Randall Craig Odom
October 1, 2013
Randall Craig Odom, 58, of Cantonment,passed away Sunday, September 29, 2013.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanore “Carol” Parkton; brother, Kenny and Michael Odom; nephews, Randall Johnson and TJ Godwin.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Sarah Odom; sisters, Deborah Odom, Kathy (David) Rogers, Betty (Tommy) Robbins, Tammy Warpup and Michelle Odom; brothers, Rickey (Beth) Odom and Jimmy Odom; sister-in-law, Earlene (Doyle) Burnham; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He loved to fish and especially enjoyed going with his nephews, Kevin, Will and Tyler. He was loved by many and will be missed.
Pallbearers will be Kevin, Ty, Will, Josh, Justin and Charlie. Honorary pallbearers will be Rickey and Dallas.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North from 5-7 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, October 3, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Allen Cotton officiating. Interment will follow at New Hope Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29S, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
New Fiscal Year: Pay Raises For County And School Employees, 50% Budget Increase In Century
October 1, 2013
Fiscal year 2013-2014 begins today as a new budget year for Escambia County and the Town of Century. That mean’s county employees received a pay raise effective today, and Century has upped their bottom line by about 50 percent.
Escambia County: Pay Raises
The Escambia County Commission has a new balanced $364.5 million budget for fiscal year 2013-14.
The new budget includes a three percent cost of living raise for all county employees, including constitutional offices and the Sheriff’s Office. The raises are the first for all county employees since 2007 and will cost about $2.6 million.
The $364,520,055 budget is 2.36 percent more than last fiscal year’s budget of $356,102,136.
The tax millage rates approved are 6.6165 for the County-wide millage rate, .3590 for the Library Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) and .6850 for the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU).
The total millage rate proposed for Fiscal Year 2013-14 is 0.12 percent below the “Rolled Back Rate” certified by the property appraiser. This represents the percentage decrease in property taxes tentatively adopted by the county commission.
Escambia Schools: No Tax Increase, Teacher Pay Raises
The Escambia County School district has a $612.7 million budget for the new fiscal year. There will be increase in ad valorem taxes to meet the budget; the final millage rate was set at 7.557, just under last year’s 7.758.
About $7 million of the budget will go toward teacher and support personnel pay raises. The Escambia Education Association and the district agreed to a possible 4.92 percent raise for teachers, depending on how the teacher scored on their performance evaluation during the 2012-2013 school year. All teachers will receive a minimum salary increase of two percent.
Salaries for educational support personnel will increase by 4.2 percent. In addition, the parties agreed to a new evaluation system that is evidence-based for educational support personnel.
Century: An Extra $1.6 Million
The Town of Century is in a new budget year that is up about 50 percent over last year.
Century’s 2013-2014 budget is$4,384,791, up about $1.6 million over the last fiscal year. The operating budget increase is due to grant income and associated expenditures of $1,595,000 — including a $650,000 housing grant and a $944,000 drainage project grant for North Century Boulevard.
There will be no net increase in ad valorem taxes to meet the budget for fiscal year 2013-2014. The recomputed millage rate of .9006 is equal to and does not exceed the rolled-back rate.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Envision Cantonment Workshop Tonight
October 1, 2013
Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will hold a series of meetings to discuss eight focus areas of the Cantonment CRA starting Tuesday at 6 p.m., at the Greater First Baptist Church, 591 Booker Street, Cantonment.
The community break-out session will include a discussion on the goals, values and priorities of the community.
Christopher Lee Newsome
October 1, 2013
Mr. Christopher Lee Newsome, 37, passed away Thursday, September 26, 2013, in Mobile.
Mr. Newsome was a native of Columbus, GA, and had resided in Bay Minette for the past 20 years.
Survivors include his two sons, Cameron Newsome of Century, and Peyton Newsome of Century; two daughters, Patience Newsome of Century and Brittney Thompson of Bay Minette; two brothers, Terry (Becky) Newsome of Perdido, AL and Twin-Michael (Lynissa) Newsome of Bay Minette; four nephews, Terrence Newsome, Brad Newsome, Myles Newsome and Austin Coleman, all of Bay Minette; two Great-Nephews, Bentley Newsome of Bay Minette and Eli Newsome of Poarch, AL.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Malcolm Harrelson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roger Hadley, Jason Hadley, Allen Hall, Kyle Wasdin, Reggie Lawson, Chris Ford, Tony Lambeth, Aaron Lambeth, Chris Cooper and Kainan Pintereli.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Terrence Newsome, Brad Newsome and Chase Amerson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama
Man Injured In Bar Fight
October 1, 2013
One person was transported to an area hospital after an early morning fight at a Highway 97 bar.
About 12:15 a.m. Sunday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Grey Goose on Highway 97 at the Alabama state line where they found a man bleeding from the head.
According to witnesses, the incident began with a fight inside the bar with beer bottles being broken in the brawl. A man then allegedly tried to enter the bar with a hammer as a weapon, but he was fought off by other patrons. He then left and retrieved a knife from his vehicle but was locked outside by bar employees.
The victim was apparently cut on the leg outside the bar. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered severe. The victim, according to the sheriff’s office, did not wish to press any charges against his alleged assailant.
Gulf Power Economic Symposium Looks Toward Future Of Entire Region
October 1, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott kicked off the annual Gulf Power Economic Symposium Monday.
Nearly 600 leaders from throughout Northwest Florida are in attendance at the week-long event that is addressing the future of the region.
This year’s theme, “Building the Future”, brings together speakers who will discuss a wide range of topics from “Creating a Culture of Innovation” to reviewing “Northwest Florida Demographic Shifts”. Panel discussions also have been included to help move the region to action as it builds Northwest Florida’s future today.
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott kicked off the annual Gulf Power Economic Symposium Monday. Pictured below: Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford listens to Senate President Don Gaetz during the event on Monday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Frances Haynie McNeil
October 1, 2013
Frances Haynie McNeil, age 90, originally of Pensacola, passed away early Thursday morning, September 26, 2013, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Tallahassee.
Mrs. McNeil was born near Eclectic in Elmore County, Alabama on July 14, 1923. She graduated from Atmore High School in 1942. She married James Robert McNeil, Chief USN, on November 24, 1944 at Ramona’s Marriage Place in San Diego, California. After having two children, a boy and a girl, at Bethesda Navy Hospital in Maryland she and her family eventually settled in Pensacola in 1956.
Mrs. McNeil was a lifelong member of the Warrington Baptist Church, The Order of The Eastern Star, and was a National Flower Show Judge. Later she went to college, earning an Associates of Arts degree at Pensacola Junior College in 1969, and, in 1972, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art at the University of West Florida.
In 2004, her home in Pensacola was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. Mrs. McNeil then moved to Tallahassee, to live with her son and daughter-in-law. Her health declined after a fall on July 1st of this year. “Miss Frances” or “Rainbow,” as her grandson named her, was lovingly cared for by her family, her doctors, the wonderful caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, and many other private caregivers who were truly angels of comfort. Finally, her last days were blessed with the dedicated staff of Covenant Hospice.
Mrs. McNeil was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert McNeil, in 1999. She is survived by her son, Charles R. McNeil of Tallahassee; her daughter, Janice McNeil Wood, of Huntsville, Alabama; and her three grandchildren: Mack Turner Wood, Katrina Noelle Wood, and Marlena LaRue Wood, also of Huntsville.
Friends are invited to a visitation with reception at Oak Lawn Funeral on Monday September 30, 2013, from 5-7 p.m.
Graveside services will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday October 1, 2013, at Barrancas National Cemetery, and will go in procession from the funeral home at 10:30am.
Flowers are welcome, and donations may also be made in memory of Mrs. McNeil to: Frances Haynie McNeil Fund at The Warrington Baptist Church, 103 West Winthrop Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32507.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Cantonment Man Busted For DUI, Meth On I-110
September 30, 2013
A Cantonment man was arrested after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper found him stopped on I-110 with meth and a meth how-to book.
William John Hubner, Jr. age 56, was charged with DUI, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, manufacture and distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled substances without prescriptions. Hubner was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $259,500.
About 2:04 a.m. Saturday, the Florida High Patrol received a call of a suspicious vehicle stopped on I-110 at the 4.5 mile marker. The trooper discovered Hubner was “impaired on several different controlled substances”, according to a FHP report.
As the vehicle was being searched, the trooper discovered several bags of methamphetamine, drug equipment, several plastic bags, as well as a book on different meth weights and manufacturing percentages.
The FHP said Hubner was manufacturing and selling meth out of his vehicle.
Dishpan Hands, Homespun Bedsheets In Prison Cost Cutting Plan
September 30, 2013
Florida inmates are sewing their own clothes and will soon start washing dishes by hand in sinks they’ve built themselves.
It’s all part of Department of Corrections Secretary Mike Crews’ attempt to whittle a nearly $50 million deficit in this year’s $2.1 billion budget.
Crews told the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday that he’s on a cost-cutting mission to reduce the deficit, which stems from issues such as health care costs.
