Century To Hold Special Meeting About ‘Personnel Problem’
May 22, 2013
The Town of Century will hold a special meeting to review a “personnel problem”, according to public notice released Tuesday.
The notice does not specify the nature of the employment issue.
The meeting will be held Thursday, May 23 at 3 p.m. in the council chambers at the Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
On The Hill: Molino Teen Serves As House Page
May 22, 2013
A young man from Molino recently spent a week serving as a page in the Florida House of Representatives. Mitchell Singleton, an eighth grader at Ernest Ward Middle School, served as a page for Rep. Clay Ingram.
“My experience working as a page for the Florida House of Representatives gave me a perspective of government that most people don’t get to see. I was able to be in the chamber and work with the representatives first hand,” Mitchell said.
Pages and messengers are students who work one week at the Capitol during the 60-day Regular Session. Each of Florida’s 120 representatives may sponsor one page (ages 12-14) and one messenger (ages 15-18).
Being selected to serve is considered an honor and privilege. Pages and messengers assist the representatives and their staff during the Capitol’s busiest time of year while observing state government in action.
The page and messenger program is a long-standing tradition in the Florida House, with journals making mention of them as far back as 1865. Singleton and each page and messenger will have their name appear in the official Journal of the House as an official record of their time spent serving in state government.
Pictured top: Mitchell Singleton, serving as page in the Florida House of Representatives, in the desk of Speaker pro tempore Marti Coley during a mock session. Pictured inset: Singleton with Gov. Rick Scott. Pictured below: Singleton (just left of center) with his House page group. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ESCO SWAT Competes
May 22, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently competed in the Deputy Tony Forgione Memorial SWAT Competition at Northwest Florida State College.
The competition included team pistol and rifle shooting, hostage rescue, combat running, and building entries. ECSO teams placed second and third overall in the competition.
The event honors former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy and Special Response Team member Tony Forgione who was shot and killed July 22, 2008.
Other agencies competing included the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office , Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, Crestview Police Department, and Eglin Air Force Base Special Response Team
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in SWAT competition at Northwest Florida State College. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Elections Bill
May 22, 2013
.Gov. Rick Scott’s office confirmed Tuesday that he quietly signed a bill Monday aimed at cleaning up the voting problems that plagued parts of the state during the November elections.
Scott apparently signed the legislation (HB 7013) before heading to Chile for a trade mission. But the governor’s office didn’t announce the signing until Tuesday afternoon.
“There were inefficiencies in the 2012 general election — and our system needed to be corrected,” Scott said in a statement issued by his office. “I asked the Legislature to enhance our system of elections and they met the challenge. This law will add more early voting locations, add more early voting days and shorten the length of our ballot.”
Elections reform vaulted to the top of legislative priorities after the November problems, which included some Florida voters not casting ballots until after television networks had projected President Barack Obama the winner nationwide. It also took days before Obama was declared the winner in Florida.
The bill would allow up to 14 days for early voting, though local supervisors could remain at the current eight days, and allows for more flexibility with early voting sites. It would limit the length of some ballot summaries for constitutional amendments.
And it would dissolve a committee that sets the date of the presidential primary and instead require that vote be held on the first Tuesday that complies with party rules. Both Republican and Democratic delegations to national conventions lost members over the last several years as Florida vied for earlier primary dates.
Democrats had consistently pushed for more far-reaching changes, arguing that the bill was essentially a series of tweaks and didn’t fix all the problems that they blamed on a 2011 law that restricted early voting and included a slew of other changes to Florida elections.
But most good-government groups applauded this year’s bill for the changes it made, and it nonetheless passed the House twice with all Democrats supporting it.
“Sometimes it felt like climbing a mountain with concrete boots, but with the governor’s signature on this election reform package, Florida has achieved what many of us thought at one time might be impossible: a huge improvement to our democratic process and a giant step forward for Florida voters,” said Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
Except for a provision making sure the state’s gift ban for committees of continuous existence doesn’t lapse, which kicks in immediately, the bill takes effect Jan. 1.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Hadley, Baggett Awarded Gandy Memorial Scholarships
May 22, 2013
The Gandy Memorial Scholarship, established by the Gandy Family at Poplar Dell Baptist Church in Byrneville, recently honored two local seniors with $500 scholarships. Both students were selected based on their involvement in church and community activities and grade point averages. The Gandy Memorial Scholarship was established several years ago in memory of J.L. Gandy, Louise Gandy, Solon Gandy and Elmira Gandy Crapps who were longtime and active members of Poplar Dell.
Haley Hadley, a graduating a senior at Flomaton High School, is the daughter of Eric and Teresa Gohagen. She has been a member of various clubs, including Future Business Leaders of America, BETA and FFA. She has been a member of the Flomaton High School marching band for six years and has also participated in Chamber Ensemble Band and Jazz Band for three years. She has been a part of District Honor Band, All State Honor Band and SEUS Honor Band. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of South Alabama where she will study pharmacy.
Northview senior, Corry Baggett, is the son of Garry and Vicki Baggett of Bratt. Corry is involved in FFA, Rho Kappa Historical Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a starting linebacker for the Northview Chiefs Class 1 A State Football Champions, a former regional weightlifting qualifier, Pensacola Sports Association’s Scholar Athlete for weightlifting, a MIRA Award recipient for woodworking, a Boys State representative, and is a dual enrollment student with Pensacola State College and Tallahassee Community College. Corry plans on attending Pensacola State College this fall and then transferring to the University of West Florida or Troy State, where he will complete his business degree.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball Tryouts Friday
May 22, 2013
Northview Chiefs baseball will hold tryouts for the summer team on Friday at 6 p.m. at the school’s baseball field. Tryouts are for all incoming ninth graders and rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders. For more information, call the school at (850) 327-6681.
Texting Ban, Water Standard Bills Sent To Scott For Signature
May 22, 2013
The Legislature dropped 14 bills on the governor’s desk Tuesday, including a texting-while-driving ban and a measure about water-quality standards across Florida. The bulk bill delivery from legislative leaders came a day after they sent 34 others to Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott, who is in Chile through Thursday on an economic trade mission, has until June 5 to make decisions about the 14 bills.
According to an executive office email, the texting bill-signing may be held May 28 in Miami, A representative for Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the sponsor of the bill, said Monday that discussions continue on the signing date. The bill makes it illegal to read or type texts or emails while driving, though it would remain legal to do so while stopped, such as at a red light.
Another executive office email suggests a signing event could be held for the water standards May 28 in West Palm Beach. The water-quality measure directs the Department of Environmental Protection to set new nitrogen and phosphorus levels for almost every body of water in Florida.
The proposal was crafted to meet the requirements of agreements reached between the DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allow the state agency to establish what are known as “numeric nutrient” standards.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Fall Short In Series Finale Wit The Mobile BayBears
May 22, 2013
The Mobile BayBears won their fourth consecutive game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night, surviving a late rally by the Wahoos in a 4-2 victory at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Shutout through the first eight frames, Pensacola rallied to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Down to the last strike, Bryson Smith doubled home Michael Gilmartin to make it 4-1. After a Luis Durango single, a wild pitch scored Smith to cut the deficit in half. Ryan LaMarre came in representing the tying run, but flew out to deep center to end the game.
Mobile’s offense got off to a quick start in the first inning. Three straight BayBears reached to start the contest, capped by Nick Evans’ RBI single. Another run scored on a double play off the bat of Jon Griffin.
Mobile added to its lead with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, with RBI’s coming from the bottom of the order. Nick Ahmed’s first base hit of the series brought home Griffin in the fourth and two innings later, Ryan Stovall scored from second on an infield single by pinch-hitter Justin Greene. Stovall never stopped running on a play up the middle behind the second base bag to give the BayBears a 4-0 advantage.
Bradin Hagens (5-3) started for Mobile and danced around trouble all night long. He gave up four hits and four walks in five innings but stranded nine runners during his outing. Pensacola couldn’t score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the fourth and had the first two hitters reach in the fifth but couldn’t move them past first and second.
