Time’s Up For Homebuyer Tax Credit
April 28, 2010
Time is running out for home buyers to take advantage of thousands of dollars in federal tax credits for purchasing a home.
The $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers expire Friday. However, service members who were on official extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan.1, 2009 and May 1, 2010, may qualify for a one-year extension.
If a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, home buyers have until June 30, 2010 to complete the purchase.
For more information, visit the National Association of Home Builders at federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
- The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
- The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
- The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
- The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
- The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
- For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
- For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
- To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
- The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
- The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
- The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
- The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
- Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
Source: National Association of Home Builders
Escambia’s Top Seniors Honored
April 28, 2010
The brightest high school seniors were honored Tuesday night at the Escambia County Senior Academic Awards.
The awards honor the top five students at each school plus those that have excelled in other subjects.
Those honor from North Escambia schools were:
Northview High School Top Five
- Jessica N. Bloodsworth
- Kaitlyn Caraway
- Clinton E. Davis
- Felicia Settle
- Mark A. Shipps, Jr.
Northview High Top in Subject Areas
- Candice L. Greenwell, English
- Caitlin Hall, foreign language
- Bradley J. Lowery, math
- Jackson Smith, science
- Kolbi Cobb, social studies
- Eric Ickeringill, career and technical
Tate High School Top Five
- Stevie Evans
- Christopher Hester
- Caitlin Perkins
- Rebecca Rougeau
- Allison Shiflett
Tate High Top in Subject Areas
- Allison Bailey, English
- Davin Samuel, foreign language
- Corry Bedwell, math
- Sara Woodbury, science
- Lynsey Meharg, social studies
- Karissa Kleinschmidt, career and technical
Pictured above: Northview students Jessica Bloodsworth, Clinton Davis, Felicia Settle, Mark Shipps, Jr., and Jackson Smith at Tuesday night’s Escambia County Senior Academic Awards. Submitted photo by Jill Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Beating Elderly Man In The Street; Abusing Girl
April 27, 2010
A Century man remains in jail after allegedly beating an elderly man with a stick and abusing the elderly man’s granddaughter.
Daryl Lamar Brown, 42, is charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older and cruelty toward a child after the Sunday afternoon incident. He is being held in the Escambia County jail with bond set at $100,000.
Escambia County deputies responded to Jefferson Street near the intersection of Mincy Court about 6:30 p.m. Sunday to find a 66-year old man lying in the street with blood pooled next to his head. The victim was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The victim told deputies that he confronted Brown about hitting “the children” at Brown’s house. The victim said he had a knife in his hand, but never threatened Brown, the arrest report stated.
The victim told deputies that he left Brown’s yard when asked, then Brown began hitting him with what appeared to the handle of a shovel, the ECSO reported stated.
The victim’s wife told deputies that the couple received a call to check on a 16-year old juvenile because Brown had beaten her up. The victim’s wife said her husband was hit in the chest and head by Brown. Another witness said Brown threatened to kill the victim, and two other witnesses corroborated the victim’s statement, the sheriff’s office report stated.
Brown was sitting in a chair in the front yard of his residence when deputies arrived. He told deputies that the victim came at him with a knife, and he defended himself. According to the arrest report, none of the witnesses told Deputy Scott Mashburn that they had seen a knife.
Brown was also charged with abusing the 16-year old. The girl told deputies that Brown slapped her in the face approximately three times, pushed her in the tub and told her that he was going to kill her, according to the arrest report.
You’re Invited: Arts Day At Molino Park
April 27, 2010
The public is invited to help Molino Park Elementary School celebrate the arts this Friday.
The annual Arts Day at Molino Park Elementary will be fun-filled, art filled day of artists, crafters, bands, singers and musicians, according to event organizers. The event will be from 8 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. Friday, with the Molino Park Roundup ‘10 featuring the best homegrown talent from North Escambia at 12:45.
Visitors are welcome, but should check in at the front office for a visitor’s pass.
Ernest Ward Middle School Releases Honor Roll
April 27, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School has released its honor roll for the third nine weeks.