Thus far, Crews said he’s saved nearly $900,000 by re-bidding the agency’s contract for paper towels and toilet paper, about $254,000 by de-privatizing pest control services and more than $500,000 by buying used cars for probation officers, thus doing away with mileage reimbursements. The agency also saved about $600,000 through consolidating office leases.
DOC also saved $18 million by getting federal assistance for HIV-AIDS medications, $3.5 million with a new drug formulary for some medications and $1.4 million by changing inhaler protocols, Crews said.
Mothballing kitchen equipment in the state’s aging prisons won’t just give inmates dishpan hands — it’s another way Crews plans to scrimp.
Crews said dishwashers “are starting to tear up” and are expensive to repair. Instead of purchasing three-sink combos required for safe scrubbing, Crews said his staff suggested that they could build the sinks themselves, possibly with inmate assistance.
Meanwhile, the prisoners have also started to sew their own uniforms as well as their bedclothes, Crews said.
“Sometimes when you ride by it looks like Fred Sanford’s house. We actually hang the clothes out to dry,” Crews, who in December became the sixth secretary in six years at the agency.
What seems like small-change savings given the size of the red ink “may seem miniscule, but I do want the committee to understand we’re doing everything we can to help and get us out of this deficit,” Crews said.
Crews expects an update on the projected deficit, now estimated at $45.4 million, in two weeks. That’s less than half of November’s projected $119 million deficit, thanks to about $43 million from the Legislature, a hiring freeze and a high vacancy rate due to turnover.
Crews said the agency was responsible for at least part of the deficit by failing to control health-care costs. DOC has contracted with two private firms, Corizon and Wexford, to provide health care and, the agency hopes, keep in check spending on services for an aging prison population as well as ailing inmates. The outsourcing is supposed to be completed Oct. 13 and is expected to save between $40 million and $50 million annually, Crews said.
But Crews blamed some of the deficit on factors beyond his control, including bid protests, a nine-month legal challenge to the health care privatization and a dispute over the broader privatization of more than half of the state’s prisons approved by lawmakers two years ago but later overturned by the courts.
The department achieved some savings by shuttering 10 prisons in recent years but held off on closing Glades Correctional Institution in 2012 for more than six months because of lawmakers’ and local community leaders’ concerns about the impact on an already blighted economy. The delay added more than $6.7 million to the deficit, Crews explained.
Extra overtime costs caused by switching to 12-hour daily shift and bid protests also contributed to the deficit, Crews said.
Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said the agency’s budget has been slashed by more than $484 million over the last five years, even though the inmate population has gone up.
“We didn’t get here overnight and we’re not going to cure it overnight,” Bradley said of the deficit.
Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, suggested saving money by again considering the controversial privatization plan pushed by Gov. Rick Scott.
“I’m not disparaging those that are there working. We need them. But when NASA wants to service the international space station they turn to the private sector. When we landed a man on the moon that was a private company. I think our governor’s right on target,” Altman said.
But Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth suggested lawmakers could generate bigger savings by sending fewer inmates to prison in the first place, especially those with addiction problems.
Bradley agreed, saying the majority of inmates convicted of drug-related crimes spend less than two years behind bars.
“They’re not getting treatment. They’re being housed. And I don’t know how smart that is,” Bradley said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chloe Channell To Join Kenny Rogers Christmas Musical In Branson
September 30, 2013
Local “America’s Got Talent” sensation Chloe Channel has joined the cast of Kenny Rogers hit musical “The Toy Shoppe” at the Starlite Theatre in Branson, Missouri, opening November 1 for this Christmas season.
“I am really excited to be a part of all this. It’s going to be amazing!” said Chloe, who will do 60 shows by December 21. The show, written by Kenny Rogers and Kelly Junkermann stars country sensation Billy Dean.
“The only way you can do a play with heart, is to have a cast with heart…and that’s harder than it sounds,” said Rogers. “There are a lot of people who can sing the notes, but very few who can make you believe the passion and the joy of the musical journey. My friend Billy Dean certainly can do all of those things and when I listened to Chloe, I knew she would be very special as well.”
“The Toy Shoppe” is a place where toys come to life and children gather to hear owner Hank Longley tell stories. The audience joins Hero the Dog, Cheeseball the Mouse, Bruno the Bear and Billy Dean as Hank Longley in this story of love, faith and appreciation for the value of every individual. The story is full of old-fashioned values and is great entertainment for the entire family.
“It’s gonna be so COOL!! I can’t wait,” Chloe wrote on her Facebook page. “So make plans to come see me.”
Finding new talent has always been a trademark of Kenny Rogers shows. Garth Brook’s first national tour was opening for Kenny Rogers at Christmas.