Sunny, Then Rain By Friday
January 27, 2010
We will have a couple of sunny days, but rain is on the way by Friday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
Sell Your Unwanted Gold Today At Northview High
January 26, 2010
You can sell your unwanted gold for cash today at Northview High School and earn that extra cash you need.
The Northview High School Competition Cheerleaders will hold a gold party this afternoon from 3:30 until 5:30 in the gym lobby. Bring in your unwanted gold and collect your money. There is nothing to buy, only money to earn. You will receive your money on the spot after your gold has been assessed by a licensed gold buyer.
- Find all of your, used, broken, and unwanted gold pieces like broken earrings or out of style bracelet. Anything from 10K to 24K and white gold, too. And if you discover something that you are not sure about, just bring it anyway.
- Bring your gold to a the event This is no pressure to buy anything because there is nothing to buy.
- Sell your gold to the licensed gold buyer. The buyer will assess, test, and weigh your gold right in front of you. Then they will pay you on the spot. You will actually leave this fundraiser with money in your pocket.
- Enjoy your money. Donate some of it… save it… or spend it. It’s your money so it’s up to you.
Early Morning Fire Damages Walnut Hill Home
January 26, 2010
Fire damaged a Walnut Hill home early Tuesday morning.
The fire in the 100 block of Juniper Street was confined mostly to the attic of single story, partially bricked home. The fire was reported at 12:40 a.m., and declared under control by about 1:15 a.m. Fire units were on the scene until 2:15 a.m.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department and Atmore Ambulance responded to the fire.
Pictured above: Firemen prepare to enter the front door of the home. Pictured below: The fire was confined mostly to the attic of the home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Votes Against Consolidation; Attorney: County Could Pay For Pensions, Maritime Park
January 26, 2010
The Pensacola City Council voted Monday not to support the current governmental consolidation plan, and the city’s attorney has pointed out issues with the plan — including the possible transfer of the city’s pension liabilities and Maritime Park debt to current county residents.
A motion “to communicate the city council’s approval” to the legislative delgation failed 4-5 Monday afternoon. The Escambia County Commission recently voted to ask the legislature to delay any vote on consolidation until at least 2012. The Town of Century has withdrawn all support for the plan.
As first reported by NorthEscambia.com on January 15, language slipped in the consolidated government proposal just before approval would make every resident of Escambia County potentially responsible for funding millions the City of Pensacola’s problematic pension 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.
Under the consolidation plan, ESP (Energy Services of Pensacola), the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and the Town of Century’s utilities would be combined into a single Consolidated Utilities Authority. In a memorandum obtained by NorthEscambia.com, Pensacola’s city attorney, William D. Wells, agreed with our story’s interpretation of the section.
The section “obligates the independent utilities authority to pay the unfunded pension obligations of the City. The current annual obligation is a substantial sum, and the proposed act does not specify that these payments are restricted to ESP rates and profits – the new authority may utilize the rate structure of all of its utilities to pay this obligation.”
Wells also expressed concern in his memorandum, dated January 22, that county residents could be slapped with a portion of the Maritime Park debt. While the consolidation plan states that existing city debt will continue to be paid from its current sources, the Florida Constitution requires that if all citizens of the county enjoy the benefit a service or facility, those citizens can foot the bill.
“For example, if the Maritime Park ownership is transferred to the new government and the bonds are backed up by a general covenant to budget and appropriate non-ad valorem taxes, there is no legal requirement that the citizens of the current unincorporated areas of the County be insulated from satisfying the debt,” Pensacola’s attorney wrote.
The consolidation plan is in the hands of the Northwest Florida legislative delegation. They will continue to review the plan until as late as February 25 before potentially submitting it to the legislature to set a referendum vote of the public as early as November 2010.
To read the consolidation plan in its entirety, click here (pdf).
School District, Teacher’s Union Agree On Pay Increases
January 26, 2010
Teachers and staff members in Escambia County are getting a pay raise under a plan tentatively approved by the teacher’s union and the school board Monday night.
The plan includes a higher starting salary — $32,500 — for new teachers, a small raise for teachers with up to four years of experience, and annual 2 -percent raises for teachers with five or more year of experience. The 2 percent raise ends at year 26 and then provides a $500 annual bonus beginning in year 27.
The salary deal will be retroactive to July 1, 2009, once officially ratified by the Escambia County School District and the Escambia Education Association. The union will put the proposal out to members for ratification in the next couple of weeks. The school board will then ratify the plan at their next regular meeting, possibly meaning teachers and staff won’t see the extra cash in their paychecks for a couple of months or more.
The salary increases will cost the school district about $3.7 million.
Click here to see the 10 month salary schedule.
Five Month Long North Escambia Rabies Alert Ends
January 26, 2010
A rabies alert that has been in effect for North Escambia for the past five months expired Tuesday.
The alert first issued August 28, 2009, was to last a period of 60 days. After more persons were bit and more rabid animals were discovered, the alert was extended twice with a final ending date of January 26.
The first Rabies Alert was issued August 28, 2009 to last a period of 60 days after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies. One dog was bitten on Crabtree Church Road in Molino, the second on Handy Road in Cottage Hill. The rabies alert was extended until November 29 when three additional rabid animals — a skunk and two raccoons — were found in the area. The last extension, prompted when a cat exposed at least six people to rabies, continued the alert until January 26.
While the Escambia County Health Department would not confirm the location of the cat incident, NorthEscambia.com independently confirmed that the incident occurred October 23 near McDavid. According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We were told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some of those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would not confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
Even with the rabies alert issued, the health department says residents should follow some basic advice:
- All pets should have current rabies immunizations.
- Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, and foxes.
- All persons with any unusual exposure incident, or bites, with a wild animal should be evaluated by a physician to determine their need for treatment.
- For general questions pertaining to rabies in animals, contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
- Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
- Do not leave pet food outside as this practice also attracts other animals.
- For questions regarding the health of an animal, contact a veterinarian.
- Veterinarian staff and animal control staff should be alert for animals encountered with signs suspicious for rabies and contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/diseases.htm or contact the Escambia County Health Department, Environmental Health office at (850) 595-6700.
It’s Report Card Day
January 26, 2010
Moms and dads…check the book bags and binders tonight. Today is report card day in Escambia County, Florida.
The second nine-weeks report cards from Escambia County Schools will be sent home today.
The third nine weeks grading period ends on March 26.
Donate To Red Cross Haiti Relief At Pen Air
January 26, 2010
All Pen Air Federal Credit Union offices, including those in Century and Pensacola, are accepting monetary donations for the American Red Cross to aid in the recovery and relief efforts in Haiti due to the recent earthquake.
The American Red Cross along with the Haiti National Red Cross is conducting a massive response operation to help victims as they recover from the extreme devastation following the recent earthquake. The America Red Cross is asking for monetary donations that will be used to buy much needed medical supplies as well as food, clothing, and materials needed to help the victims.
“Pen Air Federal Credit Union is proud to help in any way we can. It wasn’t too long ago when our own area was hit by a major natural disaster and local citizens needed help. We are happy to assist the American Red Cross in their continued efforts to help people in need,” said Patty Veal, vice president of marketing at Pen Air FCU.
For a list of Pen Air FCU locations and hours, please visit www.penair.org or call (850) 505-3200. Membership of Pen Air FCU is not required to make a monetary contribution to the America Red Cross fund.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Parker at (850) 505-3200, Ext. 3417 or parkje@penair.org.
Walnut Hill Fire Dept. No Longer Feeling Blue
January 26, 2010
Things are no longer blue around the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. Monday, workers began the process of repainting the outside blue building. Once they complete all four sides, the trim on the building will be painted a complimentary color New hurricane doors were installed on the station last year. Painting and other upgrades are also being done inside the building.
Pictured above: The process of repainting the outside of the Walnut Hill Fire Station started Monday. Pictured below: The building as seen in January, 2004. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Truancy Cases Up In Escambia Schools, Judge Proposes Solution
January 25, 2010
Truancy is a growing problem in Escambia County’s public schools, with cases that make it to court up 50 percent in two years, and a Circuit Judge is proposing a solution.
“There is a truancy crisis in Escambia County. Truancy data collected by the Escambia County School District shows a continual increase of truancy cases filed in Escambia County Juvenile Division in the past three years. Escambia County children cannot obtain a successful education if they are not in the classroom,” Circuit Judge Ross Goodman said in a letter to the school board.
Goodman is suggesting that the Escambia County School District implement a School Truancy Operation Program, also known as “STOP”. Under the STOP program, law enforcement would transfer the youth to the Hope Center where the Department of Children and Families would be notified that the youth is truant. If the child has been through truancy court before, the presiding truancy judge will be notified. Parents will be required to pick up the child in person at the Hope Center.
At the Hope Center, the child will be presented with an age appropriate educational curriculum and a counselor will meet with the youth and parents together to address the incident and possible refer the family to other services.
Goodman said his plan has been discussed by the Escambia county Truancy Committee — which includes the court system, Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, DCF, Department of Juvenile Justice, Lutheran Services, the GED department and the Hope Center.
“Truancy isn’t just about missing school. Truancy is about intervention to resolve the obstacles that are preventing a student from attending school,” the judge said.
In Escambia County, truancy cases increased from 65 during the 2006-2007 school year to 96 in the 2008-2009 school year.
