Florida Unemployment Rate Drops; Escambia And Santa Rosa Up
December 22, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed the unemployment rate up just in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, while Florida saw improvement statewide.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate inched up from 8.1 percent in October to 8.2 percent in Nover. There were 106 more people reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,242 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.9 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment was also up slightly from 7.0 percent in October to 7.1 percent in November. Santa Rosa County had a total of 5,073 persons reported to be still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.9 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment down from 9.6 percent in October to 8.2 percent in November. That represented 1,206 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 9.0 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s jobless rate fell in November to 8.1 percent, its lowest rate since late 2008, sparking optimism from Gov. Rick Scott who outlined a list of economic bright spots Friday. The November rate was a 0.4 percentage point drop from October and 2 percentage points lower than November 2011, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday.
Florida continued to close in on the national jobless rate, which fell 0.2 points to 7.7 percent in November.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 7.5 percent in November, was down from October’s rate of 8.1 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 8.3 percent.
Dept Of Ed Releases High School Grades
December 22, 2012
School grades for high schools were released Friday by the Florida Department of Education.
Every high school in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties maintained their school grades from last year, with the exception of three. In Escambia County, Northview slipped from a B to C, and in Santa Rosa, Jay and Pace improved to A status.
The school grades are a Department of Education representation of how schools are performing relative to state standards.
Tate and Pensacola High both received a B-rating despite earning enough points to be labeled as A schools. Both were penalized because the graduation rate was not increased by 5 percent or more among “at-risk” students – those that scored a poor 1 or 2 on the FCAT in reading or math in eighth grade.
FHSAA Announces New Football Districts – Big Changes For Tate, Catholic
December 22, 2012
Friday, Florida High School Athletic Association released tentative football classifications and districts for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.
The proposed classifications mean a big change for Tate, big miles for Catholic and the same big dreams of a state championship for Northview.
Four schools — Tate, Crestview, Navarre and Niceville — will form a new District 1-7A. The six other big schools in the area — Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest and Washington — will remain in 6A.
A growing Catholic High will have some serious road trips with a move to 1-3A, a district that includes only schools in the Jacksonville area. The Crusaders can appeal to move up to 4A with schools in Tallahassee, Marianna and DeFuniak Springs. Or Catholic can appeal to jump into 1-5A with West Florida, Gulf Breeze and three Panama City area schools.
Meanwhile, District 1-1A remains the same for the next couple of years, with the state champion Northview Chiefs, Jay, Baker and Freeport.
The district announcements won’t become final until after a January 18 appeals deadline passes.
District 1-7A
- Tate
- Crestview
- Navarre
- Niceville
District 1-6A
- Escambia
- Milton
- Pace
- Pensacola High
- Pine Forest
- Washington
District 1-5A
- West Florida
- Gulf Breeze
- Panama City Arnold
- Panama City Bay
- Panama City Rutherford
District 1-3A
- Catholic
- Jacksonville Bishop Snyder
- Jacksonville Episcopal
- Jacksonville Providence
- Jacksonville Trinity Christian
- St. Augustine St. Joseph
District 1-1A
- Northview
- Jay
- Baker
- Freeport
Sixth Red Bulb Lit In Wreath Fire Safety Campaign
December 22, 2012
A sixth green bulb has been replaced with red representing another residential fire in the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
The fire was reported at 12:56 a.m. Friday in the 9700 block of Fowler Avenue. A single wide mobile home received major damage in the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s office. Firefighters from Ensley, Bellview, Cantonment, and Ferry Pass responded to the fire.
The American Red Cross was called to assist the resident. The Osceola, Myrtle Grove, Brent and Warrington stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
During this, the ninth year of the campaign, there are five-foot wreaths on display at 27 different fire stations and other locations throughout the county.
ECUA Sanitation Christmas Holiday Changes
December 22, 2012
ECUA residential sanitation collections scheduled for Tuesday will be made one day early, on Monday, December 24. The change includes garbage, recycling and yard trash collection across most of the North Escambia area.
Dumpster service collections for commercial customers will be made on Wednesday, December 26 instead of Tuesday, December 25.
For more information, click here.
State Lawmaker Call For Armed Officers At Elementary Schools
December 22, 2012
Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, on Friday called on Gov. Rick Scott and fellow lawmakers to place an armed school resource officer in every Florida elementary school as a way to prevent a repeat of the tragic mass shootings are Sandy Hook Elementary School last week.
Echoing a proposal floated Friday morning by the National Rifle Association, Fasano said the mere presence of an armed law enforcement officer may be enough to prevent a repeat of the recent shooting the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school that claimed the lives of 20 children.
“While this no doubt will be an expensive proposition, no price tag can be placed on the lives of the precious children our public schools are entrusted with each and every day of the school year,” Fasano wrote.
Escambia County currently has armed school resource officers at middle and high schools, but not elementary schools.
Santa Rosa Bus Systems Ending
December 22, 2012
The last day of service for Santa Rosa Transit will be next Friday, December 28.
Santa Rosa Transit was a pilot public transportation program mainly along U.S. Hwy. 90, from the Santa Rosa Industrial Park to a connection to the Escambia County Area Transit system at Nine Mile Road and University Parkway. In October, a majority of the commission voted to no longer fund the county’s portion of the program due to insufficient ridership.
The public transportation service began on December 7, 2010, with approximately 14,000 one-way tickets purchased over two years. Ridership increased from 167 in December 2010 to a peak of 841 passengers in October 2012. Operating costs for the program for December 2010 to November 2012 were $269,309. The county was responsible for funding 18 percent with federal grants funding 77 percent and ticket sales accounting for only five percent of operating costs.
Santa Rosa Transit service was provided through the cooperation of the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners, Pensacola Bay Transportation LLC, the Florida – Alabama Transportation Planning Organization, and the Federal Transit Administration. Santa Rosa County was the project manager, the Florida – Alabama Transportation Planning Organization procured the buses and was the federal grant recipient, and Pensacola Bay Transportation LLC was the operator.
Spirit Of Giving: Tate, McArthur Students Help Ronald McDonald House
December 22, 2012
The kindergarten classes at MrArthur Elementary School collected wish list items for the Ronald McDonald House instead of exchanging Christmas gifts with each other.
And the Tate High School National Honor Society stopped by to volunteer during the week (pictured below).
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injury In Multi-Car Wreck On Highway 29
December 21, 2012
One person was injured in a multiple vehicle crash Friday afternoon near Molino.
Initial reports indicated that as many as a half dozen vehicles were involved in the accident about 2:30 on Highway 29 at Barrineau Park Road. The injured person was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
All traffic lanes were reported to be open by 3:15 p.m.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Names and other details surrounding the crash have not yet been released.
New Photo Of Person Of Interest In Pen Air Robbery
December 21, 2012
Escambia County Sheriff’s investigators are hoping you will recognize two men seen in a surveillance photo released Friday morning.
Investigators said the men are believed to have information about the November 27 robbery of the Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century. They were driving a dark colored Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck with a silver toolbox. The photos were were obtained from a car wash in West Pensacola on November 27.
If you have any information about the men pictured, call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.