Appointee Sought For Escambia County Merit System Protection Board
August 12, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Merit System Protection Board.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment on the Merit System Protection Board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business on Friday, Aug. 25. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
Please be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
Merit System Protection Board
The MSPB was created to provide a fair and equitable mechanism for the expeditious review of appeals and grievances of the classified employees of the county before a non-partisan deliberative body. County Ordinance 2005-38 provides the means for a classified, permanent employee under the jurisdiction of the MSPB to appeal disciplinary actions, and that these employees may file an appeal or grievance for perceived violations of the ordinance or the rules. Presently, the classified employees under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office and the Supervisor of Elections are covered under the MSPB. The term of office of the member appointed by the BCC is two years.
Qualifications of Board Members
No person shall be appointed to the Merit System Protection Board as a member who:
- Has not been a resident of Escambia County for two or more years preceding the appointment to the MSPB.
- Is holding an elective or appointive office in federal, state, county or municipal government provided that prior appointment as a member of the MSPB shall not disqualify a person from being reappointed.
- Held political office in, or was a salaried or hourly employee of Escambia County, during the 12 months preceding appointment to the MSPB.
- Is a member of the immediate family of a current employee or elected official of Escambia County.
- Is a current officer of any union representing employees of Escambia County.
- Is working for any vendor who has a current contractual agreement with any participating appointing authority.
- Has been convicted of, or has had adjudication withheld of, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.
Qualifications must be maintained throughout the member’s tenure, or the member must resign his position on the MSPB.
Attendance
Any member of the MSPB shall be removed and replaced after being absent from more than three consecutive meetings during any calendar year. The MSPB shall determine whether any member’s absence is unexcused.
Compensation of Board Members
The MSPB members shall serve on a voluntary basis and not be financially compensated for their service.
Meeting Schedule
MSPB meetings are held once per month on the second Tuesday; the meeting is generally less than one hour. Hours will vary depending on whether an appeal is being heard from an employee. If hearings are scheduled, they would be held immediately after the meeting. There has been less than one appeal/hearing in the past years.
Extension Service Offers ‘Beekeeping In The Panhandle’ Series
August 12, 2017
The UF/IFAS Extension Panhandle Agriculture Team will offer “Beekeeping in the Panhandle,” a summer series of three intermediate level beekeeping classes. The classes will be taught via interactive web-conferencing by state and nationally recognized specialists at extension offices across Northwest Florida. Registration for all three classes is $15 per person or $25 per family (up to four), and covers course materials and refreshments. This series will be held on Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. as follows:
- Thursday, Aug. 17 – Fall Pest and Disease Management: Varroa Mites and Nosema, presented by Cameron Jack, UF/IFAS Bee Lab apiarist
- Thursday, Aug. 24 – Working With Pollination Contracts, presented by Jeanette Klopchin, FDACS Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection
- Thursday, Sept. 7 – Minimizing Honey Bee Exposure to Pesticides, presented by Jeanette Klopchin, FDACS Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection
To register, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office in Escambia County at (850) 475-5230.
New App Has Grades, Escambia School District Information
August 12, 2017
The Escambia County School District unveiled a new app on Friday, giving students’ families to new way access information from a smartphone.
The primary purpose for the ECSD Families App is to make the Focus Parent Portal information system easily available and portable, as well as put district news and announcements into the hands of parents. The secondary goal is to make ECSD news more easily available to everyone interested in ECSD information, such as the calendar of events and sports.
“The new ECSD Families App will allow parents to access information about their student’s attendance, assignments and news about assignments by opening the new app and then logging into their Parent Portal account from a mobile device,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “Parents will also be able to switch between multiple students attached to their account.”
Any parent, or guardian, who hasn’t already established a Focus Parent Portal account will find instructions on the opening tab of the App. Everyone will be able to use the settings in the App to pick which ECSD news-feeds they want to see on their phone.
“The App will also be great for our local public to download, so they can access our news-feeds on their mobile device,” added Thomas. “The third tab on the app will include icons to quickly open some of our more frequently visited pages on the District’s web site.”
Available in the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store for Android phones, the ECSD Families App is free.
“When we have important announcements, they will still be available on the ECSD homepage and district Facebook page, but having it on your phone means those news items will be available to you anytime, even if you are away from a computer,” Thomas added. “We are excited to enter the app arena and hope this will be a way for us to communicate quickly with families during an emergency or to share our good news.”
Superintendent Thomas and the ECSD IT department hope to see most families download the ECSD Families App and explore what it has to offer. The district plans to add optional news-feeds and adjust the links as they see which types of information seem to be considered most useful.
Latvala Launches Republican Bid For Governor
August 12, 2017
Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican, joined the 2018 race for governor on Friday, filing papers to make his campaign official.
“My papers were filed by 5-year-old Rays fan Cooper Bishop!” Latvala tweeted shortly after noon, including a picture of the smiling boy in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform holding the candidate’s paperwork.
Latvala, 65, chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, is a veteran lawmaker, serving 15 years during two stints in the Senate. He was first elected in 1994 and returned in 2010.
Friday’s announcement was not a surprise. He will formally kick off his campaign on Wednesday, with stops in Hialeah, Clearwater and Panama City.
Since the 2017 session ended, Latvala has been crisscrossing the state, with a meeting this week in Palm Beach County to talk about the opioid crisis and an appearance in Blountstown last week to talk about the need for more economic development in rural regions.
On Friday, Latvala was in Steinhatchee, where he has a home, for another economic roundtable. On Sunday, he will be on a political talk show hosted by an Orlando television station.
“As a small business owner and public servant, I have a track record of getting things done and solving problems,” Latvala said in a statement announcing his Wednesday itinerary. “One thing you can always expect from me too is when I give you my word, I will keep it.”
Latvala’s entry into the governor’s race is likely to complicate the looming 2018 legislative session, which begins in January, as House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, is another potential gubernatorial contender.
Last week in Blountstown, Latvala sharply criticized Corcoran, saying the House’s efforts to overhaul Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing agency, were “all about making political points, all about trying to make headlines, trying to raise your name identification, whatever.”
Corcoran defended the legislation as an effort to bring “more transparency and accountability” to the marketing program.
Although Latvala is well known in the populous Tampa Bay region, he has never run in a statewide race and will have to raise his profile across Florida.
An early test will be his ability to raise money. A Latvala-affiliated political committee, known as the “Florida Leadership Committee,” raised $362,154 last month and the committee had about $3.84 million available as of the end of July
But that compares to the more than $12.3 million that Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, the leading candidate in the GOP gubernatorial primary, had on hand through the end of last month.
The Republican field seeking to follow Gov. Rick Scott, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits, is likely to grow more crowded. In addition to Corcoran, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., has said he is interested in the race. A political committee that supports DeSantis had raised nearly $1.3 million through the end of July.
by The News Service of Florida
Milton Day Care Owner Gets Life For Murder Of Toddler
August 12, 2017
A Santa Rosa County daycare owner will spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted of the first-degree murder of a toddler
In October 2014, 58-year old Thelma Lowery called 911 from her home daycare, Lowery’s Little Angels, in Milton to report that 15-month old Brodie Kent had been put down for a nap and then went into a seizure. She told authorities that he had been hit in the head by wooden block by another child earlier in the day.
Brodie died five days later.
Multiple doctors testified at Lowery’s trial that the injuries were no accident.
Lowery was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Wahoos Lose To Mobile
August 12, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos started the ninth inning ahead, 1-0, and finished it Friday behind the Mobile BayBears, 3-1.
The Blue Wahoos have now lost three straight games and seven of their last eight and plummeted from first place in the Southern League South Division to fourth, four games behind rival Mobile.
Blue Wahoos big righty Deck McGuire treated the 4,416 filling Blue Wahoos Stadium to seven scoreless innings in this third attempt to earn 10 wins for the first time in his seven-year minor league career.
Mobile leads the Southern Division with a 25-22 record in the second half, while Pensacola, which won the first half, dropped to 21-26.
Blue Wahoos right fielder Aristides Aquino has the top batting average among the four players batting sixth through ninth at .207. As a team, Pensacola is last in the Southern League with a .228 batting average this season.
Kelly said his team is shorthanded with just 11 position players on the roster. Second baseman Shed Long, infielder Angelo Gumbs, first baseman Nick Longhi are all currently on the disabled list. Long is expected back within two weeks.
“(Our players) know we’re shorthanded,” Kelly said. “First, we got to get healthy. We got to get Shed Long back.”
Mobile improved to 2-0 in the five-game series against rival Pensacola and 9-8 this season.
The BayBears scored three runs in the top of the ninth on four straight hits — two singles and two doubles — on Pensacola closer Zack Weiss, who is now 7-10 in save opportunities.
