Senior ‘Snow’ Picture
December 9, 2010
The yearbook photo for Northview High School Senior Class of 2011 turned out to be a little more on the memorable side Wednesday morning as snow flurries interrupted the photo shoot.
To see closeup images from the main picture, click here.
Pictured above: Snow interrupted the Northview High School Senior Class of 2011 picture Wednesday morning. Pictured below: A closeup from the photo. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jeff Miller to Lead House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
December 9, 2010
Northwest Florida’s Congressman Jeff Miller was elected Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Wednesday.
“It is certainly a great honor to have the opportunity to serve as chairman of an important committee that is so critical to our country,” said Miller. “I’m eager to work hard in this new capacity for our veterans and retirees.”
“I can’t think of anyone in the House more capable to serve as the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs than Jeff Miller,” said Boehner. “Jeff’s efforts for veterans are well documented and his credentials as a conservative leader are without question. Jeff will continue to work to ensure that all of our nation’s heroes receive the proper respect and care that they earned.”
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.) VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $119 billion.
Since being elected to Congress in 2001, Miller has established himself nationally as a strong advocate for veterans’ concerns including his successful support for changes to concurrent pay receipt and his advocacy of a greater co-sharing between the military and veterans’ facilities. In 2004, Miller spearheaded a measure to remedy the inequity in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for Social Security recipients.
A staunch fiscal conservative, Miller aims to bring efficiency and a streamlined approach to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Miller plans for a return to strict oversight, focusing on issues such as claims backlogs as well as safety and security breaches within the department.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the more than 22 million veterans who have so proudly served this great nation,” Miller said. “I will work to ensure that we meet our veterans’ needs.”
Stay Warm, But Stay Safe
December 9, 2010
With cold temperatures forecast for the next several nights, Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay warm, specifically when using space heaters. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
According to the National Fire Protection Association annual fire department survey, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported home structure fires in the United States in 2006. These fires accounted for 16% of all home fires and were responsible for an estimated 540 deaths, roughly 1,400 injuries and $943 million in direct property damage. With this in mind, Escambia County would like to offer a few safety tips involving heating equipment:
- Properly inspect all heating equipment for frayed cords or exposed elements before use.
- Space heaters need space. Keep heaters at least three feet away from all furniture, drapes, clothing and other combustibles.
- Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances, such as ovens, or any heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
- Only use heaters with safety features such as cut-off switches that turn them off if they accidentally tip over and those units with heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
- Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
- When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
- If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
- Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
- Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel as both explode easily.
- Keep the fire in the fireplace with a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
- Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
- Remember it’s always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
- Electric blankets can be a serious fire hazard if defected or used improperly. Check your electric blanket for any damage from fraying, creasing or general wear and tear. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, and never use a wet blanket.
- In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.
Actions should be taken to prepare for this and future cold weather events. Remember the “5 Ps” of cold weather preparedness:
- Protect People
- Protect Plants
- Protect Pets
- Protect Exposed Pipes
- Practice Fire Safety
Escambia County encourages everyone to follow these safety tips. For more information on cold weather hazards click here.
Florida Taxwatch Joins Scott In Calling For Prison Cost Cuts
December 9, 2010
Scaling-back spending in the state’s prison system was one of the top recommendations as Florida TaxWatch rolled out its annual roster of potential state cost-savings Wednesday – listing 124 proposals which could trim more than $4 billion from the recession-battered treasury.
With Florida facing a budget shortfall likely to exceed $3 billion, TaxWatch officials said their ideas will gain more loft as Scott and lawmakers seek to shrink state spending.
When Governor-elect Rick Scott unveiled his economic plan on the campaign trail this summer, there was a portion that caught law enforcement and corrections professionals by surprise, a proposed $1 billion cut to the state’s corrections’ budget.
Scott’s plan for the corrections system is setting up a potentially heated political fight between his new administration, coming in looking to make drastic cuts in what Scott believes is a bloated budget and on the other side law enforcement officials who say his plan is unrealistic and lawmakers who don’t want to be soft on crime.
Florida Taxwatch is recommending a commission to do a top-to-bottom review of the corrections system to identify savings. The group is calling for an expansion of faith- and character-based prisons, an expansion in work release programs, requiring justification for individuals with low sentencing scores, decreased state incarceration of local inmates and even changes in Florida’s marijuana and cocaine possession laws to reduce prison sentences.
Florida Tax Watch is also recommending revamping Florida’s public pension plan and steering more Medicaid patients into managed care, recommendations which generally match those advanced either by leading legislators or Gov.-elect Rick Scott.
Other TaxWatch measures clearly face longer odds. Efforts to extend the state’s sales tax to Internet sales has been proposed, and rejected, by lawmakers for several years. But with Florida facing a budget shortfall likely to exceed $3 billion, TaxWatch officials said their ideas will gain more loft as Scott and lawmakers seek to shrink state spending.
In unveiling the money-saving list, TaxWatch’s David Smith, pointed to the pension plan as a rich ground for state savings. Eliminating the state’s traditional, defined benefit plan and putting all Florida Retirement System employees into a defined contribution plan and requiring FRS members to contribute to their retirement are just some of the cost-savings.
“It’s unsustainable. It’s broken. But it’s not, not fixable,” Smith said.
Pictured: A guard tower rises above Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (With Photo Gallery)
December 8, 2010
(Updated 12:30 p.m.) Snow flurries were reported across the North Escambia area this morning, incluing Atmore, Walnut Hill, Bratt, Flomaton, Byrneville, Century, Brewton, Lambeth, Little River, Poarch and Huxford.
“I have field of flurries!” a reader on Carver Avenue in Atmore wrote.
Students at many area schools were allowed to go outside and experience the snow, including some students at Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and Northview High School.
There was no significant accumulation from the flurries; however a very, very small amount to snow accumulated briefly on vehicles, decks and even livestock (see the photo below).
If you have snow photos, email them to — news@northescambia.com and we’ll add them to our photo gallery.
For a photo gallery of reader photos from across the area, click here.
Pictured top: A snow flurry at Northview High School (from Vicki Cook). Pictured inset: Bratt Elementary Pre-K student Eli Stephens attempts to catch a snowflake with his tongue. Pictured below: Snow accumulates on “Sherlock” the horse near Byrneville (Robin Borelli). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Helicopter Tech Building Listed For Sale; Town Gets Energy Grant
December 8, 2010
The Town of Century is putting the former Helicopter Technology building back on the market, and the town has received a quarter million grant to improve energy efficiency at the building and two others facilities.
The Town of Century purchased the 40,000 square foot building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August, 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology.
After attempting to lease or sell the building independently for over year, Century will now list the building on the open real estate market with DeeDee Ritchie of the commercial real estate firm NAI Halford.
“I told her we wanted jobs whatever we do,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The building will list for $850,000 — the amount McCall said the town had been been previously offered for the property. That deal collapsed along with the Air Force tanker contract for Mobile, he said. The town will also consider leasing the building at a rate yet to be determined.
The real estate company will receive a 6-percent fee for the sale or lease of the building.
Energy Efficiency Grant
The Town of Century has received a $250,000 energy efficiency grant that will be used to upgrade the climate control systems at the former Helicopter Technology building, the Century Town Hall and the Century Ag Building (community center) on West Highway 4.
The grant will also fund the installation of energy efficient lighting at all three buildings.
Wedding Ring Lost In Christmas Trees Is Found
December 8, 2010
Unlikely little Christmas wishes do sometimes come true. Just ask Kari Doyle and her husband Greg of Cantonment.
Sunday, we first brought you the story of Kari Doyle’s lost wedding rings. She and her two children, Emma 4, and Olivia, 2, were shopping for a family Christmas tree Saturday at the Home Depot on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. After picking up several trees, she realized that her wedding rings had fallen off. She searched and searched — but no rings.
Today, we can report that Kari Doyle’s diamon wedding ring is back on her finger. The band is still missing.
“We got a phone call earlier from a man that just bought his Christmas tree from Home Depot and his granddaughter found the ring in the tree,” she said.
The man would not leave his name and did not want to accept an offered cash reward. The Doyle’s gave the cash to the man’s five-year old granddaughter.
“I can’t say thank you enough,” Kari Doyle said. “This reaffirms my faith in people.”
And perhaps there was a bit of Christmas magic involved. It’s worth noting this post that Kari made on her Facebook page a few hours before the ring was found:
“(Emma) is having Santa visit her school today and she said ‘Mommy I’m gonna ask Santa for your rings’.”
Half Million Earned: Century Signs Off On $28 Million Bond Issue
December 8, 2010
The Town of Century has voted to approve the issuance of up to $28 million in revenue bonds for an apartment complex for the elderly and Goodwill Industries, bringing the town’s earnings over a half million dollars from a partnership with Gulf Breeze.
The approval was granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
With the issuance of the most recent round of bonds, Century will have received over a half million dollars in fees since the inception of CTA.
Century and Gulf Breeze Attorney Matt Dannheisser said that the CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities.
The first bond issue will be to Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida for up to $20 million for the acquisition and renovation of donation and distribution centers and educational, job training, career development and mentoring facilities at several locations in the Ft. Myers and Naples areas. Dannheisser said he expects the actual bond issuance to be about $12.8 million. With $20 million in bonds, Century would be paid $7,000, while at $12.8 million Century would receive a $4,480 fee.
The second bond issue will be for up to $8 million for the 68-unit Cypress Cathedral Apartments for the elderly in Winter Haven, Florida. Dannheisser said he expects the actual bond issuance to be about $5.4 million. The Town of Century will receive a fee of $2,500 to $2,800 for their second signature.
For serving as the second signature for CTA, Century is paid $350 per $1 million financed with a$2,500 minimum fee.
“Century is blessed to be part of this to receive these funds for nothing, so to speak,” Century Councilman Gary Riley said.
Memorial Service Held For Murdered Former Molino Resident
December 8, 2010
A memorial service was held Wednesday in Pensacola for Winter Delane Wingard, the former Molino resident murdered last week in South Carolina.
Wingard is survived by her mother, Beverly Patrick of Gaffney, South Carolina; sister Summer Dawn Wingard of Pensacola; her grandmother, Mary Ann Patrick of Pensacola; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Cherokee County (SC) Coroner Dennis Fowler said Winter Delane Windguard’s body was found on the side of a rural road last Thursday. Fowler said Monday that Wingard, 26, died as the result of hemorrhages caused by blunt force injury to her head. Fowler said the victim was severely beaten in the head and neck and strangled. In addition, the coroner said Wingard sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Monday, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office charged Joey L. Clark of Mooresboro N.C. with Wingard’s death. He is being held without bond.
Wingard’s mother reported the 26-year old missing Thursday night, saying that she was last seen about 1:30 that morning as she left her home in Gaffney, SC., in her mother’s vehicle to go to a store.
Winter Wingard’s sister Summer Wingard said the sisters formerly lived on Molino Road. Winter Wingard attended Molino Elementary, Ransom Middle and Tate High before completing her education online.
Gaffney is a town of about 13,000 people about 20 miles northeast of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
FFA Students Place In Sub-District Career Event
December 8, 2010
Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Tate High and Jay High were among schools from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties that participated in the FFA Sub-District Career Development Events Tuesday at the Jay Community Center.
Ernest Ward Middle placed second in parliamentary procedure. Team members were: Austin Cunningham, Miranda Vidak, Madison McGhee, Mitchell Singleton, Aden Davis, Andrea Miles and alternate Kendall Cobb.
Ernest Ward Middle also participated in the Opening and Closing Ceremony Event. Team members: Tiffani Cruce, Jaylen Parker, Haylee Weaver, Bethany Reynolds, Haley Brown, Allison Woodfin, and Addy Lee.
Northview participated and earned awards in the following areas:
- Second in Parliamentary Procedure, with team members being Lydia Weaver, Allie Vidak, Allyson Bullard, Lane Purvis, Devin Bell, Stephanie Solari and alternate Dillon Crutchhfield.
- Second place in Prepared Public Speaking went to Jessica Baldwin.
- Second place in Extemporaneous Public Speaking went to Allie Vidak.
- First place in FFA Creed speaking went to Courtney Solari.
- Forth place in Safe Tractor Operation went to Brandon Chambless.
Tate High School placed as follows:
- Third place in Prepared Public Speaking - Emily Higdon
- First place in Extemporaneous Public Speaking – Megan Gibbs
- Second place in Creed Speaking - Victoria Beson
- First place in Tractor Driving Operations – Jeff Hansford
- First place in Parliamentary Procedure - Laura William, Megan Gibbs, Destiny Miller, Victoria Bell, Cierra Mitchell, Austin Pfeiffer, Chelsea Ward (alternate).
Jay High School placed as follows:
- First place in Parliamentary Procedure — Olivia Moore, Makenzie Bray, Paige Smith, Alicia Roberts, Sarah Adkinson, Satchel Starling
- First place — Opening and Closing Ceremony Team — Olivia Moore, Makenzie Bray, Paige Smith, Alicia Roberts, Sarah Adkinson, Satchel Starling, Colby Odom
Pictured top: Members of the Northview High School FFA. Pictured below: Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA. Pictured bottom: The Jay High FFA members. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
