Cantonment Man Honored By Governor For Dedication To Teaching
December 11, 2013
A Cantonment man honored Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott as he recognized two educators who have made outstanding contributions to their schools and students with the Governor’s Shine Award. The Shine Award is presented to Floridians who have helped children through education.
John Huber lives in Cantonment and teaches at Oakcrest Elementary School, and Luis Espinosa is from Broward County.
“It is an honor to thank Luis Espinosa and John Herber for their contributions both in and outside the classroom. The work they do today provides our students with the foundation for future success in college and careers. Great teachers like Luis and John are critical to ensuring Florida has a world-class education system and I thank them for their continued service,” Scott said Tuesday.
Huber was featured back in October on NorthEscambia.com after he received one of the People Teacher of the Year Awards and was featured in People magazine. That awards honors extraordinary educators who are changing the lives of their students and paving the way for a new generation of American leaders. He received $4,000 for the school and $1,000 personally.
Herber began teaching in Escambia County 15 years ago after graduating from the University of West Florida. Before he started teaching at Oakcrest Elementary School seven years ago, only 16 percent of the school’s fifth graders were considered proficient in science. Last year, 59 percent passed the test, more than the state or district average.
Herber has formed school-community partnerships to help enrich his classes, often bringing in experts to teach the children.
Off duty, he volunteers as a football and basketball coach so that kids who don’t qualify for varsity teams have the chance to play. His blue 2008 Subaru often serves as the “team bus”.
Herber’s wife Sammi is also involved in Escambia County education. She has worked as a speech pathologist for about 13 years, primarily in North Escambia schools.
Pictured top: Cantonment resident John Herber (green shirt) with Gov. Rick Scott and the members of the Florida Cabinet Tuesday in Tallahassee. Pictured inset and below: Herber hard at work at Oakcrest Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bid Opening Next Week For New Northview High Weight Training Facility
December 11, 2013
Bids will be opened next Tuesday to choose contractor for a new weight training facility for Northview High School.
The Escambia County School Board approved the weight training facility back at their January 22, 2013, meeting, letting a $69,913 contract with DAG Architects in Pensacola for architectural and engineering services.
The new building will be about 3,500 square feet. The building will include one weight room, coaches’ offices, storage and accompanying restrooms. The construction budget is set at $490,000, to be funded with local option sales tax monies.
The new weight training facility will be constructed near the main building where outdoor basketball courts are currently located. There is no timetable in place for the completion of the project.
Updated 6:00 a.m. to reflect that the district is now calling the building a “Weight Training Facility”, not a field house.
Pictured: The basic floor plan for a planned Northview High School field house. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Citizens Property Insurance To Delay Start Of Clearinghouse
December 11, 2013
A three-week delay has been set for the rollout of a legislatively approved insurance clearinghouse that is expected to help reduce the number of homeowners’ policies in the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
The delay is needed in part to respond to questions about the privacy of policy holders as their applications to Citizens are marketed to private insurers.
“When we introduce this, we want to make absolutely sure that it’s going to be successful,” Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway told the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday. “By moving this date by three weeks, it gives us the opportunity to conduct far more user-acceptance testing, and, with a much more degree of confidence when we launch this system, that it will operate as advertised.”
The clearinghouse system had been scheduled to begin comparing new policies on Jan. 2, but is now expected to go into use Jan. 27, Gilway said.
Through the clearinghouse, all new applications to Citizens will be shopped to private firms. If coverage is found within 15 percent of Citizens’ premium, the policy would go to the private carrier. For Citizens customers, renewals will have to go to the private market if comparable coverage is found at or below the state-backed insurer’s rates.
The clearinghouse was part a sweeping insurance package (SB 1770) approved by legislators during the 2013 session.
In August, the Citizens board approved a five-year contract with Bolt Solutions, Inc., to design the software for the clearinghouse. The contract, which has an option for an additional five years, could total $44.9 million over the decade.
“If three weeks is not enough, please take the time that you need, I’d rather you roll it out right,” said Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth.
However, committee Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said that while the delay is understandable, the agency needs to “give it your all.”
“I don’t know some of us will be so forgiving if it gets to be Jan. 27 and it’s not there,” Simmons said.
Jay Neal, director of the advocacy group Florida Association for Insurance Reform, prefers Citizens takes its time setting up the system to ensure consumers are also able to judge the different companies that may be competing for their business.
“When these offers come back, it’s not just important that the consumers know the policies are similar, consumers need to know other things, they need to know the relative financial strengths … they need to know if the companies are going to be around when the wind blows,” Neal said.
Neal expects even with the extra time there will be “bumps” for consumers. But he remains “cautiously optimistic” the system will work.
The delay comes as the state Department of Economic Opportunity’s $62.8 million “Connect” system, which overhauled the unemployment computer system, continues to cause consternation for many users.
Connect was introduced on Oct. 14, a couple weeks after the federal government’s problem-plagued health-care website had its own not-so-spectacular introduction.
Gilway said after the state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the clearinghouse system “is far more complex than Healthcare.gov.”
“The property casualty product is far more sophisticated than the health care,” Gilway said. “The challenge is that every single company is different and the challenge with every company is different. Some companies use credit scores, some don’t. We’re trying to come up with a system that meets the needs of every carrier across the board, but also meets the individual needs of every carrier, because that will make them more aggressive.”
Gilway added that the delay will allow Citizens to expand the number of private carriers from three to seven that will get a chance to review each policy when the system goes live.
The inclusion of renewals of Citizens policies into the clearinghouse remains on schedule to begin July 1.
Gilway told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet that the state-backed insurer should be down to 925,000 policies by the start of the 2014 hurricane season and around 725,000 policies by the end of 2015.
Preliminary figures as of Nov. 29 show Citizens total policy count at 1,062,817. As of Oct. 31, there were 1,223,009 policies, according to Citizens’ website.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Crist Hauls In $3 Million; Scott Makes It Official
December 11, 2013
Charlie Crist put down his first marker. And Rick Scott made official what everybody already knew.
Crist, the former Republican governor who is trying to win back his old job as a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he had raised about $3 million in November after formally entering the 2014 gubernatorial race. Meanwhile, Scott opened a campaign account to seek re-election — a long-anticipated move that cemented his candidacy and provided another avenue to rake in millions of dollars.
The gubernatorial moves came as political candidates and committees rushed to meet a Tuesday deadline for filing campaign-finance reports for November. The reports reflect for the first time a new law that increased campaign contribution limits to $3,000 for statewide candidates and $1,000 for other candidates, up from a longtime $500 limit.
Crist’s exact fund-raising totals had not been posted to the state Division of Elections website early Tuesday evening. But he issued a statement indicating that he had raised about $3 million through his campaign account and through a closely aligned committee known as “Charlie Crist for Florida.”
In the statement, Crist acknowledged that he will not be able to raise as much money as Scott. While Scott only opened a campaign account Tuesday, a committee backing his campaign — known as the “Let’s Get to Work” committee — raised $5.87 million in November and has brought in nearly $20 million this year.
“Rick Scott says he will have more money than any politician in the history of Florida politics,” Crist said in the announcement. “But he doesn’t have the people.”
Campaign-finance reports popped up on the Division of Elections website throughout Tuesday and reinforced that Republicans will have a huge fund-raising edge over Democrats in key races next year.
For example, Attorney General Pam Bondi reported raising $104,875 in November for her campaign account, bringing the overall total to $526,451. Meanwhile, one of her Democratic opponents, George Sheldon, reported an overall total of $51,807, and another, Perry Thurston, reported a total of $21,500.
Meanwhile, Republican Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater raised $235,825 in November, giving him an overall total of $814,756. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam collected $158,604 in November, pushing his total to $1,008,693.
Big money also flowed to some Republican lawmakers. For instance, Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, collected $64,375 during November, increasing his total to nearly $200,000 for his re-election bid in Senate District 24.
Down the Gulf Coast, Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, raised $54,075 during the month, giving her a total of $491,812 to fuel her campaign in District 30.
Among House candidates, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, reported raising $59,928 during the month, bringing his overall amount to $113,853. One of his challengers in House District 114, Democrat Daisy Baez, has collected an overall total of $63,388.
by Jim Sanders, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Cited For Hitting School Bus
December 11, 2013
An Escambia County man was ticketed after hitting a school bus in Navarre Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 61-year old Joseph A. Nunnari failed to notice a 2009 Thomas Bus driven by Alison Furber of Navarre was slowing as it approached an active school zone. Nunnari struck the back of the bus with his 2007 Ford Edge.
There were no injuries.
Nunnari was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
Santa To Visit Century, Molino Libraries For Christmas Programs
December 11, 2013
Get ready…Santa is planning visits to the Century and Molino branch libraries for a couple of a programs.
Molino — Christmas Pajama Storytime
Kids are invited to wear their PJ’s and enjoy a Santa visit with stories, carols, photos with Santa, hot chocolate and more on Monday December 16 from 6-7 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library. The program will be presented in conjunction with the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
Century — Christmas Program
The Century Branch Library Christmas Program will be held Thursday, December 19 from 5-6 p.m. at the library, 7991 North Century Boulevard. Th event will include a Christmas story, craft, a tasty treat, a gift from an elf and a visit with Santa Claus.
Pictured: Santa Claus at the Century Branch Library last year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Want Florida Students To Get Financially Literate
December 11, 2013
A bipartisan group of lawmakers joined with business organizations and others Tuesday to promote legislation requiring Florida students to take a half-credit course in financial literacy to graduate from high school.
Supporters hope the bills will lead to students graduating from high school better prepared to manage their money.
“While we now teach financial literacy as part of economics, this issue is much too important to relegate it to part of a particular course,” said Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, sponsor of the Senate measure.
Geoff Simon, senior vice president of investments with Simon and Associates of Raymond James and chair of the Florida Council on Economic Education, said recent waves of foreclosures and bankruptcies show the need for the state to place more emphasis on financial literacy.
Establishing the course requirement would “reverse the cycle of failure that so many young people are having when they get out into the workforce,” Simon said.
by The News Service of Florida
About 32 Tonight, Sunny On Wednesday
December 10, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
One Year Later: Search Continues For Suspect In Pen Air Robbery
December 10, 2013
The search is continuing for a suspect just over a year after the armed robbery of the Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they have investigated a few new, unspecified leads since the robbery.
The credit union on North Century Boulevard was robbed about 1 p.m. on November 27, 2012, by a man demanding all of the money while claiming to have a gun.
The male suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. He was described as a thin white male with wearing a hooded jacket and sunglasses. There were no injuries. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office quickly surrounded the bank with multiple units as they searched for the suspect. K-9 teams searched around the bank, including an area behind the U.S. Post Office next door.
After the robbery, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released photos from a car wash in West Pensacola showing persons wanted for questioning in connection with the robbery. Photos were also released by the Sheriff’s Office of a shopper at CVS in Century, but deputies later determined the Century man in the photos was not connected with the Pen Air holdup.
Deputies also named a Century man as a person of interest in the robbery. He was later arrested in Santa Rosa County on unrelated outstanding warrants, but was not charged with the Pen Air robbery.
Surveillance photos and video from inside Pen Air, as well as surveillance photos from a West Pensacola car wash are below.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: The Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century was robbed by a man claiming to have a gun in November 2012. Pictured inset: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician processes the front door of the credit union for fingerprints. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott: New Revenue Means Tuition Can Stay Flat
December 10, 2013
Rosy budget numbers are prompting a new push by Gov. Rick Scott to hold down tuition at state universities.
In his first statement on new revenue figures released last week, Scott on Monday highlighted both his $500 million tax-cut proposal and the possibility of continuing to push for level tuition at state schools.
“Additionally, we are confident that we will be able to hold the line on tuition for another year, as we encourage colleges and universities to graduate students in high-demand job areas by again investing in targeted performance funding,” Scott said. “Performance funding for higher education means we will reward those schools who graduate students with degrees that help them start a career.”
Scott’s insistence on holding down the rising costs of a college education has rankled some university presidents. The governor vetoed a 3 percent tuition hike at state colleges and universities in this year’s budget and pressured universities not to take advantage of a section of state law that seemed to provide for an automatic increase tied to inflation.
The House pushed for a tuition increase in negotiations for this year’s spending plan, but a spokesman for House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said in a email Monday that it was “too early to know for sure” whether the chamber would look for another boost in the budget year beginning July 1.
At a meeting Friday, state economic forecasters added $324.3 million to expected tax revenues during the current budget year, which ends June 30, and the fiscal year that begins the next day.
Lawmakers were already expected to have a windfall of $845.7 million next year, even after anticipated spending in areas like education and $1 billion in reserves was taken into account. The new estimates would push that close to $1.2 billion, though a firm number likely won’t be available until after meetings this week to determine whether public schools and health-care programs will need more money.
Scott also used his statement Monday to push for his election year plan to reduce taxes and fees by $500 million in some combination.
“Florida’s improved economic forecast means we are in an even better position to give $500 million in taxes and fees back to Florida families,” he said. “After all, it’s their money.”
Scott has not released details on his plan. Democrats have argued that the state can’t afford both the tax cuts and increased spending on schools.
“Voters deserve to know just how much education funding will suffer because the Governor wants a new talking point for his reelection campaign,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant said in September.
by The News Service of Florida