DeSantis Signs Bill Allowing For Drug Importation From Canada, Other Countries
June 12, 2019
Florida residents could gain access to cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and other countries under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, if the federal government gives it the go ahead.
The bill establishes two programs – the Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program (CPDI Program) and the International Prescription Drug Importation Program (IPDI Program) – to safely import federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription drugs into the state for the benefit of consumers and public programs.
“Floridians have been paying inexcusably high prices for prescription drugs for far too long and today, we are taking action,” said DeSantis. “I thank President Galvano, Speaker Oliva and the bill sponsors for this innovative legislation that empowers Florida to lead the way toward affordable prescription drugs. We are ready to work with President Trump and his team to make access to affordable prescription drugs from Canada a reality in our state. Floridians don’t need more bureaucratic delays, they need Washington to follow suit and get this done.”
The bill outlines the importation process, safety standards, drug distribution requirements and penalties for violations of program requirements. Both programs also establish eligibility criteria for the types of prescription drugs which may be imported and the entities that may export or import prescription drugs.
The bill requires both programs to seek federal approval or cooperation prior to importing prescription drugs. DeSantis said his administration is currently working closely with the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to submit its plan for the importation of prescription drugs for their consideration.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Resurfacing Project Begins Today From Cantonment To Molino
June 12, 2019
Work is scheduled to begin today to resurface Highway 29 from just south of Muscogee Road in Cantonment to Highway 97 in Molino.
Improvements in the almost $8.8 million transportation project will include:
- A new traffic signal will be added at Highway 29 and Molino Road, along with a new northbound and southbound turn lanes on Highway 29 and turn lanes in both directions on Molino Road. The median crossover at the Dollar General Store will be closed.
- At Barrineau Park Road, new northbound and southbound turn lanes will be added on Highway 29.
- New Highway 29 northbound and southbound turn lanes will be added into the Florida Division of Forestry (fire tower)
- A new southbound right turn lane will be added at Booth Lake Road.
- At Quintette Road, new turn lanes will be added on Highway 29 in both directions. There will not be a traffic signal installed.
- At the Highway 29 and Muscogee/Becks Lake Road, the turning radius will be improved on all four corners and the signal will be reconstructed.
- The railroad crossing signals on Highway 29 just south of Muscogee Road will be replaced.
- Miscellaneous modifications, pedestrian feature upgrades, guardrails, new signage and pavement markings.
Motorists will encounter intermittent lane restrictions during construction. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2020.
Pictured: Eight miles of Highway 29 resurfacing an upgrades will include a new traffic signal at Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tonight’s Low Down In The 60s
June 12, 2019
Possibly Armed Fugitive On The Run In Escambia County, AL
June 12, 2019
UPDATE: John Cobb has been captured. For details, click here.
Authorities in Alabama have been searching since Friday for a possibly armed fugitive.
“We are asking citizens to lock their vehicles and homes,” is the message from the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office for residents around the Damascus community in eastern Escambia County.
Deputies said John Cobb was at a home in the Damascus area Friday night but was gone by the time they arrived. The search continued in the area until 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Sunday night, K-9s tracked Cobb until rain washed out the scent trail.
Tuesday, deputies responded to a burglary and found that someone had showered and slept in a camp house, and they found a shotgun had been stolen from another camp house. A truck Cobb allegedly stole was recovered in Conecuh County.
And Tuesday night deputies from Escambia and Conecuh counties responded to a burglary in Brooklyn where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
Anyone that may have seen Cobb is asked to call the Escambia (AL) Sheriff’s Office (251) 809-0304 or their local law enforcement agency.
Blue Wahoos Drop Series Finale Against Biloxi
June 12, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos worst stretch this season happened at the wrong time.
Their defining series against the Biloxi Shuckers became a forgettable one, following Tuesday’s 6-0 loss which completed the Shuckers’ five-game sweep at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
After entering last Friday with a one-game lead in the Southern League South Division first half race, the Blue Wahoos (36-29) now trail the Shuckers (40-25) by four games and only five games left in the first half schedule.
The solace is the Blue Wahoos will be back home Wednesday to face the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs affiliate, in a five-game series through Father’s Day weekend at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos will seek to gain a better feeling as the first half ends, next week’s Southern League All-Star break awaits, then standings are reset for the second half schedule which starts June 20. The team had not lost more than three consecutive games all season before losing the entire series at Biloxi.
The scenario was a repeat of last season’s second half end as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate when the Blue Wahoos had a two-game lead in the second-half division chase and lost five straight games at Biloxi. They reached the playoffs as a wild card entry since Biloxi, the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, captured both half season division wins.
After losing a back-and-forth 9-7 game Monday night, the Blue Wahoos had a rough performance Tuesday in a game that began at 10:35 a.m. Three Biloxi pitchers combined on a two-hitter and struck out 16 Blue Wahoos batters.
Travis Blankenhorn and Taylor Grzelakowski had the Blue Wahoos’ only hits. Both players also reached on a walk during the game. Blankenhorn has continued to be the team’s leading hitter with a .306 average.
Andro Cutura, who grew up in Slidell, La., only an hour away, and had a family contingent in the stands, started the game and worked a solid first four innings. He allowed a solo homer by Max McDowell in the third inning.
But in the fifth, Cutura encountered trouble. He issued a pair of walks to start the inning. Cooper Hummel followed with a two-run single. With two out, Jake Gatewood doubled to score Hummel and make it 4-0.
The Shuckers added two more runs in the eighth inning off reliever Adam Bray. With two outs in the eighth, Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego summoned shortstop Jordan Gore to finish the inning on the mound. He faced two batters, giving up a hit, then ending the inning on a pop out.
It was Gore’s second time as a reliever this season.
Biloxi has won 22 of its last 27 games in overtaking the Blue Wahoos, who had been atop the South Division standings since opening day in April until the past weekend.
The Shuckers also took the lead in the Seafood Buffet Series with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Blue Wahoos vying for best overall record. The winning team at the end of the season will have a catered meal provided by the other teams’ namesake seafood item.
The Blue Wahoos will now turn focus to finishing the first half in a good way at home. They begin with a Wine and Sign Wednesday promotion against the Smokies. Adult fans coming to the ballpark will enjoy wine specials. Two players will be signing autographs for kids and older fans in the Bait and Tackle Team store.
Mosquito Fogging Planned Tonight In Part Of North Escambia Area (With Maps)
June 11, 2019
Escambia County Mosquito Control planned to conduct fogging missions in District 5 Tuesday night. The area was originally scheduled to be sprayed June 5 but was postponed due to rain.
Mission hours vary, but typically occur in the evening hours from 6-9:30 p.m.
The area is generally between Nine Mile Road and Muscogee Road and east of Highway 29. Click maps to enlarge to see specific boundaries.
When possible, pre-application and post-application surveillance is performed to ensure fogging is warranted. Methods used to determine need include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts and service requests received from the public.
Three Arrested In Connection With Two Recent ‘Drug Related’ Shootings
June 11, 2019
Three people have been arrested in connection with two separate recent shooting incidents in Escambia County. Both shootings were drug related, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
John Louis Coker III is charged in a shooting Sunday more in the 8300 block of Tabaid Place in Myrtle Gove. Shots were fired into a home; no one was injured. He was charged with a weapons offense.
Jared Leon Carl Beers, 25, and James Franklin Frank II, 30, are charged with a shooting on Camelia Drive. A man was shot in the leg early Monday and is expected to recover. Beers was charged with aggravated battery and trafficking in amphetamine. Frank was charged with evidence destruction and trafficking in amphetamine.
Sheriff David Morgan said the ECSO is in the early stages of their investigation and additional arrests are expected.
The shootings are not related to the other latest shootings in the area, including the shooting death of 38-year old Chester Purifoy as the result of a June 5 drive-by shooting in the 500 block of Irene Lane in Cantonment.
Top Three Firms Named For Creation Of OLF 8 Master Plan
June 11, 2019
The top three firms have been chosen to create the master plan for the OLF 8 site on Nine Mile Road. They were selected by a joint Escambia County – Navy Federal committee after several recent meetings.
The top three firms are, in the order ranked by the committee, are:
- DPZ CoDESIGN of Miami,
- Associated Space Design dba ASD|SKY of Atlanta.
- Pensacola office of Atkins North America.
DPZ CoDESIGN’s accomplishments include the Perdido Key Corridor Master Plan, Pensacola Community Redevelopment Area Form Based Code, the Orange County Code and Comprehensive Plan, Reinvent Phoenix (AZ) and the Southtowne Apartments in Pensacola.
ASD/SKY’s accomplishments include the Navy Federal Heritage Oaks Campus, the Navy Federal Recreation Facility, Southtown Mixed Use Residential Project in Pensacola, the Lulu (GA) Master Plan and Hacienda Pinilla in Costa Rica.
Atkins North America’s list included the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) Site, Babcock Ranch Economic Impact Study in Lee County, Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency Master Plan, Glenwood Park Atlanta,Grand Turk Master Plan Development Services Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Island.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the committee’s recommendations during a special meeting at 9 a.m. on July 1.
In January Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County. The land exchange provided Escambia County with property that can accommodate a wide variety of residential and light industrial development options.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Gas System Passes Public Service Commission Inspection
June 11, 2019
A recent Florida Public Service Commission inspection of the Town of Century natural gas system found the system has no issues.
“The gas system was found in satisfactory compliance with state and federal natural gas pipeline safety rules in the areas evaluated,” PSC Bureau of Safety Rick Moses wrote in the 191 page report obtained by NorthEscambia.com. The evaluation consisted of review and verification of related documents, field tests and interviews with employees.
Century’s gas system consists of 62.5 miles of steel and plastic mains with 916 service connections with 11 emergency valves and one gate station, according to the report.
“Office and field personnel have the right attitude, values, norms, and beliefs regarding safety and seem to be committed to a culture of safe operation of the system,” the report noted.
“All qualified employees that the staff worked with were up-to-date on their qualifications. Unqualified employees were under direct observation by qualified employees. The employees were trained to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions,” the PSC found.
Mayor Henry Hawkins and town council President Ann Brooks said earlier this month that Gas Superintendent Wally Kellett’s qualification had expired. Hawkins said it recently expired, while Brooks said it expired November 30, 2018.
Town Clerk Kim Godwin, who was promoted from the gas supervisor position, was the primary operator for the purpose of the PSC report as her qualification were still current. Kellett was also interviewed or participated in the inspection process.
‘Just Act Dumb’: Century Man Charged With Trying To Cash Bad Check
June 11, 2019
An Escambia County man has been charged after allegedly trying to cash a counterfeit check while a texting an accomplice that told him to “just act dumb”.
Robert Derek Hawthorne, 20, was charged with felony attempted grand theft and uttering a false bank note. Hawthorne, who provided a Century address the time of his arrest, remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $8,500.
Pensacola Police said a Regions Bank teller was immediately suspicious of the $484 check Hawthorne tried to cash because the bank logo was faded and it looked like a photocopy. The teller determined the original check written by the account owner was for $360 to the First Baptist Church, and it had already cleared the bank.
According to the police report, Hawthorne was busy texting someone during his time at the bank. He told “Cooley” that the bank would be calling to verify the check. Cooley responded “tell her you received it in the mail..from your online sales” and “just act dumb”, according to Pensacola Police.
Hawthorne told police his fiance had left the check for him to cash, but when questioned on the phone she was inconsistent and vague, the arrest report states.