Molino’s Travis Fryman, Former MLB Player, To Speak At Northview
February 1, 2012
Molino resident Travis Fryman, former third baseman for the Cleveland Indians, will be the guest speaker Thursday morning at a meeting of the Northview High Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The FCA meeting will take place at 8 a.m. in the Northview theater. The public is invited to attend as Fryman shares his testimony.
Fryman was a starting third baseman with the Detroit Tigers from 1990 to 1997. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997 and was traded two weeks later to the Cleveland Indians. He played for the Indians from 1998 to 2002.
He made a total of five trips to the annual All Star Game and won a Gold Glove Award with a 60-game errorless streak.
School Prayer Vote Could Come Today
February 1, 2012
The Senate is set to vote as early as Wednesday on a measure that deeply divides the chamber, allowing school districts to let students lead prayers at public school graduations, football games and other assemblies, as long as adults aren’t involved.
The version of the bill (SB 98) set for a floor vote doesn’t set out any limits on the inspirational message – messages that are sectarian, and those that are proselytizing in nature would be OK, drawing the opposition of some Jewish members of the Senate.
And, in deference to constitutional prohibitions on establishing a religion, just about anything would have to be fair game.
“Any inspirational message they want to do,” Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, the sponsor of the bill, said during discussion of the measure on the floor Tuesday.
Presumably, if a district were to approve a policy, and a student wanted to take the P.A. system at a football game and offer a prayer to the Goddess of the Earth or to Allah or a Wiccan deity, they would have to be allowed to do so under the bill.
“Suppose a first grader wants to do an inspirational message to Buddha, to Allah? ….Who decides who says what?” asked Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood.
As long as it is “inspirational,” and being voluntarily delivered by the student, it would have to be allowed, Siplin said. The bill doesn’t define “inspirational,” nor does it let school districts do that. In fact, it clearly prevents school districts from choosing what students are allowed to say or not say, spelling out that school district personnel “may not monitor or otherwise review the content of a student volunteer’s inspirational message.”
“So the inspirational message my little children would be hearing would not be up to the family….? asked Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach.
That is correct, Siplin replied. It would be up to the students at her children’s school.
And if she doesn’t want her children to hear any “inspirational messages” at school functions, what should she do? Sachs asked.
“Since school boards are elected you can vote against them next time,” Siplin responded.
The measure, which changed between the time it was heard in early committees and its arrival on the Senate floor, has a House companion (HB 317), but it has yet to get a committee hearing there. Some of the changes also alarmed opponents. Originally the bill was aimed only at secondary schools, but it was changed before reaching the floor to include elementary school students.
Another change opened up the prayers to any school event – originally it would have made it clear that prayers could only be offered at events students aren’t required to attend. Now the bill would allow prayer at any school event.
Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, said she couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want students to hear inspirational messages at the start of an assembly.
“Do you suppose opponents want, instead of to inspire little first graders, maybe they want to demoralize them?” asked Storms.
By The News Service of Florida
Romney Projected Winner Of Florida Republican Primary
January 31, 2012
Moments after the polls closed across Florida the major television networks all projected that Mitt Romney had won today’s Florida Republican Primary.
Fox News, CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS all project Romney as the winner before the first ballots were counted in Northwest Florida. Because of the time zone difference, 51 percent of the state’s precincts were reporting at the time of the predictions. Romney held a 48 percent lead, followed by Gingrich with 31 percent, Rick Santorum with 13 percent and Ron Paul with 7 percent.
Water Outage: Bay Springs, South Highway 99
January 31, 2012
Due to water line repairs, water service will be off in the Bay Springs and South Highway 99 area until about noon today, according to provider Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
Florida Primary Underway
January 31, 2012
Months after its date became an issue and 10 days after it turned the state into the center of the political world, Florida’s presidential primary is underway today as voters the polls are open until 7 p.m.
And Republican leaders are saying that the contest could ultimately decide which one of the candidates wins the nomination — just what legislators wanted when they set up a committee last year that upended the GOP’s plans for a carefully orchestrated voting calendar.
As the candidates sprinted across the state Monday in their last chance to sway those voters who haven’t already cast a ballot, polls showed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney opening up a double-digit lead against former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who has all but ignored Florida in pursuit of later states, were even farther behind.
Romney used two strong debate performances and an onslaught of ads in Florida to try to counter Gingrich’s momentum after the speaker shook up the race by thumping Romney in South Carolina. By Monday, Gingrich supporters were already trying to downplay expectations for Gingrich, who vowed to press on no matter what happens today.
“If he has a respectable showing, I think he’s still a viable candidate,” said Sen. Thad Altman, a Melbourne Republican who supports Gingrich. “I think it’s important that he has a good showing here, but I don’t think he has to win.”
A respectable showing, Altman said, would be one that put the former speaker within 10 points of Romney — though Gingrich wasn’t out of the race for Florida even with the daunting margin, Altman said.
“If look you at the polls of the past primaries, Newt’s run stronger than the polls indicated and Romney ran a lot weaker,” he said.
Romney supporters were also looking to tamp down any emerging story lines that the onetime front-runner needed a big win in Florida after a long list of polls showed him putting ever more distance between himself and the rest of the pack.
“Any win is a win, okay?” said Sen. Steve Wise, a Republican from Jacksonville, a Romney stronghold.
Following a debate in Jacksonville Thursday night, in which Romney was seen as the winner, adviser Eric Fehrnstrom also tried to quiet talk that a win in Florida could prove to be a knockout punch for Romney, who has already won in New Hampshire and is the best-funded candidate in the race.
“The nomination process doesn’t end on the 31st of January,” he said. “It keeps going.”
Florida Republicans coming off a bruising battle to put the state in the limelight were eager to paint a different narrative. Last year, facing the prospect of sanctions from the national Republican Party for the Jan. 31 primary date, GOP lawmakers cobbled together a committee to establish the date of the presidential primary. The panel decided to go with Jan. 31 anyway.
That prompted the national party to strip Republicans of half of their delegates to the GOP convention, set to be held in Tampa.
“No one can argue that that has not concentrated extraordinary focus, emphasis and potentially … decisiveness in terms of the impact of Floridian voters’ voices,” said state House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. Cannon has remained neutral since his first choice, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, dropped out of the race.
Lenny Curry, chairman of the state Republican Party, was more reserved.
“I’d rather that we didn’t lose half of our delegates, but this is where we are, and it is all about Florida,” he said. “So some will argue that it was worth it.”
By The News Service of Florida
Election Day Tips
January 31, 2012
Polls will be open from until 7 p.m. today for the Republican Presidential Primary. All Escambia voters, including Democrats and independents, can vote on the countywide EDATE referendum.
Voter turnout was reported to be light across the North Escambia area. At precincts in Bratt and Walnut Hill, only Mitt Romney signs lined the highways. There were no visible signs of support for other candidates.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford offers the following Election Day tips:
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, or call 595-3900
- Confirm the location of your polling place: check your sample ballot, voter information card, EscambiaVotes.com, or call 595-3900
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot
- While only registered Republicans may vote in the Presidential Preference Primary contest, all voters may vote on the countywide EDATE referendum
- Registration books closed on January 3 – new registrations and party changes for this election may not be made at the polls
- You may not return your voted absentee ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 p.m.
- Early voting ended Saturday – if you have not yet voted, you must go to your precinct on Election Day
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. until the polls close at 7:00 p.m.
For more information, contact the Escambia Supervisor of Elections Office by phone at (850) 595-3900, e-mail at soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Pictured: Precincts at the Walnut Hill Community Center (top) and the First Baptist Church of Bratt (inset) late Tuesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rain Moving In
January 31, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of showers 40 percent.
- Wednesday…Rain showers likely in the morning. Isolated thunderstorms through the day. Rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
- Wednesday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers in the evening…then slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of showers 50 percent.
- Thursday…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. East winds around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Friday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of showers 30 percent.
- Friday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of showers 30 percent.
- Saturday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of showers 40 percent.
- Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Sunday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Monday…Mostly sunny. Slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Monday Night…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.
- Tuesday…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
EDATE: Vote Is Tuesday On Tax Waiver To Create Jobs
January 30, 2012
When voters head to the polls Tuesday for Florida’s Republican primary, they will also have the chance to vote on EDATE — the Escambia County Ad Valorem Tax Exemption.
EDATE — as much as it may sound like internet dating — is a property tax abatement program that’s designed to encourage businesses to relocate to Escambia County and encourage existing businesses to expand. The tax abatements are good for up to 10 years.
“Over 4,000 new jobs in Escambia County are credited to EDATE,” Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said. Navy Federal has created 3,000 new jobs under the EDATE program, while International Paper has added 496. In all, 4,346 jobs have been created under the EDATE program, according to county records.
“It is a tool for economic development,” Oliver said. “The county gives up tax dollars in exchange for jobs.”
In order for a company to qualify to pass on property taxes under EDATE, there must be an increased assessed value on their property. “So in theory it does not impact current tax revenue,” Oliver added.
The tax waivers do not impact any other taxing district — tax revenue is not cut for schools, the Northwest Florida Water Management District or the city of Pensacola.
Companies do not automatically qualify for a full 100% abatement — different levels of discounts are given under the program. A full tax waiver would require an investment over $5 million and over 100 new jobs that pay an above average wage. Anything else and the percentage of forgiven taxes decreases.
The EDATE program has been in place since the early 1990’s and must be approved every10 years. If approved Tuesday, the EDATE program will continue through 2022 in Escambia County.
While Tuesday’s election is the Republican Presidential Primary, Democrats and independent voters can also head to the polls to vote on the EDATE referendum.
Your Work Week Forecast
January 30, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 69. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
Freezing Temps Tonight
January 29, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 30. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 56.