Schools Seek Local Veterans’ Photos
October 24, 2012
Two local schools are seeking photos of local service members to be featured in their Veteran’s Day programs.
Ernest Ward Middle will present the veteran’s photos during a program on Thursday, November 8. For more information and submittable instructions , click here.
Northview High School is seeking alumni veteran’s photos. Veterans are asked to join the Facebook group “Northview High School Alumni Veterans” for more information or email eholk@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Two Charged In Credit Union Robbery
October 24, 2012
The Central Credit Union on Foxrun Road just off Nine Mile Road was robbed about 1:10 Tuesday afternoon.
Suspects Reginald L. Augst, 36, of and Heather Grace Menze, 30, both of Seminole, AL, were located a short time later at the America’s Best Value Inn on Pensacola Boulevard near Burgess Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Both were identified by credit union tellers as the robbery suspects. They were charged with robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and are being held in the Escambia County Jail on $20,000 bond each.
Following the robbery, a group of males was detained at Airport Boulevard and Highway 29, but they were later found not to have any involvement, deputies said.
Saturday: Williams Station Day 5K Run, One Mile Walk
October 24, 2012
The Williams Station Day 5K and One Mile Diabetes Walk will be held Saturday morning in Atmore.
The race begins at 8 a.m. on Pensacola Avenue near the Atmore YMCA and is flat course through residential streets. Pre-registration is $15 by Friday with a guaranteed t-shirt or $20 day of race.
A One Mile Diabetes Walk will begin after the run with a $5 registration.
For more information and a registration form, click here.
Pictured inset: Last year’s Williams Station Day 5K overall male winner Isaac McGahan. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida’s State Debt Declines Again This Year
October 24, 2012
Florida will report in December that it has significantly reduced its outstanding debt for the second year in a row, and that continued refinancing of outstanding debt will save more than $1 billion on future interest payments, the state’s top bond finance official said Tuesday.
A second year of lower debt appears to portend a reversal of a long trend. Two years of reductions follow about a decade of increasing debt loads and represent the first year-over-year drops in 20 years.
In a preview of an annual report due later this year, Director of Bond Finance Ben Watkins told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet that the year-end report is likely to say the state reduced its debt by about $1.5 billion this year, following last year’s reduction of debt by $500 million.
The main reason – the state isn’t issuing new debt, primarily in its biggest borrowing program, the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO bonding program, because of lower revenue and efforts to be more frugal.
PECO bonding, which funds school construction, relies largely on revenue from utility taxes, known as gross receipts taxes, to pay back bondholders. Revenue from the tax has dropped in the down economy and there hasn’t been any money available for new construction bonding in the most recent year.
Lawmakers have also slowed down funding for land-buying for conservation purposes, another purpose for which the state has in the past borrowed more heavily.
Watkins also said the state has refinanced more than $6 billion in debt over the last three years – nearly a third of the state’s entire debt portfolio – to take advantage of low interest rates, allowing for a reduction in interest from 4.65 percent to 4.33 percent.
When applied to the entire $26 billion state debt portfolio, the reduction on future interest costs is likely to be about $1.1 billion.
“That’s real money by any measure,” Watkins said.
The amount is expected to continue to drop.
“Based on existing borrowing plans, total State debt outstanding is expected to continue to slowly decline as annual debt retirement increases and new debt issuance decreases,” the state Revenue Estimating Conference said in August when it released its long range forecast.
With interest rates at very low levels, refinancing outstanding state debt has been a priority of the state bonding agency, Watkins said. For example, in August Florida announced the state had lowered the interest rate on certain PECO bonds from 4.97 percent to 2.76 percent, with an expected savings of about $85 million.
By David Royse
The News Service of Florida
Fire Departments Respond To Smell Of Smoke At Ernest Ward Middle
October 23, 2012
Area fire departments responded to a report of the smell of smoke Tuesday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The smell was in the area of an electrical closet in the administration building. No specific cause for the smell was found; however, the school and area residents reported electrical surges in the area just prior to the incident.
A small number of students and staff were evacuated from the building as a precaution.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
State Officials Charge Cantonment Woman With Insurance Fraud
October 23, 2012
A Cantonment woman has been charged with felony insurance fraud for falsely claiming to be in a vehicle involved in an accident.
Catherine Annette Griffin, 54, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud. She was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Investigators said Griffin claimed to be in a Chevrolet pickup truck backed into by another driver at a convenience store on Williams Ditch Road. Witnesses told investigators that the truck was occupied only by males.
Griffin initially claimed that she was dressed like a man and ran from the scene after the truck was hit because she was scared, according to an arrest affidavit. Griffin claimed to have suffered a neck injury and told investigators that she did not want money, just help for her pain.
When questioned by Division of Insurance Fraud detectives, Griffin told them, “I just don’t want to be in trouble,” the affidavit states.
Escambia Voters Receive Fraudulent Letter Questioning Citizenship
October 23, 2012
At least two Escambia County voters have received a letter questioning their citizenship that appears to be from David Stafford, but the supervisor of elections said the letter is in no way tied to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
“We want voters to be aware that this mailing did not come from our office and that we have notified the Florida Department of State and the State Attorney’s office,” Stafford said. “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of elections in Escambia County and protecting the voting rights of our citizens. We will continue to monitor this serious situation and will cooperate fully with the investigating authorities.”
Any voter who receives such a letter is encouraged to retain the envelope and all contents, and notify the elections office at (850) 595-3900 to report it. The fraudulent letter does not include Stafford’s signature and states that voters must respond within 15 days with the appropriate citizenship information. The fraudulent letter in no way impacts a voter’s eligibility, Stafford said.
A copy of one of the fraudulent letters is below, click to enlarge (pdf).
Man Alters Price Tag At Lowes, Gets 10 Years In Prison
October 23, 2012
A Santa Rosa man with 206 prior felony convictions was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for altering a price tag at Lowes.
Prosecutors said Bobby Kevin Williams, 48, went to Lowe’s in Pace and asked for 130 feet of copper wire valued at $465.40 and then covered the priced tag with another one he wrote for $12. Williams then checked out, paying $12.78 for the wire. He was stopped by a Lowe’s loss prevention officer and was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
He was charged with grand theft and failure to appear and by a Santa Rosa County jury.
Prosecutors said most of the prior 206 convictions on Williams’ record were theft related.
Still Time To Enter NHS Homecoming Parade; Lunch Available Friday
October 23, 2012
The fourth annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade is this Friday, and a lunch will be available prior to the parade.
The parade will line up at 12:30 p.m. and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
A $6 meal prepared by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse will be available from 10:30 a.m. until noon from the football concession stand consisting of a BBQ pork sandwich, chips, soft drink and dessert. Tickets are available for pre-purchase at the school. All proceeds will benefit the Tommy Weaver Scholarship Fund.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 26 against the Vernon Yellow Jackets.
Pictured: A float in the 2011 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Looking Good: Century Names First ‘Community Pride Award’ Recepient
October 23, 2012
The Century Chamber of Commerce has created a new program to highlight things taking place in the community. Monthly “Town of Century Community Pride Award” recipients can be any organization, group, business or resident.
The first Town of Century Community Pride Award winner is Ben and Cheryl Boutwell at 1 Hecker Road for the beautification of their property.
“We just want to recognize those in the community that have shown their pride and done good things in our community to make Century an even better place to work and live,” said chamber President Benny Barnes.