UWF Graduate List: Escambia And Santa Rosa
May 2, 2010
Saturday was spring semester graduation day at the University of West Florida.
The following Escambia and Santa Rosa county residents received degrees:
CANTONMENT
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: April Davidson, Laura Ghiorso, Adam Knight, Anthony Manzi, Emily Olivier
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Berry, Janet Branch, Gregory Breaux, Tina Carr, Dorothy Carr, Jessica Cascone, Laurie Corley, Michelle Digirolamo, Russell Dominick, Samantha Ervin, Thomas Ford, Kimberly Fox, Angela Garcia, Brittany Green, Tadessa Ham, Tiffany Harvey, Matt Hawkins, K. Hawthorne-Jennings, Christopher Henderson, Angela Hensel, Christopher Henseler, Robert Herman, Shannell Hill, Torin Howland, Thomas Huber, Patricia Jones, Jodi Laird, Kevin Lapointe, Jacqueline Lee, Brian Lyle, Falethea Marquis, Joel McDonald, Kelley McDowell, Rebecca McLellan, Heather Miller, David Norton, Renee Paulson, Autumn Price, Katherine Pursell, Bonnie Rieland, Timothy Sanders, Kaleb Showalter, Jessica Smith, Chris Snow, Jeffery Stanfill, Carol Stevens, Joshua Temple, Allen Thompson, Ryan Whited, Jonathan Wiggins, Heather Wiscombe
MASTER’S DEGREES: Gail Atkins, Matthew Blackburn, Ashley Brewster, Charles Cather, Jennifer Chambers, Marc Churchwell, David Faircloth, Steven Gallagher, Melissa Grace, Michael Johnston, Christina Kavanagh, Thomas Myers, Amber Sherouse, Kimberly Sinkkanen, Cole Yuknis
SPECIALIST’S DEGREES: Jenni Brian, Ron Steiner
CENTURY
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Cooper, Brittany Holley, Jessica Killam, Shannon Little, Amanda Montgomery, Amy Moye, Forrest Scott, Derek Stone
MASTER’S DEGREES: Deanna Hendrix, Julie Majors
SPECIALIST’S DEGREE: Philip Gilman
MCDAVID
BACHELOR’S DEGREE: John Chavers
MOLINO
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Shana Brown, Audrey Coleman, Michael Laursen, Crystal Yu
MASTER’S DEGREE: Christen Glover
PENSACOLA
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Anton Alexandrov, Kerstin Bryant, Nicole Cabrera, Meagan Core, Tim Mark Dahn, Stacey Epling, Shelby Esser, Joseph Flynn, Keaton Fox, Richette Gaines, Christina Hayes, Brittany Kaylor, Shelby Leitch, Heidi Medina, Sarah Nguyen, Kesha Royster, Chelsea Simpson, Nicholas Stockton, Amanda Taft, John Vuong, Corey Weaver, Laura Wilson
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: William Abbott, Dario Ackerman, Theresa Agosto, Daniel Akerman, Jason Albano, Jennifer Albesa, Ayed Aldossari, Patterson Aldueza, Matthew Alford, Lisa Althaus, Craig Anderson, Eunice Angeles, Luis Arboleda, Joshua Ard, Daniel Baggett, Allison Bahr, Dana Balderrama, Kimberly Baldwin, Donald Barksdale, James Barnes, Brittney Barnett, Jessica Barnett, Ashlee Barnhill, Amanda Beam, Heather Beck, Helen Billy, Matthew Black, Tangee Blankenship, John Boatner, Taryn Boccia, Alison Borganelli, Megan Boudreaux, Ashley Boyd, Colin Boyles, Breanna Boyster, Megan Brantley, James Bricker, Allen Brothers, Cary Brown, Courtney Brown, Leecy Brown, Lucretia Brown, Kenzie Broxson, Tyler Brummet, Amanda Burgess, Amber Burns, Scott