEBALL
Escambia 7, Northview 4
The Northview Chiefs fell to Escambia 7-4 Tuesday night.
Northview opened with a double from Jackson Moore in the first and added three runs in the third powered by hits from Moore and Adam Aliff for a 4-3 advantage headed into the bottom of the sixth.
Seth Killam got with win for the Chiefs with one hit, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts. ick Venable and Tanner Levins entered the game as relief.
Pine Forest 4, West Florida 0
Pine Forest defeated West Florida 4-0 on Tuesday as Tekoah Roby and Timmy Williams combined for the shutout.
Pine Forest got on the board in the second inning scoring 3 times. Pine Forest added a late insurance run on an RBI single by 1st baseman Jalen Bryant.
Tekoah Roby earned the win for Pine Forest. He surrendered zero runs on three hits over five and a third innings, striking out ten. Timmy Williams threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Williams recorded the last five outs to earn the save for Pine Forest.
Pine Forest collected eight hits. Nolan Rigby, Chase Gullatt, and Christian Munoz each collected multiple hits for Pine Forest. Pine Forest didn’t commit a single error in the field.
Tate 2, Gulf Breeze 1 (JV)
In freshman action, Tate defeated Gulf Breeze 2-1.
Dagan Guy grounded out, scoring one run for the Aggies in the first. In the third, Kirk Mosley singled on a 1-0 count for a run.
Conner Wright pitched Tate Aggies Freshman 2019 to victory. He surrendered one run on two hits over four innings, striking out five. Warren Henke threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen. Henke recorded the last nine outs to earn the save for the freshmen Aggies.
Troopers Seek Information On Fatal Escambia County, AL, Hit And Run
March 26, 2019
Alabama State Troopers are looking for information in a fatal hit and run early Saturday morning on I-65 west of the Flomaton exit.
Steven Stone Stewart, 47, was killed when the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe in which he was a passenger made contact with an unknown vehicle, left the roadway, and overturned about 12:10 a.m., according to troopers.
Stewart was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he died from his injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet, James Pittman, 55, of Nederland, TX, was injured and transported to Atmore Community Hospital.
The vehicle that left the scene of the crash is believed to be a blue minivan. Anyone with any information about this crash is encouraged to call Alabama State Troopers at (251) 578-1315.
State Attorney Submitting Century Financial Information To Florida’s Auditor General
March 26, 2019
The State Attorney’s Office is providing documents related to the financial condition of Century to Florida’s Auditor General.
“We recommend this matter be brought to the attention of the State Auditor General’s Office and that forensic financial audits be done for the past five years,” a recent grand jury report stated. The grand jury also found Century is in a state of financial emergency.
But so far, the town has not self-reported their poor financial condition to the Auditor General, and no mention of the state audit recommendation was made by town leaders at a recent council meeting.
“We are in the process of providing the grand jury report and information to the Auditor General,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Monday afternoon.
“Although the Auditor General has the authority to audit local governments, such as towns, these audits are typically conducted at the direction of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee,” Mike Gomez, audit manager for the Florida Auditor General, told NorthEscambia.com in an email. The Auditor General is a reporting agency and has no enforcement authority, according to Gomez, and he said the town “may be responsible for paying the cost of the audit.” Any findings would be referred to an appropriate agency.
The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee has not been asked by the town to review their finances.
Earlier this month, the grand jury found the Town of Century lost over $1 million in utility accounts in just two years, can’t account for over 40 percent of their natural gas, made loans not revealed on audits for 14 years, improperly borrowed about $3 million from accounts with a 750-year payback plan, and is a state of financial emergency.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Accepting Paychecks After Being Terminated From His Job
March 26, 2019
A Cantonment was charged with felony grand theft after he allegedly continued to accept payment from his employer after he was terminated.
Joshua Asberry Kersh, 28, lost his job on November 23, 2017, but continued to “knowingly and unlawfully accept compensation from his employer,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The employer discovered the error and contacted Kersh, who allegedly first declined to repay the money.
Documents show Kersh was mistakenly paid $5,850, with $4,788.37 deposited into his account after withholdings.
The arrest report states Kersh later agreed to repay the amount by February 28, 2019, at which time he offered to pay $2,500 and $1 per day until the debt was paid. The employer declined the offer and opted to pursue charges.
Kersh was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Florida Highway Intersection Gets Safety Upgrades After Multiple Wrecks In Fog
March 26, 2019
There have been safety upgrades at a dangerous Alabama intersection that has seen several serious wrecks.
As Highway 99 heads north from Bratt and out of Escambia County, FL, into Alabama, the name changes to Florida Highway. Two miles later, Florida Highway terminates with a stop sign at Highway 31.
Escambia County (AL) crews recently installed rumble strips on Florida Highway to warn drivers of the upcoming intersection. There was already a stop ahead sign in place.
A few weeks ago, a Century woman was seriously injured when she missed the stop sign in dense fog and crossed Highway 31. Her pickup landed on its side across railroad tracks that are below road level and parallel to Highway 31. It’s one of several wrecks that have occurred when drivers missed the end of the road in thick fog.
“When it is foggy, you can be at the end of the road before you know it,” Escambia County (AL) Commissioner Brandon Smith said recently. “So far we’ve been very fortunate. One day a vehicle is going to get broadsided by a log truck, or one day it is going to be a car load of kids.”
“But drivers lose track of where they are on the road. It just has big open fields on both sides, so drivers are at the end before they realize it,” Smith said. “If the changes save just one life, it will be worth it.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Approves Bill To Raise Minimum Age To 21 For Tobacco, Vaping Products
March 26, 2019
A Florida Senate committee has approved a bill that raises the minimum age to possess tobacco or vaping products from 18 to 21.
The Senate Health Policy Committee approved the measure Monday that would also prevent the sale of vaping products and tobacco in vending machines. To move closer to becoming law, the bill still needs the approval of additional committees and the Legislature.
New Ransom Middle Rules: Cellphones Restricted, No Open Containers, No Headphones
March 26, 2019
New rules went into effect Monday at Ransom Middle School governing the use of cellphones, open drink containers and headphones.
Cellphone use during class is now prohibited, according to the school. Students are allowed to use their phones during lunch and between classes, but they must be put away before entering classrooms.
Also, no headphones are allowed, and no open beverage containers are allowed on campus.