Yard Work Program Provides Jobs, Helps Low Income, Disabled Avoid Code Violations
August 9, 2012
The Community Action Program Committee has partnered with the International Paper Foundation and FaithWorks InterFaith Ministries this summer to perform yard services for low-income seniors or disabled customers who are in danger of receiving a code violation.
“This is an annual community service that we have offered each summer for the last three years.” said Renae Cotton, director of the community services department for CAPC. “Many of our seniors or disabled customers, because of financial strain, are facing county code enforcement violations due to the overgrown condition of their home’s yards. Our goal is to remove this one barrier from the difficult decisions seniors have to make based on their limited income.”
For the second straight year, CAPC received a $3,500.00 grant from International Paper to help fund the program.
In addition to providing a much needed service to one of the most vulnerable populations in Escambia County, the partnership will also address an unemployment issue as well.
“Along with students employed by our agency for the summer, FaithWorks will be using its regular YardWorks program workers to service an estimated 150 eligible customers in Escambia County,” said Doug Brown, CAPC executive director. “Most of the work crews are made up of formerly unemployed individuals.”
FaithWorks will train and supervise the crews on how to properly manicure a lawn, equipment usage and maintenance, and the value of hard work.
“Bringing an elderly or disabled, eligible person’s yard up to code while training young people from the CAPC Summer Youth Program in job safety, outdoor tool use and work ethics is an exciting addition to our current YardWorks Program.” said Rick Dye, chief volunteer for FaithWorks.
Persons in Escambia County interested in applying for this yard service program should call Community Action Program Committee office at (850) 438-4021.
Pictured top: By the time Abdul Smith (right) and Antwon Lyons are done, over 150 yards in Escambia County will be mowed to avoid code enforcement violation fineds. Pictured bottom: Javier Cobb has learned that an important task of the Weed Easter operator is to look for uncut grass in a customer’s yard that was missed by the mower operator. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ACLU Targets ‘Unconstitutional’ Religious Behavior At Charter School
August 9, 2012
The ACLU of Northwest Florida is targeting alleged “unconstitutional” religious behavior at an Escambia County charter school.
The letter sent to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas this week by Susan Watson of the ACLU claims that employees at the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy promotes personal religious beliefs.
“They sponsor prayer at various school events and generally proselytize students during classes and other school-sponsored events and activities,” the letter states.
The letter demands that the Escambia County School District issue an immediate order to JHPA employees to cease the alleged behavior.
The ACLU is also demanding that “unconstitutional religious content” be removed the JHPA web page.
The school’s website mentions God in reference to the history behind the school:
“The Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy was named after the late Jacqueline Watson Harris who demonstrated clearly her faith and belief in God. She loved children and believed in each child’s innate ability to learn, however, she believed that the school, parents, community, and church must form a linkage and work together to help our children withstand and overcome the ills of society.”
Pictured: A portion of the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy website.
Popular Farmer’s Opry Closing
August 9, 2012
After over a decade, the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla is closing this fall.
Sandy Wyatt have opened the Farmer’s Opry House almost every Friday and Saturday night with good homestyle food and country entertainment for the past 11 years. But that ends October 6, with Opry opening only for special events, concerts and fundraisers.
Wyatt said he and his wife need a break; they are both reaching retirement age and still work other full tile jobs in addition to the Farmer’s Opry House.
Thursday morning, the Farmer’s Opry posted the following on their Facebook page:
“We want to officially thank everyone in our community (and across the US) for helping us fulfill our dreams over the past 11 years. We’re thankful to have met folks who we would have never otherwise met. We love our community and our family will always be here to support Chumuckla and the surrounding area. The Sawmill Band will continue to perform special events around our area and even at the Opry on occasion.”
K9 Fighting Drugs At Schools
August 9, 2012
A four legged deputy and her handler have been working to keep drugs out of the Santa Rosa County schools.
The lab named “Idgie” and Deputy Marshall Holbrook teamed up for the first year together as a drug fighting duo.
From August 2011 to June 2012, Idgie performed 451 vehicle checks, 103 room checks, 2,300 locker checks and 1,700 bag and personal article checks. Idgie alerted seven times with drugs found, and altered 18 times were drugs were not found but students confirmed that had been drugs.
Besides her drug dog duties, Idgie also performed 125 demonstrations and public appearances.
Pictured above: Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall, Deputy Marshall Holbrook, Idgie, and Santa Rosa County School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Business Tax Bills Mailed
August 9, 2012
Business tax bills have been mailed.
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley was set to mail 22,000 business tax receipt renewal notice last week. Business owners can renew through September 30 without a delinquent penalty.
Business tax receipts can be renewed online, but other options are available including payment by mail, by phone or in person at any one of four tax collector offices.
Applications and information for business tax receipts are available at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the tax collector’s website or call (850) 438‑6500, ext. 3252.
Blue Angels Cancel Three Upcoming Practice Days
August 9, 2012
Three Blue Angels practice sessions at NAS Pensacola have been canceled.
Practices for Friday, August 10, Wednesday, August 15 and Wednesday August 22 have been canceled due to operational requirements, according to the Blues.
The Blue Angels will resume regularly scheduled practice demonstrations onboard NAS Pensacola Wednesday, September 5th.
For more information about the Blue Angels including air show and practice schedules, visit www.BlueAngels.navy.mil.
Pictured: A Blue Angels practice session at NAS Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Hamilton Steals Three As Wahoos Shut Out Lookouts 5-0
August 9, 2012
Pensacola starting pitcher Chad Rogers earned his second win in as many starts at the Double-A level, with relievers Drew Hayes and Justin Freeman keeping Chattanooga off the board, while shortstop Billy Hamilton stole three bases to increase his total to 131 as the Blue Wahoos shut out the Lookouts 5-0 on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win, the Fish moved to a 24-22 record in the second of the season, keeping within two games of the first-place Jacksonville Suns in the South Division. Chattanooga fell to a 26-20 mark since the All-Star Break with the loss.
Rogers (6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) threw six solid innings to improve to 2-0 with the Blue Wahoos, yielding just three hits while striking out six. Rogers also recorded his first professional hit of his career with a triple to center in the sixth, later scoring. Hayes (2.0 IP, 2 SO) and Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 H) followed Rogers by combining to give up just one hit and no walks in the final three frames, while Lookouts starter Matt Magill (5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss.
The scoreless outing from Freeman increased his scoreless consecutive innings streak to 21.2 innings dating back to June 22. In those 17 appearances, the right-hander has been successful in all 11 save opportunities and combined to give up just seven hits. Left-hander Tony Cingrani owns the team-record at 24.0 straight shutout frames, having accomplished that task between June 22 until July 13.
After reaching on an infield hit in the fourth, Hamilton proceeded to swipe second and then third, before coming home on a throwing error to push Pensacola up 1-0. The speedster tallied his third theft of the contest two innings later after reaching on a base knock before taking advantage of a wild pitch for the club’s second score of the inning, which made it 4-0.
3B David Vidal, who reached base three times, led off the fifth with a double and advanced to third on a flyout before being sent in on C Mark Fleury’s sacrifice fly to center. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth after RF Josh Fellhauer drew a free pass, his third of the game and got to third on a base knock prior to scoring on a fielder’s choice.
Hamilton (2-4, 2 R) was the lone Blue Wahoos batter to record two hits in the contest, while Chattanooga RF Blake Smith (2-4, 1 2B) collected half of the Lookouts’ four base knocks. With his three thefts, the 21-year-old has now stolen 131 bases this season, meaning he needs 15 to break Vince Coleman’s single-season Minor League record of 145, which he set in 1983.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again Thursday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. LHP Tony Cingrani is slated to toe the rubber for the Blue Wahoos, while the Lookouts are expected to counter with LHP Aaron Miller.
Andrew Green
Residents Dumping Landlines And Going Wireless Only
August 9, 2012
North Escambia residents and people across Florida are continuing to turn off traditional home phone lines as they rely on wireless phones and voice services from Internet providers.
According to a new report by the Florida Public Service Commission traditional residential lines declined 16 percent between December 31, 2010, and December 31, 2011. During the same period, business lines increased 8 percent.
The report also says about 17.6 million wireless handsets were in service as of June 2011, or nearly one for every Floridia resident.
Overall, the report said 93 percent of Florida households had telephone service as of July 2011, slightly lower than the national rate of 96 percent.
In an informal Facebook survey, we asked NorthEscambia.com readers what they think about landlines versus cell service only.
