Tate’s Grissom Signs Division I Soccer Scholarship
February 9, 2018
Tate High School’s Emma Grissom signed a Division I soccer scholarship with Florida Atlantic University on National Signing Day. She scored almost 100 goals during her career at Tate, and has been a leader on her Gulf Coast Texans travel team for eight years.
“Emma is an outstanding individual and asset to any team. Her work ethic and versatility will ensure she makes a smooth transition to the college game,” her Texans coach, David Kemp, said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Presents Awards, Promotes Deputies
February 9, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office presented multiple awards Thursday afternoon and promoted several officers.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Life Saving Awards: Senior Deputy T. Hernandez and Master Deputy M. Clark (not pictured), & Deputy L. Richardson
Medal of Courage: Deputy S. Housam, Deputy P. Roberts, Deputy K. Bull, Deputy J. Zabelle.
Civilian Service Medal: Dylan Smith (not pictured), Zachary Caudill (not pictured)
Purple Heart Award and Law Enforcement Officer of the 3rd Qtr: Deputy T. Young
Law Enforcement Employee of the 3rd Qtr: Kelley Brown
Law Enforcement Employee of the 4th Qtr: Arielle Barroga
Law Enforcement Officer of the 4th Qtr: Deputy J. Timo
Law Enforcement Employee of the Year Medal: Kelley Brown
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Medal: Deputy T. Young
Promotions: C. Dickin to Lieutenant, B. Barnhill to Lieutenant, B. Munhollon to Sergeant, R. Reguindin to Sergeant, M. Lee, II to Sergeant, J. Holloway to Sergeant and M. Roe to Sergeant.
Letters of Commendation” Deputy P. Gallion, K. Brown, B. McNair, P. Bell, K. Jones, J. Ramano, J. Weaver, C. Kunert, and T. Kafka. Sgt. M. Dewees, Sgt. B. Price, Sgt. S. Mashburn, Sr. Deputy W. Shiver, Sr. Deputy J. Kelley, Sr. Deputy J. Taylor, Deputy 1st Class S. Vestal, Sr. Deputy D. Bashore, Deputy 1st Class J. Gilman, Master Deputy E. Jackson, Deputy D. Griffin, Deputy E. Anderson, Deputy 1st Class B. Ates, Deputy 1st Class C. Daniel, Deputy D. Shaw, Deputy 1st Class T. Brewton, Deputy J. Beard, Deputy K. Haver, Deputy J. Bandurski, Deputy J.Tungol, Deputy C. Bowling, Deputy R. Busbee, Deputy K. Haddocks, Deputy D. Ramires.
Submitted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Producers Attend Farm Day 2018
February 9, 2018
Farm Day 2018 was held Thursday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore with producers from Alabama and Florida.
The event was sponsored by the Extension Services in Escambia County, AL, and Escambia County, FL. The event featured a cropping systems specialist and an entomology specialist from the University of Florida WFREC, a peanut breeder from UF/IFAS NFREC Marianna and Josh McElhaney, NRCS Escambia County (FL) District Conservationist.
Pictured top: Dr. Silvana Moraes, entomology specialist, University of Florida WFREC, assists a local farmer with an entomology project Thursday during Farm Day 2018 at Grace Fellowship in Atmore. Pictured inset: Dr. Barry Tillman, Peanut Breeder, UF IFAS NFREC Marianna, discusses pest management and peanut varieties. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drilling Foes And Supporters Say Florida Still In Play
February 9, 2018
Supporters and opponents of oil drilling closer to Florida’s shoreline refused Thursday to accept U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s declaration that the state wouldn’t be part of a White House plan to expand exploration.
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held the only Florida open house on a proposed five-year program to open more waters to oil and gas exploration. But participants in competing press conferences doors away at a Tallahassee hotel agreed on one thing: Zinke’s stance on a Florida exemption isn’t final.
“Why are the environmentalists here? Why are they raising hell about this issue if no means no? It’s because, you know what, no is never no,” said Barney Bishop, a Tallahassee consultant and offshore drilling proponent. “You all don’t know about the discussions that are being held in private. No, publicly, can mean a whole lot of things in private.”
Zinke flew to Tallahassee International Airport on Jan. 9 and, after a brief meeting with Gov. Rick Scott, announced that Florida waters were removed from plans to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling.
The announcement, hailed by Scott and environmentalists, has drawn questions about whether the quick decision was made to further Scott’s political career. Meanwhile, governors in some other coastal state have made their own inquiries about getting exemptions from the White House plan.
Opponents of the plan on Thursday held a “people’s hearing” to gather public comments they will submit to the federal bureau.
Ian MacDonald, a Florida State University professor of oceanography, argued that a potential future spill — similar to the deadly 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster — would impact the physical well-being of Floridians.
“We received countless calls from state agencies and the federal government … asking for information which in many cases we didn’t have,” MacDonald said. “How many fish are there? How will they be impacted? How will coral be affected by this? These were all questions we didn’t know the answer to. Well, we still don’t have enough answers. And we still don’t have enough regulations.”
And Jerry DiFabrizio, a tile distributor from Tampa, said the threat of oil rigs appearing on the horizon could impact the quality of life in Florida by hindering property values.
“Whenever it’s announced that there is drilling off the coast, revenue for the state that helps the state provide good things is reduced,” DiFabrizio said. “We don’t want to just put condos wall to wall. We need the beaches to be preserved. We need the beaches to be maintained, conserved and restored.”
While Thursday’s event at the Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown hotel allowed people to see videos and papers and interact with bureau officials, before leaving comments, the “people’s hearing” provided a chance for people to vent their concerns with an audience.
A short-time earlier, proponents of oil exploration called for Florida’s waters to remain in the program.
Kevin Doyle, executive director of the Consumer Energy Alliance, which advocates “in support of affordable, reliable energy,” said exploration would enable the United States to be energy-dominant with the rest of the world.
“I think the original plan that was proposed is something that is a good starting point in this process,” Doyle said. “To import energy from areas that don’t like us as much, like Venezuela and other places such as that, if we can do that here in the United States, it’s a great thing for small businesses, for families and for consumers.”
The hearing, one of 22 being held through March 8 across the country, is the only one in Florida. Most are being held in state capitals.
A draft report is expected by the end of the year, which will be followed with another round of public hearings.
Renee Orr, the bureau’s chief of strategic resources, said the open house format allows more interaction than lining people up at a podium.
“We’re going to look at the comments we receive as a result of all of these public hearings and all of the information that is submitted,” Orr said. “We are going to look at all of the eight factors and provide that information to the secretary. Ultimately, he will make that balancing decision.”
Prior to the hearing, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection submitted its opposition to the proposal.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said in a letter that Florida’s coastal areas have “high environmental, economic and military value not only for Florida, but also for the nation.”
Valenstein also noted the comment by Zinke to Scott that Florida was off the table.
“As we have seen in the past, oil spills can have a devastating impact to Florida’s economy and our diverse natural resources,” Valenstein wrote.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
ECSO: Man Hits Deputy After Highway 29 Traffic Stop
February 8, 2018
An Escambia County man allegedly fought with and struck a deputy after a traffic stop on Highway 29 in Ensley.
Deputies conducted the traffic stop on Highway 29 near Detroit Boulevard late Thursday morning. The suspect, identified as 29-year old Joshua Matthew Russaw of Pensacola, fought with a deputy, striking him at last once, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy was not injured.
Russaw was booked into the Escambia County Jail on on felony charges of battery, resisting an officer with violence and obstruction.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Century Moves Forward With CRA, Schedules Public Meeting
February 8, 2018
The Town of Century is moving forward through the process of creating a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
The town previously declared a portion of Century as “blighted” as part of the process to form the CRA.
Once the CRA is in place and operating, it will work to improve conditions within the area. As property tax values rise, most of the increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements.
The CRA area is 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, State Road 4 to the north and the centerline of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King. Click here for a detailed map (pdf).
Essentially, CRAs use redevelopment funds within a deteriorating area to transform it into one that again contributes to the overall health of a community. The money can roll over year to year, up to a 40-year life for a CRA.
“It’s not going to take some years before you build that money up,” town consultant Debbie Nickles said. “It’s not going to be overnight.”
CRA funds can be used for a variety of public purposes, including items specified in the agency’s redevelopment plan, planning and surveys, acquisition of real property, affordable housing development and community policing innovations.
In establishing the CRA, the Century council found that the area is blighted, with a predominance of deteriorated or dilapidated housing in the area. Nearly half of the homes in the area were scored as dilapidated and in need of rehabilitation or reconstruction.
The median value of an owner-occupied home in Century is $40,000, compared to the Escambia County median housing value of $81,700. The average median household income in the Century area is $24,583, compared to the Escambia County’s median household income of $46,001.
The first of three CRA public meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the Century Business Center, with a formal presentation at 4:00. Refreshments will be served.
Rotary Essay Contest Winners Named
February 8, 2018
Subwest Rotary Four-Way Essay Test Contest winners were recently announced.
First place was Josh Vandal, Washington High, $400; second place Walker Parra, Washington High, $200; and third place Jazmyn Quarells, Tate High, $100.
The Four-Way Test Essay Contest is open to all Escambia County high school students, with each participant writing a short essay on the topic “Why is the Rotary Four-Way Test relevant today?”. The Four-Way Test is used by Rotarians to encourage value-driven, ethical behavior at work, at home and in the community.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks SUV HIt And Run Driver
February 8, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking information on a hit and run driver that stuck a pedestrian Wednesday on Van Pelt Lane near W Street.
Shaquita Salter, 30, was transported to Baptist Hospital after being hit about 1:12 p.m. The vehicle was described as a red and black SUV with a white male driver. He was last seen heading north on W Street.
Anyone with information on the crash ask asked to call Trooper Timothy Brown at (850) 484-5000.
Jim Allen Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
February 8, 2018
Jim Allen Elementary School has named Students of the Month for January. They are Joshua List (left) and Kinzy Cutler. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Trying Again To Find Website Designer, Host
February 8, 2018
The Town of Century is trying again to find a website design and hosting company after a previous attempt came up short.
In early January, the town published a request for legal notice proposal for website redesign, hosting and support in the Tri-City Ledger and the Pensacola News Journal. The proposals were due by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. By 10:35 a.m., no proposals had been received. Two proposal were received after the deadline and were not opened.
The town council vote to advertise again, this time skipping the Pensacola News Journal due to cost, instead opting to run a cheaper ad Tri-City Ledger and a free ad on NorthEscambia.com. (NorthEscambia.com regularly publishes public notices for the Town of Century at no cost.)
The town has allocated a budget of up to $7,500 for the new website.
Full disclosure: NorthEscambia.com was hired by vote of the full Century Town Council to review the technical aspects of the website RFP. We disclosed at that time that we would not submit a bid on the proposal. Our total bill for services rendered is estimated to be $275.
Pictured: The Town of Century’s current website, which has had no apparent updates since February 2015. NorthEscambia.com image.