Bill Would Limit Funeral Protests
February 28, 2012
No protests would be allowed within 500 feet of a funeral under a bill was passed unanimously by the House and sent to the Senate.
The bill (HB 31), sponsored by Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, is a response to the protests that have been held at military funerals around the country by the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas.
“A funeral is a time meant for family and friends to grieve and remember, it is not a time for a spectacle to be made,” Rooney said in a statement afterward. “For those that are suffering the terrible loss of a loved one, unwarranted harassment some attempt only compounds their grief creating a potential powder keg of emotion and violence.”
Claude W. Moye
February 28, 2012
Mr. Claude W. Moye, 77, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at a Mobile hospital.
Mr. Moye was a native and resident of Robinsonville for most of his life. He was a retired employee of Monsanto after 35 years of service, a retired farmer and attended the Robinsonville Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannine Moye of Century; two sons, Mike and Barbara Moye of Robinsonville, Duff and Crystal Moye of Booneville; a stepson, Ricky and Linda Rutherford of Perdido; three daughters, Sherrin and Dan Thomas of Brewton, Suzanne and Scott Daniel of Mobile, and Mishalene and Charles Coker of Ft. Walton; a stepdaughter, Kristi and Chris Taylor of Brewton; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three sisters, Gertrude Smith of Atmore,, Gladys Stanton of Robinsonville, and Wilanette Troutman of Atmore.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike McMorris and the Rev. Jerry Keese officiating. Burial will follow at the Robinsonville Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday February 27, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Moye, Canyon Moye, Dex Daniel, Zack Coker, Jordan Coker and Alex Coker.
Honorary pallbearer will be Blake Daniel.
Northview, Flomaton Softball Canceled
February 27, 2012
This afternoon’s Flomaton Hurricanes at Northview Chiefs softball games have been canceled due to the weather. The Lady Chiefs are scheduled to host the Jay Royals in Bratt on Tuesday — JV at 4:00 and varsity at 6:00.
Today’s Northview Chiefs at Washington baseball games are still scheduled — JV at 4:00 and varsity at 6:30.
Decision Possible Today On Gulf Power $93.5 Million Rate Hike
February 27, 2012
The Florida Public Service Commission could decide today if Gulf Power Company customers will pay $93.5 million more a year for electricity — partially to fund the purchase of 4,000 acres of land for a possible nuclear power plant near McDavid.
The PSC staff has recommend against the full rate increase request. The staff recommendation would not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential North Escambia nuclear-power plant site. The recommendation says Gulf Power has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project
PSC staff has recommended that Gulf Power be allowed a base rate increase of $62.3 million.
Molino Library, Tax Collector And Property Appraiser Office Work Continues
February 27, 2012
Progress is continuing on a $4 million project to convert the old Molino School into a community center and museum.
Roof shingles are expected to be installed this week, while interior electrical and plumbing rough-in work is in progress on a new building. Rough-in for plumbing, mechanical and electrical continues on the existing building.
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum under a $2.95 million construction contract awarded by Escambia County to Birkshire Johnstone, LLC.
In addition to converting the 72-year old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building is being constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment and the property appraiser office on Highway 97 in Molino will both be closed. The facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections.
Final completion for both buildings is scheduled for November 2012.
Pictured: Work to convert the old Molino School into a new library and museum, plus the addition of a new building for the tax collector and property appraiser. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of More Rain Tonight
February 27, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 42.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Jeff Miller: Solution Needed To Rising Gas Prices
February 27, 2012
In his latest newsletter, U.S. Rep Jeff Miller discusses rising gas prices.
The following was submitted by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla for NorthEscambia.com:
With gas prices slowly creeping upwards toward $4 a gallon, one would think the President of the United States and Congressional Democrats would finally get serious about working across the aisle on solutions to ease the pain at the pump. At the very least they could put forward a few ideas that would provide consumers already hard hit by a weak economy some relief in their weekly gas bill. However, this week we saw instead an incredible demonstration of the blame game by the Administration. The key message of the President was not about working together to find an answer, but a clear statement of “it’s not my fault.”
The blame was extended to anyone but the Administration – rising gas prices are caused by increased demand from China. Or maybe it’s the recent tensions with Iran. Or it could be decreased foreign supply. Or the Administration’s consistent election-year boogeyman: the Wall Street speculators. Better yet, gas prices are higher because of oil companies. Of course, these things are outside of the control of the U.S. government, so the Administration can’t do anything about it.
President Obama offered little in the way of solutions, instead telling the American people that he wouldn’t make “phony election-year promises about lower gas prices.” The American people don’t want phony promises, but they also don’t want inaction while gas prices go up. I am astonished that in a speech about lowering gas prices, the President also called for higher taxes on the oil industry and more money for unproven clean energy. Let me clear, clean energy technologies will play a role in a long-term solution, but will do nothing to solve the problem this year.
When the rhetoric over gas prices heats up, it is helpful to take a look at some of the facts about gas prices and American energy production. The Administration claims it is opening up more than 75 percent of our offshore oil and gas resources. Yet, that is just the status quo and includes only the areas we have already explored. Eighty-five percent of all American offshore areas remain off-limits. This Administration also placed a moratorium on new drilling and has barely begun to approve any new leases. One example of backwards policymaking is in the Chukchi Sea in Alaska. The energy industry has spent $2.6 billion to obtain close to 500 leases; yet, to date the Administration has not allowed a single well to be drilled on any of these leases. Rhetoric does not drill wells and does not create jobs. Action does. There is no doubt that in light of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill almost two years ago, new safety and inspection measures must be put in place; but, new energy exploration cannot and should not be halted altogether.
The Executive Branch is also quick to blame “tax breaks” for energy companies, specifically oil and natural gas companies. The fact is, however, the oil and gas industry does not receive a single targeted tax credit from the IRS. It takes deductions on the cost of doing business, just like other companies. The Administration’s call for an $85 billion tax hike on a particular sector of our economy is not going to lower gas prices. It will make them higher. Giving millions in loan guarantees to companies like Solyndra while increasing taxes on proven energy resources is not going to solve the energy crisis. To call out the oil and gas industry over others is yet another illustration of the government picking winners and losers in the marketplace, something it does not need to be in the business of doing. In fact, the government should not be “in business” at all.
I agree with the President on one thing he said this week, namely that “[t]here is no silver bullet, there never has been.” Nonetheless, I completely disagree with his assertion that there is little we can do about it. The President and Senate should join us in putting forward a viable “All of the Above” energy strategy that will expand domestic sources of production, invest in clean energy technologies, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help keep gas prices low for Americans. The United States can be a leader in innovation and clean energy without limiting our current sources of energy. I hope my colleagues will join in pushing for solutions to increasing gas prices that could have a debilitating effect on our fragile economy.
Ernest Ward Boys, Girls Swim Teams Take Second In County
February 27, 2012
Both the boys and girls Ernest Ward Middle swim teams finished second in Escambia County for the season. Pictured: The EWMS boys and girls swim teams at a recent county meet. Submitted photo by Stephanie Sims for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Indicted For New Year’s Day Abortion Clinic Bombing
February 27, 2012
A man accused of firebombing an abortion clinic in Escambia County has been indicted.
The two-count indictment charges Bobby Joe Rogers, 41, with arson and damaging a reproductive health facility in connection with the fire that destroyed the American Family Planning Clinic on January 1. Rogers has remained in federal custody since his arrest on January 5.
If convicted, Rogers faces 5 to 20 years in prison for the arson count and up to one year in prison for damaging a reproductive health clinic.
Registration Ending For DCT Coed Softball Tournament
February 27, 2012
The Northview High School DCT will sponsor a coed softball tournament Saturday, and today is the last day to register.
The DCT Coed Softball Tournament will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on March 3 at Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Late registrations will be accepted through today for $150 per team. Registration fees can be paid at Northview from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., ask for Raylin.
Team members must be 14-years of age or older, and there must be three females on the field at all times. There is a 10 team limit.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681 or (251) 294-1947.
The concession stand will be open the day of the event. No coolers please.