Cain Win In Florida Straw Poll Upends Florida Race
September 25, 2011
Herman Cain, a pizza magnate seen as a minor candidate in a crowded field for the GOP nomination, scored an upset victory Saturday in the Republican Party of Florida’s Presidency 5 straw poll, raising questions about the standing of the two front-runners and the bellwether status of the fundraising event.
Cain easily won the straw poll with 37.1 percent of the 2,657 ballots cast. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, viewed as the favorite in the event after riding to the top of opinion polls, came in second with 15.4 percent. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the nationwide favorite before Perry entered the race, took 14 percent of the ballots.
After those three were former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 10.9 percent; U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, 10.4 percent; former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 8.4 percent; former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 2.3 percent; and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, 1.5 percent.
In a video message to his supporters, Cain reveled in the win.
“Folks, this is what you call momentum. … The Herman Cain train is picking up steam,” he said.
The Perry campaign tried to distance itself from the notion that the loss had hurt the Texas governor’s chances of securing Florida and the nomination in the primary fight, pointing out that Perry had been in the race for less than two months.
“This is a devastating loss for Mitt Romney,” press secretary Mark Miner said. “He’s been running for president for over five years, and he came in third today.”
But Romney had long ago announced he would bypass direct competition in the straw poll event, and was one of three GOP candidates — along with Bachmann and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who was not on the ballot — who didn’t either present a case to the GOP delegates or send a surrogate to do so for him.
Perry, on the other hand, did contest the event, with surrogates including Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon taking to the stage to defend him. And Perry had been pummeled in the press and by conservative pundits for his performance in Friday night’s presidential debate and a remark suggesting those who opposed one of his more moderate policies on immigration were heartless.
Even some of Perry’s supporters at the straw poll said those debate snags might have hurt his showing.
“I think he’s going to have to go back and talk a little more about the immigration issue,” said Marion County GOP Chairman Roy Abshier, a Perry backer.
Matt McCary, an Orange Park resident, said Cain had won his support during the straw poll and the primary itself with his showing this weekend.
“The first time I heard Herman Cain speak, that did it for me,” he said.
Cain’s final, fiery speech, shortly before delegates headed to vote, clearly electrified the crowd.
He drew repeated standing ovations by drawing on the Declaration of Independence — at one point telling delegates, “We’ve got some altering and abolishing to do” — and Ronald Reagan’s famously optimistic description of America.
“Let’s push that shining city on a hill back up to the top of the hill,” he said.
It’s unclear whether Cain can transfer the energy of the victory to the ballot box in the state’s yet-to-be-scheduled GOP primary. The former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and cancer survivor’s only prior run for office was a bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. He finished a distant second to then-Congressman Johnny Isakson in the Republican primary, though he beat out another incumbent congressman in that race.
Bachmann, after all, won the Iowa Straw Poll last month before her last-place showing Saturday.
But party leaders have pushed for weeks the notion that the Florida event often predicts the winner of the nomination. Reagan won the event in 1979, followed by George H.W. Bush in 1987 and Bob Dole in 1995.
“As Florida goes, so goes the nation. And as you go, so goes Florida,” Gov. Rick Scott said Saturday, before the results were announced.
Cain’s upstart bid could put that theory to the test.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Back To School: Lunch Menus
August 21, 2011
Here are the elementary lunch menus for the first week of school in Escambia County:
(As of Sunday, the school district had not yet made the middle and high school menus available.)
Elementary
Monday, Aug 22
Poptart
Cheese Wedge
Mixed Fruit
Orange Chicken w/Sticky Rice
Pepperoni Pizza
Fresh Fruit
Peaches
Broccoli
Garden Salad
Tuesday, Aug 23
Cinnamon Toast
Sausage Patty
Mandarin Oranges
Chicken Alfredo
Hotdog
Chef Salad w/ Crackers
Fresh Fruit
Pineapple
Carrots
Roll
Wednesday, Aug 24
Breakfast Pizza
Pears
Fried Chicken
Country Fried Steak
Fresh Fruit
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Garden Salad
Cornbread
Thursday, Aug 25
Chicken Biscuit
Applesauce
Taco Salad
Cheeseburger
Fresh Fruit
Fruit Juice Slush
Corn
Friday, Aug 26
Waffle
Sausage Links
Peaches
Chili Fiesta Stix
Grilled Cheese
Sandwich
Fresh Fruit
Mixed fruit
Green Peas
Garden Salad
Back To School: School Start Times
August 21, 2011
School start and end times are the same this year at Escambia County Schools.
- Elementary: The earliest drop time for students will be 7:20. School will begin at 7:45 and will dismiss at 2:00. The North Escambia area elementary schools — Bratt, Byrneville, Molino Park and Jim Allen — will all follow this schedule. The 7:45 to 2:00 day is the standard elementary day in Escambia County. On early release days, students will be dismissed at 11:00.
- Middle School: Ernest Ward will begin the school day at 9:05 and dismiss at 3:45. The earliest students can be dropped off at school will be 8:55. Ransom Middle School, will follow the standard 9:20 to 4:00 school day with drop off time of 9:05. On early release days, Ernest Ward will dismiss at 12:35 while Ransom will dismiss at 12:50.
- High School: Northview High School will have an 8:30 drop time, and an 8:45 to 3:20 school day. Early release time will be 12:10. Tate High School will have an 8:30 to 3:05 day. Morning drop time will be 8:15. Early release time for Tate will be 12:00.
- For a detailed list of start and dismissal times for all Escambia District Schools, click here (pdf).
Back To School: Lunch Prices, Free And Reduced Guidelines
August 21, 2011
There’s a little good news for parents sending their children back to school Monday in Escambia County — school lunch and breakfast prices are the same as they were last year.
And there’s no need to worry about cash or checks — pay online at mealpayplus.com.
Escambia Breakfast And Lunch Prices
- Elementary Breakfast: $1, full; $0.30, reduced; $1.80, adult.
- Elementary Lunch: $2, full; $0.40, reduced; $3, adult.
- Middle/High Breakfast: $1.50, full; $0.30, reduced; $1.80, adult.
- Middle/High Lunch: $2.50, full; $0.40, reduced; $3, adult.
- Extra Mile (Elementary): $0.50
Free And Reduced Price Meals
Applications will be sent home with students during the first week of school, or apply online.
To view the income guidelines for the free and reduced price meal program, click here.
Sunshine Hill Road Being Resurfaced; Fairground Road To Be Paved Soon
July 5, 2011
One resurfacing project is underway in Molino, and a dirt road paving project is set to begin soon.
A resurfacing project is underway on Sunshine Hill Road in Molino. A county asphalt crew is overlaying the road due to the deterioration of the original “cold mix” surface.
Escambia County is moving forward with a plan to pave the dirt portion of Fairground Road in Molino. A pre-bid conference for contractors will be held on July 6, and bids on the project will be opened on July 20. Once work begins on the project, the low bidder will have 120 days to complete the job.
Mugshots: Child Sex Sting Arrests
June 27, 2011
The following are mugshots of those arrested in an undercover child sex sting as announced Monday by the Pensacola Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies.
For details on the undercover operation and the charges against each man, click here.
More Photos: Pregnant Cow Found Strangled
May 31, 2011
A pregnant cow was found dragged and strangled to death Monday in Enon. For the complete story, click here.
These are additional photos from the scene. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Crackdown Underway
May 24, 2011
Law enforcement agencies across the state are teaming up for a two-week crackdown on motorists that don’t buckle up.
The Escambia and Santa Rosa sheriff’s offices, along with the Florida Highway Patrol will take part in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
During the mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts – both day and night. Seatbelt non-usage is a primary violation and motorists may be stopped for not buckling up as their only offense, according to Sena Madison, a spokesperson for the Escambia Sheriff’s Office.
Local and national law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates all across the country are joining together for the 2011 national Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement May 23 to June 5.
Florida law requires all drivers and occupants in the front seat of a vehicle to fasten their safety belt. Occupants under the age of 18, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, also must buckle up. Safety belts have long been proven to save lives and reduce injuries when worn properly during a vehicle crash. Motorists cited for failure to buckle up face a non-moving violation that carries a $30 base fine, plus court costs if convicted.
Florida achieved a record high last year when the safety belt usage rate climbed to reach 87.4 percent, following the 2010 Click It or Ticket campaign.
Pictured above and below: Just two days after a seat belt usage crackdown began in Escambia County earlier this year, this motorist was stopped on Highway 97 after an Escambia County deputy observed him not wearing a seat belt. In an ironic twist, the bumper sticker on the truck states “Buckle Up! Or Pay Up!”. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Ag Boss Says School Vending Machines Too Sweet
May 19, 2011
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday he may shut down or restrict the use of vending machines in public schools in response to what he says is a public health epidemic of obesity that left unchecked will cost the state millions in health care costs.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Putnam said he hopes Gov. Rick Scott will assist him in that endeavor by signing into law a proposal (SB 1312) to transfer the oversight of school nutritional programs to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The bill was passed by both chambers but has yet to be presented to Gov. Rick Scott.
With obesity on the rise, Putnam believes the bill will give him the authority to place tighter constraints on what schools offer students to eat and drink. Such oversight includes school lunch menus and private vending companies that vie for access to the relatively captive audience.
Charles Van Kilgore
May 18, 2011
Mr. Charles Van Kilgore, age 70, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at his Flomaton residence.
Graveside funeral services for Mr. Kilgore will be held on Friday, May 20, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Green Acres Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.