Unemployment Rate Jumps In Local Three-County Area
March 18, 2014
The latest job numbers released Monday show the unemployment level inching upwards in the North Escambia area — an increase blamed on the loss of December’s seasonal service jobs.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate jumped from 6.2 percent in December to 6.6 percent in January. There were 8,967 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 8.5 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment also increase, from 5.3 to 5.9 percent from December to January. Santa Rosa County had a total of 4,269 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 7.9 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased from7.1 percent in December to 8.5 percent in January. That represented 1,182 people unemployed in the county during the month.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 6.1 percent in January from 6.3 percent in December. The drop comes despite the state losing an estimated 2,600 non-agricultural jobs between December and January, with some of the biggest hits taken in the fields of retail sales, education and health services, along with leisure and hospitality.
“We have come a long way in three years, but let’s keep working to make sure every person who wants a job can have one,” Scott said in a release that included his new “let’s keep working” campaign slogan.
Florida remains below the national jobless mark of 6.7 percent.
In terms of job creation, the U.S. Department of Labor noted Monday that Florida’s 192,800 job increase during the past year trailed only Texas and California, with each posting more than 300,000 new jobs.
The January seasonally adjusted monthly jobless mark — a statistical technique that eliminates recurring events such as weather, holidays, and the school calendar — is the lowest for Florida since June 2008.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.1percent in January, was unchanged from December’s rate and was below the year-ago rate of 6.7 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Aggie Classic Continues (With Monday Scores)
March 18, 2014
Monday was the first day of action in the Aggie Classic, a 24-team tournament hosted by the Tate Aggies.
Tickets for each game are $6 for adults and students and will be available at the gate at each location. Games will be played at all the five local fields Tuesday and Wednesday. The championship games on Thursday at 4 and 7 p.m. will be played at the University of West Florida.
Monday scores were as follows:
Davidson Academy Bears 5, Ft.Gibson Tigers 4
Second Baptist School 12, Sapulpa Chieftains 1
Navarre Raiders 2, Knoxville Catholic Irish 0
Brentwood Bruins 7, Edmond North Huskies 1
Christ Presbyterian Lions 4, Washington Hornets 0
Escambia Gators 5, Niceville Eagles 4
Sallisaw Black Diamonds 11, Tate Aggies 5
Milton Panthers 11, Jay Bulldogs 1
West Florida Jaguars 8, Brentwood Academy 3
Here is Tuesday’s Aggie Classic schedule:
1:00 — Edmond North Huskies vs. Navarre Raiders at ECHS
1:00 — Christ Presbyterian Lions vs. Jay Bulldogs at Tate
4:00 — Brentwwod Academy Eagles vs. Sallisaw Black Diamonds at ECHS
4:00 — Ft.Gibson Tigers vs. Second Baptist School at Tate
4:00 — Knoxville Catholic Irish vs. Tulsa Union Redskins at UWF
4:00 — Milton Panthers vs. Sapulpa Chieftains at Washington
4:00 — Niceville Eagles vs. Pryor Tigers at WFHS
7:00 — Claremore Zebras vs. Escambia Gators at ECHS
7:00 — Tate Aggies vs. Davidson Academy Bears at Tate
7:00 — Ponte Vedra Sharks vs. South-Doyle Cherokees at UWF
7:00 — Brentwwod Bruins vs. Washington Wildcats at Washington
7:00 — West Florida Jaguars vs. Washington Hornets at WFHS
Readers Respond: Donations To Fund Lift For Rescue Horses
March 18, 2014
Late last week, NorthEscambia.com reported on a fundraising effort by Panhandle Equine Rescue to purchase a large animal lift for rescued horses.
The lift is priced was at $2,145 and PER lacked $980 to make the purchase. After the report about the online fundraiser, another $1,450 was donated. That will allow PER to purchase the lift and a secure structure to which the lift will be attached.
“Because of…our community, we were able to raise more than enough to help horses in the future that are unable to rise on their own,” said PER President Diane Lowery. “Getting a horse on their feet gives them a chance to live; otherwise, they would most likely be euthanized; especially at crime scenes. We appreciate your support.”
The major need for a large animal lift was highlighted by the rescue of “Ebony” from Crowndale Court. For that story, click here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senate Panel Backs Bipartisan Tweak To ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
March 18, 2014
A bipartisan bill that would tweak the controversial “stand your ground” self-defense law sailed through the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Monday, passing unanimously with the backing of both the National Rifle Association and Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown.
The measure (SB 130) by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, would make several changes recommended in 2012 by Gov. Rick Scott’s Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection, which Scott appointed amid a national uproar that followed the shooting death of teen Trayvon Martin.
When six weeks went by without charges being filed against Sanford neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman, the acknowledged shooter, protests spread across the country.
Many of the “stand your ground” law’s original backers said it was never intended to protect the aggressor in a deadly confrontation, and on Monday, the Senate panel spelled that out.
The bill represents the first significant compromise since Zimmerman was acquitted last year of second-degree murder charges in Martin’s death. Just a week ago, Brown helped civil-rights activist Al Sharpton lead 1,000 people to the Capitol to protest “stand your ground”‘ and to declare Florida “ground zero” in the fight to fix or repeal it.
“It’s incumbent upon this committee, it’s incumbent upon this Legislature, to say something about the law this year,” said Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who also marched last week.
“People on this committee and those that were here to vote for (the original law) … are constantly saying, ‘It’s not what we intended, It’s not what we intended, It’s not what we intended.’ Well, we have about 50 days now to say what we intended,” Smith said.
Smith and Simmons, who helped pass the 2005 bill that became “stand your ground,” addressed the committee together. Simmons’ measure includes a bill by Smith (SB 122) that was folded into it last fall.
The bill would clarify that a law enforcement agency must fully investigate whether a person claiming self-defense has lawfully used force. It also would no longer preclude lawsuits from third parties who are injured by negligent conduct used in self-defense.
The measure would also require the Department of Law Enforcement to develop a training curriculum for participants in neighborhood crime-watch programs and require local law-enforcement agencies to apply the curriculum when training program participants.
Several members of the Scott task force were on hand to support the bill, including NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, the Rev. R.B. Holmes, who co-chaired the task force, and Stacy Scott, who represented the Florida Public Defender Association.
Stacy Scott said the bill would also clarify the roles of law enforcement officers and neighborhood-watch volunteers. She said it also would clarify the role of immunity hearings that are used to determine if someone can invoke “stand your ground” in self-defense.
” ‘Stand your ground’ is not to be used for vigilantism, for revenge or as an excuse to confront people,” she said.
Brown brought her congressional colleague, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, who told lawmakers that homicide has gone up in states with “stand your ground” laws.
The House companion to Simmons’ bill hasn’t moved forward, although it was filed in August.
Smith said he’d spoken with House Judiciary Chairman Dennis Baxley, who was the House sponsor of “stand your ground” in 2005, and that the House is waiting for the Senate to act before making its own move.
“You cannot fix everything the first time,” Hammer said. “When you try to do too much is when you create problems. We’re taking it one step at a time. … And if we didn’t get it right, we’ll fix it. But we’re comfortable with what we have today.”
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Accident
March 17, 2014
One person suffered minor injuries in a rollover accident at a Highway 97 bridge late Monday morning.
The driver of a southbound pickup truck apparently lost control just north of Wiggins Lake Road in Walnut Hill, struck a bridge guardrail and overturned. The pickup came to rest upside down on the center line of Highway 97 just off the bridge.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT, Escambia Continuing With Plans For Traffic Light, Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Redesign
March 17, 2014
Talks between Escambia County and the Florida Department of Transportation are continuing toward a goal of multiple changes at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino — including a red light and redesign of a portion of the intersection.
Escambia County Interim Administrator Larry Newsom met with FDOT officials last week in Chipley to discuss changes and improvements for the intersection to lower the number of traffic crashes.
A full FDOT study of the intersection concluded that a traffic signal should be installed. The study also found that intersection should be redesigned to eliminate the “5-leg intersection configuration” caused by a driveway connection to the Tom Thumb by a combination of strong access control at the driveway connection and a reduction of the existing median opening width.
Last October, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay for the red light at the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
Newsom said the state is currently in the design phase for the intersection, and that process is expected to continue for the next three months with input from both FDOT and the county.
“The much needed side street connection of Crabtree Church Road may be addressed on parallel basis with the intersection improvements, or as a secondary project. Escambia County intends to apply for a Community Traffic Safety Team Grant (CTST) to fund construction of this project. However, if we are unsuccessful in that attempt, funds from the voter-approved Local Option Sales Tax will be allocated to facilitate implementation as quickly as possible,” Newsom said.
FDOT will install a traffic signal at the intersection to address safety issues, with the design funded by the state and the constructed funded by Escambia County. A construction scheduled has not yet been established.
“I believe that, with the support of FDOT District III Secretary Tommy Barfield and coordination with the State Secretary Ananth Prasad, we can expect a significant amount of investment to be made in Escambia County in the near future,” Newsom added.
The plans to improve and add a signal at the intersection came after residents of the all residential northern stretch of Highway 95A from Highway 29 to Highway 97 unsuccessful pushed commissioners to enforce a truck ban on that portion of Highway 95A. Trucks currently turn south on Highway 95A at Highway 29 to avoid the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection altogether over safety concerns.
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Rep. Doug Broxson, Rep. Mike Hill, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Senate President Don Gaetz have also advocated for FDOT to make safety improvements at the intersection.
Pictured: Traffic crashes at the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Rain Chance Today
March 17, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Not A Tornado: Winds Destroy Businesses, Damage Homes In Atmore
March 17, 2014
There were no injuries as businesses were destroyed and numerous structures were damaged in storms Sunday morning as they rolled through, leaving a trail of damage from Nokomis, FL, through Atmore and to Canoe, AL.
While a tornado warning was in effect at the time, a National Weather Service survey team determined the damage was not caused by a twister. According to the NWS, the team found evidence consistent with downburst straight-line winds, with the strongest winds blowing from the south-southwest to north-northeast.
The weather service said wind speeds were estimated to range from 86 to 110 mph.
The former Kmart building that housed Burke’s Outlet and Fred’s store in Atmore collapsed. The majority of the damage was on the Burke’s end of the structure, while the windows and doors blew in and the roof was lifted at Fred’s. Both businesses were closed at the time.
The building housing the Burke’s Outlet and Fred’s store in Atmore collapsed this morning. The majority of the damage was on the Burke’s end of the structure, while the windows and doors blew in and the roof was lifted at Fred’s. Both businesses were closed at the time.
“It started raining hard and getting loud,” said Charlene Johnson, who was at worked at a gas station very near the Burke’s store. “I locked the door and seen a dark black mass pass by right in front of me..it shook the store.”
Numerous other structures were damaged in Atmore, many from falling trees. The wind also twisted metal barns, caused other structural damage and downed power lines across the southern part of the city.
In Nokomis, FL, on the state line, several trees were downed — several blocking Rockaway Creek Road and Circle Road until they were removed. A large highway warning sign just north of the state line was toppled, and trees were snapped as the storm moved in a definite line toward Atmore.
After passing through southern Atmore, the storm continued toward the Atmore Aiport east of town, downing trees, destroying barns and causing other damage. Further east, the Canoe Baptist Church was damaged with large pieces of wood driven into the ground like spears.
For damage photos, click here for a photo gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Resident Meeting To Provide Input For Century Economic Development Plan
March 17, 2014
Century is once again turning to its residents for input into the town’s future economic development plan. Town residents are invited to a meeting Monday, March 31, at 6:00 p.m. at the Ag Building on West Highway 4 to offer their input into the plan.
When Century updated its Comprehensive Plan in March 2012, the need for an economic development strategy was identified as one of the critical issues facing the Town.
Last July, Century was awarded a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The grant provided the town the opportunity to contract with the University of West Florida’s Haas Center to develop the plan.
Meetings with the public, businesses and economic stakeholders were previously held. At the March 31 meeting, residents will have one more opportunity to discuss the plan’s vision, mission, objectives and goals.
Century’s Economic Development Strategic Plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity by May 30.
Pictured top: Lomonica Shoemo and Dorothy Newton listen during a late January public meeting on Century’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
No Alimony Reform This Year In Florida
March 17, 2014
Backers of an alimony overhaul vetoed last year by Gov. Rick Scott have scrapped their efforts to revive the measure.
Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, told The News Service of Florida on Tuesday she and her House counterpart Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, have given up on their plan to reform the state’s alimony laws.
Last year, the two sponsored a measure that did away with permanent alimony and would have created new legal standards based on the length of marriages. Scott, who is seeking re-election this year, vetoed the measure in part because of concerns that it would have applied retroactively.
The group Family Law Reform, which has been pushing the alimony changes, issued a press release in October saying it was working with Scott and the sponsors to come up with a new plan that would have removed the retroactivity provision. But there won’t be any election-year measure.
“We tried to get a deal,” Stargel said. “We got some language we thought people liked and started vetting it. … I just didn’t want to have a food fight this year so we just said scrap it. We’ll push it another year.”
by The News Service of Florida