Labor Day Closings
September 5, 2011
The following will be closed for today’s Labor Day holiday:
- All county offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All city offices, including Century and Jay
- Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All public libraries, including Jay and Century
- Florida state offices
- All federal offices
- All post offices
- No bus service from ECAT, except for Pensacola Beach trolleys
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
- The USPS retail windows. No carrier delivery. No mail collected from boxes. Express Mail will be delivered.
Trash Service
There will be no change in ECUA trash or recycling service. Most ECUA customers in North Escambia will have their usual Tuesday trash and recycling service.
Labor Day: 24,000 In North Escambia Area Out Of Work
September 5, 2011
On Labor Day, the latest unemployment data showed that 24,094 people are out of work in our three county area — a decrease of over 1,000 since last year.
In Escambia County (Fla.), the latest employment data for shows 10.5 percent of the workforce unemployed, steady from the previous month. That translates to 14,833 unemployed in the county.
In Santa Rosa County, the unemployment rate was at 10.2 percent, up from 9.7 percent the month prior. That equals 7,481 unemployed persons.
In Escambia County (Ala.), 11.9 percent of workers were out of a job, down from 12 the month before. There were 1,780 unemployed in the county.
Pictured top: This graphic shows the unemployment rate over the last 10 years in the three county North Escambia area. Click to enlarge.
School Board Approves North Escambia School Personnel Changes
September 5, 2011
The Escambia County School Board has approved numerous North Escambia teacher and staff transfers, resignations, and rehires at their last regular meeting.
The school board took action on the following teachers and staff at schools across North Escambia:
Instructional/Professional Appointments
- Francisco Alvarez-Pena, Northview High, teacher
- Sherry Howard, Tate High, teacher
- Cynthia R. Murphy, teacher, Tate High,
- Morgan Soutullo, teacher, Tate High
- Jean S. Wiggins, teacher, Tate High
Instructional/Professional Reappointments
- Patricia B. Clements, Jim Allen Elementary
- Rhoda C. Greenwell, Jim Allen Elementary
- Sharon M. Kite, Bratt Elementary
- Kirstin K. Metcalf, Jim Allen Elementary
- Kate O. Sapp, Molino Park Elementary
- Kelsey L. Womack, Ernest Ward Middle
Instructional/Professional Transfers
- Tammy L. Calloway, Bratt Elementary to Northview High
- Ann B. Copenhaver, Ransom Middle to staff development
- Megan D. Driver, Brentwood Elementary to Molino Park Elementary
- Blake G. Garcia, Tate High to Pensacola High
Instructional/Professional Resignations/Retirements/Other
- Francis R. Gindl, Jr., Ernest Ward Middle, teacher
- Joalex Mercado-Diaz, Northview High, teacher
- Heather M. Salon, Jim Allen Elementary, teacher
Instructional/Professional Leaves of Absence
- Maleesa M. Redish, Jim Allen Elementary, teacher
- Mary G. Vickory, Tate High, guidance counselor
Administrative Transfer
- Steven T. Harrell from Ransom Middle dean to specialist, workforce education
Educational Support Personnel Appointments
- Silvia Martines, Tate High, custodial worker
Educational Support Personnel Resignations/Retirements/Other
- Deloise S. Stanton, Tate High, food services assistant
Educational Support Personnel Leave of Absence
- Tamara G. Godwin, Bratt Elementary, food services assistant
Abbie Nowling Watson
September 5, 2011
Abbie Nowling Watson, 90, peacefully passed on to be with her Lord Jesus Christ in the early morning hours of September 3, 2011. She was a lifelong resident of Jay and a member of Cora Baptist Church.
Abbie was born to the late King David Nowling and Melissa Magaha Nowling. Being the only girl and the baby of the family, she was the “apple of her daddy’s eye”and grew up with four older brothers, Roy, Arlie, Arthur “Shorty”, and Ross Nowling.
On November 16, 1940, Abbie married the love of her life, Bill Watson. Abbie and Bill were married for 68 years and shared the joy of two sons, William Danny Watson (deceased) and Kenneth H. Watson.
Abbie could be described as kind, generous, loving and devoted. She was a wonderful homemaker who had many interests including cooking, crafting, fishing, and traveling. She was an active member of her church and fed countless children over the years as a kitchen volunteer at Vacation Bible School. She had a fun-loving spirit and was an active part in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed and forever remembered by her surviving son, Kenneth H. Watson (Jean), and beloved granddaughters Kim Watson Chambless (Chris), Andriea Watson, and Jamie Watson Mattina (Rodney). Her special little treasures were her great-grandchildren Brandon Chambless, Bailey Calhoun, Kenzee Calhoun, and Sophia Grace Mattina. She is also survived by countless friends and relatives who blessed her life and touched her heart.
