Still Time To Get A Special Edition Toy Story 4 Library Card
September 26, 2019
West Florida Public Libraries are offering a special edition library card during September in honor of Library Card Sign-up Month.
The special edition card features Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” characters joining the American Library Association on an adventure to promote the value of a library card.
While library cards are always free for Escambia County residents, the usual $3 replacement fee for lost or damaged cards will be waived during the month of September as part of the celebration.
September was designated as Library Card Sign-up Month by the ALA in 1987, after then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett issued a challenge. The challenge was for a national campaign encouraging every child to obtain and regularly use a library card.
Escambia County residents can find information about getting a library card or sign up at mywfpl.com/borrow/card.
Local Students Gather For ‘See You At The Pole’ (With Photo Gallery)
September 25, 2019
Students gathered to pray at their schools across the area Wednesday morning during the annual See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: See You at the Pole events Wednesday morning at schools across the North Escambia area. NorthEscambia.com and submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Century Hiring Firm Now To Avoid Late Audit For Sixth Straight Year
September 25, 2019
The Town of Century is exercising a contract option to hire an auditor to avoid late filing for a sixth straight year.
They are engaging Warren-Averett to perform the town’s fiscal year 2018-2019 audit. The fiscal year does not end until September 30, and Interim Town Manager Buz Eddy said the town is getting ahead of the game to avoid being late with the audit that is not due to the state until June 30, 2020.
Warren-Averett will charge the same $30,000 fee as their 2017-2018 audit for the town. The fee was increased from $21,000 in the 2016-2017 fiscal year because due to concerns over the utility billing cycle, concerns noted in a grand jury report, incorrect information provided that required multiple adjustments in the previous audits and a failure to follow an audit timeline.
The town’s audit has been late in violation of state law for the past five years.
Pictured: Mayor Henry Hawkins listens as auditor Kristen McAllister presents her 2018-2019 findings during an August 2019 meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crews To Replace Highway 29 Railroad Crossing In Cantonment This Weekend
September 25, 2019
Crews will replace the Highway 29 railroad crossing at International Paper in Cantonment this weekend, and that will lead to traffic delays.
North and southbound Highway traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction south of Muscogee Road in Cantonment from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 to 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30 as crews replace the CSX railroad crossing. During the crossing work, crews will stop traffic in two intervals for approximately 15 minutes to move the new rails into place.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Atmore Extends Splash Pad Season
September 25, 2019
The City of Atmore has announced their splash pad will remain open a little later this season due to our warm weather.
Atmore Mayor Jim Staff said the splash pad on South Trammel Street at West Craig Street will be open until October 7. It is open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
TSA PreCheck Enrollment Available This Week At Pensacola Airport
September 25, 2019
TSA PreCheck enrollment is available this week at the Pensacola International Airport.
The Transportation Security Administration PreCheck Temporary Enrollment Center provides an opportunity for eligible travelers to sign up for and save time in airport security lines. Registration is available daily from 8 a.m. until noon and 1-5 p.m. through Friday.
Travelers must apply online and make an appointment for the service.
TSA PreCheck offers a five-year, $85 membership that allows eligible travelers to go through security without removing their shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets.
How it Works
1. Apply Online - Submit an online application in five minutes and schedule an appointment at a TSA Enrollment Center.
2. Background Check - A 10 minute, in person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting.
3. Enjoy TSA PreCheck – Add your Known Traveler Number to your ticket.
To learn more about TSA PreCheck and review a list of documents to bring to the Enrollment Center, visit the TSA website.
Pictured: The TSA Precheck line at the Pensacola International Airport. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Appointee Sought For Escambia County Merit System Protection Board
September 25, 2019
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, Oct. 4. Resumes should be submitted to Shamara Jernigan, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to boardapply@myescambia.com.
ECSO: Two Men Arm Themselves With Shovels, One Pulls Knife During Disturbance
September 25, 2019
A verbal argument that led to two men arming themselves with shovels ended with one charged with pulling a knife on the other.
The incident happened at Washington and Callaway streets in Cantonment.
Louis David Robinson, 53, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The victim told deputies that Robinson armed himself with a shovel during an argument, so he went to a shed and also grabbed a shovel. The victim said the two men never approached each other with the shovels, and they both put them away.
The victim then approached Robinson at his truck in the street, and Robinson pulled out a large butcher knife and came toward him, according to an arrest report. The victim retreated and called 911. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigation determined Robinson came within about 10 feet of the victim while armed with the knife.
Robinson told deputies that the victim came toward him with a shovel, and the knife was in his pocket not his hand.
Based upon the victim’s sworn statement, his ability to accurately describe the knife and a statement by Robinson that he did pick the knife up, Robinson was placed under arrest.
Atmore Man Murdered In ‘Ambush’ Shooting
September 24, 2019
An Atmore man was shot and killed in an apparent ambush early Tuesday morning, not far from Escambia County Middle School.
The shooting occurred about 2:30 a.m. on Jimbos Road, about a block from Escambia County Middle School on Highway 21.
“When officers arrived on scene, they found a male subject identified as Roderick Watkins, Jr. laying beside his car. Officers also noticed several bullet shell casings laying next to the car,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com. “Preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Watkins was ambushed.”
He said Watkins was returning home from work when he was shot.
The car was located in the driveway of a home at the end of the road. The back passenger window of the Nissan Altima was shattered with visible bullet holes.
“We believe at this time it was a lone gunman. At this time, we do have a person of interest, and we are actively searching for that individual,” Brook said. He declined to name the person of interest as the investigation continues.
Brook said while the gunman remained on the loose, he did not believe there was any threat to the nearby middle school. He said a K-9 team from the Alabama Department of Corrections searched the area, and it was determined that the suspect may have left the area in a vehicle.
“We believe all the children that are attending Escambia County Middle School are safe,” he said.
No possible motive for the shooting has been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Approves $493 Million Budget, Property Tax Increase
September 24, 2019
The Escambia County Commission Monday evening approve a tax increase and an increased budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The millage rates approved by the board are 6.6165 for the countywide millage rate, .3590 for the Library Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) and .6850 for the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU). The aggregate of these millage rates is 4.32% above the rolled back rate.
The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase.
The commission also approved a balanced unified budget of $493,429,327 for fiscal year 2019/2020. That is 3.41%, or about $1.6 million, more than the current fiscal year.
NorthEscambia.com photo.