Tim Crabbe (2-3) took the loss for the Wahoos as he gave up four runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings.
The Wahoos will now take Wednesday off before heading to Chattanooga for the first of five with the Lookouts on Thursday night. Chad Rogers (2-2, 2.18) gets the start for Pensacola. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
by Kevin Burke
Flomaton Man Killed In Baldwin County Crash
May 21, 2013
A 25-year old Flomaton man was killed in two vehicle crash Monday evening in Baldwin County.
According to Alabama State Troopers, Clayton Trent Adams was driving a 1996 Honda Civic when he collided with a 2005 Chevrolet pickup driven by 44-year old Shannon Vinson of Robertsdale on Highway 31 about five miles north of Bay Minette.
Adams was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Vinson was transported by North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette.
Further details have not yet been released by Alabama State Troopers as they continue their investigation.
Century Remains Out Of Parking Dispute, Owner Hides From Media
May 21, 2013
A Century woman at odds with her neighbor’s business addressed the Century Town Council again Monday night, also taking aim at NorthEscambia.com as she tried to hide her face from the media’s cameras.
Gayle Aldridge, a resident of 9032 North Century Boulevard, approached the Century Town Council back on May 6 seeking help due to customers at a neighboring plant nursery parking on her property. Mayor Freddie McCall told her that her situation is a private property dispute, and that she needed to hire a lawyer.
During his regular report Monday night, McCall referred to a memorandum from town planner Debbie Nickles of Nickles Consulting Group. She concluded the town’s Land Development Code (LDC) does not apply to the M & D Nursery, owned by James and Danette Odom, because the business has been in continuous operation since April 1987, prior to the LDC’s implementation in 1991. The LDC specifically grandfathers businesses in operation as of April 29, 1991.
“It is my opinion that this is a civil matter between the two property owners which could be settle by both property owners conducting a property boundary survey,” Nickles wrote in her report, after concluding that the nursery is not required to provide parking spaces under the Land Development Code and that M & D Nursery is in compliance with existing zoning regulations.
McCall also said Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser had also concluded that the parking problems are not town business but a private dispute between landowners.
Following McCall’s presentation Monday night, Aldridge began to address the council. As she spoke, she continually turned away from the council and our NorthEscambia.com camera, hiding her face from our photographer and speaking with her back to council members. Aldridge called NorthEscambia.com’s publisher a “crook” , before turning away from the council and walking out of the council chambers, covering her face with paper apparently attempting to avoid being photographed.
Despite a postal address on North Century Boulevard, Aldridge’s property does not front on any roadway; it’s accessed from a driveway and easement from nearby Zion Street, behind the First Mt. Zion Church. The same driveway provides access to the nursery property, and Aldridge said the driveway and access to and from her property is often blocked by nursery customers.
Aldridge has called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but deputies have not become involved with her parking problems because they believe it’s a civil, rather than criminal, issue, McCall said.
At the May 6 Century council meeting, McCall said he has been called to the location several times, including once when he was told “to hurry up and get up there because there is going to be a fight or a killing”. Aldridge responded from the audience at that meeting, saying McCall’s statement was a lie.
According to Escambia County Property Appraiser records, the property at 9022 North Century Boulevard is owned by the Brenda Gayle Aldridge Life Estate, James O. Mathis, Jr., Laudie Mildred Higdon, Mary Evelyn Cozart, Peggy Jean McDonald, Jerry W. Mathis, Brenda Gayle Aldridge, Johnny Mathis and Kathy Simmons.
Pictured top: Gayle Aldridge of 9032 North Century Boulevard turns away from the Century Town Council Monday night in an apparent attempt to avoid being photographed. Pictured below: Aldridge continues to hide her face in an apparent attempt to avoid being photographed as she exits the council chambers Monday night. Pictured inset: Aldridge looks at the camera during a May 6 Century Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photographs, click to enlarge.
