Elections Supervisor Stafford, Clerk Of Court Childers Sworn In
January 9, 2013
Two Escambia County officials were sworn into office Tuesday after winning their respective elections last fall. Pam Childers was sworn in as clerk of the court, ending 55-years in office for Ernie Lee Magaha, and David Stafford was sworn in for this third term as supervisor of elections.
Pictured top: William H. Stafford Jr., senior judge, U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, reads the oath of office to Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford while his mother Nancy, sons Charlie and David Jr. and wife Kim look on Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Brooks, Riley Selected To Lead Century Town Council
January 9, 2013
The Century Town Council has re-elected Ann Brooks as council president and Gary Riley as vice-president for 2013. Pictured: Century Town Council Vice-President Gary Riley and President Ann Brooks at Monday night’s regular council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Analysts Question Scott’s Obamacare Estimates
January 9, 2013
Key state budget analysts found fault last month with Medicaid cost estimates that Gov. Rick Scott has repeatedly used to raise objections to the federal Affordable Care Act — but the Scott administration has refused to scrap the numbers, according to a report by Health News Florida.
The online news service obtained emails that showed questions were raised by Amy Baker, who leads the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, and Eric Pridgeon, the top staff member on the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. Baker and Pridgeon play important roles in estimating the state’s expenditures on Medicaid and other health and human-services programs.
The Agency for Health Care Administration, which is under Scott, released a report last month that said Medicaid changes in the Affordable Care Act would cost the state $26 billion over 10 years. That was dramatically higher than earlier estimates, including estimates that Baker and Pridgeon helped put together.
Baker and Pridgeon quickly found flaws with AHCA’s estimates and said moving forward with the numbers would violate state law, according to Health News Florida.
After meeting Monday with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleeen Sebelius, Scott relied on the $26 billion figure in expressing concerns about the cost of the federal health law, commonly known as Obamacare.
The state’s Social Services Estimating Conference, which includes analysts from the Legislature, Baker’s office and the Scott administration, is expected to update the official estimate of the Affordable Care Act costs. As of Tuesday morning, a meeting of the estimating conference had not been scheduled.
By The News Service of Florida
High School Basketball
January 9, 2013
Here’s a look at high school basketball from across the area Tuesday:
BOYS
Northview 66, Jay 60
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals in Jay Tuesday, powered by Neino Robinson with 35 points. Cameron Newsome had 19 points for the Chiefs, while Ladarius Franklin added eight, and Blake McCall contributed two.
Tate 53, Escambia 45
The Tate Aggies beat the Escambia Gators 53-45. The Aggies were led by Travis Walton with 11 and Luke Dykes with 10. Tanner Moore-Hudgens scored nine, Dewayne Williams had eight, and Deonte Nicholson added seven for Tate.
GIRLS
Escambia 44, Tate 34
Catholic 31, Jay 24
Pine Forest 69, Milton 10
Pace 62, Washington 42
JUNIOR VARSITY
Northview 51, Jay 44
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS
Jay 16, Catholic 14
Charges Pending Against Driver That Hit House
January 9, 2013
Charges are pending against an Escambia County man that drove into a house Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 52-year old Daniel Jackson of Pensacola turned onto Shoshone Drive, ran off the road and hit the bedroom of a house. His 2000 Honda travel two-thirds of the length of the vehicle into the house before stopping inside.
Jackson received only minor injuries in the 3:50 p.m. crash.
Donald Ray Franklin
January 9, 2013
Mr. Donald Ray Franklin, age 52, of Oil Well Road in Flomaton, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Franklin was a native and life long resident of Escambia County (Ala). He was a member of Pleasant Home Holiness Church.
Mr Franklin was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Ray Franklin; his grandparents, Bud and Eva Chavers; and a great niece, Jaylyn Franklin.
He is survived by his mother, Nell Franklin of Flomaton; stepfather, Charles Dole of Century; two brothers, Michael Franklin of Flomaton and Bobby (Jacqueline) Franklin of Brewton; sister, Angie Dole of Flomaton; two nieces; five nephews; five great-nieces and nephews; aunts, uncles and other family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 11, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Home Holiness Church with Rev. Brian Richburg and Rev. Gam Graves officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Home Holiness Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, January, 10, 2013, from 6 p.m until 8 p.m. at Pleasant Home Holiness Church.
Craver’s Funeral Home of Brewton is directing.
Century Against Escambia Transit Gas Tax; Asking Legislature For Exemption
January 8, 2013
The Town of Century is still refusing to go along with a planned four cent gasoline tax hike approved by Escambia County, instead opting to lobby the Legislature for an exemption.
Century has refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
The Century Town Council passed a resolution Monday night asking the Legislature to exempt Century due to the town’s proximity to Alabama. The town says the gasoline tax is currently 27 cents less in across the state line in Flomaton.
The resolution also sates that the four cents for ECAT “benefits the south end of the county significantly more than the north end of the county”.
Without the exemption from the Legislature, Century’s refusal to to play along with the county’s new gas tax is perhaps a moot point.
Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, said the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Students Head Back To Class (With 2013 School Calendar)
January 8, 2013
Escambia County students headed back to class Tuesday after a couple of weeks out for Christmas Break. Santa Rosa and Escambia, Ala., students returned to class last week.
Here is a look at the remaining holiday and break days for the 2012-2013 school year:
Escambia County
- January 21 — MLK Day
- February 18 — Teacher Work Day (no students)
- March 25-29 — Spring Break
- May 27- Memorial Day
- May 31- Last Day of School
Santa Rosa County
- January 18 — Planning Day (no students)
- January 21 — MLK Day
- February 18 — President’s Day
- March 18-22 — Spring Break
- March 29 — Good Friday
- April 5 — Planning Day (no students)
- May 27- Memorial Day
- June 7 — Last Day of School
Escambia County, Ala.
- January 21 — MLK Day
- March 25-29 — Spring Break
- May 23 — Last Day of School
New Escambia Clerk Childers Cuts Department Pay Raises
January 8, 2013
Today is the first day on the job for newly elected Escambia Clerk of the Circuit Court Pam Childers as she takes over from Ernie Lee Magaha who served for 55 years. On her first day, she is cutting pay raises and other perks that were doled out by Magaha shortly after his loss in the August primary.
The pay raises, Childers said in a letter to employees last Friday, “will be suspended pending further budget review and audit”. She also said, “This decision is based on an effort to protect clerk’s employees from layoffs due to these unexpected, unexplained and imprudent financial decisions by the outgoing administration,” her letter says. “Without adequate information and justification from my predecessor and his administration, these unbudgeted expenditures cannot continue without potentially incurring employee layoffs.”
In October, clerk’s office employees received bonuses of 3 percent for managers and 4 percent for non-management employees that total about $290,000. The pay raises came after bonuses were handed out in September that totaled $225,913 — 3 percent of employees’ salaries. Also in September, a change in a leave buyback policy cost several hundred thousand dollars, with several employees selling leave time for over $10,000.
Childers is unable to take any action on the bonuses and buyback taypayer dollars because the money has already been paid out to employees. There are about 180 people employees in the clerk’s office.
Since winning election, Childers has said her transition into office has been anything but smooth, often resorting to public records requests to obtain information. She claims her attempts for information were frequently delayed.
“Communication with the outgoing Clerk was one way; never did he reach out to have a conversation to assist with the transition or provide an environment open to interaction,” Childers said in her employee letter.
To read Childers full letter to employees, click here.
Cloudy Skies, Warmer Weather
January 8, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.