FEMA Flood Assistance Deadline Fast Approaching
July 16, 2014
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance following local flooding is fast approaching.
Residents affected by the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Jackson and Walton counties have until next Monday, July 21, to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Seeking Federal Housing Rehabilitation Grant
July 16, 2014
The Town of Century is seeking a federal grant for housing repair.
The town intends to submit a Housing Preservation Grant application to the USDA’s Rural Development Housing Services requesting $90,000 to provide basic housing repairs.
If grant funds are award, it is anticipated that funds will be available in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 per home, providing enough funds to rehabilitate about 15 homes within the town limits.
It is too early for residents to apply for housing assistance. If the town is awarded the grant, it will then advertise an open application period during which Century homeowners may request assistance through the program. That information will be published on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured top: One of the homes in Century rehabilitated through a different grant program back in 2012. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New Walmart Neighborhood Market Opens In Pensacola; Atmore Walmart Open Soon
July 16, 2014
A new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in Pensacola Wednesday, and a new Walmart in Atmore is still on track to open early next month.
The new Walmart Neighborhood Market is located at the corner of Pine Forest Road and Mobile Highway and will be open from 6 a.m. until midnight every day. Walmart Neighborhood Market stores are smaller than a traditional Walmart store and offer products mostly in line with the average grocery store. The store will employee about 95 people.
August 6 is the grand opening date for the new Walmart in Atmore. The 70,000 square foot store at 911 North Main Street will include a full line of groceries and a wide assortment of merchandise….almost everything in a Walmart Supercenter except for an auto care center or fine jewelry department. The smaller prototype store will be open 24 hours a day. The store will employee nearly 150 people.
Pictured top: The new Atmore Walmart. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Abrupt DJJ Resignation Could Alter Dispute With Escambia, Santa Rosa, 23 Other Counties
July 16, 2014
A key player in the dispute between the state and counties over juvenile-detention costs abruptly resigned last week, leaving counties to wonder how his departure will affect the high-stakes negotiations. Escambia and Santa Rosa are among 25 counties involved in the dispute.
Jason Welty, who worked as chief of staff at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, turned in his resignation last Wednesday. The move came two days after he told The News Service of Florida that Gov. Rick Scott believes counties should pay to detain a certain category of offender.
“It’s going to take the Legislature to resolve whether or not the counties pay for new law violations or not,” Welty said in a July 7 interview that was published on NorthEscambia.com. “We believe that they should be. The governor believes that they should be. And we believe that the Legislature believes that they should be. But (the counties) obviously don’t.”
After the story was published, however, the governor’s office took issue with Welty’s statement. Frank Collins, Scott’s communications director, said in an email that the statement did not reflect the governor’s position on the issue.
Welty, who had 10 years of state government experience, did not explain his reasons for leaving in a resignation letter submitted to department Interim Secretary Christy Daly. He also could not be reached for comment by the News Service.
“We appreciate Jason’s service to the agency,” department communications director Heather DiGiacomo wrote in an email. “Fred Schuknecht is currently serving as interim chief of staff.”
Welty’s resignation came amid a renewed legal fight between the department and counties about how to split up juvenile-detention costs.
The dispute centers on a 2004 law that requires counties to pay to detain juveniles who are waiting for their cases to be resolved in court. The state pays for “post-disposition” costs — that is, after the cases have been decided. But the two sides are far apart on which costs are “pre-disposition” and which are “post-disposition.” As an example, one of the issues involves who should pay for detaining youths whose cases have already been resolved and then, while on probation, commit new offenses that violate terms of their probation — circumstances that are the “new law violations” cited last week by Welty.
In June 2013, the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that the Department of Juvenile Justice had shifted more responsibility for the costs to the counties than the law required: 75 percent for the counties, 25 percent for the department.
The dispute then moved to the 2014 Legislature, where a bill that would have mandated a 50-50 split died on the last day of the session. All parties had accepted the equal division of costs going forward, but the counties also held out for $140 million they said they had overpaid the state, which the Senate refused.
With the failure of the bill, the state decided to use a formula by which the counties will pay 57 percent of juvenile-detention costs, while the state pays 43 percent. The department then held a rule hearing with the counties on June 6, but it ended in impasse and sent the counties back to the Division of Administrative hearings, where counties have won two earlier legal battles on the issue.
In the aftermath of Welty’s resignation, some people questioned how his departure will affect the cost-sharing dispute.
Florida Association of Counties spokeswoman Cragin Mosteller said in an email that the group “appreciated Mr. Welty’s open lines of communication and hope to have the same going forward. FAC hopes to work with the governor and the department to find a solution to DJJ’s unfair and incorrect billing so that we can put our full attention to the children who so desperately need our help.”
Roy Miller, president of the Children’s Campaign, an advocacy group, called Welty “a thoughtful worker on behalf of children needing a better direction in life.”
“Welty is known by stakeholders for being trusted for what he says and does,” Miller said. “The fight between the state and counties over detention costs has led to very bad outcomes for children, and it’s long past time to bring an end to it. Welty did his best to listen to all sides and report it accurately and without bias.”
In an email, department spokeswoman DiGiacomo wrote, “The agency has had a collaborative relationship with the counties and we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication.”
While Scott’s office took issue with Welty’s comments last week, it has not publicly spelled out a detailed position for resolving the dispute with the counties.
“The 21 cost-shared juvenile centers across Florida work to ensure that Florida’s children and families are kept safe until legal proceedings can take place.” Scott spokesman John Tupps said in an email. “After a careful review of the district court ruling this past year, the Department of Juvenile Justice worked to develop an adjusted county cost share. The Legislature adopted the DJJ’s recommendation which results in a reduction in costs to the counties. We’re open to working with the counties to find a path forward that will benefit Florida’s children and families.”
Local Boys, Girls State Attendees Honored
July 16, 2014
A reception was held Tuesday night at the American Legion Post 90 in Atmore to honor local students that attended Alabama Boys State and Alabama Girls State last month.
Recognized were: Austin Cunningham and Tristan Portwood from Northview High School; Scott Brantley and Nate Smith from Escambia Academy; Brooke Bell and Jacob Esser from Flomaton High School; and Christin Simpkins, Ben Hubert and Rodrick Felder from Escambia County High School.
Local students attending the Boys and Girls State program each year are sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Coast Storm 12U Takes Second In Gulf Coast Nationals
July 16, 2014
The Gulf Coast Storm 12U travel baseball team placed second in the 11-team Nations Gulf Coast Elite National Championships this past weekend at the NEP ballpark.
After losing their first bracket game in the double elimination tournament, the Gulf Coast Storm battled back to win five straight. The Storm won the first championship game, forcing a second winner-take-all game.
The Gulf Coast Storm will play their last tournament of the year this weekend in Biloxi. Gulf Coast Storm team members are from the Pace, Pensacola and Cantonment areas.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Trevor Norton, Adam Nisewonger, Grant Gill, Cody Gavin, John Pinette, Hunter Smith, (back, L-R) Parker Tubb, Cole Fryman, Cameron Bailey, T.J. McCants, Timmy Williams, Sam Shackle and Chase Tolbert. Not pictured are Head Coach Matt Faust and Assistant Coach Mike Norton. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Indirectly Struck By Lightning In Nokomis
July 15, 2014
A 20-year old woman was indirectly struck by lightning Tuesday afternoon in Nokomis, FL.
The woman was outside a home in the 6100 block of North Pineville Road, just north of Nokomis Road, when lightning struck a nearby fence or other object about 3 p.m.
The woman was barefoot at the time and suffered a shock from the lightning strike. She was reportedly complaining of a loss of sensation in her legs. She was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered serious.
Atmore Ambulance and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Deputies Seek Suspect In Walgreens Armed Robbery
July 15, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a white male that robbed a Walgreens store at gunpoint this morning on Mobile Highway.
The man entered the store about 8:20 a.m., pulled a weapon and robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of narcotics. He fled in an older model white SUV.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
FDOT: Highway 97 Collapse Repair Costs Over $100K; Work Continues This Week
July 15, 2014
The price tag is in for repairs underway to a collapsed road shoulder on Highway 97.
The total contract for repairs was issued to Scott Bridge, Inc., for $102,577, according to Tanya Branton, public information specials for the Florida Department of Transportation.
Repairs are expected to be complete by the end of this week or the very beginning of next week. Sometime in the next few days, traffic on Highway 97 will be restricted to one lane through the work area, which is near the South Highway 99 intersection – about one mile south of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Back on May 15, the shoulder of Highway 97 collapsed in an existing 50-foot deep gully after a drainage pipe separated and undermined the shoulder. About a month later, the situation worsened, with part of the paved shoulder falling into the hole, prompting temporary repairs by the Florida Department of Transportation. Crews used sandbags to shore up the shoulder on temporary basis back on June 13.
Since the damage occurred after the flooding event that led to a presidential disaster declaration for Escambia County, repair costs for Highway 97 will not be reimbursed by FEMA.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Admin Office Closed Until July 21
July 15, 2014
The administrative building and offices at Ernest Ward Middle School will be closed for about a week. The administrative building at Ernest Ward Middle school closed Tuesday afternoon. The building will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 21. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.