Fire Damages Flomaton Mobile Home
January 23, 2014
Fire damaged a mobile home in Flomaton Wednesday afternoon, but the owner says it’s salvageable and he will rebuild.
The fire was reported about 1:40 p.m. in the 2300 block of Cary Street in Flomaton, just north of the Alabama/Florida line. Smoke was showing from the attic upon arrival, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton.
Firefighters from Flomaton, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Lambeth Volunteer Fire Department were able to quickly bring the fire under control and save the home.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge Rules Teen Incompetent To Stand Trial For Mom’s Murder On Christmas Eve
January 22, 2014
Circuit Judge John Simon ruled this afternoon that William Brandon Aydelott is not competent to stand trial for the first degree premeditated murder of his mother, Sharon Lynn Aydelott, on Christmas Eve.
The judge ordered Aydelott to spend six months in the Florida State Hospital for treatment at which time he will be reevaluated.
Aydelott beat and stabbed his mother to death in her Gulf Breeze home on Christmas Eve, according to prosecutors. He is scheduled to be arraigned on January 23. Investigators said William Aydelott had been arguing with his mother for some period of time before stabbing her several times with kitchen knives and striking her with a baseball bat.
William Aydelott fled the scene and was located by deputies about three hours later at a nearby residence. Deputies surrounded the home, and he surrendered without incident.
Bratt Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
January 22, 2014
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
All A’s
- Raegan Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Erich Amerson
- Luke Amerson
- Sarah Bailey
- John Bashore
- Olivia Boatwright
- Lakyn Bodiford
- Luke Bridges
- Conner Byrne
- Emilee Cabral
- Kadence Calvert
- Jakyra Carter
- Abby Coker
- Shelby Cotita
- Sophie Cotita
- Colton Criswell
- Callie Davis
- Kylie Davis
- Savannah Doremus
- Jacee Dortch
- Noah Faulkner
- Aaliyah Fountain
- Makayla Garrett
- David Gilley
- Amber Gilman
- Jamison Gilman
- Emma Gilmore
- Maggie Godwin
- Ava Guganus
- Zane Gurganus
- Tucker Hall
- Leah Hetrick
- Sarah Hetrick
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Hannah Hughes
- April Johnson
- Laura Laborde
- Aden Lashley
- Kaitlin Lloyd
- Sara Kennedy Long
- Kaya Mason
- Leila Mason
- Elianna Morales
- Alyssa Moya
- Mary Paige Nassar
- Taviana Parker
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Madison Peterson
- Colby Pugh
- Kenna Redmond
- Ally Richardson
- Bryan Romeros
- Maggie Scott
- Madelin Sheedy
- McKenna Simmons
- Zakyla Smith
- Mia Starns
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Autumn Williams
- Clay Wilson
All A’s and B’s
- Rabekah Abbott
- Maggie Amerson
- Ethan Bingham
- Riley Blackwell
- Kyle Blanton
- DeMorris Bowens
- Destiney Bradley
- Jaden Brown
- Gracie Buckhault
- Abbie Buford
- Gabby Burklund
- Jaquorious Burt
- Paris Burt
- Anyis Cabral
- Ashlynn Cabral
- Kayla Campbell
- Landon Chavers
- Tyler Ray Cloud
- Noah Condrey
- Cassandra Davis
- Da’shawn Davis
- Donavon Davis
- Franki Daw
- Payton Daw
- Carsyn Dortch
- Ryan Dove
- Tyteanna Dubose
- Mayson Edwards
- Gage Eicher
- Scotty Elliot
- Ja’Kayla Evans
- Jamyla Feagin
- Jacob Findley
- Zykuria Fountain
- Rachel Franklin
- Caitlyn Gibson
- JP Gilman
- Gracie Godwin
- Shelby Godwin
- Berklee Hall
- Bryce Hall
- Abbie Hardy
- Kara Hawkins
- Joshlynn Helton
- Martina Howard
- Cole Huges
- Gracie James
- Hunter Johnson
- Markavia Johnson
- Allyson Jones
- Leo Kelson
- Crista Kinley
- Derek Kinley
- Justin Kinley
- Trent Knighten
- Gage Lambert
- Taylor Lashley
- Houston Lowry
- Kaleigh Mack
- Kayla McCall
- Reid McCall
- Braeden McGhee
- Megan Mcghee
- Michael McGhee
- Bailie Merchant
- Michael Merchant
- Adannaya Mondaca
- Kai Morton
- Lexi Moya
- Abigail Nelson
- Travis Nelson
- Jaylon North
- Blaize Parrish
- Libby Pugh
- Dallon Rackard
- Shelby Rice
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Angel Schoonover
- Makayla Sells
- Vivyan Smith
- Jacob Spence
- Devon Spencer
- Eli Stephens
- Emily Stillwell
- Jon Stilwell
- Jaimee Taylor
- Cody Thomas
- Ja’Mya Thomas
- Brayden Victor
- Halona Walker
- Shelby Ward
- Summer Waters
- Raycer Watson
- Chris Weber
- Zyonne Wesley
- Addie White
- Jordan Wilson
- Lane Wilson
- Connor Wolfe
- Leonte Wright
Century Residents Offer Ideas For Local Economic Development
January 22, 2014
About 20 Century residents turned out Tuesday night to discuss the good — and the bad — about their town as part of a process to create a future economic development plan.
“We have everything to go forward,” said Robert Mitchell, a Century resident for 59 years. “We always come up short. We always end up with nothing.”
When Century updated its Comprehensive Plan in March 2012, the need for an economic development strategy was identified as one of the critical issues facing the Town.
Last July, Century was awarded a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The grant provided the Town the opportunity to contract with the University of West Florida’s Haas Center to develop the plan. The public input from Tuesday night will be used in the plan’s development.
“We can’t seem to land anything; they always pack up and leave,” Mitchell added, pointing out Century had lost it schools and there had been (false) rumors of the post office closing. “We can’t stop, we can just plead for everybody to give us a chance here in Century. We always get cut short; the support is not there. We can’t up with the right support to land something in Century.”
“We need to have something here in Century where we can be proud; we deserve the very best,” stated Sandra McMurray-Jackson, town council member.
Jobs in almost any industry sector should be a top priority, said resident James McMurray. And Century needs a motel for a prospective businessperson to stay, according to Rozetta Hamilton.
The public input, along with input gathered last week from business owners and input to be gathered next week from economic development agencies, will be invaluable in preparing a future economic direction and plan for Century, according to Cindy Anderson, recently hired to manage economic development for the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. She said it will be the tool she needs — all the facts and figures – to help market Century.
The group also learned the choosing Century is not always about facts and figures, with several discussion panel member saying they had returned to the town after retirement — some to be closer to relatives, some to open a business and some to care for an aging loved one. And for Robert Lasher, the choice to move to Century was a bit more divine.
The financial consultant and his wife were looking to move somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a change of lifestyle. “We were just generally looking for hte country; God put us in Century,’” said.
Picture top: Robert Mitchell (left) speaks as Century council member Gary Riley (right) listens during an economic development planning meeting Tuesday night. Pictured inset: Resident James McMurray. Pictured below: Lomonica Shoemo and Dorothy Newton listen during the meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Medical Marijuana Signatures Top 540K Of 683K Needed
January 22, 2014
With a surge of petitions before a February 1 deadline, backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana had submitted 542,211 valid signatures to the state as of mid-day Tuesday, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.
People United for Medical Marijuana must reach 683,149 valid signatures by Feb. 1 to get the proposal on the November ballot.
The group also still needs Florida Supreme Court approval of the proposed ballot wording, which has drawn opposition from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Republican legislative leaders. Gov. Rick Scott also maintained his opposition Tuesday to legalization.
“I’ve said all along I’m against illegal drug use,” Scott told reporters after an appearance in Tallahassee. “I’ve watched how it impacts families. The attorney general gave her best advice to the Supreme Court.”
State Says Schools Will Now Follow ‘Florida Standards’
January 22, 2014
State education officials are pushing forward with a plan to rebrand the standards for what students are expected to learn in Florida schools, hoping to tamp down an uproar among conservative activists who view the current standards as part of a federal takeover of local schools.
Almost 100 changes to the “Common Core State Standards” will be considered by the State Board of Education in February, said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, who outlined some of the changes to board members during a meeting Tuesday.
“At that time, I think that it is completely appropriate for us to call our standards the ‘Florida Standards,’ ” Stewart said.
Supporters of the guidelines have taken to using the term “Florida Standards” in recent months as some conservatives have continued to decry Common Core. Those benchmarks were crafted by a coalition of officials from about four-dozen states, but have come to be seen by grassroots conservative groups as an example of federal overreach.
Earlier this month, a gathering of the Republican Party of Florida’s state committeemen and committeewomen voted to oppose Common Core, though the resolution is not binding on the GOP and is not expected to be taken up by the party’s executive board.
Stewart said the changes — which include 60 new standards, 37 clarifications and two deletions — and the inclusion of standards beyond the reach of Common Core, which only covers English and math courses, justifies the new name.
“I think when we strengthen our standards, make these standards our own, provide clarification of 37 standards — that clearly is saying that Florida is out on our own, making stronger standards and doing so in a very autonomous way,” she said.
About 52 of the new standards would restore calculus to the state guidelines, though some calculus courses would have been offered regardless. Stewart said the deletions were to get rid of redundant material.
“It’s picked up somewhere else, we don’t really need it and there’s no reason to have repetition,” she said.
John Padget, who said he was not aware when the board approved the math standards that they didn’t include calculus, said he was “overjoyed” at the change.
“I think I’m able to say that Florida Standards, with respect to math, are higher than the so-called Common Core,” he told Stewart.
But it’s not at all clear that the effort to rename the standards will calm groups opposing the benchmarks. A message posted Tuesday on the Facebook page “Floridians Against Common Core Education” slammed Stewart’s changes to “the Communist Core.”
“They really believe we are stupid,” the post says. “This re-branding is meant to make us feel they are doing something for our children.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Two Escambia Businesses Honored As Innovators By Governor
January 22, 2014
Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the winners of the 2013 Governor’s Innovators in Business Awards during Florida Business Innovators Week. The awards recognize Florida companies in select industries that have influenced the state’s economic growth and diversification over the last year.
“Businesses are able to thrive because we have created an economic climate in Florida that supports job creation. I want to congratulate all of the companies being recognized today for their hard work in creating jobs and helping to create an opportunity economy in Florida that supports jobs for generations to come. Florida families are able to live the American Dream with the help of the successful, innovative companies that call Florida home, and I am proud to recognize some of those companies today,” Scott said.
Winners from Escambia County were:
The Governor’s Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Award, for Florida companies that best exemplify innovation developed through product or process in the last three years, was presented to the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. As part of Florida’s tourism market, in particular the cultural heritage sector, Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum has grown from a volunteer organization to a booming business in a few short years. Through fiscally sound planning, the business experienced continued growth resulting in an increase in visitation from just 8,000 visitors in 2009 to more than 150,000 in 2013.
The Governor’s Business Expansion Award, for Florida companies that expanded their operations in 2012, investing capital and creating jobs, was awarded to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal’s largest regional operations center resides in Pensacola and they plan to continue their expansion and migration of personnel from Virginia to Florida. They recently announced a project that will add more than 1,500 jobs in Florida’s Northwest Region over the next five years.
Pictured: The Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DEO To Pay Claims Held Up By New Florida Jobless Website
January 22, 2014
The federal government will allow the state to pay unemployment claims in cases that have been in dispute for more than a week, as officials look to ease a backlog created by Florida’s new but trouble-plagued $63 million unemployment assistance website.
However, those who receive payments while their cases remain in dispute could have to repay the money if they are later found to have been ineligible.
Also, as part of the agreement to distribute funds, employers who pay unemployment-assistance taxes won’t be held responsible for what could result in overpayments to people.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor are in Tallahassee at the request of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., to review the state Department of Economic Opportunity’s new Connect website.
On Saturday, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced the state agency has been given federal approval to temporarily issue benefit payments to people whose continuing claims have been held up for “adjudication” for more than seven days.
“This step should serve as a great relief for claimants who have faced hardships due to technical problems with the system,” Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said in a prepared statement. “Some claimants have suffered and DEO and USDOL are committed to helping them through all legal and available means.”
Minnesota-based Deloitte Consulting, which has a contract to set up the website, will oversee the payments, the state agency said in a news release.
Last Wednesday, Panuccio — during an appearance before the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee — placed the majority of the system’s troubles at the hands of Deloitte.
The state has been imposing fines of $15,000 per business day against Deloitte since Dec. 23 and has withheld a $3 million payment to the company for failing to deliver a “fully functioning” system.
Deloitte — which has faced questions over the rollout of multimillion-dollar websites in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and California — has said the company completed the work outlined in its Department of Economic Opportunity contract and that the Connect system “has surpassed the performance of the unsustainable systems it replaced.”
Connect has been in the works since 2009 to replace a 30-year-old system jobless Floridians used to claim their weekly benefits, monitor accounts and request information. The department provides up to $275 weekly to more than 200,000 Floridians.
