Governor Drops Congratulatory Note To Northview High
December 9, 2013
Northview High School received a short, handwritten congratulatory message from Gov. Rick Scott last week.
The “Great Job! Gov. Rick Scott” was written on a school data sheet showing the school’s improving rank in the state. Among Title I schools in Florida, Northview is now ranked number 22 of 1,648 schools school satisfactory or higher in math, 40 of 1,649 schools scoring satisfactory or higher in science, and 74 of 1,628 schools improving math performance during the last couple of school years.
Escambia County State Legislative Delegation To Hold Public Hearing
December 9, 2013
The local legislative delegation will meet next month to discuss issues related to the upcoming Legislative session.
State Representative Clay Ingram, chairman of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation, has announced that a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2014 Legislative Session. If you would like to be placed on the agenda, contact Ingram’s Office at (850) 494-7330 no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17.
Any member of the public is welcomed to attend and participate. Local bill proposals (including all supporting materials) must be submitted to Ingram’s District Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Senator Greg Evers, Representative Clay Ingram and Representative Mike Hill.
Sheriff’s Office Teen Explorers Receive Awards
December 9, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post 117 recently held their annual Christmas and award banquet.
Numerous awards were presented, including Explorer of the Year to Morgan Smith and Crista Pope of Molino.
The Explorers program, for members age 13-21, works to educate and involve young people in law enforcement operations whether or not they choose to enter a career in law enforcement. Members gain a working knowledge of police work and have the opportunity to serve their community.
Explorers receive training in patrol procedure, first aid, honor guard, criminal law, crime prevention, finger-printing, arrest techniques, drug abuse prevention, firearms safety, crime scene techniques and more.
For more information on the Explorers program, call (850) 436-9496.
Numerous awards were presented during the recent banquet, including Explorer of the year to Morgan Smith and Crista Pope of Molino.
Awards presented at the recent banquet were:
Promotions
1st Lieutenant – Luis Mendoza
Lieutenant – Quinton Watts
Sergeant – Mi’kalah Newsome
Corporal-Karen Rodriguez
Corporal – Vivian Odom
Community Service Award
Allya Eggleton
Crista Pope
Elliot Williams
Karen Rodiquez
Luis Mendoza
Mi’kalah Newsome
Morgan Smith
Quinton Watts
Richard Greene
Most Improved Award
Kyle Mcarthur
Vivian Odom
Explorer Of The Year Award
Crista Pope
Morgan Smith
Tenure Award
Aliya Eggelton
Crista Pope
Luis Mendoza
Mi’kalah Newsome
Karen Rodriguez
Morgan Smith
Quinton Watts
Vivian Odom
Perfect Attendance Award
Karen Rodriquez
Kyle Mcarthur
Crime Prevention Award
Luis Mendoza
Mi’kalah Newsome
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 117. Pictured inset: Deputy Robert Greene with Explorer Richard Green. Pictured below: The annual Explorer Christmas party and awards banquet. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Green Industries Best Management Practice Workshop Scheduled
December 9, 2013
As part of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, University of Florida IFAS Extension will host a Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) Workshop, teaching environmentally safe landscaping practices that help conserve and protect Florida’s ground and surface waters.
The Workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 11, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment.
Florida Statute 482.1562 states that all commercial fertilizer applicators must have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by January 1, 2014. To get this license, each Green Industry worker must be trained in the GI-BMPs and receive a certificate of completion from UF/IFAS and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The workshop includes lunch and four pesticide Continuing Education Units at a cost of $30. To register online, visit http://bit.ly/1g3drsJ.
For more information, please contact Carrie Stevenson, Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.
Fall Veggie Field Day Is Friday
December 9, 2013
The Gulf Coast Small Farms and Enterprises Fall Vegetable Field Day will take place Friday.
The event will be held at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, 4253 Experiment Drive in Jay, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Attendees will learn about production practices including planting and harvesting recommendations, insect management, healthy food ideas and techniques. Available crops include Swiss chard, turnips, rutabagas, collards and more.
To pre-register online for $20, visit fallvegetablefieldday13.eventbrite.com or register onsite for $25. For more information, contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or libbiej@ufl.edu.
Mary J. Hutto
December 9, 2013
Mrs. Mary J. Hutto, 89, of Buford, GA died suddenly on Friday, December 6, 2013.
Mrs. Hutto was born in Newton, MS and had lived in the Atlanta area the past 11 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church Buford. Mrs. Hutto was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Rev. William Vernon Hutto.
Survivors include her grandchildren, Karen Taylor Wilkins and husband, Steven of Buford, GA, Jennifer Lynn Sapp of Pensacola, Jonathan Mark Taylor of Las Vegas, NV; great-grandchildren, Kenneth Geral “DJ” DeBari, Jr. of Pensacola, Sarah Ashley Wilkins, James Alexander Wilkins, John Wesley Wilkins, Rebecca Elizabeth Wilkins and David Michael Wilkins all of Buford, GA, and Hailey Grant of Pensacola.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Byrneville Methodist Church Cemetery with Rev. Matt Stacy officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to your favorite charity.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Molino’s Joseph Snow Is Named Escambia Employee Of The Year
December 8, 2013
Joseph C. Snow of Molino has been name Escambia County’s Employee of the Year.
Snow, a road corrections officer with the Road Prison Division of the Corrections Department, began his employment with the county in 1997. He was previously selected as am Employee of the Month.
“Thank the Lord,” Snow told the Escambia County Commissioner after receiving his hnor and recognizing his superiors. “And I’ve got a whole Road Prison here behind me. They inspire. I’d just like to say thank you to all of you.”
As a corrections officer, Snow and the inmates under his control are assigned to support and assist with the grounds keeping at numerous county office buildings and assist with special county events.
Snow was honored with a county proclamation and a $500 bonus.
Pictured top: Corrections Officer Joe Snow (center, with frame photo)
Deepwater Horizon Funding Includes Millions For Escambia County
December 8, 2013
Florida is in line for $88 million in restoration projects along the state’s oil spill-affected Gulf Coast. The money was the latest proposed by the trustees for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment as part of a $627 million draft plan announced Friday for the Gulf Coast states.
Five Escambia County specific projects and four regional projects impacting the county are on the list, totaling a potential $45 million investment.
Escambia County specific projects include:
- Big Lagoon State Park Boat Ramp Improvement Project – $1,483,990
- Bob Sikes Pier, Parking and Trail Restoration Project – $1,023,990
- Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery/Enhancement Center Project – $18,793,500
- Perdido Key Dune Restoration Project – $611,234
- Perdido Key State Park Beach Boardwalk Improvement Project – $588,500
Regional projects impacting Escambia County include:
- Florida Artificial Reef Creation and Restoration Project – $11,463,587
- Florida Oyster Cultch Placement Project – $5,370,596
- Florida Seagrass Recovery Project – $2,691,867
- Scallop Enhancement for Increased Recreational Fishing Opportunity in the Florida Panhandle Project – $2,890,250
Before any of the proposed projects are finalized the projects will go through a 60-day public comment period that runs through February 4. Included in the comment period are two public meetings in Florida; one in Pensacola on Tuesday, January 28, and Wednesday, January 29, in Panama City.
“The Deepwater Horizon spill was a defining moment for Escambia County and we are still working to restore our critical ecosystems,” said Grover C. Robinson, IV, District 4 Commissioner and Gulf Coast Consortium Chairman. “We could not have done this without the joint efforts of the federal government, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Governor Rick Scott.”
Florida’s Extra Revenue Could Top $1 Billion
December 8, 2013
It appears Gov. Rick Scott will have more than $1 billion in extra money to work with when he begins crafting his budget recommendations for the legislative session that begins in the spring.
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. Because lawmakers have already passed a budget covering this year, all of the new money should be available for the spending plan that starts in July.
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 meetings next week to determine whether public schools and health-care programs will need more money.
The added income will presumably make it easier for Scott to sell his plan to slice taxes and fees by $500 million. It will also give lawmakers, who will work off of projections issued in a few months, the room to fund their own ideas and initiatives ahead of the November elections.
Still, legislative leaders moved quickly Friday afternoon to play down the possibility of a spending spree.
“While I am pleased that it appears we will once again see a budget surplus in the upcoming fiscal year, the Florida House will still work to develop a fiscally responsible budget that maximizes every dollar, prioritizes funding in the best interest of all Floridians and also provides for meaningful tax relief for our hardworking families,” said House Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, also pushed a careful approach.
“Our budget planning will be cautious, our reserves will be adequate, and our spending will be conservative,” Gaetz said.
Forecasters said they were being cautious about boosting expectations too much, given the continued battles in Washington over the federal budget and debates over whether to increase the cap on the nation’s borrowing. The economic turnaround, though, appears to be taking hold.
“We’re well into the recovery, and it’s unfolding like we expected it to,” said Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist.
The federal government, though, also appears to be boosting the state’s fortunes. Economists added $76.4 million in new income next year from the state’s insurance premium tax because of an expected increase in the number of Floridians purchasing insurance due to the Affordable Care Act.
by The News Service of Florida
Fire Destroys Atmore Motel
December 8, 2013
Fire destroyed the Southland Motel on Highway 31 in Atmore Saturday afternoon.
The fire raced quickly from room to room through the attic of the concrete block building. It was not immediately known how many guests were staying at the motel. About dozen people gathered outside said they were now homeless because they called the motel their home.
Fire departments from Atmore, Flomaton, Poarch, Nokomis and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue worked for hours to bring the fire under control.
There were no injuries reported, and there was cause of the fire was not immediately known.
By 2:45 Sunday morning, the fire had reignited, and the building was reported to be fully involved. The Atmore, Poarch, Nokomis and Walnut Hill fire departments returned to battle the blaze once again.
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