According to an investigative report, historically low temperatures followed by rapid thawing lead to a valve failure and the inadvertent High Expansion Foam (HEF) discharge that resulted in the death of a civilian contractor Jan. 8 in King Hangar at Eglin Air Force Base. Three other Eglin personnel were treated with inhalation injures.
Whiting Field’s security team conducted an exercise Feb. 20 that tested elements of the base and mutual aid agreements with police and fire services from Santa Rosa County. According to NAS Whiting Field Spokesman Jay Cope, “The Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield exercise is an annual force protection and anti-terrorism program that runs this year through Feb. 28.”
“Keep your bags packed because you never know when a door of opportunity will open for you,” said Retired Chief Master Sgt. Walter Richardson during a presentation Feb. 19 before nearly 200 airmen in Hurlburt Field’s King Auditorium. He was one of 1,500 enlisted men selected to begin desegregation of the military in 1949.
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20. March is colon cancer awareness month and it’s important to recognize the risk factors of a form of cancer that is majorly preventable and easily detected early through the use of screening.
TRICARE For Life beneficiaries soon will receive letters notifying them of changes to their prescription drug coverage and guiding them to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or a military pharmacy for some prescriptions as part of a congressionally mandated pilot program. Officials sent letters last week to affected TRICARE For Life beneficiaries notifying them of the pilot program.
Previously leasing the property, Wal-Mart has purchased a lot at the location of the Gulf Breeze Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market for $3.15 million. Anchored in the shopping center located at 334 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Wal-Mart opened in 2012 after Bruno’s closed its doors at the location several years ago.
The Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC) lost its chairman in October when Vernon Compton was not reappointed by commissioners to the council. At the group’s Feb. 19 meeting, board member Mike Loera was unanimously chosen as chairman.
Santa Rosa County has built up a general fund reserve of $22,137,847. That fund is unrestricted and may be used for purposes such as operating the county during a disaster. Santa Rosa County’s total reserves top $36 million, but some of those funds are restricted, committed or assigned for a specific use.
JetBlue will be the proud owner of the first A321 assembled at the Airbus facility in Mobile, Ala., in 2015. At this point, it is impossible to know what if any impact the $600 million project will have on northwest Florida. Airbus Director of Economic and Community Development Michelle Hurdle was the featured speaker Friday at the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported 26-year-old Brianna Strum of Milton was sentenced Feb. 20 to more than 11 years in prison on a charge of DUI manslaughter stemming from a fatal crash April 2013 on I-10 in Escambia County. Strum entered a plea of no contest in December 2013 to the charge.