Panuccio estimated last Wednesday that up to 60,000 cases have been flagged for review, up from about 48,000 when Connect went live on Oct. 15.
The claims in question are those of individuals who have previously been approved for unemployment checks, but were flagged by the online system for adjudication after further claims for relief were submitted.
To remain eligible, claimants must show every two weeks they are actively seeking work and how they have been unable to find new employment.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Officials Say No Outside Burning After Firefighters Battle Multiple Wildfires
January 22, 2014
The Escambia County Public Safety Department is asking residents to refrain from starting any kind of outdoor fire until our dry, windy conditions improve.
The National Weather Service has also issued a “Red Flag Warning” (no burning allowed); the winds speeds and relative humidity are at such a level that they have led to a number of brush fires in Escambia County in the past two days.
- The first major wildfire Tuesday was reported about 11:05 a.m. off Williams Ditch Road. Two acres burned initially, and by 11:36 a.m. the fire was considered under control. Firefighters returned later in the afternoon as the fire flared up again. The Florida Forest Service used bulldozers to cut two fire lines to fully contain the threat. Crews remained on the scene until late afternoon.
- At 12:32 p.m., firefighters were called to East Chipper Road. Three acres were originally estimated to be on fire. High wind quickly pushed the fire east toward some homes, but no evacuations were ordered. Two fire engines, four brush trucks and the Florida Forest Service battled the blaze.
- At 1:20 p.m. an out of control trash fire was reported at 6550 North Palafox Street. Firefighters quickly contained this fire as it spread toward a tree line.
- At 2:22 p.m., firefighters responded to an half acre spreading brush fire in the 600 block of Community Drive. Firefighters were able to get control of the fire.
- At 11:20 a.m. Monday, a wildfire was reported on Garrett Road just off Pine Forest Road in the Walnut Hill area. The fire burned about 10 acres and threatened an abandoned home.
- At 12:10 p.m. Monday, a second wildfire was reported about 12:10 p.m. on Goodale Lane off Highway 97A in Enon. That fire burned about two acres.
Pictured top: A wildfire burns deep in a wooded area behind the Cottage Hill Baptist Church on Williams Ditch Road Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: A wildfire near East Chipper Road Tuesday. Pictured below: About 10 acres burned Monday on Garrett Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Additional Opportunity Available For Agricultural Assistance In Florida
January 22, 2014
The 2008 Farm Bill was recently granted a short extension by Congress. This extension allows the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida to give farmers and ranchers an additional opportunity to improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits.
“We are very happy to be able to offer an additional signup period for Florida agriculture producers,” said NRCS State Conservationist Russell Morgan. “This is going to give more producers time to submit their applications and help them get started implementing the practices they need to benefit the natural resources on their operations.”
Interested producers should visit their local NRCS service center now to receive more information on the:
- Organic Initiative–helps producers install conservation practices on USDA certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification.
- Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative–helps producers install high tunnels designed to extend the growing season, increase productivity, keep plants at a steady temperature, and conserve water and energy.
- On-farm Energy Initiative–helps producers conserve energy on their operations.
- Longleaf Pine Initiative–helps private landowners improve the sustainability and profitability of Longleaf pine forest ecosystems.
- Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative–provides technical and financial assistance for landowners who voluntarily choose to implement conservation practices that benefit the habitat of the target species–the gopher tortoise in Florida–while continuing to manage the habitat as working lands.
- Gulf of Mexico Initiative–helps producers located in the Escambia River and Middle Suwannee River Area watersheds to focus on reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, improving water quality, and wildlife habitat on cropland, pastureland and forestland. Producers located in these watersheds can sign up for assistance under this initiative by contacting their local NRCS office.
After talking to your local NRCS staff, producers may apply for conservation technical assistance and possible financial assistance under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). Applications must be filed no later than February 21, 2014, to be eligible for this year’s funding.
Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, the February 21st date has been set to make FY 2014 funding decisions for these special initiatives. As with all NRCS programs, producers may continue to apply throughout the year and will be considered for future funding, if available.
For more information, contact:
- Escambia County District Conservationist Josh McElhaney at (850) 587-5404, x3, 151 Highway 97, Molino, FL, 32577.
- Santa Rosa County District Conservationist Trent Mathews at (850) 623-3229, x3, 6285 Dogwood Drive, Milton, FL, 32570-3544.
Or visitt www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov or at your local USDA – NRCS office. To find the nearest office go to: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.