Time To Renew Business Tax Receipts
September 6, 2013
It is time for business owners in Escambia County to renew their business tax receipts. Tax Collector Janet Holley mailed out 21,547 renewal notices on August 1, with the renewal cycle ending on September 30. Beginning October 1, delinquent penalties will be assessed.
Business tax receipts can be renewed online, by mail, by phone (a convenience fee may apply), or in person at any one of four tax collector offices.
Applications and information for business tax receipts are available at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the tax collector’s website or call (850) 438‑6500, ext. 3252.
Tax collector offices are open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. as follows:
- Downtown, 213 Palafox Place
- Molino, 6440 Highway 95A North, Suite A
- Marcus Pointe, 6451 North W. Street
- Warrington, 507 North Navy Boulevard.
Local Fresh Food Becoming More Popular; Farmers’ Markets This Saturday
September 6, 2013
Floridians are buying more food grown locally or regionally and retail sales are higher here than in other states, according to a University of Florida study.
It showed local food represents about 20 percent of all Florida food purchased for at-home consumption, except restaurant take-out food, said Alan Hodges, an Extension scientist with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
In addition to local farmers and roadside stands, farmers’ markets are a good source for local food. For information on two local markets this weekend, see the box to the left.
The study was based on a statewide consumer survey. Prior estimates from other states had local food accounting for about 5 percent of all food sales, he said.
“We are doing relatively better in Florida, in moving toward food self-sufficiency,” Hodges said. “I can only attribute that to the favorable year-round growing conditions we have for fruits and vegetables.”
Hodges’ study is part of a larger project that involves consumer preferences about local food, said Tracy Irani, a UF professor of agricultural education and communication and development director for the Center for Public Issues Education, or the PIE Center.
Irani and graduate assistant Joy Goodwin headed the portion of the project that examined consumer preferences. Irani said data suggest local food sales might be up because consumers are paying closer attention to the things they eat, due to nutrition and health coverage in the media.
Increased awareness results in increased sales, she said. However, consumer participants said their purchase of local food would be likely to increase with increased advertising and marketing of local foods.
“Consumers perceive that there are health, quality and economic benefits to locally grown,” Goodwin said. “That will continue to motivate purchase behavior, all other things being equal.”
Projections based on the statewide consumer survey indicate that local food sales in Florida totaled $8.3 billion in a one-year period. An estimated $6.1 billion was spent at grocery stores but only $320 million in restaurants, Hodges said.
“Restaurants have huge potential there to buy locally produced meats, vegetables and other items,” Hodges said. “My suggestion is, if you want to see more local food on the menu at your favorite dining spot, ask for it.”
Some highlights of the results:
- Two-thirds of respondents said someone in the household bought local food at least once in the previous year.
- Among all Florida households, 62 percent bought local foods at farmers’ markets, 53 percent from retail supermarkets, 28 percent from restaurants, and 5 percent from community-supported agriculture or other direct transactions.
- The average spent on local food was $1,114 per household. That number was higher in Central and North Central Florida, compared with South Florida or the Panhandle.
- Almost three-fourths of the total estimated revenue — $6.1 billion –- was spent on local food at retail grocery stores. Consumers also spent $1.8 billion at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and U-pick farms. Restaurants and other food-service establishments accounted for $320 million, and other prearranged farm-to-consumer sales totaled $103 million.
Because there is no accepted definition of what constitutes “local” food, Hodges’ survey allowed respondents to define the term – and most often defined it as food produced within 100 miles of the consumer, he said.
Pictured top: Local produce available recently at the Market at St. Monica’s in Cantonment. The market is open the first and third Saturday of each month through October. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Blue Devils Cancel Junior Varsity Games Against Northview
September 6, 2013
Escambia County High School in Atmore has canceled their two scheduled junior varsity football games with the Northview Chiefs.
The ECHS JV Blue Devils were scheduled to play the Chiefs in Bratt next Monday and in Atmore on September 23
The remainder of the Northview JV football schedule is as follows:
Sept 19 – West Florida – Away
Oct 3 – West Florida – Home
Oct 17 – Baker – Home
All games are scheduled for 6 p.m.
Pictured: Northview’s JV Chiefs take on Escambia County High School in Atmore last season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Meeting: FWC Considers License Requirement For Hunting Public Lands
September 6, 2013
Update:
Hunters may be required to have licenses when tracking any game on public lands in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering a proposal to go before state lawmakers next year that would require hunters to have licenses for each species of wildlife they intend to pursue on public lands.
Fish and Wildlife Executive Director Nick Wiley said Thursday during a meeting in Pensacola that the proposal was initially considered for hunting hogs, the second most hunted species in Florida after white-tail deer, but expanded in part for general safety concerns of people using public lands.
Currently, a license is not required to hunt hogs and most wildlife on public lands.
A question remains how the proposal will be accepted politically, which is why Wiley said the details “still need to be fleshed out.”
“It doesn’t seem like you’d have a problem if it was tied to safety,” said Commissioner Ronald Bergeron. “People can be on public land hunting without a safety course, whether for hogs or pythons.”
Lane Stephens, executive director of the Allied Sportsmen’s Associations of Florida, said the proposal may be more acceptable for lawmakers and hunters than an effort a year ago when the discussion was to change the designation of hogs, which could have made it more difficult to hunt hogs.
“My organization, I think, we would fully support (the current proposal), you should have a hunting license if you’re out with the public,” Stephens said.
