Property Taxes Are Now Late, But There’s A Reprieve
April 2, 2012
Real estate and tangible personal property taxes became delinquent on Sunday, but there’s a little reprieve if you forgot to pay up on time.
Since the March 31 deadline fell during a weekend when the tax collector officers were closed, offices will still accept payments without penalty on Monday, April 2 for in person payments only.
If not paid by today in person, a penalty of 3 percent for real estate and 1½ percent for tangible taxes will be assessed. At last report, over $32.5 million (approximately 13%) of the Escambia County tax roll remains unpaid, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley.
You may check the status of your taxes and pay online at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information, contact the tax collector’s office at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
Stand Your Ground Remains Under Fire
April 2, 2012
The National Rifle Association has long been a powerful force in Tallahassee. But as the Sanford shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin continues to create a national furor, NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer and her legislative allies face growing pressure to revamp the state’s “stand your ground” law.
“There’s a critical and urgent need to look at the law, and at least clarify it, or explain it,” said Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.
Some black lawmakers have called for holding a special legislative session to deal with the law. While that appears unlikely, Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who was an original sponsor of stand your ground in 2005, acknowledged that it might need to be clarified.
“There’s nothing in the statute that provides for any kind of aggressive action, in terms of pursuit and confront,” Baxley said. “So I think that’s been some misapplication of this statute. If anything could come out of this very tragic circumstance, it could be some clarification of when this applies and how.”
Stand your ground, which was backed by the NRA, has drawn widespread attention since neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot and killed Martin last month. Zimmerman, who has not been charged in the death, contends that he fired in self-defense.
The law allows people who feel threatened in public to stand their ground and use force to defend themselves, eliminating a prior responsibility to try to retreat. Questions in the Martin case center, at least in part, on whether Zimmerman pursued the teen before shooting him.
Gov. Rick Scott wants to wait until the conclusion of the Martin investigation before addressing the stand-your-ground law. He has appointed an outside prosecutor, Angela Corey, to head the investigation and also has announced that a task force will later look at issues such as stand your ground.
“We still don’t know the effect the stand-your-ground law might have in this case, so it would be premature to begin evaluating facts when more facts are yet to emerge,” Scott spokesman Lane Wright said. “Gov. Scott believes we need to be thoughtful and thorough as we deal with this awful tragedy, and for those reasons he will not interfere with the investigation or prematurely expedite the work of the task force.”
By the News Service of Florida
New Senate Maps Submitted To Feds
April 2, 2012
The second draft of new maps for the state Senate have been submitted to the U.S. Justice Department for “pre-clearance” under the Voting Rights Act.
In a memo contained with the filing, the state argued that the plan easily complies with the act.
“There cannot be any serious issue concerning discriminatory purpose in the covered counties,” the memo says. “The minority districts there largely followed the districts recommended by civil-rights groups and materially preserved the ability of minority voters in those counties to elect their preferred candidates.”
The submission should give the Justice Department the full 60 days it has under the Voting Rights Act to review the proposal before candidate qualifying begins. Any changes to Florida elections law must be considered by the federal agency or a federal court before going into effect in five counties with a history of racial discrimination.
Maps for the House were submitted March 13.
Warm Week Forecast
April 2, 2012
After a record high of 84 on Sunday, we are expecting another warm day. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Baseball: Wins For Tate, Flomaton
April 2, 2012
Here’s a recap of Friday night baseball action across the area.
Tate 10 — Washington 5 (JV)
Tate 6 — Washington 5
The Tate Aggies swept a JV/varsity doubleheader from the Washington Wildcats at Tate. The JV won 10-5.
In the night cap, Cody Palmer picked up his sixth victory in relief. Hunter Black had the game winning hit again in the bottom of the 7th inning scoring pinch runner Cole Commander.
Matt Rickard 2-4, 2B
Austin Quina 2-2, RBI
Mac Seibert 1-2, 2B, 3RBI
The Aggies, now with a 15-1 record, hit the road this week traveling to Escambia, Pine Forest and Pace.
Flomaton 4 –Mobile Christian 3
Flomaton 12 — Mobile Christian 0
Flomaton Hurricanes beat Mobile Christian both times in their doubleheader Friday night, 4-3 and 12-0. The Hurricanes are currently ranked No. 4 in the state in 2A.
In the first game, Zack Watson allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out 6. Watson’s record improved 6-1. In the second game, Joseph Parker was had 10 strikeouts while allowing only two hits.
With the wins, t
he Hurricanes improve their record to 16-3 and on a 15 game winning streak. The Hurricanes host the Northview Chiefs Monday night, with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00.
First Game: Batting
Andrew Cash 2-4 2 1B, 1 run
Hunter Bonds 2-4 1B, 2B, RBI SB
Zack Watson 2-4 1B, 2B 1 run
Jacob Newton 2-2 2 1B, RBI, 2 SB
Tyler Dove 1 run
Joseph Parker 1-2 1 run
Pitching
Zack Watson 7IP 6K 1W 2ER 4 hits allowed CG
Second Game: Batting
Andrew Cash 1-2 1B 2 runs
Hunter Bonds 2-3 1B, 2B RBI 2 runs
James Dean 2-3 2 1B, 2 RBI, 3 runs, SB
Zack Watson 1-3 1B 1 run
Trey Weeks RBI 1 run
Jacob Newton 2-3 1B, 2B 3 RBI SB
Tristan McAnally 1-4 1B RBI
Joseph Parker 1-1 HR RBI 2 runs
Tyler Dove 1 run
Pitching
Joseph Parker 5IP 10K 3W 2 hits allowed W
Tyler Harris 1IP 2K S
School Board Approves North Escambia School Personnel Changes
April 2, 2012
The Escambia County School Board approved several North Escambia teacher and staff transfers, resignations, and retirements during March.
The school board made the following changes among teachers and staff at schools across North Escambia:
Instructional/Professional Appointments
- Vickie R. Grant, teacher, Ernest Ward Middle
Instructional/Professional Transfers
Patricia M Barker, from Warrington to Ransom Middle
Instructional/Professional Retirements
- Kathleen A. Varner, teacher, Tate High
Educational Support – Appointments
- Gladys M Dykes, custodial worker II, Molino Park
Educational Support – Retirements/Resignations
- David J. Knott, Sr., custodial worker, Ernest Ward Middle (retired)
- Jourdan A. Robertson, teacher assistant, Ransom Middle
- Patricia Stepherson, data specialist II, Ransom Middle
Maybe Morning Fog, Otherwise Sunny Monday
April 1, 2012
Here’s your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Go Inside Prison: Coming Monday
April 1, 2012
A series that we had planned to publish today will actually begin on Monday as NorthEscambia.com takes you inside Century Correctional Institution.
In our story, we’ll take you on a complete took inside the 40 acre world behind the razor wire, into the dorms to see how 1,400 prisoners live, into the medical unit and beyond with dozens of never before seen photographs. We’ll talk numbers and see how much it all costs, learn about life behind bars for prisoners and those that watch over them. And we’ll answer the age old question: Do they have air conditioning?
Don’t miss it Monday morning as we present “Inside Prison: Century Correctional Institution” on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured below: The outside fence at Century Correctional Institution. Pictured below: A sneak peak inside the fence at Century CI. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Child, Adult Injured In Molino ATV Crash
April 1, 2012
Two people were injured in an ATV accident Saturday night in Molino.
An 11-year old female and a 29-year old female were transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital in stable condition following the crash.
First responders were called to the 4000 block of White Ash Road east of Highway 97 about 9 p.m. for the accident. Complete circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately available.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident.
Pictured: Two people were injured in an ATV crash Saturday night in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
April 1, 2012
Saturday was Opening Day for Molino Recreation Association and the Molino Ballpark.
A steady rain fell for most of the Opening Day activities, but the skies began to clear as the first teams took to the field.\
For photo galleries, click the links below:
Gallery 1 — T-ball
Gallery 2 — Coach pitch softball
Gallery 3 — Baseball 1
Gallery 4 — Baseball 2
Gallery 5 — Softball
Gallery 6 — Opening Day
Pictured above and below: Opening Day action at Molino Ballpark. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
