Gulf Power Wants PSC To Reconsider Rate Increase For North Escambia Plant
April 19, 2012
Gulf Power Company is heading back to the Florida Public Service Commission in an attempt to raise rates to pay the costs associated with the purchase of thousands of acres near McDavid.
The utility had requested a $101.6 million rate hike, but the PSC slashed $37.5 million from the request when it was approved last month. The Public Service Commission did not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential nuclear-power plant site in North Escambia because the utility has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
Wednesday, Gulf Power asked the PSC to allow $2 million in costs associated with the North Escambia land purchases. That would equate to about 20 cents per month for the average customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. The 20 cents would be in addition to the increases that went into effect earlier this month.
The $2 million, just a fraction of the costs of the land acquisitions, would pay interest on finance agreements and fund environmental assessments on the North Escambia property.
Gulf Power has not said what type of power plant it wants to construct in North Escambia, but PSC filings indicate that it could be natural gas, coal or nuclear. However, nuclear was repeatedly cited in the latest PSC filings.
“This small price is extraordinarily reasonable when compared to the potential benefits of nuclear power if it is pursued, or the lost opportunity if the nuclear option is foreclosed by the action taken by this commission in this case,” documents state.
At last report, Gulf Power had purchased 2,700 acres for about $13 million in the McDavid area.
Pictured top: One of many houses that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. One of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dangerous Highway 4 Intersection Getting Four-Way Stop
April 19, 2012
The intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 87 in Berrydale in northern Santa Rosa County will be soon undergo improvement aimed at increasing safety.
The Florida Department of Transportation will make the intersection a four-way stop, installing warning signs with flashing beacons on all four approaches. Also, the speed limit will be reduced from 55 to 45 mph on Thursday, May 3.
The improvements were ordered as the result of a recent FDOT traffic operations evaluation.
The intersection has been the site of numerous serious traffic crashes over the last several years, including a December 2011 crash that claimed the life of a man and injured several member of his family.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 47-year old William J. Bray of Jay had stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 4 the morning of December 3. He failed to see a northbound 1998 Ford SUV driven by 40-year old Michael L. Cale of Milton. Bray pulled into Cale’s path. He collided with the Cale family vehicle, causing it to overturned two times. Cale and two of his children were ejected.
Michael L. Cale was pronounced deceased on the scene by Lifeguard EMS. Dominique Cale, 14, and 10-year old Ethan Cale were ejected. Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Passengers Courtney Cale, age 16; Brandon Nicholson, 10; and Marsha Cale, 46, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
Sheriff’s Office ‘Clean Sweep’ This Morning In Cantonment
April 19, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Farm Hill Neighborhood Watch will conduct an “Operation Clean Sweep” event this morning in Cantonment.
The clean-up will begin at 8:00 a.m. at Farm Hill Baptist Church 111 Madrid Road, Cantonment and will include areas from Muscogee Road to Well Line Road.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of crime.
The operation task force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Escambia County Environmental Law Enforcement, the military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges, and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Pictured top: Youth from the Greater First Baptist Church pick up trash from along Booker Street during a ‘Clean Sweep’ in Cantonment one year ago. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Dance Group Places In Birmingham Competition (With Gallery)
April 19, 2012
Brewton Dance took part in the Legacy Dance Competition recently at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, with girls from across the area bringing home several awards.
The mini competitive team placed fifth and sixth overall. Team members were: Alonna Bedsole , Lauren Thompson, Clair Hart, Bronwyn Patterson and Maegan Bondurant.
The middle competitive team placed placed third and fourth overall, received two elite gold medals and a special judge’s award for “smile and entertainment”. Team members were Peyton Barns, Aaliyah Bedsole, Daisy Canty, Lexi Clark, Sarahann Devers, Emma Grace Harris, Ella Hart, Madison Lambeth, Sydney Lucas, Taylor Peters and Kathryn West.
An older competitive team comprised of Donnavia Williams, Ariell Fain and Mykeicia Collins also performed.
The group, under the direction of Ann Peevy, will take part in a competition next month in Mobile. If they place again, they will head to a national competition in Orlando.
Pictured: Brewton Dancer performs at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jacksonville Edges The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
April 19, 2012
Jacksonville right fielder Kyle Jensen and catcher Kyle Skipworth both homered, while the Suns thwarted a Pensacola comeback attempt led by a trio of longballs and shortstop Didi Gregorius’ four hits to top the Blue Wahoos 8-7. With the win, the Suns clinched a series victory on Wednesday night at Pensascola’s bayfront stadium.
Jensen led off the second with his longball, while Skipworth left the yard in the following frame to help push the Suns to an early 4-0 advantage. Pensacola brought the contest to within one run when second baseman Brodie Greene deposited a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall with two men on for his first roundtripper of the season.
After the Suns plated two runs in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos roared back with a three-run seventh to draw the contest even. Center fielder Ryan LaMarre began the inning with a solo home run to right center, while first baseman Joel Guzman went deep later in the frame with a two-run blast to even the score.
Jacksonville again answered with a pair of tallies in the eighth to grab back the lead at 8-6, but Pensacola did not go down quietly in the final frame. Gregorius singled and moved to third on third baseman Henry Rodriguez’s single, before he was brought home on Guzman’s sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one. Greene then singled to place the tying run in scoring position for pinch hitter Mark Fleury, who fought hard in an eight pitch at bat but was called out on strikes to end the contest.
Suns reliever Joshua Schmidt (0.2 IP, 1 SO) earned his first victory of the season, while Blue Wahoos RHP Drew Hayes (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year. Jacksonville closer Evan Reed (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 SO) pitched the final two frames to notch the save, his fourth of the year.
Gregorius’ (4-5, 3 R) four-hit game was his second of the season after accomplishing that feat less than a week earlier, while LaMarre (2-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI), Rodriguez (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B), Greene (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and right fielder P.J. Phillips (2-4) all collected multi-hit efforts in the loss. Jacksonville shortstop Chris Gutierrez (2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) was the lone Suns hitter to tally a multi-hit contest, adding two runs and two RBI.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will meet Thursday night in the final game of the five-game series, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm. The Blue Wahoos are slated to send RHP J.C. Sulbaran to the hill, while the Suns are expected to hand the ball to RHP Omar Poveda.
Thursday night’s contest will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season, with domestic drafts on sale for $2 dollars, while 12 ounce canned sodas will be $1 dollar. The Fur Circus, featuring three circus-themed mascots, will also be on hand for the second night in a row to perform before and during the game.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Shortstop Didi Gregorius had four hits in Pensacola’s 8-7 loss to the Suns Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2 Injured In Hwy 29 Crash
April 18, 2012
Two women were seriously injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 29 north of Molino Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Alicia Potter, age 30 of McDavid, was southbound on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road when she ran her 1999 Buick into the median before over-correcting, crossing the southbound lanes of Highway 29 and hitting a ditch embankment.
Potter and her passenger, 31-year old Summer Rogowski of Pensacola, were transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital in serious condition.
Charges against Potter are pending, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: Two people were injured in this single vehicle wreck north of Molino Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
4-H Council Gets First Look At Navy Federal Sale Agreement, County Offer
April 18, 2012
The 4-H County Council, a group aged 8 to 18, got their first look at a memorandum of understanding Tuesday that spells out what exactly might happen if they approved the sale of the Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal.
Navy Federal has offered $3.6 million for the the 4-H property, which is 240 acres adjacent to the Pensacola complex of the largest credit union in the world.
Under the memorandum presented to the 4-H Council Tuesday, the 4-H foundation will receive the full $3.6 million. Up to $1.6 million will be available to 4-H for facilities construction, projects or purchases, while $2 million will be placed in an endowment fund with the interest supporting 4-H.
Escambia County has committed $1.5 million in Local Option Sales Tax funds towards the construction of a 4-H building and facilities at the Escambia County Extension Service on Stefani Road. It is estimated that it will take up to two years to construct the facilities, with the plans subject to the approval of the Extension Service.
Two other options are also included in the memorandum; one will be selected by a 4-H Extension Task Force. The final decision will be made by the Escambia County Extension Service.
The first option would provide for 20-30 acres next to the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in cooperation with the Escambia County School Board for animal-related programs and other appropriate 4-H activities. This property will be in addition to the facility to be located at the Extension Service on Stefani Road.
The second option would allow for the purchase of acreage with the Navy Federal sale proceeds to be donated to Escambia County for the use of the 4-H program.
The 4-H County Council will vote on the memorandum of understanding and sale of the Langley Bell 4-H Center next Monday. If they should vote against the plan, the Escambia County Commission could override their decision as trustees of the property.
Pictured top: Pamela Allen, director of the Escambia County Extension Service, addresses member of the 4-H County Council Tuesday. Pictured inset: Dave Timberlake of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation discusses the sale of 4-H property to Navy Federal Credit Union during a meeting late Tuesday afternoon at the Escambia County Extension Office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Joins Suit Over $6.2 Million Medicaid Billing
April 18, 2012
The Escambia County Commission voted Tuesday night to join other counties in the state in a lawsuit challenging the Legislature’s decision to recoup tens of millions of dollars in disputed Medicaid costs from counties.
Under the law, Escambia County owes about $6.2 million to the state for disputed Medicaid bills that have been adding up for about a decade. The shortfall has the commission scrambling for replacement revenue, with discussions centering around library closures, other departmental cutbacks and layoffs, a sales tax increase or a property tax increase.
Escambia County will join the suit being brought by the Florida Association of Counties.
The Legislature last month approved recouping the money, with leaders contending that counties have not fully made required Medicaid payments. The counties, however, argue that the state’s billing system has major flaws.
Escambia County, for instance, has found that it is being billed for residents of Santa Rosa County and even Alabama residents that used medical facilities in Pensacola.
Deputies: Boyfriend Attacks Daughter; Daddy Pulls A Gun On Boyfriend
April 18, 2012
A 66-year old Century man is accused of pulling a gun on his daughter’s boyfriend while he was changing a tire that she slashed.
Deputies responded to the 7600 block of Pleasant Hill Road where they found Tyrone Webb, 52, changing a flat tire. He told deputies that his former live-in girlfriend had slashed the tire on his 2006 Chevrolet pickup with a large butcher knife. He told deputies that he had not physically touched the victim, but he did slash the rear tire on her 1996 Ford Mustang in retaliation, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
As deputies were interviewing the victim, her father arrived on Pleasant Hill Road. Willie Dortch stepped out of his pickup with a .45 caliber handgun and confronted Webb, according a Sheriff’s Office report. The deputy that witnessed the incident called for backup and took Dortch into custody.
The victim told deputies that Webb arrived, accused her having an affair and demanded her cell phone. When she refused, he physically attacked her and removed the cell phone from her hands, the report states.
Webb was charged with battery and released on $1,000 bond from the Escambia County Jail. The father of his former live-in girlfriend, Willie Dortch, was charged with improper exhibit of firearm.
New Florida Budget Means $378 For Every Escambia Resident
April 18, 2012
The Florida budget signed Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott will funnel $378.96 into Escambia County for every man, woman and child that calls the county home. Overall, the 2012-2013 budget will mean an allocation of $112,784,552 to the county to be spent on specific projects.
But across the Panhandle, the budget is better news for some counties — like Walton at the top of the sate funding list with $3,881.75 in allocations for each resident, or $213,663,028 total. The budget numbers, however, might leave officials in Santa Rosa or Okaloosa counties feeling a bit shortchanged. Santa Rosa will receive $29,898,302 in allocations ($157.33 per person), while Okaloosa County will see $22,446,336 ($124.13 per resident).
Amount per resident based upon population according to the 2010 Census:
- Escambia — $378.96
- Santa Rosa — $157.33
- Okaloosa — $124.13
- Walton $3,881.75
- Holmes $185.62
- Washington $2,548.61
- Bay $352.84
Total dollars received by each county:
- Escambia — $112,784,552
- Santa Rosa — $29,898,302
- Okaloosa — $22,446,336
- Walton — $213,663,028
- Holmes — $3,698,876
- Washington – $63,450,299
- Bay — $59,577,857
According to data released by the Legislature this week, Hillsborough County topped the list with more than $1.2 billion, while Miami-Dade lawmakers took home almost $1.1 billion for their constituents. Alachua County — home to the University of Florida — was third with just shy of $527 million, followed by Duval County with $518.7 million. Only two counties were allocated less than $1 million: Baker County, which received just $312,085, and Lafayette, with $54,893.
On a per capita basis using the 2010 Census, Walton County was the top recipient of state money, taking in $3,881.75. Two more counties hauled in at least $2,500 a head: Madison County, at $2,702.44, and Washington, with $2,548.61 a person. Seven counties pulled in less than $100 per person, including Martin, Gilchrist, Taylor, Indian River, Citrus, Baker and Lafayette, which hit the bottom of the list at $6.19 per resident.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.