McCall Pumps Up Support For ECAT Gas Tax Exemption
January 12, 2013
Century Mayor Freddie McCall is pumping up support for a state exemption from Escambia County’s proposed four cent gas tax hike to support ECAT mass transit.
Armed with a resolution asking the Florida Legislature for the exemption, McCall addressed the Escambia County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Clay Ford.
Century has refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line at the first station they come to in Flomaton.
“It’s a quarter mile beyond the state line,” McCall told the legislative delegation during a public forum in Pensacola. “The service station will be taking all of our business.”
The Century Town Council passed a resolution Monday night asking the Legislature to exempt Century due to the town’s proximity to Alabama. The town says the gasoline tax is currently 27 cents less in across the state line in Flomaton.
The resolution also sates that the four cents for ECAT “benefits the south end of the county significantly more than the north end of the county”.
Without the exemption from the Legislature, Century’s refusal to to play along with the county’s new gas tax is perhaps a moot point.
Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, said the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New $7.7 Million Main Library Opens
January 12, 2013
More than 200 people gathered Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new West Florida Library main location at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola.
The library reopened after a two-year renovation and expansion which nearly doubled the library’s size to 51,000 square feet. The two-phase project included the construction of a new wing on Spring Street, after which the original 1957 building was gutted and renovated. The new library includes an expanded children’s area, meeting rooms, coffee shop, bookstore and more. The library also includes more than 50 new computers, including a 10-station computer training lab.
“This library is a tremendous resource and asset for our community,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Whether you’re coming to learn, to take online classes, or just to read a good book over a cup of coffee, this library will have something for everyone. This library is truly a beacon of possibility and a testament to our faith in tomorrow.”
The $7.7 million project was funded by $6 million in local option sales tax monies, a $606,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, surplus dollars from the construction of the Tryon Branch Library, and a $100,000 donation by the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library.
The ceremony also featured the dedication of a firefighter memorial and a new wing named for Maurice Bartholomew, a Pensacola firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty in 2000. Bartholomew, an avid reader, was based at the old Fire Station 1, which was previously located on the site of the new wing.
The new library becomes the City of Pensacola’s first LEED-certified building, incorporating a number of energy-efficient strategies, such as a tankless gas water heater and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The improvements are expected to cut the main library’s energy costs by as much as 15 percent.
Northview Beats Baker In OT; Robinson Scores 41
January 12, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators on the road Friday.
In junior varsity action, Northview’s JV defeated Baker 45-24. The Chiefs outscored Baker 27-8 in the second half. Leading scorers for Northview were Keondrae Lett with 11 and Nick Lambert with 10.
The Northview varsity beat Baker 79-71 in overtime. The Chiefs went on a 12-4 run in overtime for the win after Baker hit a three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left to tie in regulation. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Neino Robinson 41 and Cameron Newsome with 16.
Lowe’s Stores Looking To Hire Over 100 People
January 12, 2013
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores in the Pensacola area are looking to hire over 100 people for full and part-time seasonal positions with the help of the non-profit Workforce Escarosa.
Interested individuals should apply online at www.lowes.com/careers. After applying online, applicants are advised to attend (and bring a resume) to the hiring event on Thursday, January 17, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. inside the Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Representatives from area Lowe’s stores will be present during the event and intend to review resumes and conduct interviews.
According to Lowe’s:
- Rotating shifts/hours may vary
- Pay depends on experience
- At least 6 months of customer service experience preferred
- Must be willing to work nights/weekends/holidays
- Must be able to work outside in environmental conditions
- Physical ability to move and lift merchandise is required
Free Trees: Seedlings To Be Given Away In Walnut Hill On Monday
January 12, 2013
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) will be giving away 4,000 seedling trees at two locations, including Walnut Hill.
Species include crabapple, mayhaw, cherrybark oak, river birch, wax myrtle and bald cypress. Participants will receive two tree seedlings of their choice.
The first event will be held on Monday, January 14, at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) at 7850 Highway 97 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The second event will be held on Friday, January 18, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Southwest Greenway at the Jones Swamp Preserve Trail entrance at 198 Patton Drive, near the intersection of Brigadier and Patton Drive, in Warrington, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Extension agents and master gardeners will be available at both locations to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
Suspect Arrested In Dairy Queen Officer Involved Shooting
January 12, 2013
The driver of a vehicle involved in a deputy involved shooting Wednesday at a Scenic Highway Dairy Queen has been arrested.
Derrick Emerson McMillian, 33, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of obstruction of justice.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were working on a narcotics investigation in the Scenic Highway area about 2 p.m. As they tried to apprehend McMillian, two deputies were forced to discharge their weapons, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office. No one was hit by the gunfire, but one deputy was treated for minor injuries received due to breaking glass.
The two deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
Weekend Gardening: Tips for January
January 12, 2013
Here are gardening tips for the month of January from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:
Flowers
- Refrigerated bulbs such as tulip, daffodil and hyacinth should be planted in prepared beds.
- Start seeds of warm season flowers late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- There’s still time to transplant some cool season annuals such as carnations, foxglove, pansies, petunias and snapdragons.
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or dry form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Finish dividing crowded perennials. Don’t wait until spring for this job.
- Plant bare root roses immediately after they are purchased.
Trees and Shrubs
- Plant trees and shrubs. This is an ideal time of year for transplanting larger specimens.
- Plant bare root plants such as deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees.
- Prune dormant shade trees, if needed.
- Stick hardwood cuttings of fig, grape, honeysuckle, Althea, Catalpa, Forsythia and Wisteria.
Fruits and Nuts
- Apply dormant oil spray to peach, plum, nectarine and other deciduous fruit trees. This practice is necessary when growing the stone fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast. Note: This applies to the flowering peaches and cherries since they are susceptible to the same pests as their fruiting cousins.
- Plant bare root deciduous fruit trees
- Prune dormant fruit trees if needed
Vegetable Garden
- Start seeds of warm season vegetables late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- Lime (if needed), and begin preparing vegetable gardens for the spring planting.
- Cool season vegetables that can still be planted in the garden are: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radishes and turnips.
- Irish potatoes can be started from January through March by planting seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in rows. Always purchase certified seed potatoes.
Lawns
- Check soil moisture during winter and water as needed.
No Injuries In School Bus Wreck
January 11, 2013
There were no injuries in a minor school bus wreck Friday morning on East Kingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said driver Willie Jame Pryor stopped the Head Start Program bus at a railroad crossing just east of North Palafox Street about 8:09 a.m. Jocelyn Jean Longo, age 31 of Cantonment, turned off North Palafox onto Kingsfield and hit the bus in a “very low-impact collision”.
There were five students on the bus.
Longo was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
Cantonment Woman Seriously Injured In McDavid Highway 29 Crash
January 11, 2013
A Cantonment woman was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday night near McDavid.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 24-year old Jessica Nicole Godwin was northbound on Highway 29 near Brown Road about 9:20 p.m. when she lost control, ran off the roadway and hit a culvert. Her 2001 Kia Sephia then became airborne, overturned and landed on its roof in a ditch.
Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to free the Godwin from the vehicle. She was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Godwin was wearing her seat belt in the crash, which was not alcohol related. Charged are pending the in the crash, according to the FHP.
The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: One Cantonment woman was seriously injured in this single vehicle crash on Highway 29 near Brown Road in McDavid Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Cited After Log Truck Overturns On Muscogee Road
January 11, 2013
A log truck driver was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol after his vehicle overturned at International Paper in Cantonment Thursday night.
The FHP said 23-year old Travis Davis of Citronelle, Ala., was eastbound on Muscogee Road when he failed to maintain control of his tractor-trailer and ran into a ditch. The log truck overturned, sending logs into the ditch and the administrative parking area of International Paper.
Davis was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries following the 6 p.m. crash. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving, no seat belt and an expired tag.
Pictured: An Alabama man was cited by the FHP after this log truck crash on Muscogee Road at International Paper in Cantonment Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