Students on the Ernest Ward Middle School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll are:
Sixth Grade All A’s
Tristan Barrett
Haley Brown
Jacob Dunsford
Dariane Guy
Abbie Johnson
Trevor Levins
Jason Ogle
Bethany Reynolds
Savanna Roux
David Thorpe
Bradley Van Pelt
Haylee Weaver
Sixth Grade A’s and B’s
Jadlyn Agerton
Katelyn Born
William Brown
Breanna Campbell
Hunter Commander
Hunter Connell
Sara Dutton
Leah Fischer
Amber Freeman
Nathan Galvan
Saige Garrett
Hannah Ging
Christopher Grant
Cheyenne Gray
Lorri Harrell
Jordan Helmken
Zachary Holland
Tonie Johnson
Kendral Langford
Trevor Lassiter
Charles Lee
Thomas Moore
Meagan Ogle
Brianna Parker
Liberty Peebles
Wesley Peebles
Jason Perritt
Olivia Price
Jamilia Smiley-Knight
Jordan Taylor
Harmoni Till
Brittany Ward
Carly Ward
Courtney Weekley
Seventh Grade All A’s
Shalmali Bhadkamkar
Megan Bryahn
Austin Cunningham
Auden Lassitter
Benjamin Linam
Jessica McCullough
Aaron McDonald
Amy Murph
Jaylen Parker
Mallory Ryan
Samantha Sharpless
Danielle Suggs
Chelsea Turner
Tamara Wise
Seventh Grade A’s and B’s
Robert Andreoli
Autumn Ates
Penny Banda
Reagan Bell
Annie Bobo
Tristan Brown
Kristen Byrd
Kendal Cobb
Tiffani Cruce
Elizabeth Fillingim
Hannah Gibson
Christian Gould
Kyndall Hall
Davy Hanks
Julie Hester
Victoria Inghram
Adriann Lee
Logan Lee
Madison McGhee
Breanna Payne
Tristan Portwood
Madison Presley
Rachel Sepulveda
Rickey Smith
Morgan Ward
Kelton Wooten
Eighth Grade All A’s
Kasie Braun
Tamara Green
Jessica Lowery
Hilery Scott
Courtney Solari
Jennifer Spears
Danielle Steadham
Victoria Wright
Eighth Grade A’s and B’s
Mariah Albritton
William Andreoli
Jodie Ard
Madison Arrington
Samantha Barrow
Skye Brown
Trey Boutwell
Dale Brown
Audrey Byrd
Katelynne Calloway
Lana Clayton
Morgan Digmon
Anna Donald
Anna Fischer
Brittany Flota
Brannon Freeman
Marina Gray
Casey Jackson
Courtney Jones
Justin King
Chloe Leonard
Courtney Lewis
Rebekah Miles
Emily Nicholson
Izeyic Phifer
Rachel Presley
Tiffani Pritchett
Ronald Pritchett
Danny Slay
Mason Solchenberger
Jeremy Stacey
Lily Townson
Chelsea Ward
Courtney Weaver
Raven Weaver
House Won’t Ban Sending A TXT While DRVN
April 27, 2010
Sending a TXT to your BFF while you are DRVN won’t be outlawed by the Florida House this year.
A key lawmaker said Monday a ban on texting while driving won’t get a vote in the House this year.
Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said there wasn’t time left in the session to pass the measure, and that there was significant opposition in the Republican-controlled House to the proposal, which was the subject of several pieces of legislation this year.
“It’s intellectually dishonest,” to pursue the ban, said Bogdanoff. “There’s lots of things people do in their cars that are distracting….that are just as dangerous. To single out one activity is not the right approach.”
She said there are already laws about careless driving and reckless driving. Bogdanoff declined to say she was killing the bill. “Sometimes the clock just runs out,” she said.
Register Now For June’s 5K Race For The Blueberries
April 27, 2010
The Escambia County Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau invites runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers to join the 5K Race for the Blueberries.
The event will be Saturday, June 12, beginning at 8 a.m. with a staggered start. The race will be one of the many fun activities offered at the Blueberry Jamboree, to be held at Barrineau Park Community Center and Historical Society, 6055 Barrineau Park School Road in Molino.
Pre-registration is $15. Registration forms can be found by clicking here or by calling (850) 475-5220. Registration is $20 on the day of the event. T-shirts will be given to all registrants and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners.
For more information, please contact the Recreation Division, 475-5220, e-mail recreation@co.escambia.fl.us, or visit our web site at www.blueberryjamboree.com.
The Blueberry Jamboree is sponsored by several local organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
Fire Destroys Cantonment Mobile Home; Blamed On Space Heater
April 26, 2010
Fire destroyed a Cantonment mobile home this morning, but the resident was able to escape without injury
The fire was reported about 8:15 a.m. in the 500 block of Garman Road, located off Becks Lake Road east of Highway 29. The resident told firefighters that the fire started with a space heater.
The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley, Beulah, Ferry Pass and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. Firefighters reported the mobile home to be fully involved upon their arrival.
Nine Percent Of Escambia Taxes Unpaid
April 26, 2010
Over $23 million — about nine percent — of Escambia County’s tax roll remains unpaid, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley.
All 2009 real estate and tangible personal property taxes must be paid by 5 p.m. April 30 to prevent being advertised as delinquent, adding advertising costs to the final tax bill.
The delinquent ad will be published in the Pensacola News Journal and posted on the tax collector’s web site beginning May 6.
Tax payments must be made in person, online at www.escambiataxcollector.com, or on the automated telephone number (800) 601-1055 by 5 p.m. Friday to avoid the additional advertising costs.
For more information, contact the tax collector’s office at (850) 438-6500, Ext. 252.
Deadline Extended To Apply For Century Clerk Job
April 26, 2010
Last Thursday was to be the application deadline for a new town clerk in Century, but that deadline has been extended until Friday, April 30.
The town extended the deadline after deciding to advertise the position on NorthEscambia.com and in the Pensacola News Journal to increase the reach of their advertisement and attract a wider application base.
The position was first advertised in the Tri-City Ledger on April 1, and the town received no applicants.
An advertisement with the more stringent requirements ran April 8 and April 15 in the Tri-City Ledger and an article was published on NorthEscambia.com. Afterwards, the town received about a dozen applications.
“There are some good ones in there,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said.
Current Century Town Clerk Dorothy Sims is retiring at the end of April, but will remain available to help train her replacement.The new town clerk will be required to hold at least an associate’s degree with a minimum of three years experience in records management, data processing or experience in municipal government including supervisory experience and any equivalent combination of education and experience.
The applicant will also be required to have working knowledge of state statutes and bylaws relating to the duties and responsibilities of the town clerk, local government procedures and office procedure requirements, as well as other office and financial record keeping experience.
The advertisement, with complete job qualifications, can be found on our classifieds page.