Time To Renew Business Tax Receipts
September 23, 2013
It is time for business owners in Escambia County to renew their business tax receipts. Tax Collector Janet Holley mailed out 21,547 renewal notices on August 1, with the renewal cycle ending on September 30. Beginning October 1, delinquent penalties will be assessed.
Business tax receipts can be renewed online, by mail, by phone (a convenience fee may apply), or in person at any one of four tax collector offices.
Applications and information for business tax receipts are available at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the tax collector’s website or call (850) 438‑6500, ext. 3252.
Tax collector offices are open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. as follows:
- Downtown, 213 Palafox Place
- Molino, 6440 Highway 95A North, Suite A
- Marcus Pointe, 6451 North W. Street
- Warrington, 507 North Navy Boulevard.
Free Family Movie Night To Feature ‘Despicable Me’
September 23, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Baseball Park and NorthEscambia.com are teaming up to bring you a free Family Movie Night. Mark your calendars now…on Saturday, October 19 at 7 p.m., we’ll bring you “Despicable Me” on the big screen.
Bring your blankets or chairs. No outside coolers; concessions will be available. This is a family event; no alcohol or inappropriate behavior will be tolerated.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted toward the cost of the event for NWE’s 2014 baseball season.
Bradberry Park is located on Highway 99A in Walnut Hill, directly behind Ernest Ward Middle School.
Lawmaker Proposes Ban On Vehicle Tracking
September 23, 2013
Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, wants to make it illegal to put tracking devices on vehicles without the owners’ consent. Brandes filed a bill last last week that would expand the definition of stalking in Florida law to include the prohibition against installing devices that can record, store and transmit the locations of vehicles.
Violating the prohibition would result in a second degree misdemeanor.
The proposal would also require law enforcement to get search warrants to place tracking devices on people’s vehicles.
Four Injured In Van, Semi Trailer Crash
September 22, 2013
Four people were reported to be injured in a Saturday afternoon traffic crash on County Road 97 at Kingsfield Road.
All four were in a Chevrolet van involved in a collision with a semi trailer; some of the injured were juveniles. Their injuries were not believed to be life threatening. Further details, including the names of those involved, have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Cantonment, Beulah, Bellview and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
FDLE Pitches ‘Dream Defender’ Rule To Control After-Hours Capitol Access
September 22, 2013
State police plan to limit after-hours access to the Capitol in an effort to avoid a repeat of the month-long occupation of Gov. Rick Scott’s office over the summer by protesters pushing for changes to Florida’s self-defense laws.
Under the proposal by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, members of the public would be expected to leave the Capitol building by 5 p.m. each weekday or within 30 minutes of the end of public meetings. Capitol police could arrest anyone for trespassing who didn’t leave when they were told.
No one could stay overnight or prepare food in publicly accessible parts of the Capitol. There would also be additional restrictions on those who have cards allowing them to access the building and how many people could accompany them.
“The suggested changes are directed at enabling Capitol Police to better secure the Capitol building complex property, safeguard those who work and visit within the Capitol and ensure security services are provided in the most efficient manner,” according to a document outlining the changes.
FDLE released a summary of the proposal to the Tallahassee Democrat after the paper sent in an open-records request. The News Service of Florida requested the document after the Democrat reported on it.
The agency says the full plan is shielded under the state’s open-records law, but it released the outline “in the spirit of honoring the request.” The proposal would still have to be approved by Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. The state fire marshal is also supposed to be consulted.
“At this juncture we have just begun submitting areas of recommended changes to these parties which will be subject to discussions and modifications prior to final decisions being reached in the near future,” the FDLE outline says.
Neither Weatherford nor Gaetz has seen the plan yet, according to their offices. A spokeswoman for Scott referred questions to FDLE.
The plan comes after a group known as the Dream Defenders staged a 31-day sit-in at the Capitol following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The Dream Defenders demanded changes to state laws on self defense, school discipline and racial profiling.
Rep. Alan Williams, a Tallahassee Democrat who worked with the group, said he understood the need to secure the Capitol but didn’t think a “Dream Defender rule” was necessary. Williams said it was also important to make sure Floridians could be heard by state officials.
“I would hope that we ensure that our citizens of the state of Florida continue to have that opportunity before this rule is implemented,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Manna Food Pantries Celebrates 30th Birthday In A Big Way
September 22, 2013
Manna Food Pantries held their 30th Birthday Bash on Saturday.
The event raised over $33,000 for Manna, enough money to feed 6,400 more members of the local community from just a one-day event. The Birthday Bash included a barbecue, gourmet cake contest and two auctions.
Winners in the Gourmet Birthday Cake Contest were: first place Angel Cakes, second place Betty Weber, third place Cupcake Emporium, and the People’s Choice winner was Angel Cakes.
Pictured: Manna Food Pantries 30th Birthday Bash was held on Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Investigators Seek Persons Of Interest In Vehicle Burglaries
September 22, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to identify two persons of interest in multiple vehicle burglaries throughout the county. Anyone with information about the persons pictured is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Cantonment MinuteClinic Now Affiliated With Baptist
September 22, 2013
The Cantonment MinuteClinic, located inside the CVS at Highway 29 and East Kingsfield Road, is among four in the area that have entered into a clinical affiliation with Baptist Health Care.
Under the agreement, Baptist Health Care physicians will serve as medical directors for four MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics that are open seven days a week inside CVS stores in Cantonment, Crestview, Gulf Breeze and Niceville and any future locations in the region. In addition, MinuteClinic and Baptist will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.
MinuteClinic medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for acute illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.
Looking Ahead: Next Friday’s Football Schedule
September 22, 2013
Here’s a look at the Friday night football schedule for this Friday night, September 27:
FLORIDA
- Choctawhatchee at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Pine Forest at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
- Jay at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- West Florida at Alma Bryant (Ala.), 7 p.m.
- Pace at Madison County, 6:30 p.m.
- *Bay at Gulf Breeze, 7 p.m.
- PHS at New Orleans Jesuit, 7 p.m.
- *Rutherford at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
- Navarre at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
- OPEN: Escambia, Washington
ALABAMA
- Jay at Flomaton
- Clarke County at T.R. Miller
- W.S. Neal at Hillcreast
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Faith Academy
- Morgan at Escambia Academy
One Seriously Injured When Semi Hits Peanut Combine
September 21, 2013
A Jay man was seriously injured when his tractor and peanut combine were hit by a semi truck and trailer Friday night.
Michael D. Hunter, 46, was on a 1967 John Deere tractor pulling a peanut combine traveling north on Highway 87 near Edna Lane. An approaching semi truck and trailer, driven by 70-year old Aloma B. Carlile of Pensacola, struck the combine about 8:35 p.m. and forced it into the rear of the tractor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The impact caused Hunter to be ejected from the tractor and onto the roadway.
The tractor broke loose from the peanut combine and and the tractor traveled on its own power on the east shoulder of the road for three-quarters of mile before coming to stop in a nearby field.
Hunter was transported to Santa Rosa Medical Center with serious injures; Carlile received minor injuries and was also transported to SRMC.
The circumstances surrounding the accident are still under investigation, according to the FHP, and charges are pending.