IP Explosion: Schools Buses Return To Hard Hit Neighborhood
February 3, 2017
For the first time since the International Paper explosion, schools buses will once again roll today in the Woodbury Circle area of Cantonment.
The buses were unable to enter the neighborhood due to concerns at first over the black liquor that covered the roadways, and then due to the ongoing cleanup effort.
“We have been working closely with members of the Unified Command team to create a way to safely restore normal school bus transportation service in the Woodbury subdivision,” an Escambia County School District Transportation Director Rob Doss said.
Parents were scheduled to receive a phone call Thursday night advising them of the change.
Since the explosion, students in the area have used a temporary bus stop at the old Winn Dixie shopping center. Buses will stop there today and Monday for any students that might miss the notification that service has returned to their neighborhood.
NWE And Cantonment Baseball, Softball Registration Continuing
February 3, 2017
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park spring baseball and softball registration continues Friday, February 3, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday, February 4, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. A copy of your child’s birth certificate is required. Registration cost for 7 years and older is $100 for first child; $85 for second and $75 for third child. Registration cost for T-ball, ages 4 – 6 is is $95 for first child; $80 for second and $70 for third child. Registration fees include $30 fee for jersey and hat and $25 concession stand fee. Pre-registration online is available at nweballpark@gmail.com; however, attendance at a registration event is required for uniform fitting. Contact Brad Sullivan (850) 324-5692 or Sara Knighten (850) 572-5000 for more information.
Registration is also continuing the Cantonment Ballpark, with in-person registration the next two Saturdays. To register, click here for the Cantonment Baseball website.
Tate High School Varsity Basketball Honors Seniors
February 3, 2017
The seniors on the Tate High School varsity basketball team were recently honored. They are (L-R) Christian Cass, Kaleb Cole, Temarques Dunnigan, and Robert Rush. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Hold Land Development Code Meeting
February 3, 2017
The Town of Century will hold a public workshop on Thursday, February 9 at 11 a.m. to review proposed Land Development Code changes.
The workshop will review and receive public input on proposed amendments to “Chapter 5, Resource Protection Standards” of the Town of Century Land Development Code.
The meeting will be held the council chambers of the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Florida Lawmakers Look At Stand Alone Liquor Sale Requirements
February 3, 2017
A measure that would allow Floridians to mix vodka and veggies in their shopping carts — something prohibited for more than eight decades — sailed through a Senate committee on Thursday.
The Regulated Industries Committee, in a 9-1 vote, backed the latest proposal (SB 106) to repeal a Depression-era law requiring liquor stores and bars to be separated from groceries and other retail goods, commonly referred to as the “liquor wall.”
The measure could be a boon to some “big box” retailers. Meanwhile, lawmakers are looking to exclude some small gas stations and neighborhood convenience stores if the proposal becomes law.
The proposal, which has failed to advance in past sessions, pits retailers Wal-Mart and Target, both in favor of the repeal, against Lakeland-based shopping giant Publix and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, said she doesn’t see the proposed change causing small independent liquor stores to go out of business, as they would continue to attract “niche” customers.
“It’s a whole different demographic,” Gibson said in voting for the proposal. “I go to (an) ABC (in Jacksonville). There is a Wal-Mart I can take the next exit to go to that has a (separate) liquor store there, but I go to that ABC because they have certain brands that I don’t believe that a Wal-Mart will ever have.”
Sen. Keith Perry, a Gainesville Republican who cast the lone vote against the measure, said after the meeting he’s open to revisions in the bill but for now has concerns about access to alcohol by minors.
“I have teenage daughters, and I have a sophomore in college, and access now is pretty available, whether in bar or places,” Perry said. “It’s not the competitiveness that I’m concerned about. I think we should have less barriers for business.”
The proposal is intended by its sponsor, Miami Republican Anitere Flores, to give shoppers more convenience. The bill would allow hard spirits such as whiskey and rum to be sold alongside beer, wine and groceries in traditional supermarkets and other stores that sell groceries. The measure would also allow liquor stores to expand their grocery options.
Jason Unger, a lobbyist for Target, said the change would “enable us to meet our customers’ demands.”
Publix views stand-alone liquor stores directly adjacent to its regular stores as a business model.
Scott Dick, a lobbyist for the Florida Independent Spirits Association, said the change would give the big-box operators an unfair competitive advantage over small liquor-store owners.
“We operate under a level playing field today,” Dick said.
Charles Bailes, CEO of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, argued big-box stores have been able to compete under the existing law and that there hasn’t been a public outcry for the repeal. He also said the change would make liquor more accessible for minors to steal.
Bailes noted that earlier this month an 18-year-old was arrested on multiple charges after telling a Wal-Mart manager in The Villages that she drank five cans of beer from the beer aisle.
“Big box retailers have difficulty controlling what goes on in their stores, especially those that are minimally staffed,” Bailes said.
The bill could see some revisions in the coming weeks.
Several committee members suggested greater fines for businesses repeatedly found selling liquor to minors. Also, they pointed to a need to exclude small gas stations and convenience stores that now have licenses to sell beer and wine from obtaining liquor licenses.
A legal definition related to excluding certain gas stations and convenience stores from obtaining liquor licenses is already being crafted but remains a tricky issue, Flores said.
“7-Eleven bad, Wawa I don’t know,” Flores told the committee. “I’m open to suggestions.”
Flores added that she’d be willing to consider adding higher fines for stores and people found repeatedly selling liquor to minors as suggested by Committee Chairman Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, and supported by some opponents of the repeal.
The committee’s support Thursday indicated that the proposal could have a better chance than past versions of the bill that failed to advance through the committee process in the House and Senate. The 2017 legislative session starts March 7.
Rep. Bryan Avila, a Hialeah Republican who is sponsoring the House version of the bill (HB 81), said on Wednesday that consumers should be allowed to decide what they prefer.
“Government’s role is not to determine who wins and who loses in the market,” Avila said. “I think consumers should be the one to determine whether a particular business or company is successful.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Six More Weeks Of Winter? North Escambia Weather Ducks See Shadow
February 2, 2017
On this Groundhog Day, Puxatony Phil, the world famous groundhog, and the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks have both predicted six more weeks of winter.
Forklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. And just like their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, our weather ducks also saw their shadow this morning at our office.
This was one of the few times our weather ducks that they have predicted more winter. For those that might be a little unsure as the weather ducks’ ability, we offer the two photographs below showing the weather ducks predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day 2010 and 10 days later with their snowman.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Molino Home Burglary
February 2, 2017
A Cantonment man has been charged with the burglary of a Crabtree Church home.
The victim told deputies that he was asleep in his “man cave” when he woke to see an unknown male in his home. The victim said he chased the man out of his house, and he fled in a SUV. The victim reported that his front door had been completely kicked off the hinges, and he was missing a 42-inch smart TV.
The suspect was later identified as 21-year old Alexander George DeLoach. He was charged with unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, grand theft and criminal mischief with property damage. He was being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $26,000.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Deloach may have been involved in additional residential burglaries with additional charges forthcoming.
AT&T Hiring For Cantonment, Pensacola Tech Jobs
February 2, 2017
AT&T is hiring installation technicians, with 24 openings from Cantonment and Pensacola to Tallahassee. Ten of the jobs are based in Cantonment.
AT&T technicians connect customers to the latest technology. The techs install AT&T high-speed internet, TV and voice services. These positions are ideal for people who want to take their career on the road instead of being confined to a desk.
“Our mission is to connect people with their world, everywhere they live, work and play, and to do it better than anyone else,” said Joe York, AT&T Florida president. “The people we hire play a key role in that.”
To apply for the technician openings, visit https://connect.att.jobs/.
Escambia Hires New Corrections Director
February 2, 2017
Escambia County has hired Tamyra Jarvis as the new director of corrections, responsible for the oversight of the Escambia County Jail, Community Corrections Division and the Road Prison.
Jarvis joins Escambia County from Coleman, FL, where she served as the CEO and complex warden at the Federal Correctional Complex within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Jarvis’ first day with Escambia County was Wednesday.
In her previous job, Jarvis supervised more than 1,500 employees and was responsible for the management of the largest federal correctional complex in the United States, which houses approximately 6,500 inmates in five separate institutions.
She graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in family resources and a master’s degree in business with a minor in labor and management relations. Prior to serving as the complex warden, Jarvis was the warden at the Federal Correctional Complex’s 1,500 bed high-security male facility from September 2011 to July 2012. In that position, Jarvis directed specialized inmate programs, initiated efforts to expand reentry programs and coordinated a regional reentry summit, among other accomplishments. She also served from March 2009 to September 2011 as the warden for the complex’s 2,000 bed low-security prison for men, where she coordinated program review preparation for the Correctional Services Department and received the first-ever Superior rating in the Bureau of Prisons’ history at a Federal Correctional Complex.
Jarvis has received several honors and awards during her 25-year career in corrections, including the national Excellence in Prison Management award from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, awarded for high professional standards and outstanding leadership skills. She is also a member of the Senior Executive Service, the Association of Women Executives in Corrections and the Bureau of Prison’s Health Service Division Governing Board, along with its Medical Staffing and Management Committee.
Jarvis said she’s excited about the opportunity to move to the Gulf Coast with her husband, Jeff, and work with Escambia County’s Corrections Department.
“I’m looking forward to a challenge,” Jarvis said. “I’ve been with the Bureau of Prisons for 25 years, and working in corrections at a county level is very appealing to me.”
Jarvis’ vision for corrections aligns with the Escambia County Corrections Department’s mission, which includes a focus on community corrections. Jarvis said she hopes to expand the utilization of community corrections, which provides criminal justice alternatives for nonviolent offenders while promoting a safe environment.
“I’m interested in community corrections because it lowers recidivism rates, gives the individual an opportunity to maintain their family ties, to stay at home with their families while they are transitioning from jail or prison,” Jarvis said. “They’re able to maintain employment at that time, and it gives them an opportunity to receive the treatment and the assistance they need to successfully transition back into their communities.”
Cat Country’s Brent And Candy Named ACM Award Finalists
February 2, 2017
Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton from the Cat Pak Morning Show at locally owned Cat Country 98.7 are finalists for the 2017 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Personality of the Year. This is their sixth nomination in 10 years.
The Cat Pak Morning Show won the ACM Radio Personality of the Year award in 2009.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the level of commitment and service Brent and Candy have in the community,” said Mary Hoxeng, owner of Cat Country 98.7 and sister station NewsRadio 92.3 FM/1620 AM.
Brent and Candy are “live and local” from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on Cat Country 98.7 and on CatCountry987.com.
The 52nd Annual ACM Award Show will air live from the T- Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on CBS Sunday, April 2, 2017. This year, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will host the show starting at 7 p.m. It will be a celebration of the country music industry and the artists that make the songs come to life.