Time To Register For The Molino Christmas Parade
November 20, 2019
It’s time to register entries in the Molino Christmas Parade.
The parade will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 7 and will travel from the west end of Crabtree Church Road to the Molino Ballpark where Santa will be waiting to meet with all the good little boys and girls.
Registration fees are $30 for floats, $20 for vehicles (including motorcycles, tractors and golf carts) and $10 for horses. Four-wheelers and go carts are not allowed.
To register or donate, call (850) 698-4396 or visit www.MolinoBallpark.com. All registrations must be done in advance; there will be no registration available on the day of the parade.
Proceed go directly back to the community to help children in need.
Teen Dies After Early Morning Shooting In Escambia County
November 19, 2019
A teenager has died following a shooting early Tuesday morning in Escambia County.
The 15-year old male was shot inside a vehicle at Patricia and Fairfield Drive about 1 a.m.
Three people were inside the car at the time. The Sheriff’s Office says a passenger is being “somewhat cooperative” but they still have not determined why the shooting occurred.
The vehicle was driven to Edison and Garfield and abandoned after the shooting. Deputies are still searching for the driver.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Four Injured In Molino Two Vehicle Wreck; Car Hits House
November 19, 2019
Four people were reported injured in a vehicle wreck that ended with one car hitting a house on Highway 29 in Molino Tuesday morning.
The crash happened just after 6 a.m. on Highway 29 near Chance Road when one vehicle apparently rear-ended another. One vehicle left the roadway and struck the porch of a nearby home, while the other vehicle crossed all lanes of Highway 29 and came to rest in some bushes along Chance Road.
The injuries were not considered to be life threatening; one of those injured was reported to be a minor. No one in the house was injured.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Driver Ticketed After Colliding With Escambia County Deputy
November 19, 2019
A driver was ticketed after causing a collision with an Escambia County deputy late Monday night.
It happened about 9:10 p.m. when 51-year old Darren Lamar Lee of Pensacola traveled from a Nine Mile Road entrance ramp to Highway 29, across a high seperator in the construction zone and into the path of a deputy’s marked Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP said Deputy B. Kersey tried to slow and avoid a crash but hit the driver’s side of Lee’s Ford Ranger.
Neither driver was injured, but Kersey was temporarily unable to exit his vehicle due to the damage.
Lee was cited for crossing a marked divider.
Century Moves Forward With Hiring Vernon Prather As Interim City Manager
November 19, 2019
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to move forward with hiring consultant Vernon Prather as interim city manager. It’s a position that could cost the town over $100,000 per year.
The 4-1 vote authorizes Mayor Henry Hawkins and Prather to negotiate a one year employment contract to bring back to the council for final approval.
The council has budgeted $80,000 plus benefits for a city manager for a total cost that could surpass $100,000, according to current Interim City Manager Buz Eddy. But he noted Prather is not looking for a complete benefits such as insurance.
The lone vote against hiring Prather can from Councilman James Smith.
“We can barely afford anything, but we want to get a city manager who we have never had throughout the lifetime of Century,” Smith said. “How are we able to support that budget over $100,000 for one individual? Instead of getting a city manager, why don’t we make the mayor full time and make him do what he’s supposed to be doing, or her for that matter? I’ve been boggled by that for a while.”
“He (Prather) starts in gas, and now there is a recommendation for him to be city manager, but he just recently retired? That doesn’t sit well with me,” Smith continued.
“The problems that town has can be best addressed by someone like Mr. Prather,” Eddy said.
The town had only five applicants, including Prather, when the city manager job was advertised. Eddy said he believes there will more interest in the town manager position after the Century Charter Review Committee completes its work. The committee will consider making a charter change to officially establish a city manager position. Significant changes would require voter approval next year.
“We need to have that included in the charter before we can get a real live fulltime city manager,” Mayor Henry Hawkins said Monday night. “The reason we have so few applications is it is not concrete that the town will operate under a city manager form of government. The recommendation is because we are moving forward; we are making good strides with Mr. Buz and Mr. Prather.” The Century Charter Review Committee is currently reviewing possible changes that could include a city manager, but any changes will require voter approval.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Eddy came on board in July. Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job.
Prather does not meet the requirement of a college degree that was advertised for the city manager position, but Eddy said his experience far outweighs classroom education. He does hold wastewater and water certifications in addition to years on the job.
Prather did not attend Monday night’s meeting. If the council approves an employment contract with Prather, Eddy will step down as interim city manager and perhaps continue with the town on a consulting basis.
To learn more about the five applicants for interim town manager, click here for an earlier story.
Pictured top: Council member James Smith (far right) expresses opposition to hiring Vernon Prather as interim city manager. Pictured inset: Prather. Pictured below: Current interim city manager Buz Eddy speaks in favor of Prather replacing him. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Laura Coale Named New Escambia County Spokesperson
November 19, 2019
Laura Coale has been name Escambia County’s new director of communications and public information, effective today.
Coale will be paid $90,000 per year, plus a $400 monthly vehicle allowance.
“I’m honored to work with such a talented team and look forward to an exciting career serving the people of Escambia County,” she said.
Coale was most recently was executive director of strategic communications for Northwest Florida State College on a one-year contract that ended in September. She was executive director of communications and public information for Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, for three years, and spent five years as media relations director for the Denver International Airport.
Coale holds a master’s degree in public relations from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University.
She succeeds Joy Tusbooka whose resignation was effective in October.
Barry Named Chairman Of Escambia County Commission
November 19, 2019
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry has been named the new chairman of the Escambia County Commission, and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender has been named vice-chairman.
Barry succeeds District 3 Commissioner Lumon May at chairman of the five-member board. He will serve for one year. The chairmanship of the Escambia County Commission changes each year on a rotating schedule.
DeSantis Proposes $91.4 Billion Budget
November 19, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis has released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 that he has dubbed a “Bolder, Brighter, Better Future” budget.
Savings and Tax Relief
The total recommendation for the FY 2020-2021 budget is $91.4 billion. The budget recommends $480.5 million in savings – such as administrative efficiencies and elimination of earmarks.
The budget places $5.6 billion in total reserves, including $1.4 billion of general revenue, which is more than 6 percent of the total budget and more than $200 million more than the current year budget.
The budget also includes more than $300 million in tax relief, including a $56 million 8-day Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, a 10-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and property tax relief of over $247 million.
Education
Thebudget makes historic investments in the state’s education system, including $22.9 billion for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEDP), an increase of over $1 billion.
This includes over $900 million to recruit and retain the best classroom teachers and principals in Florida. Over $600 million is included to raise the minimum salary for full-time classroom teachers to $47,500, which would provide more than 101,000 teachers with a pay raise. Additionally, $300 million is recommended for the Florida Classroom Teacher and Principal Bonus programs.
The budget invests $25 million in key workforce development initiatives: $10 million for the Pathways to Careers Opportunities Grant Program, $10 million for the Work Florida Student Success Incentive Fund at State Colleges and $5 million for the Work Florida Student Success Incentive Fund at District Postsecondary Programs.
The budget recommends an increase of funding of more than $22 million for Florida college and nearly $24 million for Florida universities, all while maintaining no increase in tuition.
Environment
The budget continues Governor DeSantis’ focus on Florida’s environment and builds on the success of last year. The budget includes more than $625 million in recurring funding for Everglades restoration and the protection of vital water resources, positioning Florida to be able to reach the Governor’s goal of investing $2.5 billion over four years.
Included in the more than $625 million investment is more than $322 million for Everglades restoration projects, $150 million for water quality improvements, $50 million for springs restoration and more than $22 million to combat the harmful effects of algal blooms and red tide.
The budget also invests $50 million in beach nourishment to address Florida’s critically eroded shorelines, nearly $9 million in coral reef protection funding, as well as $154 million to protect Florida’s prized properties and water: $100 million for the Florida Forever Program and $54 million in new funding for state parks.
