A Very Special Mardi Gras Parade (With Photo Gallery)
February 7, 2015
A very special Mardi Gras parade was held Friday morning for the special needs students of Escambia Westgate School.
With plenty of beads, Moon Pies, and smiles, the parade rolled through the school parking lot not once, but twice for a little extra fun for 230 students that might not otherwise be able to attend a regular Mardi Gras Parade.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Final Day: Ball Registration At NWE, Miracle League
February 7, 2015
Today is the final registration day for Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill and the for the Molino Ballpark.
Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park will hold registration on Saturday, February 7 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Registration fees vary; a birth certificate is needed. For more information, click here
Molino Ballpark will hold registration on Saturday, February 7 – from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. A birth certificate is needed. For registration information, click here.
Democrats Question Optimism In Scott’s Budget
February 7, 2015
House Democrats tried to poke holes in Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed $77 billion budget, highlighting the use of expiring federal health-care dollars as a sign that the spending plan isn’t serious.
Democrats grilled Scott’s budget director, Cynthia Kelly, during a presentation before the House Appropriations Committee about Scott’s proposal for the budget year that begins July 1. Many of their questions focused on $2 billion pot of health-care money — more than $1 billion of which is federal money that the government might no longer provide — that Scott included despite the fact that the program is set to expire June 30.
Kelly said officials with the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration were meeting with federal officials Tuesday trying to negotiate an extension of the Low Income Pool, or “LIP,” program. The federal government extended the program during the current budget year, but has given state officials no guarantees that LIP will be renewed again.
“It is my understanding that they are hopeful that they will be able to get an extension on those LIP funds and, that’s why we included in our budget recommendations the continuation of the LIP program as it currently stands,” Kelly said.
Democrats weren’t satisfied with the explanation. The LIP program provides extra money to hospitals and other types of health providers that care for large numbers of poor and uninsured patients.
“My concern is, are we being fiscally irresponsible by including those dollars in this proposed budget when there is a very real chance and likelihood that those dollars will go away?” said Rep. Janet Cruz of Tampa, the top Democrat on the committee.
Kelly did not directly answer a question from House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, about whether Scott’s administration had a plan for how to balance the budget if the LIP money isn’t available.
“It’s February and we have until June. If I were proposing a budget and I had four months to look at this big amount of money, I would be zeroing this out and proposing something that offers an alternate option,” Cruz said after the meeting.
Republicans, who dominate the Legislature and will have much more to do with deciding which parts of Scott’s plan become law, were largely silent during the hour-long discussion of budget issues. But GOP lawmakers have indicated they’re unlikely to embrace Scott’s $77 billion budget without significant changes.
Democrats also focused on Scott’s drive to continue to cut positions from the state workforce. His plan would reduce the state’s payroll by more than 1,000 full-time positions, slashing more than 1,350 jobs while adding more than 360 positions in other areas. Most of the cuts would come from the Department of Health, which would shed 758 full-time positions.
“Within the budget, you’ve identified that the governor is seeking to be number-one in the creation of jobs and I see that specifically for our health department we’re going to be losing 758 jobs,” said Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville. “Can you talk to us about (this) loss of positions and how the two statements work together if we continue to reduce jobs?”
Kelly said Scott was focused on private-sector job growth, and that the governor has asked state agencies to try to find ways to reduce their workforce. More than 1,000 of the 1,350 posts set to be eliminated are already empty.
“I think that the vast majority of those, if not all of them, will become vacant by June 30. … As agencies are implementing the technology improvements and the process improvements, they’re able to identify areas for positions to be reduced,” she said.
Kelly is set to go before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. Scott will spend the afternoon in Bonita Springs to pitch a $470.9 million reduction in state taxes on cell-phone and television services that is one of the highlights of his plan.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Beats Holmes County In District Tourney; Championship Tonight
February 7, 2015
The Northview Chiefs are headed toward a district basketball championship showdown tonight after a close 48-46 win over Holmes County Friday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs led 27-20 at halftime. Holmes County took a 31-29 lead with 2:11 remaining in the third period, but that lead was short-lived as the Chiefs regained the advantage by the end of the third. By 4:31 in the fourth, the teams were tied, but Holmes County moved ahead 46-40 with 1:45 to go. The Chiefs were not going down without a fight, powering back to a 46-46 tie with 1:01 remaining in the game, and sinking the game winning shot just before the buzzer.
In the first game of the tournament Friday night at Northview, Chipley beat Baker 56-32.
The Chiefs will host Chipley at 7:00 Saturday night for the district championship. Both teams, regardless of the outcome of Saturday night’s game, will advance to the regionals — the winner at home and the loser on the road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Last Night: Tate High Drama Presents ‘The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy’
February 7, 2015
Tonight is the final production of the the Tate High School Drama Department’s “The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy” on the school cafetorium stage. The final show is at 7:00.
The creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether “ooky” Addams Family story brings the characters of Gomez Addams, Morticia Addams, Uncle Fester, Wednesday Addams, Pugsley Addams, Grandma, Lurch and others onto the stage in an original story with Wednesday falling in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.
The Tate Drama Department will also be conducting a silent auction to help raise funds for the state competition. Tickets are $10 for the reserved section and $7 for general admission.
Pictured: The Tate Drama Department’s “The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Improve To 2-0; West Florida Lady Jags Open With Win
February 7, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies improved to 2-0 on the season Friday night in Cantonment with a 2-0 win over the Pace Patriots. Tori Perkins allowed one hit, walking two and striking out 14. She was 1-3 with an RBI at the plate. Savannah Ulrich was 1-1 with an RBI, and Casey McCrackin was 2-3. The Lady Aggies will host Crestview on Tuesday with junior varsity leading it off at 4:30 followed by the varsity at 6:30.
The 4A West Florida Lady Jaguars beat the 6A Escambia Gators 10-9 in eight innings in their season opener at home Friday night. The Lady Jags will host Gulf Breeze Tuesday with the JV starting at 5:00 and the varsity at 7:00.
Teen Shot At Home Near 10 Mile Road
February 6, 2015
One teen was shot at a home near 10 Mile Road late Thursday night.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls of shots fired in the 1200 block of Tiffany Drive about 11 p.m. They arrived on scene to find a male gunshot victim located in the front yard of the residence. The victim was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Additional deputies arrived and made contact with several subjects inside the residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A K-9 was used to search a wooded area and was successful in locating the handgun used in the incident.
The name of the victim was not released. The investigation is continuing by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Tiffany Drive is located north of 10 Mile Road, near the Gulf Power Crist Plant.
End In Sight For Florida Enterprise Zones; Leaders Push For Program Extension
February 6, 2015
Florida’s leading economic development, business and taxpayer groups gathered at the Capitol in Tallahassee Wednesday to highlight the importance of Enterprise Zones to communities across Florida. Enterprise Zones exist in economically depressed and blighted areas throughout the state to encourage business investment and job growth. Without action from the legislature, Florida’s Enterprise Zone program is set to sunset at the end of 2015.
“Bringing jobs to our communities requires the collaboration between many partners and the use of many tools. Ensuring the ongoing use of Enterprise Zones allows counties to focus on revitalization and ensure that businesses have access to incentives to help them grow,” said Grover Robinson, Escambia County commissioner. Enterprise Zone exist in certain areas of Pensacola, Escambia County and in the entire Town of Century.
“The Enterprise Zone program is one of the few economic development tools that allow cities to partner with the state to accomplish the task of rebounding Florida’s economy. The Florida League of Cities supports legislation which reauthorizes, modernizes and improves the Enterprise Zone program in order to maximize the taxpayers return on investment. The loss of this program would place local communities and the state at a disadvantage in attracting new businesses to Florida, as we compete with states that have an Enterprise Zone program,” said David Cruz, assistant general counsel, Florida League of Cities.
The Florida Enterprise Zone Program offers an assortment of tax incentives to businesses that choose to create employment within an enterprise zone, which is a specific geographic area targeted for economic revitalization. Tax incentives include a sales and use tax credit, tax refund for business machinery and equipment used in an enterprise zone, sales tax refund for building materials used in an Enterprise Zone, and a sales tax exemption for electrical energy used in an enterprise zone. Local governments can provide additional incentives for a zone located within their boundaries.
“Enterprise Zones across the state have helped curb a shortage of investment, in both local community support and in private capital, experienced by the state’s deteriorating areas. Our comprehensive analysis of Florida’s Enterprise Zones calls for substantial legislative reforms that will increase the program’s efficacy and value to taxpayers and each of the communities they were established to serve,” said Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.
Pictured top and inset: The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company site in Century is located in an Enterprise Zone. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century’s Showalter, Molino’s Sutton Honored At Pensacola’s City Of Champions Event
February 6, 2015
The City of Champions event in Pensacola Thursday night honored two special guests — both from the North Escambia area.
The event top guests were Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton.
Showalter, the 2014 AL Manager of the Year, is former resident of Century. Showalter’s family moved to Century in the late 1950’s. His father served as a teacher, coach and principal at Century High School for 23 years. Buck Showalter played Little League ball in a thriving program in Century, and he graduated from Century High School. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after him.
Sutton, also known for his broadcasting skills, is a former resident of Molino. He attended Tate High School where played several sports and led the Aggies baseball teams to two state championship games, one ending with a win. He was the Tate High Class of 1963’s “Most Likely to Succeed”. During his career as a right-handed pitcher, he won 324 games, including 58 shutouts and earned the seventh place spot on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574. Sutton played over a decade with the LA Dodgers, and also played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s and California Angels before returning for one last season with the Dodgers. The Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino is named in his honor.
During the event, local businessman Quint Studer announced a $5,000 donation to Tate High School in Sutton’s name and a $5,000 donation in Showalter’s named to be used toward GED education in Century.
About 20 other area baseball players and others with close ties to the sport were also honored Thursday night, including Tate gradate Travis Fryman of Molino who played for Detroit and Cleveland; Tate’s Scotti Madison who played for Cincinnati, the Kansas City Royals and Detroit; and Brad Salmon of Tate who played for Cincinnatti.
The annual City of Champions events raises funds for a local non-profit committed to opening the Pensacola Sports Museum.
Pictured: Former Century resident Buck Showalter was among the honorees Thursday night at the City of Champions dinner in Pensacola. Photo by Brent Lane for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Doug Baldwin Officially Announces Candidacy For Escambia Sheriff
February 6, 2015
Republican Douglas DeWayne Baldwin, Sr. has become the second candidate to officially announced his candidacy for Escambia County Sheriff. Incumbent two-term Republican Sheriff David Morgan filed back on January 13.
Baldwin’s background includes 35 years with the Pensacola Police Department. He holds a master’s degree in international relations and a bachelor’s in criminal justice. His work with Florida’s Domestic Security Task Force includes several on several state oversight committees responsible for coordinating funding, training and equipment throughout the state.
“This race is for the people of Escambia County. I love my community and look forward to continuing my law enforcement service as sheriff,” Baldwin said in a written release.
Baldwin’s son, Doug Baldwin, Jr., is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.
Pictured: Doug Baldwin upon his retirement from the Pensacola Police Department in 2013.