Cantonment Gas Leak Leads To Evacuations
October 24, 2012
A gas leak led to the evacuation of three homes about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon on Littleton Street in the Milestone subdivision off West Nine Mile Road. A small cloud of natural gas could been seen in the neighborhood until Pensacola Energy (the former Energy Services of Pensacola) shut off the gas and repaired the leak.
Pensacola Energy said the leak was caused by a contractor who was digging in the area.
The Ensley and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the leak.
Pictured: A cloud of natural gas can been seen in a Milestone neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Connie Mack, John McCain Make Escambia County Campaign Stop
October 24, 2012
Former presidential candidate John McCain joined U.S. Senate hopeful Connie Mack for a “Freedom Tour” rally Tuesday at Seville Quarter before a crowd of military members and veterans.
Mack promised that if elected, he will fight any cuts to military spending. He also vowed to make sure that funding is available for not only active duty, but also veterans.
Mack is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.
Pictured: Connie Mack (right) was joined my John McCain at a campaign stop in Pensacola on Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School District Donates Lawnmowers To Century Correctional Program
October 24, 2012
The Escambia County School District has donated numerous surplus lawnmowers to Century Correctional Institution.
The mowers were outdated and beyond economical repair for the school district. But the mowers will be repaired by CCI inmates and used in a rehabilitation program that benefits North Escambia schools, including Northview High, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary.
As part of the program, CCI inmates do lawn maintenance and other work on the school campuses at no cost to the school district. No students are allowed on campus while the inmates are working.
Items donated to Century Correctional by the school district included six zero-turn mowers and four push mowers.
Ernest Ward Football Ends Almost Perfect Season At EA
October 24, 2012
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles ended an almost perfect season Tuesday night with a close loss on the road in Canoe, Ala.
EWMS (6-1) lost to Escambia Academy 22-20.
Ernest Ward has the only public middle school football program in Escambia County. Fla.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School head coach Jeremy Greenwell talks to his team Monday night after their hopes of a perfect season were dashed. Pictured below: Ernest Ward at Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala. Photo by Melissa Ward for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Gators To Face Jay Royals In 1-1A Volleyball Final
October 24, 2012
The final has been set in the District 1-1A volleyball tournament between Jay and Baker.
On Tuesday, Jay defeated Northview in three sets, 25-21, 27-25 and 25-22. And Baker beat Laurel Hill in three, 25-17, 25-11, 25-14.
The Lady Royals will play the Lady Gators at 6 p.m. Thursday at Central High School.
Mini Dance Team Clinic Planned
October 24, 2012
The Northview High School Dance Team will hold a “Mini Dance Team Clinic” for girls ages 5-12.
Practices will begin November 3 in the school gym. Registration forms are being sent home from area schools and select private dance classes. Or, click here to download and print a registration form.
The Mini Dance Team will perform before the November 9 Northview home game versus West Florida High School.
Pictured: The Northview Dance Team performs at a recent football game. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Schools Seek Local Veterans’ Photos
October 24, 2012
Two local schools are seeking photos of local service members to be featured in their Veteran’s Day programs.
Ernest Ward Middle will present the veteran’s photos during a program on Thursday, November 8. For more information and submittable instructions , click here.
Northview High School is seeking alumni veteran’s photos. Veterans are asked to join the Facebook group “Northview High School Alumni Veterans” for more information or email eholk@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Two Charged In Credit Union Robbery
October 24, 2012
The Central Credit Union on Foxrun Road just off Nine Mile Road was robbed about 1:10 Tuesday afternoon.
Suspects Reginald L. Augst, 36, of and Heather Grace Menze, 30, both of Seminole, AL, were located a short time later at the America’s Best Value Inn on Pensacola Boulevard near Burgess Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Both were identified by credit union tellers as the robbery suspects. They were charged with robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and are being held in the Escambia County Jail on $20,000 bond each.
Following the robbery, a group of males was detained at Airport Boulevard and Highway 29, but they were later found not to have any involvement, deputies said.
Florida’s State Debt Declines Again This Year
October 24, 2012
Florida will report in December that it has significantly reduced its outstanding debt for the second year in a row, and that continued refinancing of outstanding debt will save more than $1 billion on future interest payments, the state’s top bond finance official said Tuesday.
A second year of lower debt appears to portend a reversal of a long trend. Two years of reductions follow about a decade of increasing debt loads and represent the first year-over-year drops in 20 years.
In a preview of an annual report due later this year, Director of Bond Finance Ben Watkins told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet that the year-end report is likely to say the state reduced its debt by about $1.5 billion this year, following last year’s reduction of debt by $500 million.
The main reason – the state isn’t issuing new debt, primarily in its biggest borrowing program, the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO bonding program, because of lower revenue and efforts to be more frugal.
PECO bonding, which funds school construction, relies largely on revenue from utility taxes, known as gross receipts taxes, to pay back bondholders. Revenue from the tax has dropped in the down economy and there hasn’t been any money available for new construction bonding in the most recent year.
Lawmakers have also slowed down funding for land-buying for conservation purposes, another purpose for which the state has in the past borrowed more heavily.
Watkins also said the state has refinanced more than $6 billion in debt over the last three years – nearly a third of the state’s entire debt portfolio – to take advantage of low interest rates, allowing for a reduction in interest from 4.65 percent to 4.33 percent.
When applied to the entire $26 billion state debt portfolio, the reduction on future interest costs is likely to be about $1.1 billion.
“That’s real money by any measure,” Watkins said.
The amount is expected to continue to drop.
“Based on existing borrowing plans, total State debt outstanding is expected to continue to slowly decline as annual debt retirement increases and new debt issuance decreases,” the state Revenue Estimating Conference said in August when it released its long range forecast.
With interest rates at very low levels, refinancing outstanding state debt has been a priority of the state bonding agency, Watkins said. For example, in August Florida announced the state had lowered the interest rate on certain PECO bonds from 4.97 percent to 2.76 percent, with an expected savings of about $85 million.
By David Royse
The News Service of Florida
Fire Departments Respond To Smell Of Smoke At Ernest Ward Middle
October 23, 2012
Area fire departments responded to a report of the smell of smoke Tuesday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The smell was in the area of an electrical closet in the administration building. No specific cause for the smell was found; however, the school and area residents reported electrical surges in the area just prior to the incident.
A small number of students and staff were evacuated from the building as a precaution.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.