Scott Gives State Workers Extra Day Off For Christmas
December 13, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott is once again giving state workers an extra paid day off at the Christmas break. Scott on Friday directed executive agencies to shut down December 26. Employees in positions deemed essential will still have to work that day, but they will have six months to use an equal amount of administrative leave time.
Scott made similar directives the past three years.
According to the Department of Management Services, the state observes nine paid holidays annually: New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; the day after Thanksgiving; and Christmas.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
December 13, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending December 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Livesay, Cushing and Investigator Goley worked a night-hunting detail in conjunction with conservation officers with the Alabama Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The officers were positioned on both sides of the state line in an area where reports of poaching were occurring. During the detail, two juveniles were arrested by Alabama DNR officers for attempting to take deer with a gun and light.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was on patrol when he observed persons trying to put out a fire that had gotten out of control. He began assisting them as Officer Johnson responded to assist. The fire threatened to burn a large pile of hay bales the farmer had stacked up. Officer Hutchinson successfully used his winch bumper to push several bales out of the way preventing the fire from reaching the stack. The fire was eventually extinguished and the farmer was reportedly very appreciative of the officers’ assistance.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Angelic Voices: Mennonite Church Brings Christmas Joy To Children’s Hospital
December 13, 2014
Members of the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church spread Christmas joy Friday night with carols in the hallways and rooms at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Employees Collect Toys, Bikes For Needy Kids
December 13, 2014
The Communities Caring at Christmas caravan streamed into the Gulf Power headquarters on Friday and collected hundreds of toys, bikes and other gifts donated by Gulf Power employees.
The estimated total of all the donations is more than $29,000 from Gulf Power employees — including more than $12,000 in cash donations and 146 bicycles.
After collecting the gifts, the caravan headed to the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds to sort and process the gifts to be distributed to families and children in need.
Gulf Power employees raised money throughout the year through fundraisers, such as golf tournaments, bake sales and raffles.
“We know the holiday season can be a difficult time for many, so Communities Caring at Christmas is a great way to directly help those in need,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power manager of Corporate Communications. “Every year our employees reach into their own pockets to help make sure as many children as possible have a great Christmas.”
Communities Caring at Christmas provides new toys, clothing and daily living needs for low income and abused, neglected and abandoned children living in foster care in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
This is the 19th year Gulf Power and its employees have participated in Communities Caring at Christmas.
Crestview Hands Tate Second Loss Of Season
December 13, 2014
Crestview 68, Tate 56
The Tate Aggies suffered their second loss the season Friday night to the Bulldogs of Crestview. Crestview downed the Aggies 68-56 in Cantonment.
Zach Phalen scored 18 for the Aggies (7-2, 2-1), while Danny Cafarella had 14 and Reggie Payne added 10. Michael Roberts had six for Tate, Jake Henry added five and Jusin Baker scored three.
The Tate High Aggies will host Pine Forest High School on Monday.
University Of Florida Honors Milton Campus Graduates
December 13, 2014
Five Bachelor of Science degree graduates were honored Friday at the University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC). Each earned their degrees from the University of Florida at the Milton Campus.
Dr. Wes Wood, Center director of the WFREC, presented the Fall 2014 graduating class to family and friends. Faculty and fellow students extended congratulations and presented highlights of each graduate’s time at the University of Florida Milton Campus.
Graduates earning Bachelor of Science degrees in forest resources and conservation were Micah Byars, Courtney Culler, Shane Jurjens, Cortney Tyson and Christie Wagner. Wagner graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Special speaker for the event was Hooper Matthews, local landowner, businessman and forester.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Oil Hits Six Year Low; Gas Prices Continue Downward Slide
December 12, 2014
Crude oil prices, and the price at the pump, are continuing to decline. On Thursday, crude oil fell to a close below $60 per barrel for the first time since 2009. Prices have nosedived since hitting a high of $110 a barrel in June 2014.
Gas prices are expected to fall to a national average of $2.50 or less per gallon by year’s end from the current mark of $2.62.
In the North Escambia area Thursday, gas prices were already down to $2.48 in Cantonment, while just above the $2.50 mark in Century. The Pensacola metro average on Thursday at $2.54, with one Navy Boulevard station at $2.41.
Pictured: The price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.48 Thursday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Phones Overloaded As North Santa Rosa Residents Sign Up For Solid Waste Service
December 12, 2014
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority said Thursday that there telephone system is being overloaded by residents of north Santa Rosa County calling in to sign up for solid waste services before the end of the year.
To avoid long wait times on the phone, customers may obtain information on services at http://www.ecua.fl.gov/santa-rosa. To sign-up, residents may email customer.service@ecua.fl.gov to request any of the solid waste services, or go to http://www.ecua.fl.gov/santa-rosa/contact to request service online by December 26.
When making a request for service, customers are asked to include their name, service address and a daytime telephone number. When applying for a new account, customers should be prepared to present some form of identification (for example: driver’s license, military ID card, Florida ID card or student ID card).
To contact ECUA regarding an emergency only, such as a water outage or to report a broken main, call (850) 494-7350.
The Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners has entered into an inter-local agreement with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority to provide single-family residential solid waste collection north of the Yellow River beginning Friday, January 2. No other large truck provider will be able to provide service in the franchise area after December 30.
The new north end Santa Rosa ECUA services are $51.27 per quarter and include:
- Garbage pickup: twice a week in a wheeled, 95-gallon container
- Recycling pickup: on request by resident once a week in a wheeled, 95-gallon container, residents should request recycling service when signing up for service
- Yard debris pickup: every two weeks
- Bulky waste pickup: service on request via phone call from resident
- Side door collection service for the disabled at no extra charge, Non-handicapped side door collection service, additional containers or bear-resistant containers at an additional cost.
ECUA will begin delivering new garbage and recycling containers to Santa Rosa customers this week. It is important that residents do not use the new containers until after their last scheduled pickup date with their outgoing provider, either December 29, 30 or 31; as ECUA will not start service routes until January. Please leave your old empty containers at the curbside for pickup by the previous provider.
Citizens utilizing residential curbside collection in the north end of the county that do not live the city of Milton, town of Jay or NAS Whiting Field, will now have one solid waste provider assigned to their area. The franchise agreement does not impact business or commercial dumpster accounts or residents living south of the Yellow River. Residents in the Holley, Navarre, Midway or the city of Gulf Breeze will have no change in solid waste providers.
The residential curbside solid waste service is not mandatory. Individuals who do not signup for service will be responsible for transporting their household waste, recyclables, yard debris and bulk waste items to the Central Landfill in Milton or the Jay Residential Drop Off Station in Jay. Additionally, the commission chose to grandfather in the small providers. Residents may choose a provider that is currently permitted and utilizes trucks that weigh 15,000 lbs. or less.
Salvation Army: 150 Kids Won’t Have Christmas Presents Without Help
December 12, 2014
The local Salvation Army has issued a plea for help — about 150 children may get nothing for Christmas without your help.
“The Salvation Army still has about 150 children who’ve not been adopted for Christmas, and this Christmas will be just another day without the basics and an empty tree unless we help immediately,” said Salvation Army Capt. Bob Cornett.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree program accepts applications from parents beginning in late October and had plans to help nearly 500 families, but so far there’s not help for about 150 kids.
For more information on how to help, contact the Salvation Army at (850) 432-1501.
All Aboard The Snowball Express For Children, Families Of Fallen Soldiers
December 12, 2014
The ninth annual Snowball Express, an all expenses paid special American Airlines flight for the children and families of fallen soldiers made a stop at the Pensacola International Airport this morning. Thirty-one children from Escambia County will be participating in the event.
Every December, as many as 2,000 children, teenagers and their families gather in Dallas for an extended weekend of fun and socializing. Though they come from all over the country and even international locations to participate in Snowball Express, these children all have one very important thing in common – each one has lost a parent on active duty.
Now in its ninth year, Snowball Express brings together families of post-9/11 fallen military members for an all-expenses-paid trip to create new memories and provide much-needed support.
Nearly 150 American Airlines pilots and flight attendants donate their duty time to charter flights for families to attend the five-day event. Crews dress up and deck the halls of each aircraft with holiday decorations, and American employees throw a send-off party at each departure airport, bringing in costumed characters, games and treats for the children aged 5-18.
The events, however, aren’t purely for fun. The weekend is also a time for the families to support each other, share their grief and celebrate their accomplishments after suffering a devastating loss.
This year’s Snowball Express will include a trip to Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science, a screening of Annie and a talent show. Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band will perform for their eighth year, an annual highlight of the weekend. Plus, David Hira will return to be the MC for many of the weekend’s evening events, as well as the closing night’s Grand Finale Show.
The weekend also includes the annual ‘Walk of Gratitude,’ a procession that allows members of the Dallas/Fort Worth community to cheer for the children and their families and honor the sacrifice their husbands, wives, moms and dads have made.
Picture above and below: Preparing to board the Snowball Express Thursday at the Pensacola International Airport. Pictured bottom: Selfies will members of the Blue Angels crew at the Snowball Express. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
