Barry Discusses EMS And Fire Funding, Roads And Traffic During Cantonment Town Hall
May 15, 2019
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting Tuesday in Cantonment.
Most of the comments and questions from the audience deal with roads, bridges and traffic, but Barry did discuss Escambia Fire Rescue and EMS funding.
He said that during the six budgets he has worked on during his time as a commissioner, funding for fire, EMS and their number of employees has increased by about two-thirds.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t needed, but I think the argument is a little bit disingenuous when it’s made out that we haven’t put resources there. That is a considerable increase in those two departments,” Barry said.
“There’s going to be more resources just because of the discussion that’s gone on in the last couple of months…I don’t know that putting more money and more and more personnel makes either department more efficient,” he said.
“There are resources to be successful, but I haven’t really heard a good plan for how just putting more money or more people is going to make it work better,” Barry added.
Century Prison Visitors Facing Charges For Contraband Including Phones, Drugs
May 15, 2019
One of two women that allegedly tried to smuggle contraband into the prison in Century has been arrested.
On September 3, 2018, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in a Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot of the Century Correctional Institution. Two women, identified as Rukeiya Heygood and Rikeishma Noack, were inside the vehicle with two children.
CCI staff reported finding a cellphone, eight chargers and nine SIM cards inside the vehicle.
A metal detector alerted to electronic contraband on the women.. The Florida Department of Corrections said further investigation revealed both visitors to also be in possession of additional contraband on their person including eight cell phones, nine SIM cards, eight chargers and marijuana. The contraband was allegedly hidden in rubber balloons inside the body cavities of the women.
The contraband was seized, and arrest warrants were later prepared.
Heywood was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, smuggling a cellular phone into a prison and smuggling a controlled substance into a prison. Her bond was set at $35,500.
The Department of Children and Families was also contacted due to there being children in the vehicle.
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Sunny And Nice Continues
May 15, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Playoffs: Losses For Tate And Northview Softball; Northview Baseball Falls, Jay Advances
May 15, 2019
Niceville 6, Tate 4
The Tate Lady Aggies fell to the Niceville Lady Eagles on the final play of 7a regional semifinal action Tuesday night.
In the top of the fifth inning, Tate scored three runs to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
With two out in the top of the seventh, Tate tied it up at 4-4. In the bottom seventh of the Michaela Brocato hit a walk-off home run to give Niceville the win.
Avery Beauchanie went six and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on six hits while striking out two.
At the plate for the Aggies, Hannah Halfacre, Gabby Locke and Shelby McClean had one hit each.
Wewahitchka 9, Northview 1
The Northview Lady Chiefs were eliminated 9-1 in the 1A regional final at Wewahitchka Tuesday night.
The Lady Chiefs finished their season at 20-5 with a district championship, their first since 2011.
Bozeman 7, Northview 1
The Bozeman Bucks beat the Northview Chiefs 7-1 in regional semifinal action Tuesday night at Bozeman.
Tanner Levins pitched six innings for the Chiefs, allowing seven runs on nine hits.
Jackson Moore led Northview at the plate, going 2-3 while Bryson Love and Jacob Bryant added one hit each.
The Chiefs finished their season at 17-6.
Jay 9, Port St. Joe 6
The Jay Royals beat Port St. Joe 9-6 in 1A regional play Tuesday.
Jay will travel to Panama City Bozeman on Friday.
Pictured top: This season, the Northview Lady Chiefs won their first district title since 2011. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Mr. J.C. Marshall
May 15, 2019
Mr. J.C. Marshall, age 85, passed away May 13, 2019 at his home in Canoe, Alabama.
Mr. Marshall was a native and life long resident of Canoe, AL. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, loved Alabama Football and was a member of the Canoe First Baptist Church. He worked for Stuckey Oil Company with 20 years of service, had his own truck that he leased to Genie Trucking Company for 6 years and worked at the Creek Travel Plaza in maintenance. He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Leitha Marshall of Canoe, AL; one son, James Melton (Mary) Cardwell of Easton, Missouri; two daughters, Pam (Marlin) Iutzi of Flomaton, AL and Candy Stuckey of Canoe, AL; eight grandchildren, Jamie Cardwell, Crystal Propher, Meagen Hyatt, Ashlee Bryars, Carlee Bell, Cayla Gohagan, Courtney Cook and Christina Gohagan and nineteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 3:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Waylon Stuckey officiating.
Burial will follow at the Canoe Freewill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Marshall, Alex Lowery, Randal Shuttlesworth, Rick Hetrick, Ricky Morgan and Terrill Iutzi.
ECSO Looking For Dollar General Armed Robbery Suspect
May 15, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect in the April armed robbery of a Dollar General Store.
The ECSO said Tuesday that at 8:11 p.m. on April 25, the suspect entered the Dollar General at 4023 Pine Forest Road, just north of Nine Mile Road, and demanded money for the clerk. He fled the scene with the cash from the register.
The suspect was described as being about 6-feet tall and weighing 180 to 200 pounds. Further details have not been provided.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
PSC Approves Gulf Power Surcharge To Pay For Hurricane Michael Restoration
May 14, 2019
On Wednesday, the Florida Public Service Commission approved a Gulf Power plan to collect a storm charge to pay for Hurricane Michael restoration.
The surcharge is $8 a month for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month of electricity, which the company said would still make the average customer’s bill lower than January 2018. Commercial and industrial customers will see bills increase by 3 to 8 percent depending on their rate plan.
The increase goes into effect in July and continues for five years.
“Hurricane Michael was the most destructive hurricane this region has ever seen, causing devastation that many in northwest Florida continue to recover from. We understand that restoring power following a major storm is a critical first step for the communities and customers that we serve,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “The plan approved by the Florida Public Service Commission today recognizes those still recovering while ensuring we can continue to serve all of our customers with reliable service now and into the future.”
Gulf Power maintains a storm-recovery reserve to help offset expenses incurred after damages from storms like Hurricane Michael. For any expenses not covered by the storm-recovery reserve, Gulf Power must make a request before the FPSC. T
When restoring power and hope to storm-devastated communities like those seen in the wake of Hurricane Michael, the energy provider incurs all of the upfront costs of power restoration and rebuilding, including out-of-town crews, plus their housing, meals and transportation, security and more. Costs also include fuel for trucks, tree trimming, poles, transformers and power lines and many other materials.
Gulf Power crews continue to reconnect customers as they have their homes and businesses repaired and work to return the company’s smart grid back to pre-storm reliability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Discusses Possible Charter Review
May 14, 2019
The Century Town Council held a workshop meeting Monday evening to discuss the town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate.
Lynn Tipton with the Florida League of Cities explained to the council that municipal governments in Florida often review and update their charters to meet the ever-changing landscape of government.
The Century town charter was adopted on November 27, 1979, and ratified by referendum on January 8, 1980. It has been unchanged since.
Tipton said the first step toward possible changes to Century’s charter would be the formation of a charter revision committee. The committee would hold several public forums and would work to involve local citizens every step of the way in a process that could easily take a year.
“The role of citizens in this process is crucial,” Tipton said.” Representation of the public, ability to weigh issues and to understand the charter’s importance of the city’s governing foundation.”
Century’s charter provides a form of government this a mix of council-strong mayor and council-weak mayor. That, she said, could be clarified in charter revisions, or the form of government could be changed to totally different format such as council-manager or just council where he mayor would be more of a figurehead but hold little or no power. Of the 10 cities in Florida closest in population to Century, half are council-manager and the other half is divided between a strong and weak mayor format.
The number of council members, the length of their terms and how the mayor is selected could all be changed through an updated charter.
The town council took no action Monday night on forming a charter review committee. They did, however, direct the town clerk to obtain further documentation from Florida cities that have recently made charter revisions.
Other than a NorthEscambia.com reporter, no member of the public attended the meeting.
Pictured: The Century Town Council held a workshop meeting on the town charter Monday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
EMS Union Speaks Out On Escambia EMS Investigation Report
May 14, 2019
Despite initial reservations, the union represented Escambia County EMS employees says they are hopeful the findings of a special investigation will be used to “bridge the gap” between county’s first responders and the county commission.
“Our members are working diligently every day despite the public misconception of the state of the department,” International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP) Local 325 National Director Philip Petit said. “These men and women are not working under illegal certifications, they’re not breaking state law. They are highly skilled and licensed professionals who care deeply for the patients they serve every single day.”
Janice Kilgore began work on the report on April 17 and interviewed over 50 people including public safety employees, county administration and volunteer fire chiefs. Kilgore said 8 to 10-year old policies and a lack of funding are major talking points that need to be addressed. They report also found EMS coverage problems in part of the North Escambia area [more...].
Her report said the county needs to improve coordination between fire and EMS divisions, use the workforce more effectively and improve training. There has been no medical training since October 2018, a public safety fire training facility is needed, and training needs to be more skills based and hands on.
Kilgore’s report also found a multi-year vehicle replacement program is needed, and the department’s public image needs addressing.
“The best possible outcome of this process is that Escambia County’s leaders will have a real understanding of the problems these first responders face on the job and what items can be improved to improve the service and show our members the county has their back as well,” said Petit. “These men and women answer the call during an emergency – they want to know the county has their back when they need it.”
Interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy appointed Kilgore as an ombudsman after Weaver’s resignation. She worked for the county for 36 years, moving from a clerk for the Santa Rosa Island Authority to county Emergency Preparedness head. She was named Public Safety director when the position was created in 1997.
“Our members are working diligently every day despite the public misconception of the state of the department,” International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP) Local 325 National Director Philip Petit said. “These men and women are not working under illegal certifications, they’re not breaking state law. They are highly skilled and licensed professionals who care deeply for the patients they serve every single day.”
Escambia County 4-H Council Elects New Officers
May 14, 2019
Monday night, the Escambia County 4-H Council elected new officers for 2019-2020. They are:
President: Raeleigh Woodfin
Vice President: Rashidi Joseph
Secretary: Madison Behrends
Treasurer: Jessica Conti
Reporter: Ava Chauvette
Historian: Katie Ballard
Parliamentarian: Maddie Goss
Sergeant-at-Arms: Hannah Thorne
Motivational Leader: Ethan Thorne
District Council Delegate: Hannah Schnupp
Alternate District Delegate: Cat Proud
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.