Bill To Provide Tax Credits To Get Jay Oil Flowing, Restore Jobs
March 11, 2009
Florida House and Senate committees have approved a bill proposal that would get the oil flowing again in the Jay Oil Field.
The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Greg Evers, would provide exemptions and tax breaks to the six active oil producing companies in Florida. One of those producers is Quantum Resources in Jay.
The state is expected to lose $5.2 million in revenue, but Evers said it would put people back to work, royalty checks back into the hands of property owners and contractors back on the job.
Evers said that if the bill is passed, it “would provide economic incentives, including temporary oil and gas production tax relief, for small field producers such as Quantum”.
“It is my hope that this small energy production investment incentive and tax relief package will help in creating and saving much-needed local Northwest Florida investment and jobs during these very challenging and difficult economic times,” Evers said.
About 70 people were left without a job when Quantum shutdown the Jay Oil Field.
Jay Field was purchased from Exxon and ConocoPhillips in 2007 for about $200 million. When oil prices soared earlier this year, company officials were quoted as being pleased with their return on the investment, even though they sold 75 percent of their rights in a bet against falling prices. The Jay Oil Field’s first crude flowed back in 1970 and was estimated to contain 100 million barrels, making it one of the largest discoveries in the history of U.S.
A similar bill has been introduced in the Florida Senate by Sen. Ken Pruitt.
Agencies Present Ag Info At Century Meeting
March 11, 2009
An agricultural community outreach program was held Tuesday in Century to introduce landowners and agricultural producers to a wide variety of services offered by agencies in Escambia County.
From the USDA-Natural Resources Service, Farm Service Agency, Escambia County, University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Florida Division of Forestry, the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District and more, attendees learned about the county’s service agencies.
And the best part? Most of the services offered by the agencies are free.
“It’s almost all free,” Libbie Johnson said of the services offered by Escambia County Extension. “Almost everything we do is primarily free.”
At the Extension Service, Johnson works primarily on issues related to row crops, but she works with vegetables and even catfish ponds. The Extension Service also coordinates the annual Farm Tour each spring.
Carrie Stevenson, Florida Neighborhoods and Yards agent, works with landowners on landscaping and its impacts on downstream water sources. She also teaches how to conserve water, build a green room and even build a rain barrel for collecting rainwater for irrigation.
Angela Hinkle with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program told the Century group that her program teaches nutritional skills to adults and children.
“Another huge part of what we teach is saving money and how to stretch those food dollars,” Hinkle said. One such way to save money on food, she said, is to purchase local produce when available.
“It helps the community continue to be able to grow,” she said.
Adam Parden, County Forester with the Florida Division of Forestry, told the group that his agency provides a variety of services. From managing wildfires, to forest management plans, to burn plans, to basic help with trees, the Division of Forestry offers a variety of services.
“If one of these agencies can’t help you when you call, we can pass you on to someone else who can,” said Josh McElhaney from the USDA, NRCS that helped coordinate Tuesday’s presentations in Century.
The Florida Division of Forestry office in Molino can be reached at 587-5123. The variety of other agencies mentioned in this article can be reached at 475-5230.
Pictured top: (L-R) Angela Hinkle, Carrie Stevenson and Libbie Johnson address an agricultural community outreach meeting in Century Tuesday. Pictured below: An agricultural community outreach meeting in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Wreck Causes No Injuries
March 11, 2009
No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Hill. A car and pickup truck collided at the intersection of Arthur Brown Road and Highway 97 just after 1 p.m. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
State Representatives Want Input For Legislative Session
March 11, 2009
If you want to tell your state representative how you feel about area issues, there’s an easy way to do it.
A session survey is available online for Florida residents to express their opinions on everything from health care and education to immigration and insurance.
Florida House Rep. Dave Murzin mailed a copy of the 2009 Pre-Session Survey to constituents of House District 2.
“Since being elected in 2002, I have used a pre-session survey to solicit the thoughts and opinions of constituents about a variety of issues that could come before the legislature,” said Rep. Murzin. “I take the survey results seriously and keep them in mind as I conduct business in Pensacola and Tallahassee.”
The online version available for residents and other interested parties to complete can be found at www.flhouse.us.
The survey can also be completed by residents of House District 1, which includes North Escambia. The district is represented by Rep. Greg Evers.