The California Angels No. 3 prospect, first baseman Matt Thaiss, doubled to right field to drive in Mobile shortstop Alberto Triunfel with the tying run, 1-1. Mobile catcher Taylor Ward then doubled on a fly ball over Aquino’s head in right field score both center fielder Brennan Lund and Thaiss to overcome Pensacola, 3-1.
It spoiled McGuire’s stellar outing. He allowed three hits — all singles — and retired 13 batters in a row between the second and seventh inning and 15 of the last 16 batters he faced. This season, he has held the opponent scoreless in seven of his outings and opponents are batting just .207 against McGuire, who has a hard-to-hit slider and curveball combination.
His seven strikeouts gave him 143 this season, which is second in the Southern League.
“He’s been fantastic all year,” Kelly said. “He has a good feel for all his pitches.”
Pensacola’s only run came in the third inning on a missed hit-and-run play. Blue Wahoos center fielder Gabriel Guerrero took off for second but third baseman Nick Senzel struck out.
The throw from BayBears Ward, the catcher, bounced off the glove of BayBears second baseman Jose Rojas and rolled into the outfield, which allowed Pensacola left fielder Brian O’Grady to score for a 1-0 Pensacola lead.
Robert Amerson
August 12, 2017
Mr. Robert “RJ” Amerson, Sr., 91, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, in Bratt, Florida.
Mr. Amerson was a native and lifelong resident of Bratt, FL. He was a member of the Bratt First Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Peter Amerson and Lottie Wiggins Amerson; wife, Margaret Himerwright Amerson; two sons, Danny Amerson and Eddie Amerson; one daughter, Sandra Amerson Wilson; step-son, Jimmy Hibbits; one sister, Vera Louise Amerson Hardy; three brothers, Oliver Peter (Pete) Amerson, Wallace Jerald Amerson and Dewey Eugene Amerson; one grandson, Lance Dawe and one great-grandchild, Macey Amerson.
He is survived by one son, RJ (Bobby) and Judy Amerson, Jr. of Bratt, FL; two brothers, Leo Edward Amerson of Canoe, AL and James and Betty Amerson of Bratt, FL; 11 grandchildren; 13-great grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 12, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Bratt First Baptist Church with Rev. Delbert Redditt officiating.
Burial was at the Godwin Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Rick Amerson, Pete Amerson, Jr., Kevin Amerson, Jeff Amerson, Drew Amerson and Pete Amerson, III.
Honorary pallbearers were the Senior Adult Sunday School Class (Bratt First Baptist Church), Jim Biggs, Joseph Gulley, Leo Odom and Hilton Hall.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Unsettled Weather Pattern Continues For The Weekend
August 12, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Seat Belt Credited With Saving Life In Highway 97 Crash
August 11, 2017
First responders credited the use of a seat belt and the air bag for likely saving a woman’s life in a crash Friday morning on Highway 97.
The female driver lost control of her Lexus, ran off Highway 97 and struck two large pine trees just north of Tungoil Road near Walnut Hill. She hit the first tree with such force that part of the wheel was embedded in the tree (see photo below).
The woman was able to walk away from the wreckage with just minor injuries, mostly from the seat belt and air bag. She was transported non-emergency to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
BOCC Picks Design For New Escambia County Jail
August 11, 2017
The Escambia County Commission has picked a design for the new 720-bed Escambia County Jail and narrowed down the price tag.
Commissioners unanimously selected the bid submitted by Whitesell-Green and Caddell for $128.6 million, plus $5.8 million for upgrades. A second bid was submitted by W.G. Yates and Sons Construction $129.7 million for the basic design, plus $7.9 million for optional upgrades.
The board also voted to authorize staff and the selected design-build entity to utilize Owner Direct Purchases. This is a method whereby the county acts as the pass-through agency for a contractor on subcontracts or other agreements to purchase material. This will allow the county to purchase items associated with this project tax free at an estimated $2 million to $3 million savings.
With additional prep work, the total cost for the facility is expected to be about $114.8 million to replace the county’s detention center that exploded in 2014. There were two people killed and nearly 200 were injured.
The selection was made at a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, so the commission will be required to vote officially at the next regular commission meeting.
The Whitesell-Green/Caddell Joint Venture is a partnership of Whitesell-Green of Pensacola and Caddell Construction of Montgomery, AL. Company officials told the commission that they place to use as many local subcontractors as possible.
The new jail will be constructed at the site of the McDonald Shopping Center on the southeast corner of Fairfield Drive and Pace Boulevard, adjacent to the current 1980’s jail. The two facilities will be connected.
Construction could begin as early as January with completion in late 2019.
