Flood Survivor Cantonment Interviews Begin
September 3, 2014
Volunteer interviewers will meet with flood survivors beginning today in Cantonment to help individuals connect with resources and gain a clear picture of what it will take to recover.
BRACE and the Escambia County Long-Term Recovery Group have requested the services of a national disaster recovery group to determine who in the community will not be able to rebuild and recover without assistance.
A team of World Renew volunteers will conduct one-on-one interviews with flood survivors at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church at 200 Pace Parkway in Cantonment from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m on Friday, September 5; Monday, September 8; Wednesday, September 10; and Friday, September 12. An appointment is not necessary.
The process will help to prioritize individual and family needs and connect survivors with organizations offering long-term support. Several voluntary organizations have committed to sending volunteer reconstruction teams to the community to assist survivors in their recovery once the needs can be defined and prioritized. Those volunteer organizations will be assisting survivors with unmet disaster caused needs with reconstruction.
Interview questions are straightforward and should not require residents to supply any paperwork, although if flood survivors do have a FEMA number, they are asked to bring that with them to the center.
For more information contact the Escambia County Long-Term Recovery Group, at (850) 292-8024 or email brace@bereadyalliance.org.
Animal Shelter Cat Adoptions Resume
September 2, 2014
The Escambia County Animal Shelter has resumed cat adoptions. Adoption were suspended last Friday as a result of widespread upper respiratory infections in the shelter’s feline population.
Over the past several days, cats with upper respiratory infections have been treated and tested by the shelter’s medical staff.
Anyone looking to provide a forever home for a cat is encouraged to visit the Escambia County Animal Shelter during regular business hours, Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 6 p.m.
Also, anyone who has a lost an animal can visit the shelter to see if their cat or dog has been taken to the shelter.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Animal Shelter at (850) 595 – 3075.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Brownfields Program Turns Polluted Sites Into Economic Potential
September 2, 2014
The Florida Brownfields Program facilitates redevelopment and job creation by empowering communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and reuse sites that may have been previously impacted by pollutants. Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental pollution.
Established in 1997, the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program utilizes economic and regulatory incentives to encourage the use of private revenue to restore and redevelop sites, create new jobs and boost the local economy. Partners in the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program include local governments, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida, Inc.
In Escambia County, one of the largest Brownfields areas is the entire town limits of Century.
The former Alger-Sullivan Company lumber mill site on Front Street was first listed as an individual Brownfields site, and the designation was later expanded to the entire town.
From about 1900 until the late 1960’s, Alger Sullivan operated their lumber mill on the site. Various companies, including Wayne Dalton Corporation, manufactured wooded doors at the facility from about 1971 until 1992. As part of the manufacturing process, the wooden doors were dipped in pentachlorophenol wood preservative; the contamination of the property was associated with a release from the dipping tank.
Cleanup of groundwater and soils was conducted and a conditional closure was issued by DEP in 2009, indicating no further remediation of the property was necessary as long as the registered engineering and land use controls were maintained.
Other companies have expressed interest in the property after cleanup, but none have opened in the facility. A recent state report says a sale is under negotiation on the property, but the realtor that represents the property owner said the there are no offers pending on the property.
In late 2005, the Century Town Council took advantage of a state provision allowing them to expand the Brownfields designation to the entire town as an economic development tool. The designation provides bonuses for job creation, loan guarantees, sales tax credits and other incentives for qualified businesses to locate in the town.
“Florida’s Brownfields Program continues to facilitate the successful redevelopment of underutilized areas throughout the state,” said Jorge Caspary, director of the Division of Waste Management. “This program not only makes it possible to mitigate contaminated sites, but also creates jobs and stimulates the economy in the process.”
Since inception of the program, 75 contaminated sites have been cleaned up, more than 65,000 confirmed and projected direct and indirect jobs have been created and $2.5 billion in capital investment has been made in designated brownfield areas, according to data released recently by the state. To make the program’s incentives available to a community, a local government must designate a brownfields area by resolution. Local governments have designated 362 current brownfield areas statewide.
Century is also an Enterprise Zone, providing qualifying businesses with various tax credits and incentives.
Pictured top: The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Brownsfield site in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commissioners Revise Meeting Schedule
September 2, 2014
The Board of County Commissioners’ (BCC) Agenda Review regularly scheduled for Thursday, September 4, has been cancelled.
The revised schedule for Thursday, September 4, is:
- 9 a.m. – Public Forum
- 9:30 a.m. – Regular BCC Meeting
Additional Board meetings held in September are as follows:
Tuesday, September 9:
- 5:01 p.m. – First BCC Public Hearing on the Proposed 2014/2015 Fiscal Year Budget
- 5:02 p.m. – Meeting to adopt the special assessments for MSBUs
- 5:03 p.m. – Special BCC Meeting
Thursday, September 11
- 9 a.m. – Committee of the Whole
Tuesday, September 23
- 5:01 p.m. – Second BCC Public Hearing on the Proposed 2014/2015 Fiscal Year Budget
- 5:02 p.m. – Special BCC Meeting
Thursday, September 25
- 9 a.m. – Agenda Review
- 4:30 p.m. – Public Forum
- 5:30 p.m. – Regular BCC Meeting
All BCC meetings will take place in the Board Chambers, first floor, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola.
Ransom Responds, Tate’s Shackle Shivers With Ice Bucket Challenge
September 2, 2014
Ransom Middle School staff members recently responded to the ice bucket challenger for ALS, as did Tate High Principal Richard Shackle.
Shackle recently completed the ALS ice bucket challenge from Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Shackle challenged the Escambia County School District’s assistant principals and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Shackle also donate $100 to ALS. (Video below)
And the staff at Ransom Middle School stepped up to the challenge after Principal Brent Brummet was challenged by Thomas. About 50 Ransom staff members took part in the ALS challenge.
The ALS challenge has a couple of goals — raise money and raise awareness about ALS, a neurodegenerative nerve disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School staff members including Principal Brent Brummet (tan pants) and Assistant Principal Sandy Ames (long black pants) take the ALS ice bucket challenge. Pictured inset: Tate Principal Rick Shackle takes the challenge.
If you do not see the video below, it is because your work, school or home firewall is blocking external videos from Youtube.
Tate Grad Awarded Prestigious Southern Illinois University Scholarship
September 2, 2014
A Tate High School graduate has been named has been named a Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor’s Academic Scholar.
Elizabeth Blalock is the daughter of Robin and Timothy Blalock. A National Honor Society member, Blalock graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and was a 2014 selection for Tate High School’s Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, Rho Kappa honor society and her Tatel’s social studies student of the year and senior social sciences award recipient. She was a member of the student council, French club, and cross-country and tennis teams. She plans to major in psychology.
The Chancellor’s Academic Scholarship, SIU’s most prestigious award, is a significant achievement for the students as it covers tuition, fees and room and board for four years.
More than 560 students participated in the Chancellor’s and University Excellence Scholarship interview weekend, vying for the competitive scholarships. Each scholarship is based on information that includes the students’ ACT or SAT scores and the students’ academic credentials submitted at the time of admission along with personal interviews. The applicants also show leadership roles in their community and participate in numerous activities.
The award is renewable for four years, contingent upon the students maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Feeling Sleepy? FHP Cracking Down On Drowsy Driving
September 2, 2014
Do you fight to keep your eyes open and your head up when you are tired? All too often this scenario is real on Florida’s roadways. To help prevent crashes caused by driver fatigue and to bring awareness to the dangers of drowsy driving, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of Transportation are teaming up with lawmakers and safety advocates this week for Florida’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week September 1–7 in memory of Ronshay Dugan, who was killed by a drowsy driver in 2008.
“Alert drivers make for safer roads,” says DHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes. “To help get everyone home safely, the Department reminds motorists never to drive tired.”
FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad said, “The department recognizes that making our roads safer includes driver responsibility and encourages all motorists not to drive drowsy. Be alert every trip, every time you get behind
“Six years ago, the life of a little girl was tragically taken in a crash that easily could have been prevented,” said state Representative Alan Williams, who sponsored the legislation in 2010. “Drowsy driving can be eliminated by simply planning and making a conscious decision to pull over and rest when you’re tired. I applaud Ronshay’s family for keeping her memory alive and fighting to prevent other senseless deaths.”
Here are some tips to prevent drowsy driving from the Florida Highway Patrol
- Allow plenty of time to get to your final destination.
- Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep.
- Drink caffeine. Two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours.
- Get a good night’s sleep before you travel.
- Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.
- Take a nap—find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap, if you think you might fall asleep.
- Use the buddy system, switch drivers when needed.
Faulk Graduates From Basic Military Training
September 2, 2014
Air Force Airman Randy Faulk graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Faulk is the son of Volante Henderson of Augusta, Ga., and grandson of Junius McGee of Century.
Wahoos Win Season Finale
September 2, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (29-41, 60-80) took the season finale 4-3 over the Birmingham Barons (31-39, 60-80) at Regions Field on Monday afternoon. With the victory, the Blue Wahoos took the season series over the Barons winning eight of 15 games.
The Blue Wahoos got a spot start from RHP Drew Hayes in the season finale. RHP Michael Lorenzen was originally scheduled to pitch, but had reached his innings limit for the season. Hayes tossed 4.0 superb innings for the Wahoos and struck out four batters. He did allow one run on four hits.
The Barons got on the board in the fourth inning off a Rangel Ravelo RBI triple that scored Tim Anderson all the way from first base. The Wahoos kept the Barons lead to just one when Kyle Waldrop threw Ravelo out at home trying to score on a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Blue Wahoos countered in the top of the sixth when Seth Mejias-Brean scored Travis Mattair on an infield single to the left side. Mejias-Brean hustled down the line and just beat out the throw from Barons’ third baseman Chris Curley.
The Barons re-took the lead in the seventh on a single from Michael Earley off Wahoos’ reliever James Walczak, which scored Joey DeMichele from second base. Birmingham’s Nelvin Fuentes could not coax a shutdown inning as Mattair hit a two-out RBI single to score Brodie Greene, who had stolen second earlier in the inning. The Wahoos then loaded the bases on Fuentes and veteran Ray Chang came up with the big hit, scorching a base hit past the third baseman Curley. Mattair and Mejias-Brean both came home to score to give the Blue Wahoos a 4-2 lead.
RHP Shane Dyer earned his franchise leading 22nd save of the season for the Wahoos in the ninth. He did allow a run in the inning, but struck out Anderson to end the game. RHP James Walczak earned his sixth win of the season and Fuentes took the loss for the Barons. This is the first time in Blue Wahoos’ history that the team won on the season’s final day.
by Tommy Thrall
Celebrating 100 Years: Extension’s Role In The Community
September 1, 2014
For 100 years, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension program has been enhancing and sustaining the quality of life by making university research accessible to the public.
UF/IFAS Extension is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences. UF/IFAS has a reputation for excellence in teaching and research on the university campus, which is extended into every community in the state through county extension offices. The local branch of UF/IFAS is typically referred to as “extension,” with “extension agents” tasked with carrying out educational programs.
Since inception, the Escambia County extension agents have translated research from the UF campus into useful instruction for members of the community, taking a highly engaging approach to learning. For example, natural resource agents lead clientele in kayaking trips over seagrass beds to teach them about coastal ecology, while the agriculture agent hosts a biannual farm tour for elected officials. Horticulture agents teach physically and intellectually challenged youth to grow vegetables in a wheelchair accessible garden, while 4-H youth learn legislative procedure at mock sessions in the state capital.
Customer service surveys performed in 2012 indicated 96% of residents who used Escambia County Extension were satisfied with their experience, and 90% of walk-in clientele said the information they received answered their questions or solved their problem.
Annually, Escambia County Extension agents train over 700 volunteers to further the reach of our educational efforts, with a total contribution (in 2012) of 54,035 hours valued at $983,437. Individuals in classes and workshops return to Extension time after time, due to the agents’ ability to utilize relationships with UF and local community members to provide targeted, science-based information through creative teaching methods.
ll of these efforts promote the advancement of agriculture, natural resources and sustainable economic development in Escambia County. Program area advisory committees, comprised of local citizens, assure that programs meet community needs.
Pictured top: Escambia County Extension Agent Carrie Stevenson and 4-H caretaker Ellis Miller blow out the candles on a 100th birthday cake for Escambia Extension. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.