Obama, Republicans Clash Over Tax Proposal
July 10, 2012
President Barack Obama on Monday called on Congress to approve a one year extension of Bush-era tax cuts for people making less than $250,000 per year, a proposal that has been rejected by congressional Republicans and likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
Obama’s challenge to Congress came as Republicans seek an extension of all cuts for middle and upper-income Americans made under Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush.
As Obama campaigns for reelection, he is emphasizing what he says are the benefits of his policies and fairness for the middle class – contrasting his proposals with those of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Obama seeks to portray Romney as the protector of the wealthy who would enact $5 trillion of new tax cuts in addition to the Bush-era reductions that have been the subject of partisan debate with Congress for the past three years.
Saying the tax issue reflects the political stalemate in Washington and basic differences in vision for the country, Obama said his proposal would help strengthen the middle class.
“I am not proposing anything radical here. I just believe that anybody making over $250,000 a year should go back to the income tax rates we were paying under Bill Clinton – back when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest budget surplus in history and plenty of millionaires to boot,” Obama said.
In a compromise with congressional Republicans in 2010, Obama agreed to a two year extension of Bush-era tax cuts, but said he would not agree to another extension.
If Congress does not act before the end of this year, rates for all Americans will increase. Economists warn of a potential double punch to the economy from this and automatic mandatory spending cuts beginning at the same time.
Republicans rejected Obama’s proposal in advance. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said Obama is “doubling down” on tax increases that would harm small businesses. A Romney campaign statement accused Obama of responding to recent bad economic news with a “massive tax increase,” saying the president “doesn’t have a clue how to get America working again and help the middle class.”
The exchanges over tax policy follow recent government economic reports, showing unemployment remaining at 8.2 percent with only 80,000 jobs created in the month of June.
President Obama is facing opposition from some in his own Democratic Party, who advocate extending tax rate reductions for everyone earning up to $1 million a year.
The exchanges on taxes come as Obama and the Romney campaign further shape their positions on the economy with about four months until the presidential election.
Pictured: President Barack Obama delivers remarks on a tax proposal Monday at the White House. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
[VOA]
Fire Damages Atmore Home
July 9, 2012
Fire and smoke heavily damaged a home in Atmore Monday morning, displacing a family. It was the third house fire in Atmore within the past week, including a fire July 3 that killed a preteen girl.
Monday morning’s fire was reported just after 10 a.m. in the 100 block of Short Street, just off Jack Springs Road. The fire heavily damaged the interior of the concrete block home.
There was no immediate word of any injuries, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Atmore, Poarch and Nokomis fire departments responded to the blaze.
Pictured top: Firefighters quickly extinguished a Monday morning blaze inside this Atmore home. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wardens To Change This Week At Century Correctional Institution
July 9, 2012
There will be change in wardens at Century Correctional Institution this week, one of the North Escambia area’s largest employers.
Warden Ricard Comerford’s last day at Century CI will be Friday; he is being transferred by the Florida Department of Corrections to the warden position at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.
John Whitehurst will be promoted from Walton Correctional Institution to the warden at Century CI, effective Friday.
“This move for me is advancement and will bring new and different challenges due to the size and missions of Santa Rosa CI. I leave with mixed emotions in that my family and I have grown to love Century and the surrounding area. This community has made us feel welcomed from the first day we were here, and we will leave a piece of us when we go,” Comerford said.
He has served as Century CI’s warden for 16 months.
Comerford said he has personally known Whitehurst for over 20 years, and he expects him to continue a tradition of positive leadership and Century Ci, as well as maintain community relationships with the prison’s work program. Under the program, Century CI inmate work crews assist local governmental agencies, including the the towns and cities of Century, Jay and Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County, the Florida Department of Transportation, and North Escambia area schools. In 2011, Century Work Camp staff and inmates performed over 52,000 hours of work, saving taxpayers about $800,000.
“I have been proud to serve with the great staff here at Century CI. They hold public safety in the highest regard, while at the same constantly giving back to others and the community. I am proud our work squads, partnerships, and programs have been able to give back to our schools, parks, and fellow agencies,” Comerford said. “It is a testament to the hard working men and women of Century CI and the Florida Department of Corrections.”
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, there are 394 people employed at Century CI.
Pictured top: Century Correctional Institution Warden Richard Comerford speaks at a recent GED graduation ceremony inside the prison’s chapel. Pictured inset and below: Views inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Heat, Humidity, Hit And Miss Thunderstorms This Week
July 9, 2012
Expect heat and humidity and be the weather words of the day this week, and expect higher than average rain chances. Not everyone will see rain; the thunderstorms will be of the hit and miss summertime variety.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
NWE 16U Girls Win Babe Ruth State Championship
July 9, 2012
Northwest Escambia brought home the state title Sunday from the 16A State Babe Ruth Softball Tournament in Brewton — the first ever softball state championship for NWE.
NWE defeated Brewton 11-5 for the state championship Sunday afternoon. On the way to the state crown, NWE defeated Brewton Friday night 11-6 and knocked off Atmore 20-2 Saturday night.
