Gulf Power Helping Veterans Connect To Jobs
August 3, 2011
Gulf Power Company has partnered with other utilities to develop “Troops to Energy Jobs,” an effort to link military veterans to job openings in the energy industry.
The program was initiated by Washington-based Center for Energy Workforce Development, which has predicted that almost 40 percent of utility employees nationwide will retire or leave their jobs through attrition during the next five years, leading to almost 200,000 job openings. Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm, helped develop CEWD in 2006 to address the approaching workforce shortage.
“There is a huge correlation between the skill sets that military men and women have and the skill sets that we need,” Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator said. “This program is an example of how our industry has worked on a national level to make sure we have the talent we need, while continuing to support our military community.”
Last year, Southern Company was named one of G.I. Jobs Top 10 Military Friendly Employers for 2010. Gulf Power has actively recruited military servicemen and women over the years by working directly with local military bases.
Darryl Johnson, Work and Family Life consultant for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton said the local military has had a strong relationship with Gulf Power and Southern Company for 25 years.
“They have been enormously helpful in providing us with job openings and information to help us best place our men and women in a good job,” said Johnson. “I like to call it a “win-win-win” situation. Gulf Power fills a position with someone who has the experience they need, the military serviceman or woman finds a great job, and I get to connect the two.”
Active military personnel who are interested in the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program can go to www.cewd.org and look for the “Troops to Energy Jobs” section. Some of the positions expected to be available include engineers, technicians, line workers, plant operators and pipefitters. To apply for a job at Gulf Power, go to www.southerncompany.com and click on “Careers.”
Excessive Heat Warning: Heat Index Up To 115
August 3, 2011
There is an excessive heat warning in effect for your Wednesday with temperatures expected to climb to about 100 with high humidity pushing the heat index to between 110 and 115 degrees by afternoon.
Heat index values this high can cause even the most physically fit to succumb to heat exhaustion, or even a heat stroke, according to the National Weather Service, which recommends plenty of fluids, air conditioning and staying out of the sun.
- Wednesday…Sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs around 100. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Heat index readings 110 to 115.
- Wednesday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Highest heat index readings 105 to 107 in the evening.
- Thursday…Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Thursday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday…Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Friday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday…Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Sunday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Monday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Monday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Tuesday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Virginia Nell Daniel
August 3, 2011
Mrs. Virginia Nell Daniel, 79, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, in Byrneville.
Mrs. Daniel was a native of Detroit and a resident of Byrneville for the past 17 years. She retired from Xerox after 35 years and was a member of the Ladies Club of the Byrneville United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Daylon R. Daniel and two brothers, Dr. John Whittington and Bledsoe Sayle.
She is survived by two sons, Daylon Ray Daniel, II of Canton, MI, and Joel and Carol Daniel of Byrneville; two daughters, Toni Sue Newberry of Dallas, and Jennifer Nell and Steve Sperry of Patterson, CA; three grandchildren, Lori Barry, Krena Seagray, and Melany Nell Sperry; five great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a brother, Joseph Hugh Whittington of Byrneville.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Byrneville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2011, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Robert Smith, Tom Alford, Steve Sperry, Daylon Daniel II, Joe Daniel, and Carol Daniel.
Honorary pallbearer will be Elmo Fillingim.
Pace Man Drives Off Escambia County Cliff
August 2, 2011
A Pace resident was injured early this morning when his car left the road and went over a cliff off Scenic Highway.
James Weatherwax, 25, of Old Guerney Road, was southbound on Scenic Highway around 1 a.m. when his car left the road around Bluff Drive, said Pensacola Police Officer Maria Landy.
Weatherwax told police he swerved to avoid hitting a deer before the 2001 Nissan he was driving went approximately 100 feet over the cliff and then another 150 feet before it stopped against a tree.
After the crash, Weatherwax is believed to have walked about a mile north to steps across from Bayview Cemetery, climbed the steps and then flagged down a passing motorist for help. Pensacola Police received a 911 call to respond to the area around 5:48 a.m.
Landy said Weatherwax was wearing a seatbelt; there were no indications of alcohol. He received extensive facial injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
No charges have been filed.
Century More Than Doubles Business Tax Rates
August 2, 2011
The Century Town Council voted to more than double the town’s business taxes effective the fiscal year that begins October 1.
The average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — will jump from the current $25 to $55. Others will increase more substantially, such as pharmacies to $100, entertainment establishments to $121 and factories to $132. The business tax receipt rates are being copied from the small town of Fellsmere, Florida.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”.
State law gave Century three choices: adopt the 1971 state rates and business classes, adopt the rates set by Escambia County (currently $26.25 for all businesses), or find a schedule of rates adopted properly by another Florida municipality such as Fellsmere.
At last report in May, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
““We were trying to pick out something that will benefit us a little bit but not be overzealous,” Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night of the choice to use the Fellsmere rate schedule. “We are not making money.”
While the new business tax receipt rates were adopted Monday night by the Century Town Council, the council must still vote at a future meeting to approve an ordinance implementing the rates.
Pictured: The Town of Century must revamp its current business license regulations and fees paid by businesses like Food Giant (seen in the aerial photo at top) and Whataburger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Heat Advisory In Effect
August 2, 2011
Wednesday be even hotter than Tuesday with an excessive heat warning and a heat index approaching 115 degrees.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 115. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
District 5 Commissioner White Town Hall Tonight
August 2, 2011
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting this evening.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Office Auditorium at 3740 Stefani Road.
The meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and proceed into an open forum. The public is encouraged to attend for the opportunity to ask questions and share comments.
Annie Carter Savage Sworn In As Century Council Member (With Video)
August 2, 2011
Annie Cater Savage was sworn in as the newest member of the Century Town Council Monday night to the seat formerly held by the late Nadine McCaw.
The council unanimously voted last month to appoint Savage to fill the vacant Seat 2 until the end of McCaw’s term in early January of 2012.
According to town council President Ann Brooks, Savage was the only person that expressed an interest in filling the seat. The Seat 2 position will appear on Century’s October ballot during Century’s general election. As of Monday, Savage was the only candidate that had prefiled to seek the seat.
A video of the swearing in appears at the bottom of the page.
Pictured above: Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez reads the oath of office to Annie Carter Savage (middle) as Mayor Freddie McCall looks on Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
MacArthur Prefiles For Century Council Seat
August 2, 2011
Pamela MacArthur prefiled Monday for Seat 1 on the Century Town Council held by incumbent Ann Brooks. MacArthur, a retired certified nursing assistant, is a political newcomer that has lived in Century for about 20 years.
“I want to be a help to the community,” she said Monday. “We can make Century a better place and have unity.”
On July 11, Brooks, who currently serves as council president, prefiled for Century’s October 2011 election.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Declared Federal Disaster Areas Due To Drought
August 2, 2011
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been declared federal disaster areas due to combined effects of the recent excessive drought and heat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture made the designation, which will provide farmers and ranchers in affected areas access to low-interest, emergency loans and other federal assistance through the Farm Service Agency.
“Florida producers can count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during these difficult times,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “President Obama and I are committed to reducing the impact of this disaster for Florida producers and we will commit all available resources to help in recovery.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa County are among 27 Florida counties announced Monday by federal officials on Monday that would be eligible for financial assistance following months of drought.
Farmers and ranchers in Escambia County, Alabama, are also eligible to apply for national disaster assistance because their county borders the disaster area.
Pictured top: A field of corn is irrigated in May at Highway 4 and Dortch Road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.