Escambia Schools Start Fall Break Wednesday
November 26, 2008
Wednesday is the first day of Fall Break for Escambia County public schools student.
Students will be out of school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a combination Thanksgiving and Fall Break holiday. In previous years, students received a full week out of school in October as Fall Break. But due to state school board requirements, that break was replaced by the shorter break this week.
Students will return to school on December 1.
Highway 31 Accident In Alabama Injures 11 Tuesday Afternoon
November 25, 2008
Eleven people were injured in an accident on Highway 31 between Bay Minette and Perdido Tuesday afternoon.
The accident happend about 3:00. Officials say an Alabama Department of Corrections van was stopped in a utility construction area when it was rear ended by a pickup truck. That pickup had been rear ended by an SUV.
Seven prisoners in the van were injured, along with three in the truck and one in the SUV.
None of the injuries were severe.
Minor Fire In Molino
November 25, 2008
Engine 1819 from Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a mobile home in the 2500 block of Molino Road about 8:30 this morning.
Firefighters say the heating system malfunctioned causing it to smoke.
There were no injuries, and there was no major damage.
Outgoing Sheriff Ron McNesby Disposes Of $90,000 In Leftover Campaign Money
November 25, 2008
Ousted Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby has disposed of about $90,000 in campaign funds that were still in his account when he lost the primary to David Morgan.
Most of the money went to the Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church. The Ministry Village, which will provide a medical clinic, shelter and more to the needy in the community, received $40,000 from McNesby’s campaign.
The outgoing Republican sheriff also donated $10,000 to the Emerald Coast Honor Flight program, $10,000 to the Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Brandenton, Florida, and $7,000 to the Westgate Center.
After paying remaining campaign bills, McNesby had a $2,539.78 balance that he donated to the Council on Aging.
Florida law stipulates that a candidate has 90 days after their last to dispose of their campaign funds. Excess funds can be returned to contributors, donated to a charity or given to a government or political organization.
A total of $215,176.19 was donated to McNesby’s campaign.
Sheriff-elect David Morgan’s campaign received about $117,000 in donations through October 30.
Century Car Plant Backers Owe Over $65,000 In Unpaid State Taxes; Failed To Pay County Tourist Tax
November 25, 2008
The company behind Project Green Leaf that plans to bring an electric car manufacturing plant to Century owe the state of Florida more than $65 thousand in unpaid taxes. And they failed to pay Escambia County thousands in county tourist development taxes.
LHS EV, Inc, owned by Jay and Nash Patel, applied for a $2.5 million grant from the State of Florida’s Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency Technologies program. The application was filed with the assistance of Escambia County just a few days ago.
Monday, it was revealed that the Patels’ motel company, LHS Pensacola, Inc., owes the Florida Department of Revenue $65,747.83 in unpaid sales and use taxes on four different Florida properties. There are four pending liens on the properties that were for $21,127.28; $20,339.76; $16,794.21 and $7,486.58.
The taxes are owed on the Patel’s Travelodge Inn and Suites, Days Inn North, Ramada Inn and Howard Johnson properties on Pensacola Boulevard. LHS also owns two hotels in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
In May, Escambia County filed a $2,001.86 tax warrant against the Ramada Inn and LHS Pensacola for failing to pay county tourist development taxes. That tax lien was satisfied by the company in July. Another $1,548.63 lien for unpaid tourist taxes by LHS for their Days Inn was filed in May by Escambia County and satisfied in July. Another $2,185.15 tourist tax lien was filed by Escambia County against LHS and their Howard Johnson in May and satisfied in July.
The Patels have told county commissioners that they have a line of credit worth over $34 million, but they have not named the bank that has extended the credit.
On November 12, LHS spokesperson Art Rocker asked the Escambia Commission for $2.5 million. Last week, LHS said it did not want the cash from the county, but rather $2.5 million in grants from the state.
The company says their plant, which will assembly an electric car manufactured overseas, would provided about 250 jobs in the first year, 585 within three years and ultimately up to 1,100 jobs in five years.
It has also been revealed that Rocker has a federal tax lien of $39,168. Click here for that story.
Car Plant Spokesman Has $39,000 Federal Tax Lien
November 25, 2008
The Internal Revenue Service filed a federal tax lien of $39,168 against the spokesman for the electric car company that plans to locate in Century.
Escambia County Clerk of Courts records show the IRS filed the $39,168 federal lien against Arthur Rocker on August 25 of this year. The lien was filed by the IRS Wage and Investment Area.
A search of the Escambia County Clerk of the Courts records also shows that Beach Community Bank filed foreclosure against two Rocker owned properties in the Norwood Subdivision in May. Those properties were foreclosed upon and sold by the clerk of the court at public auction. They were repurchased by Beach Community Bank.
Rocker is the man that asked the Escambia County Commission for $2.5 million cash on November 12 on behalf of LHS EV, Inc. to build an electric car plant in Century. He later told the commission that he really just wanted assistance filing for a state grant. A $2.5 million grant application was filed by the county on LHS EV’s behalf with Florida’s Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency Technologies program.
The owners of LHS EV, Jay and Nash Patel, have tax problems also. They owe the state $66,270 in unpaid sales and use taxes. Click here for that story.
