Nearly 1,000 Sign Petition To Keep Carver/Century Open
September 18, 2008
The Century Blue Ribbon Committee has hand delivered a petition to the Escambia School District asking the district to keep the doors open next year at Carver/Century K-8 School.
The town’s mayor, Freddie McCall, delivered the petitions containing just a few names shy of 1,000 signatures to the school board.
“I hope they’ll listen and keep our school open,” McCall said.
The closure of Carver/Century K-8 School by next year, if approved by the board, would save the district $680,000. Many of the town’s residents have strongly been against the closure, and the town formed the Century Blue Ribbon Committee to fight the closure.
The signatures were collected over the past few weeks at businesses, churches and other public locations in and around Century.
So What If You Are An AIG Customer?
September 18, 2008
Florida’s insurance commissioner say’s don’t panic if you are an AIG customer, regardless of all the news about the company you might read or watch.
“I have been monitoring the AIG situation very closely; and I have been in contact with my fellow regulators in New York and Pennsylvania – the two states with primary regulatory control over the AIG companies involved,” said Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. ““The news we are continuing to hear is that the primary financial problem is with the AIG holding companies, not the insurance companies, and that the holding company issue is being resolved by the $85 billion loan from the federal government.”
The Federal Reserve has made an $85 million loan to keep AIG afloat and out of bankruptcy.
“We have been told that the insurance companies are solvent and will be able to pay claims. It is important that policyholders continue to pay their premiums to ensure that their coverage does not lapse.
There are 46 AIG subsidiary companies that operate in Florida. Of those, 34 sell property and casualty insurance and 12 sell life and health insurance. Only one, American General Property Insurance Co. of Florida, is headquartered in the state.
“I assure you that, if it should become necessary, we will immediately intervene if we feel that any one of the AIG companies operating in Florida will be unable to pay its claims and fulfill the promises made to its policyholders,” McCarty said.
In the event AIG had failed, there’s a fail safe in Florida. The Florida Insurance Guarantee Association. The state group backs up insurance companies with the ability to levy surcharges on policy holders of other insurance companies.
AIG released the following statement:
“The AIG Board has approved this transaction based on its determination that this is the best alternative for all of AIG’s constituencies, including policyholders, customers, creditors, counterparties, employees and shareholders. AIG is a solid company with over $1 trillion in assets and substantial equity, but it has been recently experiencing serious liquidity issues. We believe the loan, which is backed by profitable, well-capitalized operating subsidiaries with substantial value, will protect all AIG policyholders, address rating agency concerns and give AIG the time necessary to conduct asset sales on an orderly basis. We expect that the proceeds of these sales will be sufficient to repay the loan in full and enable AIG’s businesses to continue as substantial participants in their respective markets. In return for providing this essential support, American taxpayers will receive a substantial majority ownership interest in AIG.
“We commend the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department for taking this decisive action to address AIG’s liquidity needs and broader financial market concerns. We thank them for their leadership during this critical time for the global financial markets. We also thank Governor Paterson, Commissioner Dinallo, Commissioner Ario, the other state Commissioners, and the Office of Thrift Supervision for their willingness to assist AIG.
“Policyholders of AIG companies around the world can rest assured that AIG’s commitments will continue to be honored.”
Several Fire Departments Respond To Bratt Elementary School
September 18, 2008
Several area fire departments responded to Bratt Elementary School early Wednesday afternoon.
When firefighters arrived, they found the smell of smoke in a building at the rear of the school known as the “third grade building” that contains several classrooms and the school’s art and music programs.
Firefighters were unable to locate a fire after a thorough search of the building using a thermal imaging camera. It is believed the source of the smoke was dust burning inside a heating unit that had been remotely started for testing from a school district office in Pensacola.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Department, Century Volunteer Fire Department, McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the call.
State Shuts Down Popular Molino Restaurant For A Day; Owner Says Everything Is OK
September 17, 2008
The discovery of rodent droppings, slime in the ice machine, food at an improper temperature and other violations led to the temporary closure of a popular Molino restaurant by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, but the restaurant’s owner said the inspector’s report was not as bad as it sounds.
During a Monday inspection at Fran’s Country Grill on Highway 29 in Molino, inspectors found 21 critical and 16 non-critical violations of the state’s health codes and ordered the establishment temporarily closed. Fran’s passed a re-inspection Tuesday morning with just one violation and was allowed to reopen.
One critical violation cited was the discovery of rodent activity as evidenced by 28 old droppings on the lid of cracker meal in the kitchen, 50 to 75 fresh and 25 to 50 old rodent droppings on top of a long hamburger press on a kitchen shelf. Inspectors also noted 50 to 100 rodent droppings on the floor of the kitchen, 15 fresh and 25 old rodent droppings underneath a bread rack and along a wall by and surrounding the hot water heater in back food prep room.
“We don’t use that hamburger press for food,” Fran’s Country Grill owner Fran Hampton told NorthEscambia.com. “It’s actually an old one, about two or three feet long, that came with some old stuff I bought. We use it most of the time for a door stop. We have three smaller hamburger presses on the grill.”
A live roach was found crawling on the kitchen counter near the restaurant’s toaster, and two to three live flies were found in the kitchen and back food preparation room, according to the state’s report.
Other critical violations found during Monday’s inspection include slime building up in the ice machine, food stored on the floor and potatoes on the floor in the back food preparation room, a walk-in cooler at 48-49 degrees, milk at 46 degrees and rice pudding at 52 degrees.
Hampton said the rodent dropping problems were located away from the food preparation area in the restaurant, a building that is at least 60 years old. She said the droppings were all found near an outside area where rodents might have managed to get into the old structure. The droppings, she said, were mostly in an area behind a hot water heater.
She said she hired a professional exterminator to eliminate the problem, and 100 percent of the rodents are gone.
“I assure you our kitchen is clean,” Hampton said. “Anybody can come look. I’ve been in the restaurant business almost 50 years; I could not stay in business that long with a dirty kitchen.”
School Board Makes Personnel Changes In North Escambia
September 17, 2008
The Escambia County School Board made several personnel changes at North Escambia Schools during their Tuesday night meeting.
The board made the following appointments and reappointments at North Escambia schools:
- Robert Cassevah, Ernest Ward Middle
- Alison Collier, Molino Park Elementary
- Mark Forsman, Ernest Ward Middle
- Michael Gay, Ernest Ward Middle
- Keith Griffin, Ernest Ward Middle
- Chad Hetherington, Molino Park Elementary
- Sharon Kite, Molino Park Elementary
- Tadd Corder, Carver/Century K-8
- Farron Simpson (part time), Ernest Ward Middle
- Brandy White, Ernest Ward Middle
- Barbara Luker, Northview High
The board made the following transfers:
- Sharon Kite, from Molino Park to Bratt Elementary
- Courtney Reaves, from Carver/Century to McMillan
- Jesse Wolfe from Ernest Ward to Ransom
The board approved a leave of absence without pay for Detria Harris, teacher, at Carver/Century and Shelley Prince, counselor, at Molino Park.
Alisa Chancery was promoted to School Data Specialist II at Northview High. Jo Ellen Gunn was named a teacher’s assistant at Ernest Ward Middle.
The board approved the resignation of Judi McElhaney, a teacher’s assistant at Ernest Ward; and Bonnie Reaves, a teacher’s assistant at Carver/Century.
Northview Downs Neal In V-ball
September 17, 2008
The Northview Chiefs downed W.S. Neal High School in varsity and junior varsity volleyball action Tuesday afternoon.
The varsity Lady Chiefs downed the Lady Eagles 26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19.
Sophomore Ashley Digmon had four digs. Shawna Montgomery had three digs, three blocks, three kills and 11 aces.
Senior Britney Thompson had two blocks, six kills, two digs and 10 aces for Northview. Angela Rodriguez and a single dig and five kills. Catilin Hall, a junior, and a block and 19 assists.
The JV Chiefs beat W.S. Neal 25-17, 25-27, 15-11.
Shaniqua Jones had four kills and four aces. Freshman Raylin Spence and two kills and three aces. Miranda Burkett and one ace and three digs.
Tori Searcy and six aces for the Chiefs, and Kayla Mills had five aces.
Both the JV and Varsity will be on the road Thursday against Walton in district play. The JV plays at 4:30 and the varsity plays at 6:00.
Click here for more photos from one of the JV games.
Pictured above and below: Northview JV Lady Chiefs against W.S. Neal Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos.
United Way Campaign Kicks Off; IP Exceeds Goal With $50,000
September 17, 2008
The International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill has concluded its 2008 United Way campaign, exceeding their fund-raising goal by 26 percent and setting the tone for United Way’s annual fund-raising drive, which kicked off last night in Pensacola.
This year, employees raised $31,526.54 for United Way. With a 60 percent match from the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., the mill’s total contribution is $50,442.46. That is $14,489.40 more than the 2007 campaign.
The total goal for Escambia County United Way is up three percent this year to $2.58 million.
“Now more than ever organizations like the United Way and the agencies they serve need our help,” said Chris Read, mill manager. “We’re proud that our employees recognize this need and chose to give above and beyond our expectations.”
“To have a pacesetter achieve such tremendous results is very encouraging. It shows that even in this tough economic time, our community pulls together to help those who need it most and to solve our most challenging problems. It also is an indicator of the results we are expecting for our overall campaign,” said Jean Norman, executive director of United Way of Escambia County.
United Way supports a long list of non-profit groups in Escambia County, including the American Red Cross, ARC Gateway, Bay Area Food Bay, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Council on Aging, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the Early Learning Coalition and Lakeview Center.
School District Passes $638 Million Budget With No Teacher Raises
September 17, 2008
The Escambia County School District approved a $638 million budget for next year, $13 million less than last year.
A majority of the savings will come from bus route changes and school closures. About $2.5 million was cut from the budget by closing Wedgewood and Brown Barge middle schools in the Pensacola area last year. Another $1.2 million in savings was from the consolidation of school bus routes and school start time changes this year. The closure of Carver/Century K-8 School is expected to save another $680,000 a year, if the school board votes to close that North Escambia School.
Teachers did not get the news they wanted Tuesday night…there’s no money in the budget for teacher raises. That’s unlike last year, when teachers received an eight percent raise. The district’s total cost for teachers and their benefits is about a quarter billion dollars.
The budget includes $163 million for capital outlay projects…renovation and construction projects.
Football: T.R. Miller Downs Ernest Ward Middle
September 17, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School football team lost 36-6 to T.R. Miller Tuesday night in Brewton.
Middle school games are usually played on Thursday nights, but the EWMS game against Miller was moved to Tuesday night because Ernest Ward has an Open House scheduled for Thursday evening.
Flomaton JV With Another Win Over The J. U. Blacksher Bulldogs
September 17, 2008
The JV Canes traveled to Uriah Tuesday evening to take on the J U Blacksher Bulldogs. The Canes record improved to 3-0 after a 28-6 win. The Canes were the first to score early on in the first quarter of play. At halftime the Canes were up 22-0. The Bulldogs would put six on the board in the second half for a final score of 28-6.
The game originally scheduled for next week against Baker will not be played. The next game on the schedule for the JV Canes is September 30 at Jay.
For more photos from the game, click here.
For even more photos, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.zenfolio.com.
Pictured above: The JV Flomaton Hurricanes beat J.U. Blacksher Tuesday afternoon. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
