Man Busted For DUI After Driving Through Pine Forest Building
August 5, 2017
An Escambia County man was charged with DUI after driving through a building on Pine Forest Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 49-year old Evaristo Medina of Pensacola was traveling north on Pine Forest Road and Sandy Lane when he left the roadway in his 2004 Dodge 1500 at 6650 Pine Forest Road. His vehicle struck and entered the front portion of the building, traveled through the building and came to rest on the north side of the property.
Medina was not injured. His passenger, 36-year old Christa Lynn Wiggins of Pensacola, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Medina was charged with DUI, careless driving, resisting an officer and failure to obey police or fire department. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $2,000.
State Colleges Enrollment Sees Uptick
August 5, 2017
Florida state colleges this year are expected to have their first modest rise in enrollment since 2010.
A new state forecast projects a 1 percent growth rate in enrollment in the 28 colleges during the 2017-18 academic year, representing the equivalent of 324,109 full-time students. Each “full-time equivalent” actually represents about 2.5 students, reflecting the fact that 65 percent of the students in the system attend part-time.
The projected increase of 3,209 students, which will be adjusted through the year as actual headcounts occur, would represent the first positive year-to-year growth since the fall of 2010, when the system peaked with 375,292 “full-time equivalents,” representing nearly 900,000 actual students. The current headcount is around 750,000 students.
But this year’s projected growth is significant in that it is a variation of a pattern of college enrollment increasing when unemployment rises and falling when jobs are plentiful.
When the job market tightened as it did during the recession, Floridians had more incentive and time to return to school to improve their skills or develop new ones. But when jobs are plentiful, people have less time and incentive to attend college.
This year may be different, as there are signs of rising enrollment in the system even with a strong economy and low unemployment rate.
One example is Palm Beach State College, the fourth-largest college in the system. It was projected to have a 3.1 percent enrollment increase this year, although state forecasters have backed off any projections for individual schools as they refine their estimates.
But that number is in line with what has been occurring at the school, where enrollment rose 2.8 percent in the 2016-17 academic year, up from 2015-16.
Ava Parker, president of the school, which serves about 35,000 full- and part-time students, said one of the reasons for the growth is a strategic plan to increase enrollment, knowing the added students will bring in tuition to offset flat or decreased state funding and tuition rates that have been frozen to keep costs affordable.
“We need to go out and be aggressive about getting students into the door and/or keeping them,” Parker said.
She also said local factors influence the enrollment for many schools.
In Palm Beach County, Parker said the passage of a local sales tax to build more schools, roads and other public infrastructure has spurred a need for workers to return to school to develop specific skills for construction projects and related trades.
State college enrollment is also rising because more students are seeking baccalaureate degrees, which are offered at 26 of the 28 colleges.
Enrollment in those programs rose 5.6 percent last academic year, compared to the prior year. But the students enrolled in four-year degree programs only represent 5 percent of the overall enrollment.
At Palm Beach State, baccalaureate enrollment rose by nearly 11 percent last year, with Parker saying the availability of better-paying jobs is providing an incentive for workers to return to school, even if it’s part-time.
“The baccalaureate students that we serve are ones who are sitting at their desks, at their jobs, looking through the HR notices and seeing there are opportunities for growth but you need a BS (bachelor of science) degree to get there,” Parker said.
Enrollment in two-year or associate degree programs, which represents 67 percent of the overall enrollment, declined by 1.8 percent in 2016-17, compared to the prior year.
There was also a 14 percent decline in enrollment for students identified as needing remedial help, constituting 4.3 percent of last year’s enrollment.
The decline in the “developmental education” students became a point of contention during this year’s legislative session, as the Senate pushed for budget cuts based on the decreased enrollment, while colleges argued many students still needed tutoring and other help to handle college-level courses even if they were not identified as “remedial.”
“The biggest misnomer to me is that folks think you must need less resources,” Parker said. “No. You need the same resources and/or more.”
by The News Service of Florida
Atmore Police Investigating Homicide, Victim Found In Street
August 4, 2017
The Atmore Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred Thursday night.
