Century Care Center Changes Name
January 5, 2014
The Century Care Center has a new name — the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center.
“The new name more accurately represents who we are and the wide range of services available at our facility,” the five-star facility said in a newsletter. “Our therapy department offers an excellent program designed to achieve the highest level of rehabilitation. We offer inpatient and outpatient services.If long term care is what you need, it’s all here.”
The Century Health and Rehabilitation Center is located at 6020 Industrial Boulevard, at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard.
The name change was effective with the start of the new year.
2013 Persons Of The Year: Richard Freisinger
January 5, 2014
NorthEscambia.com is naming several Persons of the Year for 2013. More honorees will be named on Monday.
Richard Freisinger of Molino has been named one of our North Escambia persons of the Year.
Freisinger, a Tate High School graduate, has dedicated decades of service to the Molino community.
Freisinger was a charter member of the Molino Ruritan Club—a rural service organization—giving back to the community through its efforts of supporting the schools, the fire department, scholarships, and residential fires through fundraisers to meet these needs. Freisinger was employed in 1954 in the research laboratory with Monsanto Textiles and later the analytical research laboratory working 29 years until an early retirement in 1985. He currently operates a small tree farm after row cropping corn and soybeans for many years.
Freisinger and his wife, Jacqueline, saw the need for a rural, central water system for the Molino community and in 1965 after many hours of door-to-door contacts Molino Utilities was founded with over 200 users (members). This system followed the first system of this type located in Walnut Hill. Today this utility has over 2,000 members and has been extended to the Barrineau Park, Dogwood Park, and the Pine Barren communities. He served as a director for over 40 years.
He was involved with others in the community with the formation of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department and served as a volunteer firefighter for 10 years.
In 2001, Freisinger was appointed to the board of the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation. He served for 12 year, including six years as chairman, before retiring this year. He served on the board of Three Rivers RC&D for 29 years to the present time. In 2006 he received appreciation from the Board for ‘Outstanding Efforts on the Big Escambia Restoration Project.’ This was the culmination of a long-time effort to remove the log jam on the Escambia River.
Freisinger is active in his church and has been recognized by the Escambia County Commission.
Pictured top: Sheriff David Morgan talks with Molino residents Jacqueline and Richard Freisinger following a town hall meeting at Fran’s Diner. Pictured inset: Richard Freisinger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlrage.
14 Of 14: What Will Have Florida’s Attention This Year
January 5, 2014
As 2014 kicks off, here’s a look at some of the key issues that could dominate the Florida political landscape in the year ahead.
GOVERNOR VS. GOVERNOR FOR GOVERNOR: The most closely-watched race in Florida this year will be the battle between Gov. Rick Scott and his immediate predecessor, former Gov. Charlie Crist, for the state’s top job. The psychodrama in the race adds a dimension to what would already be a tough contest for commander-in-chief of a critical swing state. Crist is a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat running against his old party, at times taking shots at policies he once supported while accusing the GOP of wandering too far to the right. Scott, meanwhile, has plans to spend up to $100 million to trash Crist and tout an economic record that he says has earned him a second term. Crist is also up against the troubled record of his new party, which hasn’t won a gubernatorial election in Florida in 20 years. And he still has to fight off a primary challenge from former Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston.
IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID: Providing a backdrop for the gubernatorial contest will be the state of the economy, which has continued to slowly emerge from the shadow of the recession. Already, Florida’s unemployment rate shrank to 6.4 percent in November, down from 6.7 percent in October, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. That marks the lowest rate in Florida since July 2008 — during Crist’s tenure. Scott has already begun touting the fact that jobs lost under Crist have been replaced while he was in office. At the same time, the good economic news has provided additional tax revenue for Scott to use to boost spending on public education and to propose tax cuts — two things he’ll be certain to remind voters about in the fall, especially if things continue to improve as expected.
FLORIDA, FLORIDA, FLORIDA: The nation’s capital will also be focused on Florida. With Democrats heavy underdogs to retake control of the U.S. House, the biggest swing state in the country will be one of the places they look to cut into the GOP majority. Former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is already running in the special election to replace the late Republican Congressman C.W. Bill Young; her GOP opponent is yet to be decided. Gwen Graham, the daughter of former governor and U.S. Sen. Bill Graham, is mounting a Democratic campaign against incumbent GOP Congressman Steve Southerland in a Northwest Florida seat. Southwest Florida Congressman Trey Radel, also a Republican, was arrested for purchasing $250 of cocaine during an undercover sting in October in Washington, D.C. But Radel’s district is heavily Republican, and his biggest threats might come from within the party.
