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Commissioner Adam Putnam to Visit Collier County Wildfires, Host Media Availability

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow, March 28th, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will visit the Greenway Fire in Collier County and provide an update on wildfire activity and Florida Forest Service response efforts. The Greenway Fire is currently 16,794 acres and 50 percent contained.

Event: Media availability on wildfire activity and response efforts

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Time: 9:45 a.m.

Location: Florida Forest Service Incident Command Post
950 Sabal Palm Road
Naples, Florida 34114

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA.

Capitol Police, Easter Bunny to bring toys and joy to TMH children

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MEDIA ADVISORY

In an effort to bring some cheer to children in the hospital for Easter, Capitol Police and the Easter Bunny will be visiting Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare’s Children Center on March 28.

The Easter Bunny will not only be bringing well-wishes and photo opportunities for the children, but will also bring them toys and gifts, which Capitol Police members have donated and collected over the past several weeks.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event. TMH representatives will be on-site to handle patient consent forms and to assist with filming needs.

If you plan to attend the event, please contact Jeremy Burns ([email protected]) by 2:00pm on March 28. Attending media members should park in the main garage and meet in the Atrium Lobby of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital at 3:15pm.

Caldwell Announces Another Key Endorsement Block in Bid for Commissioner of Agriculture

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Announces Additional Support from Key Republicans

Representative Matt Caldwell today announced the endorsements of key Republicans around Florida, in the eighth wave of endorsements announced by the campaign. Since launching his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Representative Caldwell continues to travel the Sunshine State talking to voters, sharing his conservative message and building support for his grassroots campaign, which has raised more than $1.71 million to date and has over $1 million cash-on-hand.

Representative Caldwell said, “I am proud to receive endorsements from my colleagues, both present and former. I will continue to work tirelessly as we travel across the Sunshine State and earn support from Floridians who understand the importance of electing a principled conservative as Commissioner of Agriculture to the Florida Cabinet.”

The eighth wave of endorsements includes:

  • Rep. Chuck Clemons
  • Rep. Jennifer Sullivan
  • Former Rep. Neil Combee
  • Former Rep. Dan Raulerson

The Commissioner of Agriculture serves as a member of the Florida Cabinet and is critical to the foundation of Florida’s economy. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps the agricultural industry with its daily challenges, promotes Florida’s agricultural commodities, manages state forests, safeguards consumers, implements the school lunch program, and oversees the concealed-weapon license system.Former Rep. Neil Combee  said, “Matt Caldwell has what it takes to be Commissioner of Agriculture in the 21st Century. With 200 years of heritage, Matt knows Florida agriculture and after 55,000 miles on the trail, there’s no question he’s the hardest working candidate. He’s tackled the tough challenges during his time in the House and he is the best candidate to tackle what lies ahead.”

The campaign previously announced the endorsements of Republican House members from the Panhandle, Northeast Florida, Central Florida, Southwest Florida, and South Florida delegations. This is in addition to endorsements from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, former candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture Paul Paulson, and a number of county constitutional officers.

Additionally, the campaign has announced the launch of the #2LaneTravels webpage to highlight the campaign travels across the Sunshine State in his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

FDLE arrests former Okeechobee CI correctional officer

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement yesterday arrested Arthur William Wade Woodruff, 21, on charges of official misconduct and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery on a detainee. Woodruff was a correctional officer with Okeechobee Correctional Institution.

FDLE Agents began investigating Woodruff in December 2017 at the request of the Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. The investigation shows that Woodruff was conspiring with inmates to commit aggravated battery or murder of another inmate. Agents believe Woodruff committed these actions because he feared being exposed by the targeted inmate for bringing in contraband. By failing to report the incidents and not making any attempt to stop the ongoing plot, Woodruff endangered the lives of the inmates and staff members at the prison.

Woodruff was arrested in Sebring, booked into the Highlands County Jail and will be transferred to Okeechobee County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit.

Mast Introduces Legislation Encouraging Congressional Offices at VA Facilities

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Mast Opened First-Ever Office Inside VA Facility

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast today introduced new legislation to streamline the opening of Congressional offices inside Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities across the nation. The introduction of the bill, called the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act, follows Rep. Mast’s opening of the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA this past January.

“Serving veterans in our community is not only deeply personal to me, it’s also the most frequent request that I get as a Member of Congress,” Rep. Mast said. “Opening the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA hospital has allowed us to help veterans on the spot: when and where they’re having an issue. Every single Member of Congress should do the same at their local VA and this bill will pave the way to make that high level of service a reality for our veterans.”

Since the opening of the VA office in January, many other Members of Congress have asked Rep. Mast about the process to open his office so that they can replicate the service for veterans at their local VA facilities. Unfortunately, opening the office took more than a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape.

The Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act would cut down on this bureaucracy by requiring the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit a Member of Congress to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of meeting with constituents of the Member. Moreover, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop regulations regarding the use of VA office space by Members of Congress, mandating that the space be made available during normal business hours and in a location that is easily accessible to the Member’s constituents.

Read the text of the bill here.

BACKGROUND

Rep. Mast opened the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility in January.  Through this office, veterans from around the area have improved access for assistance with any VA-related issues.  The office is located in room 1A-366 of the West Palm Beach VA.

The office is staffed jointly by the West Palm Beach area Congressional delegation on the following schedule:

Rep. Brian Mast – Mondays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Lois Frankel – Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Ted Deutch – First Wednesday of the Month: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings – Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Veterans may call ahead to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are taken on a first come, first serve basis. Veterans may also receive assistance at any of our other offices at any time.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Update on Wildfire Activity, Response Efforts

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The Florida Forest Service and local first responders continue efforts to contain large wildfires in southwest Florida and across the state. While Florida has received recent rainfall, drought conditions and increased wildfire danger throughout the state are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The Florida Forest Service is currently fighting 41 wildfires across the state.

“Florida’s wildland firefighters are prepared to battle increasingly hazardous wildfires across the state, but it’s imperative that Floridians are cautious with fire to help protect Florida’s residents, natural resources and wildland firefighters,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

Significant Wildfires in Florida:

  • Greenway Fire (Collier County): 16,794 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • West Boundary Fire (Hendry County): 2,800 acres and 50 percent contained
  • Old Blade Line Fire (Polk County): 450 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • Knights Griffin Fire (Hillsborough County): 100 acres and 90 percent contained.

Resources Deployed to Southwest Florida:

  • State Firefighting Bulldozers: 9
  • Fire District & State Brush Trucks: 11
  • City and County Water Tenders: 2
  • State Firefighting Super Huey Helicopter: 1
  • State Firefighting Fixed-Wing: 1

The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to be cautious with fire and heat sources and to remember the following:

  • Develop and implement a family wildfire action plan;
  • Call 911 or a local Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire;
  • Obey Florida’s outdoor burning laws;
  • Never burn on windy days;
  • Always keep a water source and suppression tools on hand when burning yard debris;
  • Never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended; and
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

Collier County Superintendent Honored as 2017 Lavan Dukes District Leader of the Year

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At a meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today named Collier County Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton the 2017 Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year. As a result of Dr. Patton’s leadership over the last six years, Collier County Public Schools has made tremendous progress through a data-driven focus on continuous improvement.

“Dr. Kamela Patton’s techniques are a great example of the way data can be used to help teachers and administrators provide students with the best education experience possible, and Collier County students are benefitting greatly,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “What I appreciate most is the fact that she has opened her doors and offered other districts the opportunity to learn about the student-focused strategies that have worked in Collier County so they too can help students reach their full potential. It is truly an honor to recognize Dr. Patton today, and I look forward to witnessing her ongoing success.”

Of the 67 school districts, Collier’s district grades ranking has risen to 5th in 2017 from 33rd in 2011. Through strategic and systematic monitoring to ensure students’ needs are met, the “A”-rated district has also experienced a 15.7 percent increase in its high school graduation rate, from 72.5 percent in 2010-11 to 88.2 percent in 2016-17.

Upon her arrival, Dr. Patton introduced “Data Dialogues,” which are collaborative and targeted conversations between school and district leaders that have resulted in tremendous gains. Three times per year, following state and local benchmark assessments, school leaders analyze and reflect upon data. This allows school leaders, teachers, students and parents to review the data and determine the best approaches to maximize student impact.

During her tenure, Dr. Patton has implemented the Naviance College and Career Readiness platform for grades 6-12, which includes a Family Connection platform that helps students research colleges, scholarships, careers and more. In addition, she has implemented recruitment, retention and professional development systems to create a strong administrator pool for those aspiring to be instructional leaders.

The Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year Program highlights the critical role district superintendents play in supporting and encouraging the use of data to improve students’ college and career readiness. The award is named after Lavan Dukes to honor longtime Department of Education employee Garnet Lavan Dukes for his numerous contributions to public education on both the state and national levels.

For more information about the award, visit District Data Leader.

UNF Brotman Lecture Series Speaker Discusses “The True Story Behind ‘Dolphin Tale’” Movie

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Abigale Stone, stranding coordinator at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, will discuss “Rescuing Winter, Hope and More: The True Story Behind ‘Dolphin Tale’” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, Building 14A, on the UNF campus. Doors open at 6 p.m. Displays about local dolphin research at UNF as well as the Fish and Wildlife Commission will also be available between 6 and 7 p.m.

Stone has been at CMA since 1996 and is highly experienced in the behavioral assessments, observations, animal handling, medical procedures and treatment of various cetacean species, which includes dolphins, whales and porpoises. Over the past 20 years, she has played an integral role in the growth of the aquarium, especially regarding the facility’s most famous resident, Winter the dolphin, the lead character in the 2011 movie “Dolphin Tale.”

Winter arrived at CMA in December 2005 after she was found off Florida’s east coast entangled in a crab trap, cutting off all circulation to her tail, which CMA tried to save. As a result, the bottlenose dolphin developed a modified swimming pattern that put her at risk of developing degenerative changes in her spine.

As a primary caregiver to Winter, Stone was part of the team that developed her prosthetic tail and taught her how to use it. During the period that she managed the resident dolphins, Stone focused on behavior conditioning for husbandry or medical management and cognitive research initiatives.

In addition to resident dolphin care, her talents have majorly contributed to the hundreds of responses the Stranding Team conducts each year for marine animals in distress. In 2009, Stone became the Stranding Coordinator for CMA. In this role, she has provided rehabilitative care to several species of cetaceans and is responsible for the collection and management of data used for marine mammal research as well as conservation initiatives. Most recently, in collaboration with CMA’s Education Team, Stone expanded her scope of work to include the role of principle investigator for CMA’s Dolphin Photo ID program.

This Distinguished Voices Lecture is sponsored by The Brotman Family Coastal Biology Lecture Series and the UNF Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program. All Distinguished Voices lectures are free and open to the public and require an e-ticket, however, seating is limited. To get an e-ticket, visit the UNF E-ticketing webpage. For more information, contact Michelle Davis, UNF Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program, at (904) 620-2830 or at [email protected].

The Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program is one of only six UNF academic programs selected for Flagship status because of the research accomplishments of its faculty, educational opportunities for its students and its contributions to public education and science-based policymaking about the ocean. The program’s mission is to discover and educate others about coastal and marine life with the goal of preserving it for future generations.

Mast Pushes Plan To Expedite Southern Storage Reservoir Federal Approval

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SFWMD Submits Plan to Army Corps For Approval

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18), who has been a longtime proponent of the S.B. 10-authorized EAA Storage Reservoir, is pushing a plan to expedite federal authorization and construction of the reservoir.  South Florida Water Management District submitted its plan to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for approval today.

“The water being discharged from Lake Okeechobee onto the Treasure Coast is destroying our community, putting people out of business, killing sea life and even making people sick.  This reservoir is a critical step forward to restore our lagoon and beaches, and we cannot afford to wait another two years as it drowns in federal bureaucracy.  This exact moment is why I fought so hard to be named Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and I will do everything in my power to ensure we get this project started without any further delays.”

The Army Corps must review, approve and submit the project to Congress prior to Congressional authorization and construction work beginning, but there is a substantial timing issue that could delay the project by another two years.  Federal authorization of projects like the reservoir occur as part of the Water Resources and Development Act, which Congress considers only every other year.  Congress is expected to consider the 2018 Water Resources and Development Act this spring, but the Army Corps is not expected to approve the project prior to the bill’s consideration.  S.B. 10 set a deadline of October 1, 2018 for this to occur.

To avoid a 2-year bureaucratic delay, Rep. Mast has been pushing a plan to conditionally authorize the project as part of the 2018 Water Resources and Development Act contingent on the Army Corps’ approval.  Under Rep. Mast’s plan, the EAA Storage Reservoir would be automatically authorized as soon as the Army Corps signs off on the plan, expediting the overall completion timeline by more than two years.  Rep. Mast’s letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster pushing this plan is attached.

Rep. Mast also joined a bipartisan group of his Florida Congressional colleagues on a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (who oversees the Army Corps) supporting the EAA Storage Reservoir proposal and urging expedited review.

South Florida Water Management District’s press release announcing submission of the project to the Army Corps can be found here.

PSC Cuts Back Rate Increase Requested by Florida City Gas

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Florida City Gas (FCG) customer rates and system reliability will benefit from the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) approval today of a negotiated Settlement Agreement (Settlement) in the company’s pending rate case.

FCG’s Settlement term runs for four years, from June 2018 to May 2022, and includes an annual revenue increase of $11.5 million, instead of the $15.8 million FCG requested in its original October 23, 2017 petition. The Settlement also saves customers $4.5 million in projected tax reductions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“We require FCG to provide reliable service and keep rates reasonable,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “By providing additional revenues for an LNG facility, the PSC increased service reliability for FCG customers, and we are also providing stable rates for four years that are lower than those originally proposed.”

When completed, FCG’s new LNG facility will add 10,000 dekatherms of capacity per day. This increased reliability will be financed through two revenue increases: $2.5 million in June 2019 and $1.3 million in December 2019. In total, FCG’s allowed revenue increase per the Settlement is $15.3 million.

The Settlement sets a return on equity of 10.19 percent, instead of the 11.25 percent FCG requested. It also authorizes FCG to establish a storm reserve with an annual accrual of $57,500 and a target reserve level of $800,000.

Beginning in June, FCG’s typical residential customer using 14 therms will see a monthly bill increase of $1.34, from the present $26.97 (includes the cost of gas) to $28.32. Signatories to the Settlement Agreement include the Office of Public Counsel—representing consumers—and the Federal Executive Agencies.

The PSC held customer service hearings on FCG’s rate request on January 23 in Coral Gables and on January 24 in Port St. Lucie and Melbourne.

FCG currently provides service to more than 108,000 customers throughout south and central Florida.

For additional information, visit floridapsc.com.