Gulf Coast Population Surges
May 27, 2010
Between 1960 and 2008, the population in coastline counties along the Gulf of Mexico soared by 150 percent, more than double the rate of increase of the nation’s population as a whole. On the eve of hurricane season, this area now is home to nearly 14 million residents, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report issued today.
The report, Coastline Population Trends in the United States: 1960 to 2008, [PDF] examines population trends along the country’s saltwater edges — coastline counties — and their shares of coastline states during the period. Specifically, it analyzes trends in the growth and decline, geographic distribution and density of the coastline population. It also incorporates historical data on the trajectories of hurricanes striking the U.S. coastlines to gauge the coastline population’s experience with hurricanes.
The Gulf Coast’s population growth over the period surpassed that of coastline counties along the Pacific (110 percent) and Atlantic (56 percent). The region has experienced double-digit rates of population increase each decade since 1960. The Gulf Coast was home to six of the eight U.S. coastline counties with the fastest population increases over the 48-year period, led by Collier County, Fla., which grew by 1,900 percent (from 15,753 to 315,258). At the same time, the region contained six of the 11 coastline counties most frequently hit by hurricanes during that time, with Monroe County, Fla., leading the list with 15, and Lafourche Parish, La., tied for second with 14.
“Coastline counties along the Atlantic and Gulf, as well as the Hawaiian Islands, account for nearly two-thirds of the nation’s coastline population and are home to four of the nation’s 10 most populous counties,” said Steven Wilson of the Census Bureau’s Population Division, who co-authored the report. “As hurricane season begins, this report should put into perspective the number of Americans living along the coast who might be affected.”
All in all, 87 million people, or 29 percent of the U.S. population, live in coastline counties, including more than 41 million in Atlantic and 32 million in Pacific counties. In 1960, only 47 million lived in coastline counties.
Other highlights include:
- The number of housing units along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline increased by 246 percent from 1960 to 2008, compared with 130 percent in the Pacific and 98 percent in the Atlantic coastline regions and 121 percent for the U.S. as a whole. The number of housing units along the U.S. coastline grew from 16 million to 36 million during this time.
- On average, the 11 coastline counties that were hit by 11 or more hurricanes from 1960 to 2008 increased in population by nearly 179 percent and had a housing unit increase of 255 percent. Among these counties, only Hyde, N.C., lost population (-10.1 percent) and only St. Bernard Parish, La., lost housing units (-2.6 percent).
- The coastline share of Maine’s total population climbed by 9 percentage points from 1960 to 2008. New Hampshire, Virginia and Alaska also had increases of more than 5 percentage points. In contrast, the share of Maryland’s population in its coastline counties dropped 14 percentage points and California’s by 10 points.
- Excluding Alaska, the average density of coastline counties increased from 260 people per square mile in 1960 to 480 in 2008. On average, they are twice as densely populated as noncoastline counties. Among the coastline states, only the coastline sections of New York (between 1970 and 1980), Louisiana (from 1980 to 1990 and 2000 to 2008) and Mississippi (from 2000 to 2008) had declines in population density during any decade.
- New York County (Manhattan), N.Y., is the most densely populated coastline county, with nearly 72,000 people per square mile in 2008. Between 1960 and 2008, Orange County, Calif., and Pinellas County, Fla., joined the list of the 20 most densely populated coastline counties, with Orleans Parish, La., and Westchester County, N.Y., dropping off.
- Nearly half of the nation’s coastline population in 2008 was in either California (29 percent) or Florida (16 percent).
- Most coastline counties (223 of 254) experienced population gains from 1960 to 2008, including all counties from the southern coast of North Carolina through Mississippi, and all counties from California through Washin
One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash
May 26, 2010
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident this morning on Highway 97.
The accident happened about 10:05 a.m. just north of Tungoil Road. The driver of an older model Ford Crown Victoria apparently lost control while northbound on Highway 97, slid across both lanes and overturned in a field. The vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side.
The driver was able to get out of the vehicle before the first emergency personnel arrived on scene. She was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.d
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP. Further details were not available.
Pictured: The driver of this Ford Crown Victoria was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Wednesday morning on Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Grad Richard Braun Of Molino Graduates From Basic Training
May 26, 2010
Air Force Airman Richard K. Braun graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Laura and Billy Braun of Haupert Lane, Molino. Braun is a 2009 graduate of Northview High School.
Molino Woman Charged With Writing 37 Bad Checks, Most To Pizza Restaurants
May 26, 2010
A Molino woman has been arrested on 37 worthless check charges, a fraud charge and failure to appear warrant.
Natasha Monique Hall, 27, of Highway 95A, Molino, is accused of writing 37 worthless checks totaling $1,719.92 to four different companies. She allegedly wrote 19 checks worth $631.35 to various locations of Hungry Howies Pizza, five bad checks worth $129.18 to different Dominoes Pizza locations, 11 checks for $879.29 to different Tom Thumb locations and two checks for $80.10 to Beauty Express, according to the Escambia County Clerk of the Courts. The worthless checks ranged in value from a $22 check to Hungry Howies to a $215.05 check to the Tom Thumb.
Hall is facing a fraud charge for failing to redeliver leased property valued at $300 or more during 2007. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Hall failed to return a leased item to a Rent A Center on Mobile Highway. The arrest report states that the rental company attempted to contact Hall a total of 110 times by phone, registered mail and visiting her address in order to have their rented property returned. The arrest report states the rental property was worth $2,100; however, the report does not state what items were allegedly rented by Hall.
A warrant was also served on Hall in connection with a 2007 petty theft case. Hall was due to pay $250 in court costs, a $75 public defender fee and $236 in restitution to Tom Thumb in connection with the case. The warrant was issued in January, 2008, after Hall failed to make payment.
Hall remains in the Escambia County Jail.
Atmore Man Gets Life In Prison For Selling Over 13 Pounds Of Crack
May 26, 2010
An Atmore man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for selling over 13 pounds of crack cocaine.
Scottie LaDon Dixon, 38, received the sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge William Steele after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Dixon admitted in federal court that he sold 6.2 kilograms (13.67 pounds) of crack cocaine while he was on supervised release from a 1997 drug conviction.
A Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force agent used a confidential informant to purchase crack from Dixon near Bay Minette on April 21, 2009. According to court documents, Dixon bragged about the quality of crack and sold the confidential informant two cookies of crack for $2,000.
As federal agents raided Dixon’s home, he was found at the end of a trail of cocaine powder, standing over a toilet. Court documents indicated that agents found crack in the sewage pipes under his trailer. He was taken into custody by federal agents at his trailer at 307 East 4th Street in Atmore on April 30.
Dixon is currently being held in the Baldwin County Jail.
Atmore VA Office To Remain Open
May 26, 2010
The Veterans Administration office in Atmore will remain open, while the office in Brewton will close.
Currently, there are two VA offices in Escambia County (Ala.) — one in the Highway 31 satellite courthouse in Atmore and the second in the courthouse annex in Brewton. The Atmore office is currently open on Mondays and Friday; the Brewton office is open on Thursdays. Both are served by Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks who also divides his time with two days each week in Monroe County.
The Veterans Administration announced last month that one office would close.
Now, in a letter to the Escambia County Commission, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Clyde Marsh said the Brewton office will close June 24.
Gaetz Blasts Crist And BP Tourism Ads
May 26, 2010
Florida’s marketing response to the BP oil spill has been both tepid and late, a host of critics including Cabinet members and a Panhandle lawmaker charged Tuesday hours before the governor announced that the $25 million was in the bank from the petroleum giant to offset the bad press just prior to the critical summer vacation season.
Gov. Charlie Crist and the state’s top tourism official defended the state’s efforts to lure slick-wary travelers to Florida’s Panhandle, the beaches of which remain sugar white with no oil in sight.
Calling the state’s $2.5 million initial effort at reassuring tourists amateurish and vague, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, blasted Crist and Visit Florida officials for not reacting quickly enough to help northwest Florida businesses survive the economic storm brought on by the explosion and spill from the BP rig Deepwater Horizon.
Gaetz’s district is taking the brunt of negative news surrounding the spill. Unlike South Florida where winter travel is king, the region’s peak season begins in three days and lasts through early September.
“It’s now Day 35 and I regret to say the state of Florida has not done enough,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz’s comments came as the governor and Cabinet were briefed on efforts to cap the well that since April 20 has been spewing oil from a leak more than a mile below the surface. Damage to state waters, though, has so far been negligible.
Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday afternoon that the $25 million was in the bank as promised by BP CEO Tony Hayward last week. That money can be added to the effort to reassure tourists that Florida remains a viable destination and isn’t seeing any immediate effects of the spill.
“We’re doing everything humanly possible to make sure that people throughout the country understand our beaches are clean, that the water is clean, that the charter boats are open for business,” Crist said.
Gaetz (pictured) wasn’t the only one critical of state efforts. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, said Florida officials have the ability to activate emergency loans with no or low interest rates to business that in some cases are scrambling to make payroll. So far, the state has not done so.
She also echoed Gaetz’s critique of a pair of Visit Florida ad spots, saying the TV commercials are “too generic” to adequately express that Florida beaches have been unaffected by the spill.
“This does nothing to help Northwest Florida,” Sink said.
The 20 and 30 second spots highlight the state’s beaches and use photographs taken from Northwest Florida beaches, although they don’t mention that fact. The commercials, which will run through June 23, point viewers to the Visit Florida website, where more up-to-the-minute images are available, said Chris Thompson, CEO of Visit Florida.
After reviewing the spots that began airing Saturday, Gaetz said the effort is not measuring up.
“We have two poorly crafted ads that were thrown together, it seemed to me, at the last minute in somebody’s basement,” Gaetz said.
Panhandle lawmakers initially urged Crist to act in a May 5 letter. On Thursday, Senate President Jeff Atwater sent the governor another letter reiterating the need for speedy response to help Northwest Florida’s economy. Neither letter, Gaetz said, has received a response.
Despite meeting with him on the issues, Crist should be doing more, he said.
“He’s a very gracious person,” Gaetz said. “He needs to be an effective governor.”
Gaetz, who has been increasingly critical of the governor since Crist bolted from the Republican Party April 30, said politics has nothing to do with his ramped up criticism of state efforts.
“As far as I’m concerned the governor can join the Whig party today if he wants to,” Gaetz said. “This is not about what political affiliation the governor has. This is about the policy effectiveness of the governor’s office. ”
Pictured: Gov. Charlie Crist briefs reporters Tuesday afternoon after receiving $25 million from BP as promised last week to be used for locally targeted tourism ads. Photo by Mike Peltier for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida
Molino Memorial Festival Saturday; Vendors Needed
May 26, 2010
The Molino Annual Memorial Festival will be held Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CrossFaith Church.
The day’s activities will include food, arts and crafts vendors, auction, live music and plenty of activities for the kids. Guest speakers will include John Krause, Congressional District 1 candidate and Captain Charlie Code from the NJROTC program at Northview High School.
Live entertainment will include Ashton Gibbs, Keith Rowell, Denise Palmer, Wayward Bypass, FACE and Ember.
Food and craft vendors are needed, contact Debra Smith at (850) 587-6060 or CrossFaith Church at (850) 587-3187.
Parents, Students Learn About New Ernest Ward Electrical Academy
May 26, 2010
A new program at Ernest Ward Middle School will provide students the opportunity to learn all about electricity and green power.
Tuesday, parents and students had the opportunity to learn more about the IBEW Electrical Academy at Ernest Ward Middle School. The academy, which begins in August, is the first such program in the nation at the middle school level.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will work with the school district to create the Electrical Academy. Middle school career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a school in which select students and teachers participate during a two or three-year span. A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an interdisciplinary team.
“We are really going to emphasize going green,” Reagan McDaniel, business manager for the IBEW Local Union 676, said while standing in front of trailer-mounted solar panels capable of generating about 2,000 watts of power. “It’s important that students learn about green power options.”
In the EWMS Electrical Academy, the students will be introduced to electrical systems, learn the theories of electricity and gain valuable hands-on experience with various projects. Part of that hands-on experience will include learning how to wire a home. While students will work with AC (household type) electrical systems, most projects will use DC (battery type) voltage for safety reasons.
During a recent registration period, 167 incoming seventh and eight grade students signed up for the Electrical Academy, according to Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. The academy, she said, will only be able to accept about 40 students from each grade level. School grades, FCAT scores and behavior records will play a factor in which students are selected for the program.
For seventh and eight grade students, the academy will be two semesters. Sixth grade students will have the opportunity to take Electrical Academy classes as part of the “wheel” — a nine week course.
“My son is an electrical engineer,” said Gayle Hanks, Ernest Ward guidance counselor. “He said that students that gain the hands on training before college will hold an advantage.”
McDaniel said that current plans call for expanding the IBEW electrical academy to Northview High School.
During the school day, current sixth and seventh grade students were given the chance to see the trailer mounted solar panels in action — powering a fan, leaf blower and vacuum cleaner.
Pictured top: Local IBEW Business Manager Reagan McDaniel explains solar panels capable of generating 2,000 watts of electricity Tuesday afternoon at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Accused Of Shooting Seven People Taken Into Custody In Perdido
May 25, 2010
A man accused of shooting seven people at a weekend party was taken into custody today by deputies and U.S. Marshals near Perdido, Ala., just northwest of Nokomis, Fla.
Marcus Darnell Butler, 22, is facing multiple second degree assault charges for allegedly opening fire at a May Day party Saturday night near Tensaw in northern Baldwin County, Ala. A total of seven people were reported to be hit in their arms, legs and feet — none of the injuries were life threatening.
Investigators have said the shooting may have been related to an ongoing feud over a woman between Butler and one of the victims.
Butler surrendered without incident to members of the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held in the Baldwin County Corrections Center in Bay Minette.