Florida Ag Comm. Putnam Recognizes Molino Park, Other Healthy Escambia Schools
January 12, 2017
Molino Park Elementary School was one of 30 schools across the state honored by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam Wednesday.
Putnam announced Molino Park was among the schools that earned HealthierUS School Challenge designations during December, bringing the current total of Florida’s HUSSC schools to 249. Under Commissioner Putnam’s leadership, the number of certified HUSSC schools has increased from 27 schools in 2012, when the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services assumed responsibility of the state’s school nutrition programs.
Other Escambia County schools earning the designation included CA Weis, Ferry Pass, Holm, Myrtle Grove and O.J. Semmes elementary schools.
“It’s great that these schools are providing their students the nutrition and physical activity needed for academic success,” said Putnam. “Our goal is to continue working with schools to increase the amount healthy choices offered to Florida’s students.”
Escambia Building Inspections Phone Number Changes
January 12, 2017
The Escambia County Building Inspections Division’s Automated Inspection Request Line phone number has recently changed due to a permitting system upgrade. The new number is 850-273-4864, and it can be called anytime as a convenient way to schedule building inspections.
Contractors are asked to update previous contact information with the new number and supply it to their authorized agents. The old automated phone number has been disconnected and will not send inspection requests to the Building Inspections Division’s system.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Building Inspections Division at 850-595-3550 or buildinginspections@myescambia.com. For information about online inspections and other building inspection services from Escambia County, click here.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Planned In North Escambia
January 12, 2017
Mark you calendar for an Arbor Day tree giveaway in Davisville on Saturday, January 21.
Trees available will include crabapple, redbud, shumard oak and river birch.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until noon at the Davisville Community Center at 10200 Highway 97.
For more information contact Carrie Stevenson, (850) 475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu or Cathy Hardin, (850) 587-5237 or Cathy.Hardin@FreshFromFlorida.com
Patients, Doctors Get Green Light For Medical Marijuana
January 12, 2017
Patients who qualify for medical marijuana under a voter-approved constitutional amendment can start purchasing cannabis treatments in as little as 90 days, according to the state’s top pot cop.
Whether patients would be able to start buying medical marijuana before the Department of Health approves rules to carry out the amendment — a process that could take at least six months — has been a source of confusion for many doctors, patients and businesses.
Florida law already allows full-strength medical marijuana, but only for terminally ill patients, as well as low-THC, or non-euphoric, marijuana for patients with epilepsy, chronic muscle spasms or cancer. Under the law, doctors must treat patients for at least 90 days before being able to enter orders for any type of cannabis treatment into a statewide database.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 2, during the Nov. 8 election. Some doctors started a push to establish three-month relationships with patients — charging as much as $400 for a preliminary visit — even before the amendment became law on Jan. 3. Others questioned if doctors could do so because the current law restricts physicians to ordering full-strength marijuana only for terminally ill patients.
But on Wednesday, state Office of Compassionate Use Director Christian Bax told reporters that it is up to doctors to decide if they want to order marijuana for patients with medical conditions eligible for treatment under Amendment 2, months before new rules are expected to go into effect.
“Should any patient establish a relationship with a physician for 90 days, the 90 days is a restriction on the timeline for which a physician can create an order. So a physician can create an order once that 90 days has happened. At that point, or any time in the future, the physician can create an order for cannabis,” Bax said after testifying at the House Health Quality Subcommittee.
“And that patient can get that order filled?” Bax was asked.
“Yes,” he said.
Bax’s position seems at odds with current law, which only allows doctors to enter orders into the database for full-strength marijuana for terminally ill patients.
But Bax said doctors should follow both the current law and the constitutional amendment, which authorizes marijuana for patients with a wide range of medical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Crohn’s disease. Doctors can also order the treatment for patients with conditions similar to those listed in the amendment.
“It’s the department’s position that the registered, ordering physician is responsible for following the constitutional amendment (and) Florida statute for diagnosing patients and then for determining if that patient should receive medical cannabis,” Bax said. “And as far as enforcement for physicians, for patients, for businesses, any enforcement action initiated by the department … is going to focus on those who are operating outside the regulatory framework and Florida law.”
But Florida Medical Association General Counsel Jeff Scott warned doctors to tread carefully.
“The department today basically left it up to physicians to decide how they will incorporate the provisions of Amendment 2 into their practice. Given the lack of any regulatory framework, I would advise physicians to proceed with extreme caution,” Scott said.
Bax said Wednesday that the health agency is “committed to moving as quickly through rulemaking as possible to create a regulatory framework” for the amendment and plans to release initial rules “very soon.”
Bax said he plans to hold five public workshops on the proposed rules throughout the state. The amendment gives health officials until early July to promulgate rules and until September to put the regulations into effect.
State Sen. Rob Bradley, who played a major role in creating and passing Florida’s marijuana statutes, told The News Service of Florida he could support Bax’s stance — for now.
“I think it’s in everyone’s best interest, while we’re in this time of transition, to not be overzealous if people are acting in good faith,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said. “So if the department is taking the position, as you suggest, that, if somebody goes through the 90-day waiting period and places an order, the department is not going to stand in the way of that relationship, I don’t have a problem with that.”
But allowing doctors to order marijuana without rules addressing the constitutional amendment can only be a “temporary solution,” Bradley added.
“I don’t think that’s a situation that can endure forever,” he said. “I think the Legislature and the rule-making process needs to act.”
But Ben Pollara, campaign manager for the political committee that backed Amendment 2, questioned whether Bax and the Department of Health have the authority to allow doctors to do something now prohibited by state law.
“I am obviously all for patients being able to get access to their medicine as quickly as possible, so to that extent I think it’s great. But I don’t know, and I hope (Bax) does, I don’t know what legal authority he’s operating under in order to do that,” Pollara said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “If I’m a doctor, that’s not good enough for me. … That’s a legal gray area that you’re going to have to be a little nervous about.”
Bax’s comments Wednesday were his most definitive yet on the topic. Many in the marijuana industry have complained privately about Bax and the agency’s reticence to give explicit directions to doctors and dispensing organizations about what they are allowed to do.
“If this is their position, they should make that position public. They should post it on the website. They should issue some guidance to patients and doctors. It shouldn’t have to be something that people find out about in The News Service of Florida. It should be on the Office of Compassionate Use website, and it’s clear,” Pollara said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Senate Looks To Reduce School Testing
January 12, 2017
The chairman of the Senate’s education budget-writing panel said Wednesday that the Senate will likely consider legislation this year that would roll back standardized testing in public schools.
Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, told reporters after a hearing on state tests that “you can reasonably expect” a bill dealing with assessments to be heard by the Senate.
“I think that what you’re hearing is that there is a complete consensus among the senators on this committee that there is some common ground that can be reached so we get back to a sense of sanity in this,” he said.
That could reopen a heated battle over state testing from 2015, which led to a partial rolling back of the time students spend on standardized exams. That move eased some of the pressure from rising parental anger over testing, but discontent has still fueled initiatives like the “opt-out” movement, which encourages students to refuse to answer questions on standardized tests.
The fixes now being considered would go farther than the legislation two years ago. One likely element of a new bill is a suggestion from county school superintendents that would get rid of high school tests not required by federal law.
That would include end-of-course assessments in geometry, Algebra II, civics and U.S. history, though teachers could still administer traditional final exams in those classes.
“I think there’s a good chance that you’re going to find that (in the legislation),” Simmons said when asked about the proposal. “I think there’s a real good chance that you’re going to find that.”
Superintendents are also pushing for the state to allow districts to use pencil and paper versions of the assessments instead of requiring the tests be taken on computers. A crunch in computer space means that testing often interrupts schools for weeks as students look to complete the exams.
And some senators want the state to allow at least some students to use scores on national tests like the SAT and the Preliminary SAT in lieu of state assessments, like the high-school graduation exam.
“If you have a child that is performing well on the PSAT to the point where they’re then going on to make (a high score) on the SAT, what else do we need to know? … And if they’re not doing as well as we hope to on our (state tests) after accomplishing those scores on the PSAT and the SAT, maybe it’s our standards that are the problem, not the test,” Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart didn’t voice an opinion on whether the state should use national tests instead but highlighted issues with the proposal. She said the state would have to make sure the tests were aligned with state standards and that the tests could cause the state to have to wait longer to receive student scores.
Stewart also said many students don’t take the SAT or the ACT until the 11th grade, while the graduation exam is first administered in the 10th. Moving the graduation exam back would give students who didn’t pass the state test on their first attempt fewer times to retake it.
