Scott Pitches $500 Million In Tax Cuts, GOP Embraces Proposal
September 1, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott will ask the Legislature to slice taxes and fees by $500 million, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks Friday to a gathering of conservative activists in Orlando.
Scott said that an influx of new revenue for the state was a call for more tax cuts, even though the governor didn’t specify which taxes and fees he wanted to reduce.
“This year, we are committed to returning even more money to the hard-working Florida families who earn it,” Scott said. “I look forward to working with our friends in the Florida Legislature to make these tax cuts a reality.”
Scott spoke at the “Defending the American Dream Summit” held in Orlando by Americans for Prosperity, a group often associated with the tea party.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, joined other Republicans in hailing the proposal. “When you announce a tax cut, you can count on a hearty cheer from the Florida House of Representatives,” Weatherford said. “We are supportive of the governor’s bold announcement today, and look forward to working with him next session.”
But House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, was lukewarm on the idea.
“I am sure that many Floridians may cautiously welcome the relief from Republican-proposed tax hikes. … But it is imperative that before promising tax cuts we have assurances our state can adequately fund education, health care, public safety and other priorities of working families and small businesses.”
During the Orlando speech, Scott also took some swipes at former Gov. Charlie Crist, a onetime Republican who appears to be laying the groundwork to run as a Democrat against Scott next year. Scott slammed Crist for taking emergency federal funding to help balance the state budget in the wake of the economic recession.
“My predecessor had made a name for himself by hugging President Obama’s non-stop spending — and even hugging the president,” Scott said in a reference to an embrace between Crist and President Barack Obama during an event pushing the program. “When asked about taking all the stimulus, he said he ‘needed the money.’ … D.C.’s spending addiction had spread to Florida.”
by The News Service of Florida
Photos: NHS Mini-Dance Team, Band, Cheerleaders
September 1, 2013
For a photo gallery with the Northview mini-dance Team, dance team, Tribal Beat Band, NJROTC and cheerleaders from Friday night’s game against Bozeman, click here.
For a game summary and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: 665 Helped By Century Event
September 1, 2013
The numbers are in from last weekend’s first annual Back to School Bash/Farm Share event in Century.
In total, 240 families, 15 vendors and 33 volunteers took part in the event, according to organizers. The 240 families represented 665 individuals family members.
Volunteer Florida’s ACES team (AmeriCorps Coalition of Escambia and Santa Rosa) is an AmeriCorps program through the Florida Department of Children and Families that places 10 AmeriCorps members in nonprofits to provide educational support, financial stability, healthy lifestyles and school readiness. The Century event was created by the ACES members and spearheaded by member Dominique “Nikki” Maywald.
AmeriCorps members wanted to ensure that families would have fresh, nutritious food and clothes for the new school year. Leading up to the event, members organized clothing drives and ensured that all children at the event were able to receive clothes for school.
AmeriCorps members also reached out to the town of Century, Catholic Charities, and Farm Share for donations. Families participating in the back to school event were provided with fresh produce from Farm Share, a nonprofit that utilizes volunteers to re-sort and package fresh surplus foods to distribute to individuals, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, churches and other organizations feeding the hungry in Florida, free of charge.
Pictured: The first annual Back to School Bash/Farm Share event in Century on August 24. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Youth Show Their Spirit
September 1, 2013
Youth from Ray’s Chapel and the Walnut Hill Baptist churches came together Saturday night to show their school and team spirit during Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church’s third annual “Spirit Night”. The youth enjoyed worship, a message from youth leader Seth Leonard, food, prizes and games. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BayBears Stun Wahoos With Three-Run Ninth
September 1, 2013
Nick Ahmed capped a three-run ninth with a two-out, two-run walk-off single against Trevor Bell, giving the Mobile BayBears a 4-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. It was the fourth loss in a row for Pensacola.
Mobile entered the last of the ninth trailing 3-1, but put a couple runners on base thanks to walks from Jamie Walczak. Bell (L, 0-1) came on with two on and one out and gave up a pinch-hit RBI double to Garrett Weber to make it 3-2. After Justin Greene struck out, Ahmed laced a first pitch fastball into the gap in left center to score two runs and give the BayBears the win.
Pensacola had rallied in the eighth against reliever Matt Gorgen. Devin Lohman started the rally with a walk before Corey Wimberly singled up the middle to put two on with just one out. Yorman Rodriguez then came through with a two-run double to the right-center field gap to give Pensacola a 2-1 lead. Rodriguez would later score on a single from Brandon Short to make it 3-1.
Both starting pitchers were dominant in the contest with Andrew Chafin and Jon Moscot tossing five scoreless innings apiece. In his final start of the 2013 season, Moscot allowed four base hits but struck out five for Pensacola. Chafin answered by allowing just two base hits with a pair of punchouts.
Mobile’s lone run prior to the ninth came on a Raywilly Gomez RBI double in the sixth inning against Michael Lorenzen. Blake Cooper (W, 5-2) picked up the win for the BayBears with a scoreless 1.1 innings.
The Wahoos will look to snap their four-game losing streak on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. Josh Smith (10-9, 3.41) gets the ball for Pensacola in search of his franchise-record 11th win of the year while Mobile will go with southpaw David Holmberg (5-7, 2.66)
Man With A Machete: SWAT Team Diffuses Armed Disturbance
August 31, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was called out Saturday morning to diffuse an armed disturbance.
The SWAT team was dispatched to the 4900 block of Birch Avenue. The suspect, identified as 56-year old Tommy L. Allen, was wanted for aggravated battery against his roommate after he threw boiling water on him overnight, deputies said. He had returned to threaten him again Saturday morning with a machete.
The SWAT unit arrived shortly after 9 a.m., and by 9:30 a.m. Allen was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Molino Man Killed In Early Morning Wreck
August 31, 2013
A Molino man was killed in a single vehicle wreck not far from his home early Saturday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 29-year old Bryan A. Hart of Molino was westbound on Barrineau Park Road about 3:50 a.m. when he lost control of his 2000 Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle traveled across the eastbound lane of Highway 196 and off the roadway onto the south shoulder where the front of the vehicle struck a tree.
Hart was pronounced deceased at the scene. According to the FHP, Hart was not wearing a seat belt.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
Pictured: A Molino man was killed in this single vehicle accident on Barrineau Park Road about 3:50 Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Beat Bozeman (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2013
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Panama City Bozeman Bucks Friday night, 34-14, in a non-district game. And even though it was win for the defending 1A state champs, at times it was just a plain sloppy game, according to Northview coach Sid Wheatley.
“We had way too many mistakes in the game,” Wheatley said, “We are taking points away from us by doing that and we are also enabling them to capitalize and get points when that’s unnecessary.”
Most of the mistakes, he said, were the little things that the team will have to work to drill into their minds.
“It just made it extra tough on us, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to be better than that. And we are going to address those things on Monday…I know it’s still a young bunch we are dealing with and there are going to be mistakes. But it can’t be habitual week after week.”
For a football action photo gallery, click here. Cheerleading, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.
Despite the problems, Wheatley said there was also a lot of good in Friday night’s game for the No. 1 ranked Chiefs.
“Daulton Tullis played well. Our thought our receivers played well, and I thought our running backs made nice runs. We were able to get to the edge and use our speed. Ladarius Thomas ran the ball extremely well in the second half. Those are good things to see with a young offensive line doing better.”
The first touchdown of the game did not come until about three minute before the half. Quarterback Daulton Tullis found Brannon Freeman with 11-yard pass. A missed point after, and the Chiefs were on the board 6-0. The Chiefs expanded their lead to 14-0 at the half with an 8-yard touchdown from Neino Robinson and a good two point conversion from Dezmine Moorer.
The defending state champs increased their lead to 20-0 on a Tullis to Nathan Shipps pass from the nine. Bozeman got on the board, 20-6, before Northview struck again with a 43-yard Robinson touchdown and a good extra point, 27-6. With a 35-yard touchdown run by Shipps and a two pointer from Shipps, Northview was up 34-6.
The Chiefs will be on the road next week to take on the Bulldogs of Marianna at 7 p.m. Last year, the Chiefs lost to Marianna 48-42 on an overtime forth down with a fumbled ball just inches from the goal line.
For a football action photo gallery, click here. Cheerleading, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.
Pictured top: Northview senior Brannon Freeman tips the ball away from a Panama City Bozeman Buck Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview’s Neino Robinson tries to evade a tackle. Pictured bottom inset: Junior Ladarius Thomas gains yardage for the Chiefs. Pictured below: Northview coach Sid Wheatley motivates his No 1. ranked Northview Chiefs during a huddle Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Florida Beats Tate (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2013
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Tate Aggies Friday night, 45-3, at Woodham Middle School.
The Aggies strongest showing came in the first quarter, allowing the Jags just 7 points on a run by quarter back Joey Baker. Tate answered with a field goal from Dylan Mancuso to keep it a close 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Baker was in again on a QB keeper in the second half, followed by a touchdown for the Jags from Daylan Abrams. West Florida was up 21-3 headed into the half. In the second half, 11 plays totaling 80 yards ended with an 11-yard run by Lawrence Lee, 28-3 Jaguars.
The Jaguars went on to win with Lee returning a touchdown, a Vonche Hale touchdwon. and a field goal from kicker Tristan Parsley.
West Florida will host Milton next Friday night at 7:00, while the Aggies will be at home against Pensacola High School’s Tigers at 7:30 p.m.
Darryl Singleton contributed to this report.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Early Morning Nokomis Crash
August 31, 2013
One person was injured in an early morning crash in Nokomis, Fla.
The female driver apparently lost control while attempting a negotiate a curve and ran off the roadway. She was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered serious.
The 12:35 a.m. accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
