Century Begins Budget Setting Process
August 2, 2013
The Town of Century started their fiscal year 2013-2014 budget process Thursday with a special town council meeting.
Additional budget workshops are planned for Thursday, August 22; and (if needed) Thursday August 29. Both meetings will be held at 2 p.m. in the council chamber at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
The Town of Century’s budget for the current fiscal year is just under $2.9 million.
Northview Grad Nash Signs Division II Football Scholarship
August 2, 2013
Northview High School graduate Stetson Nash signed a football scholarship Thursday afternoon with NCAA Division II Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
Nash, 19, was a member of the Chiefs’ state championship team last year as an offensive and defensive lineman. Nash, joined by Northview coaches Sid Wheatley and Derek Marshman, visited several Arkansas schools.
“We felt like all along he could go and do great things in the classroom as well as in the game of football,” Wheatley said. “Harding has a great coaching staff and it’s a Christian school. Stetson will be a good fit.”
The 19-year old is expected to leave for Arkansas in about a week. He expects to play defense for Harding.
Pictured top: Northview grad Stetson Nash (seated) signs a Harding University Scholarship Thursday afternoon, joined by his aunt Linda Houston and (top, L-R) cousin Charles Houston, Jr., uncle Charles Houston and Christian Valasquez. Pictured inset: Nash is joined by Northview coaches Dereck Marshman (left) and Sid Wheatley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Held For Col. Bud Day
August 2, 2013
Funeral services were held Thursday for Col. Bud Day, and American hero. He was 88.
Day was a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and command pilot who served in active service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Shot down in an air strike in North Vietnam, he was a prisoner of war for five years and seven months during which time he shared a cell with U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
McCain was among about 1,000 people that attended the funeral service in Shalimar. He was laid to rest at the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.
Day is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Pictured top: Funeral service were held Thursday for Col. Bud Day. Pictured below: Sen. John McCain and his wife Cindy pay their final respects. Pictured inset: The funeral poccesson passes along Bayfront Parkway. Photos courtesy WEAR and ECSO for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Library Reading Program Soars With The Blues
August 2, 2013
The Century Branch Library wrapped up their summer reading series Wednesday with a member of the Blue Angels team.
Jennifer Hoskins, a member of the Blue Angels’ administration team, read to the children. The 22-year old from Minnesota, has been with the Blues for eight months.
Pictured: Blue Angels team member Jennifer Hoskins and Century Library summer volunteers (L-R) Abby Hammond, Jessica Stacey, Daniel Lambeth and Anna Belle Barberree. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Knock Off BayBears 2-0
August 2, 2013
Having been dealt a pair of devastating one-run losses the last two days, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos responded with a 2-0 shutout of the Mobile BayBears in front of the 23rd sellout crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Thursday night. It was the third 2-0 shutout win of the series for Pensacola who took its first series in four tries against the BayBears.
Carlos Contreras spearheaded the shutout effort while picking up his first Double-A win in three tries. Contreras (1-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before yielding a one-out infield single to Ender Inciarte. The right-hander was able to work around the hit and work through six innings for the first time as a Wahoo. In total, he tossed six one-hit innings with a strikeout and two walks.
Lee Hyde came on to pitch a scoreless inning and a third to extend his scoreless innings streak to 28.1 frames before Josh Ravin picked up the final two outs in the eighth. Trevor Bell entered in the ninth inning and worked around a pair of one-out singles to nail down his 10th save in as many tries.
Offensively, Pensacola had multiple opportunities to blow the game open, out-hitting Mobile 13-4. However, the Wahoos settled for the pair of runs, the first of which came in the first inning on a Tucker Barnhart bases loaded RBI single. Pensacola left a runner on base in every inning except for the second before finally adding some insurance on a Travis Mattair solo homer in the last of the eighth. The home run was Mattair’s team-leading 13th of the year and 46th RBI, tying the single-season franchise record.
Bradin Hagens was the tough luck loser for the BayBears, giving up a run on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings to fall to 9-7 on the year.
The Wahoos now travel to Birmingham to face the Barons for the first time this season. Jon Moscot, called up from High-A Bakersfield on Thursday, will make his Double-A debut for Pensacola against Birmingham southpaw Spencer Arroyo (8-4, 3.16). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday night.
story by Keving Burke
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
August 2, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday on south County Road 97 near West Kingsfield Road. The driver apparently lost control and hit a brick mailbox, before drifting back across the road into a fence post.
One person was transported to a local hospital by ambulance following the 6:10 p.m. crash.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
Pictured: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Texas Developer Backs Out Of $7.6 Million ECUA Deal
August 1, 2013
A possible $7.6 million deal is dead between a Texas developer and ECUA for the former Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant plant.
Aaron Wiese, president of Houston-based HT Land Co., offered the cash for the 19-acre property. The ECUA board came back with a counteroffer for $7.6 million with a few strings attached — Wiese would be required to front a $50,000 non-refundable payment. He was given three days to respond.
One Wednesday, Wiese “informed ECUA that he will not sign the proposed contract for purchase of ECUA’s Main Street property in downtown Pensacola. There is no longer an offer on the
table,” ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker said Wednesday night. “ECUA will proceed to contract with the firm of NAI Halford Pensacola to market the property.”
Pit Bulls That Mauled Woman At Her Home Have Been Euthanized
August 1, 2013
Two pit bulls that mauled a Nokomis woman have been euthanized at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.
Animal Control’s investigation determined that Lambert’s family had been taking care of the two animals for at least 10 months, making the family the legal owners of the dogs, according to Bill Pearson, Escambia County spokesman. “Animal Control officers then visited the family, and they signed custody of the dogs over to Animal Control with the understanding that the animals would have to be put down,” he said.
Shortly after the July 18 attack, Lambert and her family began calling for the dogs to be euthanized.
“Sandra said they need to be put down. She said what she saw in the eyes of the dogs that day was a look that she’d never seen before-a killer look, and from her injuries it appears that is what the dogs were trying to do,” Lambert’s cousin Martha Hall said on her behalf in a written statement.
Lambert, 63, was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile following the brutal attack. She underwent multiple surgeries, including the full amputation of her right arm up to her shoulder. She also suffered deep puncture and gash wounds to her left arm and her legs. She still faces more surgeries for skin grafts to her left arm and legs on her long road to recovery. She remains at USA Medical Center.
Lambert had taken both pit bulls out for a walk behind her home. Molly, the female dog, was on a leash and lunged at some chickens in the yard. Lambert yelled “No, Molly” to the dog and pulled on her leash. The dog quickly turned on her and attacked, with the male dog, Rosco, joining in. Buddy, who had been the family’s dog for years, tried to help and was brutally attacked by the pit bulls.
Buddy did not survive the attack, but he is credited with perhaps saving Lambert’s life, giving her the chance to crawl inside her home and call 911.
An account to help Lambert with medical expenses has been established. Donations can be made to the “Benefit Account for Sandra Lambert” at any branch of United Bank.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch at the home of Sandra Lambert. Pictured inset: “Molly,”, one of the two pit bulls involved in a vicious attack last July 18 was trapped on an enclosed porch. Pictured below: Molly after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. Lambert was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Making It Easier For Customers To Pay Their Bill
August 1, 2013
Gulf Power Company is making it easier for customers to pay their electric bills.
MoneyGram locations located across the service area will now post cash payments immediately to customers’ accounts. Also, the payment kiosks that have been set up at 12 Circle K stores in Pensacola will accept credit card payments, as well as cash.
“Customers want more options to pay their bill,” Gulf Power spokesman Jeff Rogers said. “Developing and offering these convenient new alternatives are part of keeping customers at the center of everything we do.”