The Fish and Wildlife proposal would require the hunting licenses to be acquired on a species-by-species basis.
The fiscal impact is anticipated to be small. Fish and Wildlife officials believe most people who hunt now on public lands already have licenses to hunt other game or believe that licenses are already required.
Looking ahead to the 2014 legislative session, the commission may also ask lawmakers to allow those who violate certain boating laws — including boating under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless boating — to take the mandatory safety course online.
Another proposal from the commission would allow counties to use their portions of vessel registration fees for the removal of debris that inhibits navigation and for the construction of boat piers, docks and mooring buoys. Currently, the money is limited to the removal of derelict vessels and to provide uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, and other public launching facilities.
On Thursday, the commission approved a new recreational hunting and fishing license exemption for active and disabled veterans and their immediate family members. \
SWAT Standoff Ends Peacefully With Two Jailed
September 6, 2013
A man and his girlfriend were jailed Thursday afternoon after a standoff with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
When deputies attempted to serve a felon violation of probation warrant on 28-year old Joshua Randell Mauldin on Appaloosa Avenue, he barricaded himself in the home and refused to exit. Deputies said he was armed with a gun and was inside his home with his girlfriend, Brittany Slay.
Mauldin and Slay were ordered several times to exit to the home but did not. The Santa Rosa County SWAT team arrived and began to make entry into the home. Both suspects surrendered, and a gun was located inside the residence.
While in the back of a patrol car, Mauldin began to kick both rear doors of the vehicle, causing permanent damage to the law enforcement vehicle.
In addition to an outstanding felony violation of probation warrant, Mauldin was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, two counts of grand theft, two counts of dealing in stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, forgery of a check, uttering a forged instrument. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Slay was charged with possession of listed chemicals and manufacturing a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $25,000.
Pictured above and below: The scene of a SWAT standoff Thursday afternoon in Santa Rosa County. Photos courtesy Rodayne Hart WEAR TV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Beats Northview In Girls Volleyball
September 6, 2013
The Baker Gators beat the Northview Chiefs Thursday in high school volleyball action.
The Gators’ JV team down North in two, 12-25, 15-25. And the varsity Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in varsity action, 12-25, 14-25, 12-25.
The Northview Lady Chiefs will host Central Tuesday, with the junior varsity schedule for4:30 and the varsity set for 5:30 p.m.
Vehikle? Does Spelling Count In Bridge Work?
September 5, 2013
Does spelling count in bridge work? Several readers pointed out the “BIDGE” and “VEHIKLE” spelling errors to us Wednesday on electronic warning signs near a bridge undergoing work this week on Arthur Brown Road (above). We went by Wednesday night to see for ourselves, and we found the word “bridge” had been corrected. An attempt was made to correct the word “VEHIKLE”, but they still just didn’t get it quite right.
Escambia County is expected to continue work on the bridge again today and Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Arthur Brown Road at Boggy Creek, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church. Drivers can expect lane closures and delays.
NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Adds Veterans Day As Official Town Holiday
September 5, 2013
Beginning this year, the Town of Century will observe Veterans Day as an official holiday, closing town offices and giving employees the day off.
Other than the county landfill and emergency services, Century was the only government or governmental agency in the area that previously did not take the holiday.
The town is also planning a public ceremony for Veterans Day at the town’s Veterans “Wall of Honor” at the Nadine McCaw Park on Highway 29. The exact date and time of the event have not yet been announced. To have a veteran’s name added to the wall of honor, print and complete this form and return it to the Century Town Hall.
Work Release Inmate Indicted For First Degree Murder
September 5, 2013
A work release inmate has been indicted with first degree murder in connection with a shooting last month at a Pensacola car dealership.
Justin Princes Taylor, 24, is accused of the August 14 murder of 53-year old Adnan Mohamed Dali Glelati in his office at 7 Stars Auto at 5401 North W Street, next door to the Fast Eddies Fun Center on Michigan Avenue.
Taylor is being held without bond and will face an arraignment hearing on Friday.
At the time of the murder, Taylor was assigned to the Escambia County Work Release program. His arrest history includes grand theft auto, grand theft, burglary and battery.
Pictured: The owner of 7 Stars Auto was found dead at the business on W Street in Pensacola in August. Photos by Amber Southard, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Solari Wins District Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest, Headed To State
September 5, 2013
Northview High School senior Courtney Solari won the 2013 District Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest Wednesday afternoon in Bonifay.
She now advances to the state competition in Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville next month. Solari was named the Escambia County Farm Bureau winner in late August.
Students between 14-18 years old were invited to take part in the contest, delivering a speech about five minutes long on the topic ““Over the past 500 years, how has technology influenced Florida agriculture?”
“Changes in…technology here in Florida have been occurring since the first European settlers introduced Native Americans to new practices and livestock. The Native Americans quickly adapted to these practices, and Florida agriculture has been changing ever since,” Solari said in her speech.
“Technology has helped increase production of many crops, while also diminishing the production of others. These advancements in agriculture are all in an effort for Florida farmers to produce more food while utilizing less land and protecting the environment. No matter how many changes occur though, one thing will remain consistent. Florida agriculture will continue to grow and thrive throughout the future as it has for the last 500 years,” she said.
The 2013 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest was sponsored by the Escambia County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, in collaboration with Escambia County Extension, EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Escambia County Women’s Committee.
Pictured: Courtney Solari delivers her Farm Bureau speech Wednesday afternoon in Bonifay. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.