Century Gets First Look At Five-Year Marketing Plan
May 22, 2012
A draft of Century’s new “Five-Year Marketing Plan” was presented to the Century Town Council Monday night with the slogan “Century. Traditional Values. Today’s Technology”.
One of the plans goals is to “create a unique brand for Century and reach out to those who are looking for what Century has to offer”. The central focus of the marketing efforts will focus attention to the town’s new website.
The plan was part of an $11,450 package purchased late last year from Pensacola marketing firm Ideawörks that included $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the website, and $5,500 for the marketing plan.
“Revitalization isn’t an easy process. Change is never easy. Opening new economic opportunities for Century will take time, strategic vision and a commitment from the residents in order to succeed,” the draft plan states.
“You will have a plan,” Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, told the council Monday night, “that will help Century rise above some of the others in the business market.”
The draft plans calls for Century to target three broad industries initially — agricultural, manufacturing and small businesses. The efforts to target those industries would include the town’s website, media coverage and paid advertising in trade publications, and direct mail.
Century can compete by marketing available business and industrial sites, providing success stories, positive media attention and with “Residents dedicated to economic development. Community pride”, the plan states. The plan also calls for Century to be submitted for various lists and articles in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc.
Once the plan is finalized, it will be made available online at the town’s website.
Pictured: A screenshot of Century’s website.
Citizens Insurance Looking At Wind Incentives, Higher Rates
May 22, 2012
Following up on calls to raise premiums to match risk, Florida’s state-backed property insurer is taking a second look at wind mitigation incentives put in place a decade ago.
For many of its customers, that means higher rates.
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plans to take a look at 209,000 residential policies by the end of the year to see if granted wind mitigation credits are warranted.
The incentives, which include such things as tie downs, shutters and other upgrades, were offered beginning in 2002 in an attempt to lower risk for the state-backed pool, which now handles nearly 1.5 million policies.
As of April 30, the last date for which detailed information is available, Citizens inspectors have completed 180,503 residential inspections, finding that in some cases hurricane hardening measures weren’t in place, resulting in premium increases totaling $107 million. Nearly 71 percent of homes inspected have seen premiums rise.
The program has also resulted in premium decreases on 7.5 percent of policies, for a total reduction of $4.4 million.
For those homeowners seeing higher rates, premiums have jumped an average of $600 a year, or 23 percent.
The wind mitigation program has increasingly come under fire from industry groups and Office of Insurance Regulation officials, who have said the program has eroded the company’s premium base while not significantly reducing its exposure, especially after credits were dramatically increased in 2007.
Private insurers have also given mitigation credits. A 2010 study by the Department of Financial Services found that despite good intentions, the programs were costing companies in terms of lost premiums while having only a modest decrease in potential losses.
“At present, the wind mitigation credits not operating as intended, and according to (Risk Management Solutions) analysis, are a significant contributing factor to the reported premium degradation,” the study said.
Among its chief criticisms, the report noted that some homeowners were receiving double credits for fixtures that were already incorporated into the underlying premium. Insurers were also restricted from adjusting base rates to reflect structural issues, which the report said hobbled the industry.
“If the (credit) system continues in the absence of a base rate offset, the average premium reductions could ultimately reach 35 percent, which would clearly have an impact on insurance revenues,” the report concluded.
Lawmakers responded months later by passing SB 2044, which was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Last year, lawmakers passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed SB 408, which struck some language relating to mitigation credits and gave insurers more flexibility in establishing rates and applying discounts.
Citizens officials have ordered re-inspections of homes that have claimed more than $650 in credits.
Robin Westcott, Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate, said she understands Citizens’ objective to get accurate information on proper wind mitigation credits, but is worried homeowners may not always be ready with proper documentation on their mitigation efforts and may unnecessarily lose out on benefits.
She said Citizens could do a better job of letting homeowners know what inspectors are looking for.
“In some cases, you are looking at pretty hefty increases,” Westcott said. “That is really a big part of our concern.”
By The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Top Suns 4-1 To Win Series
May 22, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tim Crabbe gave up just two hits in six scoreless innings, while left fielder Yordanys Perez blasted a three-run home run in the eighth to give Pensacola a 4-1 victory over the Jacksonville Suns to win the series on Monday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The win gives the Blue Wahoos their first road series victory of the season and improves their record to 22-23, while the loss dropped the Suns’ mark to 21-24 on the year.
Crabbe (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) turned in his third solid outing in a row, yielding just two hits and two walks while fanning six in six scoreless frames to earn his second win of the year. In his past three outings, Crabbe has given up only a lone earned run on ten hits in his 18.0 innings pitched in that span.
Four Blue Wahoos relievers, including Curtis Partch (1.0 IP), Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) and Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO), combined to hold the Suns to just one score in the final three frames, with Joseph notching his Southern League leading tenth save of the year. Jacksonville starter Omar Poveda (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) suffered the tough loss despite allowing only one earned run on just three hits in six frames.