Burton, Carlton Burton, Katherine Butch, Domonic Butler, Allison Byrd, Kristin Campbell, Anita Carnley, Rebecca Caroline, Michael Carty, Agatha Castellano, Alexis Castro, Kristine Celestino, Kristofer Chamblee, Juleah Chandler, Earlene Chandler, Liem Chau, Jamie Cherry, Holly Clements, Amanda Clonts, Christy Cofer, Willis Condon, Cheri Conkle, Robert Cook, Peyton Cook, Cordaryl Cook, Clayton Cooper, Benjamin Coppenger, Jason Corbin-Deutsch, Karen Cravero, Paul Crewdson, Seth Crochet, Nyshenia Cromartie, Andrew Cruse, Christopher Cumber, Heather Daffin, Taylor Dalton, Christopher Dalton, Susanne Daniels, Ezzat Danyal, Darryl Davis, Serjevah Davis, Kwajalain Davis, Brandy Davis, Yasmailin De La Cruz, Mark Matthew De Luna, Christian Dearco, Daniel Dees, Melville Dela Paz, Diana Denisenko, James Denunzio, Katherine Devereux, Michael Dinapoli, Kirstie Dombrosky, Robert Donnelly, Rosella Dozier, Chelsea Duell, Mark Duggar, Marina Dukhovskaya, Elizabeth Dunn, James Dunn, Brandon Eckard, Tonya Edgar, Neil Edmonston, Calvin Edwards, David Egstad, Tavia Ellis, Susan Ensley, Linsey Erar, Katherine Erickson, Lindsey Falzone, Branden Farmer, La Vesta Feagin, Melissa Featherstone, Joanna Fielding, Taylor Finn, Charles Fischer, Danielle Fisher, David Fleming, Joshua Fleming, Brett Fleming, Ashley Flowers, Laura Foote, Steven Fox, Marcela Franco, Elanders Frazier, Heather Freeman, Sheila Freeman, Cara Fulton, Mark Furches, Tanya Gallagher, Patricia Gandolfo, Tabatha Garcia, Kelly Garner, Michele Geier, Jenna Geiger, Sarah Gellner, Vivian Gibson, Ronald Giese, Alicia Gifford, Shirley Gilley, Christina Glover, Kathleen Godwin, Elizabeth Godwin, George Goehring, Brett Golightly, John Gomez, Bianca Gomez, Nicole Gonzalez, Andi Gonzalez, Christopher Gormley, Tracy Grant, Ryan Gray, Melissa Gray, Jeremy Gray, Mary Greer, Melea Griffin, Floyd Grimes, Nicole Grottano, Nicole Grottano, Jennifer Gulley, John Haarala, Lindsay Hall, Karen Hamblin, Jennifer Hardman, Joseph Harnage, John Harold, Kasi Harrell, Richard Harrison, Nicole Hatt, Ingrid Hawkins, Ashley Hensel, Carolyn High, Megan Hill, Joseph Hobbs, Savannah Hodge, Nicole Holland, Erica Holland, Ashley Holloway, Hannah Homeier, Matthew Hope, Crystal Howard, Erica Howe, Martin Hozian, Andrew Hubbard, Christina Hutley, Jonathan Jackson, Nancy Jacobi, Stephanie Jacobson, Timothy Jansky, Jacquita Jenkins, Haley Jensen, Daniel Jonas, Courtney Jones, Michelle Jones, Ronald Joyner, Jacquelyn Kashur, Jaramie Kellam, Curtis Kellam, Mallory Kennedy, Kristen Kessler, , Justin King, Mark King, Gwendolyn Knight, Chelsea Koontz, Michael Kortness, Jalila Krichi, Elena Krivosheyeva, Joel Kuhn, Syctrilas Kyle, Nicoria Lambert, Samuel Lamotte, Tiffany Langham, Shane Langseth, Jade Lantz, Saheed Lateef, Michael Laterza, Stacy Lawhorn, Sarah Lee, Naomi Leitch, Richard Leohner, Kara Leon, Sarah Lerman, Ian Lett, Brianna Lewis, Paige Livermore, Michelle Livingston, Pragga Liza, Anastacio Loanzon, Daniel Lowery, Megan Mackay, Gary Macmullen, Kevin Madderra, Melissa Mancao, Lisa Manderson, Andrew Martel, Elizabeth Martin, Shaye Martin, Robert Martin, Vincent Marzano, Samantha Matthews, Renata Mattos, Elisa McAlpine, Stephanie McBride, Garrett McCabe, Sarah McCartan, Stanley McDaniels, Danielle McDonald, Ronald McGhee, Lisa McKenna, Laurisa McKissack, Christopher McMahon, Cassia McShannon, Nathan Melton, Mark Milliken, Christine Mills, Kecia Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Tamara Mobley, Michael Moehle, Marcy Moon, Kevin Mooney, Ryan Moore, Carmela Moorman, Alden Morgan, Jonathan Morris, Shawn Morrison, Elizabeth Morrison, Melissa Mortland, James Mueller, Martina Mueller, Mary Mullen, Scott Muller, Wesley Murphy, Jessica Nall, Nicole Nash, Armand Navarro, Deanna Neal, La’Krystal Neal, Neal Neisler, Marvetta Nesbitt, Linh Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen, Tri Nguyen, Michael Niewoehner, Christopher Nosal, Katrina O’Neil, Danielle Otos, Joseph Overby, Crystal Padilla, Christina Padron, Jeremy Paguiligan, Anish Palepu, Joseph Palestini, Jennalyn Palmares, Ashlee Palmer, Chantel Parker, Meagan Parker, Jacques Perry, Aaron Petersen, Lameika Peterson, Mai Pham, Elizabeth Pires, Cathryn Plummer, Timothy Pope, Benjamin Posey, Sarah Prouty, Akemi Raish, Kaitlin Ramsey, Marcia Ranaldson-Simpson, Brittany Rappise, Tara Raulston, Aliza Ray, Christopher Ray, Jamie Rayford, Stephanie Reed, Lauren Rhodes, Jennifer Rice, Kristen Richards, Claresa Richardson, Tiffany Richardson, Kenneth Richardson, Jessica Robinson, Joshua Rodgers, Tatiana Rodrigues, Samantha Rodzwicz, Stephanie Rogers, Christina Rojas, Sheena Ross, John Rougas, Mary Routt, Mindy Rownd, Meagan Russell, Ashley Rutherford, Andrea Sablan, Tayler Sanders-Kyser, Jessica Schisler, Hans Schmid, Samantha Schmid, Ellen Schwier, Judy Seales, Casey Serfoss, Yelena Sestnov, Suzanne Shores, Diana Simpler, Katina Simpson, Meagan Skeen, Sarah Skipper, Justin Slaughter, Charles Slowikowski, Briana Small, Kavontae Smalls, Anthony Smith, Crystal Smith, Diane Smith, Michael Smith, Heather Smith, Jennifer Smith, Kevin Smith, Tina Smith, Ivy Snodgrass, Cesar Solorzano, Amanda Sorrells, Angela Spadaro, Lindsey Spires, Brittney Spurgeon, Regina St. Pierre, Alex Stahura, Lauren Stanley, Todd Stannard, Dawnyele Stapleton, Joseph Stephen, John Strickland, Latosha Sullivan, Harrison Szuch, Selena Talbert, Brandy Tart, Mathew Taylor, Kristie Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Joshua Thomson, Matthew Tierney, Sedonia Tillman, James Tobin, Kimberly Torres, Adriana Torres, Han Tran, Joanna Trease, Michael Turner, Jamie Turner, Jennifer Turner, Jacob Urda, Michael Valentine, Jennifer Vickers, Alex Vinson, Ashley Virgilio, Amanda Vowell, Kevin Vu, Anh Vu, Christina Walden, Breanna Waldron, Adrienne Wallace, Shannon Wallace, Riannon Wallen, Clasine Washington, Michael Watkins, David Watson, Branden Weekley, Brittany Weiss, Helen Welch, Jason Wells, Jeffrey Wells, Kelly Wells, Heather Wendel, Marlene Wensink, Jessica White, Chenika White, Joanne Whitlock, Dolly Willems, Madeline Willett, Alaina Williams, Catherine Williams, Haley Williams, Jarra Williams, Kervonda Williams, Phylicia Williams, Samantha Williams, Stephanie Wilson, Kimberly Wilson, Matthew Winkles, Mariah Wood, Matrice Woods, Ari Woods, Cherrell Worsham, Cayce Yates, Frank Yost, Carla Young, Sara Zandi Karimi
MASTER’S DEGREES: Rajeh Al-Johani, Majid Alharbi, Tara Baker, Hilary Barber, David Beddick, Catherine Bogese, Natalie Boxell, Kimberly Bradley, Cassi Breaux, Paul Brown, Gregory Bush, Lynn Calloway, Richard Carr, Anna Carroll, Leslie Chaffee, Amanda Chamberland, Benjamin Chromik, Christopher Clarke, Maria Colbert, Crystal Collinsworth, Jason Crawford, David Croft, John Crowe, David Davis, Laura Davis, Ryan Davis, Maria Dewise, Jenna Dodge, Mitchell Engley, Deborah Fletcher, Carrie Fox, Juan Garaicoechea, Timothy Giertz, Richard Gillis, Jennifer Grainger, Shelley Gray, Victoria Guy, Heather Halbert, Jessica Hall, Viorica Harrison, Jacob Hesse, Cynthia Holt, Logan Hundley, Jamie Hutson, Lindsey Jeremiah, Warren Johnson, Michael Kaloydis, Kendra Kennedy, Robert Kidston, Eric Kollar, Stacey Kostevicki, Deborah Layton, Douglas Leal, Anlecta Lindsey, Vickie Lindsey, Tomas Lopez, Andrea Lowery Mae Macdonald, Katherine Marsh, Sean McCan, Jessica Morris, Catherine Newbill, Roy Oberto, Leigh Pelham, Frederique Perret, Jonathan Posey, Alex Posta, Matteo Rebeschini, Allison Reynolds, Timothy Ringo, Ashley Roache’, Ashley Roberts, Felicia Roberts, Seth Rosin, Shawn Ross, Natasha Sanders, Steve Schickel, Edina Simmons, Arup Sinha, Donna Sirois, Erika Smith, Gregory Stanley, Vivian Stark, Noah Stevens, Jeffrey Strawn, Elisabeth Swain, Karen Sylvester, Sarah Tavares, Hope Vanamburg,Tiffany Vollmer, Christina Wade, Chelsea Watson, Tracie Watson, Amy Wheeler, Stephanie Wideman, Casey Williams, Eric Williams, Nina Winkler, Mary Yates, Stephen Zielinski
SPECIALIST’S DEGREES: Eric Collins, Sheldon Payne, Vicki Yelder
PENSACOLA BEACH
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Adam Horton, Ryan Purves, Shandy Rich
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
GULF BREEZE
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Kyle Barron, Renee Davis
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Raynold Augustin, Chrystelle Banfell, Nadia Batson, Alex Borgella, Gail Bowling, Kyle Brown, Beverly Burks, Dahlonega Calhoun, Thomas Cantin, Andria Cauley, Carol Chanley, Morgan Cole, Russ Dickerson, Daniel Dolfie, Chad Dunn, Mark Duval, Sandra Echeverri, Michelle Gorman, Erin Graydon, Nikolas Halatsis, Michelle Harmon, Caitlyn Holston, Sarah Kane, Sarah Kane, Kyle Kildow, Tyler Kirk, Candace Knowles, Jim Lacey, Kimberly Lauterbach, Laure Lewis, Shannon Marsh, Macy Miller, Joseph Pace, Hilary Rivkind, Dustin Saxon, Nikolas Sharp, Kristopher Shea, Matthew Shull, Margaret Stephenson, Corey Stone, Rachael Tarter, Patricia Vogler, Elliott Williams, Malery Williams, Tamra Zanca
MASTER’S DEGREES: Michelle Buchholtz, Janusz Chudzynski, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Katie Lowe, Elizabeth Mann, Vesta Mosley, Selena O’Donnell, Carrie Phelps, Catherine Purdon, Jessica Van Slyke, Terrace Waggoner
JAY
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Ashleigh Campbell, Cassandra Emmett, Kristopher Head, Melody Helms, Erin Jones, Lukas Sasser, Dawna Walther, Kristen Wilkinson
MASTER’S DEGREE: Sarah Lee Cassady
MILTON
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Maggie Lochas, Rachael Porras
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Alethea Rebecca Flores, Jonathan Potts, William Powell, Laura Rader, Byanka Ramirez, John Scholl, Chantalle Scott, Jason Sisko, Casey Smith, Kelley Smith, Tiffany Sowell, Jennifer Tilden, Lind Volonino, Forrest Ward, Lori Weekley, Laura Williams, Nicholas Zepp
MASTER’S DEGREES: Julie Bakke, Charles Baxley, Kathleen Cooper, Andrea Ducker, Harmony Jones, Sophia King, Jeremy Laughery, Tabatha Lowry, Ashley Murray, Sheramy Scott, Leauna Stone, Michael Walker
NAVARRE
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Rachel Azar, Frances Bell, Jessica Bellin, Jeannine Bonnen, Matthew Bonno, Paula Brainard, Elizabeth Brunet, Robert Bryan, Leon Butcher, John Byrne, Kimberly Carlow, Caroline Clark, Leonard Crabtree, Kevin Davis, Ann Day, James Duval, Carla Fernandez, Meredith Fingarson, Michael Flowers, Tyler Garbo, Tammy Hammack, Samuel Handy, Nicole Heslin, John Hill, Michael Hitchcock, Rochele Hullinger, Henry Isaacs, Meredith Jansen, Michelle Jennrich, Robert Johnson, Elizabeth King, Brandon Lawson, Brittany Lazo, Eric Lentner, Rose Lloyd, Emily Martin, Stefan Meyer, Shreese Moore, Jennifer Murphy, Haley Murray, Katelyn Murray, Jennifer Oeding, Gilbert Petris, Thomas Richardson, Danielle Ross, Francesca Segura, Tori Shires, Emery Shoemaker, Cynthia Sports, Christin Stephens, Savannah Stewart, Kindra Svendsen, Alicia Swinford, Douglas Wise, Eric Womack, Justean Wright
MASTER’S DEGREES: Kristin Botsford, Janet Desalle, Penelope Duffey, Larry Love, Ann St. Sauver
PACE
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Laura Groat, Stephanie Hinton, Richard Hohn, Erica Manning, Jack McDonald, Jessica Reeder, Mary Summerlin, Flavia Vale
BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Dellanie Almond, Danielle Annis, Timothy Babin, Mary Bainbridge, Richard Ball, Jeri-Lyn Barninger, Emily Burge, Elizabeth Cockrum, Olivia Cole, Thomas Cornelison, Gretchen Cotton, Catrina Dallman, Linda Davis, Tyrone Del Valle, Tanya Drossner, Erica Gates, Patricia Gillespie, Gregory Griffis, Sierra Grillot, David Hand, Christopher Herrera, John Howard, Lindsey Howell, Caleb Howton, Thomas Huffstutler, Annmarie Jackson, Gary Lee, Erica Leeds, Robert Lloyd, Savannah Locklin, Lindsay Lowe, Alie Marie Mallet, Christopher Martin, Suzannah Miller, Josh Milletary, Brittani Morgan, Brittany Mraz, Joshua Newby, Ashley Oram, Jenny Paige, Liandethza Ramirez-Crespo, Jannie Randolph, Tyler Roberts, Heath Rosenstiel, Heather Sanders, Carl Shouppe, Amanda Spiegel, Karen Thomley, Jennifer Tindell, Erin Toole, Patrick Walsh, Lauren Welch, Carole Wells, Derek Williams
MASTER’S DEGREES: Albert Abbey, Alexandra Colley, Kathia Rogillio, Vaun Shebeck, Joshua Strickland, Gerald Swann, Lauren Wesley, William Wyatt
Monday Northview JV Baseball Canceled
February 22, 2010
The Northview High School junior varsity baseball games against W.S. Neal scheduled for today at Northview have been canceled due to standing water on the field.
Last night’s rain has left standing water on the fields at Northview and and W.S. Neal. The games will be rescheduled at a later date.
The NHS JV will play Pensacola Christian on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00, and the varsity will follow at 6:00.
Portion Of Kingsfield To Close Wednesday
February 15, 2010
Kingsfield Road will be closed between Highway 29 and Old Palafox beginning Wednesday.
The road will be closed for widening and resurfacing, according to contractor Panhandle Grading & Paving, Inc.
Video: Northview High School Cheerleaders
February 15, 2010
Northview High School Cheerleaders Compete For National Championship
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If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, school or work firewall is blocking it.
Video: Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders
February 15, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders Compete For National Championship
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If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, school or work firewall is blocking it.
Thank You For Your Ticket Order!
February 14, 2010
Thank you for your ticket order. You will receive a Paypal receipt by email shortly.
Your tickets to print at home or work will be emailed to you within 24 hours. If you do not receive your tickets within 24 hours, please email news@northescambia.com
Order Tickets Northview FFA Alumni Bluegrass Festival
February 14, 2010
Click the “Buy Now” button below next to the show time you prefer and choose your ticket quantity on the following page.
Online tickets are $20 each plus a $2 convenience charge each.
You will receive a Paypal receipt for your payment almost immediately via email, and your printable tickets will be emailed to you within 24 hours.
Choose either the 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. show below. Then choose your ticket quantity on the following page.
Purchases are made securely via Paypal. You do not need a Paypal account to purchase with your credit card. Your credit card statement will show the purchase as PAYPAL*NORTHESCAMBIA
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Jay’s Hendricks Signs With The USA Jaguars
February 4, 2010
Wednesday was National Signing Day, and it was a big day in Jay for Rush Hendricks.
Hendricks signed on the dotted line and committed to play football for the University of South Alabama Jaguars, a team that played football for the first time last season.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of a new program. I look forward to being able to contribute to the team this fall. Coach Jones, and Coach Rodrigue are going to help me find out what I’m made of, and I’m ready,” Hendricks told NorthEscambia.com. “I haven’t met a single person involved with the program that isn’t 100% fired up about what is happening on campus and with the football program. The fact that they expect us to set a standard for excellence is an honor, and I am proud to be a part of the foundation of USA football history.”
Due to an injury, Hendricks only played five games during his senior season for the Jay High School Royals, rushing for 750 yards as a running back for the Royals. On the defensive side, playing linebacker, he had 45 tackles, eight of them for losses.
Hendricks has participated in summer camps at Florida, Florida State, Auburn and Alabama — where he made the Sabian team for two years. He’s been named a 2009 Pensacola News Journal Super Senior, and played offense and defense on the Pensacola Sports Association All-Star team.
Football is not his only sport; Hendricks has played catcher and first base in baseball, part of a district championship team each year of his high school career.
The 225 pound Hendricks is also a star in the classroom at Jay High, where he is currently ranked second in the senior class with a 4.0 GPA in an honors curriculum.
Rush Hendricks is the son of Rick and Nina Hendricks. Nina also attended the University of South Alabama.
The USA Jaguars concluded their inaugural season with a perfect 7-0 mark while outscoring the opposition 321-41. During the 2010 season, they will face 10 four-year schools, including seven home games at Ladd-Peebles stadium in Mobile.
Pictured top: Sister Tessa, mom Nina, Rush Hendricks, father Rick and Jay Coach Elijah Bell. Pictured inset: Hendricks and Coach Bell. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gene M. Valentino Statement
January 20, 2010
First, let me apologize to my constituents and Citizens of Escambia County for the confusion related to the issues associated with this recent bid. The way this has been handled and reported, as well as my own mistake, have added to an already bad situation. As your elected Commissioner I have a duty to represent all of the Citizens of the County in an ethical manner. I understand that in the current confusion some of you may feel I have not done so. I can assure you that I have never intentionally misstated or acted illegally on this or any other issue. However, I am embarrassed and ashamed if it appears that I may have compromised my office. I have not and will not. I will explain what occurred.
As to the question of “Did I solicit campaign contributions while in my office or on County Property?”
The answer is “No”. What did happen was, Mr. Rawson and Mr. Weaver asked for an appointment which I was happy to schedule as I would for any citizen. I was not aware in advance of the purpose of their visit. During the conversation I indicated that I would seek their support but stated that we’d discuss this matter at a separate time and place.
“Did I discuss the re-bid on the Maplewood Drainage Project?”
The answer is yes. Sort of. I was not aware that Roads, Inc. was in a bid process and had a problem. When Mr. Rawson and Mr. Weaver came into my office we made ’small talk’ for a while and then they got to the meat of their concern. That was the first time I became aware that they wished to discuss a pending bid and their alleged $100,000 mistake. Mr. Rawson and Mr. Weaver stated that they had been given two different alternatives to address their alleged mistake: one by County Staff and one by the County Administrator. The Purchasing Department allegedly told them there was no recourse for protest and to talk to the Commissioners. The County Administrator allegedly told them to file a bid protest, contrary to the other advice given. When I became aware that their true purpose for meeting with me was to discuss a bid in progress, I told them at that time I could not discuss this any further to protect bid protocol. I told them I would bring their concerns to staff. We ended on that note.
I then consulted with staff. They informed me that there was in fact a “breach in the process of the bid and that the process was flawed.”
It was my responsibility to bring this notion forward to protect “due process”.
If I sounded as though I was waffling at any time in my conversation with the reporter on this matter over a month later when rushing to a meeting, it was an error on my part and I apologize.
I hope this clarifies my actions and statements. Again, I wish to apologize for any appearance of wrong doing. However, I make no apology for my steadfast desire to improve our local economy and to create new jobs. I remain committed to protecting the “due process” of our government. I intend to move forward and to continue to champion the causes for District #2 and all of Escambia County. Let’s get back to work.
Gene M. Valentino
Escambia County Commissioner, District 2
County Offers Winter Weather Fire Safety Tips
January 7, 2010
With the extremely cold temperatures forecast for the rest of the week, Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay warm, specifically when using space heaters. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
According to the National Fire Protection Association annual fire department survey, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported home structure fires in the United States in 2006. These fires accounted for 16% of all home fires and were responsible for an estimated 540 deaths, roughly 1,400 injuries and $943 million in direct property damage. With this in mind, Escambia County would like to offer a few safety tips involving heating equipment:
- Properly inspect all heating equipment for frayed cords or exposed elements before use.
- Space heaters need space. Keep heaters at least three feet away from all furniture, drapes, clothing and other combustibles.
- Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances, such as ovens, or any heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
- Only use heaters with safety features such as cut-off switches that turn them off if they accidentally tip over and those units with heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
- Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
- When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
- If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
- Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
- Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel as both explode easily.
- Keep the fire in the fireplace with a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
- Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
- Remember it’s always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
- Electric blankets can be a serious fire hazard if defected or used improperly. Check your electric blanket for any damage from fraying, creasing or general wear and tear. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, and never use a wet blanket.
- In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.
Actions should be taken to prepare for this and future cold weather events. Remember the “5 Ps” of cold weather preparedness:
- Protect People
- Protect Plants
- Protect Pets
- Protect Exposed Pipes
- Practice Fire Safety
Escambia County encourages everyone to follow these safety tips. For more information on cold weather hazards click here. If you have additional questions regarding heater safety or other fire safety issues, please contact Lt. Daniel Akerman at (850) 475-5530.