Jobless Rate Jumps In Three County Local Area
July 17, 2010
While the statewide unemployment rates in Florida and Alabama dropped, the three-county employment rate in the North Escambia area increased according to date released Friday.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate increased 0.6 percent— up from 10.3 percent in May to 10.9 percent in June. That represents 879 jobs lost in a month.
Santa Rosa County also recorded an increase in unemployment — from 9.3 in May to 9.8 percent in June. Santa Rosa County lost 378 jobs during the period.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County, Ala., also jumped, from 11.4 percent in May to 11.8 in June.
Florida’s May unemployment rate dipped to 11.4 percent, the third consecutive month of improvement. Prior to this year, the last time Florida recorded monthly declines in unemployment rates was February 2006.
“This continuing decline in Florida’s unemployment rate is another strong indication that our economy is improving,” said Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “While we recognize that families and businesses, especially those impacted by the Gulf oil spill, continue to face challenges as the nation emerges from recession, this positive indicator should provide hope to Floridians.
The improvement is partially attributed to a shrinking labor force. According to the department, the labor force shrank by 34,000 from May to June, likely due to many people giving up on their job searches. However, jobs were still lost during the month, with the biggest loss coming in laid off census workers. As census taking wrapped up, 20,000 workers were laid off.
“If we didn’t have that census impact we would have likely gained jobs,” said Rebecca Rust, chief economist for the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
Unexpected was the relatively stable rate in Panhandle counties. State officials have heard for weeks about the economic hit suffered there because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – and lawmakers are talking about a possible special session later this year to deal with economic issues arising out of the disaster. But the Pensacola metro area had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate in June, with the Panama City metro area coming in at 9.3 percent and the Destin-Fort Walton area coming in at 7.6 percent, the lowest for the state.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 10.3 percent in June, declined from May’s rate of 10.7 percent and equaled the year-ago rate.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Atmore All-Stars In State Babe Ruth Tourney
July 17, 2010
The Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars will take part in the 2010 Alabama State 13-year old Babe Ruth Tournament beginning today in Demopolis.
The team is comprised of players from both Atmore and the North Escambia areas. The first game will have Atmore’s All-Stars facing Huntsville at the Demopolis Sportplex. The tournament continues through Tuesday.
Pictured: Members of the 13-year old Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars are: (front L-R) Tanner Smith, Coby Smith, Gage White, Brodie Amos, Billy Powell, Devontae Stephens, (middle) Trey Weeks, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Dalton Daniel, Nate Smith, Trey McGhee (back) Coach Jody Dortch, Coach Tommy Smith and Manager Tim McAnally. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Cantonment Crash
July 17, 2010
At least three people were injured in a two vehicle collision Friday evening in Cantonment. The accident happened about 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 95A and Neal Road. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
How To Pick That Perfect Summer Watermelon
July 17, 2010
One of the best ways to celebrate summer is to enjoy sweet, ripe watermelons. But knowing when to harvest or buying the best one is not always an easy chore. Of all the hard-to-choose fruits, watermelon is one of the toughest to select. The hard rind of a watermelon can be up to an inch thick and doesn’t soften as it ripens. It’s green when ripe and green when unripe. So, how do you select a juicy, sweet watermelon?
Your best bet is to grow your own or buy local and “in season”, through mid-July. Collin Adcock, Extension Agent in Washington County, provides us some tips on how to know when to harvest watermelons from your garden.
Choosing a ripe watermelon from the field or garden can be much easier than choosing a ripe one in the store. The ability to recognize a ripe melon comes from years of experience and careful observation. In the garden there are several clues to help determine the ripeness of a melon that one does not always have in the store.
Most people rely on four methods of determining melon ripeness in the field.
First, look at the tendril or “pigtail” closest to the melon. When this tendril turns brown and dries out, it is a good sign that the melon is ripe.
Next, look at the bottom of the melon where it lays on the ground. When this area, sometimes referred to as the “color spot”, turns from white to a light yellow, there is a good chance the watermelon is ripe.
Then look at the rind. When the rind becomes rough to the touch and turns from a more shiny color to a more dull color and is resistant to penetration by the thumbnail it is a sign of melon ripeness.
The last method is the thump test. This is done by thumping the top of the melon. If the watermelon has a dull thud when thumped, it is very possible the melon is ripe. Unripe melons will usually have a tighter, ringing or hollow sound. Be careful when using this test because it is not always reliable. Watermelons do not always give off a dull thud when ripe. For some watermelons a dull thud may indicate an over-ripe melon.
Only a melon’s taste can provide definitive proof as to its ripeness. A foolproof approach is to cut open several melons that appear to be ripe (based on the above methods), and then taste all of the melons and decide which one has the best taste. After locating the best tasting watermelon note the condition of the closest tendril, the color spot, how the thump sounds, and the shine of the rind along with melon size. Harvest all those that have similar characteristics.
When buying a watermelon, you should look for “a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free of bruises, cuts or dents” according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
When you see a nice-looking watermelon, pick it up and feel its heft; then pick up a few others of similar size to compare. At 92 percent water, a good melon should feel heavy for its size.
How do you know a watermelon ripened on the vine? Easy, turn the melon over and check for a creamy yellow spot. That’s a sign that the watermelon sat on the ground and in the sun to ripen. The yellow spot is the only place the sun didn’t hit.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Firefighters, Facebook Group Fighting To Keep Park Open
July 17, 2010
Citizens across the area are lining up online and an Alabama firefighter’s groups is organizing a meeting Monday, to support Little River State Forest.
Little River, formerly known as Claude D. Kelley State Park, is located north of Atmore along Highway 21 on the Escambia -Monroe county line. It includes about 2,100 acres of longleaf pine forest with fishing on a 25-acre lake, hiking, swimming and camping.
The Alabama Forestry Commission, which manages the park, has announced that it will close September 30 due to a $5 million shortfall in the department’s overall budget.
That closure announcement led to public outcry, including a Facebook page “Keep Little River Park open”, which boasted almost 1,750 members as of early Saturday morning. And now, the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) has joined the fight, announcing a public meeting Monday in Monroeville.
The AAVFD and the Alabama Forestry Commission’s public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Monroeville Water Tower and Conference Center on East Claiborne Street. The area’s legislative delegation has also been invited to the meeting.
On the Facebook page, person after person has shared their memories of the park as well as photos. Here are a few posts:
- Winnie Nichols: Closing Little State Park would be destroying memories yet to be created. I would love for my great grand-children to be able to visit, enjoy and learn to love nature so abundant in this park. To allow it to close would be destroying a living treasure which we so cherish and really need in lower Alabama. Please find a way to keep it open.
- Alisha Linam: My grandparents got engaged while parked in the spillway one full moon night back in 1950 and I have many fond memories of childhood Saturday afternoons spent there. It would be a tragedy if it is closed.
- Mary Wood: Keep Little River Park open, there are too many memories there to just let it go.
- Patty Helton Davis: I cannot imagine this park closing. It is hard to believe that cannot come up with travel trailer park or something to raise additional cash. They do it at George Stone Park on Highway 4
To visit the “Keep Little River State Park open” Facebook page, click here.
16-Year Old Jailed After Deputy’s Tire Shot Out
July 16, 2010
A 16-year old was jailed after allegedly dumping a firearm into the middle of a North Escambia street, eventually leading to a shot being fired into a deputy’s tire.
The juvenile was charged with culpable negligence exposure to harm, carrying a concealed weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm unlawfully by a minor, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with or destroying evidence.
The incident began at 3:23 Wednesday morning when Deputy Scott Rivkin conducted a traffic stop on a black Eagle Talon with no headlights near North Century Boulevard and Henry Streets. The driver of the vehicle was given a warning for failing to use his headlights. The 16-year was the passenger in the vehicle. Both left the area.
About five minutes later, Rivkin was traveling on North Century Boulevard in the same area as the traffic stop when when he heard what he believed to be a gunshot. Upon investigation, he discovered a .22 caliber pistol in the middle of North Century Boulevard. When the right rear wheel of the deputy’s cruiser rolled over the weapon, it had fired a round, flattening the tire. Next to the revolver, the deputy discovered one empty shell casing and five live rounds of ammunition.
While Deputy Rivkin was still parked on North Century Boulevard, he noticed the driver from the previous traffic stop and the 16-year approaching him on foot. The two were separated and questioned as the Flomaton Police Department responded for backup.
The driver told authorities that the juvenile had dropped the gun out of the vehicle’s window just prior to the traffic stop and that the pair had returned to the area to retrieve the gun. The 16-year old told deputies that he had purchased the gun from an individual, and he provided a bill of sale. He admitted to dropping the gun out of the vehicle window.
The 16-year old, a resident of Ivey Street in Century, was arrested and released into the custody of the Department of Youth Services. He was being held with bond set at $21,000.
Angel Food Donates 80,000 Pounds Of Food
July 16, 2010
Two tractor trailers loaded with food rolled up to the Gateway Church of Christ in Pensacola on Thursday morning for distribution to volunteers from 55 local organizations — including several in North Escambia — to help put it into the hands of those in need for free.
About 80 thousand pounds was delivered Thursday to a distribution site in Pensacola to assist families and workers impacted by the loss of work and business due to the Gulf oil disaster.
The food was from Angel Food Ministries, an organization dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality food to those in need.
“We have many oil workers who have come here to take care of the oil that washes up here; meanwhile no one is allowed in the water to fish or otherwise, and we have lost so much due to lack of tourism and commerce,” said Pat Senkow, Angel Food Outreach minister for the region. “In Escambia county we have 1,200 homeless children, and Santa Rosa County has 4,700 known homeless before the oil spoiled what we did have.”
North Escambia area organizations that participate in Angel Food Ministries include: Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, Pine Forest Assembly of God, New Life Baptist Church of Century, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. For more information about participating in the Angel Food program, call 1-888-819-3745 or visit www.angelfoodministries.com to find the nearest host site.
One School To Win $10,000 From Pensacola Pelicans
July 16, 2010
At the end of the Pelicans season, one local school will win $10,000 from the Pensacola Pelicans. As part of the Pelicans reading program “Scoop’s Reading Challenge”, the school with the most reading challenge ticket voucher redemptions will win the grand prize.
Students participating in the “Scoop’s Reading Challenge” earned up to two Pelicans tickets for reaching “home” by achieving their assigned reading goals. In total, more than 15,000 tickets were awarded to the students in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties.
Currently, Pea Ridge Elementary is leading the race to win the $10,000.
Reading Challenge participants are encouraged to attend the Pelicans game and use their vouchers to further their school’s chances of winning the $10,000 prize.
The Pelicans have 19 regular season home games remaining. Ticket vouchers are youth vouchers only and are not valid for play-off games. Monday through Saturday games begin at 6:45 p.m. while Sunday games begin at 6:05 p.m. Gates open an hour before game time.
NWE All-Stars On The Road In Sectional Tourney
July 16, 2010
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars will be in action Saturday in the 11-12 year old Little League softball sectionals in Tallahassee.
NWE, the District 1 champions, will take on the District 20 champions, Chaires Little League, at Chaires-Capitola Park. Games in the double elimination tournament will be at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday. If a Sunday game is needed, the time will be determined following the final Saturday game.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top: The Northwest Escambia All-Starts 11-12 softball team after their July 2 district championship win. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Over 150 New Laws Now In Effect In Florida
July 16, 2010
High school students will have to take some tougher classes. Exotic pythons can no longer be sold in Florida. And it will be harder to sue businesses for “slip and fall” incidents. Those are just some of the more than 150 laws that went into effect this month in the Sunshine State.
- SB 4 heightens graduation standards and phases out part of the high school FCAT, the standardized exam given to Florida students. The new law will eventually require students to take geometry, two years of algebra, biology, chemistry or physics and an additional “rigorous” science course in order to graduate. DOE officials would also create and eventually implement end-of-course exams. Some school officials have questioned how it will affect graduation rates.
- SB 2126 expands the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, a program that that sends low-income Florida students to private school. The new law would allow the program, currently capped at $118 million in aggregate, to keep expanding as more donations flow in. The program is funded by private companies that get a corporate tax credit in return for a donation. Currently, more than 27,000 students receive a $3,950 scholarship. Under the new law, the $118 million cap expands to $140 million this year, and then allows it to expand by 25 percent whenever the donations reach 90 percent of the cap. The measure also provides additional tax credits for the program, adding oil and gas severance taxes, beverage taxes on alcohol and other types of business taxes. The goal is to increase the amount of students who receive the scholarship and boost the individual award amount, so that it eventually reaches 80 percent of the state allocation for per pupil spending, which is currently at about $6,866 per student.
- Another bill (HB 525) becoming law Thursday eliminates the statute of limitations on sex crimes related to minors. The measure was pushed by lawyer Michael Dolce and Lauren book, the daughter of Miami lobbyist Ron Book, who were both victimized as children.
- SB 1708 makes it a felony to kill, maim or mutiliate a horse and then sell the meat that is not acquired from a “licensed slaughterhouse.” The measure was sponsored by Sen. Victor Crist,R-Tampa, and Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami, who proposed it in response to incidents of horses being stolen and butchered for human consumption in the state over the last few years.
- Lawmakers upped the requirements for Florida students to qualify for the popular Bright Futures Scholarship, which pays for the education for about half of the students at Florida’s public universities. The changes include raising the SAT requirements from 1270 to 1290 for the top award and 970 to 1050 for the secondary award. (HB 5201)
- Another new law makes it more difficult for an individual to sue a business for “slip and fall” incidents. The new law places the burden of proof on a person who is injured in a slip and fall case. They now will have to prove the business had knowledge of a dangerous condition and didn’t fix it. The law was a major priority of the Florida Chamber and other members of the business community.
- Don’t try to put a snake on a plane. SB 318, which goes went into effect Thursday, bans the importation of dangerous giant reptiles into Florida and enhances the state’s ability to prevent internet sales of banned wildlife. It also increases penalties for those who break wildlife laws.
By Kathleen Hughney
The News Service Florida