Escambia Shares More Gas Tax With Century, Less With Pensacola
July 15, 2016
The Escambia County Commission voted to decrease the amount of local option gas tax funds shared with the City of Pensacola, while increasing the percentage shared with Century.
After two and a half hours of deliberation, the county agreed to a distribution formula that would guarantee the city of Pensacola a 6.9 percent share of the local option gas tax passed in 2015 for a period of 10 years. That represented a decrease from the 18.22 percent currently in effect.
The commission also voted to submit an interlocal agreement to the city that would allocate an additional 8.63 percent, or approximately $730,000, of the local option gas tax specifically for resurfacing projects in city council Districts 5, 6 and 7. This will allow the city of Pensacola to meet its infrastructure goals while addressing concerns in economically-challenged areas of the city.
The commission also voted to increase the percentage paid to Century from 0.63 percent to 0.81 percent, or about $20,000 per year.
Under the formula approved by the Escambia County Commission on Thursday, Pensacola will receive about $590,000 plus about $1.3 million through the interlocal agreement. Century will receive about $68,000, while Escambia County will retain about $7.1 million.
The Pensacola City Council voted Thursday night to accept the plan….with one change. The city changed language that would let either side opt out of the agreement to say that both the city and the county would have to agree to terminate.
The funds are use by the municipalities and the county to maintain roads and sidewalks.
Escambia Picks Site For New Jail
July 15, 2016
The Escambia County Commission has voted to purchase property for an expanded jail complex.
The commission will purchase 14.65 acres located on the southeast corner of Fairfield Drive and Pace Boulevard, commonly known as the McDonald Shopping Center, to be developed as the site of the expanded county jail complex for the purchase price of $4.5 million. The motion also included:
- The county will retain a consultant to develop a master plan for economic development and neighborhood revitalization within a 12-block diameter of the intersection of Pace Boulevard and Fairfield Drive.
- The development of a youth center in the vicinity of the property that is similar in size, design and facilities as the Wedgewood Community Center.
- Reserving approximately 300 feet of road frontage for economic development, with an emphasis on small businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women.
- The design of the expanded jail complex will be “street-friendly” and not institutional.
Thursday’s decision helps move the construction of a new jail facility forward significantly, and the commission vowed to work with current tenants and leaseholders in their transition as the project progresses. Property owners will not be expected to vacate until six to 12 months from now.
The Central Booking and Detention was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30, 2014, forcing the county to find temporary housing for about 600 inmates.
Tate Football’s Raymond Freeman Named Top Long Snapper
July 15, 2016
Tate High School long snapper Raymond Freeman was declared Camp Champion at the Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Kennesaw, GA this week. The class of 2017 snapper was picked as the best overall at the camp.
Freeman beat out approximately 70 participants from 11 states as Snappers gathered to learn from the best and get the most exposure possible to college coaches.
“Freeman caught fire early in the day and never stopped. Came close in the accuracy contest, did well through the agility section and was outstanding in the speed competition. He left no doubt in the end that he was one of the top Long Snappers in the country!” said Chris Rubio, instructor.
Off the field, Freeman also shines academically at Tate, ranked high in his class with a 4.63 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Reading And Reptiles At The Molino Branch Library (With Photo Gallery)
July 15, 2016
Dozens of children learned about reptiles and amphibians Thursday during the Summer Reading Club at the Molino Branch Library. They learned the difference between snakes and lizards, met a large African frog that really does not like to jump, learned about the difference between a turtle and tortoise and got hands-on with a boa constrictor.
The Summer Reading club continues next week with “Quite a Catch with Ron Anglin”. Participants can learn and be amazed as Ron Anglin mixes science and skill in an unforgettable juggling performance. Presentations will be held as follows:
Tuesday, Juy 19, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, located across from Southwest Branch Library. Show your library card for free all day park access.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Century Branch Library, 7991 N Century Blvd
- 4 p.m. at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
Thursday, July 21, 2016:
- 11 a.m. at Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Jacksonville 9-0
July 15, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos tied a franchise record by knocking five home runs in a 9-0 victory over the Jacksonville Suns at The Baseball Ground of Jacksonville.
The last time the Blue Wahoos hit five homers in a game was May 10, 2016. Then, as well as Thursday, Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin hit two of the five blasts out of the ballpark.
The Pensacola outburst came one day after the Blue Wahoos lineup was shutout by Biloxi Shuckers pitching, 1-0, and managed only four hits.
Despite the loss, Jacksonville remained in first place in the second half of the Southern League South Division at 11-10, while Pensacola moved into second at 10-11 — one game back of the Suns. Pensacola is 51-40 overall, while Jacksonville fell to 41-50.
Blue Wahoos third baseman Alex Blandino led off the homer avalanche by putting the Blue Wahoos on top, 1-0, in the third inning with a two-out solo homer to left field.
Blandino was followed with home runs by Taylor Sparks in the seventh, Phillip Ervin in the seventh, Eric Jagielo in the eighth and Ervin again in the ninth.
To go along with his two solo blasts, Ervin also doubled — his 16th of the season — to lead off the sixth inning. Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon then followed Ervin with a walk. Both moved up on a wild pitch to third and second base. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde smacked a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Ervin to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.
Pensacola went up, 3-0, when left fielder Juan Duran grounded out to shortstop driving in Dixon.
The Blue Wahoos put the game out of reach when they scored four more runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-0 lead. Sparks hit a pinch-hit, three-run blast over the left field wall that also brought in both Jagielo and catcher Chad Wallach for a 6-0 lead.
It was Sparks first homer since he hit two dingers and drove in four runs in his Double-A debut June 23. He now has three home runs and 11 RBIs on the season.
Pensacola then scored its last three runs of the game on solo homers. Ervin smacked his solo blasts in the seventh inning and leading off the ninth inning. Ervin now has nine homers and 29 RBIs this season.
The other solo shot was smacked by Jagielo over the right field wall in the eighth inning — his third homer in eight games. The Blue Wahoos first baseman has seven homers and 22 RBIs.
Jagielo hit .160 in April, .192 in May, .269 in June and .306 in July, so far to increase his average to a season-high .219.
Not to be out done, Pensacola starting pitcher Tyler Mahle threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out two. He improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.93. In his last start against Biloxi, he allowed one run in seven innings of work.
Century Votes To Allow Food Trucks; Sonnys BBQ May Be First
July 14, 2016
The Town of Century has voted to allow food trucks and other portable food vendors to purchase a business license.
Mayor Freddie McCall said he was approached by Sonny’s BBQ in Pensacola about purchasing a business license to operate a food truck or trailer on Sundays in the parking lot of a flower shop across the street from Century’s Whataburger.
“Sonny’s is an established business in Pensacola. I’d like to see Sonny’s come,” council member Ann Brooks said, adding that if their parking lot location is successful, they might consider a permanent structure.
“I love to eat, honey,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said jokingly. “As long as (it’s) clean, I don’t care.”
McCall said he was concerned about a transient business paying just $26.25 for a business license while a permanent business such as Whataburger pays additional taxes, including a property tax assessment. “The portable man will just come in here and sell in their front door,” he said.
The council voted unanimously to allow Sonny’s, or any other food vendor, to purchase a business license for the standard $26.25 in order to operate a portable food truck or trailer in the town limits. The business license, known formally as a business tax receipt, will allow the food business to operate seven days a week, not just Sundays.
Established in 1968, Sonny’s BBQ operates over 120 locations in eight states.
Pictured below: The parking lot of this flower shop is where Century Mayor Freddie McCall says Sonny’s BBQ wants to setup a food truck or trailer on Sundays. NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Town Upset Contractor Isn’t Mowing Along Hwy 29
July 14, 2016
Weeds along the North Century Boulevard sidewalks in Century are several feet high in several places after not being mowed this season, and that has the town looking for answers.
According to Century Town Council President Ben Boutwell, the Florida Department of Transportation contracts with Broadspectrum (formerly known as Transfield Services) to mow along the rights of way of the state highway within the town limits. In most of the town, the right of way has been mowed by individual home or business owners. But in other locations, some weeds are over five-feet high.
“Why isn’t the contractor taking care of our roadways,” Century Town Council President Ben Boutwell asked, noting they are being paid for a service not being rendered.
Boutwell said repeated attempts by the town to get the grass cut have failed.
Now, he said he wants to see the Town of Century bid for the contract and collect the money from the state to fund the grass cutting along North Century Boulevard.
In addition to being an eyesore, Boutwell said the weeds are creating a traffic hazard in some locations by blocking the view of oncoming traffic from side streets.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poll: Trump Edging Hillary In Florida
July 14, 2016
In a major shift from last month, a poll released Wednesday shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump overtaking Democrat Hillary Clinton in the key swing state of Florida.
In a head-to-head matchup, Trump leads Clinton by a margin of 42 percent to 39 percent in Florida, erasing the Democrat’s eight-point lead in June, according to the poll conducted by Quinnipiac University. Trump also leads by a margin of 41 percent to 36 percent when Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are added to the mix.
Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said one factor could be the recent controversy surrounding Clinton’s use of a private email server and handling of classified information while she served as secretary of state. The Department of Justice decided against prosecuting Clinton, but FBI Director James Comey publicly criticized her for being “extremely careless.”
“While there is no definite link between Clinton’s drop in Florida and the U.S. Justice Department decision not to prosecute her for her handling of e-mails, she has lost ground to Trump on questions which measure moral standards and honesty,” Brown said in comments accompanying the poll results.
Trump’s lead in the head-to-head matchup is within the poll’s 3.1 percentage-point margin of error.
Clinton led in Florida by a margin of 47 percent to 39 percent in a Quinnipiac poll released June 21. One of the biggest shifts in the new survey involves independent voters, who favored Clinton by nine percentage points in the June poll. The poll released Wednesday indicated that Trump leads among independents by a margin of 43 percent to 30 percent.
Overall, however, the new poll again reflected deep divisions among voters based on race, gender and age. Trump dominates among white voters, men and older Floridians. Clinton holds big leads among non-white voters, women and younger people.
Brown said Trump, who has angered many Hispanics with his stances on immigration issues, could have a difficult time winning in the diverse state if he does not improve his numbers among non-white voters.
“In Florida, Donald Trump is getting only 21 percent of the non-white vote,” Brown said. “Although he is winning among white voters, who are mainly Republican, victory in Florida will be a very difficult lift for him if he can’t do better among non-white voters.”
Nevertheless, the poll indicates Trump has momentum as Republicans prepare to gather next week in Cleveland for the GOP national convention. Quinnipiac also released poll results Wednesday showing the candidates tied in Ohio and Trump leading by two points in Pennsylvania, both of which also are closely watched swing states.
“Donald Trump enters the Republican convention on a small roll in the three most important swing states in the country,” Brown said. “He has wiped out Hillary Clinton’s lead in Florida; is on the upside of too-close to call races in Florida and Pennsylvania and is locked in a dead heat in Ohio.”
The Connecticut-based Quinnipiac frequently conducts polls in Florida and other states.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Appliance Fire
July 14, 2016
One person was injured in an appliance fire near Century Wednesday night.
The fire was reported about 8:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of West Highway 4. A resident reported that their stove caught fire and that the stove had been removed from the home. One person reportedly suffered a burned hand during the incident.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the incident.
Tate Aggies Holding Youth Football Camp
July 14, 2016
Tate High School will hold a youth football camp next week.
The camp will be held at Pete Gindl Stadium from 5-8 p.m. on July 18-20 for students entered grades 3-8. The camp will be directed by Tate football coaching staff along with assistance from Tate football players.
The camp will present youth with the opportunity to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team.
The youth football camp at Tate High School will be a non-contact setting.
For a registration form and additional information, click here (pdf).
Guest speaker will be Fred Robbins, for Tate High School defensive tackle. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest. He also played for the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and St. Louis Rams. While at J. M. Tate High School, Robbins was a letterman in football and baseball.