Ernest Ward ‘Ag Building’ Demolished To Make Room For New School
June 21, 2013
Visible progress towards the construction of a new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill became evident Thursday.
The “Ag Building”, constructed in 1954, was mostly demolished Thursday. Covered walkways have also been removed between the main building and the school gym. During the remainder of the summer, temporary portable buildings will be moved in, and a mobile home and a few portables will be moved.
The new $16.5 million, 115,202 square foot building is being designed by Sam Marshall Architects of Pensacola, while Greenhut Construction Company of Pensacola will provide “Construction Management at Risk Services” — the overall planning, coordination and control of the project from beginning to completion.
The school is expected to open in the fall of 2016. The current main school building will be demolished after the completion of the new school.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
File photos of the “Ag Building” at Ernest Ward Middle School:
Local, Statewide Housing Markets Experience Upswing
June 21, 2013
Florida’s housing market continued its upswing in May, as did the local housing market in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Single family home sales were up nearly 25 percent in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, while the median sales price increased 5.4 percent to $154,000. Townhouse an condo sales in the two county area were up 3.6 percent, with the average price down 12 percent to $280,000.
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 22,375 in May, up 18.7 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $171,000, up 15.9 percent from the previous year.
Townhouse and condo sales were up 11.5 percent statewide, with an average media price at $128,000, up 13 percent over the previous year.
“Home sales continue to increase, it’s taking less time for sales to close, and median sales prices are on the rise,” said 2013 Florida Realtors President Dean Asher, broker-owner with Don Asher & Associates Inc. in Orlando. “This is the 17th month in a row that we’ve seen the statewide median sales prices increase year-over-year for both single-family homes and for townhome-condo properties.”
Escambia Commission Taking Over The County Jail From The Sheriff
June 21, 2013
The Escambia County Commission voted 4-1 Thursday night to take control of the Escambia County Jail effective October 1.
The dissenting vote was cast by Commissioner Luman May.
A battle of sorts erupted between the commission and Sheriff David Morgan after a U.S. Department of Justice found the jail was understaffed and provided inadequate services in some area. Morgan asked for more money, and commissioners balked at the idea of a tax increase to fund the jail.
Morgan fired off a letter to commissioners telling them that the jail was theirs on September 1. Commissioners decided to assume control on October 1 as fiscal year begins and to allow more time to plan the transition.
Currently, there’s a July 10 deadline to resolve the problems to DOJ’s satisfaction.
But County Attorney Alison Rogers said the county will ask for more time to comply, and she believes a multi-year plan to bring the jail into compliance will work as long as the county makes a diligent effort toward compliance with the DOJ findings.
One Killed In Escambia Crash
June 21, 2013
One person was killed in a three vehicle crash at noon Thursday on Barrancas Avenue.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the fatality, 79-year old Charles C. Smoote,was a passenger in a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 28-year old Michael A. Smoote of Pensacola. A second passenger, 71-year old Eunice P. Smoote of Pensacola, was seriously injured.
The FHP has not released details on happened in the accident.
Also injured were 26-year old Ruelas A. Braulio of Pensacola, who was driving a 2009 Infinity G37, and a passenger in the vehicle, 29-year old Kimberly McClain of Pensacola. The driver of a third vehicle, John H. Hinman of Birmingham, was not injured.
The accident remains under investigation by the FHP.
Local Soldier’s Body Returned Home From Afghanistan
June 21, 2013
The body of a local solider who died in Afghanistan arrived in Pensacola on Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas, 31, was killed June 10 while serving in Helmand Province, but the Department of Defense has not released exactly what happened. Thomas is a Pensacola native, joining the Army after graduating from Pensacola High School.
Friends and family gathered Thursday as members of the Patriot Guard stood at attention on the tarmac at the Pensacola airport. The Patriot Guard escorted the flag-draped coffin to Joe Morris and Son Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at East Hill Church of God in Christ at 400 East Jordan Street. Visitation will precede the service at noon.
After a procession escorted by the Patriot Guard, burial will follow at the Barrancas National Cemetery.
Pictured top: The flag-draped coffin of Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas arrives in Pensacola on Thursday. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creeks Donate $150K To Hospital, Mennonite Group, Others
June 21, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council presented checks Thursday totaling $150,000 to four organizations, as part of its planned giving campaign. These contributions will fund local healthcare and community services. The tribe’s contributions will help to balance funding cuts in organizations as varied as the D.W. McMillan Hospital, Mennonite Disaster Relief, Volunteers of America, and the Hannah Grace Foundation.
“One of the most important things we can do is give back to the community,” said Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “It is important that we help these organizations, they do so much for so many by helping those in need and improving the lives of people in the community and our State.”
The Tribe’s donations include:
- $50,000 to the Mennonite Disaster Relief
- $50,000 to the Volunteers of America
- $25,000 to the D.W. McMillan Hospital
- $25,000 to the Hannah Grace Foundation
“Most all rural hospitals in Alabama are currently experiencing significant financial challenges. This gift from PCI will enable us to replace our mammography equipment with a new ’state of the art’ digital mammography machine,” said Chris Griffin, D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital administrator.
U.S. Farm Bill Rejected
June 21, 2013
The U.S. House of Representatives has rejected a $500 million farm bill because of bipartisan opposition to cuts in food stamps.
The bill was defeated Thursday on a vote of 234 to 195, just a week after the Senate passed its own version of the bill.
House Democrats objected to the bill’s $2 billion cut in food stamps, which poor people use in supermarkets to help pay for groceries. They said millions of Americans would lose those benefits.
Republicans who voted against the bill said the cuts were not deep enough.
Thursday’s defeat means Congress is highly unlikely to reconsider another farm bill before the end of the fiscal year. The Senate’s version of the bill included continuation of an international food aid program and expanded crop insurance to help farmers survive when grain prices fall.
Farm bills are typically authorized in five-year increments, but an agreement on this latest installation of the legislation has eluded Congress.
[VOA]
Gindl Gets MLB Start
June 21, 2013
Molino’s Caleb Gindl made his first Major League start and looked for his first hit Thursday afternoon for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Gindl was up to bat in second, hitting a drive where it appeared Houston Astros’ center fielder Justin Maxwell was distracted by a padded support structure that juts onto the field. The baseball bounced out of Maxwell’s glove and two runners scored for a 2-0 Brewers leader. Gindl made it to third on what was ruled an error, not a hit.
The Astros went on to win 7-4 over the Brewers in Houston.
Escambia Solid Waste Employees Win At Equipment Rodeo
June 21, 2013
Three Escambia County Solid Waste Management Department employees were recognized Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission.
The trio represented Escambia County at the Solid Waste Association of North America Battle on the Bay Road-E-O, held in St. Petersburg back in April.
Winners were:
- Dennis Rigby, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor – First Place Award, Mechanic
- Paul Steve Dutton, Equipment Operator III – Third Place Award, Heavy Equipment – Track Dozer
- Gary Gunn, Equipment Operator IV – Third Place Award, Heavy Equipment – Compactor
Pictured top: Fleet Maintenance Supervisor Dennis Rigby of Walnut Hill received a first place award in mechanics at a recent solid waste rodeo. Pictured below: Gary Gunn, Paul Steve Dutton and Dennis Rigby at Thursday night’s Escambia County Commission meeting.
Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide To Play Baseball In Pensacola
June 21, 2013
The Pensacola Sports Association will host two NCAA Division I baseball games next spring. The University of Florida Gators will play the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles on Tuesday, March 4 and the Alabama Crimson Tide will play the Troy Trojans on Tuesday, March 25.
Both games will be played at the waterfront stadium at the Community Maritime Park. Tickets will be available beginning in December.
“This will be a great event to showcase our great city and beautiful waterfront ballpark,” commented Ray Palmer, PSA Executive Director. “All four of these programs have great support and a large alumni base in Northwest Florida. We feel these games will not only benefit our local sports fans, but will also be a sports tourism event for the area.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring our team to Pensacola for a game at a great waterfront ball park. It should be a good game between two good baseball programs. We have a couple players from the Pensacola area, so it will be nice to give them an opportunity to play in front of their family and friends. Also, we have a large Alabama fan base in that region of Florida, so it will give them an opportunity to come to the local ball park and support the Crimson Tide,” said University of Alabama Head Coach Mitch Gaspard.
“We are looking forward to our program having an opportunity to compete next spring in Pensacola against a quality Southern Miss baseball program. “We are excited to travel and play in front of the Gator Fans in Northwest Florida’s Panhandle and compete in a beautiful stadium, it should be a tremendous environment,” said University of Florida Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan.