New Library Hours In Effect; Century Cut Two Days
October 3, 2012
New, reduced hours are now in effect for the libraries in Escambia County, including fewer days of operation in Century.
The Century Branch Library is now closed on Wednesdays and Fridays, in additional to the normal Monday closure. Library employees and hours will be split between Century and the Molino Branch Library when it opens later this month. Century and Molino are the only libraries in the system to be closed on days other than Sunday.
Library officials said the new library hours were a result of budget constraints.
New West Florida Library hours by location are now:
MAIN LIBRARY — 200 W. Gregory Street
- Sunday 12pm – 4pm
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 10am – 8pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
TRYON BRANCH LIBRARY -- 1200 Langley Avenue
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 12pm – 8pm
- Thursday 10am – 6pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 12pm – 8pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 10am – 6pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 2pm
WESTSIDE BRANCH LIBRARY — 1580 W. Cervantes Street
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 12pm – 8pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 12pm – 8pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
CENTURY BRANCH LIBRARY – 7991 N. Century Boulevard
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday CLOSED
- Tuesday 9am – 5pm
- Wednesday CLOSED
- Thursday 12pm – 8pm
- Friday CLOSED
- Saturday 9am – 5pm
MOLINO BRANCH LIBRARY — 6450 Highway 95A
- (Opening Fall 2012)
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday CLOSED
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday CLOSED
- Friday 10am – 6pm
- Saturday CLOSED
WFPL BOOKMOBILE
- New Schedule: TBA
Local EMS Pioneer Louise Gandy Passes Away
October 3, 2012
A former Century resident instrumental in the history of emergency medical services in the area has died. Margaret Louise Campbell Gandy, age 73, passed away Sunday.
She was the owner of Gandy Ambulance Service back in the early 1970’s, which was later merged into the current Escambia County EMS system by 1979. Following the merger, Gandy was employed as a supervisor and coordinator for Escambia County EMS. After her retirement from Escambia County EMS, she started Gandy’s Nursery and Landscaping.
Gandy had resided in Molino for the past 10 years, after moving from Century.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at Berrydale Baptist Church with interment following in McCurdy Cemetery in Century.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Town To Give Asbestos Containing Building To Chamber Of Commerce
October 3, 2012
The Town of Century will give an dilapidated asbestos-containing building to the Century Chamber of Commerce, allowing the chamber to demolish the building.
The town council had voted to demolish the building at 7601 Mayo Street back in 2011, but asbestos concerns put those plans on hold. A study found asbestos in the older 6,400 square foot two story portion of the building, as well as in the newer single story portion of the structure, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall.
The town found a grant from the Regional Planning Council to abate the asbestos and demolish the structure. Because the town is not eligible to receive the grant, the building will be deeded to the chamber of commerce, which is eligible for the assistance.
Once the building is demolished, the chamber will have up to 10 years to lure development to the property or it will revert back to the town. The town will approve or deny any lease or purchase of the property.
The white, mostly brick building at 7601 Mayo Street (across from the old hospital) housed doctors’ offices and even a pharmacy and soda fountain years ago. It has been abandoned for several years and is in an obvious state of disrepair with roof and structural problems.
Pictured above: This building on Mayo Street will be demolished. Pictured below: The interior of the building. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Pedestrian Killed Tuesday Night
October 3, 2012
A pedestrian died was hit and killed in Escambia County Tuesday night.
The pedestrian was walking across the northbound lanes of New Warrington Road about 6:50 p.m. as a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 49-year old Patrick M. Norcross entered the intersection of Jackson Street on a green traffic signal. Norcross was unable to see the pedestrian crossing the dark roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The name of the pedestrian has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
No charges have been filed in connection with the accident.
NAACP Hopes To Revive Debate Over Civil Rights Restoration
October 3, 2012
Hoping to take advantage of a nationwide focus on new voting restrictions, advocates of allowing former felons to more easily gain the right to vote called Tuesday for Gov. Rick Scott and the state clemency board to reverse a decision last year making the restoration of those rights more difficult.
With little more than a month before the November general election, the groups conceded that the changes were unlikely to be approved in time for the election. But they hoped that the attention being devoted to a state-by-state battle over voting rights could help boost the restoration of rights issue.
“It’s easy to do dirt in the dark,” said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous. “It’s harder to keep doing dirt in the light.”
The clemency board, which consists of Scott and the Cabinet, voted in early 2011 to reverse a policy change four years earlier allowing felons who had completed their sentences and any other requirements of the criminal justice system to more easily gain the right to vote.
The new rules require offenders to wait between five and seven years after completing their obligations to apply for their rights to be restored.
Though Attorney General Pam Bondi was also a key supporter of the change, much of the fire at a Tuesday news conference was focused on Scott.
“It should be unconscionable for all of us as citizens for a governor to turn back the clock on an entire group of citizens who, if they lived somewhere else, would be able to vote,” Jealous said.
Supporters of the restoration of civil rights said making it more difficult for felons to vote can actually make it harder for the offenders to rejoin society.
“What people don’t realize or fail to realize is once a person decides that they want to register to vote, they want to go down and make their voice be heard, that is part and parcel of being rehabilitated,” said Charles Dutton, an actor who spent years in prison for violent crimes.
As part of the effort to draw attention to the issue, the NAACP plans to have mobile billboards deployed to Florida, Virginia, Kentucky and Iowa — states that have some of the more difficult processes for the restoration of rights. Many of those rules, originally rooted in post-Civil War movements to restrict the political power of freed slaves, have since become ways of suppressing the black vote in order to hold down Democratic votes, opponents argue.
Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said the clemency board’s decision was aimed at making it more difficult for President Barack Obama to win re-election this year. Republicans hold every seat on the clemency board.
“They saw the numbers and they saw the trend among ex-felons to vote Democratic,” Joyner said of Scott and Bondi.
Scott’s office didn’t appear to be backing down.
“Gov. Scott believes that for convicted felons to re-enter civic society, they must demonstrate a commitment to remaining crime-free as well as a willingness to request to have their rights restored,” spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said in an email.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Deputies: Man Robs Bank, Gets Change To Pay Taxi Driver
October 3, 2012
A bank robber was caught Tuesday after making his getaway in a taxi and stopping to get change to pay the driver.
The Bank of America on Nine Mile Road near Palafox was held up about 4:10 p.m. Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies said 33-year old Terry Dewayne Gideon fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash in a Yellow Cab. Deputies caught up with the cab and Gideon a short time later.
During the investigation, deputies learned that Gideon had gone into a nearby Applebee’s restaurant to get change from the stolen money to pay the taxi driver.
There were no injuries reported and no weapons were used in the robbery.
Gideon was charged with robbery and providing false information to a law enforcement officer. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000.
Gaetz: Voter Fraudsters Should Be Punished Regardless Of Party
October 3, 2012
Incoming Senate President Don Gaetz told reporters Tuesday that law enforcement officials should throw the book at Strategic Allied Consultants if the company is found guilty of systemic fraud in the gathering of voter registration applications for the Republican National Committee.
So far, more than 100 questionable registrations in Palm Beach County have surfaced. Potential irregularities in 10 other counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — have also been reported.
“Let’s hope there’s not selective indignation here,” Gaetz said when asked whether there was any irony that Republicans had pressed hard against voter fraud last year and now were faced with a GOP firm being accused of it.
“I don’t find it ironic, I find it outrageous,” he said. “I hope they go to jail.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was reviewing evidence sent Friday by the Division of Elections regarding potentially fraudulent voter registration efforts by the Virginia-based company, agency spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said in an email Tuesday. The agency has not yet determined whether a formal investigation will ensue.
State election officials also forwarded a handful of suspect ballots collected by National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic advocacy organization in the nation, sent to them by the Miami-Dade elections supervisor’s office.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Top 10 Most Wanted Gun Crime Suspect Captured In Ensley
October 3, 2012
One of the Gun Response Team’s Top 10 Most Wanted list is behind bars.
Andre Cook, 25, was busted after a tip from an anonymous caller. He was wanted on charges of robbery and aggravated battery from an attempted robbery back in August on Hayworth Avenue in Ensley. That incident sent on man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Based on the information provided by the caller, deputies responded to a home in Ensley where they observed Cook sitting in a chair near the front door. As deputies approached the house, Cook took off through the house and out the back door. Deputies obtained permission from the homeowner to search the residence, and although they did not located Cook, they discovered a sawed off shotgun with the serial numbers filed off. The gun was seized from the residence and turned over to the GCRT.
Deputies later responded to the 8200 block of Durand Avenue in reference to a stolen vehicle. When deputies arrived, the victim told them that earlier in the night, his friend Andre Cook asked him to borrow his car to go to the convenience store. The victim stated that when Cook didn’t return after several hours, he became suspicious and wanted to report the vehicle stolen.
About an hour later, deputies were patrolling the area of Highway 29 and Broad Street when they observed the stolen vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, Cook, was taken into custody. In addition to the stolen vehicle, Cook was also in possession of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was charged accordingly and is being held in the Escambia County Jail on a $115,500 bond.
Northview Tribal Beat Alumini Invited To Play In Homecoming Show
October 3, 2012
Alumni of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band area invited to join the band for a homecoming performance later this month.
Both musicians and auxiliary members will participate with the band playing pep music in the stands and on the field for the last two songs of the halftime show in October 26. Rehearsals will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, beginning this Thursday, October 4 in the band room. Extra sectional practice time will also be available at 6:15 p.m. on Thursdays.
Interested participants should email their name, t-shirt size and instrument to bree.halteman@gmail.com. Sheet music and show audio will be emailed back.
Rate Increase Approved For Citizens Insurance
October 3, 2012
State insurance regulators on Tuesday announced they have approved a 10.8 percent average rate hike for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. homeowners policies and even higher increases on sinkhole coverage.
Following more than a month of review and multiple hearings by Citizens board members and the agency, the Office of Insurance Regulation approved new rates that will affect most of the company’s 1.4 million customers on policies renewed after Jan. 1.
“The final rates indicate a more reasonable approach toward moving a significant portion of Florida’s demographic to actuarially-supported rates,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a statement.
“Our primary goal is to ensure Citizens policyholders are treated fairly and retain an opportunity to return back to a robust private insurance market as the Florida Legislature intended,” he said.
State lawmakers and OIR officials have been trying to boost Citizens rates in recent years to make them more comparable to rates that would be charged by the private market in some of the riskiest areas of the state.
Lawmakers, however, limited annual increases to 10 percent, a cap that critics say has hindered efforts to depopulate the state-run pool that has become the largest property insurer in the state. The cap, however does not include higher costs for hurricane catastrophe insurance, resulting in rates climbing higher than 10 percent.
Critics, however, said many policyholders are effectively seeing rates go much higher because of changes related to how Citizens awards discounts to policyholders for hurricane proofing measures. The insurer has been revisiting homes to re-evaluate credits given for such home improvements as part of a larger program to reduce Citizens’ exposure.
“This isn’t just a rate hike of more than 10 percent, it’s a rate hike of more than 10 percent after Citizens changed the rules — taking away mitigation discounts, reducing coverage, and changing replacement values,” said Sean Shaw, a former Florida insurance consumer advocate. “Citizens is getting away with charging more for less and policyholders and our economy are worse off because of it.”
The first round of rate approvals includes a 10.8 percent increase in multi-peril policies for residential homeowners. Citizens officials had sought an 11.8 percent average increase.
The agency also approved rates for owners of residential rental property. Those rates will be allowed to increase by 8.8 percent on average.
Rates for mobile homes and commercial lines are expected later this month.
Lawmakers last year removed the 10 percent cap on sinkhole coverage, following a meteoric rise in claims in certain portions of the state, but especially in the Tampa Bay area.
Also Tuesday, OIR approved homeowners sinkhole insurance increases averaging 21.4 percent, down from the requested 29.6 percent increase. McCarty said Tuesday the sinkhole rates would have been even higher if lawmakers had not passed sinkhole-coverage changes in 2011.
By The News Service of Florida