There are 93 MoneyGram locations across the service area, including Walmart, CVS/pharmacy, Advance America and others. Customers can go to MoneyGram.com to find the nearest location.
Gulf Power customers an also pay their bills online, by U.S. mail, online at GulfPower.com, through the smartphones or in person at company customer offices.
Circle K locations in Pensacola:
- Store 1720 1900 E. Nine Mile Road
- Store 4958 2205 W. Nine Mile Road
- Store 4620 4233 E. Creighton Road
- Store 4960 330 Kenmore Road
- Store 4790 3109 Pace Blvd.
- Store 4918 2350 Michigan Ave.
- Store 8224 4450 Bayou Blvd.
- Store 8235 3013 E. Cervantes St.
- Store 7680 601 N. New Warrington Road
- Store 4970 2700 Gulf Beach Highway
- Store 1718 2020 W. Cervantes Road
- Store 4961 4501 North W Street
Pictured top: A bill pay kiosk at a local Circle K. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rick Scott, Republicans Blast Jesse Jackson Comments
August 1, 2013
.Gov. Rick Scott and other Republican leaders slammed the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday after the civil-rights veteran called a sit-in protest at Scott’s office “the Selma of our time” while implicitly comparing the state to South Africa and Scott to George Wallace.
In a statement issued by his office, Scott took Jackson to task for the Selma comments made Tuesday and an earlier reported comment labeling Florida an “apartheid state.”
“Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments,” Scott said. “It is unfortunate that he would come to Florida to insult Floridians and divide our state at a time when we are striving for unity and healing.”
Appearing on the Rick Sanchez Radio Show a few hours later, Jackson dismissed the call for him to apologize as “absurd.”
Jackson also drew scorn from some Republicans for apparently comparing Scott to Wallace, an infamous, segregationist governor of Alabama, during remarks Tuesday.
Jackson spoke ahead of an overnight visit with the Dream Defenders, a group that has staged a sit-in at Scott’s office to demand a special legislative session to consider changes to the state’s self-defense laws, initiatives to end racial profiling and an end to zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.
“We’ve seen Southern governors before have to change their minds,” Jackson said when asked about Scott’s insistence that he wouldn’t call a special session. Jackson mentioned Wallace as an example of someone who had to change his mind.
That drew the ire of other Republicans.
“With Jesse Jackson having a history of making offensive remarks, like calling New York City ‘Hymietown,’ it’s surprising to see that Democrats are not denouncing Jackson for what he said about Florida and Governor Rick Scott,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry said in a statement. “Jesse Jackson’s attacks are offensive, inappropriate, divisive and ill-informed.”
Pensacola Rep. Mike Hill, the only black Republican in the Legislature, also blasted Jackson’s comments as “a disgrace” in a sharply-worded statement.
“When Jackson uses language that describes us as an apartheid state and compares our governor to one of history’s most notorious bigots, he is either hopelessly out of touch or purposefully dishonest,” Hill said.
The multipronged attack on Jackson came as the protests wore through a 16th day at the Capitol. Protesters have called their own “People’s Session,” and held a committee meeting in Scott’s office to take testimony on zero-tolerance policies in schools.
During that meeting, officials from local chapters of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida delivered a letter to Scott endorsing the protests. After being told Scott wasn’t at the Capitol and chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth was in a meeting, the group read the letter from Henry Crespo Sr., the organization’s president, before handing it to Scott’s receptionist.
“As governor of Florida, you have the power to calm the fears of thousands of Florida families, especially blacks and Latinos, who are questioning the ability of this state to protect their children from the gross deficiencies of the aforementioned laws,” the letter said.
Also Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, unveiled a new website — FloridaStandYourGround.org — to help push for changes to the “stand your ground” self-defense law that has spurred a large amount of the debate.
“The website is a one-stop information center for anyone who wants to know more about the law, what it does, how it’s being misused, and the proposed changes to fix its dangerous flaws,” Smith said.
by The News Service of Florida