New County Gas Tax Could Fund ECAT Buses
January 14, 2009
The Escambia County Commission is considering a gasoline tax to keep ECAT transit buses on the road, but one commissioner is against the idea because ECAT provides fewer services in North Escambia.
At a Pensacola Beach retreat, commissioners discussed a 3 to 5 cent levy on gas in the county for public transportation.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said he would not support the gas tax, because fewer buses run in his district, calling the proposal a “hard sell”. Only one county bus runs north of Ten Mile Road. That bus, which runs three times daily from Pensacola to Century, has less than 8,000 riders per year.
The other four commissioners agreed that they would support a gas tax increase for ECAT.
The county contributes $7.6 million toward ECAT’s annual budget. A 3 cent gas tax would provide an estimated $3.1 million of that figure, and it would cost the average county citizen $15 per year, according to study the ECAT Citizen Advisory Committee.
A large portion of the tax gas burden would fall on people that do not live in Escambia County, according to Commissioner Gene Valentino. He estimated that 40 to 60 percent of the $3.1 million would come from people buying gas as they were passing through Escambia County.
Commissioner Wilson Robertson said he would support the gas tax, but only if the property taxes were reduced by a similar amount.
No official vote was taken on the gas tax at Tuesday’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission. Commissioners were meeting in a retreat at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front.
The commission’s first draft of next year’s budget is due in July.
Budget Cutbacks: Hiring Freeze In Escambia Schools
January 14, 2009
The Escambia County School District has issued a hiring and transfer freeze in the county’s schools effective immediately, the first in a series of expected cutbacks in the county’s school system.. That hiring freeze extends all the way to the classroom; open teaching positions will be filled with substitutes.
The hiring freeze includes both school and district office positions. The memo says that all positions which become vacant due to the resignation, retirement, promotion or leave of absence of a permanent employee will remain vacant unless otherwise approved by Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Thomas told NorthEscambia.com last week that a series of cutback announcements would begin this week due to state funding cuts by the state legislature. Those cuts are expected to amount to $14 million.
“It’s the bigger picture that’s got me worried,” Thomas said about the district’s decreased funding from the state. “I can’t say how the dominoes might fall. We could eventually be looking at layoffs across the district.”
Other school positions — specifically school secretary, data specialist, food service manager, head custodian, finance specialist and all direct student contract positions — may be filled with a temporary promotion or temporary contract employee. ESE (Exceptional Student Education) and positions at schools cited under a Florida Department of Education intervention program for schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress called the Differentiated Accountability program.
Thomas has also implemented a freeze on out-of-state travel, without regard to how the trip might be funded.
Read the hiring freeze memo here (pdf).
Report Card Day
January 14, 2009
Today is report card day in Escambia County Schools.
Report cards will be sent home with all public school students today, except for Northview High School students. Northview’s report cards will be mailed home.
For more information, contact your child’s school.
Hard Freeze Watch Issued; Lows Going Down To 14
January 14, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a hard freeze watch. from late Thursday night through Friday morning. Our overnight lows in North Escambia are forecast to be about 15 degrees by sunrise Friday morning and 14 Saturday morning.
The high today in North Escambia is expected to be about 55 degrees with a north wind. Tonight, it will be clear and cold with a low of 25. Thursday’s high will climb to just 50 degrees, and the overnight low Thursday is forecast to break records at 15 degrees.
The cold weather will continue Friday with a high of 45, and a low Friday night of 14.
Low temperatures could break records over the interior of southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi by Friday morning. Over the coastal counties, lows are forecast to settle to near records mainly along the Interstate 10 corridor Thursday night and Friday morning.
The latest forecast calls for lows to be near 10 degrees from Highland Home to the mid to upper teens from Waynesboro Mississippi to Evergreen Alabama. Temperatures ranging from 17 to 22 are forecast closer to Interstate 10…from Crestview to westward to Semmes, Ala.
A hard freeze watch means the potential exists for low temperatures to fall below 26 degrees for 5 or more hours. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive outdoor vegetation. Action should be aken to ensure adequate warmth for outdoor pets. Additional insulation should be considered for exposed pipes. Check on the elderly to ensure they have proper warmth. Those who have gas heat should make sure Carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order. Relief agencies should prepare additional space for those seeking shelter from the cold.
Streets Are Named In New 22 Lot Subdivison Off Highway 97
January 14, 2009
Escambia County has granted approval for two new streets to be located in new subdivision just off Highway 97 north of Molino.
“Sunny Brook Court” and “Sunshine Ridge Court” will be located off Sunny Hill Road in Sunshine Hill Estates. The private 22 lot single family residential subdivision will be constructed west of Highway 97 just south of Sunshine Hill Road.
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.
Chimney Fire Damages Pine Forest Road Home Tuesday Night
January 14, 2009
A two story duplex home near Walnut Hill was damaged by fire Tuesday night.
A resident of the home in the 7400 block of Pine Forest Road reported a chimney fire just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters discovered a small fire burning in the wall around the chimney in the upstairs unit of the wood frame duplex. That fire cause minor damage to the home. Most of the damaged was confined to the upstairs residence.
The only smoke visible from outside the home was from the chimney itself when the first firemen arrived.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire.
Pictured above: A firefighter works to remove siding outside the chimney of a home on Pine Forest Road to check for fire. Pictured inset: Some heat damage was visible to the siding outside the chimney. Pictured below: Several North Escambia fire department responded to this two story home on Pine Forest Road north of Arthur Brown Road Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Basketball: Jay 62, NHS 53
January 14, 2009
The Jay Royals beat the Northview Chiefs in boy’s varsity basketball action Tuesday night in Bratt.
Jay 62, Northview 53
Jay had the lead at the end of the first quarter of play in Bratt Tuesday night, 17-14. By the end of the half, that lead was just a single point, 25-24 for the Royals.
Jay’s Greg Nelson, who had 31 points on the night, helped pull the Royals out to a 9-point victory over the Chiefs
Northview: Aaron Bellamy 12, Colton Sims 12, Austin Arrington 12, Lance Bushaw 5, Wayne Marshall 4, Jody Levins 2, Luke Killam 2, LaDarion White 2, Dabney Langhorn 2.
Jay: Greg Nelson 31, Rush Hendricks 11, Dale Barlow 9, Steven Brabham 5, Dee Walker 3, Hunter Boutwell 3.
The Chiefs will be on the road Friday night against South Walton.
Judge’s Order: No Prayer During School Events, No Religion In Schools
January 13, 2009
In connection with a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, a federal judge has issued preliminary injunction against any policy or practice that promotes prayer or religion in the Santa Rosa County School District. The ACLU has also requested documents concerning prayer from Escambia County Schools.
In August, the ACLU filed the lawsuit in federal court against the school district. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”. Events specifically mentioned in the lawsuit, which was brought on behalf of two students at Pace High, included baccalaureate services, prayers at graduations and other school events. The suit specifically sought an end to baccalaureate services.
“The School District ultimately did the right thing in admitting and accepting responsibility for its violations of students’ constitutional rights,” said Benjamin James Stevenson, principal litigator and staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida’s Northwest Regional office. “We are pleased with Friday’s decision, and we look forward to working with the defendants and the court to permanently bring the school district in line with the First Amendment.”
The ACLU says that for 90 days, the temporary injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Casey Rodgers prevents the school district from promoting or sponsoring prayers during school-sponsored events, including graduation; planning or financing religious baccalaureate services; holding school-sponsored events at religious venues when alternative locations are reasonably available; and prohibits school officials from promoting their personal religious beliefs in class or during school-sponsored events and activities. The order is effective January 19.
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Pensacola, names specific events at several Santa Rosa schools, including Jay. The suit states that Jay High School held an invocation and benediction prayer each year from 2004-2008 led by students from groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The ACLU also complains in the suit that Jay High School has held baccalaureate services that were religious in nature.
The ACLU has also requested documents from the Escambia County School District that might relate to religion or prayer. Specifically, the ACLA requested records from Escambia Schools about graduations and baccalaureate services. The ACLU public records requests also asked for the notes of all speakers at the event as well as any audio or video recordings of the events. The ACLU request extends to all schools in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
“The ACLU may be successful at ending the freedom students currently possess to lead Christian prayers at school-sponsored events. The truth is that no man nor power, on the earth, under the earth or above the earth can stop true Christian parents and their children from praying and worshiping Jesus Christ in their homes,” Pastor Gary Wieborg of the First Baptist Church of Bratt told NorthEscambia.com after the lawsuit was filed. Wieborg was the speaker for Northview’s baccalaureate service last May.
Click here to read the ACLU’s lawsuit against Santa Rosa County (pdf).
Click here to read the ACLU’s public records request in Escambia County (pdf).
Pictured top: The Class of 2008 Baccalaureate Service at Northview High School. Pictured middle: A sign outside of the New Hope Assembly of God church on Chumuckla Highway just south of Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Photo Gallery: Getting Ready For 2009 Miss Northview High Pageant
January 13, 2009
Tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Miss Northview High School Pageant. You better hurry; tickets will go fast and will not be available at the door.
The pageant will be held Saturday night, January 24 at 7:00. Tickets are on sale now for $5 each in the front office at Northview. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Last week, NorthEscambia.com stopped by a pageant practice where over 30 girls are getting ready for the competition to see who will be crown the 2009 Miss Northview High School.
Click here for a photo gallery from that pageant practice.
Pictured above: Practices are underway for the Miss Northview High School Pageant to be held January 24. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Foley Officer Is Cleared By His Department In Nightclub Shooting
January 13, 2009
The Foley Police Department has cleared one of their officers that shot a man outside a Pensacola nightclub.
Johnny Cloud, 27, was shot by off-duty Foley officer Marcus Wiley at Boomerzzz Lounge on New Warrington Road on December 27. Cloud allegedly yelled racial slurs at Wiley and then threatened him with a knife. Wiley then identified himself as being a police officer before shooting Cloud when he would not drop the knife.
Officials originally identified Cloud as being from Century; however, family members said he is from Pensacola. Cloud remains in a medically-induced coma in a Pensacola hospital.
Foley Police Chief David Wilson issued a statement that said Wiley was acting in self defense when e fired the shot that struck cloud in the abdomen. The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Wilson issued the following statement to the media:
Officer Maurice Wiley has been cleared by this department in the off-duty shooting of Mr Johnny Cloud in Pensacola, Florida on December 27, 2008. This investigation revealed the following: Maurice Wiley had just arrived to meet a friend at the Boomerzzz bar in Pensacola at approximately 2:30 a.m. Within about 15 minutes of his arrival, some white males started using racial slurs. Officer Wiley asked them to stop using those words and he was then threatened by Mr Cloud. Mr Cloud continued to use racial slurs toward Officer Wiley. Mr Cloud called him the “n” word and threatened to go get a gun from his vehicle. At that point Officer Wiley tried to leave the establishment.
Johnny Cloud then confronted him in the parking lot and attacked Officer Wiley with a knife. Several witnesses gave statements that Officer Wiley continued backing away from Mr Cloud while telling him to drop the knife. Mr Cloud continued to come at him thrashing with the knife then Officer Wiley drew a 22 pocket pistol and identified himself as a police officer and ordered him to drop the knife while continuing to back up. This did not stop Mr Cloud who continued to come at Officer Wiley with the Knife. Officer Wiley used self defense when he then shot Mr Cloud in the upper body to stop the knife attack. Officer Wiley received Critical Incident Stress counseling and has been returned to full duty once the investigation was complete. We do not know the status of Mr Cloud.