Nelson Wants Fed Review Of State’s Unemployment Website
February 23, 2014
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., wants the Department of Labor’s inspector general to look into the state’s trouble-plagued $63 million unemployment assistance website for potential “waste, fraud or abuse or violations of law” due to months of delayed claims.
“Somebody owes taxpayers an explanation,” Nelson wrote Inspector General Scott S. Dahl on Friday. “They are the ones who paid the $63 million for this project.”
Nelson twice before has asked the Labor Department to look into the Department of Economic Opportunity’s Connect system that went on live in October. After Labor Department staff visited Tallahassee in December, the state agency announced that claims would be paid in cases that had been in dispute for more than one week. The move was intended to ease a backlog created by the new website.
Since Dec. 23, the state has imposed a $15,000 per business day fine against contractor Deloitte Consulting and withheld a $3 million payment to the company for failing to deliver a “fully functioning” system. The agency hired about 250 additional staff in January, at a cost of $165,000 a week. DEO reported about 6,000 applications were pending on Friday, a drop from a backlog of more than 60,000 in mid-January.
Nelson in his letter noted that, although the state agency claims the system has improved, media outlets continue to report that people “were still reaching out for help.”
Northview Shuts Out Washington
February 23, 2014
The varsity Northview Chiefs beat Washington High 8-0 Saturday in Pensacola.
Winning pitcher Brannon Freeman pitched for seven, allowing two hits, two walks and eight strike outs. He is 1-0 as a starting pitcher with one save.
Stats: Jody Bonner 1-3 with a double, one RBI and a run scored; Chasen Freeman 3-3 with a triple, 2 RBI and a run scored; Thomas Moore 1 -4 with a double and one run scored; Aaron McDonald 1-4 with a double , one RBI and one run scored; RJ Pritchett 2-4 with two doubles, two RBI; Kevin Barrow 1-3 with one run scored; and Roman Manning 1-3 with two runs scored.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs shut out Washington Saturday in Pensacola, 8-0. Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rotary Clubs Partner To Create 110,388 Meals For Manna
February 23, 2014
Rotary Clubs from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties came together Saturday to pack 110,388 meals at Manna Food Bank. It was part of the Rotary Against Hunger service project of the Combined Rotary of Pensacola (CROP). Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
One Killed In Early Morning Fiery Century Crash
February 22, 2014
One person died in a fiery single vehicle accident early Saturday morning.
The burning vehicle was discovered by a passing Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy about 3:55 a.m. on Fannie Road just northeast of Campbell Road, across from the Happy Valley Holiness Church.
After the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze, the victim was discovered in the driver’s seat area of the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the vehicle as unknown year model Toyota sedan
The driver was apparently headed east on Fannie Road when they failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway, down an embankment and struck several trees on the shore of a gravel lake. A post-crash fire completely gutted the vehicle
The Florida Highway Patrol was unable to identify the driver of the vehicle at the scene. Further details have not yet been released as the FHP continues their investigation.
Pictured top an inset: One person was killed in this fiery crash in Century early Saturday morning. Pictured below: The vehicle shortly after the fire department extiniguished the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cutbacks: Reduced Service Hours Begin For McDavid Post Office
February 22, 2014
The U.S. Postal Service will being reduced retail hours today for the McDavid Post Office. The retail window will actually be open earlier and stay open later on weekdays while reducing service hours by five.
The new hours for the McDavid Post Office, effective February 22, will be 7-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays. The post office’s retail window was previously open 7:45 -11 a.m. and noon – 3:45 p.m. during the week and 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturdays. Access to post office boxes will remain 24/7.
Residents and businesses in the 32568 zip code were notified in December that the Postal Service will take future action regarding the McDavid Post Office. They were surveyed with 77 percent of respondents choosing a reduction in hours over other options including closure.
About two dozen people attended a public meeting with postal officials on January 16, at which time they were reassured that the McDavid Post Office would remain open.
There are no plans to make any changes at the Walnut Hill Post Office, which shares McDavid’s 32568 zip code. The Walnut Hill Post Office is a contract location operated by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, providing retail window services and post office boxes.
The McDavid Post Office was the only local post office in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties on the current closure or cutback list.
Pictured: The McDavid Post Office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny Saturday, Rainy Sunday
February 22, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Barbara Ryals
February 22, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School employee Barbara Ryals received the sixth annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Friday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color and mounted on a board painted in school colors.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Friday is actually the first award piece created six years ago.)
Ryals received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to faculty member Betty Coon. Previous awards were presented to history teacher Kenneth Hicks, teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley, Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to Barbara Ryals Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Ensley Homicide
February 22, 2014
An Escambia County man has been arrested in connection with a murder in Ensley last year.
Trevor Jerrod Jones, 21, has been charged in the death of 31-year old Houston Hale Parker. Parker was found deceased September 17, 2013, at the corner of Hayworth and Lengo streets.
Investigators said forensic evidence and interviews led to the arrest. Additional details have not been released. Jones is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Hwy 29 Ramp To I-10 Closed Sunday, Monday
February 22, 2014
The on ramp from southbound U.S. 29 to westbound I-10 in Escambia County will be closed Sunday, Feb. 23 and Monday, Feb. 24 as crews construct a temporary barrier wall. The temporary closure will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists will be directed to use the northbound U.S. 29 on ramp during the temporary closure.
This work is part of the I-10 resurfacing project which extends from U.S. 29 to east of Palafox Street. The project also includes the milling and resurfacing of all ramps and ramp shoulders associated with the U.S. 29/I-10 interchange, shoulder widening, guardrail upgrades, crash cushion replacement, removal of portable traffic monitoring sites (PTMS), installation of new signs, pavement markings, and sodding. The entire project is slated for completion summer 2014.
During construction drivers will encounter overnight lane restrictions on both I-10 and the U.S. 29/ I-10 interchange. Lane closures on I-10 and intermittent closures or restrictions on the interchange will be limited to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NHS Dance Team Qualifies For State With Superior Rating
February 22, 2014
The Northview High School Dance Team was rated Superior at the Florida Bandmasters Association District 1 Auxiliary Solo and Ensemble MPA event Friday night at Gulf Breeze High School. With the top rating, the group qualified to attend the upcoming state competition. Pictured: Northview High School Dance team members are (front L-R) Danielle Scott, Bethany Reynolds, Morgan Digmon, Shelby Nielson, (back, L-R) Leah Fischer, Anna Fischer, Rebekah Sepulveda, Chloe Leonard, Lily Townson and Jessica Lowery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.