Century Home Invasion Under Investigation; Victim Robbed At Gunpoint
January 22, 2018
An early morning home invasion in Century is under investigation.
Just after 4 a.m. Sunday, two black males knocked on a door and forced their way into a home on Ivey Street in Century, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The men demanded cash from the resident at gunpoint and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.
There were no injuries.
The resident of the home knew one of the suspects and provided that information to deputies. Further details, including a description of the suspects, has not been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Groundbreaking Held To Rebuild Tornado Ravaged 114 Year Old Century Church
January 22, 2018
A groundbreaking was held Sunday morning for the reconstruction of the historic Century United Methodist Church, which was damaged beyond repair in the February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado in Century.
“Our last service was held on this site on Valentine’s Day 2016. The next day, the tornado came and knocked (the building) off our foundation. Twenty months ago today the bell was removed from the bell tower. On July 8, the sanctuary walls came down,” Rev. Janet Lee said Sunday morning. “But we returned to this site not to talk about the old church, but to look forward to the future.”
During the groundbreaking ceremony Sunday, a church member held up a brick leftover from the foundation of the original church.
“I personally will see that it gets put in the foundation of the new church. It’s only fitting,” Lee told the congregation.
Pensacola architect Carter Quina designed the new church to look much like the old building. It will include windows, pews, light fixtures, woodwork and more salvaged from the old church.
The Century United Methodist Church was built in 1902, just after Century was established by The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company. It was constructed of virgin long leaf pine, with interior detail and finish that created a reverent place for worship.
For over 114 years, the sanctuary helped to provide comfort and inspiration to Century residents with weekly services, as well as special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
Time took its toll on the familiar old building, along with a fire and hurricanes. The February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado that struck Century dealt a blow from which the building could not be recovered. Many architectural details were salvaged before the structure had to be dismantled.
Work on the Church Street site is expected to begin shortly and should be completed in about 10 months.
“We hope to be in the new building by Christmas,” Lay Leader J.R. Jones said.
Church members have continued to meet since the tornado, operating out of their Annex Building across the street.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Muscogee Road Work About 60 Percent Complete
January 22, 2018
Work is about 60 percent complete on the first phase of widening and drainage improvements for Muscogee Road from Highway 297A to the Perdido River.
Muscogee Road was closed from Beulah Road to Carlisle Road in late September for the installation of a water main, reconstruction of a portion of the roadway, and construction of 5-foot shoulders. Traffic has been detoured via Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road to Highway 112 in Alabama.
The current section scheduled to be completed and the road reopened, barring any weather delays, by the end of February.
There are still three phases to come in the overall project:
- Perdido River to Beulah
- 90% Design under review
- Easements needed from Water Management District; request pending design completion
- Design completion pending construction funding
- Carlisle to 97
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Escambia County staff is following up with residents for participation
- 97 to Nowak
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right of way
- Escambia County staff is following up with residents for participation
Since this is a freight corridor, the roadway will be designed and constructed to accommodate the heavy traffic load.
Four Northview Weight Lifters Earn Medals At Regionals
January 22, 2018
Four members of the Northview High School weightlifting team earned medals Saturday during the regional meet at Baker School. They were (L-R) sixth place Crystal Douglas and Lexi Broadhead, and fourth place Abigail Nelson and Natasha Walker. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Official’s Comments Stir Up Florida Offshore Oil Drilling Debate
January 22, 2018
Despite U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s declaration last week that Florida wouldn’t be considered as part of a White House offshore oil-drilling proposal, waters near the state’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts may continue to be under review.
But that all depends on how to interpret comments from Walter Cruickshank, the acting director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. He told members of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Friday that there has been “no formal decision yet on what’s in, or out, of the five-year program.”
“We are following the process conducting a full analysis of all areas included in the draft proposed program,” Cruickshank added.
Democrats quickly pounced on his statement that “no formal action” has been taken on Zinke’s announcement. Yet Cruickshank also said Zinke’s statement “stands for itself,” the secretary’s decision would be “reflected in the proposed program” and that Congress has treated Florida waters differently, noting a decades-long moratorium against oil drilling in an area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico used by the military for air and sea training.
Cruickshank had been asked why Florida was carved out of the plan, as governors and leaders of other coastal states have sought similar exemptions to the one Zinke announced after flying into Tallahassee International Airport on Jan. 9.
Zinke, appearing alongside Gov. Rick Scott at the airport, said Florida coastal waters would be removed from plans to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. In making the decision, Zinke praised Scott, an ally of President Donald Trump, for working with the administration.
Scott hailed Zinke’s announcement, while some others questioned the quick decision and manner of announcement as an attempt by the Trump administration to further Scott’s political career.
In a release Friday, the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — a Democrat expected to be challenged for his seat later this year by Scott — said Cruickshank’s comment confirms that Zinke’s airport announcement was a “political stunt” and not an official policy.
The drilling proposal was introduced less than a week before Zinke’s trip to Tallahassee. Scott and Florida politicians from both parties voiced opposition to opening waters beyond the nation’s outer continental shelf — a jurisdictional term describing submerged lands 10.36 statutory miles off Florida’s west coast and 3 nautical miles off the east coast.
Sierra Club Florida Director Frank Jackalone called Cruickshank’s testimony an administration “flip-flop” that should be an embarrassment for Zinke and Scott.
“It also makes a mockery of the entire offshore planning process and this administration’s ability to do its job and responsibly manage America’s public lands and waters,” Jackalone said. “Zinke’s promise to take Florida ‘off the table’ was never anything more than a PR stunt to greenwash Governor Scott’s record, but Floridians won’t be fooled.”
Nelson has filed legislation to permanently ban drilling off Florida’s coasts and on Wednesday placed a “hold” on the confirmation of three Interior Department nominees, which he said would remain in place until Zinke rescinds the current draft five-year drilling plan and replaces it with a new draft that fully protects Florida’s coasts.
Asked about Nelson’s legislation on Thursday, Scott said he had not seen what was being proposed, but maintained his opposition to offshore drilling.
“I’ve been clear, I oppose offshore drilling,” Scott said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 22, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of January 22-26:
Monday, Jan. 22
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
District 5 Roads and Bridges Town Hall - 5 p.m., Walnut Hill Community Center and Ruritan Club, 7850 Highway 97N
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
FDOT U.S. 98 (West Garden Street) at Barrancas Avenue Public Hearing - 5:30 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
Delta Contractors Concrete/Asphalt Recycling Facility Permit Renewal Town Hall – 5:30 p.m., Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center & Park, 6405 Wagner Road
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Quasi-Judical Hearing-Rezoning – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5:10 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, Jan. 25
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors/Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission Board of Directors – 8:30 a.m., 321 N. De Villiers St.
Escambia Extends Permit Fee Waiver for Freeze-Related Pipe Damage
January 22, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has extended the waiver for permitting and inspection fees for damages to plumbing piping related to the recent hard freezes in the area.
Fees will be waived until close of business Wednesday, January 31. The waiver is not retroactive, and refunds will not be issued for fees incurred prior to January 4.
Please note that this waiver only applies to permit and inspection fees. Permits are still required as usual.
The waived fees were proposed by the Escambia County Building Services Department and the Building Services Inspection Fund Advisory Board in an effort to lessen the hardship or cost to the consumer for freeze-related pipe damages. Once the consumer obtains a plumbing contractor to make the appropriate repairs, they will obtain the permitting with the waived fees reflected.
The Town of Century approved a similar fee waiver during their council meeting Monday night.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 22, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Pettey checked a pair of fishermen at Quintette Boat Ramp. He discovered that they were in possession of 120 panfish, 20 over their allowable daily bag limit. A notice to appear citation was issued for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was working late at night in the Blackwater State Forest when he observed two vehicles with a bright light being shined from the driver side window of the first vehicle. As he watched, the driver shined the light into the tree line and across an open field on private property. When the two vehicles stopped at a large tree beside the roadway, Officer Hutchinson pulled in behind them and observed one of the subjects standing in the road shining his light in the top of the tree. Officer Hutchison determined that the men were hunting raccoons with the use of a light from a moving vehicle which is prohibited. Officer Hutchison issued the man who used the light a notice to appear for attempting to take racoon with the use of a light from a moving vehicle.
Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr assisted Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with a night hunting case before the 2017 hunting season. The case involved two subjects who killed two bucks in velvet in Alabama at night before the hunting season. Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr caught the subjects in possession of the deer in Florida and worked in conjunction with the Alabama officers to make the case. Officer Hutchinson appeared in court in Alabama along with the Alabama Conservation Officers resulting in a conviction for one of the subjects. The other subject failed to appear in court.
Officer Jones was on patrol in South Santa Rosa County, in Navarre Beach, when he noticed a man exit an old sailboat that was anchored in Santa Rosa Sound. The man boarded a small dinghy and proceeded to the boat ramp. As Officer Jones approached the vessel to conduct a boating safety check, the operator of the vessel turned the vessel and began to motor away. The subject refused to comply with repeated instruction to return to the dock and returned to his sailboat, where he removed the small motor from the dinghy. The operator then paddled to the dock where Officer Jones was located and was placed under arrest for interference with an FWC officer and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The subject was also issued a uniform boating citation for an expired registration.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Congressman Cancels ‘Open Gaetz Day’ Due To Government Shutdown
January 22, 2018
Due to the government shutdown affecting federal agencies and employees, Congressman Matt Gaetz has postponed planned “Open Gaetz Day” events scheduled for Monday, January 22 Escambia County.
Appointments previously scheduled for Mobile Office Hours at PenAir on Nine Mille will go on as scheduled with members of Gaetz’s staff in attendance from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“While I’d rather be in Pensacola for the scheduled town hall meeting and other planned Open Gaetz Day events, I’ll be at work in Washington to help make sure our government gets back to business and continues funding our military. We will reschedule our town hall meeting soon,” Gaetz said.
For more information or to contact Gaetz’s office about a pressing issue, call (850) 479-1183.
Counties Face Increased Pension Costs
January 22, 2018
Florida counties will have to contribute an additional $66 million to the state pension fund in the new budget year, according to legislation that has started moving in the Senate.
As a result of a decrease in the assumed rate of investment return on the $160 billion pension fund, counties, school boards, state agencies, universities, state colleges and other government entities will have to increase their contributions in the 2018-2019 budget year to make sure there is enough money to pay retirement benefits in the long term.
The increased payments total $178.5 million, including $66.4 million for county governments, according to legislation (SB 7014) approved by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee last week.
School districts, whose employees represent about half of the 627,000 active pension participants, will have to contribute an additional $54.4 million.
State agencies will have to contribute another $31 million. Universities will have to contribute $11.8 million and state colleges an additional $4.8 million.
A handful of cities and special districts that participate in the state retirement system will face a $10 million contribution increase.
County governments, which face the largest contribution increase, will have to accommodate the added expense as they shape their 2018-2019 budgets.
“Counties are closely monitoring the FRS (Florida Retirement System) contribution but remain committed to a program that provides retirement security to our dedicated public servants,” said Cragin Mosteller, a spokeswoman for the Florida Association of Counties.
The bulk of the other contribution increases are part of overall budget challenges facing House and Senate members as they craft the 2018-2019 state budget, which takes effect July 1.
The $54 million increase for school districts, for example, will be in the mix as lawmakers address overall public-school funding. Lawmakers are already having to accommodate an increase of more than 27,000 new students next academic year, and the House and Senate remain at odds over using increased local property tax collections to boost school spending
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said the state pension fund in the Senate budget bill will be “fully funded with the new assumptions.”
“It’s an obligation of the state,” Bradley said. “And we are comfortable with the current level of (pension) benefits in the Senate, with the understanding that when you change the assumptions, that requires more money to go to that area.”
The Florida Retirement System Actuarial Assumption Conference lowered the projected rate of return on the pension fund’s collection of stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets from 7.6 percent to 7.5 percent last fall.
It was the fourth year in a row that analysts have lowered the assumed rate of return on the fund.
The decision came after new evaluations from independent financial consultants projected a 30-year rate of return for the pension assets in the range of 6.6 percent to 6.81 percent.
With a 7.5 percent assumed rate of return, the Florida pension fund is expected to be able to pay 84.4 percent of its future obligations, with a $27.9 billion long-term unfunded actuarial liability, according to the consultants.
Public employees who participate in the pension plan have been required to contribute 3 percent of their annual salaries to the fund since 2011.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida