Century Council Questions Mayor’s Airline Ticket Purchases; Commissioner Disagrees With Answer
December 19, 2018
Members of the Century Town Council are questioning the mayor’s purchase of airline tickets, and an Escambia County Commissioner is disagreeing with the mayor’s explanation.
A bill list presented to the council showed the purchase of multiple airline tickets totaling about $1,600. Council President Ann Brooks questioned the charges and the mayor’s authority to make the purchases because he has a $200 spending limit under the town charter.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said the tickets were purchased for “economic development” and to bring “some folks” to Century to discuss a potential business in the town.
Hawkins said he received permission from Commissioner Steven Barry to buy the airline tickets with reimbursement by the county. Escambia County committed $105,000 for economic development in the Century area this fiscal year. Proposals for the money are presented to Barry who in turn seeks approval of the entire commission at a regular meeting. So far, the commission has approved only $24,500 to the University of West Florida Haas Center for a market analysis [read more].
But Barry said Tuesday he never even spoke to the mayor about the purchase of airline tickets.
“Unfortunately, I have not had any conversation with anyone related to the use of the Escambia County dollars allocated for economic development in the Town of Century, other than the formal request the town submitted and the county approved for the implementation of the first phase of the Haas Center study,” Barry said in a statement to NorthEscambia.com. “Based on my commitment to our board, I need to bring any additional expenditures of those dollars to one of our board meetings for approval.”
The following charges to airlines or travel services appear on the bill list presented to the town council Monday night:
- American Airlines $501.40
- Delta Air Lines $366.90
- Expedia $560.92
- Frontier Airlines $214.90
Pictured: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins listens to a council discussion Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Collects $2 Million Powerball Prize
December 19, 2018
A Cantonment man has claimed a $2 million lottery prize.
The Florida Lottery announced Tuesday that Gary Moore claimed a $2 million prize from the October 27 Powerball drawing. The winning ticket matched all five of the white ball numbers but did not match the Powerball.
Moore purchased his winning ticket from Winn Dixie on South Highway 29 in Cantonment. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
Report: Holman Prison Has Only About 40 Percent Of Required Security Staff
December 19, 2018
Holman Prison in Atmore has only about 40 percent of the required security staff, according to a report published Tuesday.
The Montgomery Advertiser reported that Holman employs just 72 of the 195 needed to staff the maximum security prison 24 hours a day.
Holman inmate Vaquerro Kinjuan Armstrong, 29, was stabbed to death December 2, and multiple more have been assaulted. One was airlifted to an area hospital after receiving multiple stab wounds. The December 2 incident prompted a security lockdown.
The newspaper reported that 951 inmates were housed at Holman, a facility that opened in 1969.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Photos: Northview Culinary Students Create Gingerbread Houses
December 19, 2018
Northview High School Culinary 3 students created gingerbread houses to display during the Christmas season.
The students created these from scratch, creating their own patterns and making the dough and icing.
The houses are on display by the the front office.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnson Sinks Final Shot To Lift Northview To Victory Over Freeport
December 19, 2018
Joseph Johnson sank the final shot of the game as time expired to lift Northview to a 61-59 win over Freeport Tuesday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Johnson led the Chiefs with 20 points. Also scoring for Northview: Jason Fayard 15, Seth Killam 12, Ray Bush 7, Ben Wilson 5, Quay Thomas 2.
The Chiefs off for Christmas until the Pensacola Catholic Christmas tournament beginning December 27. They will have another shot at Freeport on the road January 22.
GIRLS
Freeport 38, Northview 25
The Northview girls will next take the court January 8 at W.S. Neal.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wet Period Begins Wednesday; Weekend Looks Wonderful
December 19, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers by afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers before 7pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 7pm and 4am, then showers likely after 4am. Low around 53. East wind around 5 mph becoming south after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Pictured: Daylight fades at Lake Stone in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Desantis, Lawmakers Look To Boost In Florida Tax Dollars
December 19, 2018
With an unexpected surge in sales-tax and corporate income-tax collections, analysts on Tuesday projected a significant increase in state revenue over two years.
If the revenue projections hold, it will ease the financial pressure on incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he prepares his first budget recommendation, and on the Legislature, which must pass a 2019-2020 state budget when it meets in the spring.
State revenue collections during the fiscal year that started July 1 have been running $365.2 million ahead of projections that had been last revised in August. The two largest components of that increase were $173.5 million in sales-tax collections running ahead of estimates and $126 million in additional corporate income-tax collections.
