Escambia School Board Declares ‘National FFA Week’
January 20, 2016
Tuesday night, the Escambia County School Board approved a resolution declaring National FFA Week for February 20-27, 2016.
“(FFA) is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career successthrough agricultural education at the local, state, and national level,” the resolution stated .
FFA members, advisers and administrators from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools were on hand as the school board unanimously approved the resolution.
To read the school board resolution, click here.
Pictured top: FFA members from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools with a National FFA Week resolution passed Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board. Pictured inset: Northview FFA members Mitchell Singleton, Brandon Korinchak and Courtney Weekley at the school board meeting. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Tax Forecast Could Pose Problems For Scott
January 20, 2016
Economic forecasters Tuesday slashed nearly $400 million from their estimate of how much lawmakers will have to spend in the budget year that begins July 1, increasing questions about Gov. Rick Scott’s plans to cut taxes and boost economic-development incentives.
With tax revenues lagging over the next 18 months and other slight adjustments to the budget, the Legislature will be working with $395.6 million less than economists predicted in October. Overall, the state’s income will still increase by $1.2 billion over the current budget year, which ends June 30.
But given the normal growth in funding for programs like public education — which all sides have promised to boost to record levels — the reduced total for lawmakers will likely put more pressure on Scott’s push for $1 billion in tax cuts and increased spending on incentives used to lure businesses to Florida.
In a statement issued after the new forecast, Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz called the $388.5 million drop in tax revenues “a minor reduction” and said the governor still backed his tax cut plan. The remainder of the $395.6 million forecast reduction stems from budget tweaks. Schutz also said that a proposed gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe would bring in $2.3 billion over eight years. While that funding wouldn’t be available until after the coming budget year, it could soften the tax cuts’ impact on future spending plans.
“We are pleased to also learn that we still have a significant increase in revenues of over $1 billion in fiscal year 2016-17,” Schutz said. “Additionally, most actual revenues end up higher than revenue estimates.”
Legislative leaders, though, were more cautious about the new numbers. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said the revised estimates “remind us that we continue to be in recovery, but we are certainly still bouncing back from the unprecedented recession.”
“Fortunately, we have instituted conservative budgeting principles year after year,” Crisafulli added. “We will be able to make adjustments to our spending plan which will come out in the next few weeks.”
While both Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, have pledged to cut taxes, the House has been more welcoming to Scott’s talk of a larger package. House leaders said last week that they would try to meet the governor’s goal of $1 billion.
Gardiner did not back away from the promise of tax reductions in a statement issued after the new forecast, but emphasized other needs as well.
“Our goal in drafting the Senate budget is to prioritize funding to care for the most vulnerable and other programmatic structural needs of our state,” Gardiner said. “We are also working to strike a balance that reconciles our desire to enhance broad-based tax relief, economic development and other pro-growth policies with our responsibility to set aside ample reserves that allow our state to respond to the potential for continued instability in other economies.”
Driving the softening of the state’s numbers is a projected falloff in corporate income taxes. Economists estimated that Florida would bring in $240.2 million less than previously expected in the current budget year and $257.6 million next year. Meanwhile, the income from sales taxes and insurance premium taxes would increase.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said corporate profits were expected to slow across the country as weakening economic activity overseas made exports a harder sell.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Lady Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night
January 20, 2016
The Northview Lady Chiefs basketball team celebrated Senior Night Tuesday, honoring seniors (pictured below, L-R) Jada Tucker and Lexy Small.
For more photos of the Lady Chiefs’ game against Milton, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lisa Jane Flowers
January 20, 2016
Lisa Jane Flowers of Oak Grove passed away Monday January 18, 2016, in Pensacola. She was born in Atmore to Clayton and Anita Kendrick Flowers.
She was a member of Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill, and was a loving, giving, caring person with a servants heart. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a great witness. She loved horses, swimming, art and excising.
Lisa was a organ and tissue donor by doing that she has helped over a hundred people.
She is preceded in death by grandparents, Wilma Cooper Brooks, Gay and Grace Flowers; aunt Jane Kendrick; step-brother, Jamie Hall and numerous other family members.
She is survived by her parents, Anita (James Earl) Hall of Oak Grove; Clayton (Janice) Flowers of Nokomis; one brother, Scotty (Karen) Flowers of Nokomis; one step-brother, Rusty (Traci) Hall of Waycross, GA; two sisters, Cyndi McGhee
of Spanish Fort and Amanda (Tripp) Dawson of Nokomis; 16 nieces and nephews; eight great nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts uncles, cousins and extended family.
Services will be Friday January 22, 2016, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lee Bateman officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Friday January 22, 2016, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Rain Moving In
January 20, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3am, then a chance of showers. Low around 50. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Driver Plummets Into Deep Ravine In Predawn Wreck
January 19, 2016
A driver escaped injury when he flipped his pickup truck into ravine near Enon, outside Walnut Hill, during the predawn hours Tuesday.
The driver was southbound on South Highway 99 when he failed to negotiate a 90-degree curve at a railroad crossing at South Highway 99 and Highway 97A. His Chevrolet 2500 pickup left the roadway and crashed about 15 feet down into a deep ravine, coming to rest almost upside down in the 5:38 a.m. crash.
The driver was able to free himself from the truck and refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top and below: A driver crashed about 15 feet down into a ravine early Tuesday morning about eight miles from Walnut Hill. Pictured bottom: The truck was not visible from the top of the ravine. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 95A Single Vehicle Crash
January 19, 2016
One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck early Tuesday morning on Highway 95A at North Chipper Road, near Cantonment.
The driver lost control and ran off the roadway and into the woodline about 5:50 a.m. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Cool Tonight; Rain By Thursday
January 19, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 51. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Cantonment Celebrates With Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade (With Gallery)
January 19, 2016
Hundreds of residents of Cantonment celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday with a parade in the area around Carver Park.
Hundreds gathered to enjoy the parade, plus catch candy, beads and other items.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s Legacy (With Photo Gallery)
January 19, 2016
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated across the area Monday.
In Century, a “Keep the Dream Alive’ birthday celebration was held at the Century Community Center. Guest speaker Evangelist Letitia Griggs told the crowd to look beyond the dream, look beyond the one man who had a dream and look toward Jesus regardless of race.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
