County Signs Off On $53 Million Bond Issue For New Century Factory
February 22, 2013
The Escambia County Commission approved a $53 million industrial development bond issue Thursday night for a new wood biomass pellet manufacturing facility to be constructed just outside Century.
John Colquitt of Renewable Fuels in Savannah, GA, told the commissioners that the new plant will be constructed by an affiliate of his company, North Florida Biomass Fuels, LLC. The $53 million will be used to finance the design, construction and equipping of the solid waste disposal and wood biomass pellet manufacturing facility on a 25 acre site at 600 Tedder Road, just west of the Century Correctional Institution.
“The project will make a significant contribution to the economic and public health of the region of the county and shall provide or preserve gainful employment, and will serve a public purpose by protecting the environment and advancing the economic prosperity and the health, safety and welfare of the state and its people, Colquitt said during a scripted exchange with County Attorney Alison Rogers.
Colquitt told commissioners that the project will create 34 new jobs in the mill itself, plus 13 trucking jobs.
The conduit bond issue will not obligate the credit of the county or pose any obligation, risk, or liability for Escambia County. No county funds will be used for the project; the bond issue through the county simply provides a tax-free financing opportunity for the developers.
The Tedder Road property to be used for the pellet plant is currently owned by the Town of Century, but is outside the town limits. The Town of Century has not yet formally approved selling or leasing the property to the company.
Coquitt told NorthEscambia.com that the end product to be produced by the Century facility will be marketed in Europe.
Pictured top: This map highlights the planned 25 acre location of a wood pellet manufacturing facility just outside Century. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: John Colquitt of Renewable Fuels in Savannah, GA, addressed the Escambia County Commission Thursday night.
Man Sentenced For Biting Off Half Of Man’s Ear During Fight Over Woman
February 22, 2013
An Atmore man has been sentenced to probation for biting half another man’s ear during a fight over a woman last year in Bratt.
Brian Craig Sims, age 41 of Marshall Avenue, pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief for the incident on McElhaney Road in May 2012.
Judge Linda Nobles withheld adjudication in the case and sentenced Sims to three years probation. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that Sims knocked on the door of his fifth-wheel travel trailer. When he opened the door, Sims then attacked the victim — hitting him in the head with a two-inch thick stick, trying to choke him and biting off half of the victim’s left ear while he was in a headlock, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
A female in the trailer with the victim said she had previously dated Sims for 2.5 years and that he was very jealous.
After deputies interviewed the victim during treatment at Atmore Community Hospital, they were able to find the other half of his ear at his residence on McElhaney Road, according to the arrest report. Deputies said they contacted the hospital and they advised that they would be unable to reattach the ear.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Registration, Orientation
February 22, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School held an orientation and registration Thursday night for all students who plan to attend EWMS next school year. During the program, EWMS and staff members were available to answer questions and explain middle school programs, extracurricular activities, and middle school academies.
Ernest Ward offers three middle school academies: Culinary Arts, Graphic Arts, and Fabrication and Pre-engineering.
For more information about Ernest Ward Middle School and registration, call (850) 327-4283.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Names Citizen, Business Of Year
February 22, 2013
The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce named their business and citizen of the year during the organization’s annual banquet Thursday night.
Dr. Jonathan Yoder was named the Citizen of the Year by the chamber. And the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company/South Alabama Vending was named as the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.
Northview Lady Chiefs Take Two From Baker
February 22, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs continued their winning ways Thursday night with a win over Baker.
The Lady Chiefs beat the Lady Gators on the road in Baker 10-3. With the win, the varsity improves to 3-o overall, 2-0 in the district.
In junior varsity action, the JV Lady Chiefs blanked Baker 12-0.
Northview will be on the road again Friday at Holmes County. The JV takes the mound at 4:00 and the first pitch the varsity will be at 6:00. Both teams will be at home Monday as the Lady Chiefs host the Lady Cougars of Escambia Academy of Canoe, Ala.
Pictured: The Northview Lady Chiefs celebrate a win Thursday night in Baker. Submitted photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Members Inducted Into Northview’s Beta Club
February 22, 2013
New members were inducted into the National Beta Club Thursday afternoon at Northview High School. The new members are:
- Penny Banda
- Annie Bobo
- Joshua Borelli
- Kamryn Brock
- Tristan Brown
- Megan Bryan
- Kristen Byrd
- Kendall Cobb
- Austin Cunningham
- Hannah Gibson
- Kyndall Hall
- Julie Hester
- Jessica McCullough
- Tristan Portwood
- Mallory Ryan
- Samantha Sharpless
- Kelton Wooten
Florida Medicaid Expansion Could Hit Legislative Opposition
February 22, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott dropped a bombshell Wednesday when he announced support for a Medicaid expansion. But a day later, it remained unclear whether the idea would get through the Republican-dominated Legislature.
House GOP leaders appear to have the strongest reservations, with Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, publicly expressing doubts about the wisdom of the expansion.
“I remain skeptical that that’s in the best interests of the state,” McKeel said Thursday morning.
Weatherford, during an appearance before the Florida Retail Federation and in a television interview, also repeatedly used the word “skeptical.” Pointing to broader federal budget and debt problems, he questioned whether Washington would make good on a promise to pay billions of dollars for the expansion.
“We’re talking about a federal government that is not able to pay its bills,” Weatherford said during an appearance on the show, “Florida Face to Face.”
Some Senate Republicans indicated they might be more willing to go along with Scott, who said he would support expanding Medicaid eligibility for three years and then revisiting the issue. The federal government is slated to pay all of the expansion costs for the first three years, before the state has to pick up a portion of the tab.
“I support the governor, and I think the Senate has an open mind on it,” said Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. He later added, “I think we give it a shot and see how it works.”
Senate Health Policy Chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, pointed to the possibility that a Medicaid expansion could help “safety net” hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured people. More Medicaid coverage would produce additional revenues for hospitals, helping offset other types of funding cuts.
But Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, posted a Twitter message that expressed opposition to Scott’s stance.
“Disappointed to read (Scott’s) comments on Medicaid expansion,” Brandes wrote. “A blank federal check isn’t the answer, we need real reform.”
Scott, who anchored his political career on opposing President Obama’s efforts to revamp the health-care system, drew national headlines for his announcement that he would support going ahead with the Medicaid expansion. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians would become newly eligible for the government-run health program, with the federal government paying 100 percent of the costs from 2014 through 2016 and later paying 90 percent.
House and Senate select committees have been studying the Affordable Care Act for weeks and are expected to make recommendations in early March about issues such as the Medicaid expansion. Those recommendations will be initial signs of how Republicans in both chambers view the expansion.
The governor’s stance has drawn criticism from many conservatives, who accuse him of flip-flopping on his opposition to the federal law dubbed Obamacare. But Republican lawmakers are also in a politically tricky position, as going along with the expansion could outrage many of their base voters.
Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican who is a former chairman of the state Republican Party, said he thinks Scott is trying to lead on a “tough, difficult issue.”
“There are a number of Republican governors around the country –Gov. (John) Kasich, for one, in Ohio and the governor of Arizona–who have also agreed to do this, so it’s about leadership and that is what the governor is showing on this,” Thrasher said. “That doesn’t mean that the Legislature has to agree with everything he says, but I’m proud of his leadership.”
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during a conference call Thursday that she has been encouraged to see states move toward expanding Medicaid, , adding that they are “deciding this deal is simply too good to pass up.”
But state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam ripped the idea of expanding Medicaid, calling it “not the right direction for the state of Florida.” He also directly took aim at Scott’s position that the state could re-evaluate whether to continue the expansion after three years, an idea known as a “sunset” of the expansion.
“In three years, you don’t get a do-over just because it sunsets, which is a classic Tallahassee or a Washington bait and switch,” Putnam told members of the Florida Retail Federation. “You don’t get a do-over once you’ve enrolled 1.3 million new people. You don’t get to say, ‘Sorry it’s sunsetted, we’re booting you off the rolls.’ You get one chance to make this decision.”
By The News Service of Florida
Wind-Driven Brush Fire Burns Through Bratt Field
February 21, 2013
A wind-driven brush fire consumed several acres in Bratt this afternoon.
The fire burned through 5-10 acres in field between North Highway 99, Water Tank Road and Hall Road. Fueled by high winds, the fire was threatening several structures when the first firefighters arrived on scene, but it was quickly brought under control.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service responded to the fire, which was reported about 2:30 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: A wind-driven brush fire burns through a field in Bratt Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Student Arrested For Arson After School Bathroom Fire
February 21, 2013
A Tate High School student was arrested Thursday for arson after setting a fire in a bathroom in the Hall Building at the school.
Jake Austin Calvert, 15, was charged with arson, disturbing the peace (disruption of a school function) and criminal mischief. He was released into the custody of the Division of Youth Services.
The incident occurred about 9:40 a.m. Wednesday. The Tate school resource officer heard someone yell that there was a fire. As the deputy exited his office, he could see dark smoke billowing out of the boy’s bathroom. He retrieved a fire extinguisher and returned to find the principal had already put the flames out.
During the investigation, information was received that Calvert might be responsible for the fire. He was interviewed by school officials, and he admitted to setting the fire “because he wanted to melt the soap dispenser so no one else could get soap to wash their hands,” according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The school was evacuated, but no injuries were reported during the incident.
The fire was also investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Missing Student Found After Three Hour Search
February 21, 2013
A middle school student was located by a K-9 team Wednesday in Walnut Hill, about three hours after she ran away from the school campus.
The sixth grade student was reported missing from Ernest Ward Middle School just after 3 p.m. She apparently fled the campus following a sixth period P.E. class.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and Ernest Ward staff and faculty unsuccessfully searched the school campus and the surrounding area, including the nearby Bradberry Park and a wooded area between the school and the park.
K-9 teams from the Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Road Prison responded to assist in the search. Just before 6 p.m., the Century CI K-9 team located the 12-year old girl where she had crossed through a wooded area east of the school behind the Walnut Hill Post Office, about 150 yards from the school campus.
The sixth grader was apparently unharmed; she was taken to a Pensacola hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.
Pictured top: Sgt. Burley Townson (left) and Ofc. Jamie Sanders (right) from the Century Correctional Institution K-9 team search for a missing student near Ernest Ward Middle School Wednesday afternoon. Pictured inset: The student was reported missing following a P.E. class at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: The girl was found through a wooded area about 150 yards from the campus. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
