Council Drops 274 Percent Pay Raises; Votes To Reimburse Health Insurance
November 17, 2009
The Century Town Council has decided against a 274 percent raise for council members, opting instead to reimburse two of the five council members for their health insurance.
Monday night, the council was to consider an ordinance that would have increased each council member’s salary by $491 per month, a 274 percent increase from their current $250 per month pay. The increase, according to a motion made in September by Councilman Gary Riley, would have allowed each council member to pay for their own health insurance after the town decided to drop coverage for the council.
The town’s health insurance costs about $500 per month for each employee’s coverage, except for the council. With the addition of the council, premiums would have jumped to $670 per employee if the council were included in the insurance pool — an extra $5,800 per month for the council to have insurance.
Two council members — Ann Brooks and Nadine McCaw — had been covered by the town’s insurance policy. The council voted 3-2 recently not to continue the insurance for Brooks and McCaw, who voted against the motion.
The solution considered by the council at the time was the pay increase of $491 per month for each council member. They $491 was the chosen figure because Brooks had received a health insurance quote of that amount.
“We need to get away from these big raises if we are going to be good stewards,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said at Monday night’s council meeting. “If we go the way we are going…we get a 274 percent increase, and we’ll get hung for it.” The mayor would also have received a $491 increase to his current $750 per month salary.
McCall suggested a motion to the council that would reimburse McCaw and Brooks up to $500 per month for health insurance for the remainder of their current terms on the council.
“If they are reelected, they would come back on staff with the understanding that hey did not have benefits,” the mayor said.
On a motion from McCaw and a second from Riley, the council voted 4-1 to provide the health insurance reimbursement of up to $500 per month for McCaw and Brooks. Councilman Henry Hawkins voted against the plan.
Pictured top: Century Town Council member Nadine McCaw (left) listens as Council President Ann Brooks reads a motion to reimburse both health insurance premiums for both council members. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Deputies Looking For Woman That May Have Witnessed A Murder
November 17, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a woman that they say may have witnessed a murder.
Sheriff’s investigators are asking anyone who may know the whereabouts of Terri Lynn Lewis, 40, of Pensacola, to call the sheriff’s office at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP.
Lewis may be a possible witness to the early morning October 10 murder of Derry Dickerson, 81, who was found murdered in his home in the 200 block of Crescent Drive, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Lewis currently has an active warrant for driving while license suspended and giving false name to law enforcement and is believed to be avoiding law enforcement for that reason, according to Roy. The last known address for Lewis was the 5900 block of Westshore Drive.
North Escambia Miracle Bowl: Tate, Northview To Play Saturday
November 17, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies Saturday at Tate
Proceeds from the game will benefit the Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The Class 1A Northview Chiefs, under first year Coach Sid Wheatly, finished with a 7-3 record, a huge improvement over last year’s 2-8 season. The Tate Aggies were 7-3 this season in Class 4A.
Kickoff is at noon. Admission is $5.
No Playoffs: Northview, Tate Both Finish Third In District Football
November 17, 2009
Northview and Tate high schools both finished third in their districts for the 2009 football season. Only the top two teams in each district make the state playoffs.
District 1-1A
Northview (7-3, 6-2) finished behind Freeport (9-1, 8-0) and South Walton (7-1, 8-2). Northview’s only district losses this year were 14-6 to South Walton and 42-12 to Freeport.
Jay (2-6, 3-6) finished seventh in the district.
(team, district record, overall)
- Freeport 8-0, 9-1
- South Walton 7-1, 8-2
- Northview 6-2, 7-3
- Sneads 5-3, 5-5
- Vernon 3-5, 4-6
- Bozeman 3-5, 4-6
- Jay 2-6, 3-6
- Holmes County 2-6, 3-7
- Baker 0-8, 0-10
District 1-1A Playoffs:Blountstown (2-1A Runner-up) at Freeport (1-1A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Blountstown 27, Freeport 14
South Walton (1-1A Runner-up) at Liberty County (2-1A Champion)
This will be first time Liberty County and South Walton have played.
District 1-4A
Tate (7-3, 3-2) finished third in the district for the 2009 season behind Pine Forest (8-2, 5-0) and Pace (6-4, 4-1). Tate’s district losses were 28-14 to Pace and 49-21 to Pine Forest.
(team, district record, overall)
- Pine Forest 5-0, 8-2
- Pace 4-1, 6-4
- Tate 3-2 , 7-3
- Milton 2-3, 5-5
- Navarre 1-4, 3-7
- Escambia 0-5, 3-7
District 1-4A Playoffs:
Fort Walton Beach (2-4A Runner-up) at Pine Forest (1-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Pine Forest 35, Fort Walton Beach 0
Pace (1-4A Runner-up) at Niceville (2-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2009 regular season -Niceville 42, Pace 28
Slightly Cooler Weather
November 17, 2009
A few overnight showers ushered in a mild cold front, bringing North Escambia some slightly more seasonable fall weather for the next few days.
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Coach Seeks To Form North Escambia Club Volleyball For Girls, Meeting Friday
November 17, 2009
The volleyball coach at Northview High School is looking to organize youth volleyball in the North Escambia area, primarily for middle and high school age girls.
“The observation by coaches in the area is that there are girls that are interested in playing club volleyball, but that driving distances for club teams in Pensacola and Mobile have prohibited them from playing,” Heaton said. “We are interested in starting a club team and/or training team in the North Escambia Florida and surrounding Alabama areas.”
Club Volleyball is used to help players gain more experience playing volleyball. Club Volleyball will give players interested in developing their volleyball skills a chance to practice and play volleyball with a variety of coaches and teammates.
Training Team is a non-tournament club volleyball team. The goals would still be the same as a club volleyball team but they would not travel or play in tournaments. This would provide the players with the chance to practice and improve their skills.
An information meeting has been scheduled to for Friday night, November 20 at 7:00 at the Northview High School gym. Costs and different options available to players will be discussed at this meeting.
For more information, call or email Betty Heaton at bettie08@yahoo.com or (251) 253-0101 or Cheryl Bosley at Willy24@comcast.net (251) 591-0456.
For flyer with more information, click here (pdf).
Final Day To Order Smoked Turkeys, Butts From NHS FFA
November 17, 2009
Today is the final day to order in the Northview High School FFA Alumni Smoked Turkey and Boston Butt Sal.
In the annual fund raiser, you can choose either a seven to nine pound smoked Boston butt or a 10-12 pound smoked turkey for $25 each.
Boston butts will be available for pickup on Monday, November 23, the smoked turkeys will be available for pickup on Tuesday, November 24.
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Northview High School FFA Scholarship Fund. The sale is sponsored by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse in Molino.
For a printable order form that you can return to the school with your payment, click here. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, November 17.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681 extension 248.
Exclusive Photo Gallery: 17 Story Drop; Rappelling Off The Top Of The Wind Creek Casino
November 17, 2009
The old saying says the first step is the hardest. When that first step takes you from the roof over the edge of a 17 story building, most people would tend to agree.
Monday afternoon, members of the Poarch Creek Fire Department practicing rappelling down the side of the Wind Creek Casino –part of high rise rescue training and certification for department members.
“It was fun; there was definitely an adrenaline rush,” Poarch Creek fireman Andy Hammonds said after his 17-story descent. “It wasn’t too bad.”
Only three of the fire department’s members were certified in high angle rope rescues prior to Monday, including Chris McGhee, the Poarch Creek Fire Department’s training officer. With classroom training from the Alabama Fire College and the 17 story trip, another 14 men worked toward their certification Monday for whatever emergency that might arise in future.
“They are about to hire window washers; there’s a lot of glass in the building,” McGhee told NorthEscambia.com while standing on the roof of the casino Monday afternoon. “We might have to rescue one of the window washers one day.”
McGhee said that they Poarch Creek Fire Department would be able to put their training to use if the need arises in any surrounding area, including North Escambia.
The process of rappelling down the from the roof of the Atmore casino looks rather simple. Two ropes are tied off. One serves as a safety; one is the main rope for rappelling. The main rope passes through a rappelling rack, a device that provides friction to stop or allow a controlled descent. The safety rope is fed down with the firefighter. If he should fall or descend two quickly, a couple of knots provide a quick and automatic stop.
Once fitted with the proper gear, the trip down the side the Wind Creek was as simple as getting the courage to stand on the small ledge at the top of the building and stepping backwards.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the training click here. In the photo gallery, we take you to the roof the 17 story Wind Creek. We watch as firemen prepare to rappel off the building; we look over the edge as the they head down. Plus, we take a look at the scenery from the top of the Wind Creek Casino, and look back up as the firemen descend.
Pictured above and below: Firefighters practice rappelling from the roof of the 17 story Wind Creek Casino Monday afternoon. In the lower inset photo above, notice the firefighter heading down the side of the Wind Creek. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
District 5 Town Hall Meeting Tonight
November 17, 2009
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting on tonight at 6:30 at the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
The District 5 meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and proceed into an open forum. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions and share comments.
For more information about this meeting, contact White’s office at 595-4950.
NWE Monthly Baseball Meeting Tonight
November 17, 2009
The Northwest Escambia baseball monthly board meeting will be held Tuesday, November 17, 6:30 p.m. at the field house. Everyone is welcome.