‘He’s a Good Boy” – Gov. Rick Scott’s Mother Passes Away
November 14, 2012
Esther Scott, mother of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, passed away Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri after battling an infection for the past several weeks. She was 84.
The governor notified the media of his mother’s death via Twitter in a message: “My Mom – one of the only constants in my life – has passed away. Ann and I are comforted by all the thoughts and prayers for our family.” Funeral arrangements for Esther Scott were not immediately available.
During his first two years in office, Scott has repeatedly spoken of his working class family that experienced many economic ups and downs but exemplified the American Dream. He especially singled out his mother as a source of strength.
During the 2010 campaign, Esther was featured in a 30-second spot. “He’s a good boy,” she said. “He’ll get Florida back to work.”
“He is going to make the best governor that Florida has ever had,” Esther Scott told NorthEscambia.com is an exclusive campaign interview. “He will do the best that he can for this state, and keep every promise or die trying.”
For a NorthEscambia.com’s exclusive 2010 campaign trail interview with Esther Scott, click here.
Pictured: Esther Scott, mother of Gov. Ricks Scott, sat down for an interview with NorthEscambia.com on the campaign trail in 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escaped Work Release Inmate Caught
November 14, 2012
An inmate that escaped from a work release program was captured early Tuesday morning.
Damon Lamont Smith, 27, was found by deputies walking near the intersection of Palafox Street and Larton Street and taken into custody without incident by Escambia County deputies.
Correctional officers told deputies that Smith was disruptive throughout the night. Officers were in the process of trying to gain compliance from Smith when he fled out of the facility, according to a news release.
Smith was charged with escape with an additional bond set at $15,000. Further details have not been released.
Deadline Extended To Order Smoked Butts, Turkeys; FFA Fruit Sale Continues
November 13, 2012
The deadline has been extended to Thursday to place an order in the Northview High School FFA Alumni Smoked Turkey and Boston Butt Sale, just in time for Thanksgiving. And, the Northview FFA’s Fruit Sale is also underway.
Turkeys And Boston Butts
In the annual fund raiser, you can choose either a seven to nine pound smoked Boston butt or a 10-12 pound smoked turkey for $28 each.
Boston butts will be available for pick up on Monday, November 19, and the smoked turkeys will be available for pickup on Tuesday, November 20. Both pick up days will be from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Northview High School FFA Scholarship Fund. The sale is sponsored by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse in Molino. For a printable order form that you can mail to the school with your payment, click here. Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 15.
Fruit Sale
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Tuesday, November 27. The delivery date is Tuesday, December 18.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
No Major Damage In Reported Kitchen Fire
November 13, 2012
There was no major damage in a kitchen fire Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the reported fire about 4:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Juniper Street. The fire was out when the first firefighters arrived on scene at the mobile home.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Inside A Trial By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
November 13, 2012
Completing a 160-hour training course to become a certified volunteer firefighter is nothing like being in a classroom when the final exam becomes a flaming reality.
For a newbie volunteer, being told that you will sit on the floor of an abandoned home as a fire is lit and you will experience a “rollover” can be unnerving. In a rollover, hot gases at the ceiling level begin to ignite and “tongues” of flame begin to lick above your head. It’s a step that often precedes a “flashover” — one of the most feared phenomena among firefighters where hot gases explode into flames at or above 1,000 degrees. A flashover is often the deadly point of no return for anyone in a room — including firefighters.
Saturday morning in Atmore, dozens of firefighters gathered for a “live burn”, where an abandoned house was to be burned to the ground as part of a training exercise. For volunteers from Nokomis and Appleton, it was the final part of their 160-hour certification with the help of the Atmore and Poarch fire departments.
For a photo gallery from the firefighter training, click here.
For a photo gallery of the home burning, click here.
The day started with baseline medical checks of volunteers and last minute safety briefings. Then it was time to suit up and heat things up.
As firefighters put on their breathing apparatus, the fear in one firefighter’s eyes became apparent. Her eyes flashed nervously about the crowd. She had been fighting a bit of claustrophobia throughout the classroom portion of the training. There was no more hiding it from her fellow volunteers. Coupled with the embarrassment, it became even worse. Off the came the breathing mask, as other firefighters tried to assure her that it was all going to be OK.
She was devastated, concerned that perhaps her days in the fire department were over. She was reassured that firefighters do much more than race into burning buildings, and there would be a place for her in the department. Volunteers, she was told, are needed to drive trucks, run pumping equipment, help the injured at car accidents, run medical calls — the list just goes on and on for those willing to volunteer their time.
The volunteer firefighters were divided into three groups for their first live burn experience. Some laughed, joked and posed for pictures in their new, clean gear before going into their first house fire. Others stood quietly, shuffling on their feet and wringing their hands.
They moved inside, and sat shoulder to shoulder on the living room floor of the abandoned wood frame home. In the next room, through open French doors, instructors lit a fire.
Slowly, the fire began to smoke, flames dancing higher and higher in the corner of the room. The new volunteers watched with apprehension as the flames reached the ceiling. Outside the home, old single pane glass windows began to creak and pop from the heat. Smoke began to roll from under the eaves of the room. Even the spiders began evacuate, dropping on the ground around the house.
Thick smoke began to layer down toward the firefighters. Slowly, the rollover began. Tongues of fire began to appear in the smoke, licking along the ceiling above their heads as the fire was quickly brought under control to prevent a flashover.
Three groups took part in the experience. As the last group exited the burning house, the volunteer that had experienced the bout with claustrophobia exited and pulled off her face mask to the applause of her firefighter family. She had beaten the fear, and beaten the trial by fire.
For a photo gallery from the firefighter training, click here.
For a photo gallery of the home burning, click here.
Pictured top and bottom inset: Firefighter trainees inside a burning home in Atmore. Pictured top inset: The home on Carver Avenue was burnt to the ground as part of the exercise. Pictured below: Firefighters train on hose usage. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Century Town Clerk Graduates From Clerk Institute
November 13, 2012
Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez has completed her certification work at the Florida State University’s Institute of Government as is now eligible for certification through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
Gonzalez began working toward certification in October 2010, shortly after being named Century’s town clerk.
“Being a clerk means something different to me because I am the town clerk of my hometown,” she said. “All clerks are a special group of people, but to know that when I go to work in the morning, I make a difference in the place where I grew up, the place where citizens know my family, the place where I played in the dirt so many years ago, has been delightfully rewarding.”
Gonzalez was president of her clerk class of 20 and was the speaker at the graduation ceremony.
Pictured: Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez (left) is congratulated by Florida Association of City Clerks President Kelly Koos of Lakeland. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Storm Teams Home After Sandy Restoration
November 13, 2012
Gulf Power storm restoration teams have wrapped up their work in the Northwest to help restore power following Superstorm Sandy.
A 14-man Gulf Power evaluator team from Northwest Florida and a 70-person restoration team — including 48 line personnel and 22 support personnel — are back on the Gulf Coast.
The Gulf Power teams worked across the region to assist local utilities with power restoration, including a three-foot deep snowy assignment in West Virginia and four inches of snow in New Jersey.
Pictured top: Gulf Power teams prepare to go to work in snowy New Jersey. Pictured inset: A Gulf Power team works in Pennsylvania. Pictured: The entire Gulf Power team that worked with PSE&G, a New Jersey utility. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Consumer Confidence On The Rise
November 13, 2012
Florida consumers were slightly less confident in October than a month earlier, but are more optimistic than they have been since the Great Recession began, the University of Florida reported.
UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research released its monthly index of consumer sentiment, which fell to 79 from an upwardly revised score of 80 in September. Three of the indices tracked by the survey, including two relating to past and future personal finances, fell for the month.
Floridians, however, say they are more confident in the U.S. economic recovery over the next year and five years down the road.
“The economy is clearly in recovery,” said BARB economist Chris McCarty. “However, as we have pointed out in previous releases, the recovery could be derailed if the impending fiscal cliff is not addressed in a sensible and coordinated way.”
By The News Service of Florida
Photos: Honoring Veterans With A Parade
November 13, 2012
Veterans Day obeisances were held across the area Monday, including a parade attended by thousands in Pensacola that ended at the Veterans Memorial Park and the Wall South.
For a photo gallery from the Pensacola Veterans Day Parade, click here.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Army JROTC marches in Pensacola’s Veterans Day Parade Monday morning. Pictured inset: The parade ended at the Wall South. Photos by Cheryl Casey Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Dies In Sunday Night Highway 4 Wreck
November 12, 2012
A single vehicle accident west of Century claimed the life of one person Sunday night.
The accident happened just after 9 p.m. on Highway 4 at Canoe Creek, between Bratt and Byrneville. The Florida Highway Patrol said 50-year old Kevin Don Caddick of Century was westbound on Highway 4 when he lost control of his 1998 Dodge Ram in a curve, ran off the south side of the roadway, struck several trees and overturned into a wooded area. Caddick was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wreck.
Pictured: A Century man was killed in a single vehicle crash Sunday night on Highway 4 at Canoe Creek. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
