‘Project Everest’ Could Mean 102 New Jobs
May 24, 2011
Over 100 new, well-paying jobs in the North Escambia area could be announced in the next few months, according to the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Project Everest” is the code-name for the $56 million business expansion that would create 102 jobs at average annual salaries of more than $55,000.
Back in September, Escambia County approved an ad valorem tax exemption for the company for up to 10 years. The capital investment, according to an Escambia County resolution, will expand and equip an existing production facility and increase the company’s local production by more than 10 percent.
Officials had not revealed the name or location of the business until Monday night.
Bridgette Price, interim vice president for Economic Development for the Pensacola chamber, told the Century Town Council that the business is located “probably just past International Paper” when discussing business development and the chamber’s efforts in the northern part of Escambia County.
During her presentation to the council, Price said the chamber expects an announcement concerning Project Everest by this summer.
In September the Pensacola chamber said the area was in competition with at least two other states for Project Everest, which they described only as a project engaged in advanced manufacturing.
Century Holds Economic Meeting With Chambers, County, State Officials
May 24, 2011
The Century Town Council held an economic summit of sorts Monday evening to learn more about economic development opportunities that exist for the town.
During a joint workshop with the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the Century Chamber of Commerce, Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the council was educated on Brownfields zones, Enterprise Zones and the Pensacola chamber’s “Vision 2015″ plan to create 3,o00 new jobs in the Escambia-Santa Rosa County region.
The Brownfield Area encompasses the entire town due to land that may have actual or perceived environmental contamination. The designation provides bonuses for job creation, loan guarantees, sales tax credits and other incentives for qualified businesses to locate in the town.
“The economic incentives outweigh the stigma of being a Brownfield area,” Alex Webster, Brownfield program coordinator for the Florida Department of Environmental Management told the group.
Century is also an Enterprise Zone, providing qualifying businesses with various tax credits and incentives, according to Clara Long, Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency.
Bridgette Price of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce also detailed the chamber’s plan for economic growth, including growth in the north part of the county.
“We want to know how to help you promote job opportunities here in Century,” Price told the council.
Pictured top: Alex Webster (far right), Brownfield program coordinator for the Florida Department of Environmental Management, discusses a PowerPoint presentation with the Century Town Council Monday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Deputies Respond To Burglary At Old High School
May 24, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a possible burglary in progress Monday evening at the old Century High School on Hecker Road. Someone reported a busted window and two juveniles on the property at about 7:45 p.m. Deputies arrived about a minute later and questioned the teen males. There were no arrests.
Pictured top: Deputies arrived at the old Century High School within about a minute of possible burglary in progress. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Three Charged With Gunpoint Robbery In Home Depot Parking Lot
May 24, 2011
Three men are under arrest after they robbed a local juvenile at gunpoint Sunday afternoon.
Andre Lanier Cook, 24, Otis Charles Foster Jr., 20 and Tevin Akeem Nettles, 18 were arrested and charged with robbery of an individual with a firearm, robbery carjacking with a firearm, kidnapping, grand theft, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.
On Sunday afternoon, around 3:23 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Highway 29 and West Nine Mile Road for the reported robbery. Deputies were told by the juvenile victim that he was waiting for a friend in the parking lot of the Home Depot, located at 541 West Nine Mile Rd., when the robbery occurred.
According to the victim a silver Mitsubishi Mirage, occupied by 3 males, was driven up next to his Chevrolet Silverado truck. Two of the males jumped out of the Mirage and into the victim’s vehicle. One of the males forced the victim out of the driver’s seat and into the middle seat. The other male was armed with a handgun and warned the victim to cooperate or risk getting shot.
The victim was driven to Untreiner Avenue where the suspects took the victims stereo equipment, cell phone, iPod, cash and clothing items. The suspects then fled the scene in the Mirage, leaving the victim unharmed.
“Shortly after deputies spoke to the victim in this case they broadcast a description of the suspects and their vehicle to other units,” said Deputy Chris Welborn. “Deputies later located the suspects, arrested them and seized their vehicle and the firearm used in this crime.”
Deputies also located marijuana and cocaine in the suspect’s vehicle as well as all the property they took from the victim.
The three were booked into the Escambia County Jail and held on a $311,000 bond.
Attention Teachers, Parents: How To Get Your Student Awards Published
May 24, 2011
It’s awards season at schools in the North Escambia area with hundreds of awards being presented over the next few days to students. And NorthEscambia.com wants to publish as many of the awards as possible.
Teachers
If you are a teacher, please check first with your principal to see if a school-wide award list is being compiled for NorthEscambia.com. If not, email your award list to news@northescambia.com for inclusion in an upcoming story.
Parents
Parents should ask their child’s teacher or principal to send an awards list to NorthEscambia.com We welcome your award ceremony photos; email them to news@northescambia.com.
If your child wins an award not presented at the school — for instance, an award presented at a ceremony in Pensacola — email the info and any photos to news@northescambia.com. Due to logistics, we are unable to accept parental submissions of awards presented at school (other than photos).
Food Bank Collects Cash From Lawsuit Settlement
May 24, 2011
The Bay Area Food Bank is one of eight food banks in the state that will share nearly $1.7 million in grants for a settlement reached by the Florida Attorney General’s Office in 2010. The multi-state, class action settlement agreement involved allegations of an illegal vitamin price-fixing conspiracy.
“I am pleased that we can distribute these funds to food banks throughout Florida, which will help our fellow citizens who are in need,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Each of these organizations is a member of the Florida Association of Food Banks, which feeds an estimated three million Floridians annually.”
The settlement agreement required the money to be used for the improvement of health and/or nutrition of the citizens of Florida and/or the advancement of nutritional, dietary or agricultural science
The Bay Area Food Bank will receive $78,99.14 for the settlement. The food bank serves clients though locations in 24 counties in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The agency is on track to deliver more than 14 million pounds of food this year.
Go Blue Wahoos! Pcola’s New Baseball Team Gets A Name
May 24, 2011
Pensacola’s new Double-A baseball team will be named the Blue Wahoos.
The name, submitted by Shelley Yates of Pensacola, was the slight favorite among thousands of fans that cast their vote during a “Name the Team” contest.
The Blue Wahoos brand was officially welcomed to Pensacola Monday at Cordova Park Elementary School. Quint and Rishy Studer, owners of the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, Blue Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin and fifth grade students and teachers from Cordova Park Elementary School were on hand to cheer for the six finalists and ultimately the winning name.
“From the 1,700 people who submitted team names to the pep rally here today at Cordova Park Elementary School, we have all thoroughly enjoyed this whole process,” said Quint Studer. “Naming the team is one of many opportunities for our fans and community to really take ownership of their new team. If the energy and creativity we saw from fans during this contest is any indication, we are going to have a lot of fun when the Blue Wahoos begin playing in Pensacola.”
Named for the explosive way they pull out of the water, Wahoos are a tough hometown fish that mean business. Blue, while part of the fish’s color, also connects to Pensacola’s blue water, blue skies and the Blue Angels, according to the team.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the future Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team will begin play in April 2012 at Maritime Park.
Pictured top: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos name is announced Monday morning during a pep rally at Cordova Park Elementary School. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Accused Of Burglary, Punching Police Dog
May 24, 2011
An Escambia County burglary suspect was arrested early Monday after punching a police dog in the face and trying to break into a car wash.
Allen Jay Dillard, 20, was arrested shortly after deputies responded to reports of the burglary at a Mobile Highway car wash.
The business owner, Donald Roe, witnessed the burglary by watching video surveillance of the business from his home. He called 911 and gave a description of the suspect to sheriff’s dispatchers.
An Escambia County Deputy was on patrol a few blocks away when the call was put out. As the deputy arrived at the car wash, Dillard fled on foot.
“Dillard ran away from the deputy and into a wooded area near Mobile Highway and Michigan Avenue,” said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “Shortly after Dillard ran into the woods one of our K-9 units arrived on scene.”
Deputy Mark Smith and his K-9 partner, Jeck, tracked Dillard through the woods to the Denver Avenue area.
“Dillard, who was armed with a crowbar, was given several commands to stop running but refused to do so,” Welborn said. “Jeck was released and quickly apprehended him.”
According to a report, Dillard punched Jeck in the face several times but the K-9 refused to let go. Deputies were then able to restrain Dillard with handcuffs.
Dillard was booked into the Escambia County Jail and charged with attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, battery on a police dog, criminal mischief and resisting arrest without violence. He was held on a $12,500 bond.
Escambia Considers Small Increase To Fire Tax
May 24, 2011
The fire fee tacked onto your annual property tax bill may be going up if you are a resident of Escambia County.
The Escambia County Commission has scheduled a June 16 public hearing to consider hiking the Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) fee by $5 per year for the next couple of years.
The current fee, assessed to Escambia County residents outside the city limits of Pensacola, is $75 per year. If the county commission passes the proposal, the fee would be $80 in 2012 and $85 in 2013.
Commercial property owners would also see an increase in the their fire tax, jumping about $60 per 10,000 square feet.
The increase fees, estimated at about a half million from residential property owners, will go toward funding 12 paid firefighters at the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the busiest station in the county. The firefighters were first hired under a 2009 grant that decreases yearly before ending.
The public hearing on the increase will be June 16, 5:30 in the commission chambers at the Escambia County Governmental Complex on Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola.
Future Uncertain For Animals In Two Shelters Slated For Closure
May 23, 2011
Rusty the cat really doesn’t know what his future holds. At 15-years old, his life took a dramatic turn when he landed at the Atmore Animal Shelter. His elderly caretaker was forced to move in with her children, unable to take her cat along.
At the shelter, Rusty (pictured left) did not really fit in with the younger cats in the “Cat Room” (he is in his 70’s in human years, after all), so he adopted the office as his own where he can, between long old-man naps, manage things.
But Rusty has a problem — the Atmore Animal Shelter is closing.
Both the Atmore and Brewton animal shelters, which are operated by the Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.), lost over 60 percent of their funding when the Neal Trust of Brewton came to an end. Without the commitment of adequate funding from the governments they serve — Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton and Escambia County (Ala.) — Director Renee Jones announced the shelters will close by May 31.
Jones is proud of the work accomplished at the shelters, proud of the numbers that show euthanasias are down from 79 percent of animal intakes in 2008 to less than 15 percent — only the most necessary of cases — in 2011. A spray and neutering program, along with education, has brought the total number of animals housed at the shelter each year down dramatically.
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
“I just don’t understand how the cities can’t have the vision to fund a shelter,” Jones said. “Animal control and a shelter is a basic and necessary part of government service.”
After the shelter closings were announced on the group’s Facebook page April 11, there were about 50 adult dogs, 25 puppies and 20 cats in the two shelters in need of a home. A shelter in Brunswick, Maine, the nearby North Baldwin Animal Shelter in Bay Minette and others stepped forward to accept animals.
Saturday, pilot Jack Rowell of Cantonment began a “Pilots n Paws” trip at the Brewton Airport with 15 puppies headed to a humane society in Virginia.
“I believe we have a place for all of them — all of them at no-kill shelters,” Jones said Saturday morning as she provided a tour of the Atmore Shelter. As she passed each dog remaining in the kennel, she pointed out their names and personalities.
“She’s a little shy,” she said of one that was frightened by a camera flash.
By Monday morning, the kennels fell silent with all of the dogs relocated from the Atmore shelter, and the same will happen later in the week in Brewton as the last animals are moved out.
As for Rusty the cat, well, 15-year old cats tend not to get too excited. He’s just taking everything one day at time. As is Jones, hoping that the cities of Atmore and Brewton will come to some sort of an understanding and create a funding plan that will save the shelters.
But until that moment, she continues to work to find a place for each animal as the shelters face closure in about a week.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Jones said, trying to hold back tears. “It really wasn’t suppose to end this way.”
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
Editor’s note: It is now, according to Jones, too late for individuals to adopt animals in the shelters.
SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey, Fla., has agreed to accept most of the remaining animals from the Brewton and Atmore shelters. The Humane Society of Escambia County is accepting donations to help pay for hundreds of dollars in fuel needed to transport the animals. To donate, visit www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton and locate the “donate now” button for a link to make a PayPal donation. For more information about the Humane Society of Escambia County, click here for their Facebook page.
Pictured: Animals that remained at the Atmore Animal Shelter as of Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
