Century Approves $360K Loan, New Employee Insurance, Fence, Elevator
August 25, 2015
The Century Town Council approved a $360,000 loan, a new employee insurance company, a fence and an elevator during a special meeting Monday afternoon.
Drainage Project Loan
The council voted to allow Mayor Freddie McCall to execute a $360,000 loan with United Bank. They money will be used to pay a contractor working on a drainage project in the north part of town. Once the project is completed, Century will receive a grant reimbursement of the entire principal plus the interest. The loan will cost the town 1.964 percent interest plus a $350 fee. Escambia County Bank in Flomaton quoted a loan rate of 3 percent with no fee.
A Fence And An Elevator
The council approved recommendations of the Century Architectural Review Board to allow the First Baptist Church to construct a front porch, extending the brick steps toward the street and widening the steps for safety purposes. The church will also remove an existing handicap ramp and replace it with an “elevator” – a residential platform lift to the porch level for the handicap.
The council also approved a review board recommendation to allow Felix Fussner to install a four-foot wooden picket fence along the front of his property at 402 Front Street. The council also approve a variance to allow the four-foot height due to a three-foot limit currently allowed by ordinance.
The approvals of the e Century Architectural Review Board were necessary for both projects because they are located in the Alger-Sullivan Historical District.
A New Insurance Company
Also at Monday’s special meeting, the council voted to approved United Health Care as the town’s new employee insurance company. Employees will be able to chose from three plans offering deductibles of $500, $1,250 or $1,500 per year with zero coinsurance. The town will pay 99 percent of the monthly cost for employee-only plans and 78 percent of the cost for family coverage of the cheapest of the three plans (the $1,500 deductible plan). Employees will be responsible for the additional cost of the more expensive health care plans if they choose that level of coverage. The new plans go into effect October 1. Town employees are currently covered under plans by Aetna. The town’s overall health care insurance costs will increase by only a few percent.
Scott: 129 Hospitals To Be Audited Over Contracts; Two Escambia Hospitals Included
August 25, 2015
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Gov. Rick Scott’s administration is continuing to ratchet up pressure on the hospital industry, with Scott saying Monday that 129 hospitals face audits related to Medicaid managed-care contracts.
Those hospitals include Baptist Hospital in Escambia County, being audited because they responded after the August 1 deadline, and West Florida Hospital, which is on a long list of hospitals being audited to verify compliance with state law because of the nature of the explanations they provided in their responses, according to the governor’s office.
Scott listed the hospitals in a letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration earlier this month said it was auditing 31 hospitals to determine whether their contracts with managed-care plans comply with a state law that limits payments to 120 percent of a Medicaid fee schedule. AHCA last month requested that hospitals and insurers certify compliance with the law.
by The News Service of Florida and NorthEscambia.com
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Ernest Ward Middle Opens Football Season Thursday Night
August 25, 2015
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles have announced their 2015 football schedule. Play begins this Thursday at 6 p.m. at Ernest Ward as the Eagles host the Jay Royals.
The complete schedule is as follows, with all games scheduled for Thursdays at 6 p.m. -
August 27 - Jay at EWMS
September 3 - EWMS at T.R. Miller
September 10 – EWMS at W.S. Neal
September 17 – T.R. Miller at EWMS
September 24 – EWMS at Jay
October 1 – Escambia County (Atmore) at EWMS
October 8 – W.S. Neal at EWMS
October 15 – EWMS at Escambia County (Atmore)
Ernest Ward has the only public middle school football program in Escambia County.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle at Jay last season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Report Shows More Farmers With Internet Access
August 25, 2015
Farmers are increasingly turning to the internet and computers for their operations, according to a new study released by the US Department of Agriculture.
The USDA report shows 70 percent of U.S. farms and ranches now have access to internet, a 3 percent growth from 2013. DSL remained the most popular method for accessing internet, accounting for 30 percent of all farms and ranches with internet access. Despite remaining in the lead, however, the DSL access is down 5 percent, from the 35 percent of farms that used this method in 2013.
In contrast, wireless connection, which accounts for 29 percent, and satellite connection, which accounts for 21 percent of the U.S. total, showed significant growth in the past two years. Share of farms using these two methods went up 5 and 4 percent respectively.
According to the report, 43 percent of U.S. farms use computers for their business operations. Crop growers, at 47 percent, are more likely than livestock producers to use computers for business. In the livestock sector, 39 percent of producers use computers for business.
Farmers’ and ranchers’ business computer uses include:
- 44 percent – Conducting business with a non-agricultural website
- 44 percent – Accessing federal government websites
- 19 percent – Purchasing agricultural inputs
- 16 percent – Marketing activities
Farmers in the Western states are most likely to use computers for business. In that region, 48 percent of all farms use computers for that purpose. Western region was closely followed by the North Central and Northeast states, where 46 and 45 of all farms followed this practice. Southern states have the lowest percentage in this category. In that region 36 percent of all farms use internet to conduct business.
Human Hunters Far Outnumber Bears That Could Be Killed
August 25, 2015
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be asked next week to set a quota of 320 bears for a controversial hunt in October.
The hunt, the first in the state in more than 20 years, has already attracted 1,795 hunters who have purchased permits, according to the commission.
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taff members released a memo Monday outlining updated bear-population counts in two of the four regions in which hunting will be allowed. The memo is expected to go before the commission at a Sept. 2 meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The hunt is scheduled to start Oct. 24 and last from two days to seven days, based upon each region’s quota goals.
According to the latest figures, there are an estimated 1,300 bears in the central region, which includes the St. Johns River watershed to the Ocala National Forest, and 550 bears in the north region, which goes from Jacksonville west to Hamilton and Suwannee counties. In each region, the harvest target is proposed at 100 bears.
The bear quota is 40 in an eastern Panhandle region, which includes the northwestern Big Bend area to west of Apalachicola Bay. In a south region, which includes Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties, the quota number is 80. The south region excludes the Big Cypress National Preserve.
The hunt is intended to help the state achieve a 20 percent reduction in the bear population in each region. The 20 percent figure includes the number of bears that die naturally, are hit and killed by cars and are captured and killed by wildlife officers due to conflicts.
One of the arguments of the hunt’s opponents has been that the state was using old numbers for the bear populations in the four regions. Two of the four regions — the eastern Panhandle and south regions — continue to rely on 2002 study numbers, according to the staff memo.
Black bears were placed on the state’s threatened list in 1974, when there were between 300 and 500 across Florida. At the time, hunting black bears was limited to three counties. In 1994, the hunting season was closed statewide.
The issue has gained attention recently because of conflicts between bears and humans in some areas of the state. Critics of the hunt contend that people are moving into bear habitats and that the state should focus on efforts such as bear-proofing trash containers and prohibiting people from feeding bears.
The cost to get a bear hunting permit is $100 for Floridians and $300 for non-Floridians. The permits will be available up until the day before the hunt begins.
Each hunter is limited to one bear, and the kill will have to be registered and tagged within 12 hours.
Wahoos Drop Second Game To Mississippi Braves
August 25, 2015
In its first playoff race in franchise history, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos have turned over sole possession of first place to the Mississippi Braves by dropping its first two games to the visiting club.
The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and 7-0 after three innings and cruised to a 9-4 victory in front of 3,555 fans Monday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Highlights for the Blue Wahoos tonight included first baseman Marquez Smith’s driving a double into the right center alley in the third inning that scored two runs, pulling Pensacola within, 7-2.
In addition, Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth also hit homer No. 11 of the year in the eighth inning — his first since Aug. 6 — as the Blue Wahoos trailed, 9-4.
Mississippi, which took back first place in the Southern League South Division Sunday, is now 32-24. Meanwhile, Pensacola dropped to 1.5 games behind Mississippi, falling to 31-26. The Mobile BayBears also fell back 1.5 games to the Braves at 30-25, after losing in 11 innings at MGM Park.
Pensacola has 12 games left this season and play both Mississippi and the Mobile BayBears at home.
Blue Wahoos Manager Pat Kelly said that Mississippi has been hard for Pensacola to defend this season. They knocked 14 hits Monday.
“We could have 18 guys on the field and couldn’t catch the balls that they hit,” Kelly said. “It was one of those nights where they shot the ball in the hole between first and second or blooped it into right field.”
Mississippi jumped in front, 3-0, in the first inning off of Pensacola starter Sal Romano. Leadoff batter shortstop Emerson Landoni doubled to the right field corner and center fielder Mycal Jones followed with a double to the right center field gap to score him for a 1-0 lead.
Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz then clobbered a ball deep to center field that Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin ran back on but the ball bounced off his glove. Ruiz reached third, driving in Jones and right fielder KD Kang, who had walked to put the Braves ahead, 3-0.
Landoni led the Braves by going 3-5 with a double and two RBIs and lifting his season average to .295.
Reds top prospect Jesse Winker now has a hit in 15 of his 20 games this month. Winker is hitting .347 (25-72) in August with six homers and 12 RBIs
He raised his average in the second half to .302 (55-182) with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. Winker’s two walks Monday also raised his on-base percentage to .403 (85-211) in the second half.
Kelly said Winker has really come on down the stretch.
“He has been our most consistent hitter the last three months of the year,” he said.
Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin, the Reds No. 9 prospect, also played well Monday, going 2-3 with a double and RBI and walking twice. In five games with the Blue Wahoos, he is 6-15 or batting .400, with two doubles, two homers and four RBIs.
Two New Atmore Officers Graduate From Police Academy
August 25, 2015
Two Atmore Police officers have graduated from the Alabama Police Academy. Officers
Officers Daniel Harris and Jesse Traweek were part of the 153rd class at the Alabama Police Academy and received their certification as full-time police officers during a graduation ceremony held at the Alabama Police Academy
in Selma.
While at the academy, Harris and Traweek received 520 hours of classroom and intensive hands on training in numerous aspects of police work. Both officers will be assigned to the Patrol Division of the Atmore Police Department.
Pictured top: Atmore Police Department Officer Daniel Harris, Chief Chuck Brooks and Officer Jesse Traweek. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Cantonment Home
August 24, 2015
Fire damaged a home in Cantonment on Bur Oak Drive, just north of West Kingsfield Road near Ransom Middle School, this morning. There was no immediate word of any injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Reader submitted photos by Brandy Lombardino for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County, Community Group Team Up For Cantonment Computer Lab
August 24, 2015
Old computers no longer used by Escambia County are being put to good use in Cantonment.
Residents can now take advantage of a new computer lab at the Carver Park Resource Center, thanks to the cooperative work of several Escambia County departments and the Cantonment Improvement Committee.
“We are very appreciative of the computers,” said Josh Womack, Cantonment Improvement Committee chairman. “We are just getting started with all the ways we can put the computers to good use.”
Escambia County’s Information Technology (IT), Neighborhood and Human Services and Facilities departments worked to convert a building at the request of District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry’s office. The lab consists of 10 computers refurbished from the 911 dispatch center that were donated by the county’s Public Safety Department.
“One of the ways we hope to use the computers, maybes with help from Careersource EscaRosa, is for people in the community to look for jobs,” Womack said. “And we hope to one day offer GED classes.”
Earlier this summer, IT and Facilities teamed up to make sure the electrical system was adequate for the setup that was needed. Facilities worked with a local electrical contractor to get the proper electrical and data lines put in place along with an alarm system. Once the electrical and data lines were in place, the IT department went to work tidying up the data lines and installing computers.
At the end of the project, the Center has 10 computers with internet connection to provide online learning, training and research for members of the community who do not have the same resources at home.
Carver Park is a two-acre neighborhood park at 208 Webb Street with a covered pavilion, playground, basketball courts, security lights, benches and picnic area. The park also has a small community building and some of the most historic oak trees in Escambia County.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Needs Appointees For Committees
August 24, 2015
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering for appointments to the Escambia County Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) and the Human Services Appropriations Committee (HSAC).
Merit System Protection Board
The MSPB was created to provide a fair and equitable mechanism for the expeditious review of appeals and grievances of the classified employees of the County before a non-partisan deliberative body. County Ordinance 2005-38 provides the means for a classified, permanent employee under the jurisdiction of the MSPB to appeal disciplinary actions, and provides that these employees may file an appeal or grievance for perceived violations of the Ordinance or the Rules. Presently, the classified employees under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Supervisor of Elections are covered under the MSPB. The term of office is three years.
Qualifications of Board Members
No person shall be appointed to the Merit System Protection Board as a member who:
- Has not been a resident of Escambia County for two or more years preceding appointment to the MSPB.
- Is holding an elective or appointive office in federal, state, county or municipal government provided that prior appointment as a member of the MSPB shall not disqualify a person from being reappointed.
- Held political office in, or was a salaried or hourly employee of Escambia County during the 12 months preceding appointment to the MSPB.
- Is a member of the immediate family of a current employee or elected official of Escambia County.
- Is a current officer of any union representing employees of Escambia County.
- Is working for any vendor who has a current contractual agreement with any participating appointing authority.
- Has been convicted of, or has had adjudication withheld of, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.
Qualifications must be maintained throughout the members’ tenure or the member must resign his position on the MSPB.
Attendance
Any member of the MSPB shall be removed and replaced after being absent from more than three consecutive meetings during any calendar year. The MSPB shall determine whether any member’s absence is unexcused.
Compensation of Board Members
The MSPB members shall serve on a voluntary basis and not be financially compensated for their service.
Meeting Schedule
MPSB meetings are held once per month on the second Tuesday; the meeting is generally less than one hour. Hours will vary depending on whether an appeal is being heard from an employee. If hearings are scheduled, they would be held immediately after the meeting. There has been less than one appeal/hearing in the past years.
Human Services Appropriations Committee
The HSAC shall concurrently review agency funding requests to Escambia County and the City of Pensacola, making funding recommendations individually to both bodies in accordance with policy and procedure agreements with each. No members of the Committee shall be a member or employee of, or serve on any board of, any of the requesting agencies reviewed by the Committee. The term of office is three years.
HSAC Process*
The coordination of applications, site visits and oral presentations by United Way of Escambia County takes place from January-May. The partner agencies applying for funding from the Human Services Appropriations Committee are required to submit an application that has the designated HSAC-related application questions, as well as a program budget. Additionally, applying programs are required to host a site visit and provide an oral presentation on their proposal to the HSAC. The funding schedule for the HSAC was changed three years ago to run parallel with the United Way’s Funds Distribution Process. This change was able to create efficiencies in United Way’s staff and volunteer efforts to facilitate this process.
Time Committment
The following is a breakdown approximation of hours served on this Committee:
- Planning meeting and training for upcoming grant review process: November (2 hours)
- Grant Application Review and submission of questions to applicants: March (1 hour per application- number of applications vary from year to year)
- Site Visits/Oral Presentations: April (1.5 hours per applicant plus 15-20 minutes travel time between visits)
- Scoring of applications and/or site visits: March-Late April (10-15 minutes per application)
- Final Deliberations/Funding Recommendations meeting: May (2 +/-hours)
*Prepared by: Marlena Davis, Partnership Manager- United Way
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the Merit System Protection Board or the Human Services Appropriations Committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve on the applicable Board/Committee by the close of business on Monday, August 31, 2015. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola Florida 32502.