Century Man Among Last Honor Flight Vets
April 13, 2011
Just over 100 World War II veterans, including a Century man, are back at home today after the ninth and final Emerald Coast Honor Flight to Washington on Tuesday.
Among the veterans on Tuesday’s Honor Flight was the Rev. Willie H Carter, 89, of Century. For more photos of Rev. Carter and the Honor Flight arrival, click here.
Hundreds of people gave the veterans a hero’s welcome at the Pensacola Regional Airport. They were escorted by an honor guard and saluted by Marines as they were welcomed back by friends and family.
During the four years of the Emerald Coast honor flight, hundreds of Gulf Coast veterans had the opportunity to spend a day in Washington to see the War War II Memorial and other sights. Organizers have ended the program, saying they have served all the veterans that have applied for the special trip.
Pictured top: Terri Sanders of Century (left) welcomes home the Rev. Willie H. Carter of Century at the Pensacola Regional Airport Tuesday night. Pictured left inset: Benny Barnes and Century Mayor Freddie McCall welcome Rev. Carter back to the airport. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Shys Away From $200K In Commission Chamber Upgrades
April 13, 2011
The Escambia County Commission probably won’t spend nearly $200,000 to renovate their five-year old meeting space.
The commission discussed possible renovations to improve meeting efficiency — including sound system upgrades ($6,000 to $17,000), modifications to the dais ($173,500) and lectern microphones ($8,000).
“It’s not a prudent use of tax dollars,” County Commission Chairman Kevin White said.
White, who represents North Escambia’s District 5, agreed that there are visibility problems with the dais – - the raised platform behind which the commissioner sit at the front of the commission chamber.
“It is a pain to see who is wanting to speak; sometimes they are just sitting there waving their arms,” White said. As chair, White sits at the center of the dais with the other four commissioners on either side of him.
Some commissioner did agree that upgrades to the voting system should be considered. Commissioner use a push button system to cast their votes or to alert the chairman that they wish to speak, but the chair does not know which commissioner wishes to speak. The voting system would cost an estimated $23,000 to $60,000 to upgrade.
Students Learn The Buzz About Bees
April 13, 2011
Second grade students from Jay Elementary School recently had the opportunity to learn about bees. Roy Smith and Ernest “Peaches” Peach of the North Escambia Bee Association spoke to Mrs.Roberson, Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Floyd’s second grade classes, teaching them all about the different jobs of bees, their life cycle, the art of beekeeping and all about honey. Pictured top: “Peaches” shows a demonstration hive to students. Pictured inset: Peach and Roy Smith (left) explain beekeeping. Submitted photos by Julia Thorton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Public Servants Recognized By VFW Post
April 13, 2011
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 706 recently honored public servants — including some from North Escambia — for their dedication to the community.
The following were honored:
- Teachers Charlie Code from Northview High School, Emily King from Woodham Middle School, and Emily McMillan of Ferry Pass Middle School.
- Firefighters Baylen Payne of the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Hendershott
- EMT Daniel Jones of Escambia County EMS
- Officer Brad Buddin of the Pensacola Police Department.
Fishermen Still Looking For BP Seafood Marketing Money
April 13, 2011
While lawmakers touted the $30 million given Monday to seven Florida counties to pay for big-budget advertising campaigns, commercial fisherman are left wondering when they will be able to spend the $10 million promised them to market seafood last year.
Last October, British Petroleum, the company that leased the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded in April 2010 and leaked 4.9 million barrels of oil into the ocean, agreed to give the state $10 million for seafood testing and another $10 million for marketing seafood. But that money is caught in a legislative limbo.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has to wait for the Legislative Budget Commission to authorize spending that $20 million. The commission has the authority to grant agencies the ability to use funds that were not appropriated in the normal budget process.
“A lot of people said ‘OK, we got it, and it’s helping us,’ but not yet, not yet,” said Jerry Sansom, the executive director of the Organized Fishermen of Florida, which is pressing lawmakers to authorize spending.
Sterling Ivey, spokesman for Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam, said the department just received the $20 million from BP on March 30.
“It’s been within the last two weeks that the agreements have wrapped up and everything was signed,” Ivey said.
Sansom said the money is needed to assure buyers of Florida seafood that it is safe to eat.
“The Florida product was never affected (and) that is not the perception that the world has about seafood from the Gulf,” Sansom said.
The Florida seafood industry was badly battered by last year’s oil spill. American consumers were leery of eating seafood from the oil-infused Gulf waters, even though fishermen insisted their product was safe.
The $30 million BP said Monday it will give to seven Panhandle counties is designed to help pay for advertising campaigns outside of Florida to convince tourists to stay in Florida hotels and frolic on its beaches.
Though there is nothing preventing these counties from also promoting the seafood industry, that is not what the $30 million grant was designed for. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, said he expects some of those dollars to go toward advertising “dining out,” which would help the seafood industry.
Some lawmakers were critical of the slow-moving process for seafood marketing. The local counties that are getting $30 million for tourist marketing will see their first $10 million within 15 days, a BP official said.
That process can move more quickly because the money will be delivered directly to the counties.
“It’s unfortunate that the money is being held up and I hope the (Legislative Budget Commission) does meet soon so that the money is freed up,” said Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna.
