Escambia Road Department Loves The Chiefs
December 10, 2012
Shortly after Northview High School’s state championship win Friday night, the Escambia County Road Department updated a lighted highway message board in front of the school to say “Chiefs State Champs”. Previously during the week, the sign was flashing “Chiefs Are #1″ and “Good Luck Chiefs”. Submitted photo by Aaron Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Student A Winner In Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Art Contest
December 10, 2012
A Bratt Elementary School fifth grader was one of three Escambia County winners in an art contest sponsored in conjunction with concerts by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
Last month, 6,000 fifth grade students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties attended live concerts by the Symphony at the Saenger Theatre in downtown Pensacola.
Regions Bank also sponsored an art contest in conjunction with the concerts. In the weeks leading up to the performance, students listened to the selected piece and drew pictures inspired by the music. This year’s piece was John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare. Students’ drawings depicted Olympic rings, various sporting events, gold medals, celebrity athletes, and more. From over 1,000 entries, 37 finalists were selected and their artwork was projected above the symphony during a live performance of the Olympic Fanfare at the concerts.
From those finalists, the top 3 entries from Santa Rosa and Escambia counties received prizes courtesy of Regions Bank.
In Escambia County, Amber Roth from Hellen Caro Elementary received first place and a $500 savings bond. Amanda Franklin from Bratt Elementary won second place and a $250 savings bond. Helena Gee from A.K. Suter Elementary received third place and a $100 savings bond.
Teachers of all of the winners received a gift basket of art supplies for their classrooms from Regions Bank.
Pictured top: This poster by Amanda Franklin from Bratt Elementary won second place and a $250 savings bond in a Pensacola Symphony Orchestra art contest. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Edward L. Albritton
December 10, 2012
Edward L. Albritton, 82 of Atmore, passed away Saturday, December 8, 2012. He was born April 9, 1930, in Nokomis, FL. He retired after 23 years from the United States Air Force and retired later from Eddie’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in Atmore. He is preceded in death by his parents; Lenard and Stella Albritton and sister Magdaline Albritton Evers.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years Shirley Barbarow Albritton; son, Brian (Delkatrice) Albritton; daughter, Charlotte (Jim) Jernigan; son, Eddie Wendell (Teresa) Albritton; brother, Lenard (Hazel) Albritton, Jr.; sisters, Eunice (Rodney) Williams and Dorothy (Nathan) Nall; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday, December 13, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Perdido Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors.
Active pallbearers will be Olan Albritton, Tim Albritton, Jim Jernigan, Nick Hill, Tim Ramer and Jeremy McGhee.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2012, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
All Stars: Escambia Academy Players, Cheerleaders, Coach
December 10, 2012
The Alabama Independent School Association recently held their annual East-West All Star game in Prattville, AL.
Escambia Academy was represented with three players, two cheerleaders and head coach Hugh Fountain taking part.
EA’s Reid Bell was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Back for the West team after he accounted for 64 yards on the ground and one touchdown for the West.
Pictured above: Escambia Academy coach Hugh Fountain, Bo Bishop, Caitlyn Bruley, Tehron Stallworth, Page Lancaster and Reid Bell. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Amanda S. Maddox
December 10, 2012
Amanda S. Maddox, 64, of Cantonment, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
Amanda was a graduate of the University of Alabama and retired from the State of Florida Department of Children and Families after 35 years of employment. She was a lifelong Episcopalian and a founding member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Pensacola.
She is survived by her husband, James B. Maddox, Jr.; daughter, Christina Maddox; granddaughters, Deona Duke, Kaylei Duke and Payton Duke and sister, JoAnn Smith.
A memorial service was held Saturday, December 8, 2012, at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Amanda’s memory to Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Dunsford Boone
December 10, 2012
Mrs. Betty Dunsford Boone, age 78 of Brewton, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012, in a Brewton Health Care Facility.
Mrs. Boone was born and raised in Jay and had been a resident of the Brewton area for the past 24 years. She had worked as a registered nurse during her working years. Mrs. Boone was of the Catholic faith.
She is survived by her husband, Mr. Robert M. Boone of Brewton; one brother, Johnny Dunsford of Bluff Springs; and one sister, Wanda Andrews of East Brewton; and a number of nieces, nephews and other family members.
Funeral services were held on Friday, December 7, 2012, from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Wilbur Graves officiating.
Interment was in Hollywood Cemetery.
Olvena Bell Smith
December 10, 2012
Olvena Bell Smith, 96, of Canoe, died December 5, 2012, in Atmore.
She was born in Stanley Crossroads in Escambia County (AL) on March 9, 1916, to Guss Monroe and Itilie Burns Bell.
She was a poll worker in Canoe for more than 50 years, and she was recognized on BBC America television news for this long record. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Canoe. In her earlier years, she was active in community work, including serving as an officer of the Canoe Civic Club and the Homemakers Club in Canoe, as well as statewide. She was a member of the Canoe Study Club. She is preceded in death by her husband King James Smith.
She is survived by her children, Max (Marie) Smith of Hurtsboro, AL, Sylvia Hart of Daphne, and J. Mike (Janice) Smith of Canoe; grandchildren, Anita Marie (Paul) Hitchcock; Brian (Rita) Smith; and Ben M. (Becca) Smith and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jesse Wood and the Rev. John Stacey officiating. Burial will follow in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in Wawbeek.
Pallbearers will be family members Brian Smith, Ben Smith, Paul Hitchcock, Ron Bell, Clyde Helton and James Bell.
Flowers will be accepted, or donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Canoe.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John Benjamin “J.B.” Stewart
December 10, 2012
John Benjamin “J.B” Stewart, 78, of Atmore, died on Thursday, December 6, 2012, in Atmore. He was born in Rabon on September 9, 1934.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Alla Mae Stewart and brother Marvin Stewart.
He is survived by his loving wife, Nioma Taylor Stewart; eight children, Tina Brand of FL; Karen (Eugene) Rackard of Chipley, Dell (John) Harrison, Melanie (Chris) Rolin, Betty (Billy) Walker and Martha Colbert all of Atmore, Robert Earl Hommel, II of Canby, OR, Michael James Hommel of Milwawkee, WI; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; brother, Albert “Sonnny” Stewart; sisters, Mildred Hadley; Betty Blankenship, Seville Blackmon and Eva Lucas all of Baldwin, County; 10 nieces and eight nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 9, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Leo Luker and Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Billy Walker, Eugene Rackard, Chris Rolin; Tim Lee; Ronnie Jackson, Marion McGhee, Garvis Sells, and Don Jackson.
Honorary pallbearers were his grandsons, Denny Garvin; Billy Walker; Ben Lee; Noah Lee, Ernest “Bubba” Rolin; Jonathan Rackard; Jeremy Crane; Nate Fernandez; Tyler Fernandez, Truker Brand and Beau Hommel.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Dorothy Hall
December 10, 2012
Dorothy Hall, age 72, of Cantonment, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2012.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Hall and her parents, Archie and Clara Hall.
She is survived by her twin sister, Doris; son, John Bray, Jr. (Brenda); grandchildren, Karen Bray, John Bray III (Allyse) and Kyndal Bray; nieces and nephews, Patti and Doug Peacock, Charley Creel, Aaron Dagen and Dean Dagen-Daw and (Kenny) and extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Navy/Marine Relief Society, 91 Redford Blvd, NAS, Pensacola, Florida.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North from 6 p.m. until 8: p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2012, at the Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Fiscal Cliff, Elections Revisited
December 10, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott bid hasta la vista to Colombia and to the head of the Department of Economic Opportunity last week as state lawmakers held a meet and greet of their own in preparation for the 2013 legislative session.
During a series of introductory committee sessions, lawmakers heard from a host of state agencies and a rabble of Tea Partiers who shouted down lawmakers in what was later characterized as a overzealous, and ill-mannered, exhibition of patriotic exuberance.
Meanwhile, state education officials described as “painful” the first statewide teacher assessment, the rollout of which was marred by some math errors. When corrected, the evaluation found 96.5 percent of teachers were rated efficient or higher, harking back to the mythical Minnesota hamlet of Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above average.
SESSION GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER CYCLE:
Lawmakers officially rolled up their sleeves this week as they returned to Tallahassee to begin work for the 2013 session. Though much of the work was introductory, some committees made it clear what their priorities will be between now and May.
Property insurance issues and tort reform will be among the hotly contested issues in the coming months, with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. officials expected to be under the microscope as lawmakers look for ways to depopulate the state-backed insurer.
Florida’s top insurance official Kevin McCarty was given a January deadline to come up with a series of proposals to reduce the size of Citizens and to further reduce costs in the state’s auto-insurance market.
On the health care front, lawmakers will begin looking at how the state will implement the sweeping federal health care program, commonly known as ObamaCare, following November elections that determined that overturning the controversial initiative isn’t in the cards for at least the next four years.
ELECTION REVISITED
Officials have been wondering – again – since the early morning hours of Nov. 7 just why Florida can’t ever seem to fully run a problem-free election.
This time, it was particularly long lines at Election Day voting sites in a few South Florida counties – and difficulty determining the final results, an embarrassment that left Florida in the “uncounted” column long after President Obama’s re-election was reassured by the count in the rest of the nation.
Some again brought out the jokes – why did Florida move its primary election so early? So it would have a winner by the general election. But mostly officials this week just wanted to know how to make the state’s voting process work like it seems to most everywhere else.
State elections officials went before a couple legislative committees this week and began explaining how it all works – or doesn’t. State elections officials said they’ll visit several counties next week to talk to local supervisors as the fact-finding truly gets under way.
WHO IS FISCAL CLIFF? WHAT’S HIS PROBLEM?
The first positive indications about Florida’s budget in many years now might be in trouble. After years of cuts, the coming fiscal year had been shaping up to look pretty good – with it appearing that lawmakers would at least start the year in the black.
Wait a minute, though.
Legislators heard this week that the good news could be overtaken by events if the Florida Supreme Court strikes down changes to the state pension, or the nation plunges over the fiscal cliff.
Speaking to the first meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Amy Baker — coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research – said the fiscal cliff talks loom large. If Republicans and Democrats in Washington can’t hash out a deal to avoid major automatic budget cuts, the resulting economic damage could wipe out Florida’s good news budget plans.
Also at issue is a looming decision in the challenge to a 2011 law that required employees to contribute 3 percent of their income to their retirement funds, along with other changes. It could cost the state around $2 billion if the Supreme Court strikes down the law.
DEO CHIEF STEPS DOWN, SCOTT IMMEDIATELY APPOINTS SUCCESSOR
Hunting Deutsch, who until Tuesday was the head of Scott’s job creating engine, the Department of Economic Opportunity, is again on the job hunt after resigning the post amid growing scrutiny of his own unemployment history.
Because he resigned, the former bank manager won’t be eligible to collect unemployment benefits, which he received for nearly two years between 2009 and 2011 after he was downsized as part of a bank merger.
Deutsch, who also received an undisclosed severance package from his former employer, collected 91 weeks of unemployment compensation during a period of joblessness that included a stint of European travel.
First reported by the Florida Current, Deutsch said the experience of not having a job made him more empathetic of the hundreds of thousands of Floridians who were also looking for work as the state’s jobless rate languished in double digits.
“Hunt did the right thing by resigning from DEO,” Scott said in a statement issued by his office. “It is important that nothing interfere with our mission to create more jobs and opportunities for Florida families.”
Two days later, Scott appointed his General Counsel, Jesse Panuccio, to take over the agency that has seen three executive directors in 14 months.
COURTS: “TAJ MAHAL” AND PRIVATE PRISONS ADDRESSED
The courts again supplied news for the week, with a handful of cases that have been closely watched in the capital city.
State agencies battling with local businesses agreed to a $500,000 settlement for artwork sold for the First District Court of Appeal building in Tallahassee. The out-of-court settlement included about $190,000 in attorney fees to be paid by the state.
The opulent structure has brought about the downfall of at least one appellate judge, who resigned after a series of disclosures over lavish furnishings, expensive artwork and other accoutrements
Meanwhile, a circuit judge in Tallahassee ruled that the Legislative Budget Commission could not on its own privatize health care services in most of the state’s correctional institutions.
The ruling by Circuit Judge John Cooper allows the Department of Corrections to privatize health-care services in a region covering roughly the bottom third of the state; that contract was specifically included in the fine print of the budget for the spending year that ends June 30.
But Cooper said that the other three regions of the state couldn’t be privatized by the LBC, which voted in September to approve the broader initiative, that only the full Legislature could make such broad policy decisions.
GENTING SAYS NO TO PUBLIC VOTE, WILL WAIT ON GAMBLING
Florida voters will not be asked to weigh in on a statewide gambling initiative after the primary backer of the proposed constitutional amendment decided to see what lawmakers come up with instead.
Genting executives this week disclosed that they will await action by the Legislature before determining their next step in efforts to develop resort gambling megaprojects in the state.
Legislative leaders have said they don’t expect an extensive gambling battle this year. Instead, lawmakers are expected to conduct an extended study of the issue, a review that could include public hearings around the state and other fact-finding activities.
Earlier this year, the Malaysia-based Genting Group created a group that hired petition gatherers and attorneys with expertise in getting constitutional amendments onto the ballot – essentially signaling a possible intent to circumvent the Legislature on the issue.
But Genting officials let legislative leaders know this week that the company will hold its cards for now.
TEACHER EVALUATIONS “PAINFUL”
The Florida Department of Education’s interim commissioner this week told lawmakers it’s been a painful year as the state initiates a new teacher evaluation system that appears to have its share of problems. On Tuesday, the department posted teacher evaluations from across the state only to withdraw them shortly afterward due to errors in the data.
DOE Interim Commissioner Pam Stewart appeared Thursday before lawmakers following the release of the corrected data for the 2011-12 school year, which showed that only3.5 percent of Florida teachers were not satisfactorily doing their jobs.
“I think this is a painful year,” Stewart said at a meeting of the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “I think any time you implement something this large for the first time, there are growing pains. I think that the ‘12-’13 year will be much more telling, and how we do as we move forward.”
BILLS BEING FILED
With lawmakers back in town, a number of bills were filed in both chambers as lawmakers gear up for the 2013 session now less than four months away.
Measures to provide instate tuition to the resident children of undocumented immigrants (HB 11) and create a no-drone-zone (SB 92) in Florida – banning unmanned aerial aircraft flown by police – were among the bills filed this week.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Lawmakers return to begin gearing up for 2013 session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Well, they probably didn’t want someone on there who was going to speak up and bang their fist on the table when they see something wrong that’s not in the best interest of the consumer, the ratepayer.” Rep. Mike Fasano, speculating this week on why he may have been left off the House Insurance Committee
By The News Service of Florida