SENATE PRESIDENCY: There’s no real drama in the race for control of the Legislature this year. Democrats are hoping instead to diminish the GOP’s hefty majority in both chambers. The more intriguing fight might be in the Senate, where the presidency following the 2016 elections is still very much in play. On one side is Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, a wonkish legislator who serves as the chamber’s budget chief. On the other side is Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, a gruff Senate veteran on his second stint in the chamber. Much of the battle could be decided during the primaries but general election contests could shape the fight as well.
SEARCH FOR A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Florida is nearing the end of its 10th month without a formal No. 2 for Scott since Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned in March. Carroll co-owned a company that provided consulting services to St. Augustine-based Allied Veterans of the World while she was a member of the House, which became problematic when Allied Veterans became ensnared in a racketeering investigation. Carroll was never charged with a crime. Since then, Scott hasn’t rushed to fill the position. The governor could wait until after the legislative session and then name a running mate who could strengthen his hand in the general election. Until then, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over for Scott if he was unable to carry out his duties.
ROLLING BACK CAR FEES: Scott’s signature legislative issue is his promise to reduce taxes and fees by $500 million, most of which — $401 million — would come from a proposed cut in vehicle-registration fees. Scott has endorsed doing away with an increase approved during tough budget times in 2009. But Scott and Negron — who first pitched the idea of a decrease — say the conditions that led to the increase have receded. The fee decrease carries the added political bonus for Scott of blaming Crist, who was governor when the fees went into effect, for the price hike. The former governor has already taken steps to inoculate himself, arguing that he never intended the increase to be permanent and that it has been in place longer under Scott than it was under Crist.
GAMBLING: Undeterred by the long odds facing any hot-button legislation in an election year, gambling supporters are expected to ante up and try to get something through the Legislature. There’s already talk of a sweeping bill that could include a rewrite of the state’s gambling laws and regulations, the creation of a gambling commission and, possibly, a kitchen-sink of elements sought after by existing race tracks and frontons as well as destination resorts coveted by out-of-state casino operators. But other proposals are also emerging, including the idea of a constitutional amendment to decide issues such as whether the state opens the door to Las Vegas-style casinos, an idea floated by House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
PENSION PLANS: Weatherford is also expected to make another run at overhauling the pension plan for public workers. Ideas range from the speaker’s proposal last year, which would require new employees to enter a 401(k)-style retirement plan, to offering a “cash balance” plan, which allows employees to take their pension either as a lump sum or as an annuity. An overhaul of state pensions died last year in the Senate, when a maverick group of Republicans teamed with Democrats to block Weatherford’s plan. But Weatherford continues to send signs that he’s not abandoning the issue. “The time for pension reform has come. RT if you agree!” Weatherford tweeted on Friday.
VOTING PURGE: Secretary of State Ken Detzner’s office is expected to soon begin forwarding the names of suspected non-citizens on the voter rolls to local elections officials. The state has been working to finalize a procedure for using a federal list to vet registered voters since 2012, when it first struck a deal with the Department of Homeland Security over the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, database. That would replace a process using a state database that ran into resistance from county elections chiefs because of problematic scrub lists. The renewed program could still face legal challenges from voting-rights organizations, who have argued that it amounts to an attempt to purge minority voters — who tend to support Democratic candidates — from the rolls.
REDISTRICTING LAWSUITS: The legal fight is expected to continue over the districts that lawmakers approved in 2012 for Florida’s congressional delegation and the state Senate, dragging it into a third year. Critics of the maps contend that they were drawn to aid Republicans and incumbents in violation of the anti-gerrymandering “Fair District” amendments that voters added to the constitution in 2010. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the state Senate maps can be the subject of a civil lawsuit, despite receiving preliminary approval from the high court in 2012. And Supreme Court decided that lawmakers can be forced to testify about the redistricting process even though legislators generally enjoy a privilege shielding them from speaking in court about their official duties.
HEALTH CARE FIGHTS: Florida’s participation in the federally-backed expansion of Medicaid, a key part of the Affordable Care Act approved by Congress in 2010, appears to be off the table for good. Scott had thrown his support behind it last year, but the idea was ultimately rejected by legislative leaders, who offered their own plans but which all failed to pass. GOP lawmakers are unlikely to reconsider the issue again in 2014, but Democrats will push it anyway. Candidates could keep an eye on the once-troubled rollout of the federal exchange where some consumers are signing up for and buying insurance. A resurgence of technical flaws could pose political problems for the law’s supporters, mostly Democrats.
NEW PRESIDING OFFICERS: After the November elections, new leaders will take the helm in both the House and the Senate. If Republicans hold onto the House as expected, Rep. Steve Crisafulli would become speaker. Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, was something of an enigma in the Capitol when he was quickly chosen to take over for former Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, who lost his 2012 bid for re-election. Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has been on track for his chamber’s presidency for years despite an attempted palace coup in 2012. Both will bring their own issues to the table, and could begin exerting their influence in the 2014 session as they get ready to assume their new roles.
TROUBLES AT DCF: The embattled Department of Children and Families could also face continuing changes. Scott could choose a long-term replacement for agency Secretary David Wilkins, who resigned in July. Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo announced she will stay on the job until 2014 legislative session ends in May. Meanwhile, Jacobo has asked Scott and the Legislature for funding to slash caseloads for frontline staff and other proposals aimed at keeping children more safe. Lawmakers are also determined to strengthen laws dealing with sexual predators in the wake of reports by the South Florida Sun Sentinel that found that nearly 600 sexual predators had been released only to be convicted of new sex offenses — including more than 460 child molestations, 121 rapes and 14 murders.
COMMON CORE CONTROVERSY: State education officials are also expected to make a series of key decisions about Florida’s educational guidelines, currently based on the Common Core standards. Those benchmarks, which were developed by officials from Florida and other states, have drawn anger from conservative critics who say they could increase federal involvement in the state’s public schools. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has said changes to the standards could go before the State Board of Education as early as February.
2013 In Photos: October
January 5, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from October.
Fire ripped through the remnants of a previously burned and now abandoned home on Juniper Street in Walnut Hill.
Century added their first CNG vehicle to their fleet in October.
Hundreds attended the annual Williams Station Day in Atmore where the Alabama Blues Brothers performed on their farewell tour.
The Northview Tribal Beat Band took top honors in their class during the annual Dixieland Band Showcase at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton.
The Tate High School Drama Department presented “Jabberwock”.
Jim Allen Elementary Principal Rachel Watts goes down in the dunking booth at the school’s annual fall carnival.
Dozens of families turned out to enjoy a free outdoor showing of the movie “Despicable Me” on a giant inflatable screen at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. The event was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Anna Fischer was crowned Northview’s homecoming queen.
The sophomore float in the Northview High School Homecoming Parade as it rolled through Bratt.
The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch on Highway 29 is an annual fall tradition.
Two members of the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue — Lt. Drew Manning and Julia Cleckley — were united in marriage in October. Their wedding was held at the Molino Fire Station.
Hundreds attended the annual Molino Park Elementary School Fall Carnival.
This pickup collided with a tree on Highway 99 in Bratt.
A wreck in Santa Rosa County was just nuts. Seriously nuts. A peanut wagon apparently came loose from a truck and hit three parked cars, sending peanuts everywhere near the Allentown crossroads.
The Northview High School dance team performs.
Thousands attended the annual Jay Peanut Festival
The Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals.
Molino Park students try on a fireman’s hat as they learn about fire safety.
PCA topped Tate and Northview during a cross country meet in Jay.
Firefighters Battle Cantonment House Fire; Save Family Cats
January 4, 2014
Fire heavily damaged a Cantonment home Friday afternoon as first responders worked to save family pets overcome by smoke.
Firefighters battled the house fire on Bonanza Drive, near Pine Forest Road north of Nine Mile Road. Firefighters also dealt with a lack of hydrants in the immediate area, shuttling water in tanker trucks from fire hydrants from some distance away in the neighborhood.
The residents were able to escape without injury, but family pets were still inside the home when first responders arrived.
At least two cats were removed from the home. Escambia County EMS personnel were seen providing them oxygen and working with the felines for some 10-15 minutes to resuscitate them. The two cats were then returned to their owners.
There were no human injuries reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pictured top: Fire ravaged a Cantonment home Friday afternoon. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured inset and below: EMS personnel resuscitate two cats found inside the home. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
2013 Persons Of The Year: Marilyn Robinson
January 4, 2014
NorthEscambia.com is naming several Persons of the Year for 2013. More honorees will be named on Sunday.
Marilyn Robinson of Century has been named one of our North Escambia persons of the Year.
There’s that old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That’s Marilyn Robinson.
The Carver Community Center Association has been a big part of the Century community for many years. The center was started by a group of senior citizens in 1992, spearheaded by Leola Robinson, the mother of Marilyn Robinson, who now serves as the director. The center provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer and offers year-round tutoring and other programs.
The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue provides food for 70 to 100 children Monday through Thursday and serves as a satellite office for Catholic Charities and United
Ministries.
Marilyn Robinson works tirelessly each year to organize Century’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration. She is a board member of the Century/Flomaton Improvement Association, where she acts as a mentor to citizens providing services to local residents in the area of finance, education and housing improvement.
