Five Shot In Pensacola Drive-by; One Is Dead
February 17, 2020
Five people were shot in drive-by shooting Sunday night in Pensacola.
One of the victims is dead and four others were injured. Some of the injuries were critical, but the individuals are expected to survive.
It happened at a small home on Gadsden Street, not far from West Cervantes Street and A Street. Police said about 30 rounds were fired from a car just before 11 p.m. Police said they believe the house was targeted.
There are no suspects or vehicle description at this time as Pensacola Police continue their investigation.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
File photo.
One Critically Injured In 10 Mile Road Crash
February 17, 2020
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle crash on 10 Mile Road just east of the railroad tracks Monday morning.
The vehicle left the roadway and hit a utility pole and a tree, ejecting the adult male driver. He was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS as a trauma alert. His name has not yet been released as the Florida Highway Patrol investigates.
The roadway remained closed as Gulf Power worked to replace the pole, which was snapped in the 6:37 a.m. collision.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Decline To Lowest Level Of The Year
February 17, 2020
Florida gas prices are continuing to slide downward, falling nine cents in the past 11 days to the lowest level this year.
Sunday’s state average of $2.33 per gallon is 6 cents less than a week ago, and 23 cents less than last month.
The average price per gallon Sunday in Escambia County was $2.30, while in North Escambia one Cantonment station was at $2.27 Sunday night. That’s a local increase of a penny from last week.
“Florida drivers continue to benefit from strong refinery output and low fuel demand, which have contributed to the seasonal slump at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, these low gas prices may not linger terribly long. Florida gas prices could rise anywhere from 20-60 cents this spring, as demand rises and refineries switch to the more expensive-to-produce summer gasoline.”
Presidents Day: No School; Trash Schedule, Government Closures
February 17, 2020
There is no school for students today in Escambia County, Florida. Not because it’s Presidents Day, but because it’s a professional development day – teachers will be at work.
ECUA business offices will be closed in observance of the holiday. Residential and commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will be unaffected by the holiday and go on as usual.
Below is a listing of Escambia County offices and departments closed Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – Departments including:
- West Florida Public Libraries (All locations – normal hours will resume Tuesday, Feb. 18)
- The Escambia County Animal Shelter
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court Finance, Official Records and Clerk to the Board
- Waste Services administrative offices
- Escambia County Area Transit administrative offices
Escambia County Exceptions:
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday and will hold extended hours Tuesday until 7 p.m. to accommodate persons wishing to register to vote or change party affiliation before the deadline on Tuesday.
- ECAT buses will run a modified holiday service Monday, Feb. 17. UWF Trolleys and Express Shuttle services will run regular weekday services. All regular services will resume Tuesday, Feb. 18.
- The Perdido Landfill will be open
- All other Clerk of Court offices, including offices at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice Building, the Public Records Center and the Century Courthouse will be open.
Slight Chance Of Rain Today; Increasing Chance Tonight
February 17, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Washington’s Birthday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Areas of dense fog before 9am. High near 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 61. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
U.S. Senate Honors National Champion UWF Argos Football Team
February 17, 2020
The University of West Florida’s national champion football team was recently honored by the U.S. Senate.
Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio submitted the resolution “”Commending the University of West Florida Argonauts football team for its National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II national championship victory”. It passed the senate unanimously.
Click the resolution below to enlarge.
Century Audit Finds Millions In Deficits, Signs Of Financial Emergency
February 17, 2020
A draft audit shows signs of a financial emergency in Century and multi-million dollar deficits.
The audit found the financial emergency conditions exist due to missed debt service payments, not transferring payroll taxes in a timely manner and issuing payroll checks without sufficient funds in the payroll account.
“The Town has experienced significant financial difficulties over the last few years and subsequent to year-end,” according to the audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.
The audit found of the town finished the year with a $3 million general fund deficit for governmental operations. Assets exceed liabilities at the close of the year by $5.8 million. But of that amount, $4.9 million was in capital assets (property, roads, drainage systems, etc.) and $3.9 million was restricted by debt service payments and other uses.
The business activities of the town — such as water, sewer and gas — had a balance of $540,000 in unrestricted net funds. The natural gas fund lost $263,000.
Across the board, the town had an unrestricted net position of a $2.4 million deficit.
The town failed to make debt service payments due in March 2017, 2018 and 2019 on gas system revenue bonds.
As of September 30, 2019, there was a deficit balance in the general fund of $3 million and in the natural gas fund of $1.7 million. Both of these funds have borrowed significant amounts from other funds of the town.
Audit findings included:
Financial Condition
The town’s overall financial condition demonstrates signs of a state of financial emergency as described in Florida statutes. Overall factors contributing to this condition include lack of short and long-term financial planning, improper cash management activities and lack of analysis of existing tax rates and fee structures for proprietary operations.
The natural gas fund borrowed $222,000 during the fiscal year from the general and water and sewer funds to cover general operations. In June 2018, the town council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month for $2.9 million borrowed inappropriately from the restricted special revenue fund. The audit noted the town should evaluate costs incurred in prior years for possible reclassification, if such costs met the nature allowed for infrastructure improvements.
This condition has existed for the past three audited periods.
The auditors recommended that the town develop long and short-term financial plans to improve its financial condition.
Cash Management
- The Town experienced the following cash management issues during the fiscal year:
- Payroll cash account was overdrawn numerous times during the year.
- Payroll taxes were not remitted timely to IRS.
- Payroll checks were provided to and cashed by employees prior to the issue date on the check, causing the Town’s payroll bank account to be overdrawn.
- Excessive late fees and interest charges incurred on credit cards.
- Late and missed debt service payments by the water and sewer fund and natural gas fund.
- Inadequate funds held for customer deposits in the natural gas fund.
This was a recurring finding not corrected from the previous fiscal year’s audit.
The problems are caused by the town council not receiving timely information about the cash position and cash needs of the town which has prevented timely transfers of cash between bank accounts. Turnovers in the town clerk and department leadership over the past few years was also cited, along with operating deficits in the natural gas fund.
The town council “should receive timely information about the cash position and cash needs of the town to ensure adequate funds available for weekly paychecks, payroll taxes, and debt service payments,” the audit states. It was also noted that credit card payments should be made on time to avoid late fees and interest charges.
Credit Card Usage Policy and Receipts
The audit noted that multiple receipts and supporting documentation for credit card charges was not maintained. The business purpose of several credit card transactions was not documented, particularly on purchases of food, fuel and various supplies. The town does not have a policy requiring employees to provide receipts for transactions nor document purpose of purchases.
The previous audit found the same problem.
Reconciliation of Accounts
Interfund general ledger accounts were not reconciled. Audit adjustments were required to adjust for the actual audited amounts and allow for proper balancing of the interfund accounts. The same problem has existed for three consecutive years.
Capital Asset Tracking
There are capital assess that have not been correctly recorded in the town’s records, and the town has not completed an inventory of assets. The condition was also found in the 2018-2019 audit.
Town of Century Response
The Town of Century will submit a corrective action plan to address the audit findings. The town council is expected to discuss, and perhaps approve, their responses during meetings Monday night. NorthEscambia.com will publish an additional story with the town’s responses.
The draft audit must also be approved before being submitted to the state.
Pictured: The Century Town Council meets on February 3, 2020. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Meetings This Week
February 17, 2020
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Monday, February 17
Escambia County Offices Closed Presidents Day – All Day.
Tuesday, February 18
Board of Electrical Examiners Meeting – 9 a.m., 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Florida-West Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 1 p.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12 Ave.
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Human Relations Commission – 4 p.m., 3200 W. De Soto St.
Public Workshop on Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Plan – 6 p.m., 6000 College Parkway
Thursday, February 20
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Escambia Soil & Water Conservation District Board – 9 a.m., 151 Highway 97, Molino
Deadline To Register To Vote, Switch Parties Is Tuesday
February 17, 2020
Florida residents have until Tuesday to register or switch parties in order to vote in the March 17 presidential primary.
Florida has closed primaries. If you want to vote in a party’s primary, you must be registered in that party by the registration deadline.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office will be open extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters can register online or register in person. For information on any of the registration methods, change parties or check your registration, visit escambiavotes.com.
No Arrests In Armed Robbery Of North Escambia Liquor Store
February 16, 2020
The investigation is continuing into the armed robbery of a North Escambia liquor store a couple of months ago.
A black male wearing a camouflage jacket and a camouflage mask walked into the Grey Goose Liquor Store on Highway 97 at the Florida-Alabama state line on December 6 and demanded money, according to the ECSO. So far, there have been arrests.
The Grey Goose robbery came just two days before the armed robbery of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Davisville (click for previous story). The two businesses are about 1,000 feet apart.
Two people have been arrested for the grocery store holdup, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has said the two robberies are not believed to be related.
Anyone with information on the December 6 robbery of the Grey Goose is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Crime Stoppers callers are eligible for a cash reward and do not ever have to provide their name.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
