July 27, 2018
The days of Florida being called the Pill Mill Capital of the Country are now behind us and we are making significant strides to combat the national opioid crisis. As a state and nation, we still face significant challenges exacerbated by heroin, fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Illegally sold prescription pills also continue to fuel addiction in our country.
This week, my office and the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Dr. Armando Falcon and two office managers following a lengthy undercover investigation. According to the investigation, Dr. Falcon operated a pill mill at the Pain Center of Cutler Bay, a pain management center in South Florida. The investigation determined that Dr. Falcon met with patients for less than two minutes before prescribing in many cases approximately 150, 30 mg, oxycodone pills—earning millions as a result of his criminal enterprise. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the release of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide. The annual guide, created by the Florida Defense Support Task Force, offers a summary of Florida’s laws, programs and services benefitting military service members and their families. It also highlights Florida’s low tax and financial advantages, educational benefits, professional licensure opportunities and fee waivers for service men, women and their families stationed in Florida. A digital copy of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide is available https://www.enterpriseflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/Florida-Military-Friendly-Guide-2018.pdf Continue reading
From the desk of Florida State Senator Baxley
Friends, Washington D.C. may be in turmoil and dysfunction, but hometown America is alive and well! In the State of Florida and Senate District 12, we remain committed to those core values of faith, family, freedom and opportunity. This is your government and I work for you. As promised, I will continue this series of letters to you, highlighting all that we have done together and some of the recognitions we have received along the way.
The Florida Bail Agents Association (FBAA) is an advocacy organization that works with policy makers to advocate continued high standards for all bail agents, works to defeat serious threats to eliminate bail in Florida, and pushes to improve professional standards of bail agents through licensing and educational requirements. In 2017, your Senator was recognized as the Legislator of the Year by the FBAA for our work on SB 680, which passed as HB 361 and was signed into law by Gov. Scott. This bill amends several provisions related to bail and bail bonds agents and received unanimous support in the House and Senate. Continue reading
Over the next several weeks, you are going to be frequently seeing and hearing Vote Yes! from the CEP. Our Board has formally endorsed the renewal of the 1 Mil School Referendum. This renewal is incredibly significant to the continued growth of our community. It is important to me that our community understands why you should Vote Yes!
The revenue collected from the 1 Mil are dedicated to several key areas: classroom size reduction, art, music, PE, library, and Career/Technical Education. Additionally, the renewal will allow the School System to fund vital safety measures such as school resource officers. All expenditures are carefully reviewed by an independent Oversight Committee. All of these are important initiatives but I want to highlight Career/Technical Education and Safety. Continue reading
By TomL
Do a google search that says “Did Obama ever have a job in the private sector?” Some claim his was the front man for an investment group run by two of his close friends. The federal government would attack a certain industry, knock the business to its knees, devalue it and the investment group would step in and buy it dirt cheap. There are a number of deals like that about the time that Obama was re-elected. A couple of names involved were a Biden name and Kerry name in a deal where a University was acquired for penny on the dollar. The University was attack by the Federal Government for supplying student loans. The Scandals go on and on in a book on a site if you just look! Do you know what the real shame of all this is? The HUGE media machine knew about most of this and would not print anything about it! Continue reading
(OCALA, Fla.) July 17, 2018 – After months of seemingly endless practical and theoretical sessions, Ashley Andrews, Ocala Fire Rescue Firefighter/Paramedic, has become a certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP).
Seeking a challenge and further knowledge of the field, Andrews, a 10-year department veteran, enrolled in the University of Florida’s Critical Care Paramedic program. “I have never been more academically challenged,” said Andrews of the immersive program. “Although [the certificate] was difficult to attain, it was certainly worth it.”
During the five-month program, topics ranging from biomechanics of ventilation and ventilator management to invasive blood pressure monitoring, and neonatal care, were covered through didactic and hands-on sessions. Despite requiring that program participants be experienced paramedics, the volume of material covered tests each student’s desire to obtain the CCP certification. Only those who learn the material as second nature successfully complete the program. Continue reading
by A.J.(Tony) Powell
“One And Done?”
Will ‘The Donald’ get a second term as President?
Will the actions and decisions of President Donald Trump survive?
Polls show that the American people trust ‘The Donald’ more than any Democrats and most Republicans in Washington D.C.
One pundit said, “It seems that a lot of President Donald Trump’s policies, are likely to last longer than his critics”. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –
Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of State Representative Scott Plakon to the Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee.
Governor Scott said, “Following the tragic loss of his wife, Susie, to Alzheimer’s, I know that Representative Plakon will be a strong advocate and committed partner in the fight to end Alzheimer’s in Florida. My wife Ann and I send our thoughts and prayers to Scott and his family during this difficult time, but we also know that this is a disease we must fight and that Scott will help lead Florida in this effort.”
Plakon, 59, of Sanford, serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 29th District, and he is the chief executive officer of ShredPro Secure. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2018, and ending February 13, 2022.
As the mercury climbs as we head into summer, I thought it appropriate to discuss heat-related illness for this edition of the newsletter. In Central Florida, we enjoy warm weather almost year-round, but during the summer months, heat can cause serious health issues especially for the very young and the not-so-very young, too. Across the United States, many people die from heat-related illnesses, and many more are hospitalized with life-threatening conditions. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two heat-related illnesses that are both emergencies. The good news is that heat-related illness can be prevented. Practicing a few simple tips can help keep you cool and healthy during the hot spells. But first, let’s explore the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion with a little consultation from our Emergency Medical Services partners from Lake County and the Villages Public Safety Department. Continue reading
By TomL
When two powerful groups of people like the Republican and the Democrats disagree with the results of an election and do everything they can to change the results, or bring down the sitting president. In this case an investigation of collusion was started against Trump and their collusion is not illegal. All this time, over a year, they have searched, finding no collusion so they are now trying to get him on moral grounds again not illegal. I never thought Trump was a goody goody. He was a hard working millionaire playboy who is now President of the United States and a hard working married man. I think I heard him say once he was not perfect! Now our federal bureau is trying to prove he is not perfect.
The Democrats are trying to start a Civil War, partly to cover up crimes that some of their leaders have committed. They should be careful what they wish for. If you don’t believe that transfer of power in this country is determined by elections. “That’s a Civil War!”
President Trump declassify all the records in this investigation and let the chips fall where they may. Let the criminals go to jail. Start construction for a big prison right in Washington DC and fill it up!
