Gulf Power Gives Back To America’s Heroes
December 20, 2014
Gulf Power presented $63,400 to two local charities today in support of veterans in the Escambia County area. The money was raised from its second annual Clay Shoot for America’s Heroes held in November at the Santa Rosa Shooting Center in Pace. Two checks for $31,700 were presented to the two organizations at Gulf Power’s headquarters.
The clay shoot raised money for Building Homes for Heroes and Gulf Coast Veterans In Need — two charities that provide assistance to wounded military members and their families in Northwest Florida.
“Many disabled veterans have nothing in their life to call their own or to be proud of. This support enables veterans to begin anew and start living life the way it should be,” said Army Sgt. Joshua Hamilton, who will receive a home from Building Homes for Heroes on Dec. 27.
Building Homes for Heroes gives mortgage-free homes to wounded American service members. Locally, five homes have been given or pledged with plans for several more in Northwest Florida.
Gulf Coast Veterans In Need supports severely injured veterans in the Pensacola Bay Area. The group works with individual service members to coordinate benefits, community resources and family needs and determines the level and type of additional assistance.
Each charity will receive a check raised through Gulf Power’s Clay Shoot for America’s Heroes event.
“The Gulf Power fundraiser and the Building Homes for Heroes organization has meant the world to us,” said retired Army Spc. Anthony Stroup. “It has given us the opportunity to build a solid foundation for our family and make new lasting memories together. Our family has moved 14 times in eight years, so now our children will have the chance to grow up in the same house in the same school district, and will be able to make lifelong friendships. We have a chance as a married couple to secure our future and provide the lifestyle we never had growing up.”
Close to 80 volunteers from Gulf Power and the community hosted the clay shoot on Nov. 6 with 35 teams of sportsmen and women gunning for clays. Twenty-five sponsors showed their support to make the event possible and volunteers launched clays and scored endless rounds of shots from 130 participants.
“There was terrific response from the community and once again we have selected two great causes that provide much needed support to our military veterans,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power manager of Community Relations. “Our employees are proud to support groups that support our military friends and neighbors — and the key is that our partners in the community feel the same way.”
Pictured: Gulf Power presented donations for $31,700 each Friday to Gulf Coast Veterans in need (below) and Building Homes for Heroes (top). Pictured inset: Gulf Power CEO Stan Connally chats with Army Sgt. Josh Hamilton, one of two area veterans receiving a home through the Building Homes for Veterans charity. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With November Murder
December 19, 2014
An Escambia County man was charged Friday morning with a November murder.
Reginald Sherrod Williams, 24, was charged with homicide in the November 25 death of 22 year old Nicolas Baer on Galvin Road.
Baer was discovered deceased on the floor of a residence in the 1500 block shortly before 3:00 pm. Narcotics were also recovered from the residence according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the homicide, Williams was the suspect in a home invasion which occurred in the 400 block of Shiloh Drive on November 24. He was arrested on November 26 on multiple charges in that case.
Attemped Kidnapping At Elementary School Under Investigation
December 19, 2014
An attempted kidnapping is under investigation at an Escambia County elementary school.
About 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to Warrington Elementary school where a juvenile male victim said he was playing in the rear of the school when he was approached by a man who was smoking and armed with a knife.
The victim said the man grabbed him and carried him to a fence that runs behind the school. The victim told deputies that the suspect then let him go and fled the area.
The suspect was described as a light-skinned male with long straight hair down to his elbows and blue eyes. He had no visible scars or facial hair. At the time of the attempted kidnapping, the suspect was wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt, black jeans, white tennis shoes and a purple cowboy hat.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, there have been no further reports involving the man, but citizens should be alert.
Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is asked to call Crimestoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Talks Business Climate, Business Challenge
December 19, 2014
Big changes are in store for the business climate in Century as the town works to implement an economic development plan authored by the University of West Florida’s Haas Center.
Thursday afternoon, the Haas Center’s Brice Harris met in a workshop setting with the Century town council, recommending future actions the council should take toward their business goals.
A first step centers around the town’s “Habitat for Opportunity Building”, a former school on Pond Street. The complex was redeveloped into a possible business incubator several years ago, but has remained empty.
Harris recommended that the council start be changing the awkward “Habitat for Opportunity Building” name to something along the lines of the “Century Business Center”. Individual classrooms, each with a door to the outside, will be improved into office space.
One space, Harris suggested, could be rented to the winner of the upcoming Century Business Challenge for a reduced rate of $1 per year as part of the winner’s prize that will also include $25,000 in startup cash from Quint and Rishy Studer. Details on that contest will be forthcoming in January.
Another office space would be used by an Americorp volunteer working for the town and by the Haas Center, and another office could be shared by community non-profits providing regular services such as the United Way or Northwest Florida Legal Services.
“I think it’s the beginning of a new year 2015, and it’s great thing for Century,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said.
“We are ready, willing and able to cooperate,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The council and Harris also discussed a redesign and upgrades for the town’s website, which was described by McCall as “a poor website”. The website work would possibly be performed by an Americorps volunteer.
Century’s current website was developed by an area marketing firm in 2012 for $5,950, part of a $11,450 package that also included a five year comprehensive marketing strategy. Also at the workshop Thursday, the council and Harris discussed transportation improvements, and even new signage at the town’s limits.
Any action items discussed at Thursday’s workshop must be approved by the council during an upcoming regular meeting.
Pictured top: Century Economic Development Coordinator Allison Tyler listens as Brice Harris of the Haas Center addresses the Century Town Council Thursday afternoon. Pictured inset: Council member Gary Riley listens to the discussion. Pictured bottom: A portion of Century’s Habitat for Opportunity complex. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Rep. Clay Ingram Named President, CEO Of Pensacola Chamber
December 19, 2014
The Greater Pensacola Chamber board of directors voted Thursday to elected Clay Ingram as the chamber’s new president and CEO. . Ingram, who was unanimously voted by the Board to oversee all operational aspects of the Chamber, will begin his new role on January 5.
“Clay brings energy, leadership, a unique perspective and highly developed skillsets important to this role and our organization. We are thrilled to have him serve as the Chamber’s next president and CEO,” said Carol Carlan, chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber board of directors. “His understanding of small business development, finance and the importance of regional partnerships will be a tremendous asset that will allow us to continue serving the Northwest Florida business community.”
Ingram currently serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 1st District – which includes most of Escambia County – and previously, the state’s 2nd District from 2010 to 2012. He was recently named chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, where he is responsible for crafting a $12 billion budget for several agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Department of Military Affairs. Ingram also serves on the Florida Defense Support Task Force and the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.
“Over the course of this year, the Chamber has repositioned itself to create a better business climate in the Greater Pensacola Region,” said Ingram. “I am excited to lead a team that is dedicated to maintaining economic prosperity and a better quality of life for those that choose to live and do business in this community.”
Prior to being elected to the legislature, Ingram worked in sales, real estate and served as a teacher in the Escambia County School District, where he taught courses in the Exceptional Student Education Department at Tate High School.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the Chamber, and I couldn’t be more proud of what this organization has accomplished over the past year and a half,” said former Pensacola mayor and current chamber president and CEO Jerry Maygarden. “In addition to serving as the executive director for the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, I will continue to serve as an advisor to both Clay and the board for as long as I am needed.”
A Pensacola native, Ingram is a graduate of Tate High School and Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in general communication, with a minor in political science. An active member of the community, he is a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, the Cantonment Rotary Club, Century Chamber of Commerce and serves as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and the Florida State University Alumni Association. Clay and his wife Leslie have two daughters, Madilyn and Lydia.
Graduation Rates Increase In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
December 19, 2014
Statewide graduation rates increased to an 11-year high of 76.1 percent, an increase of 0.5 percent over last year and a rise of nearly 17 percentage points since 2003-04, according to data released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education. The graduation rate also improved in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s graduation rate was up to 66.1 percent, an increase of nearly two percentage points since last year and 8.4 percentage points since 2010-11. And Santa Rosa saw an increase in their graduation rate to 82.8 percent, a 3.9 percentage point improvement over last year and five percentage points since 2010-11,
The graduation rates at high schools in Escambia County are as follows:
- Escambia — 60%
- Pensacola — 62%
- Tate — 77%
- Pine Forest — 64%
- Washington — 72 %
- Northview — 70%
- West Florida — 95%
The graduation rates at high schools in Santa Rosa County are as follows:
- Central — 70%
- Gulf Breeze — 94%
- Jay — 91%
- Milton — 89%
- Pace — 91%
- Navarre — 96%
The graduation rate measures the percentage of students who graduate within four years of their first enrollment in ninth grade. The rate is calculated for an adjusted cohort of students – a group of students on the same schedule to graduate – taking into account those who enter or exit the group.
Florida’s graduation rate only considers standard diploma recipients as graduates in the calculation. Students who earn a special diploma, a GED-based diploma, a certificate of completion, or have been retained and are still in school after four years are counted as non-completers in the calculation.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Class of 2014 graduated last June at the Pensacola Civic Center. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names December Students Of The Month
December 19, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for December. They are (L-R) Amaya Stallworth, seventh grade; Kayley Lashley, sixth grade; and Kaylin Glenn, eighth grade. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino And Cantonment No Longer Considered For New Jail Location
December 19, 2014
The location of the new Escambia County Jail won’t be in North Escambia. Escambia County Commissioners decided Thursday morning during a Committee of the Whole meeting to remove all location options north of I-10 from their list.
Locations previously on a short list but no longer under consideration include Highway 29 between Barrineau Park Road and Duxbury Avenue in Molino, the Central Commerce Park in Cantonment, and near Highway 29 and Beck’s Lake Road, also in Cantonment.
Locations still under consideration included:
- Old Soccer Complex, Highway 29 and W Street. Formerly owned by the county, the site now belongs to Gulf Power
- Old Palafox and Airport Boulevard. The site fronts both roadways.
- McDonald’s Shopping Center site on West Fairfield Drive.
- Superfund site on Palafox — some 68 acres north of the Superfund site in the area of Beggs Lane and Spruce Street.
The Central Booking and Detention was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30, forcing the county to find temporary housing for about 600 inmates. Now, the county is vetting pieces of property as possible locations for a new detention facility. As part of that vetting process, the county is looking at the drainage and flooding potential, zoning and traffic patterns for each site.
One Injured In Cedartown Road Wreck
December 19, 2014
One person was reported to be injured in a single vehicle accident just before 7:00 Thursday night on Cedartown Road near Allen Circle. The injuries were not considered life threatening. Further information has not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Ticket A Winner In Fantasy 5 Drawing
December 19, 2014
Someone is over $54,000 richer this morning thanks to a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket from a Nine Mile Road store.
The free Quick Pick ticket from the Publix on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road, was one of four winning tickets sold for Thursday night’s drawing worth $54,467.31. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers was sold in Cape Coral, Dunnellon and Miami.
The 287 tickets matching four numbers won $122 each. Another 9,461 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and93,324 tickets holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Saturday’s winning numbers were 2-10-16-22-31.