Services will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at Cora Baptist Church in Jay, officiated by Jay Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family requested a donation to be made in Abbie’s honor to the Cora Baptist Church Cemetery Maintenance Fund. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Covenant Hospice and Dr. Maged Nashed.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tornado Warning: Southern Escambia, Santa Rosa
September 4, 2011
..A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHERN SANTA ROSA COUNTIES…
AT 926 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THE CIRCULATION HAS STRENGTHENED
DURING THE PAST TEN MINUTES. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST NORTHEAST
OF GULF BREEZE AND WAS MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH.
THE STORM WILL PASS VERY CLOSE TO THE EAST SIDE OF PENSACOLA…FERRY
PASS AND PACE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE…SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES…EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE…LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.
TORNADO WARNING
September 4, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Tornado Warning for…
northwestern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
southwestern Escambia County in south central A+labama…
central Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
* until 515 PM CDT
* at 412 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 8 miles east of
Robertsdale…or 9 miles northeast of Summerdale…moving north at
25 mph.
* Locations impacted include…
Poarch creek reservation… Perdido…
i65 and CR 1… i65 and al 21… Atmore…
This includes Interstate 10 in Alabama between mile markers 49 and
62.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 46 and 58.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
When a Tornado Warning is issued based on Doppler radar…it means
that strong rotation has been detected in the storm. A tornado may
already be on the ground…or is expected to develop shortly. If you
are in the path of this dangerous storm…move indoors and to the
lowest level of the building. Stay away from windows. If driving…do
not seek shelter under a Highway overpass.
ditch or other low spot and cover your head with your hands.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Sunday evening
for southwestern Alabama and northwest Florida and southeast
Mississippi.
Photos: Tropical Storm Lee Pounds Pensacola Beach
September 4, 2011
Tropical Storm Lee pounded Pensacola Beach over the weekend with heavy surf and high winds.
For a photo gallery from Pensacola Beach on Saturday, click here.
Pictured top: Heavy waves pound powered by Tropical Storm Lee pound Pensacola Beach Saturday. Pictured below: A surfer catches a wave. Submitted photos by Amanda Kindley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northwest Escambia Opens 2011 Football Season
September 4, 2011
Northwest Escambia’s Mini-Mites, Mites and Midgets open their 2011 season Saturday in Walnut Hill against Milton Black. Next Saturday, NWE will travel to Myrtle Grove, with the Mites playing at 11 a.m. and the Midgets at 2 p.m.
For a photo gallery from Saturday’s NWE Mini-Mite game, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Inside Escambia County’s Command Center On Wheels
September 4, 2011
If a major tropical storms or other disaster hits Escambia County, or even during a large event like a Blue Angels air show, Escambia County’s Office of Emergency Management has a mobile communications trailer ready to roll into action.
The emergency command center consists of a Freightliner tractor and 48-foot trailer outfitted to handle an emergency communications. Powered by a 20 KW diesel generator, the trailer has a complete radio system, cellular phone, conventional landline and fax system as well as computer network.
“We can run any scene from this trailer,” John Dosh, Escambia’s emergency management manager said. “It is completely self contained.”
The garage-kept trailer is designed to be deployed to a disaster or emergency, or large scale scene to coordinate communications between fire, EMS, law enforcement and other agencies. It is also used at events like the Blue Angels air show. At events such as the Blue Angels, the trailer is equipped with a 30-foot pneumatic mast with a camera system to allow operators to monitor a crowd.
The trailer has 320 square feet of climate control work space, including a conference room (pictured left), communications center and restroom. The trailer, Dosh said, was used one in emergency situation in North Escambia — after a February 2008 tornado touchdown in Molino.
Pictured top and bottom: Escambia County’s emergency command center. Pictured top inset: Emergency Management Manager John Dosh operates the command center’s video system from a computer control. Pictured bottom inset: The trailer’s conference room. NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Oil And Water
September 4, 2011
With Labor Day beckoning, things were quiet around the capital this week with the exception of college students returning, swelling the capital city’s population and lengthening the time it takes to get a pizza delivered.
Despite the unofficial end of summer, an abbreviated list of things to do occupied state and party officials as August summer vacations gave way to September tailgate parties.
The Republican Party of Florida will be led by another as its chairman, David Bitner, announced his coming retirement this week for health reasons amid kudos for his services to the party. Meanwhile, one of his predecessors, the ousted Jim Greer, talked publicly for the first time in a while this week, pointing fingers at members of the party who forced him out.
Consumers remain edgy over their economic security, according to a University of Florida poll that says Floridians remain skeptical and cautious as the state’s economy sputters back to life.
Much of the week was spent laying the groundwork for future endeavors. A handful of would-be presidential contenders toured the state, in the hopes of convincing fellow Republicans they have what it takes to unseat a sitting (and currently unpopular) Democratic president.
Meanwhile, a slew of interim reports were released on Thursday and legislative leaders concluded a statewide tour to get input on redrawing political boundaries, but hinted that future meetings may be in order after voters actually have something to look at.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Economic news remained foremost in the minds of consumers and political candidates this week as the nation’s sputtering recovery prompted responses from the campaign trail to the kitchen table. Mounting fear over the nation’s economic health – both in the short run and the long term – dragged down consumer confidence in Florida, which in August fell to the near record low posted at the bottom of the housing bust, a University of Florida report indicated Tuesday.
Consumer confidence among Floridians fell to 62 on the UF index in August, a confidence level only three points higher than the record-low 59 set in June 2008, according to data compiled monthly by the school’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
The monthly survey posted downticks among all five of the survey’s indices, with respondents feeling less confident about the national economy and their own personal finances over the near term and beyond.
Respondents over 60 years old were most dramatically more gloomy. Their faith in the U.S. economy over the next five years fell by 16 points. But the survey also found younger respondents more pessimistic about the country’s long-term economic health and more likely in August to hold off on major purchases.
Such caution appears to have been shared by others. U.S. unemployment in August held steady at 9.1 percent, but an anticipated increase in the workforce did not materialize, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday.
State economists, however, say they are not ready to cede the notion that the nation is heading into the second of a double dip recession. Despite some negative figures, economists say the chances of growth remain higher than another recessionary slip. One indication is that state revenue collections have been higher than expected, leading state economists to cautiously predict that the state will have enough money over the next few years to pay for critical and high priority programs.
THE RIVER OF GAS?
Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann started it off by arguing that oil drilling and Everglades water could mix, an assertion that drew immediate fire from a number of people in Florida, including fellow tea party favorite, Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West.
Meanwhile, Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, resurrected a proposed ban on oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by filing a proposed constitutional amendment to end such exploration and production.
Bachmann made the comments during a campaign swing through the state, leading a list of Republican hopefuls including Herman Cain and Mitt Romney who also visited the critical swing state during the week.
TEACHER PAY PROMPTS EXODUS:
A News Service of Florida analysis of salaries published this week found that on average, school districts have raised the minimum pay for a teacher by 1 percent over the last four years, according to newly released data by the Florida Department of Education. And fewer than half of all school districts haven’t given raises at all, with most districts keeping salaries flat over the last four years.
In the last four years, the average pay of a Florida teacher has decreased $1,199, from $46,922 in the 2007-2008 school years to $45,723 in the 2010-2011 school year, a decline of about 2.5 percent.
“We are professionals, but we are held to high standards that our pay does not match,” said Lisa Dos Santos, a world history teacher at Forest Glen Middle School in Broward County. “Many of us have lost a house or gone bankrupt, and I speak from personal experience.”
Lawmakers say their goal for next year is to keep funding for education stable, rather than having to cut as deeply as this year, when lawmakers approved a budget that slashed school funding by 8 percent on a per-student basis.
BITNER STEPS DOWN:
Republican Party of Florida Chairman David Bitner said Wednesday he would resign because of his declining health, a move that sends the party looking for its fourth leader in less than two years. Bitner announced earlier this year that he has ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
“At the time I first discussed my health with you, I also made a promise that I would serve as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida only as long as I could do so with all the energy and attention this position deserves,” Bitner wrote in a letter to Republican activists. “I have kept that promise, and it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve you and my beloved Florida.”
Bitner, a former lawmaker, will step aside Sept. 23, following the party’s Presidency 5 event. Vice Chairman Lenny Curry, who also heads the Duval County GOP, is Bitner’s heir apparent after receiving his former boss’s blessing, and having several other top leaders saying they’ll support him.
POLITICAL BOUNDARY TOUR MAY INCLUDE ENCORE:
While party leaders regroup, legislative efforts to get public buy-in on new political boundaries may not be finished despite the conclusion this week of a statewide tour of committee meetings.
Republican leaders appear to be acknowledging the criticism that voters are being asked to comment on new congressional and state legislative boundaries before any proposed maps have even been drawn up. Questions such as “Where are the maps?” have dogged the hearings since they began in Tallahassee in June.
Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and his House counterpart, Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Chapel Hill, signaled to reporters that they may extend the public discourse by way of videoconferences to make it easier for voters who can’t make the trek to Tallahassee. Gaetz, whose committees met in Tampa, Largo and other Southwest venues, noted that lawmakers have pledged that they will not vote on a map without public input. And he also raised the possibility this week that the complainers are correct and maybe the next time the state redistricts the process should start earlier, though that would require changing the constitution.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Michele Bachmann makes waves by suggesting that oil drilling could be done in the Florida Everglades.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The United States needs to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy and more dependent upon American resourcefulness. Whether that is in the Everglades, or whether that is in the eastern Gulf region, or whether that’s in North Dakota, we need to go where the energy is. Of course it needs to be done responsibly. If we can’t responsibly access energy in the Everglades then we shouldn’t do it.” Michele Bachmann, during her Florida campaign swing that concluded this week.
And: “When I see her next week, I’ll straighten her out about that,” U.S. Rep. Allen West on Bachmann’s Everglades energy idea.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida