Today Is Spring 2011 Drought Disaster Loan Deadline
May 21, 2012
Today is the deadline for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes to file for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Florida as a result of drought that began on April 1, 2011.
These loans are available in the counties of Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton in Florida.
“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” Skaggs added.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate for eligible small businesses and 3 percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov . Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may also apply for loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ .
New 5-Year Plan For Century To Be Unveiled
May 20, 2012
A new direction for the Town of Century is set to be unveiled Monday night in the form of a marketing plan covering the next half decade.
Century hired the Pensacola marketing firm Ideawörks to create the new five-year comprehensive marketing strategy to include “grant identification, development, PR plan, five-year marketing plan and budget”.
The plan was part of an $11,450 package purchased late last year that included $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the website, and $5,500 for the marketing plan.
The website was unveiled early this month with the slogan “Century. Traditional Values. Today’s Technology”. The goal of the site is to offer information “about local government, services the municipality offers, news, events, business information and more. The site includes Century’s history, photographs from around the town, city and council news, staff directory, information regarding economic development, resource links and a handful of other items”.
The site does not currently include town council agendas or minutes from previous meetings. It does provide a searchable municipal code database provided by an outside company.
The new site is located at centuryflorida.com.
Monday night at 6:00 during a special council workshop, Ideawörks is set to present the five-year marketing plan for Century.
Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, has previously said one of the primary goals of the website and plan is economic development for Century.
Pictured: Screenshots of Century’s new website.
Clear Night, Sunny Monday
May 20, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. East wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming northwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: A Numbers Game For Jobs, Schools, Lobbyists
May 20, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott has spent the past several months talking about two big issues: adding jobs and bolstering the public-education system.
So Scott could preen a little Friday when new figures showed the state’s unemployment rate had dropped to 8.7 percent in April, down 0.3 percentage points from March and 1.9 points from April 2011.
But the picture in the education system wasn’t so upbeat. The state Board of Education called an emergency meeting Tuesday to lower the passing score on statewide writing tests after results showed that most students wouldn’t meet more-rigorous standards.
After more than a decade of Republican leaders emphasizing the need for higher standards and accountability, some state board members reluctantly approved the change. At the same time, the move added fuel to the arguments of Democrats and the Florida Education Association that the state’s focus on standardized tests has run amok.
CLAWING BACK THE FCAT
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test has been the backbone of the state’s controversial efforts to measure the performances of students, teachers and schools.
With this year’s tests, the state ratcheted up the standards for passing the writing portion of the FCAT in fourth, eighth and 10th grades. In part, students needed to score a 4.0 or better on a 6-point grading scale, up from 3.0 last year.
Also, the state made other changes, including placing more emphasis on writing basics such as punctuation, capitalization and grammar.
But the test results showed a huge drop in the number of students meeting the standards. In fourth grade, the passing rate dropped from 81 percent to 27 percent; in eighth grade, it dropped from 82 percent to 33 percent; and in 10th grade, it dropped from 80 percent to 38 percent.
With FCAT scores affecting such sensitive issues as school grades, the state Board of Education moved quickly to call Tuesday’s emergency meeting. Board members agreed to dial back the passing score to 3.0 this year, despite some reluctance.
“The change from 4.0 to 3.0 looks like we are lowering standards,” said board member John Padget, of Key West. “I’m only voting on this so we can hold (schools) harmless for this year only.”
But other board members rejected the idea that they were lowering standards.
“This is absolutely not a retreat, said Vice Chairman Roberto Martinez, of Coral Gables. “It is maintaining the equivalence with last year, we’re just using a much more rigorous application of the scoring rubric.”
Regardless, the change caused the Department of Education to say it did not adequately prepare schools and teachers for the tougher standards.
“This conversation should have come up earlier,” Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said. “We’ll do better going forward.”
The change also reignited long-simmering arguments about whether the state’s heavy reliance on the FCAT is wise.
“Florida’s overemphasis on testing is insane,” said former Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. “We have become a school system whose entire purpose seems to be to prepare kids for minimal competence tests.”
For his part, Scott issued a rather-nebulous statement Monday.
“Our students must know how to read and write, and our education system must be able to measure and benchmark their progress so we can set clear education goals,” Scott said in the statement. “The significant contrast in this year’s writing scores is an obvious indication that the Department of Education needs to review the issue and recommend an action plan so that our schools, parents, teachers and students have a clear understanding of the results.”
GETTING TO WORK
Scott, who won the governor’s office in 2010 on a theme of “Let’s Get to Work,” was far from nebulous Friday after the April unemployment numbers came out.
“Florida’s jobless rate moved to its lowest point in more than three years and is a clear sign we are moving Florida in a direction that gives businesses and job creators the confidence they need to grow and expand,” he said in a statement.
The jobs report, released by the Department of Economic Opportunity, also included other positive signs. As an example, the number of jobs in Florida was 7,325,300 in April, up 52,600 from last year. Also, the number of counties with double-digit unemployment rates fell from 10 in March to five in April.
But other indicators showed that Florida’s job problems continue. For instance, one factor in the lower unemployment rate is that the civilian labor force dropped by 28,000 people.
“Having the unemployment rate fall because people have given up looking for a job is not an improvement,” University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said.
The April numbers came just days after Florida TaxWatch issued a report showing that a government entity is the largest employer in 51 of 67 counties. Scott argues that the key to Florida’s economic growth is private-sector jobs.
“While this analysis does not consider the total size of government employment compared to total private employment, it is certainly clear that the government has a massive direct effect on local economies throughout the state through employment and payroll practices, in addition to the indirect effects that government actions, such as regulation, have on the economy,” TaxWatch said in the report. “Moreover, for many counties the potential closure of a military base or correctional facility, or large layoffs due to federal, state, or local budget shortfalls, poses a significant economic threat.”
NO EMPLOYMENT HELP NEEDED HERE
While many Florida workers and businesses might be scraping by, Tallahassee’s lobbying industry appears to be doing just fine.
Lobbyists this week had to file compensation reports for the first three months of the year, which included the 2012 legislative session. Those reports showed that 16 lobbying firms each raked in more than $500,000 in fees during the quarter.
Four firms collected more than $1 million. Those firms were Ballard Partners, GrayRobinson, Ronald L. Book PA and Southern Strategy Group.
Among the issues generating large amounts of lobbying fees was the big-money fight about allowing resort casinos in the state. The casino proposal died, but it could re-emerge — with the possibility of another big payday for lobbyists — — in the future.
HEADED FOR THE DOOR
Steve MacNamara probably won’t wind up in any unemployment line. But after a flurry of critical news reports, the hard-charging MacNamara submitted his resignation last weekend as Scott’s chief of staff.
Adam Hollingsworth, who served as chief of staff to former Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, will replace MacNamara as of July 1.
MacNamara had planned to leave the Scott administration by the end of the year, but the critical reports about his handling of such things as government contracts sped up the move.
“It has been a pleasure and an honor serving you, but the recent media attention I have been receiving has begun to interfere with the day-to-day operations of this office,” MacNamara said in his resignation letter. “I feel now is the time to plan for me to depart, for you to name my replacement and for us to work on a smooth transition.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: The state Board of Education lowers the passing score on FCAT writing tests.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Hey governor, it’s Jim. I’m sure you know our friendship has ended, is over, and I’m just very saddened by that. But I wanted you to know personally from me that in the future there’s probably going to be things coming out that are going to be very hurtful to both you and Carole (Crist). But I’ll be honest with you, I don’t care anymore because I did everything that I could for you.” — part of a 2011 voice mail message that former state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer left for former Gov. Charlie Crist. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Crist thought Greer was trying to extort money from him.
By The News Service of Florida
Abundant Life Youth Place In Fine Arts Competition, Head To Nationals
May 20, 2012
Several youth from the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century attended the Assemblies of God Fine Arts Competition in Marianna recently. After winning superior in their categories, they were invited to attend the National Fine Arts Competition in Louisville, KY.
The band “The Bridge” placed in the fine arts competition. Zach Ingram won Superior with an invitation to nationals for songwriting, and Victoria Creamer had a separate solo Superior win with an invitational to the national competition.
Pictured: The band “The Bride” from Abundant Life Assembly of God with (L-R) Caleb Ingram, percussion; Zach Ingram, guitar and songwriter; and Victoria Creamer, vocals. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gov. Scott Heads To Spain Looking For Business
May 20, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott will lead an entourage of business leaders and economic developers this week as he travels to Spain to drum up business for Florida companies.
Don’t call it a trade mission, though. Instead, the endeavor that begins Sunday evening with takeoff from Miami is being touted as a business development mission. Instead of looking for export opportunities, the governor is looking for Spanish companies to expand their business footprints on this side of the Atlantic.
“The mission is designed to help increase Spanish business development in Florida,” said Scott spokesman Lane Wright, who will accompany the governor on the three day mission. “We already have more than 300 Spanish companies doing business in the state. We want to grow that.”
“I want a thousand of them,” Scott said Wednesday morning during a radio interview with WFLA in Tallahassee.
The itinerary includes meetings with the U.S. diplomatic corps and an audience with Spanish King Juan Carlos. Businesses and local officials will also have the opportunity to hold private meetings with Spanish companies. Participants pay a $1,000 registration fee and cover their own travel and expenses.
“This mission to Spain has a goal of recruiting more foreign direct investment for Florida and enhancing Florida’s image as an ideal investment destination for Spanish companies,” said Stuart Doyle, spokesman for Enterprise Florida.
For participating businesses, the trip can produce business leads and strategic relationships in Spain. Local economic developers get a chance to promote their own regions.
In 2011, Spain was Florida’s 33rd largest trading partner, with $847 million in trade between the two countries, according to Enterprise Florida data. Trade with Spain was up 6.7 percent in 2011 from the year before. Top Spanish imports include processed oils, ceramics, perfume and wine.
Florida exports to Spain are led by aircraft parts.
Among the 70 participants signed up for the tour, are executives from Florida Power & Light, The St. Joe Co., Florida Crystals, and the Holland and Knight, and Gray-Robinson law firms.
Government groups include representatives from Enterprise Florida, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, and the Beacon Council, the Florida Department of Transportation, the governor’s office and Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
By The News Service of Florida
Kinnard Celebrates 101st Birthday In Barrineau Park
May 20, 2012
Mary Lou White Kinnard recently celebrated her 101st birthday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. Mary Lou’s brother, Burley White, ran the White Grocery Store in Barrineau Park from the 1940’s through the 1980’s. The Barrineau Park Historical Society provided the cake for the celebration.
Pictured are Mary Lou White Kinnard, her niece Faye White Conett and Craig Exner, BPHS president. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Hang On For 6-5 Win
May 20, 2012
The Blue Wahoos had to hang on for their second straight win as they downed the Jacksonville Suns 6-5 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Saturday night. Pensacola got out to a 6-0 lead before the Suns plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull within one.
Brodie Greene put the fish in front with an RBI single in the first, which scored Ryan LaMarre, one of two runs he scored in the game. David Vidal drove in Didi Gregorius later in the inning to put the Wahoos up 2-0. Joel Guzman doubled the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, part of his 2-for-4 night with three RBI. The home run was his team-leading sixth of the season. Pensacola went up 6-0 in the seventh on an RBI double by Greene and a run-scoring knock by Guzman.
The Suns added some suspense in the bottom of the inning when they scored five runs against four different pitchers. They used three hits, three walks and two hit batters for the rally, which all took place with two outs. Curtis Partch was able to get Ryan Patterson to fly out to right field to end the inning. Patterson made two of the three outs in the inning. Partch worked a scoreless eighth to get the game to Donnie Joseph (9) in the ninth.
Joseph walked a batter with one out in the ninth but retired the next two batters to earn his league-leading ninth save of the season as the Blue Wahoos move within one win of the .500 mark.
LaMarre led the way offensively for the Blue Wahoos with a 3-for-4 game. He also scored two runs and stole a base. Greene and Vidal added a pair of hits to the effort. Mark Serrano (3-0) earned the win by working 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs on one hit. Kyle Lotzkar started for Pensacola and went four shutout innings. He surrendered just two hits and struck out seven batters, the most of his three Double-A appearances. Graham Taylor (2-4) was tagged with the loss for the Suns. He gave up four runs on eight hits over six innings.
The series continues in Jacksonville on Sunday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Daniel Corcino (2-2, 3.64) to the mound against Suns righty Matt Neil .
200 Year Old Shipwreck Discovered In Northern Gulf Of Mexico
May 20, 2012
During a recent northern Gulf of Mexico expedition, NOAA, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and partners discovered an historic wooden-hulled vessel which is believed to have sunk as long as 200 years ago. Scientists on board the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer used underwater robots with lights and high definition cameras to view remnants of the ship laden with anchors, navigational instruments, glass bottles, ceramic plates, cannons, and boxes of muskets.
The NOAA-funded 56-day expedition that ended April 29 was exploring poorly known regions of the Gulf, mapping and imaging unknown or little-known features and habitats, developing and testing a method to measure the rate that gas rises from naturally-occurring seeps on the seafloor, and investigating potential shipwreck sites.
The shipwreck site was originally identified as an unknown sonar contact during a 2011 oil and gas survey for Shell Oil Company. The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requested this and other potential shipwreck sites be investigated during NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico expedition. Surveys and archaeological assessments are required by BOEM to aid in its decision-making prior to issuing permits for bottom-disturbing activities related to oil and gas exploration and development.
“Artifacts in and around the wreck and the hull’s copper sheathing may date the vessel to the early to mid-19th century,” said Jack Irion, Ph.D., a maritime archaeologist with BOEM. “Some of the more datable objects include what appears to be a type of ceramic plate that was popular between 1800 and 1830, and a wide variety of glass bottles. A rare ship’s stove on the site is one of only a handful of surviving examples in the world and the second one found on a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Significant historical events occurring in the regions around the Gulf of Mexico during this time include the War of 1812, events leading to the Texas Revolution, and the Mexican-American War, he said.
“Shipwrecks help to fill in some of the unwritten pages of history,” said Frank Cantelas, a maritime archaeologist with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. “We explored four shipwrecks during this expedition and I believe this wreck was by far the most interesting and historic. The site is nearly 200 miles off the Gulf coast in over 4,000 feet of water in a relatively unexplored area.”
The expedition also discovered areas exhibiting rich biodiversity. At the base of the West Florida Escarpment, a steep undersea cliff, explorers found a “forest” of deep corals, several of which were new to scientists on the ship and ashore. For several days the expedition team also imaged deep-coral communities in the vicinity of the Macondo oil spill site. On another part of the expedition, team members designed and installed a device on the ship’s undersea robot system, or ROV (remotely-operated vehicle), to measure the rate that gas rises in the water column.
Pictured top: While most of the ship’s wood has long since disintegrated, copper that sheathed the hull beneath the waterline as a protection against marine-boring organisms remains, leaving a copper shell retaining the form of the ship. The copper has turned green. Pictured inset: An anemone lives on top of a musket that lies across a whole group of muskets at the site of the shipwreck. A variety of artifacts inside the ship’s hull relates either to daily life on board or to the ship’s cargo. Artifacts include ceramic plates, platters, and bowls; and glass liquor, wine, medicine, and food storage bottles of many shapes and colors (some with the contents still sealed inside). Photos courtesy NOAA/Okeanos Explorer program for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2011 Northview Grad McCall Graduates From Basic Training
May 20, 2012
Air Force Airman Jessie D. McCall graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
McCall is the daughter of Steven McCall of Thomas McCall Lane, McDavid.
The airman is a 2011 graduate of Northview High School, Bratt.