Fire Destroys Byrneville Pool, Deck
March 13, 2017
Fire destroyed a pool and deck early Sunday morning in Byrneville.
The fire was reported about 12:15 a.m. in the 1400 block of Byrneville Road, just south of Byrneville Elementary School.
Firefighter were able to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby home. There were no injuries reported.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Jay Volunteer Fire Department and the Flomaton Fire Department were dispatched to the blaze.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that a pool deck that burned. Preliminary information had indicated it was an outbuilding.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
March 13, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced Students of the Month for January. They are Autumn Williams, eighth grade; Kailyn Watson, seventh grade; and Alexia Yeater, sixth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stand Your Ground Vote Could Come This Week In Florida Senate
March 13, 2017
Florida senators could vote as soon as Wednesday to approve a bill (SB 128) that would shift a key burden of proof in “stand your ground” self-defense cases.
The Senate took up the measure Thursday and positioned it for a vote.
The proposal stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the “stand your ground” law. In “stand your ground” cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, would shift that burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors. ”
This is the most serious and solemn power that our state government exercises … and the burden should be high on the government from the beginning of the case to the end,” Bradley said.
A House version (HB 245), sponsored by Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, and Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, is pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
by The News Service of Florida
Free Crochet Class At The Library
March 13, 2017
A free “Crochet for Adult Beginners” class will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Century Branch Library. Participants will learn the basics of crotchet. All supplies will be provided for free. Instructor for the class will be Klyn Wilson (pictured). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Colombian Delegation Learns About Ag, Rural Development In North Escambia
March 12, 2017
Five delegates from Colombia recently visited in the North Escambia area to learn more about agriculture and rural development.
The delegates were from a variety of backgrounds, from a cacao farmer to a small business leader.
Their stops included the UF’/IFAS Extension Service in Cantonment and Steve’s Farm in Walnut Hill, which offers retail and wholesale produce and catfish.
The group discussed policies and practices that promote sustainable and scalable rural development, learned about effective ways to bring products to market, and examined laws and procedures related to land use. The Colombian delegation also explored innovations and opportunities in rural development during their North Escambia a visit.
The visitors were invited to the United States under the auspices of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Their national program was arranged by World Learning and their local program was arranged by the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Aggie Classic Grows To 27 Teams
March 12, 2017
A field of 27 teams will take part in the 24th Annual Aggie Classic this week in the Pensacola area.
This year’s tournament has captivated the interest of teams from Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Florida. Last year’s Aggie Classic tournament Champions, the Tate High School Aggies, will return as the tournament host and to defend their title.
The Tate Baseball Boosters will serve as the host of this year’s four day tournament. The tournament will be hosted at Tate High, Escambia High, Gulf Breeze High, Milton High, West Florida Highl, Pace High and Washington High schools. Teams from five states will be spread across the seven sites.
The field features 20 teams that made the playoffs in 2016, including four that were regional finalists, two state runner-ups, and two state championship winning teams.
Within a 24 year history, the Aggie Classic has experienced 16 champions from Florida, five from Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Aggie Classic’s rich history has even included a large handful of future Major League baseball players including the likes of Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), Brad Salmon (Reds), Dejuan Brazelton (Rays), and Luis Exposito (Red Sox). In 2012, future Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston, played with Hueytown High School in the annual event.
ln addition, over 25 major league draftees who played their high school baseball careers at J.M. Tate High school all showcased their skills and talents on the fields of the Aggie Classic.
“The Aggie Classic continues to be one of the best high school tournaments in the country. This year we have drawn 27 teams from Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Florida, not including our seven host site teams”, said Greg Blackmon, head coach for Tate High School. “This year’s field is as large as it has ever been. The commitment by our community and our boosters to put on an event of this magnitude is huge. I am truly thankful for everyone’s assistance. The venues for the games have expanded and are the best diamonds in our area. We are looking forward to a great week of competition.”
Tournament passes are available for $25. Daily admission is $7.00, children 5 and under free. There will be no passes accepted or granted.
Pictured top: The Tate Aggies won the 2016 Aggie Classic. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
House Backs Abolishing Enterprise Florida
March 12, 2017
Locked in a battle with Gov. Rick Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Friday got what he believes are more than symbolic votes to kill the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida and revamp tourism-marketer Visit Florida.
But Scott quickly returned fire by saying bipartisan House votes on two bills would harm Florida’s economy and slow job creation. Questions also remain about the issues in the Senate, where companion bills have not been filed and some leaders have expressed support for business-recruitment programs and tourism spending.
Corcoran, however, downplayed those questions, as the 60-day annual legislative session finished its first week.
“We’re dealing with the Legislature,” Corcoran told reporters. “To say on week one that a House priority, where we believe firmly we’re right on the policy, we’re right on the principle, doesn’t have life in the Senate, is not remotely in the ballpark of truth.”
The House voted 87-28 on a proposal (HB 7005) that would abolish Enterprise Florida and a number of other economic development programs, such as the Office of Film & Entertainment and the Quick Action Closing Fund Program.
The House also voted 80-35 to approve a separate measure (HB 9) that would overhaul the structure and contract-reporting requirements of Visit Florida.
After the votes, Scott issued a release that agreed the agencies need to be more transparent, but he repeated his refrain that the House bills are “job killing legislation.”
“Many politicians who voted for these bills say they are for jobs and tourism,” Scott said in the statement. “But, I want to be very clear — a vote for these bills was a vote to kill tourism and jobs in Florida.”
Scott and Corcoran, R- Land O’ Lakes, have butted heads for months over the future of the agencies, which the governor credits for contributing to state job growth and record increases in tourism.
In his proposed 2017-2018 budget, Scott called for sending $85 million to Enterprise Florida for business incentives and $76 million to Visit Florida. Last year, lawmakers approved $78 million for Visit Florida but rejected Scott’s request for $250 million for Enterprise Florida.
Corcoran has hammered such business incentives as “corporate welfare” and “de facto socialism” and has attributed the state’s tourism numbers to improvements in the economy and disposable income.
Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican who sponsored both bills, said many of the jobs promised in exchange for past incentives have never materialized.
“We also have a budgetary obligation, and I think the statement has been made today, by a wide margin, by Republicans and Democrats, that this is not where we should be spending other people’s money,” Renner said after Friday’s floor session. ”There are better, higher uses for that money, whether it’s public safety, whether it’s quality education, or infrastructure.”
On the House floor, Renner said the Visit Florida bill is intended to “rein in” the agency, which has been criticized by lawmakers for deals such as a controversial $1 million contract with Miami hip-hop artist Armando Christian Perez, better known as Pitbull.
“This bill is about one thing and one thing only, it’s about accountability, and whether Visit Florida is willing to submit to some level of accountability,” Renner said. “We’re not here … to talk about other state agencies and this government, they haven’t been on the front page of the newspapers the way Visit Florida has.”
In arguing against economic incentives tied to Enterprise Florida, Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, said the deals go against free-market philosophy and favor large corporations that have learned to work the system.
But not every House Republican was convinced.
Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican who voted against both bills, said he understands the philosophy behind abolishing Enterprise Florida and supports making internal changes. But he said the positives of the economic programs outweigh the criticism.
“I fear killing this program will hurt people,” Fant said. “I will not be a part of this.”
The proposal to eliminate Enterprise Florida would transfer existing deals and some programs to to the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
For Visit Florida, the proposed changes would require the agency to post all contracts online; freeze agency employees’ benefits at current levels and prohibit bonuses; remove public-records exemptions from marketing and research projects; and require approval from the governor for all out-of-state and international travel.
The changes also would require the Senate to confirm the governor’s appointment of the agency’s president and allow the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, House speaker or Senate president to reject contracts worth more than $750,000.
The Visit Florida proposal would leave the question of the agency’s funding to budget negotiations between the House and Senate.
Ken Lawson, who was named president and CEO of Visit Florida in January, said the agency has already moved to become more transparent, but the House proposal “unnecessarily grows government regulation.”
“This bill jeopardizes the record-breaking success of Florida’s tourism industry and the 1.4 million jobs the industry supports,” Lawson said in a prepared statement.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Cottage Hill Water Works Office To Close Early Next Week
March 12, 2017
Due to necessary electrical repairs, the office at Cottage Hill Water Works will close at noon on March, 15, 16, and 17. The answering service will still accept calls for field service personnel for leaks and repairs. For more information, call (850) 968-5485.
Linemen Show Off Skills During Lineworker Expo
March 12, 2017
When 25-year-old twins George and James Tangeman heard about the Gulf Power Lineworker Expo being held recently in Pensacola they decided to make the drive to attend.
It was a 766-mile trip from Dayton, Ohio.
Most of the other 250 attendees were more locally-based as they watched Gulf Power linemen perform several tasks in the company’s training yard at the Pine Forest office.
The event was designed to attract potential future lineworkers for the company.
“I think this is a great opportunity,” said George Tangeman. “Just being able to watch them demonstrate some of these skills, I’m learning how to become a better employee for my contractor.”
Both graduated from line school last October. George started working in January for an electrical contractor in Dayton. James started working in December for an electrical contractor that does work on Transmission lines.
The twins (pictured) used to live in Northwest Florida and would like to return to the area.
“I love the area,” George said. “I was in bib overalls yesterday working in Ohio— it was really cold. But, we come down here and the sun is out and there’s a nice breeze going, it’s great weather.”
Four groups of linemen from all three districts in Gulf Power’s service territory competed in a transformer changeout event, a hurt-man rescue and a simulated live-line event.
Most of the climbing was performed by apprentice linemen to give them more experience.
Tay Ravenell, an apprentice lineman in the Destin office, started working for Gulf Power six months ago, moving here from South Carolina.
“I’ve wanted to be a lineman since I was about 17,” he said. “I used to cut grass at the power company and when the linemen would start working, everyone would stop and watch. It’s exciting to be a lineman.”
The expo serves as a way to increase exposure for lineworker positions. An expected 15,000 lineworkers will be needed nationwide by the end of 2017 as retirements are increasing.
Ben Scott, Training analyst, and the rest of the Training team helped set up the event, talked to those attending and handled the judging of the competition. He said they make several hires throughout the year of apprentice lineworkers to keep the employee stream going.
“We set up the expo as a recruitment event to have people come out and see what we do on a day-to-day basis,” Scott said. “The goal is a two-fold approach; it’s a way for the lineworkers to have a friendly competition, but also to have folks come out and see if they would be interested in working for us.”
Keenan Williams of Cantonment, Florida, plans to go back to school to earn his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
“I want to be an electrical engineer because I’m a tinkerer, I like to mess with things,” he said. “I like to find out how things work. “There’s no telling where I’ll end up, and if I can get a position at Gulf Power, even better. But, at the very least, I’m walking away with some new information that I didn’t have before.”
The Tangemans heard about the expo on Facebook and said their trip from Ohio to watch the expo was well worth it.
“Getting a job at Gulf Power would of course be the ideal situation, but even if I don’t, I’m still growing as an employee by watching this today,” George said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to elarge.
Cantonment Ballpark Celebrates Opening Day
March 12, 2017
Saturday was opening day at the Cantonment Ballpark. Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry and Kazoo from the Pensacola Blue Wahoos were on hand for the big day. Photos courtesy Cantonment Ballpark for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