Members of NWE’s 16u softball team are: Cheyenne Schoonover, Kristen Byrd, Courtney Peebles, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Danielle Steadham , Kyndall Hall, Kendal Cobb, Liberty Peebles, Peyton Dortch; Ally Edwards, coachesJill Lee and Jarod Peebles, and manager is Ronald Peebles.
NWE 11, Brewton 5
Courtney Peebles pitched seven with five strikeouts while allowing one walk. Runs included: Byrd 2, L. Peebles 1, C.Peebles 1, Schoonover 1, Banda 1, Lee 1, Dortch 1, Cobb 1, Steadham 1 and Hall 1.
NWE 20, Atmore 2
Courtney Peebles pitched five innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Runs included: Steadham 3, Hall 3, Lee 3, Schoonover 3, Banda 2, Cobb 2, Peebles 2, Dortch 1, Byrd 1.
NWE 11, Brewton 6
Courtney Peebles allowed one walk in seven innings. Runs included: Byrd 3, Banda 2, C.Peebles 2, Lee 1, Steadham 1, Cobb 1, and Dortch 1.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farmer’s Market In The Running For America’s Favorite
July 9, 2012
A Cantonment farmer’s market is in the running to be named one of the America’s Favorite Farmer’s Markets.
The Market at St. Monica’s is one of the contestants in the 2012 competition hosted by the American Farmland Trust. Winners will be featured on the food website Epicurious.com and will be honored at local celebrations with a prize package.
Market shoppers can cast their vote in support of their region’s farmers, community and market. To vote for The Market at St. Monica’s, click here and select the market. After voting, American Farmland Trust will solicit a donation to protect American farmland, but donations are not required to vote.
The Market at St. Monica’s is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. until noon with a variety of locally grown produce and other merchandise at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church at 699 County Road 95-A South in Cantonment.
The market will be open again on July 21.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured: Scenes from the last Market at St. Monica’s this past Saturday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
August Primary Voter Registration Deadline One Week Away
July 9, 2012
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is reminding voters that Monday, July 16 will be the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for those who wish to cast a ballot in the August 14 Primary Election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations must be completed on or before the end of the business day on July 16 in order for them to be effective for the August 14 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received no later than July 16 to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Also, to have a form mailed to you, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com).
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail (an absentee ballot), go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins August 4 at several locations throughout Escambia County.
Motorcyclist Killed Driving The Wrong Way On The Interstate
July 9, 2012
A motorcyclist traveling the wrong way on I-110 was killed Saturday night.
Kevin Minoria, 41 of Greenville, SC, was northbound in the southbound lanes of I-110 south of Cervantes Street on his 2012 Victory motorcycle when he collided head-on with a southbound Dodge Stratus about 8:30 p.m.
Minori was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:17 p.m.
The driver of the Stratus, 25-year old Tiffany Richardson of Pensacola, and her passenger, 24-year old Danyelle Johnson of Pensacola, were transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Richardson was unable to avoid the crash. She was following a truck that veered when the driver saw the wrong-way motorcycle, but Richardson did not have time to swerve.
Richardson was not charged.
Kale R. Schneider
July 9, 2012
My husband, our father, grandfather, brother and friend, Kale Raymond Schneider was born on May 28, 1944, to Raymond and Margaret Mininger Schneider in Alma, Michigan, and passed away on our farm July 7, 2012, reaching 68 years of age. Death was caused by a tragic accident while operating his bulldozer, an activity he thoroughly enjoyed.
Those left to treasure his memory are me, Donna, his loving wife; three sons, Ronald and wife Tracey of Bratt, Sheldon and wife Sara of Davisville and Gregory and wife Carmela of Jonesboro, Arkansas; two daughters, Cynthia and husband Ron Koehn of Burns, Kansas and Cheryl and husband Kenton Regehr of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada; his parents, Raymond and Margaret Schneider; one brother, Royce and wife Marilyn of Walnut Hill; four sisters, Sally and husband Robert Toews of Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, Polly and husband Lyle Wiebe of Mitchell, Ontario, Canada, Rose and husband Carlos Koehn, and Susan of Walnut Hill; his parents-in-law Jake and Eunice Smith of Brooksville, Mississippi; one brother-in-law, Larry Smith and wife Karen, of Surprise, Arizona; two sisters-in-law, Patricia and husband Mark Johnson, and Marilyn and husband Royce Schneider, both of Walnut Hill; 13 grandchildren; and many, many relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by twin grandsons, Lance and Lane Schneider.
Services will be Wednesday July 11, 2012 at 10am from Southern Harbor Mennonite Church, with minister Galen Harms, minister Mike Koehn, and minister Verle Peters officiating.
Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens.
Family will receive friends Tuesday evening July 10, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore.
Tri-County Drops Two In 12U State Tourney
July 9, 2012
Tri-County dropped two in the 12U state baseball tournament Sunday in Alexander City, Ala.
In extra innings, Alexander City downed Tri-County 4-2. Alex City picked up the win on a two-run homer out of the park.
In Sunday’s second game, Childersburg defeated Tri-County’s all stars 11-5.
Tournament play continues on Monday.