Pepsi Cola Of Atmore Named One Of Company’s Top Bottling Companies
September 30, 2015
The Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore is one of the top three Pepsi bottling companies in the United States and Canada.. The Pepsi of Atmore franchise was recently named as finalist for the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award.
Company officials were on hand in Kissimmee, FL, Monday night as the award was presented to Allen Beverages from Gulfport, MS.
“We were very honored to be a finalist and the love and support from our family ,friends and community has been amazing,” Pepsi of Atmore said on their Facebook page after learning the winner.
State Pot Panel Faces Turnover
September 30, 2015
State health officials have announced another shake-up in the effort to get Florida’s medical-marijuana industry off the ground. Less than a month after being appointed to a three-member team that will choose five nurseries to grow, process and dispense medical marijuana and derivative products, accountant Ann Filloon is stepping down.
Filloon “has decided to remove herself from the panel to focus on her duties as the fiscal unit director with the Division of Children’s Medical Services,” according to a news release issued by the Department of Health. Filloon is being replaced by Ellyn Hutson, an accountant with a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Clemson University and a master’s degree in accounting from Florida State University, according to the release. Hutson joins Christian Bax, executive director of the department’s Office of Compassionate Use, and Patricia Nelson, a special adviser to Gov. Rick Scott. Nelson was Bax’s predecessor and shepherded creation of the industry’s preliminary guidelines, including the applications from growers.
Under a rule created earlier this year, the selection committee must be comprised of the chief of the Office of Compassionate Use, an accountant and a member of the governor’s Statewide Drug Advisory Policy Council appointed by the state surgeon general, who also serves as the secretary of the Department of Health.
Twenty-four nurseries — which have joined forces with consultants, investors and out-of-state pot growers — are vying to be one of five “dispensing organizations” with licenses to grow cannabis that is low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD. Parents of children with a severe form of epilepsy pushed the Legislature last year to approve the low-THC cannabis, believing it can end or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures.
Doctors who have undergone special training were supposed to begin ordering the low-THC products for eligible patients — those with cancer or severe muscle spasms — on Jan. 1.
But legal challenges and a judge’s decision last year that tossed out health officials’ first stab at a rule put implementation of the law far behind what lawmakers envisioned. Health officials have not said how long the committee will take to evaluate the 28 applications, which include at least four in each of five regions of the state.
VB: Baker Tops Northview
September 30, 2015
The Baker Gators won their home district volleyball match against Northview Monday by a score of 3-0.
Baker downed the Chiefs 25-7, 25-7, 25-8.
In junior varsity action, Baker defeated Northview 2-0, 25-12, 25-13.
The Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Deadline Approaching To Enter Northview Homecoming Parade
September 30, 2015
Friday is the deadline to enter the annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade. The parade has been set for Friday, October 9.
The parade will line up at noon and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by October 2.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 9 against Liberty County.
Pictured: A float in the 2014 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Kingsfield Wreck Near Tate High
September 29, 2015
One person was transported to an area hospital after hitting a brick fence near Tate High School Monday night.
Just before 9 p.m., the drivet of a pickup left East Kingsfield Road just past the entrance to Tate High. He then reportedly drove through a fence, traveled around through a residential yard and then collided with a brick fence post that stopped his pickup truck.
The pickup driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested For Soliciting Minor
September 29, 2015
An Escambia County man has been arrested after arranging what he thought was a meeting with a teen for sex.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and detectives from the Pensacola Police Department arrested Dennis Kevin Marks, 53, on three counts of online solicitation of a child, one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Marks was arrested after traveling to meet an undercover FDLE special agent who he believed was a 14-year-old juvenile for sex. Marks had been communicating with the undercover agent by email and text messages since mid-August.
Marks was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $45,000 bond.
Florida Lawmakers Continue To Get Wealthier
September 29, 2015
Being in the state’s “part-time” Legislature might tax members’ time, but for most it hasn’t caused financial heartaches.
With all 160 annual financial-disclosure reports from House and Senate members now available — the reports were due July 1, the last outstanding report was posted online Friday — the average net worth of sitting senators stands at $3.8 million, while House members on average are worth $1.43 million.
For state lawmakers who are paid roughly $30,000 a year plus expenses, the net-worth averages, according to self-reported numbers, grew by $212,650 in the Senate from 2013 to 2014 and by $56,260 in the House during the same period. The newly filed reports typically reflect the finances of lawmakers as of Dec. 31.
Over the past four years, the averages are up nearly $750,000 in the Senate and just over $366,000 in the House, which has had greater turnover.
Republicans, who comprise the majority in both chambers, are doing better financially on average than their Democratic counterparts.
Senate Republicans are worth $4.5 million on average, compared to $2.6 million for Democratic members. House Republicans average $1.7 million, while House Democrats average $837,454.
Individual net worths range in the Senate from $26.99 million for Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who co-founded VITAS Healthcare Corp, to $14,042 for Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, holds the distinction of being at the median for net worth among senators at $828,099.
Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, has reported the largest individual growth of net worth over the past four years. Simpson, whose business interests include Simpson Environmental Services, Inc., reported a net worth of $12.3 million in 2011. For 2014, Simpson reported his net worth stood at $21.2 million.
In the House, the highs and lows range from the $17.36 million reported by Miami Republican Michael Bileca to a negative $354,165 posted by Rep. Victor Torres, D-Orlando. Torres, a retired New York City Transit Police detective who was $28,017 in the red in 2013 added a $278,440 residential mortgage to his portfolio in 2014.
Bileca a co-founder of the Towncare Dental Partnership firm located throughout Central and South Florida, has also reported one of the largest hikes in net worth over the past four years among House members.
Bileca reported a net worth of $3.855 million in 2011. His current totals include $2.56 million in 2014 income from Atg Development, a Miami limited liability firm — one of the companies for which he has been listed as a registered agent.
The $480,000 net worth reported by freshman Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, represents the median of the House.
Not everyone has seen their net worths grow in recent years.
Over the past four years, five senators have reported decreases in their net worth — Republicans Tom Lee and Denise Grimsley and Democrats Gibson, Gwen Margolis and Jeremy Ring.
Ring, former executive at Yahoo worth $13.7 million, had the largest drop over the past four years, $1.3 million.
In the House, 20 members — nine Democrats and 11 Republicans — have reported losses of net worth over the past four years.
The largest drop in the House was reported by Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, who has seen his net worth diminish nearly $2 million, to $3.58 million, over the four year period.
For a number of those who have reported drops in net worth, the primary cause involved taking out loans to buy real estate.
Northview Students Receive Ronald Reagan Student Leader Awards
September 29, 2015
Northview students (L-R) Jessica Amerson, David Weber and Moriah McGahan have been registered as recipients for the Ronald Reagan Student Leader Award by Principal Gayle Weaver, as part of an effort to inspire the next generation of outstanding leaders. These students will share their experiences with other recipients throughout the nation in a national online database. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Holds 5th Grade Grandparents Breakfast
September 29, 2015
The Molino Park Elementary School PTA held their 5th Grade Grandparents Breakfast recently.
The school holds a grandparents breakfast during year for each grade level, even taking a photo of each student with the grandparent for the yearbook.
Photos by Amanda Manning for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Ross Named SoCon Special Teams Player Of Week
September 29, 2015
Northview High School graduate Brian Ross of Century has been named the Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Furman University Paladins’ 24-21 SoCon season opening victory over VMI on Saturday.
With Furman trailing 14-7 at halftime, Ross, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound junior, set the tone for the Paladins in the second half by blocking a VMI punt, which he scooped up and rambled five yards into the end zone to help Furman tie the game en route to the win.
In addition to his decisive special teams play, the defensive end registered a pair of tackles, including a sack for a six-yard loss, and forced fumble. His second tackle of the game also proved key, as the diving stop came on a fourth down play at the Furman 45 with 3:49 remaining, forcing the Keydets the turn the ball over on downs and effectively sealing the game’s outcome.
Winners of its last two games, Furman (2-2) plays host to South Carolina State this Saturday at Paladin Stadium in a 7:00 ESPN3 broadcast contest.
Ross is a 2012 graduate of Northview High School where he played defensive end and tight end. He totaled 54 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and two blocked punts as a senior in helping Northview to a 7-4 record, district, and regional championships. He was named first team all-area and all-district and second team all-state. He was also recipient of the Chiefs’ Challenger Award. Ross also played baseball for the Chiefs.
Ross is a earth and environmental science major at Furman University in Greenville, SC.