Officials Worried About Local Financial Implications Of Oil Spill
July 9, 2010
State and local officials are worried about the local financial implications of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and they are talking drilling bans, income tax cuts and property tax problems.
Gov. Charlie Crist called Thursday for a special session aimed at a constitutional ban on offshore drilling, while Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Alex Sink urged the federal government to leave lost income payments alone when tax times rolls around.
Meanwhile, local government and business groups met with state officials to map out strategies for tracking the mounting costs of the BP Deepwater Horizon spill that continues to spew oil in the gulf and may alter the economics of the region for years to come.
Local governments, which have so far spent millions on protective measures and clean-up efforts, face plunging property values that, in turn, may further reduce the cash flow needed to pay for the schools, roads and other local responsibilities funded with property taxes. Somehow, they want to be repaid.
“This is a nightmare in slow motion,” said Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County property appraiser. “This is going to be with us for a long time.”
Leading off a flurry of oil-related activity, Crist called on lawmakers to return July 20 to craft a proposed constitutional amendment to ban oil and gas exploration in state waters. That’s likely to set up a standoff with reluctant Republican lawmakers, who have balked at the idea and led opponents of the no-party governor to call it a politically-motivated grandstand.
“Politics has nothing to do with this,” Crist said. “This has everything to do with what is right for a place that I love.”
Speaking to reporters, the governor said he’s no longer going to wait for consensus before calling lawmakers back into session, saying that time is running out for voters to address the issue during the Nov. 4 general election. Sixty percent of voters would have to agree to pass the proposal.
“They ought to have an opportunity, the people, to put it into their constitution so if a Legislature comes along and forgets what’s happening out there this year, that that doesn’t happen again,” Crist said.
Earlier Thursday, business and local government representatives underscored the difficulty in tracking just how much the BP oil spill has cost public and private entities and how long those adverse impacts will linger.
Among the immediate questions posed to the Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force working group were how the spill will affect property values when they are assessed again in January and what property owners will do when they get their tax notices in August. The working group is formulating a slate of recommendations for the full task force.
Property tax levels are based on the January 2010 assessed values, which may have fallen since the spill began April 20. Property owners who think the values are inaccurate have the right to address their local adjustment board, which may see a significant uptick in appeals this fall.
“I think you’re going to see a lot of people challenging their assessments,” Brown said.
While local governments look for a way to boost tax revenue, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, sent a letter to members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation asking them to support legislation that would waive the federal income tax on the lost income payments Floridians have received from BP. Those payments, which have so far totaled more than $25 million in Florida, should be considered tax exempt as residents struggle to get back on their feet, she said.
“Every dollar counts right now as many Floridians struggle to get by because of the oil disaster, and this common-sense measure just makes sense for our citizens and businesses,” said Sink. “BP should pay for this income tax loss, instead of taking much needed resources from our small business owners and other Floridians.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo of oil on Pensacola Beach by Regina Hare, click to enlarge.
BP Pays Up: Escambia Gets $1.86 Million Reimbursement
July 9, 2010
BP made a $1.86 million wire transfer to Escambia County on Thursday to reimburse the county for estimated expenditures incurred during the month of June for oil cleanup.
According to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager, payment was made as follows:
- Water Sampling $362,162
- Air Reconnaissance $36,000
- Beach Monitoring $400,000
- Marine Observation $396,000
- Boom Monitoring and Maintenance $175,000
- Operating Costs $6,123
- Equipment $15,400
- Professional Services $470,000
The boom payment, according to Daniel, was not for boom leasing fees. Those contracts are still be worked through the State of Florida and the Unified Command, she said.
Pelicans Win Again
July 9, 2010
The Pensacola Pelicans were led by a brilliant pitching performance from David Nathanson and solid offensive display to lead Pensacola over Shreveport-Bossier 6-0 Thursday.
All-Star John Alonso led off the bottom of the second inning with a homerun down the left field line to give the Pels a 1-0 lead. It was Alonso’s fifth homer of the year.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Pelicans (23-28, 3-0) loaded the bases with two outs. Dallas Christison lined a single to center to score John Alonso and Lou Palmisano to extend the lead for Pensacola to 3-0.
The Pelicans extended their lead in the last of the fifth inning when Chase Porch hit a two out, two run double down the third base line which brought in Francisco Leandro and Javier Brito to give the Pels a 5-0 advantage.
Pensacola added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Adolfo Gonzalez blooped single down the right field line scoring Porch from second base to give the Pels a 6-0 lead.
David Nathanson (3-4) gets the win as tosses his third complete game of the season. Nathanson shutout the Captains scattering eight hits and striking out eight batters on the night.
Escambia Ala. Junior Miss Competition Saturday Night
July 9, 2010
Six young ladies will take part in the Escambia County Junior Miss program tonight. They are Megan Andrews, Dallas Brown, Walton Nichols, Kelsey Templeton, Cierra White and Shelly Womack.
The program will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Woodfin-Patterson Auditorium on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
For a photo gallery of the contestants and their Little Sisters, click here.
Contestants are:
Megan Andrews is the daughter of Bennie and Zelda Andrews. She is a student at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton. For the talent portion of the event, she will perform a praise dance routine to “Grateful” by Hezekiah Walker. Serving as her Little Sister is Sharnae Puryear.
Dallas Brown is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Brown of Atmore. She is a student at Atmore Christian School. For her talent presentation, she will perform “Let It Be” as a piano instrumental and vocal presentation. Maud Meacham will serve as her Little Sister.
Walton Nichols is the daughter of Randy and Melissa Nichols of Atmore. She is a student at Escambia Academy. For her talent, she will perform a jazz dance routine to “My Strongest Suit,” from the Broadway show, Aida. Jenna Brown will serve as her Little Sister.
Kelsey Templeton is the daughter of Roger and Lisa Templeton of Brewton. She is a student at T.R. Miller High School. For her talent, she will perform “Temporary Home”, by Carrie Underwood. Serving as her Little Sister will be Jaime Snowden.
Cierra White is the daughter Earnie White of Flomaton and the late Angie White . She is a student at the Alabama School of Math and Science. For her talent selection, she will perform “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra. Taylor White will serve as her Little Sister.
Shelly Womack is the daughter of David and Janet Womack. She is a student at Excel High School. During the talent competition, she will perform a piano solo, “Valse, Op. 64, No. 1.” Niki Bryan will serve as her her little sister.
Pictured above: Cierra White, Shelly Womack, Kelsey Templeton, Dallas Brown, Megan Andrews and Walton Nichols. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Schedule: Blue Angels Beach Air Show This Weekend
July 9, 2010
It’s the big Red, White and Blues Week on Pensacola Beach, with the Blue Angels’ annual air show taking place this weekend.
On Friday, the show gets underway at noon with a full dress rehearsal. The Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the Pensacola Beach Air Show begins at noon, with the Blue Angels scheduled to fly at 2 p.m.
On Saturday, NewsRadio 1620 will have live narration during the air show beginning at noon with Paul Stadden and former Blue Angels solo pilot Len Anderson. NewsRadio 1620 and Cat Country 98.7 will have special traffic reports with live updates both Friday and Saturday.
Aircraft scheduled to take part in the show include: a Grumman Widgeon G-44 flown by Julian MacQueen; Prometheus flown by Skip Stewart, Team RV; Red Star and the Dragon–Dragon Aviation; Fat Albert, a C-130 Hercules; and the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets.
Are you heading to the show? Send us your pictures! Email news@northescambia.com
FHP To Conduct Highway 29 Checkpoint Tonight
July 9, 2010
The Florida Highway Patrol will conduct a safety checkpoint tonight and early Saturday morning on Highway 29 near Broad Street.
“he “Comprehensive Roadside Safety Checkpoint” will take place between 10:00 p.m. Friday and 3:00 a.m. Saturday. There will be approximately 25 uniformed officers participating, as well as support personnel from the Emerald Coast MADD Chapter.
During the operation, vehicles will be stopped to check for driver impairment. Should impairment be detected, roadside sobriety testing will be performed on site. Warning devices will be placed in strategic locations for the safety and protection of the public, according to the FHP.
Broad Street intersects Highway 29 just north of I-10.
Rain Chances Increasing For The Weekend
July 9, 2010
We can expect a hot day today, with the heat index topping out about 105. It will not be as hot for the weekend, but we will have higher rain chances as the weekend progresses.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly cloudy, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Penny Bushaw
July 8, 2010
Penny Bushaw, of Walnut Hill, passed away Sunday, July 4, 2010 after a long courageous battle with breast cancer at the age of 46 years. Penny was born on April 28, 1964 to Wayne and Darlene Mae Arnold in Harlan, Iowa. She graduated from Harlan Community High School in 1982.
Penny met Jeffrey L. Bushaw while both worked at Harding Glass Company in Omaha, Nebraska in 1990. They were later married in Panama City, Florida where they took up residence. Into this marriage were born Lance and Shane Bushaw. After moving to California, Nebraska, Minnesota, and back to Florida, the Bushaws made a permanent home in Walnut Hill where both children attend Northview High School.
Penny worked several years for Merritt Glass Company, Inc. in Pensacola, Florida. She was involved with the American Cancer Society ’s ” Relay For Life ” where she received several awards for her fundraising efforts. Penny was also very dedicated to her family and her boy’s sports participation in school. She was an outgoing, compassionate, and loving person who will be missed by many family and friends.
She was preceded in death by all four of her grandparents, Frank and Zee Arnold and Harvey and Pearl Nelsen; her uncle, James Lush; her sister, Pamela Harmsen; and her mother-in-law, Marilyn Bushaw.
Survivors include her husband, Jeffrey Bushaw; sons, Lance and Shane Bushaw; her parents, Wayne and Darlene Mae Arnold; her father and step-mother, Donald and Ann Bushaw; one brother, Brian Arnold and his wife, JoAnne; one niece, Jeanine Lewis and her husband, Mark; two nephews, Brian and Jesse Arnold; and one great-nephew, Dylan Lewis; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment. Internment will be at the family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made in Penny’s name to the American Cancer Society , 5401 Corporate Woods Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32504 or Covenant Hospice, 5041 North 12th. Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32504.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment, is in charge of arrangements.
Crist Calls For Special Sesson To Seek Oil Drilling Ban
July 8, 2010
Calling it too important to leave to his successor, Gov. Charlie Crist called Thursday for a special session to ask voters to ban oil drilling off Florida’s coast – even though he doesn’t have buy-in from the House on the issue.
Crist’s call for lawmakers to return to town July 20 likely sets up a standoff with the Legislature – particularly the House – over the matter. Crist’s proposed amendment has a Senate sponsor, but so far nobody to carry the bill in the House.
Officially, Crist called for a four-day session to craft and pass a proposed constitutional ban on oil and gas exploration in state waters. If he can get it through the Legislature, it would go on the ballot in November for voter approval.
“I think it’s important that we put this into our constitution,” Crist told reporters at a hastily scheduled news conference. “Certainly, I think it’s important that we give the people of Florida the opportunity to make this call.”
Crist has been suggesting that lawmakers should return to propose a constitutional ban for several weeks, since not long after the April 20 explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon rig that led to the biggest oil spill in U.S. history.
But with nearshore oil drilling already barred by a moratorium and no appetite in the wake of the spill to push for new drilling, House leaders have resisted. Several have said that Crist has been posturing – seeking the constitutional ban for political reasons. Crist is running for the U.S. Senate.
If a constitutional ban is to be put on the ballot by the Legislature, it has to be done soon. The deadline for getting a measure approved for the November ballot is the end of the day, Aug. 3.
Crist said he didn’t want to wait any longer to address the issue.
“I feel a compelling duty to protect Florida,” Crist said. “I’m going to be governor for about six more months and I think I would not be doing my duty as governor if I didn’t call for this special session.”
Crist said other issues arising from the spill could wait.
“This is a rifle shot,” Crist said of the narrow legislative call.
Several lawmakers have said there are other issues resulting from the spill that could require attention, most specifically the drop in property values expected along the Gulf coast.
Opponents of a constitutional ban say the existing moratorium on drilling in the Gulf makes a constitutional ban unnecessary, at least immediately. The argument is that lawmakers could easily pass a proposed amendment next March during the regular session.
Crist, who is running for Senate with no party affiliation and has been at odds with the Republican Legislature on several issues in the last few months , said he thinks the drilling prohibition needs to be stronger because future Legislatures could easily lift the ban.
“I know it’s barred statutorily, l but I also know that just last year they tried to change that statute and drill holes three miles off the coast of Florida,” Crist said. “That’s why … the will of the people should be heard on this.”
In order to put the issue on the November ballot, the proposal must be approved by the three-fifths of the House and Senate. To pass, it must then garner 60 percent of the popular vote.
Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, generally supports a ban. Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, has opposed a constitutional ban.
The proposal will be sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami.
While Republicans have resisted a special session, Democrats have been pushing for one and praised Crist for it on Thursday.
“I commend the governor for agreeing to call for a special session to ban near beach oil drilling, despite the resistance from special interests and some members of the Legislature,” said state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate for governor. But she and other Democrats urged Crist and lawmakers to take on other issues as well.
“In addition to banning near beach drilling, the special session should also tackle the urgent needs for our business owners and state, including much-needed small business relief, a more streamlined claims process, and the creation of an environmental endowment for additional research,” Sink said.
With criticism expected that he was grandstanding, or calling the special session to boost his Senate campaign, Crist said the issue was of paramount importance, and it was a simple call.
“The rightness of this is so clear, especially with what we have experienced in the past 80 days or so in the Gulf of Mexico,” Crist said. “This is an issue that is so important to the future our state, to the economy of Florida.”
On The Road, Again: Northview’s 2010 Football Schedule
July 8, 2010
The 2010 football schedule for Northview High School has been released, and it won’t have the Chiefs playing a home game until late September.
The Chiefs, 7-3 last year, will open their 2010 season on the road at Graceville on September 3. They will travel the next week, September 10, to South Walton before having an open date on the third Friday night of the season, September 17.
The first home game for the Chiefs, in their second year under Head Coach Sid Wheatley, will be September 24 against Bozeman.
Here is the complete schedule for the 2010 Northview Chiefs:
- September 3 Graceville — Away
- September 10 South Walton – Away
- September 24 Bozeman — Home
- October 1 Baker — Away
- October 8 Bonifay — Homecoming
- October 15 Freeport — Away
- October 22 Jay — Home
- October 29 Sneads — Away
- November 5 Vernon — Home
- November 12 — West Florida Tech — Home
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.