Getting Ready: Youth Attend GCA & NRA Grooming Clinic
February 19, 2013
The Gulf Coast Agricultural and Natural Resources Association held their annual Grooming Clinic recently.
Youth exhibitors were able to learn how to better feed, groom and show their animals in preparation for the upcoming GCA & NRA Livestock Show.
The 4-H and FFA youth received information from experts in the various areas of animal exhibition. The swine clinician was Chris George from Eclectic, AL; the cattle clinicians were Logan and Spencer Williamson from Brewton; and the goat clinician was Lorie Kent. The exhibitors were able to gather valuable information from each of the experts.
The GCA & NRA Livestock Show will begin at 9 a.m. on April 6 at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp on Nine Mile Road. Youth ages 8-18 will exhibit rabbits, poultry, goats, swine and cattle.
Pictured: A recent GCA & NRA Grooming Clinic at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on Nine Mile Road. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Touting Teacher Pay Raise In Letter To Board Of Ed
February 19, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott is sending a message to the state Board of Education about the importance of his proposed pay raise teachers.
Scott sent a letter to the board’s chairman, Gary Chartrand, that is expected to be presented to board members at Monday’s board meeting in Orlando, that emphasizes the governor’s backing of a $2,500 pay raise for classroom teachers.
“The hard choices we made to get our economy back on track over the last two years have positioned us to strategically invest in statewide priorities that will encourage job creation for generations to come,” Scott said in the letter.
Scott has proposed spending $480 million on the across-the-board pay raises. He’s also recommending increasing spending on school supplies by $14 million. Scott’s proposal has received a lukewarm reception in the Legislature, where many lawmakers want to focus on merit pay for teachers.
But Scott said the state’s teachers overall earned the highest national grade for quality on a national review and its test scores and graduation rates are on the rise, which would appear to show the state’s teachers are doing a good job, generally. He also noted that the state already has removed tenure, and that performance pay will go into effect in 2014 above and beyond any across-the-board raise, and that he was committed to that, too.
“Investments in education will continue to drive economic growth in our state,” Scott said in the letter. “Our teachers are the cornerstone of educational success.”
By The News Service of Florida
Excel Tops Northview In Chiefs’ Season Opener
February 19, 2013
The Northview Chiefs opened their 2013 varsity baseball season with a loss Monday.
The Chiefs lost to Excel 5-4 at W.S. Neal. Northview will be in action again Friday night at 6 p.m. against Opp at W.S. Neal. Northview will play their first home game of the season this Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Bratt as the Chiefs host Pensacola High.
Pictured: Northview takes on Excel Monday in East Brewton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Decisions Could Be Nearing On The Affordable Care Act
February 19, 2013
A Senate select committee could make recommendations March 4 about key parts of the federal Affordable Care Act, including whether Florida should move forward with a major expansion of the Medicaid program.
Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who is chairman of the select committee, said Monday he expects an opportunity to hear “closing arguments” during a meeting March 4 — a day before the start of the annual legislative session. Negron said his goal has always been to make recommendations during the first week of session.
A House select committee also appears to be on a similar schedule. That panel has scheduled a meeting Feb. 28, an off week for the Legislature, and probably will meet at least twice during the first week of session, said Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes.
“We’re trying to keep pace with the Senate,” Corcoran said after his committee heard more than three hours of presentations Monday.
Lawmakers face a series of decisions during the upcoming session about the Affordable Care Act, with the potential Medicaid expansion the most controversial. The Senate select committee Monday rejected any remaining possibility that Florida would run a health-insurance exchange in 2014, another issue that has drawn heavy attention.
Legislative leaders have said for weeks that they expected the federal government to run the state’s exchange, which will serve as an online marketplace for people to shop for health-insurance coverage. Republicans and Democrats on the Senate panel agreed Monday to formally recommend that the Obama administration run the exchange, a move that came after Florida had missed deadlines for notifying the federal government of plans to operate a state exchange.
“I’m still looking for a valid reason why we would ever want to start our own exchange,” said Senate Health Policy Chairman Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican who serves on the select committee.
Other lawmakers said Florida could operate an exchange in later years if it decided to do so. Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, said questions remain unanswered about the exchanges and that Florida should let the federal government “show us the way.”
“If there are going to be mistakes made, we can learn from their mistakes,” Simmons said.
The select committees have been listening to testimony and gathering information for weeks, and their positions could be an important indicator as the full Legislature gets ready to tackle the Affordable Care Act. Among other things, lawmakers will have to resolve complicated insurance-regulatory issues and a question about expanding the state’s health-insurance program to offer coverage to many temporary employees.
But the Medicaid issue — and particularly its potential costs for the state — has drawn the most scrutiny. As an example, supporters of the Medicaid expansion accused Republican Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year of inflating the estimated costs of such an expansion. Scott has been a longtime critic of the federal law, which President Obama and congressional Democrats approved in 2010.
Also, groups such as the hospital industry are lobbying heavily for the expansion. Three hospital executives told the House select committee Monday that enrolling more people in Medicaid would reduce the amount of uncompensated care they have to provide when uninsured people show up in emergency rooms.
But Corcoran said after the meeting that the executives lacked data to show how their hospitals would be affected.
