Historical Society To Manage New Molino Community Center
October 1, 2012
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society will manage the new Molino Community Center and Historical Museum when it opens later this month in the newly renovated old Molino Elementary School.
The historical society will pay the county $3 for a three-year lease on the facility.
The Escambia County Department of Community Affairs has partnered with local, non-profit organizations in the management of community centers throughout the county. The organizations provide the ongoing management related to the facilities. In exchange the non-profits receive lease fees from other groups, businesses and individuals that lease the community center for special events.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Local Governments Begin New Budget Years
October 1, 2012
Monday was the first day of the new 2012-2013 budget year for local governments.
The Escambia County Commission approved a $356 million fiscal year 2012-2013 budget with no tax increases.
The Town of Century’s budget for the fiscal year is about $2.14 million less than last year. The 2012-2013 budget was set at $2,889,827. Last year’s $5,032,816 budget was unusually large for Century due to grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000. There were no ad valorem tax increases.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power, ECUA Water Reuse Project Wins National Award
October 1, 2012
Gulf Power Company has won a national award for its water reuse project with Emerald Coast Utility Authority, after reusing nearly five billion gallons of treated wastewater at its Plant Crist rather than water from the Escambia River.
The WateReuse Association named Gulf Power the Water Reuse Customer of the Year. In 2010, ECUA began piping water from its new water treatment plant in Cantonment to Gulf Power, which uses the water in its steam generating process.
Gulf Power has reclaimed more than 4.8 billion gallons of reclaimed water — the equivalent of 7,318 Olympic-size swimming pools.
The award recognizes customers who have advanced the acceptance of water reuse through innovative marketing and/or unique applications of reclaimed water.
“With our scrubber system we are providing cleaner electricity for Northwest Florida, but this partnership with ECUA also helps preserve and conserve a valuable natural resource,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications Manager. “It shows that through partnerships, we can provide solutions for sustainable resources and responsible growth. This partnership benefits Northwest Florida with cleaner air and cleaner water.”
At Plant Crist, Gulf Power has significantly reduced the amount of water it draws from Escambia River. The reclaimed water, which is highly treated, is used by Plant Crist to cool air going into the scrubber system and for equipment-cooling operations. Up to 80 percent of the water is evaporated.
The scrubber system, which cost $645 million and started operating in December 2009, reduces regulated air emissions from Plant Crist by more than 95 percent.
Pictured top: Gulf Power’s Plant Crist with a scrubber system in operation (right tower). Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Holland Named ‘Ag Innovator’
October 1, 2012
Bruce Holland of Allentown has been named the the Santa Rosa County Agriculture Innovator of the Year.
Holland, who operates Holland Farms, received the award from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service. Holland Farms is a diversified business that produces fresh produce, green peanuts, and is involved in agro-tourism with their pumpkin patch and other fall events.
The farm is a family affair with all the members of the family involved in different activities. BJ Holland, Bruce’s son and the farms manager, is responsible for starting the hay ride and the haunted hay ride last year.
Bruce’s daughter Julie, a high school business teacher, helps out with the farm’s bookkeeping and maintains their website and Facebook page. Bruce’s brothers Charles and Melvin also assist in the daily operation of the farm.
Whether it be in producing, marketing, adding value to existing crops, developing agro-tourism venues, or promoting agriculture they have led the way. Bruce says the key to their success is simply
“We like people, I like visiting with folks. When they come to our farm we go out of our way to make sure they feel welcomed and have a good time. It’s a long way out here to the farm and we want to make it worthwhile to the people who come,” Holland said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dig Pink Volleyball Matches To Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness
October 1, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes will take part in a Dig Pink volleyball match this week to raise breast cancer awareness.
Dig Pink is an organization raising awareness for cancer through volleyball. A hospitality room will be available for survivors and cancer survivors will receive free admission to the games.
The Dig Pink event will take place Thursday, October 4 with the junior varsity playing at 4:30 and the varsity playing at 6:00 at Northview High School in Bratt.
Donations are being accepted now on the Northview Dig Pink website (click here.)
Pictured: Action from last year’s Dig Pink matchup between Northview and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Joins Probe Into Suspicious Voter Registration Forms
September 30, 2012
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating potential voter registration fraud after reports of false forms were reported in several Florida counties including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
State election officials have called in the FDLE to investigate allegations that a Virginia-based voter registration gathering firm hired by the Republican Party of Florida may have faked or destroyed voter registration applications.
Chris Cate, spokesman for the Florida Department of State, said the agency has turned over a complaint filed by the RPOF against Strategic Allied Consultants, which had been gathering applications from would-be voters under a $1.3 million contract.
The suspicious voter registration forms were first reported in Palm Beach County. Late last week, Escambia County officials reported irregularities with a “significant” number of suspicious voter registration forms.
“There was enough suspicion about several of these to warrant us looking into them further and ultimately asking the State Attorney’s Office to get involved,”said Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
About 100 of the irregular forms were also reported in Santa Rosa County.
State Attorney Bill Eddins says they suspect a large number of the applications were turned in by Strategic Allied Consultants.
The state party cut ties to the company earlier this week when the allegations were exposed, according to RPOF’s Executive Director Mark Grissom. On Thursday, the Republican National Committee followed suit, cancelling contracts with the company that was doing work for the RNC in at least four more states.
The complaint has not been released, and an agency spokesman said it was being reviewed to determine what portions could be released to comply with Florida public records law.
“Some documents regarding this matter are exempt from public records disclosure at this time,” Cate said. “The department will review any responsive records within its possession and provide any non-exempt documents.”
Mike Huckabee Campaigns For Romney In Pensacola (With Photo Gallery)
September 30, 2012
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee brought the Republican message to Escambia County Saturday afternoon, campaigning for presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Huckabee spoke to several hundred energized Romney-Ryan supporters.
“One of the things we are trying with the Romney campaign is to make sure that voters understand there is a real difference between Mitt Romney and Barrack Obama as it relates to people of faith,” Huckabee said at the “Victory Meet and Greet” event at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Pictured: Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appeared at a Romney-Ryan campaign event in Pensacola Saturday afternoon. Photos by Cheryl Casey for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Becomes Trapped Between A Tractor And A Tree
September 30, 2012
A man is recovering today after his foot was partially crushed by a tractor Saturday near McDavid.
The man was working on a food plot off Roach Road when his small farm tractor slid into a tree, trapping the man’s foot between the running board of the tractor and the tree. First responders used a winch to pull the tractor away from the tree and off the man’s foot.
He was transported to an area hospital in good condition.
Oops: ‘Extra’ Lane Suddenly Added To Highway 29 Saturday
September 30, 2012
An “extra” lane appeared on Highway 29 in McDavid Saturday. A white paint stripe in the middle of an outside lane now stretches along several miles of a recently paved area of Highway 29 from McDavid to near Barth. The source of the paint was not immediately known. Submitted photo by Misty Lord for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cross Country: J.D. Mac Invitational Results
September 30, 2012
About 300 runners took part in the J.D. Mac Cross County Invitational Saturday in Jay, representing over a dozen schools.
For the boys, Navarre finished first, followed by Pensacola Christian, West Florida and Tate. The overall top male runner was Tony Wiggins of Tate High School with a time of 16:37.
The top girls team was West Florida, followed by Crestview, Catholic, Gulf Breeze and Navarre. The first place female runner was Kaysi Robert of West Florida High School with a time of 19:08.
Overall results were as follows:
BOYS TEAMS
- Navarre — 36
- Pensacola Christian — 68
- West Florida Tech — 86
- Tate — 115
- Pine Forest — 119
- Crestview — 172
- Gulf Breeze — 176
- Pensacola HS — 222
- Pensacola Catholic — 256
- Jay — 259
- Escambia HS — 288
- Milton — 325
- Central — 361
- Rocky Bayou — 400
GIRLS TEAMS
- West Florida Tech — 70
- Crestview — 79
- Pensacola Catholic — 104
- Gulf Breeze — 127
- Navarre — 129
- Jay High — 176
- Pensacola Christian — 180
- Rocky Bayou — 186
- Pine Forest — 199
- Pensacola HS — 242
- Central High — 243
- Tate — 280
- Escambia HS — 334
- Milton — 394
GIRLS
- Kaysi Robert , West Florida Tech — 19:08
- Raliegh Nesbit , West Florida Tech — 19:47
- Lauren Cochran , Pensacola Christian — 19:58
- Alexis Parnell , Gulf Breeze — 20:02
- Sunnie Patch , Pine Forest — 20:31
- Jessica Thornton , Jay — 20:33
- Katrina Silva , Crestview — 20:48
- Allison Ammons , Crestview — 21:09
- Charlene Sanchez , West Florida Tech — 21:12
- Sarah Jacobs , Pensacola Christian¬¬ — 21:18
- Jorja Agrait , Jay — 21:21
- Natalie Campion , Catholic — 21:40
- Zuleika Matos-Medina , Crestview — 21:42
- Kylie Foster , Navarre — 21:44
- Raina Quintanilla , Navarre — 21:50
- Rebecca Farr , Catholic — 21:55
- Dale Gibson , Catholic — 21:58
- Justice Waldrup , Pine Forest — 22:11
- Savanna Brown , Jay — 22:21
- Melissa Kannapel , Crestview — 22:27
- Andraya Mendez , Navarre — 22:31
- Priscilla Baum , Rocky Bayou — 22:31
- Brianna Leatherwood , Pensacola HS — 22:33
- Dominque Gaines , Gulf Breeze — 22:34
- Kennedy Cook , Gulf Breeze — 22:42
- Kaitlin Lockridge , Pensacola Catholic — 22:48
- Nicole Baum , Rocky Bayou — 22:51
- Hanna Moore , West Florida Tech — 22:56.2
- Mary Grace Ruiz , Pensacola HS — 22:56.9
- Lynn Arthur , West Florida Tech — 22:59
- Danielle Tylee , Crestview — 23:02
- Meghan Heintzelman , Pine Forest — 23:12
- Gabrielle Endacott , Pensacola Catholic — 23:15
- Seira Sanchez , Navarre — 23:16.1
- Megan Henderson , Pensacola Christian — 23:16.9
- Frances Williams , Gulf Breeze — 23:20
- Hannah Philips , Tate — 23:22
- Madison Thompson , Gulf Breeze — 23:25
- Alex Chastain , Gulf Breeze — 23:34
- Megan Slagle , Rocky Bayou — 23:36
- Beth Smith , Central — 23:37
- Magen Olander , Gulf Breeze — 23:38
- Marfee Simbulan , West Florida — 23:45
- Tara Ryan , Rocky Bayou — 23:46
- August Stone , Navarre — 23:50
- Beth Hopkins , Central — 23:54
- Chelsea Pena , Navarre — 23:56
- Dacotah Ledbetter , Tate — 24:03:00
- Kennedy Fuller , Central — 24:09:00
- Cameron Dilliard , Central — 24:10.1
- Laurel Peoples , Escambia HS — 24:10.5
- Anna Scott , Baker — 24:18:00
- Anna Anderson , Rocky Bayou — 24:19:00
- Alex Hayden , Baker — 24:20:00
- Olivia Warren , Pensacola HS — 24:24:00
- Hannah Driscoll , Escambia HS — 24:36.2
- Eric Waters , Central — 24:36.7
- Jessica Whaley , Tate — 24:37:00
- Brittini Thompson , Escambia HS — 24:41:00
- Mackenzie Devine , Pensacola HS — 24:44:00
- Brenda Baum , Rocky Bayou — 24:54:00
- Samantha Wagner , Navarre — 25:03:00
- Ann Brock , Pensacola Christian — 25:16:00
- Erin Bell , Milton — 25:17:00
- Kali Wagner , Milton — 25:30:00
- Emily Doran , Tate — 25:33.5
- Jenna Thornton , Jay — 25:33.8
- Shannon Cole , Pine Forest — 25:37:00
- Monica Smith , Pensacola Christian — 25:50:00
- Morgan Boston , Rocky Bayou — 26:07:00
- Tina Blakely , Tate — 26:17:00
- Olivia Endacott , Pensacola Catholic — 26:22:00
- Kendra Weekes , Jay — 26:25:00
- Mikayla Gagnon , Pensacola Christian — 26:37:00
- Yasmine Humeda , Pensacola HS — 26:45:00
- Hannah Frishberg , Pine Forest — 26:53:00
- Mary DeRevil , Pensacola Catholic — 26:55:00
- Sierra Brannon , Baker — 26:58:00
- Alexis Mitchem , Jay — 26:58:00
- RayAnn Free , Jay — 27:41:00
- Esther Barnhart , Pensacola Catholic — 27:43:00
- Erin Saueressig , Crestview — 27:57:00
- Hannah Loffreda , Escambia HS — 28:17:00
- Allaina Morrow , Central — 28:45:00
- Sydney Sheidt , Escambia HS — 29:40:00
- Erin Bell , Milton — 30:04:00
- Emily Hausner , Escambia HS — 30:13:00
- Kali Wagner , Milton — 30:28:00
- Danielle Davis , Escambia HS — 30:47:00
- Cheyenne Brannon , Baker — 31:03:00
- Taylor Dreher , Milton — 31:21:00
- Cara Hudson , East Hill — 32:05:00
- Elizabeth Patterson , Milton — 33:53:00
BOYS
- Tony Wiggins , Tate — 16:37
- James Mullin , Navarre — 16:42
- Trent Beck , Navarre — 16:53
- Jonah Griego , Navarre — 17:00.3
- Micah Kemp , Jay — 17:00.5
- Joshua Balentine , Pensacola Christian — 17:09
- Justin Jekel , Pensacola Christian — 17:22
- Bradley Lynn , Pine Forest — 17:26
- Alec Clarke , West Florida Tech — 17:42
- Jonah Gann , Gulf Breeze — 17:46
- Jeremy Carlson , Pensacola Christian — 17:48
- Dominic Dudai , Navarre — 17:50
- David Wright , West Florida Tech — 17:51
- Joe Peinty , Crestview — 17:53
- Tanner Wilcox , Navarre — 17:56
- Chris Barbee , Navarre — 17:58
- Nick Hughes , Pine Forest — 18:01
- Dylan Wakefield , West Florida Tech — 18:07
- Alex Bullock , West Florida Tech — 18:11
- Kody Johnson , Pensacola Christian — 18:13
- Spencer Simpson , Pine Forest — 18:26
- Coner Reed , Tate — 18:28
- Brandon Johnson , Crestview — 18:29
- John Crist , Pensacola Christian — 18:40
- Hunter Stewart , Pensacola Christian — 18:40
- Daniel Keely , Tate — 18:50
- Seth Modin , West Florida Tech — 18:54
- Chris Peterson , Pensacola Christian — 18:55
- Kyle Cochran , Tate — 18:58
- Miller Mott , Pensacola HS — 18:59
- Stephan Pressley , Pine Forest — 19:00
- Lavares Calhoun , Escambia HS — 19:01
- Cody Wolfe , Jay — 19:02
- Matt Babikow , Gulf Breeze — 19:03
- Mitch Anderson , Navarre — 19:04
- John Taylor , Gulf Breeze — 19:09
- Chris Love , Tate — 19:10
- Josh Davis , Crestview — 19:16.0
- Will Langhorne , Pensacola HS — 19:17.0
- Dave Nolen , Tate — 19:22
- David Cuevas , Pensacola Catholic — 19:23
- Victor Peterson , Pine Forest — 19:26
- David Mongeau , Pensacola Catholic — 19:27
- Devin Patrick , Escambia HS — 19:30
- Matt Kannapel , Crestview — 19:31
- Chandler Hoskins , Gulf Breeze — 19:35
- Tristan Wu , Pensacola HS — 19:39.1
- Chris Doran , Tate — 19:39.9
- Adam Sanchez , Pensacola HS — 19:40
- Nick Stavinski , Gulf Breeze — 19:42
- Kyle Fuller , Central — 19:45
- Josh Cyrus , Crestview — 20:02
- Virgil Homes , Milton — 20:04
- John Stopper , Gulf Breeze — 20:05
- Patrick Feagles , Pensacola Catholic — 20:06
- Conner Irby , Pine Forest — 20:22
- Johnny Lengyel , Pensacola HS — 20:24
- Henry Marcille , Pensacola Catholic — 20:32
- Chase Birdwell , Pensacola Catholic — 20:34
- Bailey Banyard , Gulf Breeze — 20:54
- Mark Foley , Jay — 21:02
- Tony Scott , Crestview — 21:04
- Andrew Harris , Milton — 21:16
- Phillip Adams , Escambia — 21:25
- Sam Francin , Pensacola Catholic — 21:32
- Matthew Predmore , Milton — 21:43
- Evan Stenerson , Milton — 21:47
- Demetrius Davidson , Pine Forest — 21:51
- Cody Craine , Rocky Bayou — 21:54
- Stephen Van Ostenbridge , Pensacola HS — 21:56
- Joshua Strength , Central — 21:58
- Morgan Givens , Central — 22:06
- Dyllan Viquelia , Escambia — 22:26.2
- Sam Peterson , Pensacola Catholic — 22:26.8
- Angel Aldahondo , Escambia HS — 23:30
- Joey Brill , Milton — 24:06:00
- Sean Wilde , Rocky Bayou — 24:23:00
- Hunter Phillips , Rocky Bayou — 24:27:00
- Joey Belanger , Jay — 24:36:00
- Kenny Bothwell , Pensacola HS — 25:01:00
- Austin Gonzalez , Jay — 25:11:00
- Brendon Becker , Escambia HS — 25:24:00
- Henning Lee , Central — 25:30:00
- Garrett Pierce , Central — 25:53:00
- Ryan Frasier , Baker — 26:25:00
- Michael Warner , Rocky Bayou — 26:26:00
- Jeremy Le , East Hill — 26:28:00
- Noah Goodson , Jay — 27:04:00
- Tyler Watson , Escambia HS — 27:25:00
- Micah Corbin , Rocky Bayou — 27:44:00
- Dillon Demarra , Rocky Bayou — 28:03:00
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.