Health and Human Services
The budget makes significant investments in the well-being of Floridians and protecting the most vulnerable. Over $54 million is recommended to continue fighting the opioid epidemic, and $17 million is provided in new mental health and substance abuse funding.
In an effort to increase accountability, the Bolder, Brighter, Better Future budget invests over $97 million to provide funding for services to children and families through Florida’s child welfare system.
The budget provides $6.4 million in new funding to support the Office of Public and Professional Guardianship, as well as $10 million in funding to enrich the needs of seniors in Florida’s communities and enhance the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and ending abuse, neglect and exploitation of seniors.
To ensure Florida’s veterans are receiving the care they deserve, the budget invests $18.2 million for the completion of the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in St. Lucie County and the Lake Baldwin State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Orange County, as well as $6.7 million for capital improvements, equipment updates and additional nursing staff for Florida’s existing state veteran nursing homes.
Transportation and Economic Development
While Florida’s economy remains strong, finding affordable housing can still be a challenge. The budget provides $387 million to fully fund Workforce and Affordable Housing Programs: $119.8 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program and $267.2 million for the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) Program.
As Florida’s population continues to increase, key investments must be made to handle this growth and ensure continued efficiency. The budget provides $8.8 billion for the State Transportation Work Program, including $2.8 billion for highway construction, $865.7 million in lane resurfacing and $436.2 million in scheduled repairs and replacement of bridges.
The Bolder, Brighter, Better Future budget includes $50 million for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to provide funding for job training and public infrastructure projects that support growth and employment in Florida.
Hurricane Recovery
For the two most recent hurricanes to strike Florida, Irma and Michael, the State of Florida is projected to spend over $1.9 billion on hurricane-related expenses – $627.8 million for Hurricane Irma and $1.3 billion so far for Hurricane Michael.
The Bolder, Brighter, Better Future budget includes $25 million through the Hurricane Michael Recovery Grant Program for the repair and replacement of critical infrastructure and to improve the capacity of emergency services.
Public Safety
Early in his term, Governor DeSantis directed Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen to develop a threat assessment strategy to identify and prevent threats of mass violence. Building on this, the budget includes over $4.5 million to implement the first Statewide Behavior Threat Assessment strategy in the country.
The budget also invests more than $14.5 million to expand and enhance FDLE’s crime databases that the department uses daily to investigate crimes and apprehend criminals.
Governor DeSantis is recommending over $89.7 million and additional staffing at the Florida Department of Corrections for needed improvements, including retention bonuses and a pilot program to transition correctional officers from a 12-hour shift to an 8.5-hour shift.
Elections Security
With the 2020 elections getting closer, the Bolder, Brighter, Better Future budget recommends $6.6 million for state-level election oversight activities, with a focus on cybersecurity enhancements to Florida’s election system.
Includes in this funding is $1.3 million for ten positions dedicated to cyber security who will provide local Supervisors of Elections with support and recommendations to combat cyber threats. Also included is $1.4 million for voter registration list maintenance services and voter outreach through the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 19, 2019
Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850)516-7124 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited and appointments take priority.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary With Assault, Resisting Officer
November 19, 2019
A Cantonment man that said he thought he was entering a friend’s house has been charged with burglary.
Mertz Billy Goodwin, 54, was charged with first degree felony burglary with battery, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $102,000.
The victim told deputies that he answered his front door after hearing a knock. When he opened the door, Goodwin pushed the victim back and began to step inside the residence on Pine Forest Road, according to an arrest report. The victim was able to push him back outside and lock the door. He told deputies he had never seen Goodwin before.
When deputies arrived, Goodwin was still at the residence. When a deputy told him to stand up and place his hands behind his back, Goodwin attempted to pull away. “Goodwin was then put on the ground where was taken into custody without incident,” the arrest report states.
Deputies also reported finding a glass smoking pipe in his pants pocket.
Goodwin told deputies that he thought he was at a friend’s house.