About 10:38 p.m., Atmore Police received a 911 call in reference to a person that was shot on Ann Street.
Police responded and found 31-year old Shawn O’Neil Quarles of Camden, AL, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. The first Atmore Police Officer on scene immediately began aid to Quarles. Atmore Ambulance was called to the scene and transported Quarles to Atmore Community Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
According to witnesses, Quarles was found lying on Ann Street after they heard several gunshots in the area.
Atmore Police investigators were told by witnesses that Quarles was riding a bicycle to a store to purchase cigarettes when the offense occurred.
The Atmore Police Department is now working the case as a homicide and encourages anyone with information to call the at (251) 368- 9141.
The Mystery Of North Escambia’s Only Highway Rest Area
August 4, 2017
When readers reach out to NorthEscambia.com with questions involving public facilities, our roads, our bridges, and mysteriously appearing toilets…we sometimes respond.
Today we’re exploring the mystery of North Escambia’s only roadside “rest area”. The rest area is located along Pine Barren Road, about 1.5 miles north of Bogia Road. It’s located comfortably just off the highway, and has “Made in America” facilities for him and her.
Update: Since our photo was taken Thursday afternoon, we’re told that the facilities have been expanded to include three toilets (a family toilet, perhaps?).
Area residents say this is version three of the rest area…the third time someone has placed toilets at the remote location. The first two versions also included three toilets before they were removed.
If you are looking for these facilities, here are the GPS coordinates: 30.85900, -87.36897. The area is expected to be filled to capacity for the August 21 eclipse.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive (like anyone else would run this…) photos, click to enlarge.
Century Chamber Looks To Reinvent Itself Facing A 97 Percent Funding Cut
August 4, 2017
The Century Chamber of Commerce is looking for ways to reinvent itself after a major change in how economic development dollars are allocated to Century.
The Escambia County Commission is considering a budget that would remove $55,000 per year in direct funding to the chamber, instead opting to make the funds available to the chamber, the town and perhaps other non-profits for economic development on a project by project basis to be approved by the commission upon presentation by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.
But commissioners made it clear at a recent budget meeting that requests can include no more than a 10 percent administrative overhead and funding cannot be used for salaries or daily operations — meaning the chamber won’t be able to use the money to continue funding their $40,o00 per year economic development coordinator position.
“We are fixing to go into some hard times economically,” chamber President Freddie McCall said during a board meeting Thursday afternoon.
McCall said the chamber needs about $4,000 per year to pay basic bills such as utilities and has no funds for any employees.
The $55,000 provided by the county this fiscal year amounted to 97 percent of the chamber’s total funding for the year, according to budget documents submitted to the Escambia County Commission. The chamber reported expected income through September of $56,585.02 and expenses of $60,239.45 for a net anticipated loss of $3,654.43.
The chamber recently held a two day workshop to identify how it might better serve Century businesses and the community while continuing to move forward:
During the workshop, the chamber set goals to:
- Increase membership, developing member’s benefits and a benefits brochure
- Conduct a monthly business after-hours
- Create a newsletter for members and community leaders
- Highlight a business of the month
- Develop a business visitation schedule with board members visiting at least two members and two prospective members per month
- Develop a unified website
- Collaborate with town council
- Analyze business needs
- Increase awareness through social media
- Create a schedule for flexible meetings (holding meetings at different times of day)
- Develop a beautification program
- Partner with Florida West and the town council to enhance the recruitment and expansion of industry and businesses
- Grow local businesses
- Develop leadership development programs
- Complete a 2018 budget by November 1, 2017
- Increase sponsorship dollars
- Increase membership revenue
McCall said the chamber will continue to work progressively toward achieving the identified goals.
During the past year, the chamber accomplished the following this year, according to their submissions to Escambia County:
- 6-7 new chamber memberships
- Annual employment increased from 39 to 45 percent
- 4-10 business inquired about startups
- Graduation levels were increased 9 percent
- A 10 percent increase in the previous year’s 35 Century Welcome Center visitors.
- There were five job openings last year, until the announcement of 20 part-time jobs at a new bingo hall.
- There were four housing starts, until the EF-3 tornado destroyed a large number of homes, leading to over 50 new housing starts
Florida Offers Tax Holiday For Back To School Shoppers
August 4, 2017
With computers returned to the discount list, Florida retailers are readying for back-to-school shoppers this weekend during the state’s sales-tax “holiday.”
Click here for complete details on what is tax free (pdf).
The holiday, which will run Friday through Sunday is a large part of a tax-cut package (HB 7109) that lawmakers passed this spring. The package is projected to provide $91.6 million in tax breaks during the budget year that started July 1.
James Miller, a spokesman for the Florida Retail Federation, said the tax holiday is “much needed at this time of year,” as families buy clothes, supplies and other items before school starts.
“Families are going out and stocking up anyways,” Miller said. “Being able to save 6, 7, 8 percent is really big.”
A House bill analysis estimated the holiday period will reduce state revenue by $26.6 million and local government revenue by $6.8 million.
The holiday allows shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes and shoes costing up to $60 per item; school supplies that cost $15 or less; and personal computers and related accessories priced at $750 or less.
The state has offered back-to-school tax holidays most years since 1998. Computers return to this year’s list after being left out of a 2016 tax holiday.
Two years ago, meanwhile, the holiday ran 10 days, with the clothing limit at $100 and a discount on the first $750 of the sales prices of computers.
Florida retailers have long backed the tax holidays. But not everyone thinks such discount periods provide wide-ranging benefits.
The Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation released a study July 25 deriding the periods as simply shifting spending rather than stimulating economic growth.
“Shoppers waited until the holiday to purchase exempted goods, thereby slowing sales in the weeks prior to and following the holiday,” the study said.
The Tax Foundation questioned the expense of having to recalibrate store computers for the discount periods and called the holidays “a gimmick that distract policymakers and taxpayers from real, permanent, and economically beneficial tax reform.”
The foundation also labeled the discount periods as a form of “picking winners and losers” — a favorite target of many Florida politicians opposed to business incentives — by favoring products and industries through arbitrary tax exemptions. The foundation also maintained that large businesses lobby for the holidays as a way to receive free advertising.
Miller disagreed.
“I know there are reports out there saying these sales-tax holidays aren’t that good for retailers,” Miller said. “One thing I would say is if that was the case, retailers wouldn’t be making this one of their significant legislative priorities year in and year out.”
He added that many retailers that don’t offer items on the state’s discount list take advantage of the period by offering their own sales.
“There are tens and tens of thousands of retailers in this state that benefit from this,” Miller said. “There are others retailers that can piggyback on it and have promotions in conjunction with it. That’s what I would do if I were a retailer. When you consider technology, clothing and supplies, that is a large number of retailers that will be eligible. We are excited about the weekend, and we know they are too.”
Florida, one of 16 states this year offering back-to-school breaks, also offered a tax holiday on disaster-preparation items in June to mark the start of hurricane season.
Two other key portions of the overall tax-cut package — an elimination of sales taxes on feminine hygiene products and a reduction in a commercial lease tax — go into effect on Jan. 1.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
UF/IFAS Extension Offers Right-of-Way, Forests And Invasive Species Workshop
August 4, 2017
UF/IFAS Extension in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties will hold a Right-of-Way, Forestry and Invasive Species Workshop on Wednesday, August 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bear Lake Pavilion, approximately 2.5 miles east of Munson crossroad of Highway 4 and Highway 191 in the Blackwater Forest north of Milton. Cost is $10 per person and includes lunch.
Pesticide license exams will not be given during this workshop, however, this program will prepare students for aspects of the exam. CEUs will be available in the following areas: Core (2), Private Applicator (4), Demo and Research (4), Forestry (4), Natural Areas (4), and Right-of-Way (4).
