Future Of Molino Library Remains Uncertain; Tax Collector, Appraiser Moving Offices To Molino
February 16, 2011
While the future of a library in Molino remains in limbo, a community center and museum at the Old Molino School may be joined by a new office building for the county’s property appraiser and tax collector.
County officials laid out the current state of plans for the school at a town hall meeting Tuesday night in Molino. Most of the 50 people at the meeting had one major concern — will the project include a library as originally planned?
The project’s original plans called for a library, complete with the usual shelves of books, children’s areas and computer terminals. But without funding to operate its daily operations and employee salaries, library plans have been shelved for now. In addition, the county needs thousands more to complete building renovations for a library, including the addition of more structural supports under the building’s 72 year old floor to accommodate thousands of pounds of books.
“The project had always anticipated a $500,000 grant from the state,” said David Wheeler, Escambia County Facilities Management deputy bureau chief. “Without that grant, it will be reduced to a library kiosk.” That kiosk would likely be a computer system from which books could be ordered for delivery by the library system’s Bookmobile — no employees necessary.
“We really want this done. We don’t want to stop with the kiosk,” said Molino resident Lil King. “There’s not one person who’s not real busy in a library somewhere?”
“It’s not a dead project, yet,” District 5 Escambia Commissioner Kevin White said. “We are going back to the whole board (of commissioners) to ask for the reallocation of LOST (local option sales tax) funds to finish out the library.” But by law LOST funds can’t be used for daily operation expenses, only construction.
“The key is going to be the library board,” Escambia Administrator Randy Oliver said.
“It’s very dear to my heart that the library happens, ” said Molino resident Pat Rigel. She currently manages the Century Branch Library and is slated to manage the Molino library, if it opens. “I really want to see this work.”
White plans to ask his fellow commissioners for $630,000 in April — $480,000 for building expenses and $150,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The commission is expected to approve a 7,000 square foot addition to the Molino Road school property for a state of the art “green” building for tax collector and tax appraiser offices.
With the change order for the tax collector and tax appraiser, county officials anticipate putting the renovations and construction at the Old Molino School property out for bids in mid-May, with construction beginning around August. The projects would have an anticipated completion date of December, 2012.
In May, 2009, commissioners approved the $400,000 purchase of the Old Molino School building from the Escambia County School District. Commissioners have since approved a budget of $2,089,156 from Local Option Sales Tax monies for the renovation project, including $214,580 to DAG Architects to design the renovations.
Pictured top: David Wheeler, Escambia County Facilities Management deputy bureau chief, explains renovation plans for the Old Molino School during a community meeting Tuesday night at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured top inset: Lil King of Molino speaks in favor of the library. Pictured bottom inset: County Administrator Randy Oliver explains the library funding problems as County Engineer Joy Blackmon listens. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bad Brake Light Leads To Drug Bust
February 16, 2011
A broken brake light led to two people being arrested on felony narcotics charges in Century.
Deputy Nate Mortenson conducted an early morning traffic stop on a Buick driven by Maurice Austin, 22, of Century, after he noticed a brake light that was not working as Austin came to a stop at West Highway 4 and North Century Boulevard.
After getting consent to search the vehicle, deputies located pills they identified as prescription narcotics and cocaine, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Austin was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, felony possession of crack cocaine and driving with no license. He was also issued a traffic citation for the non-working brake light. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $2,500 bond.
A passenger in the vehicle, Hannah Joyce Campbell, 19, of Century, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on $1,000 bond.
Donations Accepted For Family That Lost Everything In Fire
February 16, 2011
Donations are being accepted for a family of five that lost their home and everything they own in a fire early Monday morning in Century.
Clothing donations are being accepted at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at 9420 North Century Boulevard between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Friday, and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. The family will pick up the donations at the store on Saturday after 2 p.m.
Items needed include:
Baby
Clothes size 18 months
Shoes size 6
Diapers size 4
Women’s
Clothes size 3X and size 6.
Underwear size 12 and size 5
Bras size 40D and 32B
Men’s
Pants size 40W/32L and 30W/32L
Shirts size 2X and M
Underwear Size L and M
In addition, Century Methodist Church is accepting financial donations for the family. Donations can be made to Century UMC, P.O. Box 245, Century, FL 32535.
Pictured: Fire destroyed a wood frame home at 121 Front Street in Century early Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senate’s Budget Chief Says Scott Prison Cuts Worth Considering
February 16, 2011
The Senate’s chief budget writer said Tuesday it is worth considering Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to cut the Corrections Department by $82.4 million next year and close two prisons, despite criticism from the chairman of the committee that writes the criminal justice budget.
“I believe we need to look at cost saving efforts across all aspects (of the state budget),” said Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales after hearing a presentation on prison privatization plans Tuesday. “Ruling out any aspect at this point would be inappropriate. If we can save money so we can fund our schools and health care and pay for other critical needs, it’s worth looking at.”
However, Civil and Criminal Justice Budget Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Mike Fasano maintained on Tuesday his criticism of the plan to increase the number of prisoners in private facilities by 15,000.
“Is there any room in private prisons in the state of Florida?” asked Fasano, R-New Port Richey. “There’s no more room. We would have to give them additional money to take 15,000 prisoners when we have approximately 10,000 beds in the system that have already been paid for by taxpayers. I don’t get the rationale behind that.”
Particularly worrisome to Fasano is that Scott’s plan to increase the privatization of prisons calls for eliminating 1,690 jobs, including 619 corrections officers. During Scott’s campaign and transition, he promised to eventually slash $1 billion from the state’s prison system, drawing the ire of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which ran campaign ads saying Scott would release prisoners if elected.
Tuesday, Fasano called Scott’s comments about maximizing the existing private prisons in Florida “deceitful” because he said they are already maxed out.
Alexander’s openness to the proposal followed a presentation from new Corrections Secretary Ed Buss, who spoke to the committee in his second day officially on the job. Buss told the Senate Budget Committee that privatization plans had worked well where he came from.
“Indiana probably has the most aggressive private-public (prison) partnerships in the country,” Buss said. “We saved hundreds of millions of dollars even in a smaller state like Indiana by having public-private partnerships.”
Buss noted that in Indiana, privatized prisons have a specific purpose: housing sex offenders, which he says allows the state to narrowly focus their missions.
Alexander said the new corrections secretary’s experience in Indiana with private prisons could be instructive to lawmakers in Florida grappling with a $3.6 billion budget shortfall this year with no promise of federal stimulus money, unlike the past three years.
“Looking around the nation, I’m not an expert, but there does seem to be some real savings (from privatization),” said Alexander, R-Lake Wales. “His experience is informative of what we maybe can do here. If we’re short $4 billion, we have a choice. We can cut programs in health and human services, reduce our support for education or we can look at efficiencies in prisons.”
By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
Firefighters Battle Numerous Brush Fires
February 16, 2011
Firefighters across Escambia County responded to numerous brush fires both Monday and Tuesday. In most cases, the fires were started when trash fires got out of hand. Here is a collection of photos from fires Tuesday:
Above: Cedar Tree Lane, Cantonment. Residential trash fire out of control, about 4:15 p.m.
Above: Cedar Tree Lane, Cantonment. Residential trash fire out of control, about 4:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Lillian Highway, Lillian. Controlled burn that got out of control, about 1 p.m.
Above: Eden Lane, Cantonment. Residential fire out of control, about 1:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Northview FBLA Students Place At Districts
February 16, 2011
Several members of Northview High School’s Future Business Leaders of America placed at the FBLA District 1 Leadership Conference at the University of West Florida recently.
NHS students taking part included:
Business Calculations
Taylor Dukes , 6th
Erin Fremin , 3rd
Derrick Portis, 5th
Business Communication
Taylor Byrd , 3rd
Hannah Hinton , 5th
Business Mathematics
Victoria Wright , 5th
Health Care Administration
Alissa Fiellin , 1st
Casey Godwin , 2nd
Intro to Business Communications
Kasie Braun , 1st
Deidre Steele , 4th
Job Interview
Jessica Imholte , 2nd
Public Speaking II
Elizabeth Wright , 2nd
Technology Concepts
Darwin Robinson , 3rd
Web Design Team 1
Brandon King , 1st
Joshua King , 1st
Jacob Morris , 1st
Winners first to fourth place (first place for performance events) are eligible to attend the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Orlando April 25-28.
Man Suspected In Over A Dozen Church Burglaries
February 16, 2011
Multiple charges have been filed on a Pensacola man suspected of burglarizing over a dozen churches, daycare centers and businesses within the past few weeks — and authorities say he may be responsible for other burglaries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
James William Cole Jr., 40, of 102 South L St. is charged with three counts of burglary, one count possession of burglary tools, two counts of grand theft, two counts of criminal mischief, one count of larceny, and one count of driving with a suspended/revoked license. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $38,250.
Pensacola Police Capt. Paul Kelly said additional charges are pending as detectives continue investigating 13 burglaries that have occurred during the past 25 days within city limits. Kelly said Cole also is a suspect in numerous burglaries committed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Computer equipment, electronic items, food, and money were among the items taken in the burglaries; a dollar amount of the thefts is not available.
Cole had been under surveillance for a couple of days after being identified as a suspect, Kelly said.
He was taken into custody Monday night while members of the department’s Criminal Investigations Division were monitoring his activities. Around 10 p.m., officers followed him to Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 410 S. Fairfield Dr., and arrested him after he used a screwdriver to dismantle two large electrical boxes.
In addition to Monday night’s burglary, he also has been charged with burglarizing the daycare center at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church, 901 E. Gadsden St., on February 3 and the First Presbyterian Church Child Discovery Center, 33 E. Gregory St., on February 6.
A box of hamburger patties taken from the Gadsden Street United Methodist Church were found in the freezer at Cole’s residence, Kelly said.
LCpl Joshua Cody Wright
February 16, 2011
LCpl Joshua Cody Wright, USMC, age 19, of Molino, Florida passed away February 7, 2011 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Josh was born February 12, 1991, to Gordon and Melisa Wright. He was a high school graduate and an active duty United States Marine based at Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina Romeo Battery 5th Battalion, 10th Marines.
Survivors include his parents; Gordon A. and Melisa Wright of Molino, Florida, two sisters; Carrie and Mariah L. Wright, step-brother; Anthony James Watson and his grandparents; Chuck and Sue Watson of Panama City, Florida along with numerous aunts, uncles and extended family.
Funeral services will be held at 11:45 am on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Navy Chaplin David Gibson officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.
Serving as pallbearers will be the United States Marine Corps.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:30 am until service time at 11:45 am.
Martin Stephen Merchant
February 16, 2011
Mr. Martin Stephen Merchant, 66, passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, in Christian Home.
Mr. Merchant was a native of Sacramento, CA, and a resident of Christian Home for the past 44 years. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He loved to fish and hunt and loved to coach little league. Preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and a son, Tony Merchant.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Alice Merchant of Christian Home; four sons, Ronnie and Rosemary Merchant of Bratt, Eric and Dee Merchant of Davisville, Timothy and Amanda Merchant of Pace, and Nathan Victor of Christian Home; two daughters, Renee and Shane Thrower of Huxford, and Tiffany and Michael Segers of Canoe; 16 grandchildren; three brothers, Jack and Faye Merchant of Bluff Springs, Larry and Michelle Merchant of Bluff Springs, and John Barron and Gloria Merchant of Modesto, CA; and two sisters, Jo Ann Merchant of Bay Minette and Linda Merchant of Auburn.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 18, 2011, at noon at the Christian Home Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Floyd officiating. Burial will follow at Christian Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 17, 2011, between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Larry Merchant, Billy Joe Merchant, Kevin Merchant, Richard Merchant, Michael Segers and J.C. Victor. Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Thrower and James Williams.
The family of Martin Stephen Merchant is asking for monetary donations instead of flowers to help pay for his funeral, for he had no life insurance. The donations can be made directly to East Side Chapel in Atmore Al. We are Thanking Everyone in advance for your help.
State Farm Rate Increases Questioned
February 16, 2011
State Farm property policyholders in higher risk areas could see premium increases of 40 percent or more on their homes under a 27.9 percent average rate hike request that insurance officials said Tuesday will shock many customers and place an increased burden on the state-run pool.
State Farm Florida Insurance, the state’s largest private insurer of property, told state regulators Tuesday that non-hurricane losses — especially sinkhole claims– over the past few years are forcing the company to double rates for rental customers and seek hefty hikes from homeowners in some inland counties to cover the losses.
But the state’s insurance Consumer Advocate, Steven Alexander, said the request is bloated. State Farm is paying its agents far more than the national average for policies and is skimping when it comes to providing discounts to property insurance customers when it drops sinkhole coverage as part of its basic multi-peril package and offers it instead as an optional add-on, he said.
Speaking during a public hearing on its latest rate increase request, State Farm representatives said sinkhole losses over the past couple of years have escalated dramatically and have been the major driver in ramping up losses for the company, which has not seen a hurricane hit land in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
“Our financial position has deteriorated over the past few years,” said State Farm actuary Adam Swope. “This company has lost a substantial amount of surplus despite having no hurricanes.”
State Farm is requesting a 27.9 statewide increase in residential homeowners’ rates. Premiums for rental insurance, a relatively small percentage of the company’s portfolio, would increase 95.7 percent if the rates are approved. Officials at the Office of Insurance Regulation say they will likely have a ruling within the next two weeks.
As part of the statewide average, policyholders in some counties would see increases that are significantly higher.
Policyholders in Orange and Seminole counties for example, would see premiums jump more than 46 percent if the request is approved. Customers in other locations would see rates fall, with policyholders in Manatee County paying 6.7 percent less and Panhandle customers seeing 20 percent reductions.
Sarasota County policyholders would see a 2.5 percent increase, while rates in Charlotte County would rise 16.5 percent.
One likely offshoot of the rate hikes is that more policyholders will be transferred into Citizens Property Insurance Corp. the state-run pool that is now the largest single property insurer in Florida. State regulators Tuesday appeared skeptical when company staffers were unable to determine how many policyholders would leave State Farm if the rates were approved. They asked why the rates were not being phased in to cushion the blow.
“Has the company told its agents what to tell customers if these rates are approved?” asked OIR Acting General Counsel Belinda Miller. “Some of them are going to be shocked.”
Alexander, the consumer advocate, said State Farm could lower costs by not paying its agents so much for renewing policies. The company’s selling expenses are more than double the national average of $149 per policy. Alexander also estimated that the company is saving about $325 per policy by not offering comprehensive sinkhole coverage, yet it is offering discounts to customers of only about $150.
Company officials said they have not broken out the sinkhole component among a list of non-hurricane damages from which it has suffered losses, a lack of information that Alexander and other panel members said they would like to see before making up their minds on whether to approve the request.
“We shouldn’t pass on this rate until we get the sinkhole figures,” Alexander urged. “It’s such a big part of the filing.”
By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida