Commission Approves Rezoning For Walnut Hill Crude Oil Transfer Station, Up To 30 New Jobs
May 18, 2012
The Escambia County Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to rezone property in Walnut Hill where an energy company proposes to build a crude oil transfer station that could mean about 30 new high paying jobs.
With a motion from Kevin White and a second from Gene Valentino, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of rezoning acreage that fronts Corley Road, but has a Highway 97A address, from village agricultural” to “general industrial” as recommended by the Escambia County Planning Board.
Genesis Rail Systems, LLC wants to build the facility on 20 near Arthur Brown Road. The property was chosen because it is at the intersection of an existing crude oil pipeline and the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway.
Crude oil will be shipped in rail tanker cars from the north — including oil fields in Monroe and Escambia counties in Alabama — and be offloaded at the Walnut Hill facility into a 100,000 barrel storage tank before being injected into the existing Genesis pipeline for transport to refineries along the Gulf Coast.
According to project plans, the facility will create 25-30 or more well paying full time jobs in the community, plus positive economic impacts from constructions and ongoing expenditures.
Plan drawings for the facility show that the large crude oil storage tank will be surrounded by a lined containment area designed to catch storm water runoff and, in a worse case scenario, any leak, preventing any contamination to the surrounding area. The facility will also include the pumping equipment, a 1,500 square foot administration building and a 45-space gravel parking lot.
To support the planned oil transfer station, the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway is currently constructing an additional rail spur parallel to tracks that run along Corley Road from Arthur Brown Road.
Pictured above: Property off Corley Road in Walnut Hill were a company wants to build a crude oil transfer station. Pictured inset: Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway is already working to install new track. Pictured below: Plans for the facility. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Will Front Legal Fees For Commissioners Being Sued
May 18, 2012
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to front attorney’s fee for three commissioners that are being sued by Forrest Gibbs, who was hired and then fired as marketing director for Escambia County Equestrian Center.
County Attorney Alison Rogers removed her office from the lawsuit after an motion to dismiss was denied by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles. Rogers advised Commissioners Kevin White, Grover Robinson and Marie Young to obtain their own defense attorneys. She said County Attorney’s Office employees might be called as witnesses in the case, creating a conflict of interest.
“I’m not trying to make any judgement; I’m just saying I don’t think it is fair for the taxpayers to pay for the legal defense of three commissioners that were charged personally and not as in the duty of a county commissioner,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson, who is not being sued by Gibbs, said.
“We weren’t charged with anything; we were sued,” White said. “We have not been charged with anything.”
The commission voted 3-2 to provide legal defense funds for the three commissioners, with Robinson saying that he would pay for his own attorney. The three commissioners being sued — White, Robinson and Young — voted for fronting the defense money, while Wilson Robertson and Gene Valentino — who are not being sued — voted against.
“We haven’t done anything that I consider wrong,” Commissioner Marie Young said. “Why can’t we support each other?”
If the three defendant commissioners prevail in court, the county will pay their legal fees. If they lose, the commissioners will be required to repay the county.
Gibbs held the Equestrian Center job for about two weeks in October 2011 until being fired by County Administrator Randy Oliver following a complaint that Robertson influenced his hiring and landed Gibbs a $63,000 salary, which was higher than was advertised. The commission, including Robertson, called for a state investigation into the process. The State Attorney found no wrongdoing.
Gibbs filed suit in Escambia County Circuit Court against Commissioners White, Young and Robinson claiming that he was qualified and they improperly removed him from his new job. The suit did not name Escambia County as a defendant. Commissioner Valentino was also not sued by Gibbs; he was not at a meeting in which the other commissioners considered the matter.
Gibbs is seeking unnamed damages in excess of $15,000 plus legal and court costs from White, Young and Robinson.
Wright, Prescott Named EREC Scholarship Winners
May 18, 2012
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced two local seniors as winners of the 2012 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards.
The Escambia County winner was Elizabeth Wright, and the Santa Rosa County winner was Travis Prescott.
Elizabeth Wright is the daughter of Joe and Tammy Wright and is a senior at Northview High School. She is active in many clubs and organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, Art Club, Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club, Student Advisory Council, Student Government Association and holds officer positions. She is also active in the Tribal Beat Marching Band. Elizabeth has won various awards through the Future Business Leaders of America for Public Speaking and Business Presentation.
Travis Prescott is the son of Philip Prescott and is a senior at Jay High School. He is a member of many clubs and organizations such as Tri-M Music Honor Society, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club and holds officer positions. He is a member of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Indoor Percussion, and the Drum and Bugle Corps at Jay High School. Travis is also an avid volunteer in his community, participating in activities such as delivering Thanksgiving baskets to retired teachers. Travis plans to major in Animation and Digital Arts in college.
Wright and Prescott will receive $1,000.00 for each of four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria. The scholarships will be presented at the respective schools’ awards programs.
To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be high school seniors and their parent or guardian must be a member of EREC.
Spring Football: Northview Vs. West Florida (With Photo Galleries)
May 18, 2012
The 1A Northview Chiefs lost to the defending 5A district champion West Florida Jaguars in a two-quarter varsity game Thursday evening in Bratt, while the junior varsity teams from the two schools walked away in a tie.
West Florida 14 – Northview 6 (Varsity)
In the first half of the Spring Game, West Florida defeated Northview 14-6 in game where NHS Head Coach Sid Wheatly said the Chiefs were plagued by a few mistakes.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
“Mentally, we had a couple of mistakes where we just didn’t take care of our assignment. We had a couple of guys go the wrong way, and it cost us down there when we had a chance to score,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to get more physical along both fronts — offensively and defensively.”
But Wheatley said the 1A Chiefs will recover form the lost to the 5A Jags.
“We are going to learn from the film; we are going to learn from our mistakes, and we are going to come back and be better for it, he said.”
Once school is out, Wheatley said the summer’s focus will be on building a better team with an eye on the state championship by December.
“We are going to work hard,” he said. “We are going to stay in that weight room. We are going to condition; we are going to work on our speed — all aspects of the game,” he said. “Each individual is going to be a better football player for it, and it’s going to make our team better.”
The Chiefs took an early lead with 6:56 to go in the first quarter of the varsity matchup on a short 1-yard touchdown dash from junior La’Mikal Kyles. After a missed extra point kick from junior Kevin Vaughan, Northview was up 6-0. A Chiefs field goal attempt was not good with 31.2 seconds to go in the first.
West Florida answered quickly with 17.1 seconds on the clock in the first with a touchdown run from Lawrence Lee and good kick the Jaguars took a 7-6 lead headed into the second quarter of varsity play.
The Jags struck again in the second for a 14-6 lead with 2:13 to go before the end of varsity play at the half.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
Northview 14 – West Florida 14 (JV)
A two-quarter junior varsity scrimmage ended with the Northview Chiefs and the West Florda Jaguars in a 14-14 tie.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
“I thought the kids played real hard. We had some guys kind of step up and break some runs for us. We turned the ball over a time or two and probably should have came up with a win. I thought they competed hard,” Wheatley said.
In the first quarter of junior varsity play, LaMikeal Banks scored a touchdown for the Chiefs with 7:35 on the clock. Sophomore Brannon Freeman added a two point conversion for an 8-0 Northview Chiefs lead.
The JV Chiefs expanded their lead with a touchdown run from Austin Dorriety. A missed extra point kick, and the Chiefs were up 14-0.
West Florida narrowed the gap with a touchdown run from Vonché and a kick through the uprights, 14-7 Northview. Then the Jags tied it up with 9:00 on the clock in the second quarter of JV play with a Jacquez Rodgers touchdown, 14-14.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Wars Subsiding, Molino And Cantonment Still County’s Cheapest Gas
May 18, 2012
The gas price wars of recent weeks appear to be subsiding, but drivers in Cantonment and Molino are continuing to enjoy the lowest gas prices in Escambia County.
When the Raceway at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road opened in early April, the gas station undercut the prices of other convenience stores in the area. But from Molino south to Gonzalez, several gas stations joined the gas price war and cut prices by as much as 20-30 cents below the rest of the county.
Now, over a month later, the gas prices in Molino and Cantonment are among the lowest in the county, but the dramatic savings have declined.
Thursday afternoon, the lowest price in Escambia County for regular unleaded was $3.37 per gallon at the Bindu in Cantonment, followed by $3.38 at the CMP Food Mart at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, and $3.39 per gallon at the Raceway on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road, the Tom Thumb in Molino and Cantonment, Dodge’s Store on Nine Mile Road, and the Speed Mart on Highway 29 near Tate School Road.
Multiple stations in the Pensacola metro were selling a gallon of regular unleaded for $3.41-$3.42 Thursday afternoon. The average price in Florida was $3.59, and the average price in the Pensacola area was $3.49.
Pictured: The Tom Thumb in Molino was among the cheapest gas stations in Escambia County Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fallen Officers Honored; One Sheriff Killed In North Escambia’s Past
May 18, 2012
Law enforcement officers who have died in the line duty were honored Thursday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Over 25 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Escambia County, including a sheriff shot to death in North Escambia.
Since 1923, 11 Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty. Another 13 Pensacola Police Department Officers have been killed since 1889 and one constable was killed on duty in 1955.
1895: Alabama Sheriff Killed In North Escambia
An Escambia County, Alabama, sheriff was shot and killed in North Escambia near Bluff Springs on July 3, 1895.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff E.S. McMillan was shot and killed as he and a posse searched for the notorious train robber nicknamed “Railroad Bill.” In 1893, Railroad Bill had shot and wounded a deputy sheriff who confronted him at a Bluff Springs home about not paying taxes on his weapon. He then fled and spent the next two years illegally riding Alabama freighters, robbing trains, and engaging in gun fights with lawmen.
In July of 1895, Sheriff McMillan (pictured) received a tip that Railroad Bill was hiding out in Bluff Springs, Florida, and went with a posse to arrest him. As Sheriff McMillan walked along the railroad tracks, the suspect, who was hiding behind a tree, opened fire with a Winchester rifle. Sheriff McMillan was struck and succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Railroad Bill was later gunned down by a host of law enforcement officers.
McMillan is the only officer from Escambia County, Alabama, to ever die in the line of duty.
Pictured: The annual Law Enforcement Memorial held Thursday at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Players, Coaches Named To Subway All-Star Softball, Baseball Rosters
May 18, 2012
Several North Escambia area players made the cut when the Pensacola Sports Association announced today the rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Baseball and Softball Games. And two area coaches will be among those calling the shots.
The 6th annual all-star game is scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at the University of West Florida baseball and softball field complex. Beginning at 6 p.m. the women will have their first pitch followed by the men’s first pitch at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West). Head coaches for this year’s event include Brian Watson from Jay High School for the east softball team and Mike Haveard from Pine Forest for the west softball team. In the baseball game, Cory Hamrick from Niceville High will head up the east team while Tate High’s Greg Blackmon will lead the west boys.
Tickets to the game are only $7. Fans are encouraged to bring canned good items to donate to the Manna Food Pantry to get a discount on game admission.
Rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star baseball and softball games are below (with North Escambia area players in bold).
West Softball: Victoria East, Ashley Peters, Brittany Morris, and Aubrey Yeagle from Escambia, Brianna Coleman, Brittany Manning-Davis, Rebeka Touary, and Sara Grace Gunter from Pine Forest, Kristen Hughes from East Hill, Lauren McCall from Northview, Amber Wells from Catholic, Samantha Hurley from Pensacola, Kayla Rosario, Kaitlyn Kenfield, Gabby Leifur, and Kalina Kenfield from West Florida Tech, Heather Schaff, Kim Baker, Barette Barnes, Marina Cobbs, Holly Brown, and Kat Tucker from Tate, and Rachel Medley from Washington.
East Softball: Kasey Harrison from Laurel Hill, Megan McDonald and Amanda Curington from Gulf Breeze, Hannah Day from Crestview, Lauren Osburn, Sarah Beth Marquis, and Meghan Redalieu from Navarre, Hannah Jones from Pace, Stephanie Hartness, Jamie Ujvari, Jessica Ujvari, and Courtney Adams from Niceville, Brittany Tiller from Rocky Bayou, Katie Worley, Kassandra Gilley, and Desiree Velasguez from Milton, Becca Calloway and Tessa Hendricks from Jay, Tory Kilcrease from Baker, Jaime Phillips and Jennifer Phillips from Fort Walton, and Rikki Rummel from Choctaw.
West Baseball: Scott Robertson, Matt Mckibben, and Avery Van Brussel from Washington, Skyler Beckerman, Tyler Murphy, Chase Anderson, and Tucker Massey from West Florida Tech, Tyler Curtis, Hunter Black, Austin Quina, Mac Seibert, and Cody Palmer from Tate, Preston Szuch, Tyler Henry, and Chase Keifer from Catholic, Tanner Brooks and Zach Barrow from Northview, Trenton Potter and Kody Bryant from Pensacola Christian, Brandon Nagem, Jon Cagle-Lister, and Zach Hathaway from Pine Forest, Joey Scapecchi and Kaleb Lewis from Escambia, and Brandon Haragul and Jimmy Threat from Pensacola.
East Baseball: Kameron Miller, Dylan Lee, and Derek Lovelace from Crestview, Kyle Mcgee from Gulf Breeze, Tanner Black, Miguel Paulino, and Luke Clark from Choctaw, Bucky Locke from Baker, Cory Eller and Mike Haynes from Niceville, Sammy James from Jay, Patrick Maddox, Patrick Ervin, Daniel Hampton, Steven Jernigan, and Clay Benefield from Pace, Paul Young and Jordan Martin from Milton, Dylan Peacock from Central, Steven Wills from Rocky Bayou, Kyle Slingerland from Laurel Hill, Jacob Terry and Dusty Jones from Navarre, Ian Hok and Trey Marshall from Fort Walton.
Escambia Womans Claims Quarter Million Lottery Prize
May 18, 2012
An Escambia County woman is just over a quarter million dollars richer today.
Thursday, Gladys Cartwright claimed a $254,806.05 Fantasy 5 top prize from the April 20 drawing at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. Her top prize-winning ticket was a free Quick Pick ticket she won by matching two numbers in a previous Fantasy 5 drawing. The ticket was generated at the Mom & Pop Convenience Store at 2600 East Olive Road in Pensacola.
Citizens Insurance Rattled By Continuing Rate Increase Complaints
May 18, 2012
Facing fallout over potentially significant rate hikes, members of a Citizens Property Insurance Corp. committee said Thursday they need to do a better job working with lawmakers, the media and the public as they formulate 2013 premiums for the state-backed insurer.
Members of Citizens’ actuarial and underwriting committee said state insurance regulators have a number of options to depopulate the company, which now covers more than 1.4 million policies, and satisfy the Legislature’s wish to increase rates to make them actuarially sound and more in line with private insurers.
Documents released prior to the meeting show some rates on new coastal business would have to more than double to reach levels necessary to adequately cover potential losses. Overall, new coastal policy premiums would rise by 41.7 percent on average. Non-coastal policyholders would see rates rise an average of 24 percent from premiums in force at the end of 2010.
First released last year, the data again this week set off a flurry of concern from coastal residents and at least two lawmakers who said the rate increase, if fully implemented, would cripple the state’s building industry, especially along the coast. Rates in some areas of Miami-Dade County, for example, would have to double.
Current Citizens policyholder rates cannot increase by more than 10 percent a year. But new policies, Citizens’ leaders argue, aren’t subject to the 10 percent cap. That stance differs from that of key state officials, including Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who say the Legislature intended the 10-percent cap to apply to all Citizens’ policies.
Committee members said Thursday the board would likely pursue a course of charging rates on new policies above the 10 percent cap, but look at options , including a phase-in period, to cushion the blow. Even if the Citizens Board approves a course of action in July, it still must be reviewed by the Office of Insurance Regulation.
“There is a long process that occurs between where we are now and where we started and the endgame or outcome of something that might impact the pocketbook of a consumer,” said committee member John Rollins.
Though final action on any 2013 rate is still months away, members voiced frustration that merely discussing the potential for rate hikes unleashes a backlash from policyholders and lawmakers, all playing out in the media.
“We have a fiduciary responsibility to continue to review the data,” Rollins said. “To me it is not news at all and shouldn’t be news to anyone who has followed Citizens over the last few years, that the data indicate a pretty significant gap (between premiums and potential losses.)”
Last year, the Citizens board approved sinkhole rates, which, though actuarially sound, sent lawmakers through the roof, said Board Chairman Carlos Lacasa. The same will happen with future rates unless legislators and their staff are brought into the process much earlier.
“We are not going to get to actuarially sound rates, we are not going to get a healthier insurance market without total buy-in from every stakeholder in the state,” Lacasa said. “To do it piecemeal will not work.”
By The News Service of Florida
Suns Walk Off With 8-5 Win Over The Wahoos
May 18, 2012
Following a 44 minute rain delay, the Jacksonville Suns walked off with an 8-5 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The walk-off came right after the Wahoos got the game tied with a two-out run in the top of the ninth.
Both teams traded blows over the game’s first five innings. Jacksonville plated single runs in the first and second, before Pensacola put up two runs in each the third and fourth innings to go up 4-2. The Suns were quick to respond pulling within one in the bottom of the fourth before they got two in the bottom of the fifth capitalizing on back to back walks to open the inning.
The game stayed 5-4 until Pensacola rallied in the top of the ninth. Didi Gregorius singled with one out then stole second base before scoring two batters later on a two-out RBI double by Joel Guzman to even the game at five.
Jacksonville was able to get to Curtis Partch (2-3) in the ninth. Jake Smolinski led the inning off with a double. After an intentional walk to Kyle Skipworth, Shawn Bowman unloaded for his fourth home run of the year to send the Suns home 8-5 winners.
Guzman, Gregorius and P.J. Phillips led the Blue Wahoos offensively with a pair of hits each and Guzman added a pair of RBI while Gregorius scored two. The Wahoos perfectly executed a suicide squeeze in the top of the fourth when Gregorius scored from third on a bunt by Ryan LaMarre for the Blue Wahoos fourth run of the game. J.C. Sulbaran was charged with the first five Suns runs over four-plus innings. He allowed four hits, walked four and struck out five. Partch took the loss, his first since returning from Bakersfield. Despite allowing the tying run in the ninth, Evan Reed (2-1) earned the win for Jacksonville.
The series continues in Jacksonville on Friday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Tim Gustafson (1-0, 4.55) to the mound against Suns righty Bryan Evans (0-2, 4.41). First pitch is set for 6:05 central time.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos’ Joel Guzman had a pair of hits and RBI in against his former team. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.