Myron (Blondie) Hilburn Stanton
March 21, 2017
Myron (Blondie) Hilburn Stanton, age 68, moved on to eternal life at her home Friday, March 17, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was born December 29, 1948. She grew up in Pensacola and loved the beach. She dearly loved her family, enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and traveling. She served many years as a park volunteer at Fort Pickens and Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains. Myron enjoyed doing taxidermy and all kinds of crafts.
Myron is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lillian Hilburn; and father and mother-in-law, Alma and Exa Stanton.
She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Paul; son and daughter-in-law, Bill (Charley) Stanton; brothers, Dwight J, Colen (Betty), Willard (Geraleane) and Millard (Beth) Hilburn; sisters, Chrystal (Larry) Brooks, Connie (Les) Lassiter and Margaret Williams; grandsons, Austin and Dylan Stanton and Christopher Ralich; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Spring Begins With Warm, Sunny Day
March 20, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Regulators Ready To Grapple With Gulf Power Rate Increase Request
March 20, 2017
State regulators are poised to hear arguments about a request from Gulf Power to raise base electric rates for hundreds of thousands of customers in Northwest Florida, amid opposition from consumer, business and environmental groups.
The Florida Public Service Commission is scheduled Monday to begin a multi-day hearing on Gulf Power’s request for a $106.8 million base-rate increase. Pensacola-based Gulf provides electricity to about 450,000 customers in eight counties and is one of four major investor-owned utilities in the state.
In a document filed last month in advance of the hearing, Gulf said the increase is needed “both to continue to provide reasonable and adequate service to its customers and simultaneously to recover the costs of providing that service including a reasonable and adequate rate of return on invested capital.”
“If Gulf is rendered unable to meet its obligations to the customers and shareholders due to inadequate rates, both stakeholder groups will suffer,” the document said. “The customers will suffer from less reliable service and eventually higher costs of electricity than would otherwise be the case, while the shareholders will suffer from an inadequate and confiscatory return on investment and will seek other places to invest their money.”
But the proposed increase has drawn objections from the state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility cases, and other parties ranging from Walmart to the Sierra Club. The Office of Public Counsel and other opponents have argued, in part, that Gulf Power’s base rates should decrease by about $2 million — not increase.
“The ultimate issue to be addressed by the (Public Service Commission) in this proceeding is whether Gulf Power Company needs any additional revenues in order to provide safe, adequate, reliable service, to recover its legitimate costs of providing such service, and to have an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable return on its legitimate investment in assets used and useful in serving Gulf’s retail customers,” Walmart said in a filing last month. “The evidence offered by intervenor parties … shows that, in total, the answer to this question is that Gulf can indeed fulfill its duty to provide safe, adequate, reliable service with no rate increase at all and probably with a modest overall rate reduction of approximately $2 million per year.”
Public Service Commission hearings in base-rate cases are highly technical and include detailed information about utility finances and operations. Gulf Power’s current base rates stem from a settlement of a 2013 rate case.
A key issue in many rate cases — and likely in the upcoming Gulf hearing — is setting a “return on equity,” a measure of profitability. In its proposal, Gulf Power is seeking an 11 percent return on equity, while the Office of Public Counsel argues the rate should be 8.875 percent.
Another issue in the case involves whether costs related to a Georgia power plant, known as Plant Scherer, should be included in the base rates. Gulf and other utilities have owned stakes in the plant. In the past, Gulf Power sold electricity generated at the plant on the wholesale market but now uses power from the plant for its retail customers.
“Gulf is requesting that the (Public Service) Commission now include in retail rates the portion of (the plant) that is no longer committed under long-term off-system wholesale contracts,” Gulf said in the document filed last month. “This action is necessary to honor the regulatory compact that contemplates that Gulf is entitled to the opportunity to earn a fair return on prudent investments that are used and useful in the public service.”
But the other parties in the case are fighting the proposal to include the costs in base rates. The Office of Public Counsel, for instance, argued that “Gulf is asking the commission to let it put a 30-year-old coal plant in retail rate base after its shareholders had wrung out all of the profit from it in the wholesale market place since it was acquired but never needed for retail rates.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Century Workshop Tonight To Discuss Water, Gas, Garbage Rates
March 20, 2017
The Century Town Council will hold a public workshop this evening to discuss water, gas and garbage rates.
At recent council meetings, Mayor Henry Hawkins has called for rates to be increased to stop financial losses. Alicia Jernigan, Century’s certified wastewater operator, said the town’s wastewater “is failing”, comprised of aging equipment that has not been properly maintained, is wearing out, or is now functionally obsolete.
The special hearing on “enterprise rates” — water, gas and garbage — will be held at 6 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. A regular council meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public.
Pictured: The Century wastewater treatment plant. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Brush Fire Quickly Extinguished
March 20, 2017
Firefighters quickly extinguished a brush fire in Bratt Sunday afternoon. The fire was reported about 5:50 p.m. in the 500 block of North Highway 99, between Bratt Elementary School and Highway 4. The fire burned through a small lot between a residence and a parking area. There were no injuries reported. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Incredible Kids Day; Camp Fire Birthday
March 20, 2017
The children at Camp Fire Century recently celebrated Camp Fire’s 108th Birthday and Absolutely Incredible Kids Day.
Camp Fire’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day honors our nation’s youth by asking adults to write letters of encouragement and inspiration to the incredible kids in their lives. It is a simple, meaningful way to let youth know how much they are appreciated. This year, the staff at Camp Fire Century wrote 207 letters for Byrneville Elementary school to pass out to their students.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Names New Drum Major, Assistant
March 20, 2017
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band has named Clayton Findley (left) as drum major for 2017-2018. Camilla Windham (right) has been named assistant drum major. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Moves Forward With State College Changes
March 20, 2017
A bill that would create a new board to oversee the state college system, place limits on students enrolled in baccalaureate-degree programs and revamp the approval process for four-year degrees at state colleges advanced in the Senate.
The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill (SB 374), sponsored by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, after changing some provisions that have drawn opposition from the state college advocates.
Subcommittee Chairman Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who is handling the legislation as Hukill recovers from surgery, said Florida has “a very good college system.” He said where the system “stands out” and has won national awards is with its ability to graduate students with two-year degrees who then finish four-year degrees at state universities, the so-called “2-plus-2 articulation” system.
But Galvano said that changed 15 years ago when state colleges received approval to start four-year, or baccalaureate, degree programs. In the past, the colleges were known as community colleges.
“What we have seen in recent years, since the authorization of the baccalaureate degrees, is a proliferation of these type of degrees,” Galvano said. Senate analysts said 27 of the 28 state colleges offer a total of 179 four-year degrees.
And Galvano said some of those degrees don’t seem to be in line with “workforce demands in communities and regions,” which was the primary purpose of allowing the schools to have four-year degree programs.
To address that issue, the bill would impose a cap on the baccalaureate degree programs. That has been one of the most controversial issues for state college leaders, who argue the four-year degree programs remain a minor part of their mission and that they are serving more “non-traditional” students, including many part-time students, older students and minority students.
As part of ongoing negotiations about the bill, the Senate panel eased off on the cap somewhat, raising the trigger to limit four-year enrollments when baccalaureate students represent 10 percent of the overall school enrollment, up from an original 8 percent.
The amendment came from Sen. Gary Farmer, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who said his analysis showed state colleges were serving critical local workforce needs while not harming university enrollment.
“Our universities are thriving and, frankly, they are packed,” Farmer said.
In another adjustment, the Senate subcommittee backed off a “one-year” notice provision that colleges would have to file if they wanted to propose a new baccalaureate program. The amended bill creates a six-month “notice of interest,” followed by a “notice of intent” that would have to be filed 100 days before submitting the proposal to the Division of Florida Colleges.
The bill also would rename the college system as the Florida Community College system and create a 13-member State Board of Community Colleges to oversee the 28 schools, similar to the Board of Governors, which oversees the 12 state universities. The state college system previously had a separate oversight board, but it was abolished in 2003 and the colleges were moved under the state Board of Education, which also oversees the K-12 system.
Ann McGee, president of Seminole State College, said the 28 college presidents appreciated the changes the Senate has made in the bill, while suggesting they want to see more modifications.
“The baccalaureates are very important to us,” McGee said. “We pledged to work with you as we go forward on this bill because we want to be all about access for our students and success for our students because we know how important that is.”
The bill next heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. A similar bill (HB 929) has not been heard in the House.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Betty Lou Carnley Hanks
March 20, 2017
Mrs. Betty Lou Carnley Hanks, 75, passed away Monday, March 20, 2017, in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Hanks was a native and lifelong resident of Jay, Florida. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and never met a stranger. She was a member of the Ebenezer Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Cozette Hanks and daughter, Angie Hanks Nelson.
She is survived by her son, Matt (Samantha) Hanks of Flomaton, AL; four brothers, Clarence (Minnie) Carnley of Pace, FL, Leon (Barbara) Carnley of Jay, FL, Melvin (Audrey) Carnley of Jay, FL and Curtis (Dianne) Carnley of Flomaton, AL; three grandchildren, Paul Thomas Black, Candace Black and Courtney Black; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 24, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Ebenezer Church with the Rev. Bobby Carnley and Rev. Danny Carnley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Ebenezer Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 23, 2017, from 6 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at the Ebenezer Church.
Pallbearers will Matt Hanks, Marcus Carnley, Travis Carnley, Michael Carnley, Paul Thomas Black and Wayne Roney.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Missing Escambia County Senior Located
March 19, 2017
UPDATE 12:40 a.m. 3/20 — The Florida Silver Alert for Joseph Monier has been canceled. He was located safe and sound in Louisiana early Monday morning.
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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has issued a silver alert for a missing man.
They are searching for 69-year old Joseph Monier. He is described as being five-foot, six-inches tall, 190 pounds with salt and pepper hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a green button up shirt, blue jeans and driving a tan 2005 Ford F-150 with Florida tag DV1883C. If you have any information about his whereabouts, call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at at (850) 436-9620.