The Affordable Care Act says Washington will pay 100 percent of the costs of expanding Medicaid eligibility during the first three years and 90 percent of the costs later. The expansion could provide coverage to hundreds of thousands of people in Florida, primarily childless adults who don’t currently qualify for Medicaid.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the state Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said state analysts will meet March 1 to revise cost estimates. That information then will go to the select committees, which will hold a joint meeting during the morning of March 4 before holding separate meetings later in the day.
The analysts will have to wade through issues such as projecting how many newly-eligible Medicaid beneficiaries would actually enroll in the program and trying to figure out how much it would cost to provide coverage to them. While the federal government would pay most of the costs in the coming years, the state would eventually have to pick up part of the tab.
Analysts also will grapple with estimates for people who are currently eligible for Medicaid but have not enrolled in the program. Baker said there is wide-ranging agreement that some of those people will enroll in Medicaid as the Affordable Care Act takes effect.
By The News Service of Florida
Michelle Renee Thrush
February 19, 2013
Michelle Renee Thrush, 23, entered into eternal peace on the morning of February 14, 2013.
A very beautiful, loving, and generous person, Michelle was a wonderful daughter and compassionate sister. No words can express the joy she imparted to her family and friends.
Michelle was born on June 30, 1989, in Seattle, WA, a few minutes after her twin Alicia. She grew up in a very loving family, enjoying wide open spaces in Berrydale with goats, chickens, and dogs. She excelled in music, sports, and academics. Michelle graduated as Valedictorian of Jay High in 2007, and earned her AA the same week from PJC. Studying at the University of Miami and USF, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Recently, she was accepted into Nursing school at UWF.
She is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Edward Hugh Thrush.
Michelle is survived by her parents, Jon and Amy Thrush of Pensacola; her twin-sister, Alicia Thrush of Tampa; her loving grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
The relatives and friends of Michelle Thrush and her family are invited to attend a visitation at 1 p.m. until memorial services begin at 3 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2013, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel.
A reception following the service will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at The Russell Center in Milton.
Alton Bernard Etheridge
February 19, 2013
Alton Bernard Etheridge, Sr. 86 of Atmore, passed away at his residence on Sunday, February 17, 2013. He was retired from NAS Pensacola. He was born on July 24, 1926, in Davisville, to William and Ima Ballard Etheridge.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Anne Luverne Etheridge and two sons, Alton Bernard Etheridge, Jr. and Michael Lenard Etheridge.
Survivors include three sons, Jimmy Edward Etheridge, William Joseph Etheridge, both of Atmore, and Jerry Alan (Faye) Etheridge of Lottie; daughter-in-law, Teresa Mooney Etheridge of Walnut Hill; one sister, Margie Griffith; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Feburary 21, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Level Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 20, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Four Homeless After Fire Damages Century Home
February 18, 2013
A resident managed to escape an afternoon house fire in Century Monday that left four people homeless.
The fire was reported about 2:45 at the corner of North Century Boulevard and Hattie Boulevard. The resident was reportedly asleep inside the home when the fire broke out and managed to escape without injuries due to individuals banging on the door of the home.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported in the blaze that left four adults homeless. The American Red Cross is assisting the four with temporary shelter.
The Century, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the blaze.
Pictured above and below: Fire heavily damaged this Century home Monday afternoon, displacing four residents. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny Monday, Rain Tonight
February 18, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Washington’s Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Light southeast wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 52. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers before noon. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Thursday: Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
New Jobs? Wood Biomass Pellet Plant Planned For Just Outside Century
February 18, 2013
A wood biomass pellet manufacturing facility that is expected to employ about two dozen people once operational is being planned for just outside Century, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
Escambia County will consider the issuance of $53 million in industrial development bonds for the endeavor known as the “Century Wood Pellet Project”. North Florida Biomass Fuels, LLC will use the $53 million, if approved, to finance the design, construction and equipping of the solid waste disposal and wood biomass pellet manufacturing facility on a 25 acre site at 600 Tedder Road, just west of the Century Correctional Institution.
The property is currently owned by the Town of Century but is outside the town limits. Local officials have not released any other information about the planned project as negotiations continue.
The conduit bond issue will not obligate the credit of the county or pose any obligation, risk, or liability for Escambia County.
In general, wood biomass pellets are a form of fuel, made from compacted sawdust or other waste byproducts from sawmills and the manufacture of other wood products. Tree tops and branches leftover from logging can also be used to create the pellets.
Pictured top: This map highlights the planned 25 acre location of a wood pellet manufacturing facility just outside Century. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
County Names Finalists For Library Board Of Governance
February 18, 2013
The Escambia County Commission will choose three applications from a list of ten to serve on the new West Florida Public Library Board of Governance. Two of the individuals will serve an initial three-year term, effective March 1, 2013, through April 30, 2016, and one individual to serve for an initial two-year term, effective March 1, 2013, through April 30, 2015:
- Alexa Canady-Davis, M.D.
- David J. Bryant
- Frances Yeo
- Grant Erbach
- Joe Vinson
- Lynne C. Tobin
- Rodney P. Guttmann, Ph.D.
- Rodney L. Kendig
- Steve Marvin
- Tristessa C. Osborne — Declared ineligible as a non-resident of Escambia County
The Library Board of Governance was established to oversee the management of the West Florida Public Library System and to make recommendations to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners regarding the library annual budget.
The Library Board of Governance will be composed of five voting members – three members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, one member appointed by the Pensacola City Council, and one member appointed by the mayor of Pensacola.
The Escambia County Commission will pick their three Library Board of Governance members on February 21.