Camp Fire Celebrates One Year In Century
May 17, 2009
The Camp Fire USA Gulf Wind Council celebrated the first anniversary of the Century Early Learning Center Saturday.
“Camp Fire USA Gulf Wind Council is dedicated to providing quality learning experiences to the children in Century, said Tammy Byrer, Camp Fire USA program director. National, about 750,000 children and youth take part in Camp Fire programs annually.
For more information about Camp Fire programs, call Pam Townson, local director, at (850) 256-0953. The Century Early Learning Center is located at 6031 Industrial Boulevard in Century.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NJROTC Cadets Honored
May 17, 2009
Several Northview and Escambia County High School NJROTC cadets were honored for their service Saturday morning at a service at the Atmore City Hall.
The cadets were honored by the Atmore Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.
The NJROTC cadets honored were:
- VFW Medal for Military Excellence: Brett Rolin, NHS
- VFW Medal for Scholastic Excellence: Charles Lee, NHS
- American Legion Medal for Scholastic Excellence: Elliot Ross, NHS
- VFW Medal for Scholastic Excellence: Aaron Hamond, NHS
- American Legion Medal for Military Excellence: Charles Rolin, NHS
- American Legion Medal for Military Excellence: Leslie Smith, ECHS
- American Legion Medal for Scholastic Excellence: Michael McCurdy, ECHS
- VFW Medal for Military Excellence: Rickie Hartley, ECHS
For a photo gallery from Saturday’s ceremony and a preceding parade, click here.
Pictured above: Some of the NJROTC cadets honored Saturday morning in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Keeping Score: Only One Greg Evers Bill Passes
May 16, 2009
State Rep. Greg Evers, whose district includes North Escambia, had just one personally sponsored bill that passed the Florida Legislature during the 2009 session.
Evers has announced that he is running for the State Senate seat currently held by Durrell Peaden, Jr. who is unable to seek re-election due to term limits. State Rep. Dave Murzin has announced his intent to seek the seat as well. For a look at Murzin’s House record, click here.
The only bill sponsored by Evers that passed the House was the bill to create an Escambia County government consolidation committee. Five of his other six bills died in committee, and one was withdrawn.
Here is the breakdown of Evers’ bills in the legislature this past session:
- HB 501: Early Learning — Transfer duties of early learning coalitions to the Agency for Workforce Innovation; Bill died in PreK-12 Policy Committee
- HB 923: Regulation of Hoisting Equipment Used in Construction, Demolition, or Excavation Work — Died in Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee
- HB 1345: Motor Vehicle Weights –Increase vehicle maximum gross weights up to 88,000 pounds; Withdrawn by Evers
- HB 1347: Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Parks; Imposed more restrictions on such; Died in Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
- HB 1429: North Okaloosa Fire District, Okaloosa County — Increase fees in district; Died in Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee
- HB 1499: Legislature — Require legislative committees to take an oath of truthfulness; Died in Governmental Affairs Policy Committee
Evers serves as chairman of the Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy Committee that had one bill tabled:
- CS/CS/HB 7029: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles — Provides for implementation of litigation settlement; Tabled April 28.
Evers was co-sponsor on two bills, only one of which passed:
- CS/HB 515: Oil and Gas Production Taxes — Tax credits for oil producers in Florida; Passed
- CS/CS/HB 1161: Traffic Offenses — Impose penalties for non-criminal traffic infractions that cause serious injury or death; Died pending review.
Ever’s district includes north and central Escambia County, most of Santa Rosa County except for the coast, and a portion of northwest Okaloosa County.
Pictured below: Evers’ district.
Camp Fire Century Learning Center To Celebrate First Year
May 16, 2009
The Camp Fire USA Gulf Wind Council will celebrate the first anniversary of the Century Early Learning Center next today.
The entire community is welcome to take part in the celebration that will include a variety of events including games, activities like a bounce house for the children, and barbecue for sale.
“Camp Fire USA Gulf Wind Council is dedicated to providing quality learning experiences to the children in Century, said Tammy Byrer, Camp Fire USA program director. National, about 750,000 children and youth take part in Camp Fire programs annual.
The celebration event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m today.
For more information, call Pam Townson, local director, at (850) 256-0953.
The Century Early Learning Center is located at 6031 Industrial Boulevard in Century.
Master Gardener Day Today
May 16, 2009
The Escambia County Master Gardeners will host a Spring Garden Festival Vendor Day today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Many local nurseries and businesses will showcase plants, garden accessories and other gardening-related items. Home gardeners will be able to purchase high quality plants from local sources. Master Gardeners will lead tours and answer questions.
Featured plants include Japanese maples, flowering trees, shrubs, perennials, tropicals, natives and hanging baskets.
Job Well Done: Northview Holds ESE Award Program
May 16, 2009
Northview High School held a special ESE awards ceremony Friday afternoon, honoring dozens of students for their hard work and accomplishments during the school year.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
Students honored included:
- Liberal Arts:
- Math Highest GPA — Dillon Vanderman
- Math Most Improved — James Shook
- Math Exceptional Student — Joseph Woods
- Environmental Science
- Highest Academic Award — Ariel Morris
- Social Studies
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Best Scholar — Chelsea Luckie
- Most Consistent Scholar — Quinton Pittman
- Most Congenial Scholar — Bessy Hollingsworth
- Most Respectful — Marquita Allen
- NJROTC
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Algebra 1-B
- Most Improved Students — Gary Shook and Tammie Brown
- English 9-12
- Highest GPA — Marquita Allen and Daniel Paul Williams
- One-Day Free Pass — Josh Watson
- Most Diligent — Keith Cota
- Math 9-12
- Best help — Cody Chance
- Highest GPA — Clarence Brown
- Most Improved — Aremando Elliott
- Reading
- 9th Grade — Shane Bonner and Austin Rolin
- 10th Grade — Tammie Brown
- 1st/2nd Period Most Improved — Andrew Giveans
- 3rd/4th Reading Best Work Ethic — Talisa Jackson
- 5th Period Most Improved — Precious Marshall
- 5th Period Most Improved Behavior — Lonnie Gardner
- OJT
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Lisa Kuiper
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Damon Williams
- Most Outstanding OJT — Willie Davis
- Most Outgoing — Andrew Giveans
- Best All Round Male OJT Student — Cody Chance
- Best All Round Female OJT Student — Raven Moore
- Most Successful OJT Student — John Handrop
- Most Successful OJT Student — Fred Smith
- Science
- Outstanding Students — Josh Watson and Quinton Pittman
USDA FSA Offers Produces Contract Extensions, Modifications
May 16, 2009
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will offer certain producers the opportunity to modify and extend their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts that are scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 2009.
USDA can only extend approximately 1.5 million acres out of a total 3.9 million acres expiring this year. This extension will ensure that FSA meets the statutory CRP acreage limitation of 32 million acres established in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
“President Obama is committed to safeguarding the nation’s natural resources and this program will help protect millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion and enhance the quality of our water,” said Vilsack.
CRP is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. CRP protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion and is designed to safeguard the Nation’s natural resources. Participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.
A general CRP signup is not scheduled during fiscal year 2009. However, producers may continue to enroll relatively small, highly-desirable acreages, including land that is not extended, into Continuous CRP. Continuous CRP includes such practices as filter strips and riparian buffers.
FSA will notify participants by letter beginning May 6, 2009. The sign-up for this voluntary extension will begin on May 18 and run through June 30, 2009. Farmers and ranchers may apply for this extension at their FSA county office. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
CRP contracts with the highest environmental benefit or with the highest potential for soil erosion will be selected. CRP contracts can not exceed 15 years in the aggregate and chosen CRP contract holders will generally be offered a three to five year extension.
Producers electing to extend their contract period will receive their current contract rental rate. All or a portion of the acreage under contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may be added.
Through CRP, FSA enters into long term (10-15 year) contracts with agricultural producers to protect highly erodible and other environmentally-sensitive land. Participants convert enrolled land to grass, trees, wildlife habitats and other conservation uses. The program has reduced soil erosion by over 400 million tons, protected over 2 million acres of wetlands and resulted in buffers established on over 100,000 miles of streams and rivers.
For more information about CRP and other FSA programs, please visit your county FSA office or http://www.fsa.usda.gov .
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.