Lowes Community Heroes Spruce Up Century Healthy Start
June 24, 2016
Volunteers from the Lowes on Airport Boulevard in Pensacola worked Thursday to spruce up the landscaping around the Century Healthy Start.
Lowes selected Healthy Start as their Community Hero Project. Lowe’s Heroes is a company-wide volunteer initiative that offers employees the opportunity to work on a project in their own neighborhood, helping to make their communities better places to live, work and play.
The volunteers painted a handrail, installed landscaping, planted a tree and installed a bird feeder.
The Century Healthy Start building at 511 Church Street has been closed since being damaged in a February EF-3 tornado. Healthy Start is expected to reopen in the building in late July.3
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Donations Accepted For Local Firefighter Injured In Motorcycle Crash
June 24, 2016
Local residents are coming to the aid of a Molino firefighter seriously injured when the driver of a pickup truck pulled into the path of his motorcycle Wednesday afternoon.
Feliciano Santana, known to friends as “Zapp”, is alive today because of his helmet and first responders who are also dear friends, according to family members. For 11 years, Santana has served area as a volunteer firefighter, currently as captain of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department.
He has a shattered knee and a broken neck and is facing many surgeries. In addition to the hardship created by medical bills, he is also expected to be out of work for many months to come as he recovers.
Family members are asking for prayers and financial donations. Donations of any amount can be made by clicking here.
For an earlier story about the accident, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Sought For County Planning Board
June 24, 2016
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than 12 p.m.; however, occasionally may go beyond 12 p.m. depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in August 2016 are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Kayla Meador; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, Florida 32505; or emailed to krmeador@myescambia.com.
Wahoos Win Second Half Opener
June 24, 2016
Three Reds youngsters made their Double-A debuts for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. Reds No. 10 prospect Tyler Mahle made his debut by starting tonight’s game against the Tennessee Smokies.
The hard-throwing right hander made batters look silly, striking out eight Smokies hitters in the 6-4 Pensacola victory. Mahle (5.0, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, HR) picked up his ninth win of the season.
His former Daytona Beach teammate Taylor Sparks (2-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI) also debuted at the Double-A level Thursday. On the first pitch of his debut, Sparks launched a two-run homer in the second inning with one on and nobody out to give the Wahoos a 4-1 lead. He joins former Wahoo and current Pensacola resident Travis Mattair on the list of Wahoos to hit homers on the first pitch of his first Double-A at-bat.
Zach Vincej, who has been on fire the month of June hitting .357, gave the Blue Wahoos an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with a homerun to left center, his first of the year.
In the sixth, Sparks came to the plate again. With one on and two down, the third baseman drilled his second homerun of the game, extending Pensacola’s lead to 6-3. Other Wahoos to homer in their first Double-A game include Donald Lutz (2012) and Alex Blandino (2015).
The Blue Wahoos only managed five hits in the ballgame tonight. Like we’ve seen all season: they found a way to win. It’s the “Wahoo Way,” as manager Pat Kelly’s players like to call it.
With nobody on and two away in the bottom of the seventh, Smokies centerfielder Jake Hanneman hit his second homer of the game off Jake Ehret, the third Wahoo to make his AA debut tonight. That cut the deficit to 6-4, and it was as close as Tennessee would get. Ehret (2 IP, 2 H, R, 3 SO) buckled down and finished off the inning.
Southern League All-Star Alejandro Chacin came in to close the deal in the ninth, picking up his 12th save of the season.
With the win tonight, Pensacola rides a four game win streak, tied for the longest of the season.
FDOT Engineer Plots Action Plan To Remedy Hwy 29 Truck Rollovers
June 23, 2016
Twice in just over a week, semi-trucks have rolled over on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street in a curve town officials believed was ill-designed. And Wednesday, the Florida Department of Transportation agreed something needs to be done.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall met with Michael Lewis, FDOT traffic safety program engineer at the site of the accident. McCall said the slope and design of the roadway in the curve is such that trucks in the outer lane have a difficult time navigating the curve at the posted speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo above and at the page bottom.
Lewis agreed, laying out a course of action.
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“In the near term, we are going to look at sign improvements that we can do right away. It’s going to warn trucks that there is a tipping hazard,” Lewis said. The sign with a flashing beacon will alert truck drivers to a lower speed limit, or perhaps to use the inside lane. The speed limit won’t be changed for all drivers, but there will be a new advisory speed for trucks.
“In the longer term, we are going to look at what we call super elevation. That’s a feature like…at the raceway, they bank their curves. We will bank the curve to help the truck resist the centrifugal force that’s trying to push them off the curve,” Lewis said. “That’s a longer process, and we are certainly going to look at what the funding options are to make sure we can do that as soon as possible.”
The new signs should up within a few months, and a funding source for banking the curve should also be identified, the engineer said.
McCall said he was pleased that FDOT was taking a serious look at what he considers a serious – and potentially life-threatening – situation.
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Tuesday morning’s overturned truck (pictured above) was hauling bales of cotton. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 30-year old Aref Alday of Miami traveled off the roadway, causing his 2000 Freightliner semi-truck to overturn. He was cited for careless driving. Aref Alday was not injured; his passenger, 53-year old Amnerys Alday was transported to Jay Hospital with minor injuries.
Eight days prior, the truck that overturned in the curve was hauling logs, a previous accident involved a truckload of peanuts.
McCall and Lewis agreed that the potential exists for a much more serious rollover accident, perhaps involving a fuel truck or a chemical tanker. And the city has spent somewhere near a quarter million dollars to make repairs to a sewage lift station located in the curve to repair damage from overturned trucks.
Pictured: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (blue shirt) meet with Florida Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Engineer Michael Lewis (yellow vest) and FDOT Traffic Safety Specialist Matt King about a dangerous curve on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Election Watch: More Candidates Qualify On Wednesday
June 23, 2016
This is qualifying week for candidates seeking local office.
Those that qualified Wednesday for local offices are listed below. For additional candidates that qualified on Monday, click here, and Tuesday, click here.
Friday at noon is the deadline to qualify for local offices.
Pensacola City Council, District 5:
- Gerald Wingate - Nonpartisan Office
Pensacola City Council, District 7:
- Anny Shepard – Nonpartisan Office
ECUA, District 1:
- Dawnmarie Kakatitieoy Kachachos-Ingwell – Write In
ECUA, District 3:
- Charles Thornton – DEM
- Tiffany Washington – NPA
ECUA, District 5:
- James Hunt – NPA
County Commissioner, District 3:
- Delarian Wiggins – NPA
County Commissioner, District 5:
- Steven Barry - REP
- Daniel Smillie – REP
Century Mayor:
- Felic Fussner – Nonpartisan Office
- Freddie McCall – Nonpartisan Office
Century Town Council, Seat 1:
- Ann Brooks – Nonpartisan Office
The following individuals pre-filed for office today:
Century Town Council, Seat 2:
- Annie Savage – Nonpartisan Office
Pensacola City Council, District 1:
- C.J.Lewis – Nonpartisan Office
Century Deputies Write 1,286 Traffic Tickets In Three Months
June 23, 2016
As attention has turned to a Century curve that is prone to truck rollover accidents, attention has also turned to speeders and traffic enforcement on North Century Boulevard.
Wednesday afternoon, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were seen making several traffic stops on North Century Boulevard. From a woman not wearing her seat belt, to a vehicle clocked at 57 mph in the 35 mph zone, to an 18-wheeler, deputies were busy with citations.
According to the latest data available from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies in the Century precinct — the area north of Molino — wrote 1,286 citations during the March 1 to June 1 time period. While a specific breakdown was not immediately available, most of the citations were written on North Century Boulevard in the Century area and on Highway 97 in the Walnut Hill area, including the Ernest Ward Middle school zone.
“The deputies in the Century area have been very proactive in enforcing traffic laws for the safety of our citizens,” said Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
It’s an effort that that has not gone unnoticed by Century officials. At a recent meeting between the Century Town Council and the Florida Department of Transportation, Century Mayor Freddie McCall expressed his appreciation to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for their frequent traffic enforcement efforts on North Century Boulevard.
For more on the truck rollover problem in Century, click here.
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies made several traffic stops in a short time period Wednesday afternoon on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Injured In Molino Crash; Pickup Driver Cited
June 23, 2016
A motorcyclist was injured late Wednesday afternoon in a Molino crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the motorcycle, 29-year old Feliciano Santana of Molino, was northbound on Highway 95A when the driver of a pickup, 20-year old Jacob Hendrix of Molino, initiated travel into the motorcycle’s direct path.
Santana was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. He was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.
Hendrix was not injured. He was cited for failure to yield right of way by the FHP.
Santana, better known locally as Zapp, has been a member of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department for 11 years and currently serves as a captain. A Gofundme page has been established to help him cover his medical expenses.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FWC Shoots Down 2016 Black Bear Hunt
June 23, 2016
Florida’s growing bear population will be out of the hunting crosshairs for this year.
But a one-year pause may simply help the state build a better case for a hunt in 2017.
After hours of objections from animal-rights advocates and support from hunters, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-3 late Wednesday against a staff recommendation to hold a hunt in October that could have been smaller — in terms of permits and hunting grounds — than the 2015 event in which 304 bears were killed over two days.
The commission agreed to accept a recommendation for there to be no hunt this year.
“I don’t think it means hunting goes away,” Commission Chairman Brian Yablonski said at the end of a daylong meeting in the rural Franklin County community of Eastpoint.
Yablonski added that the delay will allow non-lethal efforts to take hold. Those efforts include expanding the availability of bear-proof trash containers in communities with high incidents of bear-human interactions.
The state agency has about $825,000 this year — due in part to money raised from the 2015 hunt — to match with money from local governments for the non-lethal options.
Commissioner Ron Bergeron, who cast the lone vote against the 2015 hunt, said the one-year delay to gather more data on the bear population in Florida will help the “credibility” of the state agency.
“We went 20 years without a hunt, had one last year,” added Commissioner Bo Rivard, who acknowledged that the 2015 hunt wasn’t perfect. “I’m OK with hitting the pause button. Have our staff continue to work on the issue.”
More than 80 people addressed the commission Wednesday, with the pro-hunt crowd outnumbered nearly 3-to-1 by people asking to postpone or prohibit future hunts.
Commissioner Aliese P. “Liesa” Priddy warned the commission that it will only hear the same arguments against a hunt next year.
“A hunt going forward in 2016 doesn’t mean we’re not going to stop studying the bears,” Priddy said.
Opponents, including some who challenged the 2015 hunt in court and some wearing shirts that said “Bear lives matter,” told commissioners they intended to work against any killing of bears for sport, which they contend will hurt tourism in Florida.
“We’ve had two shootings recently that have given Florida a huge black eye,” said Katrina Shadix of Oviedo before the commission vote. “Do we want to add another controversial bear hunt to our image?”
Newton Cook, a member of The Future of Hunting in Florida, said those who question the state agency’s scientists “are wrong” and simply seeking an excuse to call for a delay or postponement of the hunt.
“Thirty states have bear hunting,” Cook said. “This is not rocket science.”
But critics of the hunt spent the day pushing for the commission to approve a delay so more scientific data can be collected or to possibly issue a general prohibition on all future hunts.
“They need to stop this whole thing, do a complete assessment and then go ahead and determine if it’s viable to have a hunt,” said Adam Sugalski, campaign director for Stop the Florida Bear Hunt. Sugalski admitted after the meeting to being surprised by the commission’s decision.
Before the event at a Franklin County school, about 15 protesters mostly from Sugalski’s group were herded into an area — taped off from the parking lot outside the school — as they called for the hunt to be canceled or postponed for at least a year.
Chuck O’Neal, an Apopka Democrat running for the state House, said his Seminole County group Speak Up Wekiva is working on a pair of citizen-led state ballot initiatives that would require Fish and Wildlife Conservation commissioners to be elected rather than appointed by the governor and for statewide referendums to be held when hunts are planned for species that were once listed as threatened or endangered.
“The public has spent a lot of money to bring black bears back,” said O’Neal, who appeared at the commission meeting.
Thomas Eason, director of the commission’s habitat and species conservation division, said the state’s bear population has made tremendous strides since the 1970s, when there were 300 to 500 black bears in Florida and the animals were placed on the state’s list of threatened species. Bears were removed from the list in 2012.
“A lot of people still seem to feel like we’re in the late ’70s, and we have these very isolated, very small bear populations,” Eason said. “We have moved well beyond that and we have expanding bear populations in both range and numbers. And that is a huge success story. And we don’t say that lightly.”
The call for the hunt came as the number of bears annually killed by vehicles has steadily increased the past quarter century. There were 243 bears killed by vehicles last year, up from 241 a year earlier. In 1990, the state recorded 33 bears killed by vehicles. In 2000, the number was 109.
Over the same time, the number of phone calls to the agency related to bears has grown from 99 in 2000 to 6,094 last year. The 2015 number marked a drop from the 6,688 calls in 2014.
Commission officials have said the decline could be due to ongoing efforts to reduce bear-human interactions, such getting more people to use bear-proof trash containers.
Critics of the hunt said the road-kill and incident numbers are due in large part to humans moving into traditional bear habitat.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Citizens Signs Off On Possible Rate Hikes
June 23, 2016
Pointing to a “crisis” in costly water-damage claims, the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposed 6.8 percent statewide rate increase.
The proposal would have varying effects for customers of the state-backed insurer, with some homeowners seeing premiums go up more than 6.8 percent and some seeing smaller increases — or even decreases. State regulators will decide whether to approve the rate changes, which would take effect in early 2017.
Citizens officials primarily blame the higher rates on increases in water-damage claims and a related, politically charged issue known as “assignment of benefits.” The issue, which drew heavy attention during this year’s legislative session, involves homeowners signing over benefits to contractors, who ultimately pursue payments from insurance companies.
The insurance industry argues that the assignment of benefits process has been abused, particularly with water-damage claims related to issues such as broken pipes. The industry contends that the process has driven up the costs of claims and has spurred a barrage of expensive lawsuits.
“This is a crisis, and it’s a crisis not only for Citizens,” Barry Gilway, president and CEO of Citizens, said during the Board of Governors meeting Wednesday in Maitland. “It’s a crisis for the entire industry.”
Despite heavy lobbying by the industry, lawmakers this year did not revamp assignment of benefits. Plaintiffs’ attorneys and contractors argue, in part, the practice helps homeowners hire contractors quickly to repair damage and also can help force insurers to properly pay claims.
The proposed 6.8 percent statewide rate hike for personal-lines policies, such as homeowners’ coverage, would affect customers differently, based on factors including location and types of policies.
For example, rates would go up an average of 6.3 percent for inland homeowners who have multi-peril policies, which include coverage for water damage, according to Citizens. Multi-peril policies for coastal homeowners would see an average increase of 8.6 percent.
Wind-only policies for personal-lines customers also would go up an average of 8.3 percent, under the proposal.
Florida has not been hit by a hurricane in more than a decade, but Citizens Chief Risk Officer John Rollins said the potential increase in wind-only rates stems from the shift of a large number of coastal properties from Citizens to private insurance carriers. He said the remaining Citizens policies provide coverage for properties that historically have not had “adequate” rates to reflect their risks.
But while higher rates for wind-only coverage are an issue for many homeowners in coastal areas, the major debate in the property-insurance industry focuses on water-damage claims. Citizens and other insurers are signaling they will try again next year to get the Legislature to change laws dealing with assignment of benefits.
“We have been warning about premium increases resulting from AOB (assignment of benefits) abuse for four years and, now, because of lawmakers’ inaction, consumers are paying the price,” said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, which includes Allstate, Progressive and State Farm insurance companies.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida