Learn More About The Newest Cuts Of Beef
November 3, 2009
Beef..it’s what is new for dinner.
Producers and consumers alike can learn more about selecting, preparing and marketing the latest trends in beef cuts with Escambia Extension on Monday, November 16, at 6 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Auditorium located at 4810 West Nine Mile Road .
“Mister Pete,” of Oakes Meat Processing, will discuss common cuts and some of the newer cuts being promoted. Extension Agent Dorothy Lee will demonstrate preparation methods for the new cuts developed to ensure flavorful and hearty beef dishes.
Cost is $5 and dinner is included. Pre-register by November 10. Contact the Escambia County Extension Office, 475-5230, or email Extension Agent Libbie Johnson, libbiej@ufl.edu.
Fog Early, Sunny By Afternoon
November 3, 2009
We can look forward to foggy start in parts of the North Escambia area for the next several days, but our afternoons will be sunny and mild.
Here is your office North Escambia weather forecast:
- Tuesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 73. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 75. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 72. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
NorthEscambia.com Is Celebrating Our Second Birthday
November 3, 2009
NorthEscambia.com is celebrating our second birthday today. We want to offer you a big thanks, and offer a little insight into our little site.
We have been amazed at the response to NorthEscambia.com as it has grown into the area’s mostly widely read news source and one of the top most popular local web sites on the entire Gulf Coast.
Just a year ago, as we celebrated our first birthday, we were humbled that we stood at 2.2 million page view per month. But that has continued to grow by leaps and bounds — in October of this year, we had 6.8 million page views. That put NorthEscambia.com among the most popular websites on the Gulf Coast. And speaking of the Gulf Coast, readers of the Pensacola Independent News recently named NorthEscambia.com as the Best Blog on the Coast.
We quietly started NorthEscambia.com November 3, 2007, announcing it at the annual Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry. Over the next weeks, we expanded our coverage into Century and Molino, building a family of loyal readers like you.
It’s a diverse family.. From elementary age kids to senior adults, people across North Escambia and in surrounding areas like Atmore, Flomaton, Jay, Cantonment and Pensacola turn to NorthEscambia.com for local news.
Online news like NorthEscambia.com is the future of journalism. Television news ratings are down. Newspaper circulations are down. Online news readers are up.
Minutes after news event occurs, we can post the information you need to know. We have the technology in place to post live updates from the scene of the news.
Over the next year, we plan a few changes to improve our service to you. You’ll see more coverage from more stories. You’ll see more videos, maybe even a live video or two. An improved system of delivery for breaking news. More chances for reader participation.
Speaking of reader participation, we added the ability to comment on our stories just over a year ago. Since then, you have expressed your views with almost 20,000 comments. Thanks for joining in. If you have not yet, we encourage you to start leaving your comments on our stories by using the form at the bottom of each story.
A few more numbers we’d like to share…we’ve posted about 12,000 stories in the past two years, with several new stories posted each day. There are almost 20,000 photos in our photo galleries.
We’ve laughed with you, and we’ve cried with you over the past year. We’ve shared those happy moments with your children at their school or on their playing field. We’ve been there as communities suffered tragedies.
We’ve been at your church, your school, your club, your business and elsewhere in your community as things have happened in your lives. If it was important you, it was important to us.
Let us know how we can serve you; that’s what we are here for. Email news@northescambia.com or use our contact form.
Thank you for helping up reach our second birthday. We are humbled and feel blessed to be part of your family in this area we call North Escambia. Thank you for welcoming NorthEscambia.com into your family.
John R. Garrett, Jr
November 2, 2009
Mr. John R. Garrett, Jr., 80, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2009, in Century, FL.
John was a native and former resident of Bluff Springs, FL, a resident of Century for the past 53 years, a loving friend, Brother, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather and attended the Baptist Church. He was a cub scout leader for a number of years, a Mason with Pineland Lodge #286 in Palatka, FL, a Shriner and a U.S. Army Veteran. Preceded in death by his Wife, Alice Marie Garrett.
Survivors Include: his Son, John Thomas Garrett of Palatka, FL; his Daughter, Debbie Wyman of Palatka, FL; 2 Grandchildren; 2 Great-Grandchildren; a very special devoted and loving friend, Ms. Louise Trawick; three Sisters, Martha Sims of Century, FL, Louise Dockens of McDavid, FL, and Duffie Wells of Century, FL; a Sister-in-law, Margie Garrett of Century, FL; a special Nephew, Steve Garrett; 3 special Nieces, Susan Lowery, Ann Burkett, and Gail Chavers of Christian Home, FL; and a number of other Nieces and Nephews.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 3:00 P.M. at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Ronald Broadhead officiating.
Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 2:00 P.M. until funeral time at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Fillingim, Leslie Barnes, Arnold Burkett, Lavon Little, D.C. Odom and Milt Lowrey.
Century To Discuss Increased Water, Sewer Rates, More Fees
November 2, 2009
The Town of Century will hold a workshop meeting at 6:00 tonight to further discuss a rate study that recommends water and sewer rate increases for most customers and new fees for future customers.
The council will meet with William Secoy from the Florida Rural Water Association, the authors of the rate study. The council previously met with Secoy back in August, and they were left with as many questions as they had answers.
Under the recommended rate structure, a small business could see their water and sewer bill more than double, and that’s something Council President Ann Brooks does not favor.
“I would not have a problem paying for usage, but that is not what is going on here,” Brooks said at the August meeting. She stated her small business, an accounting firm, uses between 600 and 900 gallons of water per month. Under the proposed rate structure, her minimum monthly bill would jump from $21 to $45.45. “I have a real problem raising our commercial rate over 100 percent for water and sewer.”
“We have a lot of poor people and a lot of people living on a fixed income,” Brooks said in August of the proposed residential increase and higher minimum bills. “Let people pay for what they use.”
At that August meeting, the council instructed Secoy to take a closer look at different usage levels among the town’s water and sewer customers, especially commercial, and return with a second recommendation. He is expected to present that second recommendation tonight.
The typical residential water bill for a customer using 3,000 gallons per month would increase from $12.45 to $15.95 if the town followed the recommendations in the study from the Florida Rural Water Association. The new $15.95 minimum charge would include 3,000 gallons; the current minimum water bill is $9 for 1,500 gallons.
Commercial customers would see their minimum jump from $9 for 1,500 gallons to $19.95 for 3,000 gallons.
Both commercial and residential customers would see an increase per 1,000 gallons over the 3,000 minimum to $2.78 to $3.16 per 1,000 gallons. The current additional charge per 1,000 gallons is $2.27. Institutions and churches would pay the residential rate.
Sewage rates would also increase if the water association proposal were to be approved by the town.
The current sewage rate is $13 for the first 6,000 gallons and $3.50 per additional $1,000 gallons for residential and commercial customers. For the first 3,000 gallons, the recommended rate is $12 for residential customers and $25.50 for commercial customers. Each additional 1,000 gallons of sewage would cost $3.
Under the rate proposal, a family using 8,000 gallons of water per month would see their water bill increase from $23.75 to $30.13, and they would see their sewage bill increase from $20 to $27. The total monthly increase for that family would be $13.38, or $160.56 per year.
A business using an average of 8,000 gallons per month would see their water bill jump from $23.75 to $34.13 and a sewage increase from $20 to $40.50. The total annual increase would be $370.56.
The Florida Rural Water Association proposal recommends that the town also charge a “capacity” fee for new hookups, in addition to the $125 water connection fee and $1,000 sewage impact fee currently charged. The study does not offer a specific recommendation on the amount of the new fee. Secoy said that a typical capacity fee is from a several hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Secoy said a connection fee should be in the neighborhood of $350 to $750 for a new meter. Customers that were establishing service at a location where a meter is already installed would not pay a connection fee. Capacity fees could not be waived, but connection fees could be waived as part of a financial incentive package for a new business, Secoy told the council.
The Town of Century has not increased water or sewage rates since 1995. The water association recommends that the town make yearly rate increases based upon the consumer price index.
The water and sewer rate special meeting will take place at 6:00 tonight at Century City Hall. A regular town council meeting will follow at 7:00 — a meeting at which the council could vote on any rates increases.
School Board Approves Personnel Changes At North Escambia Schools
November 2, 2009
The Escambia County School Board has approved numerous North Escambia teacher and staff transfers, resignations, and rehires.
Many of these personnel changes took place prior to the beginning of the current school year, but they were just approved by the board this month.
The following changes below were made this month:
- Appointments – Instructional/Professional
- Lynn M. Hodges, Tate High
- Ty A. Wise, Northview High
- Appointments – Support Personnel
- Karen Brown, promoted to Data Specialist I, Bratt Elem.
- Cherryl Dykes, Early Childhood Assist., Bratt Elem.
- Reappointments
- Douglas D. Kriner, Ransom Middle
- Gary K. Page, Tate High
- Kate O. Sapp, Molino Park Elementary
- Mary Jo Smith, Northview High
- Resignations/Retirements/Other
- Arthur Farish, teacher, Ransom Middle
- John R. Willey, Tate High
- Temporary Promotions
- Odessa Edwards, teacher assist. to Admin. Clerk II, Jim Allen Elem.
- Emily Tullis, teacher assist. to Admin. Clerk II, Bratt Elem.
- Leaves of Absence
- Tamara Godwin, food services, Bratt Elem.
- Gloria Miller, Jim Allen Elementary
- Barbara Morgan, food services, Northview High
It’s Report Card Day
November 2, 2009
Moms and dads…check the book bags and binders tonight. Today is report card day in Escambia County.
The first nine-weeks report cards from Escambia County Schools will be sent home today.
The second nine weeks ends on January 15. In the meantime, there is a Veterans Day holiday on November 11, Fall Break and Thanksgiving holiday November 25-27, and Christmas holidays December 21-January 4.
The Tax Man Cometh: Property Tax Bills Arriving In The Mail
November 2, 2009
Escambia County’s tax bills started hitting mailboxes across the county Saturday; the office of Tax Collector Janet Holley delivered bills to the post office Friday on 155,000 parcels totaling $259 million.
By the calendar, the official collection of the 2009 real estate and tangible personal property taxes started Sunday. There is a four percent discount for early payment through November 30.
Other discount periods are as follows: December – three percent; January – two percent; February – one percent; and the gross amount is due in March 2010. Taxes become delinquent April 1 and are assessed a three percent penalty. When mailed, discounts are determined by postmark of payment. When a discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the discount period will be extended to the next business day for walk‑in customers only.
Tax revenue is generated for the various taxing authorities and is approximated as follows: District School Board, $124.6 million; Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, $110 million; City of Pensacola, $16.2 million; Sheriff, $7.1 million; Northwest Florida Water Management, $660,000; Downtown Improvement Board, $387,000; and Town of Century, $26,875. Additionally, MSBU collections totaling $12.5 million include: County fire protection, $9.5 million; City Stormwater, $2.1 million; and various others, $773,000.
You may check the status of your taxes and pay on the website at www.escambiataxcollector.com. While paying online may be the most convenient, other options are available, such as payment by mail, by phone, or in person. If you do not receive your tax bill by November 10, please call the tax collector’s office at 438‑6500, ext. 252 (TTY for the hearing impaired call 472‑0031). After hours automated payment by telephone is available by calling (800) 601‑1055.
With the closure earlier this year of the tax collector office in Century, the closest in-person payment location for North Escambia residents is at 470 South Highway 29 in Cantonment (the old Winn Dixie shopping center).
Hospice Chaplain To Address Grief And The Holidays
November 2, 2009
A hospice chaplain will offer an overview of “Grief and Holidays” Tuesday in Century. The event is open to the public, and it also provides the opportunity for nurses and social workers to earn contact hours.
Chaplain Shane Tucker from Emerald Coast Hospice office will speak at noon Tuesday at the Century Chamber of Commerce located at 7811 North Century Boulevard.
Tucker will offer coping skills and tips to assist during the holidays.
This inservice is open to the public. Nurses will receive 1.2 contact hours from their respective state board and social workers will receive 1.0 contact hours.
Weekend Photos: Football, Cheerleaders, Band, NJROTC, Silver Wings
November 2, 2009
Senior Night at Northview High School was a big one, and NorthEscambia.com had all of the photos.
Click here for football action, cheerleaders, NJROTC and band photos.
Click here for Senior Night photos.
Click here to listen to Friday night’s Northview win over Sneads.