Both offenses were quiet until the sixth, when Pensacola broke the scoreless draw to take a 1-0 lead. CF Ryan LaMarre drew a lead-off free pass and advance to second on a throwing error, before his was sent home on SS Didi Gregorius’ RBI single up the middle.
Pensacola however, extend the margin to four in the eighth thanks to Perez’s second roundtripper of the season. 2B Brodie Greene and 1B Joel Guzman each reached with base knocks, before they crossed home on Perez’s blast to right. The Blue Wahoos have now hit 15 homers in 20 games in the month of May after mashing 11 in 25 games in April.
The Suns would narrow their deficit to three in their half of the eighth with a longball of their own. 2B Jeff Dominguez led off the frame with a homer to right for his second roundtripper of the year, but that would be all the Jacksonville offense could muster on the scoreboard.
Perez (3-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) was the lone hitter for either team to record a multi-hit effort and tied single-game highs in his professional career for hits and RBI in the contest.
Pensacola has an off-day Tuesday before returning home to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Wednesday for a five-game series with the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The first pitch of the series is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, with RHP Zeke Spruill expected to take the hill for the Braves, while the Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starter.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: The Wahoo’s Tim Crabbe allowed just two hits in six scoreless frames to earn the win Monday in Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Authorities Receive Report Of Possible Tornado in Walnut Hill
May 21, 2012
There was no sign of any damage after a possible tornado was reported to Escambia Fire Rescue Monday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
Residents reported a possible tornado in the area of Eubanks Road off North Highway 99, and a member of a local fire department reported seeing a possible rotation trailing from the clouds (pictured above).
There was a severe thunderstorm warning in effect at the time of the report.
Pictured above: This trailing rotation from a thunderstorm prompted reports of a possible tornado near Walnut Hill Monday afternoon. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward, Tate, WFHS Top Escambia County Writing FCAT Scores
May 21, 2012
Despite the negative news last week about the ramped up FCAT 2.0 scores, the news was actually pretty good at Ernest Ward Middle, Tate High and West Florida High.
With this year’s tests, the state upped the standards for passing the writing portion of the FCAT in fourth, eighth and tenth grades, with students need needing a 4.0 or better on a 6-point grading scale, up from 3.0 last year. Also, the state made other changes, including placing more emphasis on writing basics such as punctuation, capitalization and grammar.
But the test results showed a huge drop in the number of students across the board meeting the standards. With FCAT scores affecting such sensitive issues as school grades, the state Board of Education moved quickly to call an emergency meeting. Board members agreed to dial back the passing score to 3.0 this year, despite some reluctance.
When the dust settled, there was cause for celebration at Ernest Ward, Tate and West Florida as they took the top scoring spots in the Escambia County School District.
Ernest Ward Middle School eighth graders tied with the Beulah Academy of Science with the highest average score in Escambia County — with a mean FCAT writing score of 3.4. Ernest Ward also had the only eighth grader in Escambia County to score a perfect 6.0 on the test, and one of three in the county to score a 5.5.
Ernest Ward also had the highest percentage of eighth grade students in the county scoring a 4.0 or above — the original grade level score before it was lowered by the State Board of Education. A total of 80 percent of EWMS eighth graders made the adjusted grade level score of 3.0 or higher, second only to the Beulah Academy of Science at 86 percent.
“Considering the state change the rules in the middle of the game, I think we did great,” Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Perry said. “The teachers, students, and parents did an awesome job; keep up the good work.”
At the high school level, West Florida was tops in the district with 48 percent of students scoring a 4.0 or more, while Tate was second with 47 percent. At West Florida High, 93 percent of tenth graders were at the readjusted grade level of 3.0, and Tate had 88 percent at the level.
The highest average score among tenth graders in the district was at West Florida High with 3.7, and Tate was second at 3.6.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Storm Brings Hail To Bratt And McDavid
May 21, 2012
A thunderstorm brought reports of small hail from the area of Northview High School in Bratt south through McDavid Monday afternoon.
Pictured above and below: Small hail this afternoon in the McDavid area. Pictured inset: Hail at Northview High School. Submitted photos by Ashley Jacobi and Kiani Okahashi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Old Stinky Is ECUA Environmental Success Story
May 21, 2012
“Old Stinky” is coming down at significant savings to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, thanks to low-bidding demolition company with an eye for recycling.
The former downtown ECUA Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, dubbed “Old Stinky”, has emerged as an environmental success story. The plant was originally designed and constructed in 1937.
Now replaced by the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment, the former Main Street plant continues its transformation from a community eyesore into an environmental lesson on construction and demolition (C&D) material recovery, a recycling process that achieves lower costs than disposal at a landfill, resulting in significant cost-savings and the elimination of associated environmental impacts.
