Today Is Last Day To Register To Vote In August Primaries
July 28, 2008
Today, is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for those who wish to cast a ballot in the August 26 primary election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed on or before July 28th in order for them to be effective for the August 26 election, according to Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.. Updates to a voter’s address, name, and signature are permitted after the book closing deadline.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record.
Visit www.EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Mail the completed application no later than July today to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola.
You can register in person at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental
offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit www.EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
Locations that you can register to vote in North Escambia include:
- Public Library, Century Branch – 7991 N Century Blvd.
- Tax Collector Office, Century Courthouse
- Crossroads Service Center – 6470 Highway 29 N Molino
- Mitchells Grocery & Seafood – 8221 N Century Blvd.
- Florida Department of Motor Vehicles – 7500 N. Century Blvd.
The Century Library, while listed as a place to register to vote, is not open on Mondays.
County Won’t Hire Smokers Under New Policy; Insurance Changes Coming
July 27, 2008
No smoking…that’s the word from the Escambia County Commission. If you smoke, don’t expect to get an Escambia County job.
The county has adopted a strict no smoking policy effective October 1. The mandatory drug test will include a test for tobacco usage after that date. If a person tests positive for tobacco, they will not be hired for any county position.
The no smoking policies adopted by the commission go even further. Effective October 1, there will be no smoking within 50 feet of an entrance or exit of any county building. That ban will be expanded in 2010 to include all county property…no county employee may smoke anywhere on county property.
The no smoking rules are part of a sweeping change to the county’s health benefits, all designed to improved employee health and save money.
County employee health insurance will be going up on October 1 by an average of almost 25 percent. An employee that participates in the top-tier plan with single coverage will see their rates jump for $60 a month to almost $80 a month.
Almost 200 Medicare-eligible retirees that are on the county’s health plan will face a $50 a month increase or be forced to switch plans to one called BlueMedicare at an increase of $16 per month.
Other parts of the county’s health plan changes include:
- Consolidate life insurance coverage under a single provider, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, in exchange for which BCBS will donate $250,000 for the construction of wellness centers in the county, with the wellness centers to be equipped with funding from the Employee Morale & Wellness Fund.
- Attempt to increase the size of the health insurance pool through alliances with other entities such as the School Board and the City of Pensacola.
- Investigate consolidating the health and dental Insurances under a single carrier.
- Make mandatory the pre-taxing of employee deductions for health, life, dental, and vision (insurance), which means the deductions can only be changed during open enrollment or for a qualifying event; all other forms of benefit deductions will remain voluntary.
- In fiscal year 2009-2010, offer employees a tobacco-free discount of 5% on the employees’ portion of the health insurance, with employees to sign an affidavit attesting to their commitment to remain tobacco free to receive the discount, with the county to randomly drug-test employees to ensure compliance, and with employees found in non-compliance to lose their discount.
- In fiscal year 2009-2010, drop the county-sponsored Long-Term Disability Program and develop an optional program for employees to buy into. If possible, this program will be discontinued in fiscal year 2008-2009, at a cost savings to the county of approximately $70,000.
Faith Bible Baptist Youth Attend Camp; Walk The Purple People Bridge
July 27, 2008
The youth from Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs recently returned from a week long youth trip.
The group of 10 youth and two leaders visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. The museums presents a scientific approach to Biblical creation.
“It was good to see the things that we know from the Bible confirmed in science. Everything makes sense when you start with the Bible and go on from there,” said Faith Bible Baptist youth member Ryne Barrow, 17.
While at the museum, the youth attended a planetarium presentation and spent time in the museum’s expansive botanical garden. Afterwards, they visited Newport on Levee and cross the Purple People Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge connecting two states. The 2,670 foot long purple-painted bridge stretches across the Ohio River from Newport, Kentucky, to Cincinnati, Ohio.
The youth attended church services at Salem Baptist Church in Cincinnati, with pastor Phillip Blackwell. Sunday evening, the Faith Bible youth helped with Salem Baptist’s Vacation Bible School country fair by working booths, giving out prizes, serving food and cleaning up.
The youth then spent five days at Camp Chautauqua in Miamisburg, Ohio, where they enjoyed morning and evening chapel services. The camp was Olympic themed using the phrase “Go for the gold” based on 2 Timothy 4:7-8 which says in part “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
The speaker for Monday and Tuesday was Dr. David McCoy, pastor of People’s Baptist Church of McDonough, Georgia.Wednesday and Thursday’s chapel service were brought by Senior Pastor Jerry Siler and by Bro. Kirk Kirkland, both of Cornerstone Baptist Temple of Dayton, Ohio.
While at camp, Kolbi Cobb was nominated by her peers to a court of four out of 430 teens as camp queen. The nomination was based on participation, character and attitude. This was Kolbi’s second consecutive year to be nominated for camp queen.
Camp activities included tournament softball, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball. The senior girls won a gold medal in softball and basketball, while the senior boys won gold in dodgeball.
The teens also enjoyed Frisbee golf, miniature golf, swimming, zip line, paint ball, air hockey, bowling and many other activities. Their daily schedule began at 7:00 a.m. and sometimes continued until 2:00 a.m. with activities.
The Faith Bible Baptist Church teens attending were: Olivia Nolen, Kolbi Cobb, Jordyn Dunsford, Erin Fremin, Lauren Howell, Victoria Barrow, Jamie Gafford, Zach Barrow, Ryne Barrow and Blake Wiggins. They were accompanied by youth leaders Jeremy and Elizabeth Bondurant.
Robert Barrow in pastor of Faith Bible Baptist Church.
Submitted photos and information by Elizabeth Bondurant.
Picture above outside the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, are Faith Bible Baptist Church members (front, L-R) Lauren Howell, Jordyn Dunsford, Jamie Gafford, Zach Barrow, Erin Fremin, Olivia Nolen, (back, L-R) Jeremy Bondurant, Ryne Barrow, Blake Wiggins, Elizabeth Bondurant, Victoria Barrow and Kolbi Cobb. Submitted photo.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Continues Sunday
July 27, 2008
The Greater Escambia Council for the Arts performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues today and Sunday at Neal High School in Brewton.
Composed in 1976, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a sensory overload. The show is a Biblical story woven with a colorful cacophony of lights, music, and dancing. You can experience the dream as you are taken back to ancient Israel and Egypt in a blaze of color. The one remaining performance is Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the auditorium at Neal High School in Brewton. Tickets are eight dollars for adults, and six dollars for children under 12.
Rehearsals for the production began in early June with a rigorous schedule of dance, blocking, and music practices. A difficult show requires talented actors; fortunately, the Escambia county has always faithfully provided these.
One such talented person is Atmore native Perry Jones, who takes the title role of Joseph. Alongside Jones are Ellen Johnson and Kate Sherrill who narrate the show.
Other notable characters are Pharaoh, played by John Mascara, an ex-off-Broadway actor from Walnut Hill, Fl; Potiphar, played by Rev. Mike McMorris; Mrs. Potiphar, played by Kris Woods; and Jacob, played by Norman Boyd.
The cast also includes the Hon. Steve Billy, the Hon. Dave Jordan, Marnin and Jerry Gehman, Timothy Huber, Daniel and Phil Johnson, Nathan Lindsey, and Joseph Watson as Joseph’s brothers. The chorus also features the talents of Britney and Pam Dees, Delilah Holloway, Sharon Poulsen, Anne and Meg Sherrill, Gilda Stubben, and Kaitlyn Woods. A children’s ensemble will also be prominently featured. The show is directed by Phil Johnson.
For further information about the show, tickets, or the Greater Escambia Council for the Arts, call director Phil Johnson at (251) 368-3899, publicity officer Kate Sherrill at (251) 294-3555, or visit www.gecarts.com.
Submitted story and photos.
Pictured above (L-R): Joseph Watson, Daniel Johnson, Judge Dave Jordan, John Mascara, Timothy Huber, Marvin Gehman, and Jerry Gehman, Phil Johnson, and Nathan Lindsey. Pictured below: The cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
More Pot Plants Found Near Jay Friday; Total Value: Almost $3 Million
July 26, 2008
A third marijuana field located near Jay was found Friday, bringing the total value of plants destroyed this week to nearly $3 million.
Santa Rosa County deputies located another 249 plants Friday afternoon with the aid of an air search of an area near Bud Diamond Road in the Brownsdale community just southwest of Jay.
That brought the total number of marijuana plants located by deputies this week to just over 1,500.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department destroyed about $2 million worth marijuana plants found near Jay Wednesday night.
The 1,183 plants were located in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay near Bud Diamond Road. Deputies removed the plants Wednesday night after an anonymous tip led them to the 80 by 40 foot patch deep in the woods. Deputies said they did not immediately name any suspects in connection with the plants, some of which were up to 11 feet tall.
Deputies did not say if this major drug find was related to the arrest of a Jay man earlier this week for the cultivation of about 85 marijuana plants. Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony in connection with 85 pot plants located in a wooded area on Bud Diamond Road near Chumuckla Highway, very near Wednesday night’s find. To read the story about Godwin and the 85 marijuana plants, click here.
Saturday: Free Kid’s Crusade In Century; Water Day In Molino
July 26, 2008
There’s plenty for kids in Century or Molino to do Saturday. A Century church has a day-long water day planned, and a Molino Church has six hours of wet fun planned with a Water Day.
The Abundant Life Assembly of God will be holding a Kid’s Crusade “Operation Freedom” for ages five to 12 Saturday from 8:00 until 5:00. The event is free. To pre-register, call 256-5227. The church is located at 8040 North Century Boulevard.
CrossFaith Church in Molino will hold a Water Day with lots of wet activities for children. The event will be Saturday from 9:00 until 3:00 for children ages five to 12. There is a $5 charge, which includes lunch. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The church is located at 5701 North Highway 29.
Two Foley Men Arrested For Burglary After Manhunt In McDavid
July 25, 2008
Two Foley men were arrested and charged with burglary after a brief manhunt in the McDavid area Thursday morning.
Calvin Lynn Foote (pictured above left), 37, of Magnolia Acres Drive in Foley and Shannon Devon Bryars, 37, of McDuffy Road in Foley, were both charged with burglary. Bryars (pictured right) was also charged with obstruction by a disguised person.
The incident began about 9:40 a.m. with calls to the sheriff’s department from a resident on Roach Road who reported that two men rang her doorbell and attempted to enter her home when she answered. Another resident on Barnes Road just off Cox Road reported that two men rang her doorbell and ran toward a wooded area when they realized that someone was home.
Units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Flomaton Police Department setup a perimeter around the area. Search dogs from the Century Correctional Institute were brought to the scene. They, along with the Escambia Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter, searched the area. The K-9 unit was able to locate and apprehend the suspects in a wooded area between Barnes Road and Cox Road.
Preliminary information indicated that the two men may be wanted by other agencies for other burglaries. Their truck was located nearby, full of items that may have been from other burglaries.
Only Two People Show Up For Carver/Century School Support Rally
July 25, 2008
Only two people showed up Thursday night at a community rally in support of keeping Carver/Century K-8 School open beyond this school year. The two people that attended the meeting are both members of the 10 member committee that sponsored the rally.
When NorthEscambia.com arrived at 6:20 Thursday evening at Carver/Century for the 6:30 meeting, we could find no one. The cafeteria where the meeting was to be held was locked and dark.
Century Blue Ribbon Committee members Laura Nelson and Brenda Spencer arrived a short time later, but nobody else showed up. Nelson and Spencer are just two of the 10 member committee that was formed by the town council to work toward saving the school.
Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul had announced his intentions to call for the closure of the school back in May. That recommendation from Paul to the school board was delayed, with Paul deciding to keep the school open for the 2008-2009 school year. He is now expected to recommend closing the school for the 2009-2010 school year at the school board’s August 18 meeting. In the meantime, Carver/Century’s school grade from the Florida Department of Education soared from an “F” to a “B’.
Both Nelson and Spencer agreed Thursday night that people did not show up for the rally in support of the school because of the increased school grade and the fact that the school will be open this school year.
“We need to get the community together,” Spencer said. “It is not over yet. They are still going to try to close this school.”
“Before he (Paul) announced that the school would be open this year, it was an emergency situation and over 70 people came out in support of the school at our last meeting,” Nelson said. “People still need to get involved; it is still important.”
“We need to try to get the community to rally together and have something to lean on,” Spencer said. “It is important that people don’t forget about the school. Don’t relax; don’t let your guard down. We can’t relax.”
The Blue Ribbon Committee has other community events planned, including movie nights every Friday night at New Life Baptist Church and a Community Market Day in the Park at Roadside Park every other Saturday. The next market day will be August 2.
The members of the Blue Ribbon Committee are Mayor Freddie McCall; Principal Jeff Garthwaite, Paula Jernigan, Rev. Wiillie Carter, Laura Nelson, Brenda Spencer, Henry Hawkins; Mrs. Reginald McCants, Marilyn Robinson and Rev. Irwin Stallworth.
We did not have phone numbers immediately available for all of the Blue Ribbon Committee members, but NorthEscambia.com attempted to contact some of the eight committee members not present at the rally. As we stood outside the locked school Thursday evening, we were not able to reach anyone but Mayor Freddie McCall.
McCall said he was planning to attend the meeting. But he said he had a last minute family emergency that prevented him from attending.
Nelson and Spencer said they would attempt to reschedule the rally in the near future.
Free Movie Night Tonight
July 25, 2008
The Century Blue Ribbon Committee will present another Friday free movie night.
The movie will be show at 6:30 tonight at the New Life Baptist Church in the old Century High School.
The movie is scheduled to be “A Walk to Remember”. In the movie, love brings together what peer pressure and lifestyles seek to keep apart in this coming-of-age story based on the bestselling book. Teen idol Shane West and multiplatinum recording star Mandy Moore star as two high schoolers — she a straitlaced preacher’s daughter and he an unmotivated delinquent. When events thrust him into her world he begins an unexpected journey he’ll never forget.
Pot Plants Valued At About $2 Million
July 25, 2008
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department has destroyed about $2 million worth marijuana plants found near Jay.
The 1,183 plants were located in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay near Bud Diamond Road. Deputies removed the plants Wednesday night after an anonymous tip led them to the 80 b 40 foot patch deep in the woods. Deputies said they did not immediately name any suspects in connection with the plants, some of which were up to 11 feet tall.
Deputies did not say if this major drug find was related to the arrest of a Jay man earlier this week for the cultivation of about 85 marijuana plants. Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony in connection with 85 pot plants located in a wooded area on Bud Diamond Road near Chumuckla Highway, very near Wednesday night’s find. To read the story about Godwin and the 85 marijuana plants, click here.