Obama Sworn In For Second Term
January 21, 2013
President Barack Obama is calling for united action by a divided America to address a host of domestic problems as he starts his second term in the White House.
Obama was publicly sworn into office Monday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the Mall, waving American flags and cheering the nation’s 44th president.
In his inaugural address, Obama invoked the enduring rights of the U.S. Constitution for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But he said the country needs to adapt to new challenges so that every citizen had a “basic measure of security and dignity.”
“We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit,” Obama told the crowd. “But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn.”
Obama also said that the U.S. does not believe that “lasting peace” in the world requires “perpetual war.”
“We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war,” the president said. “Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.”
The president said the U.S. would support democracy across the globe.
“America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe;” he promised, “and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom.”
Swearing In ceremony
Obama took the two-century-old oath from Chief Justice John Roberts. Obama promised to “preserve, protect and defend” the U.S. Constitution “to the best of my ability.”
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Earlier, the president attended a church service and then headed to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building for his public inaugural.
Monday’s crowd, while numbering in the hundreds of thousands, was smaller than at Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, when nearly two million people came to see the swearing-in of the nation’s first black president.
Obama was officially sworn in Sunday in a private ceremony at the White House, to meet the dictates of the U.S. Constitution that the country’s president be sworn in on January 20. But with the date falling on a Sunday this year, the major public inaugural activities are on Monday, including Obama’s inaugural address from a podium on the West Front of the Capitol overlooking the teeming masses on the Mall.
Obama took the oath Monday using two historic Bibles – one owned by 19th-century president Abraham Lincoln, and the other by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in 1968.
Monday’s inauguration coincides with the federal holiday marking King’s birthday.
Inaugural festivities
After the ceremony Monday, Obama and his wife, Michelle, dined inside the Capitol with congressional leaders. They plan to ride in the inaugural parade, returning to the White House in a motorcade. They likely will get out of the car and walk part of the way, as they did four years ago.
Later, the Obamas attended two official Inaugural balls, in contrast to the 10 balls that were held in 2009.
Vice President Joe Biden, who retook his own oath again Monday, joined the president Sunday for a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery and attended church with him on Monday.
Both leaders also took part in a National Day of Service on Saturday as part of several days of events related to the inauguration.
Child Hit By Vehicle In Century
January 21, 2013
A child is recovering today after being hit by a vehicle Sunday afternoon in Century.
The 10-year old female was reportedly struck by a vehicle about 1:50 p.m. on Hecker Road at Kelly Field Road, near Showalter Park. The girl was transported by ambulance in stable condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. An update on her condition was not available.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
Convicted Cantonment Sex Offender Arrested
January 21, 2013
A convicted sex offender from Cantonment was arrested Sunday on a felony charge for failing to comply with Florida’s address registration laws, according to jail records.
Terrance Devonte Cowart, 20, was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000. He was required to register as a sexual offender for a 2007 charge for sexual battery; the victim was an underage female, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Second Time: Century Man Charged With Strangulation Of Girlfriend
January 21, 2013
For the second time in seven months, a Century man has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to strangle one of the mothers of his children.
Maurice Austin, 24, was charged with battery by strangulation and remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that she was driving near Cottage and Zion and was forced to stop when Austin jumped in front of her car. She said Austin forced his way into the driver’s seat, drove to Zion Street and parked the vehicle at a friend’s house.
The victim claimed Austin hit her with closed fists, pulled her from the vehicle by the hair and strangled her until she passed out. Deputies noted bruising on the victim’s legs, shoulders, chest and arms.
Austin faced similar allegations back in July 2012 when another victim, then pregnant with his child, told deputies that she was walking down Jefferson Avenue near East Street in Century to catch a ride with friends alongside Highway 29. She said Austin was standing in the road.
The victim claimed Austin grabbed her by the neck, pushed her into the ditch and began fighting with her. The victim told deputies she broke free and continued walking toward her destination. She said that Austin’s girlfriend pulled off to the side of the road and ran over her foot. The two women — Austin’s girlfriend and the mother of his child — tried to fight, but Austin kept them apart briefly before saying he was going to step back and watch them fight, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
A third party drove by, broke up the fight and transported the victim to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Century Substation, the report states. The victim reportedly suffered cuts, bruises and swelling. Her flip-flop was broken on the foot she claimed was ran over, but she told deputies that there was no pain and she could move all her toes.
When questioned by deputies, Austin’s girlfriend denied knowledge of the alleged events.
Charges against Austin were dropped in the July 2012 incident after the victim refused to testify against Austin.
