Cantonment Man Charged With Arson, Aggravated Stalking
August 3, 2017
A Cantonment man has been arrested in connection with a house fire at the Santa Rosa County home of the mother of his two children.
Brannon Creel, age 40 of Well Line Road, was charged with the fire that burned a home in the 3800 block of Legend Creek Drive in Pace.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the home on Legend Creek Driver in Pace on a domestic violence complaint. They arrived to find the Pace Fire Department extinguishing a fire in the home.
The victim said Creel was at her home “looking for his pistol”. She told deputies that Creel “constantly makes threats toward her and that he has been texting her about taking his pistol back.”
The victim also told deputies that she has two children with Creel, and an domestic violence injunction that prevents contact between them unless it is in regards to the children. Creel told Santa Rosa County deputies that he was in Cantonment the entire day of the fire.
Creel was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail for contempt of court, aggravated stalking, burglary and arson. He was being held without bond.
Why Do Tag Renewals Cost More From The Escambia Tax Collector Than From The State?
August 3, 2017
Recently, we discovered that renewing three Florida motor vehicle tags was almost $7 more through the Escambia County Tax Collector’s website than renewing through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. So we reached out to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford to find out why. Here is his response, in his own words:
Thanks for reaching out to us regarding the convenience fee for online transactions. To better serve our citizens, we offer a variety of payment options. These include cash, check, debit, and credit card payments. We also offer in-office, mail, and online transactions to meet our customers’ needs. As tax collector, I encourage each taxpayer to use the delivery and payment method best suited to their needs.
The Escambia Tax Collectors office offers no fee, E‑check payments for online transactions, which allows customers to pay the same rate as cash across the counter. The credit convenience fee is collected by the vendor. In return, they provide the payment portal, reporting, maintenance, and interface to our office to process online transactions. The online convenience fee for vehicle registrations is $2.95 per item for customers opting for payment by card.
The State of Florida processes thousands of driver license and registration renewals daily, not to mention each service offered by the various departments and agencies. We process a fraction of their volume and cannot compete on a level playing field.
As you know, I took office in January of this year and currently am operating under contracts signed several years ago. As these contracts expire and I am afforded an opportunity, I will negotiate for the lowest possible convenience fees and continue to offer as many no-fee options as may be available.
Sincerely,
Scott Lunsford, CPM, CFC
Volunteer Sought For The Escambia County Planning Board
August 3, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Please be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in September 2017 are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Kayla Meador; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, Florida 32505; or emailed to krmeador@myescambia.com.
Extension And ECUA To Host Recycling Celebration And Compost Giveaway
August 3, 2017
UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension and Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will host a Recycling Celebration and Compost Giveaway on Friday, Aug. 4. The event will be held at the Escambia County Extension Office, 3730 Stefani Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be ongoing 10 minute compost-based educational sessions, which include an overview of how to use compost, what to compost and proper composting containers. Those who participate in the session will be given educational material and two 40-pound bags of compost as supplies last.
Orientation, Schedule Pickup Friday At Tate High School
August 3, 2017
Freshman and new student orientation and upperclassmen schedule pickup will be Friday at Tate High School.
Friday, August 4 – Freshmen/New Student Orientation, 9:00 am-10:30 am
Our more formal, assembly-style orientation will be at 9:00 am in the Fryman Gym. You will meet our administrators, deans, and 9th grade guidance counselor, Chuck Stanhope. Also, coaches and club sponsors will be available to answer any questions. At 10:30 am, 9th grade schedules will be available (in the gym). Tate leadership students will be present to assist in learning where classes are located. At 11:00, any schedules not picked up will return to the front office.
Friday, August 4 – Upperclassmen Schedule Pickup
10th-12th Schedules will be available for pick up from 1:00-3:00 in the Cafeteria.
Florida Students To See Financial Aid Expansion
August 3, 2017
As Florida students return to universities and state colleges this month for a new academic year, many will benefit from a major expansion of need-based financial aid.
Florida’s main program aimed at students with financial need, known as “student assistance grants,” will expand to cover a record 234,824 students in the 2017-18 academic year, an increase of 112,495 students from last year, according to an estimate approved Wednesday by state analysts.
The 92 percent increase in eligible students is a result of the Legislature this year providing an additional $121 million for the program, for a total of $269.4 million in the new school year.
The students will receive an average grant of $1,147, with a maximum award up to $2,610. The money does not have to be repaid.
Last year, a little more than 122,000 students received the grants, but there were an estimated 107,449 who were eligible but did not receive the financial support because of a lack of funding, according to the Florida Department of Education
The program expansion, which became law when Gov. Rick Scott signed an $82 billion budget that took effect July 1, is projected to cover all eligible students this year. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, spearheaded efforts to expand aid as part of a broader effort to revamp the higher-education system.
About 204,000 state university and college students will receive the assistance grants this year, along with 18,000 students in private universities and colleges. Another 13,000 students will use the grants in other post-secondary programs, including career education.
In merit-based aid, the new projections show 46,570 university and college students who qualify as “academic scholars” under Florida’s Bright Futures program will have all of their tuition and fees covered in 2017-18 and will receive $300 a semester for books.
The full scholarships will cover 44,456 university students and 2,114 state college students, the projection shows.
Last year, the top Bright Futures scholarship only covered about half of the tuition and fees, which average about $215 per credit hour at the 12 state universities.
Lawmakers this year expanded the scholarships to cover full tuition and expanded the top-level scholarships to summer classes.
About 16,600 Bright Futures scholars are expected to attend summer classes this year, averaging 11 credit hours at a cost of $39 million.
Overall, the cost of the expanded Bright Futures program will rise to $402 million this year, up from $204 million last year, the projection shows. It also includes funding for 47,491 Bright Futures “medallion scholars,” who receive aid covering $77 of each credit hour per semester.
The Legislature also expanded the “Florida Resident Access Grant” program, which will provide $3,300 a year to 37,324 students attending private colleges and universities in Florida in 2017-18.
That projection includes 6,536 Keiser University students, 2,552 University of Miami students, 2,334 St. Leo University students and 1,833 Bethune-Cookman University students receiving grants from the $123 million program.
The Benacquisto scholarship program, which covers full tuition, housing and other costs for National Merit Scholars, is expected to cover 873 students this year, up from 665 last year. The program will cost an estimated $13.2 million this year.
The projections were made by what is known as the “financial aid estimating conference,” which includes analysts from the House, Senate, governor’s office, the Department of Education and the Office of Economic & Demographic Research.
One Injured In Cantonment Pickup Truck Crash
August 3, 2017
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash late Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 11:15 p.m. on Muscogee Road near Andalusia Road. The driver of a pickup apparently lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital.
Further details were not released as the Florida Highway Patrol completes their investigation. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Win 7-0 Over The Birmingham Barons
August 3, 2017
With Pensacola clinging to a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning, Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel scored and then singled in two more runs in the seventh inning.
Behind Senzel’s hot hitting and baserunning and Jose Lopez’s six scoreless innings, Pensacola downed the Birmingham Barons, 7-0, Wednesday at Regions Field. The five-game series is tied, 2-2, with the final and deciding game scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
Senzel showed why MLBPipeline.com ranked the Cincinnati Reds first round draft pick in 2016 the No. 11 prospect in the minor leagues in its updated midseason report, jumping up 15 spots from No. 26 in its preseason Top 100 list.
In the sixth inning, the 22-year-old lead off with a single to right field and moved to second on a single by first baseman Gavin LaValley. Senzel then tagged up on a fly ball to center field by left fielder Josh VanMeter. With two outs, he hustled home to make it a, 3-0, game when Birmingham reliever Alfredo Gonzalez made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
In the seventh inning, Birmingham intentionally walked Gabriel Guerrero to load the bases with one out. Senzel made the Barons pay by smacking a line drive to right field that scored both catcher Joe Hudson and shortstop Blake Trahan to put Pensacola ahead, 5-0. With runners on first and third, Senzel took off for second and Birmingham second baseman Danny Mendick missed the throw from the catcher, which allowed Guerrero to score from third base for a 6-0 Blue Wahoos lead.
Senzel was 2-5 with a run scored, stolen base and two RBIs giving him 21 RBIs since being called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas after the All-Star break. He’s hitting .329.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Jose Lopez threw six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four to improve his record to 6-1 with a 2.69 ERA. The 22-year-old struck out three of the first four Barons he faced.
Over his last five starts, Lopez has allowed an amazing 1.13 ERA, giving up just five runs in 40 innings.
As a team, Pensacola owns the second-best ERA in the Southern League at 2.99 and is tied with the Chattanooga Lookouts with the most shutouts in the league with 12.
Pensacola is in first place in the Southern League South Division with a 20-19 record in the second half. Pensacola is 60-49 overall and won the first half title. Birmingham, which is in last place in the Southern League North Division, dropped to 16-23 and are 42-66 overall.
Flame Broiled? Firefighters Respond To Burger King
August 2, 2017
Firefighters responded to the smell of smoke in the Burger King restaurant on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road early Wednesday morning. Employees reported a burning smell in the ceiling. The odor was traced to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit. There was no damage reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Native Rebekah Bydlak Running For Florida House
August 2, 2017
Republican Rebekah Bydlak of Cantonment has filed to run for the Florida House seat currently held by Clay Ingram. Ingram can’t run again due to term limits.
During the 2016 primary, Bydlak ran for Congress, taking fourth place in an eight-candidate race.
“I have dedicated my life and professional career to fighting for conservative principles as a private citizen,” said Bydlak upon announcing her run for the Florida House. “For too long we have witnessed the same politicians saying one thing at home and doing another when elected, all the while getting nothing done. I’m running to fight for our conservative values and deliver for Northwest Florida.”
Bydlak is currently the executive director of the Coalition to Reduce Spending, an advocacy organization dedicated to reducing federal spending and debt.
“I’ve been humbled by the encouragement I’ve received from family and friends alike in weighing this decision,” Bydlak said. “After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to announce my candidacy for the Florida House.”
Bydlak was home schooled her entire life before attending Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. She holds a master’s degree in political science and public administration from UWF. She lives in Cantonment with her husband, Jonathan.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.