Wednesday Last Chance For Property Tax Discount
November 29, 2011
Wednesday is the last day to receive a four percent discount on real estate and tangible personal property taxes, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Payments will receive the 4% discount if:
- mailed with a postmark of November 30;
- left in a 24-hour drop box available at any tax collector office by midnight November 30;
- made on www.escambiataxcollector.com by midnight November 30; or
- made by phone with credit card on a after-hours automated service at (800) 601‑1055 by midnight November 30 (convenience fee applies).
Drive thru service and 24-hour drop boxes are available at all locations.
To check the status of your taxes and pay online, visit www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information, call the tax collector’s office at (850) 438-6500, ext. 252.
Bratt Student’s Art Tops Among 1,020 Contest Entries
November 29, 2011
A Bratt Elementary School fifth grader Ashtyn Carnley’s artwork was chosen as one of the best over over 1,000 entries in a recent “Express Yourself” art contest held in conjunction with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
Bratt’s fifth grade students recently went on a field trip to hear the orchestra perform. During an art class prior to the field trip, the students listened to music while creating art work inspired by the piece titled “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
About 1,020 students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties created music-inspired artwork for the competition. Three top winners were chosen from each county.
Second place was awarded to Carnley of Bratt Elementary for her artwork titled “Battle of the Atlantic”. She will be receiving a $250 savings bond from Regions Bank.
Pictured top: Ashtyn Carnley with her award-winning artwork “Battle of the Atlantic”. Pictured below: Bratt Elementary art teacher Meredith Roberts, Ashtyn Carnley and Bratt music teacher Emily Pollard. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Multiple Gas Stations Burglarized Via Holes Knocked In Walls
November 28, 2011
Multiple gas stations along the Gulf Coast have been burglarized through holes knocked in their exterior walls over the past week — including Raceway locations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County
One of the latest burglaries occurred in Escambia County.
During the early morning hours on Sunday, someone knocked a hole through a wall of the Raceway gas station at 7910 Pine Forest Road. Once inside, the suspect or suspects cut open a safe and took an undisclosed amount of cash.
Anyone with information on that burglary is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Santa Rosa County
A similar burglary occurred late Saturday night or early Sunday morning at the Raceway convenience store at 2783 Avalon Boulevard. A large hole was knocked in the exterior wall of the building, and the thieves cut their way into a safe.
Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Mobile and Mossy Head
Similar through-the-wall burglaries have occurred at a Raceway in Mossy Head on November 22, and at three separate stores in Mobile within the past week.
No Injuries When Man Hits Loaded School Bus
November 28, 2011
There were no injuries when a car hit a school bus with 21 students on board this morning in Ensley.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia Charter School bus driven yb 52-year old Patricia Porterfield was traveling north on Fowler Avenue near West Nine One Half Mile Road when Gregory Palmer pulled his 1996 Ford Thunderbird out of a driveway into the path of the bus.
The front of Palmer’s Thunderbird collided with the side of the bus, causing minor damage to both vehicles.
Palmer, 37, was cited with failure to yield right of way.
Despite Crying Foul, Defeated Century Mayoral Candidate Skips Challenge
November 28, 2011
The outspoken loser in Century’s recent mayoral elections did not file any official challenges over his loss, despite crying foul and throwing out multiple allegations.
Following the October general election, Henry Hawkins said he planned to protest his loss to incumbent Freddie McCall. According to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and Florida Secretary of State Communications Director Chris Cate, no local or state challenge was received from Hawkins. The Florida Secretary of State’s Office oversees the Florida Division of Elections.
According to Cate and Stafford, Hawkins missed the final deadline by which a complaint should have been received.
Final unofficial totals showed McCall was reelected with 61 percent of the vote — 293 votes to Hawkins’ 186 votes. McCall received 150 absentee votes, while Hawkins received 30. It’s the absentee votes where Hawkins said the election was flawed, he told NorthEscambia.com shortly after the final totals were announced.
“I know there’s been problems with absentee ballots,” Hawkins said on election night. “That’s what I’m questioning, I’m challenging…is that election process. If it’s not fair, it’s not fair.”
He claimed three people attempted to vote in person Tuesday at Century City Hall, but they were told they had already voted absentee when, in fact, that had not.
“I don’t mind losing; I’m not a sore loser,” he said. “But I like to be beat fair and square. And this was not fair at all. I can’t compete against a man that has everything from the city at his disposal, so he’s paving streets, putting up speed breakers as special favors and also letting people’s water bills slide.”
McCall will be officially sworn in for his second four year term as mayor in early January 2012.
Pictured: Defeated Century mayoral candidate Henry Hawkins writes down vote totals as they are announced during the October general election for mayor and two Century council seats. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Heating System Upgrades At Northview High
November 28, 2011
Repairs are underway on a heating water piping system for the gym at Northview High School. The project was awarded to low bidder Comfort Systems USA Southeast for $58,253. Officials said the old piping between the main school building and the gym had deteriorated. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Prepares For State Semifinal Game With Chipley
November 28, 2011
It’s only the second trip ever to the Class 1A state semifinal as the Northview Chiefs will be looking for a little redemption Friday night against Chipley.
The Chipley Tigers beat the Chiefs 34-27 in the second game of the regular season, knocking Northview out of No. 1 spot in the state poll for Class 1A. In the final regular season poll of the year, Chipley finished at No. 4, while the Chiefs were No. 5.
That loss to Chipley was a dose of reality for the Chiefs, according to coach Sid Wheatley.
“We have been through some battles now, and I think we are ready for that (another chance at Chipley),” Wheatley said.
The Chiefs (8-3) will have the home field advantage Friday night at 7:30 in Bratt as they host Chipley (10-2). Admission is $9 with no passes.
The winner of the Northview vs. Chipley semifinal match will face the winner of Friday night’s Jefferson County (7-5) vs. Union County (11-0) game in the state championship game on December 9 in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
For details and photos from last Friday night’s Northview defeat of Freeport, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Freeport for the regional crown Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos
November 28, 2011
If you missed NorthEscambia.com over the weekend, you missed over 200 photos from several events. Click an item below to view the corresponding story and/or photo gallery.
Escambia Man Gets 20 Years For Robbing Cab Driver
November 28, 2011
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the robbery of a cab driver in 2010.
Terrence Scott, 20, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Nicholas Geeker to 20 years in state prison for his November 9th conviction by an Escambia County jury for robbery armed with a firearm. The sentence carries a 10 year mandatory minimum under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
On August 2, 2010, the carjacking victim had been unpacking his rental car at the Howard Johnson motel on Pensacola Boulevard, when Scott approached him and asked to borrow his cell phone. Scott next asked for a cigarette, and the victim handed him one. Moments later, Scott pulled out a silver handgun and instructed the victim to empty his pockets. The victim told Scott he did not have anything in his pockets.
Scott replied, “I will shoot you, man.” Scott struck the victim’s head with the gun, then told him to start the car and open the car trunk. The victim complied. When Scott ordered the victim to get inside the trunk, the victim refused, fearing he would be killed. Scott jumped into the car and drove away. A little more than 24 hours later, on Wednesday, August 4, Scott crashed the stolen car and abandoned it in a back yard in a residential area, while being pursued by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Scott fled the car on foot and was captured by the deputies within minutes of the crash. The handgun Scott had used in the carjacking was found behind the driver’s seat of the rental car.
BBB Warns Of Phishing Emails
November 28, 2011
Better Business Bureau Serving Northwest Florida is warning of an email phishing scam that is using the BBB’s name.
The scam, reported across the country, including in northwest Florida, uses a false BBB e-mail address to entice recipients to access potentially damaging hyperlinks and attachments, according to Karen Szulczewski of the local BBB.
None of the BBB’s computer or e-mail systems is involved in this hoax and the attack has not affected the computer system of the BBB or compromised any BBB-held data, she said.
The latest round of emails appear to come from risk, alert or service at bbb.org, along with other spoofed email addresses.
The BBB is warning recipients of such emails not to click any included links or open any attachments.