Senate Leaders Back Evers
January 16, 2010
The Republican leadership of the Florida Senate has announced their support and endorsement of Rep. Greg Evers’ campaign for Senate District 2. Senate District 2, which includes Holmes and Washington, and parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, is being vacated by term-limited Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr. from Crestview.
“Greg Evers is a conservative, lower tax, more personal freedom Republican who stands up for his community and shares the values and principles of the hard-working people in his district,” said Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos of Indiatlantic. “Greg and I share a philosophical belief that representative government and conservative government means that public servants have an obligation to keep taxes low and allow Floridians to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. I am proud to support Greg Evers and his campaign for Florida Senate District 2.”
“Greg Evers is a no nonsense leader who will make sure that his constituency is heard and represented,” said Senator Don Gaetz of Niceville. “As a fellow Northwest Florida Republican, I am proud to support Greg Evers and I encourage my fellow Panhandle conservatives to do the same.”
“The Florida Senate needs conservative leaders that believe in keeping government small and growing Florida’s families and communities,” said Senator Andy Gardiner of Winter Garden. “Greg Evers believes in the core conservative values and I believe that he is the best man for the job in the Florida Senate.
Evers currently represents Florida House District 1, which includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. He is a farmer and small businessman who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2001 and was subsequently re-elected.
According to his campaign: Evers has put his experience in agriculture and business to good use in the Florida Legislature and is proud of his legislative accomplishments on behalf of Florida’s critical agriculture industry, economic development and job creation and Second Amendment issues. Most recently, he sponsored and passed: legislation enabling Florida farmers to transport their farm equipment from field to field without the burden of additional government permits or fees; legislation creating tax incentives that enabled the Jay Oil Field to reopen, restoring numerous Northwest Florida jobs; and legislation protecting the right of law-abiding citizens in Florida to have legal firearms secured in their automobiles in public parking lots.
Rain Ending, Sunny Skies Ahead
January 16, 2010
(Updated) Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of rain before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 70.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Registration Today For Northwest Escambia, Molino Rec Ball
January 16, 2010
It’s almost ball season in North Escambia, and two area recreation groups will hold registration events today.
Molino Recreation Association
The Molino Recreation Association will begin their registration today from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration will continue through the last Saturday in February for Wee Ball, tee ball, baseball and softball.
Northwest Escambia
Registration for Northwest Escambia baseball and softball continues Saturday for ages 3 to 18 for Wee ball to big league.
Registration fees are: 1st child, $35, 2nd child: $25, 3rd child: free. Children will be measured and a $20 uniform deposit collected at registration. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required.
There will also be a cleat swap…bring a pair of outgrown cleats and trade/swap while supplies last.
NWE registration will be held from 10 a.m. until noon January 16 and 23 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Community Clothes Closet Open Today
January 16, 2010
The Community Clothes Closet will be open today from 9 until noon at the Jay Community Center.
Everything is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Wendy at (850) 686-6124.
HS Basketball: Jay, Tate
January 16, 2010
Luke Rowell had an impressive 29 points to lead the Jay Royals to a 62-49 win over Freeport in overtime Friday in Jay.
Jay 62 Freeport 49 OT
Jay — Luke Rowell 29, Dakota Walker 5, Hunter Boutwell 6, Connor Weekes 3, Steven Brabham 8, Tyler Prescott 4, Todd Laney 7.
Jay 2 13 15 19 13-62 Freeport 10 13 12 14 5-49
Milton 58, Tate 45
Tate — Petey Jones 14, Krys Walden 7, Tevin Brown 9, Dylan Anderson 9, Shermonne Jones 6.
Tate 10 5 9 21-45 Milton 6 20 11 21-58
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Freeport 47, Jay 46
Jay — Ginger Jennings 15, Courtney Hammac 2, Tessa Hendricks 9, Danielle Skaggs 2, Candace Mulford 2, Amber Steadham 6, Becca Calloway 10.
Jay 10 11 16 9-46 Freeport 10 15 8 14-47
Milton 48, Tate 34
Tate — Courtney Brown 14, Megan Briske 4, Avery Cobb 4, Chelsea Hall 6, Cecillie Olsen 6.
Tate 9 5 6 14-34 Milton 5 14 8 21-48
Driver Rolls Convertible In Hwy. 99 Crash, Charged With DUI
January 16, 2010
The driver of a convertible is facing DUI charges after he escaped serious injury in a single vehicle rollover accident Friday night in Oak Grove.
The accident happened just after 10 p.m. in the 600 block of North Highway 99, just south of Eubanks Road.
Dakota Rhue Heidbreder, 22, of Muldoon Road, Pensacola, was charged with driving under the influence by the Florida Highway Patrol following the crash. Heidbreder was headed south in a Chrysler Sebring when he lost control in a curve, ran off the road, struck a driveway culvert and overturned. The vehicle landed off the roadway in an upright position. Heidbreder, who said he was wearing his seat belt, refused to be transported to the hospital.
Heidbreder was being held in the Escambia County Jail on $500 bond Saturday morning.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured above: The driver of this convertible was charged with DUI after this accident Friday night in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Burl Woods
January 15, 2010
Mr. Burl Woods, 66, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at a Mobile hospital.
Mr. Woods was a native of Uriah, AL and a resident of Atmore, AL for the past 46 years. He was the owner of Alabama Tank Inc. and attended the Judson Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his Wife of 44 years, Mona Woods of Atmore, Al; his Son, Kevin Burl and Julie Woods of Atmore, Al; his Daughter, Michelle Woods and Larry Smith of Pensacola, FL; five Grandchildren, Marianna Woods, Lily Woods, Alex Smith, William Smith and Erin Smith; one Brother, Raymond Woods of Semirah Springs, AL; three Sisters, Betty Fretwell of Semirah Springs, AL, Elizabeth Bryd of Bay Minette, AL and Mary Etheridge of Daphne, AL.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmy Dukes and the Rev. Henry Wilson officiating.
Burial will follow at Judson Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 1:00 P.M. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Charles Woods, Phil Hollinger, Jimmy Woods, Michael Woods, Wayne Woods, Michael Milbredt, Stephen Stacey and Brian Helton.
Gulf Power Work In Century
January 15, 2010
Gulf Power Company is completing a transformer project in Century this morning.
They are scheduled to be working near the intersection of East Highway 4 and North Century Boulevard. The work will cause the traffic light at the intersection to be out of service for an unknown period of time.
Some homes and businesses may lose power as well.
Change Of Plans: Consolidated Government Will Pay For City Pensions
January 15, 2010
Language slipped in the consolidated government proposal at the last minute would make every resident of Escambia County responsible for funding the City of Pensacola’s problematic pension plan.
Consolidation supports had preached multiple times that county residents would not be saddled with Pensacola’s unfunded pension debt — currently over $75 million.
But just before the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission turns their proposal over to the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation today, the following language was added to the plan:
As consideration for the transfer of the assets of the ESP to the Consolidated Utilities Authority, the Consolidated Utilities Authority shall pay for those pension fund obligations of the City of Pensacola as those obligations existed as of October 1, 2010, until such obligations are retired.
The plan previously proposed that only the residents of the current city would be responsible post-consolidation for the pension debt. But with the new language, if voters in Escambia County and Century should vote for consolidation, they too will be responsible for the millions of unfunded debt in the city pension plan.
The consolidation commission’s final plans go the legislative delegation today. If approved by the delegation and the legislature, voters will decide as early as November if they want the governments of Pensacola, Escambia County and Century combined into one.
The Town of Century has withdrawn all support for the idea of consolidation, and the Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay a public vote on consolidation until November 2012 at the earliest.
Commission Changes Mind On Project Rebid For Cantonment Company
January 15, 2010
The Escambia County Commission has voted to rescind an earlier vote to rebid a drainage project won by a Mobile company. The rebid was first approved the commission after a Cantonment company, Roads, Inc., said it made a mistake in the bidding process and could actually do the job for $100,000 less than than they first bid.
At stake was the public trust and $1.9 million federal grant to fund a drainage project in the Maplewood area. The federal grant stipulates the project must be completed by late November, and commissioners were warned by staff that if they were to rebid, they might face legal action from the winner of the original bid, Gulf Equipment of Mobile. Any legal action might have meant a delay that would cost the county the grant.
Despite the advice of county staff that the rebid would be a bad idea and possibly illegal, the commission voted 4-1 to rebid the project, with Commissioner Marie Young voting against. Their plan was to give Roads, Inc. an opportunity to correct their bid mistake.
But commissioners changed their minds Thursday morning and decided not to rebid the project after outcry in the Pensacola media.
“I’m human, I make mistakes,” Commissioner Kevin White said. “I am not infallible, even though I know the public sometimes thinks we should be. Hindsight is always 20/20.”
Commissioner Wilson Robertson agreed with White, “I’m man enough to admit as we said earlier that we erred and we are human.”
“I apologize to the public for not understanding the rebid process,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said.
Gulf Equipment Corp. will retain the project at their low bid of $1,768,621. The Roads, Inc. bid was only slightly more, at $1,791,603