It’s Report Card Day
November 2, 2009
Moms and dads…check the book bags and binders tonight. Today is report card day in Escambia County.
The first nine-weeks report cards from Escambia County Schools will be sent home today.
The second nine weeks ends on January 15. In the meantime, there is a Veterans Day holiday on November 11, Fall Break and Thanksgiving holiday November 25-27, and Christmas holidays December 21-January 4.
The Tax Man Cometh: Property Tax Bills Arriving In The Mail
November 2, 2009
Escambia County’s tax bills started hitting mailboxes across the county Saturday; the office of Tax Collector Janet Holley delivered bills to the post office Friday on 155,000 parcels totaling $259 million.
By the calendar, the official collection of the 2009 real estate and tangible personal property taxes started Sunday. There is a four percent discount for early payment through November 30.
Other discount periods are as follows: December – three percent; January – two percent; February – one percent; and the gross amount is due in March 2010. Taxes become delinquent April 1 and are assessed a three percent penalty. When mailed, discounts are determined by postmark of payment. When a discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the discount period will be extended to the next business day for walk‑in customers only.
Tax revenue is generated for the various taxing authorities and is approximated as follows: District School Board, $124.6 million; Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, $110 million; City of Pensacola, $16.2 million; Sheriff, $7.1 million; Northwest Florida Water Management, $660,000; Downtown Improvement Board, $387,000; and Town of Century, $26,875. Additionally, MSBU collections totaling $12.5 million include: County fire protection, $9.5 million; City Stormwater, $2.1 million; and various others, $773,000.
You may check the status of your taxes and pay on the website at www.escambiataxcollector.com. While paying online may be the most convenient, other options are available, such as payment by mail, by phone, or in person. If you do not receive your tax bill by November 10, please call the tax collector’s office at 438‑6500, ext. 252 (TTY for the hearing impaired call 472‑0031). After hours automated payment by telephone is available by calling (800) 601‑1055.
With the closure earlier this year of the tax collector office in Century, the closest in-person payment location for North Escambia residents is at 470 South Highway 29 in Cantonment (the old Winn Dixie shopping center).
Hospice Chaplain To Address Grief And The Holidays
November 2, 2009
A hospice chaplain will offer an overview of “Grief and Holidays” Tuesday in Century. The event is open to the public, and it also provides the opportunity for nurses and social workers to earn contact hours.
Chaplain Shane Tucker from Emerald Coast Hospice office will speak at noon Tuesday at the Century Chamber of Commerce located at 7811 North Century Boulevard.
Tucker will offer coping skills and tips to assist during the holidays.
This inservice is open to the public. Nurses will receive 1.2 contact hours from their respective state board and social workers will receive 1.0 contact hours.
Weekend Photos: Football, Cheerleaders, Band, NJROTC, Silver Wings
November 2, 2009
Senior Night at Northview High School was a big one, and NorthEscambia.com had all of the photos.
Click here for football action, cheerleaders, NJROTC and band photos.
Click here for Senior Night photos.
Click here to listen to Friday night’s Northview win over Sneads.
Download Northview Vs. Sneads
November 1, 2009
To download the MP3 audio from the October 30 Northview High School game against Sneads, click here.
Note that this is a large MP3 file. The file will take up to one hour to download on a dialup internet connection. On cable, satellite, DSL and high speed wireless connections, the file will download in just minutes. This file is for personal use only. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited. © 2009 NorthEscambia.com
Losson K. White
November 1, 2009
Losson K. White, age 77, having fought the good fight and keeping the faith, was called home on October 30, 2009. He graduated in 1950 from Ernest Ward High School at Walnut Hill, Florida. The class motto, ‘Not merely to exist, but to amount to something in Life’ was captured completely during his earthly time.
He was born to Roy and Lanie White in Byrneville, Florida on February 24, 1932. He attained everything in this life he desired. He was of the Baptist Faith, a member of The Masonic Temple and The Shriner Organization. He served his community in various leadership roles between 1977 and the present.
Losson married his wife of 58 years on June 26, 1951, retired after proudly serving his country for 27 years in the Air Force as a CMSGT from 1950 through 1977. Losson and Bobbie have two children, Kenneth and Lori White, and Glenda and Donald Butler, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one brother, three brother-in-laws, two sisters-in-law, eight nieces and nephews, friends too numerous to count and his church family.
Funeral services will be held at 8:00 am on Monday, November 2, 2009 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with the Rev. Ted Bridges officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, David Haid, John Haid, Losson White, Greg Haid, and nephews, Chad and Wade Kent. Honorary pallbearers will be Darrel White, Hal O’Farrell, Jerry Kent, Ellis O’Farrell, Ernie Hester, Billy Ward and Freddie Pitt.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.
The family requests no flowers; however, memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital or Covenant Hospice.
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and doctors at West Florida Hospital and Covenant Hospice that provided our husband and dad the special care needed during this time of illness. Manda Clarke, the only granddaughter was instrumental in his care and guidance during the final stages of his illness.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North , 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Linda Vickery Cody
November 1, 2009
Linda Vickery Cody, age 69, of Pensacola passed away on Friday, October 23, 2009. Ms. Cody was a native of Atmore, Alabama.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony A. Vickery, Cleo Vickery Presley and brother Kenneth V. Vickery.
Ms. Cody is survived by daughters, Donna J. Brasch, Denise A. Juarez, grandchildren, Robert A. Brasch, Jessica L. Brasch, nephews, Carl B. Vickery, Stephen C. Vickery and niece Ludusky S. Glass.
Ms. Cody also leaves behind numerous family and friends who loved her dearly. She always had a beautiful smile and a positive personality that warmed all around her.
A Memorial Service was held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment. The family received friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time.
In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to Covenant Hospice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Hard Work Pays Off Big For North Escambia Youths At Fair’s Steer Auction
November 1, 2009
Months of hard worked paid off for several North Escambia youths Saturday night as their steers were sold at auction at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
For Brendan Bell, a sixth grade FFA member at Ernest Ward Middle School, the payoff was huge – $7,140 for his grand champion steer. The 11-year old’s black steer won the FFA supreme champion among FFA students at this year’s fair. The 1,190 pound steer was purchased by Kay Campbell of American Concrete Supply in Cantonment.
Trey Flowers won youth champion/supreme champion with his steer, a category for youth that do not belong to an FFA chapter. His steer brought $7,740.
In front of a crowd of about 100 people, the steers were auctioned off by auctioneer Richard Gibbs.
Justin Hall, FFA reserve winner, received $4,500 for his steer. Jessica McMillian, youth reserve winner, received $4,005 for her steer.
Other steers were sold as follows:
- Lynsey Meharg, $8,400
- Haley Lambeth, $4,270
- Devin Bell, $4,095
- Amber Estes, $3,250
- Allison Vidak, $3,230.50
- Jessica Imholte, $3,150
Saturday night’s auction was the 50th at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
Pictured above: Brendan Bell, Ernest Ward Middle School member Brendan Bell with his grand champion steer at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Honored For Service To Military, Community
November 1, 2009
Northview High School recently honored two of its military members that are moving on. Both men were recognized for their military and community service.
Sr. Chief Lee Coleman is retiring at the end of this school year after having taught Naval Science at Northview since the school opened in 1996.
Northview Principal Gayle Weaver still remembers the first day she saw Coleman. The campus was still under construction, and Coleman was scheduled for an interview on what turned out to be a very rainy day.
“I can remember him coming across all that mud around the construction area. He was wearing his dress whites,” she said. “He did not get mud on him anywhere. I knew then that he was the one.”
Coleman is a graduate of Newbury College in Boston, Mass., and has been teaching for 15 years. He sponsors the armed and unarmed drill teams at Northview, along with the color guard and honor guard.
Northview also honored SFC Bobby Ewing, Jr., a 1997 graduate, for his military service and current role as the school’s U.S. Army recruiter. Ewing will soon leave his post as a recruiter in Pensacola and head to a new assignment overseas.
Ewing and Coleman were both presented with plaques and recognized during halftime of Friday night’s Seniors Honor football game at Northview.
Pictured top: Northview Principal Gayle Weaver presents a plaque to Senior Chief Lee Coleman. Pictured bottom: SFC Bobby Ewing. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Charged In Pensacola Wreck; Flomaton Man Injured
November 1, 2009
One driver was charged in a three vehicle accident Saturday afternoon in Pensacola that left a Flomaton man with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Isaiah Shelton, 31, of Pensacola, was northbound in a turn lane from Pine Forest Road to 9 Mile Road when he hit a stopped vehicle driven by Edward Conway, 30, of Flomaton. Conway’s vehicle spun around, striking a vehicle driven by Kenneth Mitchell, 59, of Pensacola, in an adjacent lane on Pine Forest.
Conway and a passenger in Mitchell’s vehicle, Judith Mitchell, 60, of Pensacola, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injures.
Shelton was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP,