County Considers Increased Stipend Payment Plan For Volunteer Firefighters
October 5, 2016
The Escambia County Commission is set to approve a new stipend payment policy for volunteer firefighters, with monthly payments of $200 to $650 for firefighters that answer calls and complete basic requirements. The plan provides payments to volunteers to help offset their expenses such as fuel.
The new stipend amounts reflect an increase of $100 per month for each rank, as requested by representatives of the Escambia County Volunteer Firemen’s Association during an annual review process.
Under the new plan, a Firefighter Trainee will receive $200 per month, if he or she has completed a 12 hour orientation course and obtains Firefighter I within one year of joining Escambia Fire-Rescue.
The volunteer position of Driver Operator will be added with a stipend of $200 per month
A certified Firefighter I or II will receive $400 per month. A certified lieutenant will receive $450 per month, and a captain will earn a stipend of $500 per month. An assistant district chief’s stipend will increase to $550 per month, and a district chief will receive $650.
Stipend payments will be made only to volunteer firefighters that attend two training meetings per month, respond to 25 percent of a fire station’s first 50 calls per month and 12.5 percent of the remaining dispatched incidents during a month.
The policy also provides for a retention incentive during the firefighter’s anniversary year as follows:
5 years of service: $200
10 years of service: $400
15 years of service: $600
20 years of service: $900
25 years of service: $1,200
The stipend policy also allows payment of up to $500 per firefighter for services follow an extended disaster such as a hurricane, and it adds payments for volunteer instructors.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the volunteer firefighter stipend policy at their meeting Thursday.
Pictured top and inset: A fully involved house fire battled by volunteers on Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Almost Ready: New Pediatric Dental Clinic Opens Monday In Century
October 5, 2016
A new pediatric dental clinic is still on track to open Monday in Century.
Escambia Community Clinics is putting the finishing touches on their new ECC Century Pediatric Dental Clinic at 501 Church Street, in the former Health and Hope Clinic location.
The ECC Century Pediatric Dental Clinic is now accepting calls for appointments Monday through Friday during business hours at (850) 724-4054. The child-friendly clinic will be open in Century every Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Once open, same day appointments may be available, depending on clinic schedule.
The clinic will provide important oral health care services for children 0 to 20 years of age, and will provide dental exams, dental x-rays, dental cleanings/dental hygiene, dental extractions, fillings and tooth restorations, dental sealants and fluoride varnish, and oral health education.
ECC Century Pediatric Dental Clinic accepts children covered by Florida Medicaid ages 0-20, children with DentaQuest dental insurance, children with no insurance (parents must complete ECC financial eligibility paperwork and receive approval for ECC charity/sliding fee program), and the clinic also accepts some private dental insurances.
Pictured top: The ECC Century Dental Clinic staff. Pictured inset and below: Installing dental equipment in the building at 501 Church Street. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Juveniles Busted For Throwing Rocks Onto Vehicles On I-10
October 5, 2016
Three juveniles have been arrested for throwing rocks from a bridge onto I-10 below.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report Monday night about juveniles throwing rocks from the I-10 and Palafox railroad tracks. A responding deputy observed three juveniles throw the rock onto the interstate.
All three juveniles were arrested for throwing deadly missiles and criminal mischief. Eight victims reported their vehicles being struck by the rocks.
Anyone else that may have been a victim is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Fire Heavily Damages Excavator In Molino
October 5, 2016
Fire heavily damaged an excavator Tuesday afternoon. The fire was reported about 4:20 pm. in the 7300 block of Highway 95A near Highway 97 in Molino. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was able to quickly extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and others, click to enlarge.
Worker’s Comp Rates To Increase 14.5 Percent
October 5, 2016
Workers’ compensation insurance rates will jump 14.5 percent starting December 1, after a filing Tuesday that carried out a decision by state regulators.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which submits rate requests for workers’ compensation insurers, made the filing. The organization, commonly known as NCCI, initially requested a 19.6 rate hike, but the state Office of Insurance Regulation last week trimmed the increase to 14.5 percent.
NCCI was required to filed revised numbers that matched the regulators’ decision.
The rates are going up largely because of a Florida Supreme Court ruling in April that said the state’s strict limits on attorneys’ fees in workers’ compensation cases were unconstitutional. The increase is expected to prompt a debate during the 2017 legislative session about changes in the workers’ compensation system, with business groups arguing that higher rates will hurt employers.
by The News Service of Florida
General Election Ballots Headed To Local Mailboxes
October 5, 2016
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office delivered more than 30,000 vote-by-mail ballots to the post office on Tuesday for the general election. Voters could receive their green or ivory colored vote-by-mail packages as early as today.
Voted ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 8. Ballots require a first-class postage stamp ($.47 postage) if returned by mail. The Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the general election is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2. To request or track your vote-by-mail ballot for the General election, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Vote by Mail”, or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
Pictured top: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford with ballots headed to the post office on Tuesday. Pictured below: More ballots. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested On Multiple Child Porn Charges
October 5, 2016
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with the assistance of the Pensacola Police Department, Tuesday arrested Lawrence Melvin Lacoste, Jr. 60, on 20 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of transmission of child pornography.
The investigation began after numerous images and videos of child pornography were discovered coming from Lacoste’s computer. The images depicted the sexual abuse of female children, ranging in ages from 10-14 years old.
According to an arrest report, several computers and cell phones were seized from Lacoste’s address at 10416 Tam O Shanter Road, just off Greenbriar Boulevard north of the Scenic Hills Country Club.
Items seized included a laptop computer than contained over 30,000 images or movies that appeared to be child pornography or erotica. Over 6,000 of these images or videos depicted children who appeared to be as young as six but not older than 13 years old engaged in lewd and lascivious poses.
Lacoste was booked into the Escambia County Jail. The State Attorney’s Office, 1st Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.
Volleyball: Baker Tops Northview
October 5, 2016
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in high school volleyball action Tuesday afternoon in Baker.
JV 14-25, 7-25 Baker wins
Varsity 13-25, 8-25, 18-25 Baker wins
Thursday is senior night for the Chiefs as they host Escambia High School. The JV plays at 4:30 followed the varsity at 5:30.
Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Police Searching For Bank Robbery Suspect
October 4, 2016
No one was injured this afternoon when a man robbed a Penscola bank of an undisclosed amount of cash.
The incident occurred just after noon at the Centennial Bank, 2200 Airport Boulevard. The suspect walked up to a teller and handed her a note demanding cash. He said he had a gun but didn’t show one. The suspect then left the bank possibly in a dark green full-sized GMC truck with tinted windows.
The suspect was a black male, possibly in his early 30s and about six feet tall. He had a mustache, and was wearing a long-sleeved yellow shirt with a patch on the left shoulder sleeve, rolled up dark jeans, dark hat, and sunglasses.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Fire Damages Home Near Century
October 4, 2016
Fire damaged a single family home outside Century Tuesday afternoon.
The residents were reportedly cooking when the fire started and got out of control, reaching the attic. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control and save the home. There were no injuries reported.
The fire was reported just after 1 p.m. in the 2800 block of Highway 4A. The Century, Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