House Appropriations Chairman Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, who is in charge of the Legislative Budget Commission this year, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Her counterpart in the Senate, Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said Monday he would consider putting the money in the Senate’s budget bill if the Legislative Budget Commission did not meet before the end of session.
“It’s up to the House to decide whether, or if, they want to call an LBC meeting,” Alexander said. “To the extent it doesn’t happen then we would address many of the issues in this year’s budget bill.”
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Relay For Life Motorcycle Ride Scheduled
April 13, 2011
The Atmore Community Hospital and Atmore Appliance Relay for Life teams will sponsor the Racing for the Cause – ‘Cause We Want a Cure Motorcycle Ride from 8 a.m. until on Saturday, April 23.
Registration will take place from 7 until 8 a.m., with line up at Atmore City Hall and a scenic ride through Escambia and Monroe counties ending at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore.
Registration is $25 day of the ride with $10 for an additional rider. Lunch will be provided, and there will be a live band.
For more information, call (251) 368-8142 or (251) 577-6435 and leave a message or email relaymotorcycleride@yahoo.com.
Northview JV And Varsity Shut Out Pine Forest
April 13, 2011
The Northview Chiefs beat Pine Forest 4-0 Tuesday in varsity high school softball action.
Miranda Burkett pitched the complete game for the Chiefs, striking out four and allowing just five hits. She was a 1-2 on the mound.
All four of the Chiefs runs came in the second inning.
Junior Varsity
Compost Bins, Rain Barrels Available Saturday
April 13, 2011
Your backyard garden can go green with with compost bins and rain barrels offered by Escambia County Solid Waste Management and the Extension Service.
Backyard compost bins and rain barrels will be available for purchase at a distribution event on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Pensacola Civic Center 9th Avenue parking lot.
The Earth Machine compost bin can be purchased for $45 and the SYSTERN Rain Barrel can be purchased for $55, tax included. By using an Earth Machine, a single-family household can expect to divert approximately 600 pounds of waste per year, according to event organizers.
For more information, contact the Escambia County Division of Solid Waste Management at (850) 937-2160 or visit www.escambiarecycles.com.
12 Reach Plea Deals On Federal Drug Charges, Face Up To 20 Years Or Life
April 12, 2011
Ten area residents indicted earlier this year on federal drug charges have reached plea deals that will land them in prison for up to 20 years, while two are facing up to life in prison.
The 12 were indicted and arrested in February for conspiring to obtain pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine. They were arrested in day-long law enforcement sweep on February 22 as part of a federal effort dubbed “Operation Blister Pack”.
Each of the following 10 people have entered plea agreements in Pensacola federal court. Their guilty pleas will result in sentences of up t0 20 years in prison, up to a quarter million dollars in fines and three years supervised release for each:
- James Brown, 45, of Molino Road, Molino
- Tonya Foster, 36, of Vaughn Street, Cantonment
- Aaron Hendrickson, 36, of Hwy. 95A, Cantonment
- Rebecca Jernigan, 36, of Still Road, Century
- Patricia Love, 29, of Eastman Lane, Cantonment
- Raymond Love, 30, of Highway 29, Molino
- William Neal, 29, of Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment
- Terra Palmer, 34, of Daylily Road, Cantonment
- William Robbins, 23, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino
- Nicholas Scott, 31, of Rumford Road, Molino
Two defendants have also entered plea agreements on charges of obtaining pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiring to manufacture the methamphetamine itself.
Matthew Ramsey, 38, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino, faces a maximum of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years, a $4 million fine and five year supervised release on one count. If the court determines that he has a qualifying prior drug conviction, the penalties increase to life in prison with a 20 year minimum mandatory, an $8 million fine and 10 years supervised released. On the pseudoephedrine count, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release.
Terry Wolfe, 47, of Robertsdale, Ala., faces a maximum of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years, a $4 million fine and five year supervised release on the manufacturing charge. On the second count, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release.
A Pensacola federal judge will review the plea agreements in May and set a sentencing day.
About a half dozen Cantonment and Molino area residents arrested on state drug charges on the same day as the federal operation are still awaiting trial in Escambia County Circuit Court.
Century Looking For Local Bidders On Building, HVAC Projects
April 12, 2011
The Town of Century is currently accepting bids on two projects, and they are hoping that local contractors will place their bids.
The town is accepting sealed bids for building retrofits at Town Hall, and also sealed bids for HVAC replaces and retrofits at public buildings.
Previously, the town had placed their bid solicitations only in the Pensacola News Journal. But now, the town is also posting the bid announcements on NorthEscambia.com in an effort to reach more contractors in Century and surrounding areas.
“We really hope local contractors will bid on the projects,” said Debbie Nickles, town consultant.
Future bid notices will be published on the Northescambia.com Classifieds page, available from the link at the top of this page or by clicking here. NorthEscambia.com is publishing the bid solicitations at no charge to the town.
The current bid notices are reprinted below.
- The Town of Century is accepted sealed bids for building envelope retrofits at Town Hall. Click here for the full notice.
- The Town of Century is accepted sealed bids for HVAC replacement/retrofits at public buildings. Click here for the full notice.