Here are selected responses:
- “I would not rely on my cell phone. I am in Cottage Hill and Sprint is awful on my road.” — Rhonda Johnson, Cottage Hill
- “We have had our cell phone for seven years…been without a home phone for close to nine years,” — Kimberly McCullough, Walnut Hill
- “Been seven years with only a cell phone and for the last three years no computer; everything done over my cell phone. Don’t think I will ever have a land line. Bigger question might be why should anyone have a land line?” — Autry Singleton, Walnut Hill
- “I only use my cell phone. Land line is to expensive for long distance and all the other features that are standard on cell phones.” — Amber Chestnut, Pensacola
- “We have not had a house phone in over seven years. We cut it out just to cut expenses and with kids, we always gave schools/people our cell phones in case they were off and got hurt or needed anything.” — Jennifer Peebles, McDavid
- “I have a landline because about 90 percent of the time my cell through Sprint does not work out here. The texts works most of the time and sometimes it rings. But for the most part you lose the one you are talking to within a minute. Bright House in not always dependable, but at least I know I have a line out most of the time.” — Rhonda Johnson, Cottage Hill
- “I only have cell phone.” — Wendy Booker, Jay
- “If we could get internet in our location from someone other than the “Phone Co.” we would probably cut our home phone. For now, since we wish to keep the DSL internet, we have a phone that is for incoming calls and outgoing 911 calls only. I feel a little safer that we have a “landline” to make 911 calls.” — Nancy Peters, Walnut Hill
- “We have cell phones only and internet through ATT Uverse.” — Jessica Smith-Jalomo, Milton
- “Called Bright House yesterday and told them to turn off TV and Phone. We do not use enough of either to have to pay for it. I decided to keep Bright House internet and that gives us access to every thing we could possibly need.” — Donna Barnes, Cantonment
- “We ditched our landline about four years ago!” — Tammie Dortch, Bratt
- “We disconnected our landline several years ago because the bill made no sense. A basic package with voice mail and caller ID was only supposed to be $32 but after all the taxes and fees it came up to nearly $65! And my husband and I still needed cell phones so we could be reached away from home in case of an emergency with the kids. Each cell is a flat $50 a month (I did away with contract cell service because they had the same billing problems as the landline) so budgeting is much easier.” — Gwen Butler, Pensacola
- “I don’t have a landline anymore. Just my cell. Internet sevice at home and wifi hotspot from Verizon.” — Dave Murzin, Pensacola
- “No landline here. Cell phone is a necessity!” — Katie Mayo, Pensacola
- “We cut our landline off about three years ago after having one for over 20 years. Everyone in our family has Verizon cellphones and we realized that we was just paying a bill each month for solicitors to annoy us. We have not missed ours at all.” — Kimberly Burkett, Byrneville
Molino Residents Report Tornado, Only Minor Damage Found; About 300 Lose Power
August 8, 2012
Residents of a Molino neighborhood reported wind damage and a possible tornado this afternoon, but there was no serious damage in what appeared to be the result of just thunderstorm winds.
About 1 p.m., the Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to Crest Way, just east of Highway 29 near the Escambia County Sheriff’s Molino Substation. Callers told Escambia County dispatchers that they saw debris flying through the air as storm passed through the area.
A small tree was downed on one yard on Crest Way and a few small outdoor items and basketball goals were blown about. Along the west side of Highway 29 at Crest Lane, a couple of large tree limbs were broken. There was no structural damage and no injuries.
There were no watches or warnings at the time and no official reports of a possible tornado.
Gulf Power reported that about 300 customers lost power during the storm as the result of a lightning strike.
Pictured above: A small tree downed by high wind gusts Wednesday afternoon on Crest Way in Molino. Note that the street sign for Crest Way is the foreground of the photo, blown from a nearby signpost. Picture inset and below: Tree limbs were broken at two homes along Highway 29 at Crest Lane. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Gun Response Team’ Investigating Pensacola Drive-By Shooting
August 8, 2012
The new Gun Response Unit — a multi-agency law enforcement team — is investigating a drive-by shooting Tuesday afternoon in Pensacola.
The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. with multiple shots fired at a home in the 2400 block of West Jackson Street.
Pensacola Police Department Capt. David Alexander said multiple people were inside and outside the residence when shots were fired from a Dodge Durango that was last seen headed northbound on S Street.
Witnesses initially told police four black males with their faces covered were inside the vehicle when it pulled up to the house. Alexander said detectives believe more than one person fired the shots.
An exact number of people inside and outside the house at the time of the shooting was not available. There were no injuries.
The Gun Response Team is being utilized in the investigation of this incident. The team was first announced Monday as a join operation of theEscambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office. Also assisting in the venture will be the Florida Department of Probation and Parole, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Marshal’s and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.