All hard copy surveys received will be entered into this survey website so that results can be tabulated electronically. The survey results will also be posted on the same website. Constituents who submit the survey electronically and provide their email address will receive the results by email.
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Try These Questions From The Actual Fifth Grade FCAT
March 11, 2009
As the FCAT continues today in schools across North Escambia, we thought we would help you waste a little time by playing a game of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” with actual questions from past fifth grade FCATs.
Grab everybody around you and get ready. To play along and see how you might do on the fifth grade FCAT, you’ll need a piece of paper to record your answers to the following questions:
(1) Samantha baked a dessert for her class using the recipe shown below.
Samantha used the least amount of which ingredient?
CRANBERRY APPLE CRUNCH
- A. 3/4 cup chopped apples
- B. 1/2 cup oats
- C. 2/3 cup cranberry sauce
- D. 1/4 cup brown sugar
(2) Louie made 17 bag lunches for the school outing. If Louie
had made 4 more lunches, he would have made exactly
3 times as many bag lunches as Marc did. How many lunches did Marc make?
- A. 6
- B. 7
- C. 13
- D. 4
(3) Coach Neal is planning a track meet for 84 students. Each race has 3 teams,
with 4 runners on each team. How many races should Coach Neal plan so
that each student runs in exactly one race?
- A. 7
- B. 12
- C. 21
- D. 28
(4) Toshi wants to find out which after-school sport is most popular among all
the students at his elementary school. Which of these groups would be best
to survey in order to get this information?
- A. all students at the school
- B. all teachers at the school
- C. all fifth grade students at the school
- D. all parents of the students at the school
(5) The 1927 legislative session designated the mockingbird as the state bird of
Florida. The bird is about 10 inches long and has a wingspan of 15 inches.
Which fraction represents the mockingbird’s length compared to
its wingspan?
- A. 1/5
- B. 2/15
- C. 2/3
- D. 3/2
(6) Angie is flying to London, England, on a plane departing at 2:00 p.m. She is
required to be at the airport one and a half hours before the departure time and it takes her 45 minutes to get from her house to the airport. What is the latest time
Angie can leave her house to arrive at the airport at the required time?
- A. 11:45 am
- B. 12:30 am
- C. 1:15 pm
- D. 4:15 pm
(7) Melanie measured the mass of the textbooks in her backpack. Which unit of
measure best describes the mass of the textbooks?
- A. 3 grams
- B. 3 kilograms
- C. 3 metric tons
- D. 3 milligrams
(8) Marchelle built a rectangular wooden picture frame. The frame has a
perimeter of 130 inches and a width of 30 inches.
What is the height, in inches, of the picture frame?
- A. 30 inches
- B. 35 inches
- C. 10 inches
- D. 13 inches
(9) Sonya has to write the greatest four-digit number she can think of by
following these three rules:
1. Any digit 0 through 9 may be used.
2. Any digit may be used only once.
3. There must be an 8 in the tens place.
What is the greatest number Sonya could write by following the three rules?
- A. 9876
- B. 9786
- C. 8796
- D. 9867
For the next two questions, read the two selections in blue.
Betsy Brandon Meets the Betsy Brandon Meets the President
by M.V. Pollock
There was a flurry of excitement in the Brandon household early one morning in
1791. It was the day that General Washington, the president, was supposed to visit
Salisbury, North Carolina. For most of the people, it would be their only chance to
see anyone so important. Everybody planned to be there. Everybody, it seemed,
except fourteen-year-old Betsy, the oldest child of Squire Richard Brandon’s
family. Betsy had to stay at home to finish the chores.
“Ha! Betsy won’t get to see the president,” teased the younger children as they
climbed into the family buggy. Betsy tried to hide her disappointment as they rode
away.
But Betsy was not one to mope. She returned to the kitchen and washed the
breakfast dishes and swept the floor. Then she took her bonnet from the hook on
the back of the door. She was going outside to feed the chickens. But what was
that rumbling noise? It sounded like wheels, but not like those of her father’s
buggy. It seemed to come from the opposite direction.
Betsy hurried to the front door and peeked out. Her eyes grew wide. Coming
down the road that passed in front of the house was the most beautiful coach she
had ever seen. It was pale ivory and trimmed in gold.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a better
view. The coach was decorated with elaborate scenes that reminded Betsy of the
four seasons. And it bore an impressive emblem, like a coat of arms.
Suddenly the driver pulled on the reins. “Whoa!” he said loudly. The ornate
harnesses tinkled musically as the four fine horses halted right in front of the gate
where Betsy stood.
Fearful, Betsy wanted to run, but she felt as if her feet were glued to the path.
The door of the coach opened, and a tall, handsome man in uniform stepped down.
He was almost as tall as her father. He tipped his hat and nodded in her direction.
Then another, even more handsome man stepped out. He was white haired and at
least six-feet-four. Surely they were men of importance on their way to Salisbury
to see the president.
“Good morning, miss,” said the white-haired man. His face was stern and
deeply lined, but his blue eyes were warm and friendly.
“Good morning, sir.” Betsy’s voice quavered when she spoke.
“Is your father home?”
“No, sir.”
“Is your mother home?”
As Betsy shook her head, her golden braids moved back and forth. “My family
all went to Salisbury to see the president,” she explained.
“Did you not wish to see the president, too?” The voice was kind.
“Oh yes, sir,” Betsy replied. “I wanted to see the president more than anything,
but I must stay here to do the chores.”
The two men exchanged amused glances. “If you will prepare breakfast for us,
I promise you will see the president before any of the others.”
Thinking that the president would soon pass by on his way to Salisbury, Betsy
hurried into the kitchen. She prepared a delicious breakfast, which the two men
seemed to enjoy.
They thanked her and prepared to leave. Betsy asked, “Sir, when my family
returns, to whom shall I say I served breakfast?”
The white-haired man climbed inside the coach. Leaning out the window he
smiled. “Just tell them you served breakfast to President Washington and his aide,”
he said. And the coach rolled away in clouds of dust.
Washington by Nancy Byrd Turner
He played by the river when he was young,
He raced with rabbits along the hills,
He fished for minnows, and climbed and swung,
And hooted back at the whippoorwills.1
Strong and slender and tall he grew —
And then, one morning, the bugles blew.
Over the hills the summons came,
Over the river’s shining rim.
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
And he answered, “Coming!” and marched away
For many a night and many a day.
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river flowing by
Or, camping under the winter sky,
Would hear the whippoorwill’s far-off song.
Boy or soldier, in peace or strife,
He loved America all his life!
(10) Based on the story and the poem, how was Washington’s life as a child
different from Betsy Brandon’s life?
- A. Washington played by the river, but Betsy played at home.
- B. Washington practiced marching, but Betsy prepared tasty meals.
- C. Washington practiced birdcalls, but Betsy listened for passing coaches.
- D. Washington spent his days playing, but Betsy spent her days helping at home.
(11) Which event from the story FIRST prepares the reader for something
unexpected to happen?
- A. Betsy watched the family buggy leave.
- B. The coach stopped in front of the house.
- C. Betsy wondered what the rumbling noise was.
- D. People were excited about seeing an important man.
(12) Read this sentence from the story.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a
better view.
In which sentence below does the word view have the same meaning as it
does in “Betsy Brandon Meets the President”?
- A. Direct your view to the second picture on the left.
- B. The report clearly states the writer’s point of view.
- C. The defense lawyer’s speech affected the judge’s view of the situation.
- D. The guests can get a view of the garden by looking out of the window.
(13) The author of the story describes Washington as having a face that is “stern
and deeply lined” and eyes that are “warm and friendly.” What does this lead
the reader to believe?
- A. Washington was always polite to others, even when he was worried.
- B. Washington’s experiences in life had made him tough, but he remained akind person.
- C. Washington was difficult to know because his looks were so different from his personality.
- D. Washington’s hardships as a soldier made him older than he really was, but he continued to serve his country.
(14) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
The poet includes these lines to show that Washington
- A. heard the sounds of nature.
- B. wanted to travel the country.
- C. played a musical instrument.
- D. felt patriotic toward his country.
(15) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river flowing by
The poet includes these lines to suggest that whenever Washington felt weary
and tired, he would
- A. find shade by a river.
- B. cool himself in a river.
- C. change his travel route to follow a river.
- D. recall a childhood experience about a river.
That concludes our questions from last year’s actual fifth grade FCAT. Now it is time to grade yourself. Click here for the answer key.
Just so you know…we picked the “easier” multiple choice questions. We did not use the math questions, for instance, where you had to draw geometric figures or show and explain your work.
If you’d like to let us know how you did, add a comment at the bottom of the article.
For the entire fifth grade reading FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.
For the entire fifth grade math FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.
Pictured above: Students at Carver/Century K-8 School just before taking the FCAT.
Adam’s Story: One Of The Few Deaf Firefighters In US
March 10, 2009
North Santa Rosa County firefighter Adam Bondurant has never really heard a call for help. Deaf and a young man of few words, Adam has spoken volumes about being a volunteer firefighter and community service.
“Grandpa, I’m going to be a firefighter like you when I grow up,” a young Adam would sign to his grandfather when the two would drive by the Munson VFD. Adam was born deaf, so his firefighter dream seemed a bit unlikely. He spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals due to a rare medical condition.
Adam’s family knew that his dream would never become a reality; his family was unsure if he would live into his teen years.
But nobody told Adam. He wanted to be like his grandpa.
Back in 1972, a fire destroyed Munson’s school. That’s when the community knew it was time for their own volunteer fire department.
Albert “Sonny” VonAxelson Jr., who would serve 15 years working his way up to chief of the department, was Adam’s grandpa. VonAxelson and Tommy Grice were the two community leaders behind the formation of the Munson Volunteer Fire Department.
“He has always talked about being a firefighter, and even though we have always pushed and encouraged him, I still keep a reality check on what Adam can actually do. I do not want Adam to ever be a burden or hindrance to anyone or any situation,” Adam’s mother Becky Bondurant said.
At the age of 11, Adam was taken to New Orleans for a surgical procedure where he received a cochlear implant to possibly give him a small chance of hearing some sounds. As a teenager, his speech and vocabulary were limited. He spent all his younger years in private schools, as well as school speech therapy. He also spent many years in physical therapy.
But all along, he still dreamed the dream of being a firefighter.
“If we would have only known that the best therapy Adam could ever receive was one mile from home, life sure would have been easier for all of us,” said mom Becky.
That therapy came from the fulfillment of a dream as Adam became a volunteer with the fire department.
Adam Bondurant, 20, is one of only about 50 deaf certified firefighters in the United States. He recently obtained State of Florida Firefighter One Competency Certification, and he is currently enrolled in the EMT program at Pensacola Junior College.
The lifelong resident of the north Santa Rosa County community of Munson has volunteered with the Munson VFD for about two years.
“I knew that he was very task orientated and organized, so I thought that when he joined the department at the age of 18, he would surely only mow grass or wash the trucks,” mom Becky Bondurant said. “Adam’s whole life was high school and helping with the athletic department. Adam had never had many friendships, and had never been invited to other friend’s homes. Even at church, he was left out.”
But at the fire department, Adam is family.
“He truly has a life of his own within the fire department. His speech and vocabulary has developed so much since he joined. It’s so amazing,” his mom said.
In order to pass the firefighter certification, Adam had to participate in a live burn. He did not tell his mom when he was going so that she would not worry.
“I did not know how hard many of the members were working to see if Adam could physically go into the burn, or if his cochlear implant would melt under the heat. I feel bad that so many people had to do so much leg work to get Adam ready for the live burn,” she said. “I have always taken responsibility for Adam, but he has found friends that he trusts in the fire department. He said he didn’t tell me so that I wouldn’t worry, he knows me well.”
Volunteer firemen are dispatched by pagers that provide information about emergency calls. Adam is unable to hear his pagers. He is able to feel them vibration when he is wearing them. At night, he sleeps with his pagers in the bed with him so he can feel the vibrations and answer calls.
It’s hard to stop Adam.
He hopes to one day work his way up to the assistant chief’s job once held by his grandfather. He hopes to obtain his Firefighter II and EMT certifications, allowing him to get a job as a paid firefighter. He is thinking about getting his paramedic degree.
Adam truly has the heart of a volunteer fireman. On Valentine’s Day he heard a sound he had never heard before — the human heart.
He had purchased a new set of stethoscopes designed for the hearing impaired. His heartbeat was the first that he had ever heard.
“Every day that we spend with Adam is a learning experience. We as a department, are truly blessed to have him on our team,” Trish Baggett, a captain with the Munson VFD, said.
“I have always dreamed of becoming a firefighter since I was a little boy, but people told me that I couldn’t be a firefighter due to my deafness. I hope that I have proven myself. It has been a challenge, but I hope I have earned the respect of others,” Adam said.
