Groundbreaking Held For Molino Library, Community Center (With Photo Gallery)
November 15, 2011
A groundbreaking was held Monday morning for a new community center and library at the old Molino School on Highway 95A.
“Oh we are absolutely so excited,” said Lil King, president of the Molino Historical Society, which will operate a museum inside the renovated building. “It’s going to be great. We say it’s for the middle of the county, but I think it’s for the whole county. It’s been a long time coming.”
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum. In addition to converting the old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building will be constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment and the property appraiser office on Highway 97 in Molino will both be closed. This facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections. The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2012.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Groundbreaking Monday morning in Molino for the renovation of the old Molino School into a library and community center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Doucette, Wright Receive High School Heroes Scholarships
November 15, 2011
Two Northview High School students were recently awarded $1,000 High School Heroes Scholarships from Fisher Brown Insurance and WEAR TV 3.
The Northview students, Josie Doucette and Elizabeth Wright, were among a dozen dozen scholarship winners from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Each winner received a $1,000 scholarship to their choice of either University of West Florida, Pensacola State College or Northwest Florida State College.
Doucette and Wright will be showcased in upcoming 30 second commercials on WEAR TV 3.
Pictured above: Northview High School Heroes Scholarship winners Josie Doucette (left) and Elizabeth Wright with Escambia County Superintendent of Education Malcolm Thomas. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Henry Street Closed In Century
November 15, 2011
Henry Street in Century is closed at the intersection with North Century Boulevard, and it will remain closed for the next two weeks for road construction by the Town of Century. North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) will remain open during the period.
Motorists are advised to use West Cottage Street as a detour route.
Jay Pageant Winners Named
November 15, 2011
Miss Jay High School and other winners have been announced in pageants sponsored by the Jay High School Cheerleaders and FCCLA.
Pictured top, left to right: Miss Jay High School Pageant — Third runner-up Carly Owens, second runner-up and physical fitness winner Tori Reid, first runner-up and talent winner Abby Raney, and Miss Jay High School Kathryn English.
Pictured left top: Junior Miss Jay Crystal Hope Miller. Pictured left bottom: Little Miss Jay Kinsley Cook.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Cross Country Team Headed To State
November 15, 2011
The Jay High School Lady Royals Cross Country team is headed to the state finals this weekend, with the hopes of finishing their season as the best of 130 teams in Florida’s Class 1A.
The district champ Lady Royals placed fourth at the regionals last weekend in Lake City to advance to state, while Jessica Thornton placed among the top 15 runners to advance individually.
Ranked No. 16 in the state, the Lady Royals are the only team in any classification in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties to advance to the state meet.
Times for Jay runners were as follows at the regional meet:
- Jessica Thornton 15th, 21:53 (personal record)
- Jorja Agrait 21:24 24th, 21:24 (personal record)
- Allison Blair 29th, 22:07
- Savannah Brown 31st, 22:23 (personal record)
- Ally Settle 35th, 22:39
- Jenna Thornton 39th, 23:07 (personal record)
- Shelby Thomas, 24:18 57th
The Class 1A cross country state finals will be held Saturday morning in Dade City.
Pictured top: Jay Lady Royals Cross County Coach Stan Blackman, Shelby Thomas, Savannah Brown, Jenna Thornton, Jorja Agrait, Jessica Thornton ,Ally Settle, Kristen Pike, Allison Blair, Boys Cross Country Coach Teresa Hendricks. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Wants Out Of Some Federal No Child Left Behind Requirements
November 15, 2011
Florida has submitted its request to the federal government to exempt the state from some requirements under the No Child Left Behind law.
Florida is one of several states that have submitted requests to not continue operating federal accountability programs mandated under NCLB, which passed in 2001.
The idea is to streamline various state and federal accountability programs designed to track student progress and help struggling school. At times, the different standards between the two has caused immense confusion for students and parents, such as when a school has improved from an “F” to a “C” school but is still at risk for being shut down under federal standards.
“The…flexibility request will help strengthen Florida’s accountability system and aims to support all of our students in their endeavors toward achieving academic success,” Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said in a statement.
By The News Service of Florida
Get Two Free CFL Bulbs From Gulf Power
November 15, 2011
Gulf Power is extending their giveaway of two free compact fluorescent light bulbs through December 15 for customers that complete a free online energy checkup for their home.
Energy Checkup is a free evaluation of how energy is used in the home and is one of Gulf Power’s EarthCents programs designed to help customers find low-cost and no-cost ways to reduce energy usage.
To participate, customers can visit www.gulfpower.com to perform the check-up. Customers will receive specific recommendations about energy efficiency, home improvements and steps to improve energy efficiency that can help them cut electricity bills.
After completing the online energy inspection, customers have the opportunity to register to receive two free CFLs.
CFL bulbs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last as much as 10 times longer, according to Gulf Power. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.
Customers without Internet access can pick up a mail-in survey at any Gulf Power payment office or request a mail-in survey by calling 1-877-655-4001 and will also be eligible for the free bulbs.
Supreme Court To Hear Florida Health Care Law Challenge
November 14, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it will take up a Florida-led challenge to the 2010 federal-health overhaul that began in Pensacola, setting the stage for arguments next year in the landmark constitutional case.
Justices will consider four major issues, including whether Congress can require most Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014 and whether it acted improperly in approving a major expansion of the Medicaid program.
Then-Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed the challenge in Pensacola immediately after President Obama signed the health law in March 2010.
The case also drew as plaintiffs 25 other states, the National Federation of Independent Business and two citizens, including one from Florida, Panama City businesswoman Mary Brown.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, McCollum’s successor, issued a statement Monday saying she was pleased the court will determine the constitutionality of the requirement that Americans have health insurance, which has become known as the “individual mandate.”
“Throughout this case, we have urged swift judicial resolution because of the unprecedented threat that the individual mandate poses to the liberty of Americans simply because they live in this country,” Bondi said. “We are hopeful that by June 2012 we will have a decision that protects Americans’ and individuals’ liberties and limits the federal government’s power.”
In a blog post on the White House website, the Obama administration said it also wanted the Supreme Court to hear the case “to put the challenges to rest and continue moving forward with implementing the law.” It said, in part, the law would expand health coverage to 32 million people.
“We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree,” White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said, using a commonly known name for the law.
As an indication of the importance of the challenge, justices set aside 5 and a half hours to hear arguments — a length of time that the authoritative Supreme Court tracking website SCOTUSblog said appeared to be a “modern record.” SCOTUSblog also reported that the arguments will be spread over two days in March.
The health law is a signature achievement of the Obama presidency but is derisively called “Obamacare” by Republicans and other opponents. It was a major issue during the 2010 elections and likely will be again as Obama seeks re-election in 2012.
Much of the legal and political controversy has centered on the individual mandate, with opponents contending that Congress overstepped its constitutional authority in approving the coverage requirement. People who do not have health coverage in 2014 would be subject to tax penalties.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Florida and the other plaintiffs in ruling that the mandate is unconstitutional. But courts in other parts of the country have come to a different conclusion, including in a ruling last week by a Washington, D.C., appeals court.
Florida also has focused on fighting part of the law that would expand Medicaid eligibility, which is part of the push to ensure more people have health coverage. Florida and other states argue that Congress would improperly “compel” them to expand Medicaid by threatening to withhold other funding for the program — though the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the state’s arguments.
One of the other issues that the Supreme Court will consider is whether the entire law should be tossed out if the individual mandate is found to be unconstitutional. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the Obama administration that other parts of the massive law could move forward without the mandate.
Another part of the arguments will focus on whether the individual mandate can even be legally challenged at this point. That issue stems from an 1867 law, known as the Anti-Injunction Act, which is designed to prevent lawsuits about taxes until after they are assessed and collected.
The individual mandate’s tax penalties will not take effect until after 2014.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Northview Student Injured In Morning Pine Barren Road Crash
November 14, 2011
A Northview High School student was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Monday morning on North Pine Barren Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 17-year old Melissa J. Moretz was northbound on North Pine Barren Road near Victor Road about 7:30 a.m. when she traveled off the highway and struck a drainage pipe just inches off the roadway. Her 2009 Ford Focus overturned, coming to rest partially on North Pine Barren Road.
Moretz was transported byEscambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital where she was treated and released. She was wearing her seat belt, according to the FHP.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pecan Prices Rise; Good News For Local Producers
November 14, 2011
Money really does grow on trees — thanks to a drought and an increasing demand from China, pecan prices are soaring this year.
That’s good news for producers, from pecan farmers all the way down to local residents with a tree or two in their yards. Drive around North Escambia much on a sunny afternoon and you’ll see local folks out picking up pecans and looking to cash in on the high prices. Area pecan houses are paying about $1 per pound to locals selling their “seedling” pecans — whether from a grocery sack with a few pounds up to hundreds of pounds at a time. The more in-demand varieties of pecans are Stuarts or Elliots and are worth even more.
The higher prices are bad news for consumers, with the price of that Thanksgiving pecan pie very much on the rise. The average retail price of whole pecans halves is expected to reach as much as $11 per pound this year, according to analysts. That’s up about $4 in three years.
China typically buys about one-fifth of the U.S. pecan crop. The United States is expected to produce about 252 million pounds this year, down 14 percent, according to the USDA.
Pictured top: Pecans harvested Sunday in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: A rolling pecan harvester — small plastic “fingers” pick up the nuts which are deposited into a basket. Pictured below: Typical seedling pecans. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
