NorthEscambia.com Publisher Offered Position On Government Consolidation Study Commission
May 15, 2009
One of the 25 seats on the commission created by the Florida Legislature to study governmental consolidation has been offered to the publisher of NorthEscambia.com.
Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White said Thursday that he has offered the position to William Reynolds, publisher of the site that focuses on North Escambia news and issues.
Each commissioner is allowed one appointee to the study commission that was created by the Legislature to draft a proposal that would combine the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County into one, if approved by voters.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would be presented to Escambia County voters.
“I appreciate being offered the opportunity to serve on the study commission,” Reynolds said. “It would be a great opportunity to provide input into the process on behalf of the citizens of District 5 and the readers of NorthEscambia.com.”
Reynolds has not yet accepted the offer to serve on the commission, saying that he wanted to consider the opportunity over the upcoming weekend.
No other appointees to the 25-member panel have been publicly announced. The commission is required to meet at least once per month beginning in July.
Accused Donkey Killer Enters Not Guilty Plea
May 15, 2009
The 17-year old accused of shooting a donkey earlier this month has entered a not guilty plea in Escambia County Circuit Court.
Kyle Mason Driver of River Annex Road, Cantonment, entered the plea through his attorney Gene Mitchell. Driver’s next court appearance was an arraignment hearing on May 22.
Driver, 17, was originally charged as a juvenile, but he now faces charges as an adult in Escambia County Circuit Court on three charges related to the May 2 shooting death of the donkey on River Annex Road near Jacks Branch Road. The shooting happened within minutes of the birth of J.B., a white donkey that became a local media celebrity of sorts.
Driver is now facing adult charges of felony animal cruelty, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a minor.
Driver turned himself in to the Escambia County Jail May 6 about two hours after NorthEscambia.com published his photo and a plea for the public’s help in locating him from the Sheriff’s Department. He was released from jail on $6,000 bond.
Deputies say Driver confessed to the crime, and a witness provided deputies with the .22 caliber weapon used in the shooting.
JB the donkey continues to do well in the care of a Panhandle Equine Rescue volunteer.
Economic Plan Would Combine Century, Escambia And Pensacola Efforts
May 15, 2009
Details have emerged about an economic development plan to be presented next week by Escambia Commissioner Gene Valentino at a joint meeting of the commission and the Pensacola City Council. The plan would see Century, Escambia County and Pensacola working together on economic development.
Under the plan, an independent economic development authority — the Pensacola Escambia Development Authority (PEDA) — to be led by a 15 member board with a $300,000 to $600,000 budget.
Each of the five county commissioners would appoint one member, Pensacola City Council two representatives and the Century Town Council would appoint one. The board members would select three persons with experience in military, education and minority business interests. The board would accept nominations from the community from “a variety of current future business assets” to serve in the four remaining board seats for a total of 15 members.
The majority of the funding for PEDA would come from a telecommunications service tax and franchise taxes on electric and gas service. It is expected that the increased taxes will cost the average Escambia household about $1.50 per month average in utility bill increases. A one percent utility franchise fee increase would net the commission about $6 million per year to use as economic incentives to lure industry.
PEDA would operate under Florida’s Sunshine laws, allowing public access to meetings and documents. There are exceptions to Florida’s public records laws that allow for the protection of proprietary information and trade secrets.
The group would hire a director to be the “single point person”. The director and the board will provide “a single point of contact for issues related to economic development”.
“PEDA is about tearing down walls and barriers and perceptions and opening up the process to everyone,” states the proposal to be presented at the joint city-county meeting next week. “Today, we have an opportunity to shake off the economic development strategy of the past and create a new way of competing in an age where talent is king, entrepreneurship is crucial, and innovation must be in our community DNA.”
Currently, Escambia County relies on the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce for economic development. The chamber presented an economic development plan to the commission in late March, but commissioners criticized the plan, including Valentino who called it a “pay to play” plan where a few private individuals put up money for development, expecting personal gain in return.
Click here to watch the presentation video.
Read the proposal by clicking here (2.1Mb pdf).
Pictured top: A screen from the presentation of a new economic development proposal that will be presented Tuesday at a joint Escambia County Commission – Pensacola City Council meeting.
Day Honors Officers Killed On Duty; One Sheriff Died In North Escambia
May 15, 2009
Over 25 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Escambia County, including a sheriff shot to death in North Escambia.
Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor law officers killed in the line of duty. Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Fraternal Order of Police gathered outside the department’s headquarters in Pensacola yesterday to honor the fallen officers.
Since 1923, 11 Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty. Another 13 Pensacola Police Department Officers have been killed since 1889 and one constable was killed on duty in 1955.
An Escambia County, Alabama, sheriff was shot and killed in North Escambia near Bluff Springs on July 3, 1895.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff E.S. McMillan was shot and killed as he and a posse searched for the notorious train robber nicknamed “Railroad Bill.” In 1893, Railroad Bill had shot and wounded a deputy sheriff who confronted him at a Bluff Springs home about not paying taxes on his weapon. He then fled and spent the next two years illegally riding Alabama freighters, robbing trains, and engaging in gun fights with lawmen.
In July of 1895, Sheriff McMillan received a tip that Railroad Bill was hiding out in Bluff Springs, Florida, and went with a posse to arrest him. As Sheriff McMillan walked along the railroad tracks, the suspect, who was hiding behind a tree, opened fire with a Winchester rifle. Sheriff McMillan was struck and succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Railroad Bill was later gunned down by a host of law enforcement officers.
McMillan is the only officer from Escambia County, Alabama, to ever die in the line of duty.
NHS Holds Spring Performing Arts Concert
May 15, 2009
From The Who to George Strait to Miley Cyrus, the Northview Performing Arts Spring Concert featured music from a variety of artists Thursday night. Performers included members of the chorus, guitar ensemble and jazz combo from Northview High School.
For a photo gallery from the concert, click here.
Pictured above and below: The Northview Performing Arts Spring Concert Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Help The Library: Take a Survey
May 15, 2009
The West Florida Library is taking part in a nationwide study to determine how people use the library’s Internet and computer services and how to improve upon those services.
The West Florida Library, including the Century Library, is one of about 600 libraries in the country that are participating in the survey funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. The data is being collected by the University of Washington.
To take the survey, click here to visit the library web site and click the “Take Our Survey” button. The survey take about 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous.
EWMS Drama Club Presents First Major Production
May 15, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club presents the play “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” Thursday evening.
North Escambia firefighters were invited to attend the play for free after responding to a lightning strike at the school earlier in the day.
For a photo gallery from Wednesday’s dress rehearsal for the play, click here.
Cast members in the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club’s presentation of “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” included:
- Father Tubbs – Dezarae Turner
- Mother Tubbs – Shalmali Bhadkamkar
- Isadora Snapdragon – Hannah Ziglar
- Preacher Cribbs – Kent Smith
- Jubilee – Danielle Scott
- Smiling Billy Tapshoes – Lily Townson
- Mattie Busby – Lauryn Walker
- Rudolph Von Doberman – Anna Donald
- Diamond-Tooth Polly – Rachel Presley
- Dizzy Esther – Chelsea Ward
- Rags – Kristen Byrd
- Fred – Chelsea Turner
- Mrs. Pantheon – Audrey Byrd
- Zenobia - Anna Fischer
- Soldier Boy – Lily Townson
Pictured: A scene from the play “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Invited To Attend Play For Free
May 14, 2009
All North Escambia firefighters are invited to attend a Drama Club play for free tonight at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry is extending the invitation as a “thank you” for the response to a lightning strike at her school this afternoon.
Firefighters and one guest each may attend for free by showing an official ID at door.
Click here for information about the play and click here for the story about the lightning strike.
Lightning Strike Reported At Ernest Ward Middle School; No Injuries, No Fire
May 14, 2009
(Updated 3:15 p.m.) There was no damage and no injuries from a reported lightning strike at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill this afternoon.
Fire departments from across the area were dispatched to Ernest Ward Middle School at 2:15 this afternoon after several teachers and staff members reported seeing a flash and hearing the strike. The strike caused the school’s fire alarm system to activate.
There were no injuries and no fire reported. Firemen searched the entire main building, including the attic, and surrounding areas. They were unable to find any damage or the exact point of the lightning strike.
Several computers in the main building were reported to be damaged by the lightning strike.
The school was not evacuated due to heavy rain and more dangerous lightning still in the area at the time. School dismissed at the end of the school day as normal.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino and Century stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to the call.
Pictured top: Heavy rain falls as the first fire truck arrives on scene in at a reported lightning strike at Ernest Ward Middle School this afternoon. Pictured middle: Firemen enter the building. Picture below: Firemen make access to the school attic to search for any problems. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Gindl-Perry Named Escambia County’s Principal Of The Year
May 14, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School principal, Nancy Gindl-Perry, has been named as Escambia County’s Principal of the Year.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas made the announcement Wednesday, along with announcing that Regina Lipnick, assistant principal at Bailey Middle, is the Assistant Principal of the Year.
“Our school district is blessed with a number of excellent school administrators,” Thomas said. “These are two outstanding individuals who will represent well the administrative talent we have in our schools.”
“I could not have done it without a fine faculty and staff,” Perry said. “Behind every principal are the people that make a school great.”
Known for calling Ernest Ward students as “my babies”, Perry will compete against principals from 66 other districts in Florida for state honors.
The Florida Department of Education annually honors principals and assistant principals from each of the state’s 67 school districts for their exemplary contribution to students, schools, and communities. Award criteria also include innovative leadership, dedication to academic excellence, and increased student performance.
Earlier this year, Perry received what was, without a doubt, the most unique award of her entire educational career. She was presented with the “Golden Cow Dung Award” by members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color. Perry received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA.
Pictured: Escambia County’s Principal of the Year, Nancy Gindl-Perry from Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: Perry received the “Golden Cow Dung Award” earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