“After that statement, I realized that it was us, not Adam, who was handicapped,” Baggett said.
Trish Baggett contributed to this story.
Pictured above and below: Firefighter Adam Bondurant, one of the few deaf certified firefighters in America. Submitted photos by Trish Baggett exclusively for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blog: We Sure Could Use A Little Good News Today
March 10, 2009
On the March 4 edition of Nightly News, anchor Bryan Williams asked viewers to send NBC news tips about people that are doing positive things, inspiring things. Thousands upon thousands of people have sent them ideas in the past few days.
The folks at the Munson Volunteer Fire Department sent us information about firefighter Adam Bondurant, one of just 50 certified deaf firefighters in the nation. It’s a story that made us feel uplifted and inspired when we read it. It’s not really a local North Escambia story, but it’s from our friends and neighbors in north Santa Rosa County, were we have developed a large number of daily readers. We really thought you would enjoy reading it today on our front page.
Putting one and two together, we decided that “we sure could use a little good news today”, as an old country song says.
We will continue at NorthEscambia.com to cover the news like we always have — the good, the bad, the ugly and everything else. But in today’s doom and gloom in the news, we decided to ask you for your help in finding good news.
Visit our contact form by clicking here and tell us about a person that inspires you, a person that does something in your community, a person that just has an interesting life. Everybody has a story if you’ll just stop and listen.
We want not only to know about good news in North Escambia; we don’t mind sharing a little good news from Atmore, Flomaton, Jay, Cottage Hill, Cantonment — any of our neighboring communities that surround North Escambia.
We will feature the interesting and the inspiring in a series of stories we will call “Hometown People” here on NorthEscambia.com.
To send us your inspiring stories, click here for our contact form.
Go ahead and suggest that person you are thinking about; don’t think their story is too small. Everybody has a story to tell.
Four Jay Residents Involved In Wreck That Sent Car Into Cemetery
March 10, 2009
Four Jay residents were involved in a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon that sent one car into a cemetery.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Angela Stephens, 39, of Jay, was attempting to make a left turn into a private drive on Highway 89 near Calvary Church Road about 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
The driver of an Isuzu Rodeo, Craig Thurman, 46, of Jay, was in the process of overtaking and passing Stephens. That is when, according to the FHP, Stephens’ Toyota hit Thurman’s vehicle in the right side, causing him to lose control. Thurman’s vehicle travel 296 feet before overturning several times, ejecting passenger Lori Hillard, 46, of Jay. Thurman’s vehicle continued another 14 feet, through a chain link fence and into the Calvary Church Cemetery where the vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side.
Hillard was seriously injured in the crash and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight.
Both Hillard and Thurman were not wearing their seat belts, according to the crash report.
Stephens and a passenger in her vehicle, Aneesa Stephens, 4, of Jay, received only minor injuries.
Angela Stephens was charged with improper lane change by the FHP.
Final Approval For New 22 Lot Subdivision Near Molino
March 10, 2009
Final plans have been approved for a new 22 lot single family private residential subdivision just off Highway 97 north of Molino.
A preliminary plat and construction plans have been approved.
The roads “Sunny Brook Court” and “Sunshine Ridge Court” will be located off Sunny Hill Road in Sunshine Hill Estates. The county says the roads are substantially complete. The roads and their drainage systems will remain private and will create no expense for the county.
The private subdivision will be constructed west of Highway 97 just south of Sunshine Hill Road. It will be about 1.5 miles west of Molino Park Elementary School.
The subdivision is being developed by owner BCK Properties, LLC of Pensacola.
Pictured: This map shows the location of a new 22 lot single family residential subdivision called Sunshine Hill Estates off Highway 97 north of Molino. Click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball Announces Hit-A-Thon Winners
March 10, 2009
The Northview Baseball team held their annual Hit-A-Thon Fundraiser Friday night.
Both the junior varsity and varsity players competed.
The winner in the varsity division was senior Brad Foster. Second place went to junior Heath Burkett, and third place went to Brett Hanks, a senior.
The winner in the junior varsity division was freshman Cole Commander. The runner-up was Taylor Martin, a sophomore.
Chiefs Coach Sid Wheatly pitched seven hits to each player, pitching for nearly two hours straight.
Winners received gift cards from area businesses.