Landfill Fire Fills Neighborhoods With Smoke
January 21, 2013
A landfill fire is sending smoke and ash into adjacent neighborhoods in the Ensley area.
The fire broke out Friday night at the Cove Landfill on Raymer Street, directly behind Pine Meadow Elementary School. Area fire departments and landfill employees continued to work to contain the fire Saturday and Sunday, and the Florida Forest Service responded.
Just before noon Sunday, the Forest Service reported the fire to be about 2-3 acres in size with little advancement. Just after noon, fire crews from Ensley and Cantonment were called back to the scene to assist the forest service in battling the blaze.
The Forest Service said smoke will continue for some time in parts of the area. Residents in the immediate area report ash falling from the sky and covering vehicles.
Northview’s Neiko Robinson Pays First Visit To Penn State
January 21, 2013
Northview High School senior Neiko Robinson visited Penn State over the weekend. Robinson is expected to sign with the Penn State Nittany Lions on National Signing Day — February 6.
It was the first trip to Happy Valley for the PSU commit, his first ever trip to anywhere in Pennsylvania and the first time he had ever set foot in a 110,000-seat stadium.
Robinson, a 6-foot, 162-pound defensive back, visited with coaches Bill O’Brien and John Butler during the trip, and toured the Penn State campus during his 1,700 mile round trip.
Pictured top: Northview’s Neiko Robinson (center) celebrates after the Chiefs won the Class 1A state championship in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
MLK Day Programs, Parades Planned
January 21, 2013
Parades and special events will honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. across the area today.
Century
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association will honor Dr. King with a motorcade in Century Monday morning. The motorcade will line up at the old Carver School on Pond Street at 8:00 a.m. The motorcade will roll at 8:30 a.m. and will end at the Agricultural Building on West Highway 4. A program and celebration will follow in the Ag Building at 11:00 with guest speaker Lorenzo Jones, special music and lunch.
Cantonment
The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Cantonment starts at 4:00 at the corner of Washington and Carver off Muscogee Road behind the paper mill. Line up for participants is at 3:30 at the corner of Washington and Carver. Parade will travel Washington, Robinson and Booker before returning to Carver.
Flomaton
A Walk on MLK will begin to line up at 8:45 a.m. and begin at 9 a.m. at Martin Luther King and Highway 31 and end at Damascus Missionary Baptist Church where a celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Guest speaker will be H.K. Matthews.
Atmore
The 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade will line up at 8:30 a.m. at Houston Avery Park and roll at 10 a.m. The parade will travel north on MLK Avenue, turn right on Carver Avenue to Ashley Street, turn left on Main Street to McRae Street, turn right on Presley Street and end at Escambia County High School. A memorial program will follow in the ECHS auditorium about 11:30 a.m. with guest speaker Warrick Maye, assistant principal at Escambia County Middle School.
Pensacola
Parade, 11 a.m., downtown beginning at the intersection of Spring and Garden street east to Palafox, turns north on Palafox, Palafox to Wright Street, turns back around onto Palafox south to Main Street. Over 5,000 free books and 10,000 free bookmarks will be distributed to children at the parade.
MLK Day Closings
January 21, 2013
The following will be closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:
- All Escambia and Santa Rosa county offices
- All Florida and Alabama state offices
- Century, Jay, Atmore, Flomaton, Pensacola city offices
- All West Florida Public Library branches
- Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools
- ECAT: No buses run today
- Santa Rosa County libraries
- All post offices, but mail will be collected from collection boxes and post offices boxes will receive mail. Express mail will be delivered.
ECUA: There will no trash collection changes.
Obama Sworn In For Second Term (With Video)
January 21, 2013
President Barack Obama was formally sworn in for a second four-year term, and Vice President Joe Biden also took the oath of office Sunday before Monday’s public inauguration ceremony, to be witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall.
Obama took the oath just before noon in a ceremony lasting about half a minute in the oval-shaped White House Blue Room, with views of the executive mansion’s South Lawn sweeping down to the Washington Monument.
With First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and a small group of reporters looking on, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath (video below).
Obama shook Roberts hand, kissed his wife and children, and said to his family, “I did it.”
This was the seventh time in U.S. history a president has taken the oath on Sunday, before a public ceremony the following day. The U.S. Constitution requires a president’s term to begin on January 20.
Obama used a Bible that belonged to his wife’s grandmother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson.
Century Reschedules Town Council Meeting
January 21, 2013
The Century Town Council has rescheduled their normal third Monday of the month meeting.
The meeting scheduled for Monday night will be held next Monday, January 28 at 7 p.m. The meeting was rescheduled due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The meeting is open to the public.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.