Local Students Cast In Upcoming ‘Chatterbox’ Movie
November 25, 2008
Two best friends, both students at Ernest Ward Middle School, were cast in an upcoming movie. Angel Mitchell and Cheyenne Godwin both had roles in the new movie “Chatterbox”.
Chatterbox is a teen movie about a 13-year old girl that wants to prove her worth to her parents by winning the talent, popularity, and community competition known as the Chatterbox competition. Along the way, lead character Chelsea cheats to win the entire competition. She learns that was the wrong thing to do, makes a public apology and gives up the Chatterbox crown.
Angel (pictured in red on the movie set) played Carlie Mitchell, a dancer and a top five finalist in the Chatterbox competition. Cheyenne (pictured in the cheerleader uniform) was cast as a cheerleader. Other locals Jessica Warner, also a student at Ernest Ward, and Jenson Warner, a student at Byrneville Elementary, had parts as extras in the movie.
“Oh I made it.” That was Angel’s big line in Chatterbox. “I sounded so Southern when I said it,” she said. “It sounded so bad.”
Cheyenne does not have any complete lines in the movie, but she’s heard in the background of a few scenes.
“You could hear me backstage cheering,” Cheyenne said. “There are a couple of spots were you see me between the main characters, but no speaking. But I loved acting in the movie.”
Both girls say the best part about being in the movie, besides their big screen appearances, was meeting new friends. The worst part? Getting called at 1:00 in the morning and being told to be in Gulf Breeze were the movie was filmed. One time, they checked out of school and went to the shooting location. They were home by 3:00 a.m., and they got a call at 4:30 a.m. to be back by 5:00.
“It was a lot of work, but it was fun,” Cheyenne said. “Sometimes the late nights were like a giant sleepover,” Angel added.
Angel, 12, and Cheyenne, 14, recently attended a private screening of the unreleased film.
“It was so weird being up on the big screen,” Angel said. “It was not like I was even looking at me.”
Release plans are in place to show Chatterbox in Indonesia, and producers hope to have a U.S. distribution in place in 2009 for the family-friendly move.
To learn more about the movie and watch a trailer, visit www.chatterbox-themovie.com.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward students Cheyenne Godwin (left) and Angel Mitchell (right) were cast in the movie “Chatterbox”. Pictured below: Angel Mitchell (far left) with cast members from the movie. Pictured bottom: Brianna Chomer (left), the star of Chatterbox, with Angel Mitchell. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park PTA Fund Raiser Now At $2,000
November 25, 2008
With new donations received on Monday, the Molino Park Elementary School annual fund raiser has reached $2,000 on its way to a goal of $8,000.
Rather than asking the children and their parents to sell something like in past years, Principal Alice Woodward says the school’s has simply asked parents, grandparents, guardians and their friends and families to make a contribution to the school.
The math is simple, Woodward said. With over 400 children, if each gathers about $20 in donations each, the school will quickly reach its goal of $8,000.
Donations should be sent to school with Molino Park students before Wednesday, donations can be made in the school office, or checks can be mailed to the school. If any community members would like to donate they can make checks to Molino Park PTA and send to 899 Hwy. 97, Molino, FL 32577.
Some of the recent projects funded by the PTA include SuccessMaker software, supplies and materials for each of the school’s teachers, grandparent’s day, field day and more.
As of Monday afternoon, donations were at $2,000.
Monday Evening Fire Destroys Century Home
November 24, 2008
Fire destroyed a single family home on Jefferson Avenue in Century early Monday evening.
The fire was reported just before 6:00 in the 6700 block of Jefferson Avenue. The home was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
A resident of the home said he was watching television just before the fire. He stated that the television “went out”, and he heard a noise in the rear of the home. That, he said, is when he discovered the fire and evacuated everyone inside. The home was occupied by four adults and one child. There were no injuries.
The house was destroyed in the blaze.
Fire units from the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire-Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and Escambia County (FL) EMS responded.
The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: Firefighters fight a house fire on Jefferson Avenue in Century Monday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Monday Was Busy Brush Fire Day In North Escambia
November 24, 2008
Fire departments from across North Escambia responded to a brush fire on Pine Barren Road just after noon Monday, and by mid-afternoon several North Escambia departments were called to assist with a brush fire in Cantonment.
In the Pine Barren Road incident, the fire was partially in a heavily wooded area, and it required a bulldozer from the Florida Division of Forestry to reach it and plow a fire line around it. The fire was reported to be about five acres. One structure was threatened, but firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire around the building.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to the fire, along with the Florida Division of Forestry.
In the Cantonment fire, about five acres were reported to be burning about 2:45 Monday afternoon on New Haven Drive off Chemstrand Road near Solutia. Units on scene reported several explosions, possibly from tires. There were several related vehicle fires reported, including an 18-wheeler loaded with tires. The fire was declared under control at 3:45.
Units from Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Beulah and Ensley were among the departments responding to the New Haven Drive fire. The Walnut Hill station was dispatched to Molino to standby in that area.
Shortly after the Pine Barren Road fire ,the Walnut Hill station also responded to a small fire on Corley Road near the railroad tracks in Walnut Hill.
Pictured top: A Florida Division of Forestry tractor plows a line around a brush fire on Pine Barren Road Monday afternoon. Pictured inset above: Units from multiple departments responded to the fire. Pictured below: The Walnut Hill Station also responded to a brush fire on Corley Road. Here, units investigate a fire in a field near the railroad tracks. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
