CNN: Santa Rosa County One Of USA’s Best Places To Live
August 13, 2013
Santa Rosa County has been named as number 10 of 25 counties in the nation in CNN Money’s “Where the Jobs are – Best Places to Live – America’s Best Small Towns”.
Counties were selected based on low levels of unemployment and high rates of job and population growth now and in the future as determined by a combination of census data and proprietary projections.
Only counties where each Best Place within it was also experiencing job and population growth, and where unemployment was below the national average, were considered. No more than two counties within a state could qualify. Midway, Navarre and Pace are listed as county towns as they are in CNN Money’s “Best Places” database based on a combination of Census data and projections as well.
To read the CNN Money article, click here.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Home Sales Up
August 13, 2013
Florida’s housing market gained strength in second quarter 2013 with more closed sales, higher median prices, more pending sales and a shrinking supply of homes for sale compared to the same quarter in 2012, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors.
In Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, sales of exiting single-family homes were at 1,512, up 7.3 percent during the second quarter of the year at an average price of $155,600. There were 260 townhouse and condo sales, up 18.2 percent. Average condo and townhouse prices fell 26.6 percent to $179,900 on average during Q2.
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 63,173 in 2Q 2013, up 14.7 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 2Q 2013 was $170,000, up 14.1 percent from the same quarter a year ago.
Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 31,829 units sold statewide in the second quarter, up 7.9 percent from the same three-month period in 2012.
Insurance Boss: Cost Drop Does Not Immediately Lower Premiums
August 13, 2013
A drop in reinsurance costs may not be immediately reaching Florida’s policyholders for a variety of reasons, including property insurers buying more coverage to brace against the risk of bigger storms, the state insurance commissioner has told state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Rates might eventually show a downward trend as property insurance companies submit new filings to the state Office of Insurance Regulation. But for lawmakers already considering changes that could be imposed next year on the insurance industry, a lack of lower rates appearing across the board is disappointing.
“For years what we have seen are insurance companies raising their rates, claiming that reinsurance rates were one of the big items that they had to raise rates for,” said Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero. “It seems like if the ratepayers have to pay when reinsurance is going up, they ought to see some benefit now that reinsurance is coming down.”
Reinsurance is backup insurance for insurance companies. Insurers in the past often have pointed to high reinsurance costs as a rationale for increasing consumers’ rates.
Last Wednesday, Atwater asked Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty (pictured) to explain why property insurers haven’t reduced premiums at a time when reinsurance costs have dropped worldwide on average 15 percent to 20 percent.
McCarty wrote Atwater on Friday that insurance companies might be increasing the amount of reinsurance they purchase rather than reducing rates and that not enough time may have passed for the lower reinsurance costs to result in lower customer premiums. Also, he wrote that reinsurance only accounts for a portion of a homeowner’s rate filing, some companies have tried to spread out of the cost of reinsurance over a number of years to lessen one-time hikes on policyholders and that not every insurance company is seeing a drop in reinsurance costs.
“In fact, several Florida property insurance companies are being required by their rating agencies to buy more reinsurance than they initially planned to purchase,” McCarty wrote.
McCarty added that some insurers have indicated an intention to reduce rates in some territories based on the 2013 reinsurance costs. But others “may purchase more reinsurance rather than reducing rates and the purchase of more reinsurance based on, or up to, a 1-in-250-year event is allowed by the rating law to be included in the premiums,” McCarty continued.
The cost of reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund — basically a public pool that provides insurance for insurance companies — is among the rates that have increased.
McCarty sent a similar response July 2 to Rodrigues, who on June 24 had asked, “from a practical standpoint, will long-suffering Floridians begin to see rates stabilize and decrease in many cases based on reinsurance savings?”
Lisa Miller, a former deputy insurance commissioner who now lobbies for insurers, expects the lower reinsurance costs to eventually ease policy rates. Also, she said the additional reinsurance that companies have to purchase will protect policyholders.
“Reinsurance rates just went down, so changing rates, whether up or down, is not a fast process,” Miller said in an email. “The mechanics of determining where and how to adjust the rates and meeting legal requirements for adequate lead time to consumers makes it unlikely that it can be done in less than nine months!”
by The News Service of Florida
Farm Bureau To Hold Escambia County Youth Speech Contest
August 13, 2013
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, will hold the 2013 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest on Thursday, August 22, at 4 p.m.
The topic of this year’s speech is “Over the past 500 years, how has technology influenced Florida agriculture?”
The speech time limit is between four and one half to five and one half minutes and must be personally crafted. Competitors must be at least 14-years old and not over 18-years old on or before September 13, 2013, and must be a resident of Escambia County, Florida, but do not need to be a member of Farm Bureau. Judges reserve the right to ask questions not to exceed more than three minutes per contestant. The winner of the county contest will be asked to compete in the district contest. Escambia County Farm Bureau will help with the cost of transportation to the district meeting, and if the Escambia County contestant wins the district, Escambia County Farm Bureau will also help defray part of the cost to attend the state competition.
Anyone wanting to participate must contact Katrina Sanford, (850) 587-2135, by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 16, to schedule a time for the competition. To access the application and more information, along with resources that can be used for the speech contest, visit http://www.floridafarmbureau.org/programs/youth_speech_contest.
The contest will be held at the Farm Bureau Building, 153 Highway 97, Molino.
Northview Quarterback Club Meets Tonight
August 13, 2013
The next meeting of the Northview High School Quarterback Club is tonight at 6:30 in the Northview Media Center. All current and prospective members are encouraged to attend.
Families can support the Chiefs by joining the Quarterback Club for just $10 per family per year. All of the proceeds go directly to help the school, the football program and the students.
Lawmakers To Be Polled On Stand Your Ground Special Session
August 13, 2013
The Florida Secretary of State’s office will begin polling members of the Legislature to find out if there is enough support to hold a special session to decide the fate of the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law.
Vastly outnumbered Democrats have a week to convince enough Republicans lawmakers to support the special session.
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, announced late Monday that Democrats had gathered the 32 written requests necessary to trigger a poll of lawmakers. If three-fifths of the Legislature agrees — something that would require a total of 96 lawmakers to go along — the House and Senate would return to Tallahassee to debate the law.
“I commend those members who have joined me in my request for a special session,” Thurston said in a statement issued by his office. “While the House speaker has indicated that the Legislature may hold a hearing later this year on certain policies, including stand your ground, I strongly believe that a special session is the best way to justly address the concerns of our constituents.”
Legislators will now be sent a poll from the state agency that they have until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 19, to sign and return. The proposal is an effort to circumvent the opposition to a special session by Scott and Republican legislative leaders.
The process, allowed in state statutes, has never been used before to call a special session.
The poll was hailed by the Dream Defenders, the Hialeah-based group that has staged an around-the-clock protest since July 16 against the law, which grants legal immunity to people who use deadly force if they reasonably believe their lives are in danger.
“Because of this poll, we will be able to see where each of our legislators stand on having the special session that the [people] are demanding,” the organization tweeted Monday.
The group began its sit-in at Gov. Rick Scott’s office after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. While Zimmerman’s defense team did not use the “stand your ground” law, Martin’s death drew nationwide attention to the policy.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, who has directed a subcommittee to hold a hearing on the law this fall, said Monday that he hoped both sides will accept the results.
“Once this poll concludes, the question of a special session will be final,” Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said in an email. “I trust our protesters will accept the results and return the Capitol back to normal business. It’s time.”
Thirty-three of the state’s 58 Democratic lawmakers have filed petitions with the Florida Department of State requesting a special session on “stand your ground.” But even if every Democrat in the Legislature were to support a session — no sure bet given a few rural or moderate members of the caucus — another 38 Republicans would still have to back the idea.
Most Republicans have resisted changing the law. While Weatherford announced a hearing on the self-defense law, House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, has vowed not to change “one damn comma.”
Meanwhile, in a sign of the resistance to changing the law in Florida, three Republicans signed on to a letter slamming U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for asking corporate sponsors of a conservative organization whether they support the law. Some liberals blame the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, for the spread of “stand your ground” laws across the nation.
“The contents of your letter are eerily similar to the questions asked by the Internal Revenue Service of other citizen groups the IRS deemed as politically conservative,” the letter says. “Questions such as the individual donors, purposes of organizational events and contents of meetings are clearly a violation of the First and Tenth Amendments and the general jurisdiction of a federal office holder.”
The letter was signed by state Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven, and Sens. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. In all, ALEC said, “nearly 300 state legislators” from across the country signed the letter.
by Brandon Larrabee and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Five Months Later, No Hurry From Scott On Lt. Gov Replacement
August 13, 2013
Five months have passed since Florida last had a lieutenant governor, but Gov. Rick Scott appears to be in no hurry to change the situation.
During a visit to West Palm Beach on Monday, the five-month anniversary of former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll’s resignation, Scott was asked about the lack of a second-in-line and running mate. Scott signaled that he hasn’t even decided what he wants in a No. 2.
“We’re still working on the criteria and I’m working with Adam Hollingsworth, my chief of staff, on that,” Scott said, according to the politics blog of The Palm Beach Post. “My biggest focus every day is to keep jobs going.”
Scott said in early July that he had tapped Hollingsworth to prepare for a search, but there have been few if any public statements since then about the vacancy.
Carroll resigned March 12 amid revelations that a company she co-owned, 3N & JC Corporation, had provided consulting services for Allied Veterans of the World, which was at the center of an investigation into illegal gambling and other crimes in the Internet café industry. Carroll has not been charged in connection with the case and has denied any wrongdoing.
For now, if Scott were unable to fulfill his duties for some reason, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over as governor.
Democrats have hammered Scott for failing to appoint a lieutenant governor in the months after Carroll’s resignation, most recently slamming the administration after a public records request on the search in June turned up nothing.
But the Florida Constitution and state law do not appear to provide any deadline for Scott’s decision. The Constitution simply says that “[t]here shall be a lieutenant governor,” then says the governor will decide the lieutenant governor’s role. State law only says that “the Governor shall appoint a successor” when the office opens up.
The position has no real responsibilities beyond whatever work the governor asks the lieutenant governor to do, something that has led critics to argue that the office should be done away with.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Cheyenne Taylor Glenn
August 13, 2013
Cheyenne Glenn, age 17, of Jay was taken away suddenly from results of an ATV accident on August 8, 2013. Cheyenne was a happy girl who always brightened up a room. She was full of love and very affectionate. She loved the outdoors, shopping, being with her family and all of the little ones she helped take care of like her nieces, nephews, and some that weren’t family, but she had spent so much time with them and treated them like they were her family. She was her mother’s glue and rock for their family.
At the age of 17, she still wanted mom to hold her and she did it every day. Cheyenne loved and lived the outdoors and was a country girl at heart taken away too soon.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Mike Germany; great-grandmother, Rita Hagesteded and uncle, Robby Ashcraft.
She is survived by her mom, Cynthia Forbes and stepfather, Tim Bauldree; father, Don Glenn Jr.; sisters, Nicole Forbes and Ashley Bauldree; grandparents, Mae Forbes, Ray J. Hammack, and Don and Laura Glenn; aunts, Amanda Kay Ashcraft and Heather Brown; uncle, Timmy Hammack; cousins, Felicia Ashcraft, Misti Ashcraft, Randall Ashcraft, and Blake and Dylan Brown; niece, Kayleigh Forbes; nephews, Jaden and Hunter Simmons and a special little girl Jadynn Dannelley who was in the accident with her.
Cheyenne will truly be missed by all that knew and loved her. The family would like to thank everyone for all their support, love, donations, food, calls, prayers, and everything else that they have shown my family during this difficult time and a special thank you to Crystal Ladner for being her rock during this time.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Center. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Walling Cemetery. Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Willie Hilary Hicks
August 13, 2013
Willie Hilary Hicks, 79 of Daphne, AL, passed away Thursday August 8, 2013, in Foley. He was a heavy equipment operator with International Paper, born in Huxford, AL, on January 15, 1934, to the late Hilary and Vasnti Lomas Hicks. He attended the Jubilee Baptist Church in Daphne.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Flossie Hicks, a brother, Hubbard Hicks and a sister Alma Chason.
He is survived by two brothers, Charles (Jane) Hicks of Macon, GA, and Eugene (Arlie) Hicks of California, six stepchildren, and his nieces and nephews.
Services will be Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Matthews officiating. Interment will follow in Huxford Baptist Church Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Ryan Chason, C.W. Burnette, Curtis Hicks, Kevin Chason, Blake Reed and Troy Reed,Jr.
Family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
It’s Going To Be A Sweet Year – Teachers Return To School
August 12, 2013
Monday was back to school for thousands of Escambia County School District teachers and staff as they prepare for the return of students on August 19. At Molino Park Elementary School, second grade teachers Jennifer Solchenberger (pictured left) and Gena Daniels (right) prepared a bulletin board Monday morning to let students know “It’s Going To Be A Sweet Year” at the school. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.