Area Football Star Commits To Auburn
August 3, 2011
The national champion Auburn Tigers landed a star local player Tuesday.
The Tigers received a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Tyler Nero of Escambia County High School in Atmore. The 6-foot-1, 285 pound Nero had been recruited by Alabama, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky and South Alabama before deciding to head to the Plains.
Nero told the Mobile-Press Register that he felt like “he fit in better at Auburn”.
Another Escambia County High Blue Devil also made a college commitment recently — senior defensive lineman Dalvin Craft is headed to Southern Miss.
Gulf Power Helping Veterans Connect To Jobs
August 3, 2011
Gulf Power Company has partnered with other utilities to develop “Troops to Energy Jobs,” an effort to link military veterans to job openings in the energy industry.
The program was initiated by Washington-based Center for Energy Workforce Development, which has predicted that almost 40 percent of utility employees nationwide will retire or leave their jobs through attrition during the next five years, leading to almost 200,000 job openings. Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm, helped develop CEWD in 2006 to address the approaching workforce shortage.
“There is a huge correlation between the skill sets that military men and women have and the skill sets that we need,” Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator said. “This program is an example of how our industry has worked on a national level to make sure we have the talent we need, while continuing to support our military community.”
Last year, Southern Company was named one of G.I. Jobs Top 10 Military Friendly Employers for 2010. Gulf Power has actively recruited military servicemen and women over the years by working directly with local military bases.
Darryl Johnson, Work and Family Life consultant for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton said the local military has had a strong relationship with Gulf Power and Southern Company for 25 years.
“They have been enormously helpful in providing us with job openings and information to help us best place our men and women in a good job,” said Johnson. “I like to call it a “win-win-win” situation. Gulf Power fills a position with someone who has the experience they need, the military serviceman or woman finds a great job, and I get to connect the two.”
Active military personnel who are interested in the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program can go to www.cewd.org and look for the “Troops to Energy Jobs” section. Some of the positions expected to be available include engineers, technicians, line workers, plant operators and pipefitters. To apply for a job at Gulf Power, go to www.southerncompany.com and click on “Careers.”
Pace Man Drives Off Escambia County Cliff
August 2, 2011
A Pace resident was injured early this morning when his car left the road and went over a cliff off Scenic Highway.
James Weatherwax, 25, of Old Guerney Road, was southbound on Scenic Highway around 1 a.m. when his car left the road around Bluff Drive, said Pensacola Police Officer Maria Landy.
Weatherwax told police he swerved to avoid hitting a deer before the 2001 Nissan he was driving went approximately 100 feet over the cliff and then another 150 feet before it stopped against a tree.
After the crash, Weatherwax is believed to have walked about a mile north to steps across from Bayview Cemetery, climbed the steps and then flagged down a passing motorist for help. Pensacola Police received a 911 call to respond to the area around 5:48 a.m.
Landy said Weatherwax was wearing a seatbelt; there were no indications of alcohol. He received extensive facial injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
No charges have been filed.
Century More Than Doubles Business Tax Rates
August 2, 2011
The Century Town Council voted to more than double the town’s business taxes effective the fiscal year that begins October 1.
The average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — will jump from the current $25 to $55. Others will increase more substantially, such as pharmacies to $100, entertainment establishments to $121 and factories to $132. The business tax receipt rates are being copied from the small town of Fellsmere, Florida.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”.
State law gave Century three choices: adopt the 1971 state rates and business classes, adopt the rates set by Escambia County (currently $26.25 for all businesses), or find a schedule of rates adopted properly by another Florida municipality such as Fellsmere.
At last report in May, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
““We were trying to pick out something that will benefit us a little bit but not be overzealous,” Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night of the choice to use the Fellsmere rate schedule. “We are not making money.”
While the new business tax receipt rates were adopted Monday night by the Century Town Council, the council must still vote at a future meeting to approve an ordinance implementing the rates.
Pictured: The Town of Century must revamp its current business license regulations and fees paid by businesses like Food Giant (seen in the aerial photo at top) and Whataburger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Annie Carter Savage Sworn In As Century Council Member (With Video)
August 2, 2011
Annie Cater Savage was sworn in as the newest member of the Century Town Council Monday night to the seat formerly held by the late Nadine McCaw.
The council unanimously voted last month to appoint Savage to fill the vacant Seat 2 until the end of McCaw’s term in early January of 2012.
According to town council President Ann Brooks, Savage was the only person that expressed an interest in filling the seat. The Seat 2 position will appear on Century’s October ballot during Century’s general election. As of Monday, Savage was the only candidate that had prefiled to seek the seat.
A video of the swearing in appears at the bottom of the page.
Pictured above: Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez reads the oath of office to Annie Carter Savage (middle) as Mayor Freddie McCall looks on Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
MacArthur Prefiles For Century Council Seat
August 2, 2011
Pamela MacArthur prefiled Monday for Seat 1 on the Century Town Council held by incumbent Ann Brooks. MacArthur, a retired certified nursing assistant, is a political newcomer that has lived in Century for about 20 years.
“I want to be a help to the community,” she said Monday. “We can make Century a better place and have unity.”
On July 11, Brooks, who currently serves as council president, prefiled for Century’s October 2011 election.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Declared Federal Disaster Areas Due To Drought
August 2, 2011
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been declared federal disaster areas due to combined effects of the recent excessive drought and heat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture made the designation, which will provide farmers and ranchers in affected areas access to low-interest, emergency loans and other federal assistance through the Farm Service Agency.
“Florida producers can count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during these difficult times,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “President Obama and I are committed to reducing the impact of this disaster for Florida producers and we will commit all available resources to help in recovery.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa County are among 27 Florida counties announced Monday by federal officials on Monday that would be eligible for financial assistance following months of drought.
Farmers and ranchers in Escambia County, Alabama, are also eligible to apply for national disaster assistance because their county borders the disaster area.
Pictured top: A field of corn is irrigated in May at Highway 4 and Dortch Road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Life Sentences In Escambia Gas Station Murder
August 2, 2011
Omar Shereef Hickenbotham and Tyrone Vincent Moultrie were convicted by an Escambia County Jury of first degree murder. Circuit Court Judge Terry Terrell sentenced both men to life in prison without the possibility of parole immediately following the verdict.
Hickenbotham and Moultrie were convicted for the killing of Jerome Peters on August 10th of last year. The defendants lured Peters to the Exxon station on the corner of Fairfield and W Street under the premise of purchasing clothing from Peters. When Peters arrived at the Exxon he was robbed at gun point, dragged to a dark corner of the parking lot and then shot in the head. Jewelry and clothing were taken during the robbery.
Fingerprints belonging to both defendants were found on items of evidence at the scene. DNA belonging to Hickenbotham was found under the fingernails of Peters. Additionally, both defendants made statements to other witnesses that indicated their involvement.
New Unemployment Comp Rules Go Into Effect
August 2, 2011
Newly jobless Floridians seeking unemployment compensation and those wishing to continue receiving benefits must do so online under a slate of changes that kicked in Monday that officials say will save the state $4.7 million a year.
Following up on legislation passed earlier this year, the Agency for Workforce Innovation enacted a series of changes that also includes a mandatory skills review and tougher eligibility requirements.
The changes were included in legislation that also reduced the maximum duration of unemployment benefits from 26 to 23 weeks and links future payouts to the unemployment rate.
The new law would reduce benefits once the unemployment rate dips below 10.5 percent, bottoming out at 12 weeks if the unemployment rate hits 5 percent.
By The News Service of Florida
Scott To Get To Work At Ordinary Jobs
August 2, 2011
Taking a page from former Gov. Bob Graham, Gov. Rick Scott plans to spend some time doing the jobs of ordinary Floridians in what the governor is calling “Let’s Get to Work Days.” Scott’s twist on the “work days” that Graham made a hallmark of his time as governor is to do jobs he’s done before.
Scott portrays himself as in touch with the common man – despite being a multimillionaire – because he rose from poverty to where he is now through a series of ordinary jobs.
So, Scott will start on Wednesday making doughnuts at a shop in Tampa. Scott got his start in business running a doughnut shop with his mom in Kansas City.
“Like most Floridians, I have worked hard all my life,” Scott said in a statement released by his office late Monday. “I started school in public housing and my family struggled financially. For that reason I went to work at a young age doing everything from delivering newspapers and cleaning phone booths, to selling groceries and working on a ship in the Navy.”
Graham applauded Scott for taking up the idea.
“I found the workdays to give me an unusual insight not only into how people earn their living, but how they live their lives, pursue their dreams and confront their challenges,” Graham said. “I hope that Gov. Scott will have the same rich experiences as he commences workdays.”
And yes, there are still some phone booths around for Scott to clean, though not that many. According to the Public Service Commission, Florida still has 51,000 pay phones, though there aren’t any statistics on how many of those are actually in a booth.
Pictured Gov. Rick Scott speaks to reporters at the Capitol on Monday. Photo by David Royse for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By The News Service of Florida