The 19 acre downtown site underwent numerous expansions in the 1970s and mid-1990s before it was officially taken off-line in April 2011.
Sustainable reuse of the MSWWTP property includes a defined effort to reduce the environmental impact by reusing and recycling materials recovered during the present demolition process.
Chuck Gray, Cross Environment Services (CES) demolition general manager said, “In just a few short months, the site will be leveled with sod and grass, and will be a welcomed addition to the Pensacola landscape.”
To successfully dismantle the former MSWWTP facility, brick-by-brick, cement block-by-cement block, piece-by-piece of steel and aluminum, CES of Crystal Springs was chosen to skipper the project. The “eco-friendly” contractor was the lowest project bidder, posting a winning bid of $734,617 –considerably less than the projected 3 million dollar demolition price tag.
According to Jeff Hester, CES demolition supervisor, “The lower pricing will be offset by revenue generated from recyclables. Typical recyclable materials such as; aluminum, steel, copper, ductile iron pipe, are currently being sold to buyers locally, domestically, and internationally.” Hester added, “The boiler was sold to a company in North Carolina, the air tanks went to Seattle, the switch gears found a home in Oklahoma, and the pumps were shipped to Chattanooga, Tennessee.”
Gray added, “The project has come in above average on the amount of salvage we estimated for the job.”
As of May 4, 2012, 545 pieces of material have been recovered, totaling 8,283,455 pounds of recyclables. Items recycled include 8,006,336 pounds of ferrous matrials, 145,119 pounds of aluminum, 1,929 pounds of brass, 55,671 pounds of copper and 277,119 pounds of stainless steel.
Local Man Juggles His Way Onto Good Morning America (With Video)
May 21, 2012
A local man juggled his way onto national TV over the weekend, appearing Saturday on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Joe Salter, 31, has made the national news for completing a recent triathlon — while juggling (video below). Salter juggled three balls while swimming a quarter mile, juggled two balls in one hand while biking 17 and ran another four miles still juggling. And he did it all in the respectable time of 1 hour and 57 minutes for a world record.
Salter, the son of Rita and Mickey Salter of Flomaton, started juggling at age eight. He trained about 10 months for “joggling” (jogging and juggling tossed together) through a complete triathlon.
He finished the entire running and biking portion of the triathlon without dropping a ball. Swimming was not so smooth, as he dropped the balls three times. But they float, so no time lost in the retrieval.
Salter’s world record attempt came during the recent Flora-Bama Mullet Man Triathlon to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida.
Pictured top: Joe Salter joggles his way toward the finish line of a triathlon and a world record. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Traffic Shifted For Hwy 29 Turn Lane
May 21, 2012
Traffic has been shifted on Highway 97 at Highway 29 as a construction project gets underway to add a new turn lane at the intersection.
Anderson Columbia will construct a right turn lane from southbound Highway 97 to southbound Highway 29. For the next three months, drivers can expect delays, intermittent lane shifts and closures, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. However, no lane closures will be permitted between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution, especially at night when driving in work zones,” according to Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for FDOT.
Pictured: Lanes have been shifted as part of the construction of a turn lane from Highway 97 to south Highway 29 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jacksonville Comes Back, Downs Pensacola Wahoos 4-3
May 21, 2012
The Jacksonville Suns overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-3 and even the series at two games apiece at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon.
Joel Guzman continued his hot hitting at his former stomping grounds with an RBI double in the top of the second to put Pensacola ahead 1-0. The Wahoos added to it when Ryan LaMarre singled home Mark Fleury in the seventh to make it 2-0. In the sixth, the fish added another insurance run on a suicide squeeze by Stephen Hunt scoring Brodie Greene from third.
Daniel Corcino had retired 11 straight batters heading into the bottom of the sixth before Danny Black singled to open the inning. His hit was quickly followed by two-run homer by Donnie Webb, his first of the season.
Corcino was finished after six. He allowed just the two runs on only four hits. He struck out a season-high nine batters.
A pinch-hit double from Shawn Bowman drove home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. The Suns plated the winning run the next inning when Kyle Jensen doubled to deep left field scoring Kyle Skipworth from first base. Clayton Tanner (0-3) gave up the game-winning hit and was saddled with the loss after working 1.1 innings. Evan Reed (3-1) held the Wahoos scoreless over the game’s final two innings to earn the win. Pensacola threatened with runners at the corners and only one out in the top of the ninth, but pinch hitter Yordanys Perez grounded into a game-ending double play.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Monday morning when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Tim Crabbe (1-2, 4.24) to the mound against Suns righty Omar Poveda (3-1, 5.05). First pitch is set for 10:05 a.m. central time.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Daniel Corcino struck out a season-high nine batters over six innings Sunday for the Blue Wahoos in Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.