The sales tax, which generates about $26 billion a year, and the corporate income tax, which generates about $2.2 billion, are the two largest general revenue sources in the state budget. General revenue taxes are closely watched in the Capitol because they play a key role in funding schools, health programs and prisons.
Based on the robust tax collections, the analysts boosted their general revenue projections by $842 million over two years, with a $461.5 million increase in 2018-2019 and a $380.5 million increase in 2019-2020.
In reading the consensus report, Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, noted the $842 million adjustment has come at the same time analysts have adopted state and national economic forecasts that show some weakening in key economic factors.
“While this is the largest combined (two-year) increase since April 2006, during the peak of the housing boom, the conference recognizes that there is an elevated level of risk due to the mature stage of the current economic expansion,” Baker said.
Nonetheless, the new estimates show the state should collect an additional $1.48 billion in general revenue this year, a 4.8 percent increase over the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The new 2019-2020 general revenue projection is 3.1 percent, or $1.01 billion, higher than this year.
Analysts projected a $156 million increase in corporate income- tax collections this year, which they said is likely to result in tax refunds due to a new state law.
“The new level of net collections (receipts minus refunds) forecast for the current year, if they materialize, would trigger the tax rate reduction and refund provisions in (House Bill) 7093 as passed by the 2018 Legislature,” the report said.
It would result in $49.9 million in tax savings for the companies that pay the corporate income tax in 2019-2020 and $12.6 million in 2020-2021.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Mobile Home, Heavy Truck Registrations Due December 31
December 19, 2018
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, reminds those residents who own mobile homes, heavy trucks, nine-passenger, for hire and commercial vehicles to renew their registration by December 31.
Mobile homes taxed as real property (RP) must display a permanent RP decal. Mobile homes not taxed as real property are subject to annual registration fees. Each section of the mobile home requires a separate registration, that must be displayed and visible from the roadway. Registration fees are based on the length of the mobile home and must be renewed by December 31. A delinquency fee will be charged if the registration is not renewed by January 10, 2019.
Florida law requires that registrations for all trucks with an empty weight of 5,000 pounds or more expire in December. The registered owner is required to declare a gross vehicle weight (GVW). Registration fees are determined by the gross vehicle weight.
Citizens are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com, click the Express Lane – Same Day Vehicle/Vessel Registration Renewal and Pickup button to renew online fee free with eCheck. Renewals processed before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday can be picked up the same day. Renewals after 3 p.m. can be picked up the next business day.
Kathryn T. Chapman
December 19, 2018
Kathryn T. Chapman, 93 of Atmore, AL. passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018, in Atmore, AL. She was a homemaker. She was born in Allen, AL on March 20, 1925, to the late Fisher D. and Nettie Cammack Tarleton. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Atmore.
She is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Fisher Ruth Tucker, Maxine “Maggie” Weston; and one brother, Morris E. Tarleton .
Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Giles D. Chapman, Jr. of Atmore, AL; one son, G. David (Carolyn) Chapman, III; one daughter, Mary “Kathy” (Bryan) Keel of Atmore, AL; two grandchildren, Dixon Keel and David (Melissa) Keel.
Graveside services will be Friday December 21, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. in Grove Hill Cemetery.
Celebration of Life will be Friday December 21, 2018, at 1 p.m. from the First United Methodist Church of Atmore, with Dr. Debora Bishop officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to more than bricks fund for the First United Methodist Church of Atmore.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Esther Mae Creamer
December 19, 2018
Mrs. Esther Mae Creamer, 89, passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2018, in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Creamer was a native of Wallace, AL and had resided in Century, FL most of her life. She was a member of the Faith Bible Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Odis and Stella Barrow; husband of 37 years, Ervin Creamer and three brothers, Eugene Barrow, Jack Barrow and Frank Barrow.
She is survived by one son, Floyd Creamer of Mississippi; one daughter, Sue (Tony) Nolen of Century, FL; two brothers, Roger (Winnie) Barrow of Dayton, Ohio and Gary (Jean) Barrow of Century, FL; four grandchildren, Olivia Nolen, Zoe Creamer, Maddie Creamer and Abigail Creamer; two great-grandchildren, Bryson Moore and Braxton Moore and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Barrow officiating.
Burial was at Rock Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Tony Nolen, Jeff Nolen, Steve Creamer, Donald Godwin, Randy Murph and Joe Brown.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.