Northview Softball’s Tori Herrington Signs With Coastal Alabama
November 9, 2018
Northview High School senior Tori Herrington has signed to play softball with Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette. She is pictured at a signing ceremony Thursday at Northview with family, friends and fellow Northview Chiefs players. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Superheroes, Firefighters To Hold Annual Toy Drive In Atmore
November 9, 2018
The Atmore Fire Department will hold their annual Christmas Toy Drive beginning at 9 a.m. at the Atmore Walmart on North Main Street. Superheroes from Causeplay Gulf Coast will be on hand. The donations will be for local children in need and children impacted by Hurricane Michael.
Escambia Seeks Sidewalks At Kingsfield Elem., Ransom Middle And Eight Other Schools
November 8, 2018
Escambia County is seeking grant money to fund the construction of sidewalks and other improvements along the roadways outside 10 schools, including Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary.
The Safe Routes To School Grant was created to increase the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by funding projects that remove the barriers preventing them from doing so. Those barriers include lack of infrastructure, unsafe infrastructure and a lack of programs that promote walking and bicycling.
If approved by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night, the county will apply for grants for the following:
- Ransom Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary School - Sidewalks along West Kingsfield Road from the school entrance to Highway 97 – Commission District 5
- Longleaf Elementary School, Pine Forest High School, and West Florida High School - Sidewalks on Wymart Road from Hollyhill Road to Longleaf Drive – Commission District 1
- Warrington Elementary School - Sidewalks on Manchester Street from Druid Drive to Barrancas Avenue, and sidewalks on Park Drive from Manchester Street to Manchester Street – Commission District 2
- Ensley Elementary School - Sidewalks on E. Johnson Avenue from the school to Cody Lane – Commission District 3
- C. A. Weis Elementary School - Sidewalks and crosswalks on Cross Street from ‘W’ Street to the school, and from Pace Boulevard to the school – Commission District 3
- Holm Elementary School and Workman Middle School - Sidewalks along Burgess Road from Sanders Street to Lanier Drive – Commission District 4
The grant applications are due by December 21.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Hurricane Repairs Could Top $350 Million; Will Customers Pay?
November 8, 2018
Gulf Power expects a final tab of hundreds of millions of dollars from Hurricane Michael, but it remains to be seen if the costs will be passed on to customers.
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Wednesday by the utility’s parent company, Gulf estimated that costs of repairing transmission and distribution lines and “uninsured facilities” will total $350 million to $400 million.
The filing by The Southern Company, which is Gulf’s parent, did not provide a detailed breakdown of the costs. But it said that as of September 30, Gulf Power had $48 million in a property-damage reserve. Under a 2017 rate-settlement agreement, Gulf is able to ask the Florida Public Service Commission for approval to recoup storm-related costs from customers and to replenish the reserve to $40 million. But the filing indicated a decision has not been made.
“The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time,” the filing said. The Category 4 Hurricane Michael made landfall October 10 in Mexico Beach and caused massive damage as it tore through parts of Northwest Florida and went into Georgia.
by The News Service of Florida
FHP: Woman Punched Trooper, Made Racial Slurs, Tried To Run
November 8, 2018
An Escambia County woman was jailed after punching a state trooper and attempted to run when he tried to place her under arrest.
The incident began about 3 p.m. Tuesday when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on a red Ford Mustang on Daytona Drive.
The vehicle was occupied by driver Christopher Urbaniak and front seat passenger Shaela Salinas. Urbaniak is a habitual felony offender, according to FHP, and Salinas was wanted on an active warrant out of Escambia County.
Bratt’s Donut Boy Celebrates Birthday With Pensacola Police, Harlem Globetrotters
November 8, 2018
Bratt’s “Donut Boy” thanked local officers with the help of the Harlem Globetrotters Wednesday.
Turning 11, Tyler Carach is continuing his travels across the country to thank men and women in the law enforcement with coffee and doughnuts.
He personally delivered and served doughnuts and birthday cake to Pensacola Police Department Officers. Tyler and the Globetrotters showered the officers with gifts. Children from the Rally Group who are either battling cancer or are a cancer survivor joined in the party had fun with the Globetrotters.
Since buying doughnuts for four Escambia County (FL) deputies at a Bratt convenience in August 2016, Tyler has taken his mission on the road to thank every cop in America with a doughnut. He’s visited departments from Los Angeles to New York and appeared on several national TV programs. He’s traveled to 41 states and delivered over 70,000 doughnuts.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Every Byrneville Elementary Student Receives A New Pair Of Shoes
November 8, 2018
Every student at Byrneville Elementary School recently received a new pair of TOMS shoes thanks to assistance of Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century. TOMS matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need, according to the company. Pictured are Byrneville fifth graders with their new shoes. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Win Paves Way For Conservative Court
November 8, 2018
Ron DeSantis’ narrow win in Tuesday’s election for governor will bring an unprecedented expansion of conservative Republican power in Tallahassee.
Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race since 1994. They haven’t controlled the state House or Senate since the mid-1990s. They lost their last Cabinet member in 2010.
Now, with DeSantis’ election, that conservative Republican influence will extend to the Florida Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 liberal majority that has blocked many initiatives advanced by the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott.
As he takes office on Jan. 8, DeSantis, a 40-year-old former congressman from Ponte Vedra Beach, will have the power to appoint three new members of the state’s highest court, replacing three justices who are part of the liberal bloc and who have reached a mandatory retirement age.