Topics include: Herbicides, Herbicide Safety, Weed Management Considerations for Forestry, Chemical Side Trim, and Roadside Invaders. To pre-register or to set up an appointment to take a pesticide license exam, contact Bethany Diamond at the Santa Rosa County Extension Office: 850-675-6654.
Drugs, Guns And Cash Seized During ECSO Raid
August 4, 2017
A month long drug investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit ended with the arrest of three people.
The Narcotics Unit and SWAT team served a search warrant at a suspected drug house in the 1800 block of West Maxwell Street. When officers arrived, 25-year old Brandon Anderson and 27-year old John Moore attempted to flee the residence in a vehicle.
Anderson crashed the car he was driving in to another vehicle, a fence, and a tree. Back at the home on West Maxwell Street investigators found cocaine and marijuana that were packaged for sale along with several firearms and nearly $7,000 in cash.
Anderson and Moore were arrested at the crash scene, and Michael Bryant was arrested at the home. Their charges include cocaine trafficking, possession with intent to sell cocaine and marijuana within 1,000 feet of a church, and possession of drug paraphernalia. More arrests are expected to be made in this case, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Wahoos Drop Series To Birmingham
August 4, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came within, 3-2, in the seventh inning but the Birmingham Barons held on to win, 5-2, Thursday at Regions Field.
Birmingham captured the series, 3-2, but Pensacola won the head-to-head matchup 6-4 this season.
Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel, the Cincinnati Reds top prospect, blasted a solo homer to left field to lead off the seventh inning to trail the Barons, 3-1. It was his fifth homer with the Blue Wahoos and 22nd RBI in 38 games.
Pensacola scored a second run in the inning when DH Chad Tromp singled to left field with two outs to drive in left fielder Josh VanMeter to pull within, 3-2. But that was as close as the Blue Wahoos would get.
Birmingham scored first in the second inning when left fielder Courtney Hawkins scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by catcher Brett Austin for a 1-0 lead.
Barons second baseman Danny Mendick then put Birmingham ahead, 2-0, in the third inning when he scored when right fielder Mason Robbins grounded out into a double play.
Birmingham added another run in the sixth inning to go up, 3-0, when DH Keon Barnum smacked a single to right field that scored Hawkins.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Domingo Tapia made his eighth spot start and worked five innings. He gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks and struck out two. As a starter for Pensacola, he is 1-4 on the year.
Birmingham scored two more runs in the eighth inning off Pensacola reliever Brennan Bernardino to go ahead, 5-2.
Pensacola fell into second place in the Southern League South Division with a 20-20 record in the second half. Pensacola is 60-50 overall and won the first half title. Birmingham, which is in last place in the Southern League North Division, is 17-23 and are 43-66 overall.
Youth Sports Grant Applications Being Accepted
August 4, 2017
The Pensacola Sports Foundation is accepting applications for its 2018 grant program. Community organizations involved in providing youth sports opportunities are eligible to apply for funding. Applications must be received by November 1,2017.
The mission of the Pensacola Sports Foundation is to “support that part of the mission of the Pensacola Sports that focuses on the development, education, promotion and recognition of youth sports, amateur sports, scholar athletes, and athletic excellence in the Greater Pensacola area.” Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has distributed over $500,000 in funding to organizations in the Greater Pensacola area.
Foundation Grant application forms can be downloaded from the Pensacola Sports website – www.pensacolasports.org or by contacting the Pensacola Sports office at (850) 434-2800. Completed forms may be either mailed to the Pensacola Sports Foundation, P.O. Box 12463, Pensacola FL 32591, or delivered to the Pensacola Sports office downtown at 101 W. Main Street, Pensacola FL 32502.
Questions regarding the Pensacola Sports Foundation grant program should be submitted in writing to Pensacola Sports, to the attention of Sally Garst (sgarst@pensacolasports.org).