Century Wreck Injures Four
November 20, 2009
(Updated with names) Four people were injured in a two vehicle accident late Friday afternoon on East Highway 4 in Century.
The four were in a Nissan car T-boned by a GMC Sierra pickup truck at the intersection of Old Flomaton Road and East Highway 4. The accident happened about 4:30 when the driver of the Nissan, Ryan D. Rodarte, 23, of Madison, Alabama, ran the stop sign at the end of Old Flomaton Road and traveled into the path of the pickup traveling east on Highway 4. The force of the impact sent the car about 85 feet into a nearby ditch.
Rodarte and and three passengers in the car were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital. The Florida Highway Patrol identified the passengers as Jessica J. Imholz, 17, of Blythewood, South Carolina; Demario Jordain, 18, of Columbia, South Carolina; and Heather Dorner, 19, of Madison, Alabama. Imholz’s injuries were classified as severe; she was transferred by LifeFlight from Jay Hospital to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The driver of the 2004 pickup, Jewitt W. Noland, 47, of Mary Ester, Florida, received only minor injuries in the accident. Noland was charged with driving with a suspended license. Rodarte, the driver of the Nissan, was treated on the scene and then charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the call.
Pictured above: Four people were injured in the this Nissan in a two vehicle accident late Friday afternoon in Century. Pictured below: The driver of this GMC truck was not injured. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Student Leaders Discuss Their School With Malcolm Thomas
November 20, 2009
Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas sat down with student leaders at Northview High School Thursday morning to learn more about what they think about their school.
Just over a dozen students representing various clubs, organizations and sports were chosen for the round table discussion with Thomas.
“I feel like our teachers try really hard,” junior Sarah Killam told Thomas.
“So they are pushing you? Tell me about that,” the superintendent replied.
“It’s just different now because of the those scores,” she said. Last year, Northview was the only high school in the county to receive a “D” grade from the Florida Department of Education.
“You are one of my target schools for needing improvement,” Thomas told Killam. “This year, we are very serious about what we are doing. We are going to raise the rigor and make sure you are challenged.”
Students were encouraged to speak openly and freely with Thomas without school staff or faculty present.
Thomas is holding the discussions at each high school in the county, mostly with school leadership classes.
Pictured top and bottom: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas holds a discussion with Northview High School students Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Junior Sarah Killam talks to Thomas. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jeff Miller: Obama Stimulus Money Spent In Florida Places That Don’t Exist
November 20, 2009
In his latest newsletter, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller looks at the Obama administration’s Recovery.gov website which he says shows that $11 million in federal stimulus dollars were spent in Florida Congressional districts that do not exist.
The following was submitted by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla:
For weeks, President Obama has told us that his $787 billion “stimulus” package has saved or created over a million jobs. As proof, the Administration’s website Recovery.gov gave us the chance to look at the numbers.
So this week I looked through the President’s job claims. I learned that 52 jobs were saved or created in the 34th Congressional District of Florida. 5 jobs created in the 86th District. 46 in District 00. And although $460,000 of your tax dollars were spent in the 53rd District, unfortunately zero jobs were saved.
The problem is, these congressional districts do not exist.
Florida only has TWENTY-FIVE congressional districts.
In fact, according to Recovery.gov, over $11 million has been spent in Florida in districts that just aren’t there.
How can the President and Majority Party in Congress expect us to believe their dubious jobs-created claims when their own numbers are patently false? How can we trust the Administration to run the stimulus when they can’t even properly manage their own website?
Even the Obama Administration is perplexed. The chief federal oversight official for the stimulus program, Recovery Board Chairman Earl Devaney, confirms that it is impossible to certify that the President’s job claims are accurate or auditable. Ed Pound, the communications director for the Recovery.gov website, said he had no idea how these fake congressional districts received stimulus money. When asked by the New Orleans Times Picayune why recipients would plug-in phantom districts, Pound responded, “who knows, man, who really knows?”
I would say to Mr. Pound that the American people know. We know that the Administration is pulling a “jobs created or saved” number out of thin air despite the fact that the unemployment rate remains high. The people of Florida know. We know that although Democrats represent only 10 of Florida’s 25 districts, their districts received 60% of the stimulus funds.
These numbers reek of partisanship and potential corruption.
Instead of spending trillions of taxpayer dollars on programs that do not and will not create jobs, the President should focus on cutting taxes on small businesses and supporting an American economy that will create and sustain jobs. Republicans have a plan that will do just that.
*To take a look at your tax dollars hard at work in non-existent Florida districts, visit: http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=stateSummaryAllCD&statecode=FL
Deputies Target Speeders
November 20, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn was working radar Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill in response to community complaints.
At a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Mayhaw Road resident Anthony Ford told Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and Chief Deputy Bill Chavers that speeding was a problem on the road, which runs between North Highway 99 and Highway 164. Ford expressed concerns over the safety of children that live in the area.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies are also using radar to enforce speed limits on other North Escambia roads.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn finds the speed of a passing truck to be 24 mph Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill. The posted speed on the road is 40 mph. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Mmmm, Turkey: Byrneville Community Thanksgiving Meal For Seniors
November 20, 2009
Beulah Chapel Assembly of God held its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch for Byrneville senior citizens Thursday. Dozens of seniors attended the lunch, which featured a full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, dressing and a variety of side dishes and desserts. Firemen from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, including the crew of Engine 519, assisted church members in serving the lunches. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians Perform At Century Library
November 20, 2009
The Poarch Creek Indians presented pow wow dances Thursday at the Century Branch Library.
Several dozen children enjoyed the performance at the library. For a complete photo gallery, click here.
The Century Branch Library and the other libraries in the West Florida Public Library system will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.
Pictured above: A Poarch Creek Indian dancer performs at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: A packed house for the performance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
16-Year Old Injured In Molino Wreck
November 19, 2009
A young driver was injured in a single vehicle accident in Molino Thursday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Francis Marquis, 16, of Cantonment, was northbound on Schifko Road at about 6:50 a.m. when she lost control, struck a dirt embankment and overturned. Her 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo came to rest upright in the middle of Schifko Road, just south of Barrineau Park Road.
Marquis, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance. There were no passengers in the vehicle. LifeFlight was called to the scene, but was canceled.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Engine 1819 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
Pictured above and below: A Cantonment teen was injured in this Thursday morning accident in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Urgent Plea: Heaters, Blankets Needed Now To Keep Elderly Warm
November 19, 2009
The Council on Aging of West Florida is seeking donations of small electric space heaters, blankets and funds to help the elderly avoid the serious health problems that can result from exposure to the cold.
Heaters and blankets can be dropped off at any location of Council on Aging of West Florida, including 6025 Industrial Boulevard In Century and 132 Mintz Lane in Cantonment. Only new items can be accepted.
Financial donations can be sent to Council on Aging of West Florida, PO Box 17066, Pensacola, FL 32522-7066 or made online at www.coawfla.org.
Seniors in need of a heater, blanket or other assistance should call 432-1475.
Government Consolidation: North Escambia Effects; Some Members Against
November 19, 2009
The Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission is continuing to develop a consolidation plan that could, with voter approval, combine Escambia County, Century and Pensacola into one entity.
Today, in part two of a series here on NorthEscambia.com, we’ll take a look at some of the commission’s latest activities and recommendations and what they might mean to residents of North Escambia, including the residents of Century. To see part one of this series, click here.
If the consolidation issue is to be presented to voters, the study committee must create a plan to be presented to the Florida Legislature in January. Several months and hours of meetings into the process, not all of the committee’s 25 members are in favor of creating that plan.
At a recent meeting of the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission, four of 19 committees did not vote in favor of the commission continuing the task of developing the consolidation plan.
“There were those that came onto this commission with preconceived notions on both sides, both for and against,” Commission Chairman Kenneth Bell told NorthEscambia.com. “Four votes against continuing is not dissension in a group of that size. I think that, overall, the group is fairly solid.”
“I do not know if I am for or against it,” Jimmy Cunningham of Molino said. Cunningham holds one of the 25 seats on the commission as a representative of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. He addressed some of the major concerns of consolidation recently with the Century Town Council.
“There will be special taxing districts with taxes proportionate to the services provided,’ Cunningham said. The plan calls for the creation of urban and rural districts. Urban districts, for instance, that have more access to law enforcement and faster response times will pay more taxes than a rural district with slower response times and fewer deputies. Current city residents would pay more fire tax because of a higher density of fire stations manned by paid firefighters, while rural areas would pay less fire tax to support volunteer-staffed fire departments.
As for the fire departments, he said the consolidated government model calls for the continuation of both paid and volunteer departments.
Another major point, Cunningham said, relates to existing debt obligations.
“Pensacola’s indebtedness can not be transferred to us in rural Escambia County,” he said.
The existing liabilities of the city, such as their pension plan and the Maritime Park, would remain within the boundaries of the present city. Persons that live in Pensacola now would be responsible for the taxes and fees needed to pay for the city’s pension plan and debts like the Maritime Park, while residents outside the current city would not.
If the voters in Century vote against consolidation, Cunningham told the town’s council, “the town of Century will stand just like it is”. If Century’s voters vote for consolidation, and it is approved in Escambia County or Pensacola, the town of Century would be dissolved into the consolidated government.
In theory, if voters in Pensacola and Century should approve consolidation and Escambia voters disapproved, Century and Pensacola would be combined under one government while Escambia County could operate as it does now.
“That would be an interesting scenario,” Bell said. “But I don’t see that happening.”
Northview High Honors Veterans
November 19, 2009
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday morning at the school.
During the program, which was rescheduled from last week due to Tropical Storm Ida, Walnut Hill resident Billy G. Ward recounted his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington. Ward explained each leg of the journey while the Northview students viewed photos Ward took for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photos, click here.
Pictured above: Veteran Billy G. Ward explains photos taken for NorthEscambia.com on his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight trip to Washington. Ward was the guest speaker at Northview High School’s annual Veterans Day program held Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.