Volusia County Superintendent James Russell said the state could allow students to pursue several options for high school graduation: a college entrance exam for high-performing students, state tests for some others and industry certification for students who are working toward that.
He said the lack of a diploma has far-reaching effects for students who can’t pass the graduation exam.
“These tests have become a gatekeeper,” Russell said. “And that’s something we need to look at.”
In a possible sign of growing momentum for change, even the Foundation for Florida’s Future is supporting some changes to testing. The foundation was set up by former Gov. Jeb Bush, the architect of Florida’s school accountability system, and is a key voice on education issues.
Shan Goff with the foundation said the organization supports pushing the standardized tests into the last three weeks of the school year to allow for more teaching time.
“And absolutely, yes, it’s time for us to take a look at, is one of the nationally recognized assessments a good fit for Florida?” Goff said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Proposal Would Regulate Dogs In Pickup Trucks
January 12, 2017
A Senate Republican has proposed a measure that would place restrictions on dogs riding in the backs of pickup trucks or on trailers in Florida.
The bill (SB 320), filed by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, would require dogs in the open beds of pickup trucks or in open areas of trailers to be secured in kennel cages or other ventilated containers or tethered so they cannot fall out.
The restrictions would not apply to a dog being transported by a farmer or farm employee actively engaged in farming activities using the services of dog. The bill includes an exemption for hunting or sporting dogs being used at a hunting site or sporting event or being transported between hunting sites or sporting events.
The proposal also would bar local ordinances that seek to regulate dogs riding in vehicles.
If approved, violation of the law could be a noncriminal traffic infraction.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
One Injured In Cantonment Three Vehicle Crash
January 11, 2017
One person was injured in a three-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Cantonment. The accident happened about 9:45 a.m. at the intersection of Booker Street and Louis Street. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle On Quintette Road
January 11, 2017
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Quintette Road Wednesday morning. The woman was walking along Quintette Road near Welcome Road when she was apparently struck by the mirror of a passing pickup truck. She was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Fire Destroys Vehicle
January 11, 2017
Fire destroyed a vehicle this morning in the 100 block of West Kingsfield Road. There were no injuries reported. The photos show the progression of the fire, beginning before firefighters began to battle the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Multi-Vehicle Crash Claims Life Of Good Samaritan
January 11, 2017
A pedestrian was killed following a multiple-vehicle traffic crash on Highway 29 Tuesday night.
The wreck happened just before 6 p.m. on Highway 29 near Hazzard Lane, just north of Central Commerce Park. Witnesses said that after the crash, a good Samaritan identified as 29-year old Micheal A. Bailey of Gulf Breeze stopped at the scene to render aid. Bailey was struck by another vehicle and died from his injuries a short time later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The incident began when 71-year old Easter M. East of Cantonment was traveling northbound and slowed his 1997 Jeep Cherokee to turn onto Hazzard Lane. The Florida Highway Patrol said 17-year old Sabra Stewart of Molino failed to slow her 2005 Toyota and struck East’s Jeep. The Toyota began to rotate on Highway 29 and was hit by a 1996 Mercedes driven by 35-year old Haley McCain of Pensacola. The Mercedes continued off the highway and struck a tree. The Toyota continued to rotate northwest and struck the left side of a 1999 Buick Century driven by 26-year old Joshua Reese of Molino.
Pedestrian Michael Bailey exited his vehicle to provide assistance to the injured and was checking on Stewart when another unknown vehicle swerved southbound into the median to avoid a crash. Bailey apparently ran westbound to avoid the unknown vehicle as a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by 64-year old Joseph H. Spann of Cantonment approached. The left side of the Dodge Ram struck Bailey as Spann was taking evasive action to avoid him.
Stewart suffered minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital. East was transported to West Florida Hospital in serious condition, while her passenger, 19-year old Lee East of Cantonment, suffered only minor injuries. McCain and his passenger, 38-year old Jewell A. Jernigan, were transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. Reese and Spann were not injured.
Stewart was cited for careless driving for the original collision with the Jeep. Any other charges in the crashes are pending the outcome of the Florida Highway Patrol investigation.
Anyone that witnessed the crash is asked to call Cpl. Shawn Kelly at (850) 484-5000.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
