Escambia School Board Declares ‘National FFA Week’
January 20, 2016
Tuesday night, the Escambia County School Board approved a resolution declaring National FFA Week for February 20-27, 2016.
“(FFA) is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career successthrough agricultural education at the local, state, and national level,” the resolution stated .
FFA members, advisers and administrators from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools were on hand as the school board unanimously approved the resolution.
To read the school board resolution, click here.
Pictured top: FFA members from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools with a National FFA Week resolution passed Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board. Pictured inset: Northview FFA members Mitchell Singleton, Brandon Korinchak and Courtney Weekley at the school board meeting. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Tax Forecast Could Pose Problems For Scott
January 20, 2016
Economic forecasters Tuesday slashed nearly $400 million from their estimate of how much lawmakers will have to spend in the budget year that begins July 1, increasing questions about Gov. Rick Scott’s plans to cut taxes and boost economic-development incentives.
With tax revenues lagging over the next 18 months and other slight adjustments to the budget, the Legislature will be working with $395.6 million less than economists predicted in October. Overall, the state’s income will still increase by $1.2 billion over the current budget year, which ends June 30.
But given the normal growth in funding for programs like public education — which all sides have promised to boost to record levels — the reduced total for lawmakers will likely put more pressure on Scott’s push for $1 billion in tax cuts and increased spending on incentives used to lure businesses to Florida.
In a statement issued after the new forecast, Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz called the $388.5 million drop in tax revenues “a minor reduction” and said the governor still backed his tax cut plan. The remainder of the $395.6 million forecast reduction stems from budget tweaks. Schutz also said that a proposed gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe would bring in $2.3 billion over eight years. While that funding wouldn’t be available until after the coming budget year, it could soften the tax cuts’ impact on future spending plans.
“We are pleased to also learn that we still have a significant increase in revenues of over $1 billion in fiscal year 2016-17,” Schutz said. “Additionally, most actual revenues end up higher than revenue estimates.”
Legislative leaders, though, were more cautious about the new numbers. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said the revised estimates “remind us that we continue to be in recovery, but we are certainly still bouncing back from the unprecedented recession.”
“Fortunately, we have instituted conservative budgeting principles year after year,” Crisafulli added. “We will be able to make adjustments to our spending plan which will come out in the next few weeks.”
While both Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, have pledged to cut taxes, the House has been more welcoming to Scott’s talk of a larger package. House leaders said last week that they would try to meet the governor’s goal of $1 billion.
Gardiner did not back away from the promise of tax reductions in a statement issued after the new forecast, but emphasized other needs as well.
“Our goal in drafting the Senate budget is to prioritize funding to care for the most vulnerable and other programmatic structural needs of our state,” Gardiner said. “We are also working to strike a balance that reconciles our desire to enhance broad-based tax relief, economic development and other pro-growth policies with our responsibility to set aside ample reserves that allow our state to respond to the potential for continued instability in other economies.”
Driving the softening of the state’s numbers is a projected falloff in corporate income taxes. Economists estimated that Florida would bring in $240.2 million less than previously expected in the current budget year and $257.6 million next year. Meanwhile, the income from sales taxes and insurance premium taxes would increase.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said corporate profits were expected to slow across the country as weakening economic activity overseas made exports a harder sell.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Lady Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night
January 20, 2016
The Northview Lady Chiefs basketball team celebrated Senior Night Tuesday, honoring seniors (pictured below, L-R) Jada Tucker and Lexy Small.
For more photos of the Lady Chiefs’ game against Milton, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Plummets Into Deep Ravine In Predawn Wreck
January 19, 2016
A driver escaped injury when he flipped his pickup truck into ravine near Enon, outside Walnut Hill, during the predawn hours Tuesday.
The driver was southbound on South Highway 99 when he failed to negotiate a 90-degree curve at a railroad crossing at South Highway 99 and Highway 97A. His Chevrolet 2500 pickup left the roadway and crashed about 15 feet down into a deep ravine, coming to rest almost upside down in the 5:38 a.m. crash.
The driver was able to free himself from the truck and refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top and below: A driver crashed about 15 feet down into a ravine early Tuesday morning about eight miles from Walnut Hill. Pictured bottom: The truck was not visible from the top of the ravine. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 95A Single Vehicle Crash
January 19, 2016
One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck early Tuesday morning on Highway 95A at North Chipper Road, near Cantonment.
The driver lost control and ran off the roadway and into the woodline about 5:50 a.m. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Celebrates With Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade (With Gallery)
January 19, 2016
Hundreds of residents of Cantonment celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday with a parade in the area around Carver Park.
Hundreds gathered to enjoy the parade, plus catch candy, beads and other items.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Highway 29 Delays In North Escambia
January 19, 2016
Drivers on Highway 29 near Century and McDavid can expect possible delays this week.
Through Friday, workers will continue construction activities with southbound lane closures near Century all week. Also, there will be northbound lane restrictions from Champion Drive in McDavid north and crews continues construction of guardrail pads.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Lane closures and construction activities in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marked With Parade In Atmore (With Gallery)
January 19, 2016
Martin Luther King Jr. Day programs were held across the area on Monday.
In Atmore, a parade with Grand Marshal H.K. Matthews, a prominent local civil rights leader, wound through the streets, ending with a program featuring guest speaker Matthews at Escambia County High School.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The annual MLK Day Parade in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Identity Released Of Deceased Escambia Jail Inmate
January 19, 2016
Authorities have released the identity of an inmate that died this past weekend at the Escambia County Main Jail, the seventh death since the county took over jail operations.
Alfred Wesley, 63, was discovered unresponsive by infirmary staff during an hourly welfare check. Corrections officers and medical staff immediately began CPR, called EMS at 8:58 p.m. EMS arrived at the jail at 9:05 p.m. and reached the hospital at 9:27 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 9:49 p.m. by hospital staff.
Wesley was arrested December 9 for trespasing and was behing held with bond set at $1,000. Upon arrival, he received a medical evaluation as part of the intake process. He had been housed alone in the infirmary for psychiatric care since December 12 and checked every hour by jail staff. On the morning of Friday, January 16, Wesley was seen by the facility’s nurse practitioner and psychiatric physician. He was responsive and cooperative.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the death and is investigating as is standard procedure.
Blue Wahoos Kick Off Reading Program At Jim Allen Elementary
January 19, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos kicked off their second year of Kazoo’s Grand Slam Reading Program at Jim Allen Elementary School last Friday morning. Blue Wahoos staff members and Kazoo, the team’s mascot, acted out the beloved baseball take, “Casey at the Bat,” to get students excited about reading.
The program will be presented over the next few weeks at schools throughout the Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Kazoo’s Grand Slam Reading Program is designed as an incentive to excite and motivate students while developing a lifelong love for reading. Students in grades 3-5 are asked to read four books of their choosing during a four week period. Every student in the program receives a Blue Wahoos gift and all classrooms with 100% participation will be entered into a drawing to win a free classroom trip to a 2016 Blue Wahoos home game.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
