Time’s Up For Homebuyer Tax Credit
April 28, 2010
Time is running out for home buyers to take advantage of thousands of dollars in federal tax credits for purchasing a home.
The $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers expire Friday. However, service members who were on official extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan.1, 2009 and May 1, 2010, may qualify for a one-year extension.
If a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, home buyers have until June 30, 2010 to complete the purchase.
For more information, visit the National Association of Home Builders at federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
- The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
- The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
- The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
- The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
- The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
- For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
- For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
- To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
- The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
- The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
- The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
- The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
- Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
Source: National Association of Home Builders
Escambia’s Top Seniors Honored
April 28, 2010
The brightest high school seniors were honored Tuesday night at the Escambia County Senior Academic Awards.
The awards honor the top five students at each school plus those that have excelled in other subjects.
Those honor from North Escambia schools were:
Northview High School Top Five
- Jessica N. Bloodsworth
- Kaitlyn Caraway
- Clinton E. Davis
- Felicia Settle
- Mark A. Shipps, Jr.
Northview High Top in Subject Areas
- Candice L. Greenwell, English
- Caitlin Hall, foreign language
- Bradley J. Lowery, math
- Jackson Smith, science
- Kolbi Cobb, social studies
- Eric Ickeringill, career and technical
Tate High School Top Five
- Stevie Evans
- Christopher Hester
- Caitlin Perkins
- Rebecca Rougeau
- Allison Shiflett
Tate High Top in Subject Areas
- Allison Bailey, English
- Davin Samuel, foreign language
- Corry Bedwell, math
- Sara Woodbury, science
- Lynsey Meharg, social studies
- Karissa Kleinschmidt, career and technical
Pictured above: Northview students Jessica Bloodsworth, Clinton Davis, Felicia Settle, Mark Shipps, Jr., and Jackson Smith at Tuesday night’s Escambia County Senior Academic Awards. Submitted photo by Jill Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Of The Month Named
April 26, 2010
Escambia County Students of the Month for April have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from North Escambia area schools:
- Bratt: Emilee A. Cabral, pre-kindergarten; Jeremiah D. Woods, third grade
- Jim Allen: Dove D. Tucker, fourth grade; Latoya L. Williams, fourth grade
- Molino Park: Jerry K. Calvert, second grade; Shadonavon M. Young, first grade
- Ernest Ward: Courtney B. Weekley, sixth grade; Decordic D. King, seventh grade
- Ransom: Jordan A. Lammens, eighth grade; Christopher A. Payne, eighth grade
- Northview: Tori D. Reid, 10th grade; Chad M. Smith, ninth grade
- Tate: Kaleigh L. Blackmon, 10th grade; James L. Sherrill, 11th grade
Pictured top: Tori Reid and Christopher Payne, Northview High School’s Students of the Month for April. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos: Relay In Atmore, Century; Sawmill Day; Ernest Ward Sports; EREC
April 26, 2010
It was a busy weekend across North Escambia, and our NorthEscambia.com cameras were there, bringing you the photos from Relay for Life Events in Atmore and Century, Sawmill Day in Century, the Ernest Ward Middle Sports Banquet and the EREC Annual Meeting in Bratt.
For photos from the Century Relay for Life, click here.
For photos from the Atmore Relay for Life, click here.
For photos from Sawmill Day in Century, click here.
For photos from the EREC Annual Meeting in Bratt, click here.
For photos from the Ernest Ward Middle Sports Banquet, click here.
Pictured: In one of the most unique of our weekend photos, Paula Jernigan (top) and Nadine McCaw pose at the Century Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Area Fights Cancer With Relay For Life
April 25, 2010
Communities from across the area joined together Saturday and early Sunday morning for Century’s Relay for Life.
The event, which benefits the American Cancer Society, was held from noon Saturday until early Sunday morning at the Old Century High School gymnasium — forced indoors by Saturday’s stormy weather.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
“It is a community joining together for a common goal — celebrating life, remembering those lost to cancer and fighting back against the disease” Paula Jernigan, Century’s Relay chairperson, said.
During Saturday’s opening ceremony, Tri-City Ledger Publisher Joe Thomas (pictured) spoke about his battle with prostate cancer during the past year — and his victory over the disease due to early intervention and technology made possible in part by the American Cancer Society.
Participating teams included the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Tina’s Journey, The Mud Bugs, Ernest Ward Middle School, Emerald Coast Hospice, Byrneville Elementary School, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Century Correctional Institution, Students Stomping and the Century Library.
Pictured top: The Century Relay for Life gets underway Saturday afternoon with a Survivors Lap at the old Century High School. Pictured inset: Tri-City Ledger Publisher Joe Thomas speaks about his battle with prostate cancer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Holds Relay For Life
April 25, 2010
Rain forced the Atmore Relay for Life indoors this year but did not dampen the spirit of those working to fight cancer.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Teams participating in the 2010 Atmore Relay for Life included Atmore Community Hospital, Atmore First Assembly, Atmore News, Atmore Nursing Care Center, Elaine’s Team, First National Bank & Trust, Gulf Winds, Liberty Belle’s, Masland Carpet, Poarch Creek Indians, Team Hope, United Bank, Walgreens and Winn Dixie.
The fund raising goal for this year’s Atmore Relay for Life was $65,000, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
Pictured above and below: The Atmore Relay for Life was forced indoors Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Holds Sawmill Day
April 25, 2010
The Sawmill Day heritage festival was held Saturday in Century’s historical park. The event included a variety of entertainment, displays, arts, crafts, food, an antique car show and more.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EREC Holds Annual Meeting
April 25, 2010
Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s 71st Annual Meeting was held Saturday at Northview High School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Entertainment prior to the start of the business session at Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting Saturday. Pictured below: Lunch was provided by the Northview High School FFA. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Drama Presents Narnia
April 16, 2010
The Northview High School Theater Department presented Narnia — The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Friday night to rave reviews.
Cast and crew members included 26 students: Clint Davis as Aslan, Professor and Father Christmas; Nathan Taylor as Peter; Abigail Odom as Susan; Justin Purvis as Edmund; Georgia Goetter as Lucy; Angel Mitchel as Mrs Thomas; Tyler Hunter as The White Witch; Kayla Dempsey as The Dwarf Hag; Eric Ickeringill as Mr Beaver; Olivia Nolen as Mrs Beaver; Micah Byars as Fenris Ulf the Captain of the Witch’s Army; Erin Freemin as Monkey; Victoria Barrow as Goat; Jazzlyn Franklin as Panther; Jamichael Carson as Centaur Aslan’s Gaurd; Taylor Rigby as the Rabbit Spy; LaDerius Franklin as The Minotaur and Stage Manager; Aaron Hammond as The Spectra; Blake Luker as the Pig Man; Mallorie Okahashi Stage Hand; Alanna Johnson Stage Hand; Felicia Settle Stage Hand Curtain Operator; Johnny Robbins Sound Tech; Mason Coleman Spotlight Man; Miranda Scott Assistant Stage Manger; and Sebastian Jones Light Tech.
Pictured above: (L-R) Justin Purvis as Edmund, Nathan Taylor as Peter, Georgia Goetter as Lucy and Abigail Odom as Susan. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Students Send Veterans On Honor Flight (With Photo Gallery)
April 15, 2010
The World War II veterans on the sixth Emerald Coast Honor Flight were welcomed back to Pensacola last night by thousands, including members of the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders.
The students and staff in the Escambia County School District raised $114,000 to sponsor the flight to Washington for the veterans to tour the World War II Memorial and other monuments in the nation’s capital. Almost 100 veterans were on Wednesday’s flight.
During “mail call” on the flight from Pensacola, each veteran received mail — cards and letters — from students and school staff from every school in the district.
Each school in the district raised funds for the trip, including $2,580 contributed by Ernest Ward.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Photos submitted by Ramona Fischer.)
Pictured top: Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders welcomed veterans on the sixth Emerald Coast Honor Flight back to the Pensacola airport Wednesday night. Cheerleaders pictured are: (back L-R) Lily Townson, Tamara Green, Mallory Ryan, Anna Fischer, Katelynn Calloway, Chelsea Ward Front, (front) Morgan Ward, Hannah Gibson, Mallory Wiggins and Paeton Hadley. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.