DeSantis, a Harvard-educated lawyer, has said that he will appoint conservative justices who are “solid constitutionalists.”
Talking to reporters Tuesday night in Orlando, DeSantis said his court appointees “will be very, very smart, very principled people, but they’re going to understand that their role is to apply the law and not rewrite the law.” He said the appointments will bring an end to “judicial activism” on the court.
The appointments may also have a lasting impact since voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that will allow the new justices, as well as other judges throughout the state, to serve until they are 75 years old, up from the current mandatory retirement age of 70.
A conservative majority on the Supreme Court is likely to be more deferential to initiatives advanced by DeSantis and the Legislature, where the GOP on Tuesday maintained a solid majority in the House and at least 23 seats in the 40-member Senate.
But in his victory speech, DeSantis talked little about partisan politics and emphasized the need as the state’s next governor to work with all Floridians, including those who opposed him.
“Political campaigns are a rough business and often about highlighting our differences. And, unfortunately, in this day and age they often spiral into outright demagoguery,” DeSantis said. “But governing is different. Governing is about getting things done on behalf of the people of Florida, keeping our economy going, improving our water quality and environment, promoting public safety and expanding educational opportunities.
“We need to build a Florida that is cleaner, safer, stronger and that will be my guiding light as governor,” he said.
DeSantis said one area where he might unite Floridians will be behind an effort to address the problems of toxic algae and red tide and on moving forward with plans to restore the Florida Everglades.
“I think the first priority in terms of what is really urgent for Florida is really getting us on a strong track on water quality and the environment,” he said.
DeSantis said he would use his relationship with President Donald Trump, who held campaign rallies for him, to advance the federal portions of the effort, including the creation of a reservoir near Lake Okeechobee to help divert and treat polluted water.
“I think you’re going to get tired of me calling you, asking you for things for Florida,” DeSantis said about Trump. “But I look forward to that. I think we’ll have a great partnership.”
DeSantis will also have willing partners in the Florida House and Senate. Incoming House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, was an early supporter of DeSantis. The newly elected lieutenant governor, state Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami, will also help DeSantis navigate the legislative process.
Lawmakers and the new governor are likely to find common ground on issues such as tax cuts, opposition to expanding Medicaid and the creation of more educational “choice” programs like charter schools and scholarships to send students to private schools.
DeSantis is also a strong supporter of gun rights, meaning any gun-control efforts are not likely to advance, and is open to restrictions on abortions. In the Republican primary, he voiced support for a “heartbeat bill,” which would prohibit doctors from providing abortions if fetal heartbeats can be detected.
As U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Iraq war, DeSantis will also find legislative support for his efforts to support active military members and veterans in the state.
One of DeSantis’ biggest challenges will be moving from a legislative branch, where he served nearly three terms in Congress, to the chief executive of the nation’s third-largest state.
DeSantis is taking over a huge enterprise, and one of his first tasks will be shaping a state budget proposal for 2019-2020 that is likely to be in excess of $89 billion.
He also must appoint a host of state agency heads overseeing areas such as education, health care, transportation and prisons.
Even prior to Tuesday’s election, DeSantis said he was putting together a transition plan for taking over from Scott, who leads in a U.S. Senate race that is expected to require a recount.
“You have to put together a government. I mean that’s a lot of work,” DeSantis said. “We have been doing this quietly behind the scenes, not to be presumptuous, but just because you don’t have enough time. You have to start doing it.”
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Incumbent Boutwell, Newcomer Smith Win Century Council Seats
November 7, 2018
Incumbent Benjamin Boutwell and political newcomer James Smith, Jr. were elected to the Century Town Council Tuesday.
“I just want to thank the citizens of the Town of Century,” Boutwell said. “Thank you so much for supporting me. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We have got a good council. Let’s work with the mayor. It looks like we are going to have a good four years ahead of us.”
“I am excited that I won,” Smith said. “I looking forward to helping the community of Century, to making it a better place. I can’t express how excited I’ve been. I’ve been thinking about this all day and for the last couple of months, and now that it’s finally come to fruition, I’m ready to serve Century.”
Smith won the seat currently held by longtime council member Gary Riley, who did not see reelection.
Incumbent Sandra McMurray Jackson will also return to the council. She automatically won back in June when no one qualified to run against her.
Boutwell, Smith and Jackson will be sworn in at the first Century Town Council meeting in January.
Complete, but unofficial, results are as follows:
Century Town Council, Seat 3
**Benjamin D. Boutwell – 303
Amanuel Onell Dubose – 195
Century Town Council, Seat 4
**James Smith, Jr. – 277
Mary Hudson Bourgeois – 230
Pictured top: Ben Boutwell and James Smith, Jr. Picture below: Amanuel Dubose and Smith. Pictured below: Former Century Mayor Freddie McCall watches as Mary Bourgeois looks at election returns. Pictured below: Current Century Mayor Henry Hawkins reviews vote totals from the Century precinct before they are posted for public view on the polling room door. Pictured bottom: Boutwell and his wife Cheryl wave at voters Tuesday afternoon outside the Century precinct. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hill Headed To The House; Gaetz Going Back To Washington
November 7, 2018
Rep. Matt Gaetz won reelection Tuesday to the U.S. House with 67 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger Jennifer Zimmerman’s 33 percent.
For Florida State Representative, Republican Mike Hill was elected with 61 percent to 39 percent for Vikki Garrett.