Gulf Power Customers Face January Increase
October 23, 2014
Gulf Power customers will see an increase on their bill next year. The Florida Public Service Commission allows expenses such as power plant fuel to be passed along to consumers, but they are not allowed to earn a profit on fuel charges.
A Gulf Power residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours a month will pay $139.29, up from $132, according to the PSC.
Fuel costs are a major component of each customer’s monthly bill. The industry commonly uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity for residential customers as a benchmark, though many customers use more power than that each month.
Customers of two other major Florida utilities – Florida Power & Light and Tampa Electric – will see very minor decreases on their bills.
Escambia Schools Offering Free Flu Vaccine To Students
October 23, 2014
The Escambia County School District is offering the mist form of the flu vaccine for free to all students.
The FluMist vaccine is a nasal spray – no needles are involved. It’s made from the weakened live virus, stimulating the production of antibodies in the blood and the nose. Health officials say there’s no risk of getting the flu from the vaccine.
Permission forms have already been sent home at some schools, and the forms will be headed home from other schools this week. Parents must return the forms by November 5 for their child to receive the FluMist the following week.
Son Charged After Dad Reports $37K In Musical And Fishing Equipment Stolen
October 23, 2014
A Cantonment man was arrested on long list of charges after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of musical and fishing equipment.
Andrew Mark Hintz, 32, was charged with at least 10 counts of felony fraud for providing false information to a pawn broker, 10 felony counts of dealing in stolen property and three felony counts of larceny.
Hintz allegedly took the items from his father’s home in Beulah while the father was working out of the country. Items reported stolen included numerous pieces of musical equipment, guitars, amplifiers and fishing equipment with an estimated value of $37,000.
Hintz pawned over $15,000 worth of property belonging to his father, receiving a total of $3,570, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
According to the report, Hintz had permission to be in his father’s house while he was out of the country, but no permission to take and pawn the items. The victim told deputies that his son has a drug problem.
Hintz remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning with bond set at $25,000.
FHP Aims To ‘Stuff The Charger’ During Food Drive
October 23, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol is working to “Stuff the Charger” during their inaugural food drive.
Through November 6, the FHP will be collecting non-perishable food at their district headquarters at 150 Stumpfield Road in Pensacola to stuff in a Charger and deliver to a local food bank in time for Thanksgiving.
The following items are needed:
- Canned Goods: Sweet potatoes and yams, carrots, green beans, corn, spinach, sweet peas, black eyed peas, cranberry sauce, shelf-stable canned ham, canned meats, hearty soups and pie fillings
- Dried Goods: Stuffing, instant potatoes, gravy mix, macaroni & cheese, rice, cornbread mix, grits and oatmeal
- Other Goods: Nuts, evaporated milk, broth
Poll: Scott, Crist Deadlocked As Election Day Nears
October 23, 2014
Now less than two weeks before Election Day, the fierce race between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist is a dead heat, according to a poll released Wednesday.
The Quinnipiac University poll shows Scott and Crist deadlocked, with each receiving 42 percent of the vote and Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie receiving 7 percent. If Wyllie is not factored in, Scott and Crist were tied at 44 percent.
“For all the money spent on this race, it now appears the winner will be the one whose organization excels at the blocking and tackling of politics — getting their voters to the polls,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a prepared statement accompanying the results.
The survey of 984 likely voters was conducted from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, so it does not take into account the race’s third and final debate Tuesday night in Jacksonville. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
The results are similar to a Quinnipiac Poll conducted last month that showed Scott with 44 percent of the vote, Crist at 42 percent and Wyllie at 8 percent. The new poll indicated that 90 percent of voters who said they supported a candidate are unlikely to change their minds before the Nov. 4 election.
Wednesday’s results also reinforced that voters have negative views of Scott and Crist, after months of the two sides attacking each other. Brown said voters will be casting ballots for the “lesser of two evils.”
“Will nice guys finish last in the Florida governor’s race? According to voters, there are no nice guys in this race, since neither Scott nor Crist are viewed favorably,” Brown said.
The Connecticut-based Quinnipiac frequently conducts polls in Florida and other states for major media nationwide. They are considered among the nation’s most accurate political pollsters.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
It’s National Forest Products Week
October 23, 2014
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service are celebrating the benefits of Florida’s forest industry this week during National Forest Products Week.
“Florida’s forest industry produces significant economic and environmental benefits for this state,” Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said. “The industry’s $16 billion economic impact supports 84,000 jobs, and forestry land management promotes healthy populations of native plants and animals.”
Florida’s 17 million forest acres provide more than 5,000 types of consumer goods that most people use on a daily basis. Some are easily recognized, like paper goods and lumber, while others are not. By the time forest products reach consumers, they are transformed into products such as cosmetics, medicines and fabrics used to make clothing. Pharmaceuticals developed to treat cancer have also originated from chemicals extracted from trees.
“To maintain a sustainable supply of forest products in our state, more than 70 million trees are planted in Florida each year,” said State Forester Jim Karels. “That means more than three trees are planted for each person in the state every year.”
Florida ranks eighth in tree planting across the country. The Florida Forest Service manages more than 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.
Northview Chiefs Name Players Of The Week
October 23, 2014
The Northview Chiefs have named Players of the Week from last Friday night’s 43-9 away win over Freeport. They are:
OFFENSE
Keondrae Lett –14 carries, 216 yards, three touchdowns and one catch for 10 yards
DEFENSE
Toney Harrison – eight total tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chasen Freeman — two good PAT, one field goal, 39 yards per punt, one punt downed inside 20
DOMINATOR
Everette Garvey — for a tackle on sideline
Hunter Cofield — for a block on TD run
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Davis Highway Armed Robbery Under Investigation
October 23, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery of a business this morning just north of West Florida Hospital.
The Dollar General Store on North Davis Highway was robbed by a black male armed with a handgun just before 10 a.m. The suspect fled the store before the first deputies arrived o n the scene.
The suspect was described as wearing a gray “hoodie” type sweatsuit. There was no other physical description available.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Northview Manufacturing Tech Program Becomes Regional Model
October 22, 2014
The Automation and Production Technology Academy at Northview High School is being used as a model for similar academies at middle and high schools across the region.
Tuesday, the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council’s Academy Task Force met at Northview to tour the manufacturing technology program to learn more about how it works. Upon completing the program, students are able to earn industry certifications that allow them to better compete for technical jobs upon graduation, or they can early college credits to continue their education.
According to Steve Harrell, the Escambia County School District’s curriculum coordinator for Workforce Education, employers are looking for job candidates that not only know how to create technical designs, but also have real experience implementing and constructing those designs.
“Employers are looking for the person with callouses on their hands,” said Harrell. “They want the person that knows how to design that also knows how to make it work.”
Training equipment was purchased for the Northview program with a $100,000 grant that allows students to get that experience.
“The students are excited and love the hands on; they are on the computers and the equipment from bell to bell,” said academy instructor Marty Lister.
And now, the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council is set to recommend training equipment for middle and high schools across the region, based upon the Northview academy, The council has about $1.5 million from the state, with a goal of creating an academy in at least one middle and high school in each county in the region that is comprised of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Jackson, Calhoun, Holmes, Washington, and Liberty counties.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Drive Continues
October 22, 2014
The Escambia County Extension office, Santa Rosa County Extension office along with the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Peanut Producer Association are collecting peanut butter now through mid-November to help take a bite out of hunger.
The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated to local food pantries during Farm-City Week.
Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off until November 21 at any of the following locations:
Escambia County
- Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
Santa Rosa County
- Jay Extension Office at 5259 Booker Lane, Jay
- Santa Rosa County Extension Office at 6263 Dogwood Drive, Milton
- South Santa Rosa Service Center, Master Gardener Help Desk at 5819 Gulf Breeze Parkway
- All Santa Rosa County Library locations
- Lowe’s Stores in Pace and Gulf Breeze
Peanut butter collected in Escambia County last year was donated to food pantries in Molino, Bratt and Century.
Pictured: The Godwins of Godwin Farms in Santa Rosa County, (L-R) Steven, Laryn, Valarie, Kylei, Rachael. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.