Poarch Creek Pow Wow Dancers To Present Century Library Program
November 18, 2010
The Poarch Creek Pow Wow Dancers will perform Creek Native Dancing and demonstrate traditional customs this afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
The event, which is free and open to children of all ages, begins at 4:00 at the library, 7991 North Century Boulevard. For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Town Of Century Joins Relay
November 18, 2010
The Town of Century is jumping on board with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
“This is Century and we need to participate,” Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The town is forming a team for the May 13-14, 2011 event at the old Century High School stadium.
“We need to support this,” Century Councilman Henry Hawkins said. “If we get involved in relay perhaps some other businesses will get involved.”
For more information on the Century Relay for Life, or to sign up a team, visit CenturyRelay.com.
3rd Grade Grandparents Breakfast Friday At Molino Park
November 18, 2010
The Molino Park Elementary School 3rd Grade Grandparent’s Breakfast will be held Friday morning.
The breakfast, hosted by the Molino Park PTA, begins at 8 a.m. Grandparents should call the school at (850) 587-5265 to register.
Take The Pledge To Become Involved With Your Child’s Education
November 18, 2010
Thursday was the 17th annual “National Parental Involvement Day” — a day that encourages parents to become involved in the education of their child(ren).
National Parental Involvement Day, held on the third Thursday of each November, was started by in 1994 Project Appleseed, an organization founded as a nonprofit resource and advocate for families engaged in education.
Parents are asked to take the following pledge from written by the Florida Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC) of FND to encourage and support the home-school connection in order to emphasize the importance of the impact of parental involvement on student academic achievement.
I pledge to support my child’s education to the best of my ability. I will have high expectations for my child to succeed in school and in life. I will make my child’s education a priority, and model positive actions and attitudes. I will partner with my child’s school to ensure I am informed and involved in all aspects of my child’s education, and will be an active advocate for my child’s education. I understand that education is the key to success, and will do everything I can to nurture my child’s ability to learn.
Escambia Sheriff Named To Gov-Elect Scott’s Transition Team
November 18, 2010
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has been appointed to the transition teams of both Governor-elect Rick Scott and Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi.
Morgan was named to Scott’s “Law and Order Transition Team” to serve on the Corrections committee. For Bond’s transition team, Morgan will advise on gangs.
Scott has tasked his team with identifying innovative ideas from the private sector, success stories from other states, cost-saving opportunities and legislative priorities that will assist him as he prepares to officially take office in January.
Brewton Middle Gets Controversial Win Over Ernest Ward
November 17, 2010
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles lost a controversial game to Brewton Middle School boys on Tuesday, and the Lady Eagles were also defeated.
Controversy erupted at the end of the boys game, with the score thought to be Brewton 22, Ernest Ward 23. But the official scorebook showed the final to be Brewton 24, Ernest Ward 22.
The Ernest Ward Lady Eagles fell to Brewton Middle School’s Lady Tigers 34-21.
Mayor Asks Council To Fire Flomaton Police Chief
November 17, 2010
Flomaton’s mayor is calling for the town’s police chief to be fired, but the town council refused to fire him at a special meeting Tuesday night.
Police Chief Katarius Jenkins says Mayor Dewey Bondurant fired him last Friday, but the mayor says he did not.
“Our police chief quit,” the mayor said during a special council meeting Tuesday night. “He said that I fired him, but I didn’t. But since he didn’t come to work Monday, I assume he’s fired now.”
Bondurant would not comment on what led to the disagreement with the police chief, other than to say it was “an issue with an employee”.
“For the record, I didn’t quit,” Jenkins (pictured) told the council. “It was an issue about an employee that the mayor wanted me to fire. He said the guy didn’t do anything wrong, but if I couldn’t handle it, he would. So I felt that if the guy didn’t do anything wrong, why fire him.” Jenkins, who was out of the town Friday during his conversation with the mayor about the employee, said he asked the mayor it to “handle it”.
“He said ’since you can’t do what I tell you to do, you can pack your things up and turn them into to me’,” Jenkins said Bondurant told him.
Jenkins said only the Flomaton council — not the mayor — could fire him, but the mayor said the police handbook gives him that authority. “I believe that technically, I am still the chief of police of Flomaton,” Jenkins said.
“The mayor has complete authority over the police department and can hire and fire who he wants,” Bondurant said.
“We are either going to have to have a good police department, or forget it. “This half you know what is not working,” Councilman Buster Crapps (pictured) said, expressing his displeasure over the number of police chiefs that Flomaton has had in recent years. He suggested that disbanding the police department and turning law enforcement over to the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office would be a poor idea. “So you might as well just forget about having a town if other people is going to run it. So let’s get our rear ends together and figure this thing out like it ought to be.”
Bondurant called for a motion from the council to fire Jenkins. Instead, the council requested more information about the situation and voted to go into executive session behind closed doors. After less than 10 minutes in executive session, the council returned with Bondurant once again asking for a motion to fire the chief. Instead, the council set a hearing on the matter for next Monday night.
Jenkins has served as Flomaton’s police chief for about six months.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police Chief Katarius Jenkins addresses the Flomaton Town Council Tuesday night. Pictured top inset: Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant. Pictured middle inset: Jenkins listens as the council discusses his future with the town. Pictured bottom: Council Buster Crapps. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Septic Tank Inspections Delayed For Six Months
November 17, 2010
A six-month delay in the implementation of a septic tank inspection that riled several Panhandle lawmakers was easily approved Tuesday by both chamber of the Florida Legislature, setting up an increasingly likely full repeal come regular session this spring.
On separate 38-1 and 112-6 votes, the Legislature put off requiring property owners to pay for inspections on 2.6 million septic tanks in the state every five years, a “costly mandate” that critics said prompted them to include the measure in a special session largely devoted to overriding vetoes penned by Gov. Charlie Crist.
The septic tank inspection requirement, which opponents say could cost property owners $500 per inspection, was part of a larger environmental bill scheduled to kick in January 1 to improve water quality in Florida’s freshwater springs. Crist signed the springs bill (SB 550) in the spring, so it took a new bill to delay its scheduled January4 1 implementation until July.
“This legislation…stops the implementation of a costly mandate in septic tank evaluation in order to allow the legislature to review the financial impact of this program and its scientific necessity on the people of Florida,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, during debate on the floor of the Florida Senate. “Delaying the implementation date for six months…would allow the Senate and House of Representatives to readdress this issue in regular session.”
Gaetz has made it clear he intends to press for a full repeal of the septic tank inspections. Before the vote, he told the News Service he was “hopeful for a repeal.”
“Today the objective (was) to stop the implementation,” he said. “The second step will be to do what should have been done last year, and that’s to have to full and open public debates and discussions about the issue
The votes were clearly there to be had Tuesday, a sharp reversal from a strong vote in the other direction at the close of the regular session in the spring, when the bill containing the septic tank inspections was approved 30-3. The measure was designed to protect Florida’s natural springs and waterways, which are often threatened by septic tank overflow.
Opponents such as Gaetz argued the new standard was quietly tucked into the larger bill before it went before lawmakers this spring, an account which has been disputed by the bill’s sponsor, former Sen. Lee Constantine.
Constantine last week sought to clear the air over the controversial provision by writing a letter to his former colleagues in the Florida Senate, and his name was invoked in defending the bill by the lone senator to vote against the delay, Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole .
“This was a large part of the springs bill that was about five years in developing due to Sen.(Burt) Saunders and Sen. Constantine,” Jones said. “With septic tanks being the number one cause, or certainly ranking, of pollution to our springs and our rivers, I’m concerned about taking this action at this time.”
Jones disputed opponents contentions the inspections would cost more than $500, saying the price would actually be about $185. Gaetz countered that the law would require inspections and “pump outs” of tanks that did not pass inspections.
“There are those in this body who believe that the mandate might be good, there are others who believe that it ought to be repealed, and there are still others who believe – along with the industry that pushed the mandate – that it was a bridge too far,” said Gaetz, who added there might be “a less intrusive, less expensive approach.”
There was more opposition to delaying the septic tanks inspections in the Florida House, but passions there were not nearly as strained. The chamber voted to approve the delay with little discussion, and House Speaker Dean Cannon (pictured top of page) only committed Tuesday to supporting the delay for now.
“All we are doing for the purpose of today is postponing the implementation date,” he said. “One of the principles that President Haridopolos and I agree on before we even considered the special session was that we shouldn’t engage in lengthy, substantive policy debates that would be appropriate for the full committee process.”
Haridopolos said there was “nothing whatsoever” that could stop Crist from striking back at the Legislature by vetoing the delay, but said “he hasn’t given any indication that he has heartburn over postponing the implementation date.”
Without a beat, Cannon said “if he chooses to, certainly we’ll work it,” reflecting a sharply changed reality as Republicans hold supermajorities in the House and Senate.
Emboldened by Tuesday’s vote, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, said Tuesday she had already filed a bill to fully undo the inspection requirement for the spring.
“Eliminating this government overreach remains my top priority,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Today I filed legislation to repeal this burdensome requirement altogether in the 2011 regular session. Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations.”
Pictured top: Speaker Dean Cannon addresses the Florida House Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Keith Laing
Ashton Gibbs Wins Northview Fall Talent Show
November 17, 2010
Sophomore Ashton Gibbs won the Northview High School Fall Talent Show Tuesday night with her performance of “Angel” by Sarah McLaughlin. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
$2 Million For 10 Modular Classrooms For Ransom Middle School
November 17, 2010
The Escambia County School District is adding 10 modular classrooms at a cost of almost $2 million to help alleviate overcrowding at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment.
Tuesday night, the school board approved an additional $11,812.82 in site work for the 10 classrooms, bringing the total project cost to $1,997,315.08. The classrooms are being installed by R.D. Ward Construction Company of Pensacola using half cent sales tax funds.
The classrooms are due to be completed by June 17, 2011.