Rita Moye Hall
May 28, 2011
Rita Moye Hall, our loving mother left us to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 26, 2011. She was born on May 3, 1935, in Brewton. Mrs. Hall attended and graduated from Flomaton High School. She has resided for the past 22 years in Cantonment.
Preceding her in death was her husband, David Hall; her mother, Geneva Kreamer; her father, Rayburn Moye; her brother, John David Moye; and two great grandchildren Tyler Harbison and Thomas Williams III.
Survivors include her daughters, Shirley and Bill Byerly, Sarita Redmond, and Sonya and Robert Harbison; her sisters, Mabry Moye and Monica Kraemer; her brother; James Moye; five grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, May 30, 2011, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Pine Rest Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ray Moye, Chris Moye, Steve Harbison, David McAuley, David Johnson and Warren Harbison. Honorary pallbearers will be Keith Moye and Keith Davis.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Two People Injured In Friday Morning Santa Rosa Wreck
May 27, 2011
Two people were injured in a north Santa Rosa County wreck Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Malory S. Collins, 28, of Lithonia, GA, was traveling south on Highway 87 near Oglesby Road in Allentown when he swerved to avoid a disabled vehicle on the side of the roadway. However, the FHP said evidence showed Collins had driven onto the west shoulder prior to swerving around the disabled vehicle.
Collins left the roadway and struck a ditch, cable box and a tree. Collins and a passenger, 27-year old Tirrell R. Coleman of Atlanta received minor injuries in the crash.
Collins was cited for careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
New Florida Budget Includes $7.7 Million To Resurface Highway 29
May 27, 2011
The almost $70 billion budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes over $7.7 million to resurface Highway 29 in North Escambia from Pine Barren Road north through Century to the Alabama state line.
The budget for the 15.5 mile project is $7,709,279. Bids are expected to be let in the coming months.
At one point earlier this year, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were handing out three or four accident report forms a day to Highway 29 drivers with busted windshields. Some area residents are on windshield number two or three since the pavement began to deteriorate and “the rocks” began to appear over a year ago on the stretch of Highway 29.
Back in February, a Florida Department of Transportation Geotechnical Foundation Investigation crew performed pavement tests on the roadway, and high-powered blowers have been used since in an effort to remove the loose rocks from the crumbling highway.
Pictured above: The new Florida budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes $7.7 million to resurface a portion of Highway 29. Pictured below: The Florida Department of Transportation has been using this high-power blower to remove rocks from the deteriorating highway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Homeless After Early AM Molino Mobile Home Fire
May 27, 2011
Four people were left homeless after early morning fire near Molino.
All occupants were able to escape without injury when fire broke out in the single wide mobile home on Vantage Road, just off Jacks Branch Road, about 12:10 a.m. Friday. A family dog was rescued, but several pet birds in the mobile home were lost.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
There was no immediate cause known for the fire; the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate.
The American Red Cross will assist the family of two adults and two children with temporary shelter for the next few days.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ferry Pass and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blazer, along with Escambia County EMS.
Pictured top: Fire destroyed this mobile home near Molino early Friday morning. Pictured inset: Fire rages inside the mobile home as firefighters arrive (Kristi Smith photo). Pictured below: Firefighters sift through the remains of the residence. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power To Seek Rate Increase
May 27, 2011
Gulf Power Co. this summer plans to ask for a $95 million increase in base rates, arguing that the cost of supplying electricity to the Panhandle has jumped during the past decade.
The Pensacola-based utility filed a document this month with the state Public Service Commission that outlines the proposal.
If granted, the proposal would translate to a 21.5 percent increase over Gulf’s 2010 base-rate revenues of $442 million — though it is too early to know how such a hike would affect individual customers’ bills.
Company spokeswoman Sandy Sims said Gulf Power has not sought base-rate change in 10 years. She said the company has “pushed off and pushed off as long as we can” any increases, but it needs higher rates to help protect quality of service.
“We wouldn’t be asking for it at this point if it wasn’t necessary,’’ Sims said Thursday.
Gulf likely will file a detailed proposal with the Public Service Commission in July, starting a months-long review process and hearings. Sims said the company hopes new rates will take effect in April 2012, though it also wants a so-called “interim” rate increase later this year that would involve a smaller amount.
State Public Counsel J.R. Kelly, whose office represents consumers in utility cases, said it is premature to know whether Gulf Power can justify the $95 million increase. But he said his office will closely examine the proposal.
“We will have our experts lined up and ready to contest, I’m sure, many of their issues,’’ Kelly said.
Gulf Power likely will be the first of three electric utilities that will take base-rate cases to the Public Service Commission during the next year. Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida are operating under rate plans that end December. 31, 2012, and Kelly said he expects them to file new proposals late this year or in early 2012.
Base rates pay for many of the day-to-day operations of utilities. But they don’t include costs for such things as power-plant fuel and certain types of environmental upgrades.
Gulf and the other utilities go before the Public Service Commission each year to get approval for passing along those costs to customers. The costs fluctuate, which can lead to customers facing higher bills if, for example, the cost of coal or natural gas increases.
With about 428,000 customers, Gulf Power is the dominant utility in the Panhandle. Rates are set differently for residences and businesses, and it is unclear how any increases would be spread among Gulf’s customers.
The document that outlines the proposed increase was filed with the Public Service Commission on May 9. In the document, Gulf Power said it has faced increased infrastructure costs during the past decade, such as the cost of adding 1,000 miles of new power lines.
“Gulf has avoided a base-rate proceeding for as long as possible,’’ said the document, signed by company President and CEO Mark Crosswhite. “An increase in base-rate revenues is now necessary to maintain a reliable electric system and to preserve our financial integrity, which is in the long-term best interest of our customers.’’
Gulf Power received new revenues during the past decade because of growth in Northwest Florida, but Sims said such growth only partially offsets the higher costs.
Kelly took issue with the idea that the utility should receive approval because it hasn’t filed a base-rate case in so long. He pointed to factors such as customer growth and improved technology, which can reduce expenses.
“That, in and of itself, is never a valid argument,’’ he said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Meth Lab Suspect Burned, Arrested
May 27, 2011
A Santa Rosa man burned in a methamphetamine lab gone bad is now facing drug charges.
Shawn Hinesley, 34, was dropped off at the Santa Rosa Medical Center wearing only underwear and with severe burns during the early morning hours of May 12. When deputies contacted his mother, she said no one should be living at the residence in question and told deputies she suspected there might be a meth lab at the home in Milton.
Deputies found a meth lab and several bottles that appeared to have exploded, partially burned clothing and a melted baseball cap. They also found Hinesley’s wallet and driver’s license.
Hinesley was arrested Wednesday after his release from the hospital. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of felony drug equipment and possession of listed chemicals. He was released from jail on GPS monitor due to burn-related issues, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
3rd Grade FCAT Scores Mixed News For Local Schools
May 27, 2011
Third grade FCAT scores in reading and math were released Wednesday, and they were mixed results for North Escambia area schools.
Byrneville Elementary third graders were among the top in Escambia County on both the reading and math FCAT. In reading, 100 percent of Byrneville students scored a 3 or above, up from 91 percent last year. In math, 96 percent scored at grade level three or above. In terms of percentage, Byrneville and Pensacola Beach, both charter schools, had the best scores in Escambia County. (Pictured top: Byrneville third graders celebrate their FCAT success Friday morning at the school.)
At Bratt Elementary, there was a slight decrease in math scores, down from 84 percent at grade level last year to 77 percent this year. In reading, scores improved from 64 percent last year to 71 percent at grade level this year.
At Molino Park Elementary, 89 percent of third graders were at grade level on the math FCAT, down slightly from 92 percent last year. The percent of students that scored at grade level in reading fell from 90 to 77 percent.
At Jim Allen Elementary, 84 percent of third grade students were at grade level in math, compared to 82 percent last year. On the reading FCAT, Jim Allen improved from 76 percent at grade level in 2010 to 84 percent in 2011.
At Jay Elementary, the percent of grade level students decreased from 86 percent in 2010 to 80 percent this year. In math 85 percent of third grade students were at grade level in 2011, compared to 90 percent in 2010.
In Escambia County, scores essentially held steady during the past year. Math fell one point from 75 percent in 2010 to 74 percent in 2011, and reading scores increased one percent from 71 to 72 percent, and
In Santa Rosa County, math fell one point from 90 to 89 percent and reading scores improved three percent from 85 to 88 percent.
Pictured top: Byrneville third graders celebrate their FCAT success Friday morning at the school. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals Win Spring Game
May 27, 2011
The Jay Royals won their spring jamboree Thursday night over Rocky Bayou Christian School 34-22 on the road at Destin Middle School.
The first half of the game featured the junior varsity and second string varsity and ended with a 22-22 tie.
The Royals came out fighting, scoring on their opening possession. After a 15-yard pass from Justin Goodwin to Baylor Mann, Brandon Boutle was in from nine yards out for a 25-22 Jay lead.
With just under two and a half minutes to go, Dakota Smith was in from four yards out for a 34-22 Royal advantage.
It was the Royals first game under new coach Kent Smith, a Jay graduate and former player. Smith has spent the past 22 years as an assistant coach at Pace. The 2011 season will be a rebuilding year for the Jay Royals — they are coming off a 0-10 season last year.
Photos: NWE Closing Ceremonies
May 27, 2011
Closing ceremonies were held Thursday evening for Northwest Escambia Little League in Walnut Hill. Junior and senior baseball and senior softball will continue at NWE through June 14.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Photos by Mandi Kinely for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain, Gusty Winds Last Night; Sunny Today
May 27, 2011
After some much needed overnight rain, we will be back into our sunny and dry pattern through the Memorial Day weekend.
Rain totals were under an inch across the area Thursday night as a windy storm moved through the area with gusts as high as 44 mph in Walnut HIll. There was a report of dime size hail just northwest of Flomaton on Upper Creek Road just after 9 p.m. A few scattered power outages were reported across the area.
Here are some selected rain totals and wind gust speeds from across the area Thursday:
- Atmore — 0.85 inches, 33 mph wind
- Byrneville — 0.48 inches, 25 mph wind
- Jay — 0.31 inches, 39 mph wind
- Molino — 0.38 inches, 26 mph wind
- Walnut Hill — 0.80 inches, 44 mph wind
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.