Over Half Million Earned: Century Nets $10K From $18.2 Million Bond Issue
January 16, 2012
The Town of Century recently collected $10,000 in fees for signing off on an $18.2 million bond issue for an apartment complex renovation in Miami.
The approval was granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
Century has received over a half million dollars in fees since the inception of CTA.
The latest CTA project was a $18.2 million bond issue for renovation of the Civic Towers Apartments Miami to provide housing for low and moderate income families.
The CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities, according to Matt Dannheisser, attorney for both Century and Gulf Breeze. The funds used for the bonds are from the CTA’s coffers, not from Century or Gulf Breeze.
Rain For Tuesday
January 16, 2012
Warmer air is moving into the area, bringing with it increasing chances of rain into Tuesday and Tuesday night.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: Numerous rain showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening…then widespread rain showers and scattered thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 50. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
Wednesday: Cooler. Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the lower 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph becoming 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
MLK Day Programs, Parades Planned
January 16, 2012
Parades and special events will honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. across the area today.
Century:
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association will honor Dr. King with a motorcade in Century Monday morning. The motorcade will line up at the old Carver School on Pond Street at 8:00 a.m. The motorcade will roll at 8:30 a.m. and will end at the Agricultural Building on West Highway 4 by about 10:00. A program and celebration will follow in the Ag Building at 10:00 with guest speakers, special music and lunch.
Flomaton:
A Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Damascus Missionary Baptist Church in Flomaton. Special speaker will be civil rights leader Dr. H.K. Matthews.
Atmore:
Parade line up 9 a.m. begins 10 a.m. at Houston Avery Park, follows Martin Luther King Avenue, to Carver Avenue, Ashley Street, Main Street and ending at Escambia County High School. A program will follow in the high school’s Hodnette Auditorium.
Pensacola:
Parade, 11 a.m., downtown beginning at the intersection of Spring and Garden streets then turning north on Palafox. Over 4,000 free books and 10,000 free bookmarks will be distributed to children at the parade.
Milton:
Milton’s parade begins at 10 a.m. at Milton High School and then travels along Stewart Street to Elva Street.
Gulf Power Marks MLK Day With Power Of Service Awards
January 16, 2012
Gulf Power Company recognized four community service organizations Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
The inaugural “Power of Service” awards were given to Truth for Youth, STRIDE, Chain Reaction and the General Daniel “Chappie” James Academy, four organizations that work to improve the lives of young people and to promote character and public service. Each organization was given a $2,500 grant from Gulf Power, an inscribed award, and – from the White House – The President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“Dr. King preached the value of community service and Gulf Power is proud to launch this award program as a way to annually honor this special day and to encourage others to give back to the community,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Because of the encouragement and guidance of these programs, hundreds of local youths’ lives are positively changed.”
Power of Service Recipients:
Chain Reaction provides students between the ages of 13 and 18 with meaningful volunteer opportunities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Chain Reaction works with over 1,200 teens and has partnered with 130 different community agencies, providing monthly opportunities for teens to volunteer. Chain Reaction seeks to develop Escambia and Santa Rosa teens into active citizens that recognize the significance of giving back and prepare them for their next journey after completing high school. Some of the services they provide include offering teens the opportunity to volunteer, character education and monthly leadership trainings.
The General Daniel “Chappie” James ACE Academy is an aviation exposure program designed to introduce young boys and girls to the aviation industry at all levels. Their goal is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through aviation that will allow young children to embrace education in a fun and positive way. The Pensacola ACE Academy started in 1996 and is sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Inc.
Truth for Youth, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is comprised of an all-volunteer staff of concerned citizens, educators, and businesses in Pensacola. Overnight lock-ins are coordinated to provide social, civic, educational and recreational activities for inner-city, at-risk, underprivileged youth, ages six to 16. The targeted population includes economically distressed, low-income areas and supports both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The mission of Students Taking Responsibility In Developing Excellence (STRIDE) is to provide positive male role models, academic tutoring, and character development mentoring to fourth and fifth grade at-risk male students. STRIDE believes it is critical for male, at-risk students in this age group to receive academic and character development mentoring to enhance their opportunity of a successful future. Some of the goals of STRIDE include improving students’ performance on standardized tests, helping students resist negative peer pressure and encouraging students to take responsibility for their individual actions. For more information.
Century Reschedules Tonight’s Town Council Meeting
January 16, 2012
The Century Town Council has rescheduled their normal third Monday of the month meeting.
The meeting scheduled for tonight will be held next Monday, January 23 at 7 p.m. The meeting was rescheduled due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The meeting is open to the public.
Pictured: (L-R) Mayor Freddie McCall, Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez and council members Annie Savage and Ann Brooks at a recent Century Town Council Meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Want To Learn Microsoft Word, Excel Or Outlook?
January 16, 2012
The Escambia County School District’s George Stone Technical Center will offer online classes for Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Classes will be available beginning Wednesday, January 18.
For more information, George Stone’s website at georgestonecenter.com or call (850) 941-6200.
MLK Day Closings
January 16, 2012
The following will be closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:
- All Escambia and Santa Rosa county offices
- All Florida and Alabama state offices
- Century, Jay, Atmore, Flomaton, Pensacola city offices
- All West Florida Public Library branches
- Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools
- ECAT: No buses run today
- Santa Rosa County libraries
- All post offices, but mail will be collected from collection boxes and post offices boxes will receive mail. Express mail will be delivered.
ECUA: There will no trash collection changes.
Florida 12th In 2011 Quality Counts Report
January 16, 2012
Florida was ranked 11th in the nation in Education Week’s Quality Counts 2012: The Global Challenge – Education in a Competitive World report as results were issued Thursday.
The report gives high marks to Florida in both the Standards, Assessments, and Accountability category and the Teaching Profession category. The data used to derive the financial ranking dates back to 2009 and reflects the impact of the economic downturn on spending for education from that year.
Florida scored an overall grade of “C+.”
“Florida’s education system ranks among the best in the nation, but we still face some challenges. I’m confident we will continue to improve,” said Governor Rick Scott.
According to the 2012 report,
- Florida earned an “A” in the Standards, Assessments and Accountability category and ranked fifth in the nation.
- Florida is one of 10 states to have the capability to link teachers and their student performance data back to teacher education programs.
- Florida is among 29 states to have used education data from international models to shape reform policies.
- Florida ranked first on the equity measure that looks at differences between average per pupil spending among districts at the 95th and fifth percentiles.
- Florida is second in the nation in the equal distribution of funds amongst its school districts.
- Florida ranks fourth in the nation with a “B” in The Teaching Profession category.
- Florida earned points for increasing its graduation index by 14 percentage points from 2000 to 2008.
- Advanced Placement achievement and improvement points increased in this year’s analysis. Florida was the fourth highest state in the percent of students who scored “3″ or higher on AP tests and third highest for the percentage of increase in successful AP testers.
Motorcycle Gang Member Facing Prison Time For Sexual Battery
January 16, 2012
An Escambia County man is facing up to five years in prison for an attempted sexual battery at a motorcycle club.
Joseph Borg was convicted by an Escambia County jury for an incident that occurred at the clubhouse of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on Jackson Street in Brownsville. A surveillance video showed Borg and the victim entering the clubhouse on the night of the incident. A short time later, it showed the victim running out partially dressed and being chased by Borg, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. The victim was able to find help and was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital. Borg was arrested the same night.
Both Borg and the victim were bloodied, bruised and scratched up from the attack. The victim was ultimately able to free herself after she struck Borg in the head with a spur from her boot. A search of the clubhouse found blood splatter in the upstairs sitting area. DNA testing showed there was blood from both Borg and the victim.
Judge Linda Nobles ordered a presentence investigation into the background of the defendant, with sentencing scheduled for a later day. Borg, a member of the Black Piston’s Motorcycle Gang, will face up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles.
Elliotts, Green Cedars Farm, Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
January 15, 2012
Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino have been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the year.
Green Cedars Farm is an agricultural tourism farm dedicated to educating people about the origins of their food. The farm also provides a farm experience for events such as birthdays, parties, and even weddings.
Green Cedars Farm produces pastured poultry products, including chicken and Thanksgiving turkeys. Eggs from the pasture management system are marketed as tastier and more nutritious than conventionally produced eggs. Eggs are sold at the farm or at the Palafox Farmers Market on the weekends in Pensacola. The farm also produces lamb and pork for the freezer. Their meat products are designed to fit local niche markets and are promoted as locally and humanely grown.
The farm also has a small apple orchard incorporating the Green Shell Apple that was common in the Brewton area over 100 years ago. After some of the old trees were discovered, a grafting program was initiated to recover the almost lost genetics of the Green Shell Apple. This old heritage variety of apple will become a staple of the farm’s tours as a “you pick” apple.
To support the apple orchard, the Elliotts have a small honey bee yard. The honey bees provide the necessary pollination for the apple orchard as well as the garden and even many of the grasses in the pastures.
The Elliotts utilize the chicken and turkey droppings as fertilizer for their pastures, orchard and gardens. The sheep flock grazes behind the chickens to harvest the rich grasses produced. This management system also encourages a richer and more diverse population of soil microorganisms.
Roger retired from the U. S. Navy in 1993 after a 21 year career as a helicopter pilot. He was then employed by the University of Florida Extension as a Livestock/Small Farms/ 4-H Agent. Roger and Pam moved to their present farm on Gibson Road Molino in 2001.
Motivated by visits to other Agricultural Tourism farms and pastured poultry farms around the country, they began planning for a third career. After deciding that he would rather be a farmer than teach farmers, Roger retired from Extension in 2007 and began farming full time.
Dr. Pam Elliott is employed by the Escambia County Schools as a music teacher at N. B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts. On the farm, she is active as host for those visitors participating in the farm’s trail rides as well as day to day chores and upkeep of facilities. Pam loves canning local foods from the farm’s garden and presenting meals that are almost totally local grown. She has canned over 300 jars of produce and freezes other fresh foods for the family’s freezer.
The Elliott’s daughter, Dr. Laurel Elliott Newman, and her husband Michael Newman bring another set of skills to the farm. As a veterinarian, Laurel is involved in the health and welfare of the farm’s livestock and the livestock guardian dogs used in predator control.
Michael is responsible for the farm’s website — www.greencedarsfarm.com. As a professional photographer, Michael visually records farm events. Michael is also involved with the poultry breeding program in which the farm is involved in breeding Welsummer, Cuckoo Marans, and Delaware chickens — one of the “threatened” breeds of poultry. Michael is also responsible for the farm’s bee hives.
For more information about Green Cedars Farm, visit www.greencedarsfarm.com.
Pictured top: Jimmy Cunningham (left) of the Escambia County Farm Bureau presents the Farm Family of the Year award to Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino. Also pictured: Scenes from the farm. Photos courtesy Michael Newman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