Robinson is active in the Community Action Program, assisting citizens with financial necessities and works with Farm Share to organize events to provide tens of thousands of pounds of food and necessities to the community.
During 2013, Robinson and the Center were presented The President’s Volunteer Service Award. Established in 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation encourages citizens to volunteer in their communities. Congressman Jeff Miller honored the Center and Robinson with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. And the Carver Community Center Association was presented Gulf Power Company’s prestigious Power of Service Award.
During the past 15 months, during Robinson’s tenure as director, a widespread group of people across the region have given back to the Carver Community Center.
After a December 2012 article about the Florida Department of Children and Families statewide “Operation Santa Cause” campaign featuring the needs of the Carver Community Center, people stepped up to help.
The Center’s needs included internet service (about $100 per month) and at least 15 computers to replace current computers that are old, slow and sometimes non-functioning. A man in St. Petersburg volunteered to cover the internet service for one year, according to DCF. And the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners donated 20 refurbished computers for the children.
A small army of volunteers organized by Americorps worked during the 2013 National Day of Service to paint the Carver Community Center. Nearly 100 volunteers painted inside the community center, a much needed facelift covering flaking and peeling paint in hallways and classrooms. The volunteers were from groups like Pensacola State College’s Student Government Association, DCF, Northwest Florida College, Americorps Coalition of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, the Ministry Village from Olive Baptist Church, Chain Reaction and Habitat for Humanity.
Word of the Carver Community Center spread to Georgia and the Rivertown Church of Columbus. They spent a portion of their summer working and volunteering in Century, and church members returned to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner for the town.
And UF IFAS/Extension Escambia County Agents teamed up with Robinson during the summer to offer lessons to about 50 children related to nutrition, preparing healthy food, water resources, insects, livestock, discovering where originates, and healthy choices for the youth of Century.
Pictured top: Marilyn Robinson is honored during 2013 by the Century Town Council. Pictured middle inset: The Carver Community Center. Pictured bottom inset: Children learn about nutrition during a summer event at the Carver Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
68 Acres Off Nine Mile Rezoned For 570 Single, Multi Family Dwellings
January 4, 2014
The Escambia County Commission has approved rezoning about 68 acres behind the John R. Jones Athletic Complex on Nine Mile Road from outdoor recreational to urban residential.
Smart Living, LLC of Huntsville wants to build 570 single and multifamily units on the land — which will require further permits and reviews from the county before construction can begin.
The entrance to the development, if approved, will be on Topeka Road.
Name Released Of Bicyclist Killed By Hit And Run Driver
January 4, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol has released the name of a bicyclist killed Wednesday morning in Pensacola, and the FHP is still searching for the hit and run driver that struck him.
Michael J. Fowler, 60, was killed on West Jackson Street near Wiggins Avenue about 2:25 a.m. Wednesday when he was hit by an unknown model red Dodge pickup. The pickup was involved in a second hit and run crash and was last seen traveling north on W. Street.
The truck is believed to have extensive front end damage. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. M Collins at (850) 471-6924 or dial *FHP.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 4, 2014
Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekend ending January 2:
Escambia County
Officer Hoomes received a complaint of two overdue boaters. With the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the individuals’ vehicle and boat trailer were located at Navy Point Boat Ramp. Officers Livesay and Cushing responded to assist with the search. A short time later, the individuals’ vessel, a 14‑foot Jon boat, was found washed up near Fort Pickens Pier. A short distance away, one victim was located deceased. A short time later, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy called to report they were picking up the second individual at a convenience store several miles away. Officer Hoomes spoke to the second occupant and determined the two individuals were fishing near the Pensacola Pass and their vessel partially sank after a large wave washed over the bow. The surviving occupant reportedly was in the water several hours before making it to shore. He then walked several miles before he was able to report what had happened. Investigator Goley is investigating the accident.
Santa Rosa County
While working on the Eglin Reservation, Officer Jones was checking hunters who were walking out of a still-hunt area. After conversing with the hunters, Officer Jones was told that a couple of shots were heard across a nearby creek moments earlier. Officer Jones observed a vehicle parked at a trail head in the vicinity of where the shots were heard. Officer Jones went to the vehicle and waited for the hunter’s return. Well after dark, the hunter arrived carrying a deer on a pack frame. The deer was a short-antlered buck with its longest antler approximately one inch in length. The hunter was cited with a notice to appear in county court for taking an antlerless deer. Eglin Range Patrol Officers arrived and issued a notice of violation suspending the hunter’s Eglin privileges.
Middle Teens Next Week
January 4, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: A slight chance of showers before noon, then a chance of rain after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Blustery, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 13. North wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 17. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.