New Boating Safety Requirements For 2010
January 17, 2010
Boating-safety education requirements changed in Florida on January 1.
Boat operators who were born on or after January 1, 1988, must pass an approved boating-safety course and possess photographic identification and a boating-safety education identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to legally operate a boat with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.
“We want to encourage everyone, regardless of when they were born, to take an approved boating-safety education course, because all of us can learn something new, even if we have been boating all our lives,” said Capt. Carol Keyser of FWC’s boating and waterways section. “For some, it is now required to take the course.”
There are a few exceptions. For instance, a person born on or after January 1, 1988, who operates a boat within 90 days after purchasing it, does not need a boating-safety education identification card if a bill of sale, which meets the requirements of Florida law, is on board. After the 90-day period ends, the boat operator needs to meet the educational requirements. Those who possess a current United States Coast Guard license also are exempt.
For course information and educational requirements, visit MyFWC.com/Boating. For inquiries, contact FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement at 850-488-5600, or e-mail questions to the FWC at bobbercard@myfwc.com.
Learn To Do Business With ECUA
January 17, 2010
On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the Florida Small Business Development Center/Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Program is offering a free workshop entitled, “How to do Business with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority” (ECUA). The event will be held in Pensacola at 401 East Chase Street, Suite 100, from 8:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m.
The informational meeting is an opportunity to educate attendees about the potential of doing business with the ECUA, while increasing participation in obtaining ECUA contracts. Participants will learn about the bidding process, qualification requirements, future business opportunities, and how the ECUA hiring process is conducted.
The workshop, offered by Laura Subel, PTAC program manager, is free; however, pre-registration is recommended. For more information or to register, call Diane Miller (850) 473-7830 or visit the PTAC website at www.fptac.org.
Hundreds Fill A Bowl For Manna, Help The Hungry
January 17, 2010
More than 500 people took part in Fill a Bowl for Manna Saturday to benefit the local food bank that serves clients across the area from locations that include Century and Jay.
Attendees selected a bowl to fill with soups prepared by some of Pensacola’s most popular eateries and enjoyed a silent auction of larger ceramic bowls and entertaining music.
Proceeds from the sale of the bowls as well as silent auction items were to benefit Manna, helping to fill the empty bowls of more than 30,000 people in Northwest Florida. The more than 500 unique bowls for the event were donated by faculty and students from PJC’s Arts Department and the public who attended the companion “Throw a Bowl for Manna” event co-hosted by PJC on November 13th.
Soups for the evening were prepared by Apple Market, Bagelheads, Classic City Catering, Dharma Blue, Fish House, Global Grill, Gus at Skopelo’s, Jackson’s, Jerry’s Cajun Cafe, Portabello Market, Scenic Hills Country Club and Seville Quarter.
Manna is a non-profit organization that has been fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties since 1983 from pantries in Pensacola, Ensley, Century, Jay, Molino and Milton.
Pictured top: Selecting a handmade bowl at a “Fill a Bowl for Manna” event. Pictured inset: One of about 500 unique bowls donated by faculty and students from PJC’s Arts Department and the public who attended the companion “Throw a Bowl for Manna” event co-hosted by PJC. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputy Arrested In Cantonment For Assault, Battery
January 16, 2010
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested early Saturday morning in Cantonment after getting into a fight with his wife.
Edward Henley, 44, is facing false imprisonment, battery and assault domestic violence charges. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Deputies responded to a 911 call on Kingsfield Road in Cantonment at about 12:45 Saturday morning, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department. When deputies arrived and found a marked ECSO patrol car in the driveway, they alerted a supervisor.
“Contact was made with the victim who stated that she and her husband, Sgt. Edward Henley, an Escambia County Deputy of 22 years, were out at a party earlier in the evening,” Roy said. “According to the victim, they began arguing on the way home and once at the residence the argument escalated into a physical confrontation. The victim stated she was struck by the suspect several times at the residence.”
Roy said Henley was charged based upon physical evidence gathered at the scene and statements made.
Read The Plan: Government Consolidation Proposal Is Complete
January 16, 2010
The plan for a new consolidated government in Escambia County was submitted to the Northwest Florida legislative delegation on Friday.
The 45-page, 14,426 word document spells out the plan created by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission to consolidate the governments of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century.
The Town of Century has withdrawn all support from the idea of consolidation, and the Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay any referendum vote on consolidation until 2012 at the earliest. The Pensacola City Council considered, but failed to pass, a similar motion requesting a delay in the public’s vote on the issue. Instead, the council will decide January 25 what action to take. The legislative act that created the consolidation study commission does not require the support of any of the three governments to proceed.
The Northwest Florida legislative delegation will have just over a month to review the plan before potentially submitting it to the legislature to set a referendum vote of the public as early as November 2010.
To read the consolidation plan in its entirety, click here (pdf).
Senate Leaders Back Evers
January 16, 2010
The Republican leadership of the Florida Senate has announced their support and endorsement of Rep. Greg Evers’ campaign for Senate District 2. Senate District 2, which includes Holmes and Washington, and parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, is being vacated by term-limited Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr. from Crestview.
“Greg Evers is a conservative, lower tax, more personal freedom Republican who stands up for his community and shares the values and principles of the hard-working people in his district,” said Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos of Indiatlantic. “Greg and I share a philosophical belief that representative government and conservative government means that public servants have an obligation to keep taxes low and allow Floridians to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. I am proud to support Greg Evers and his campaign for Florida Senate District 2.”
“Greg Evers is a no nonsense leader who will make sure that his constituency is heard and represented,” said Senator Don Gaetz of Niceville. “As a fellow Northwest Florida Republican, I am proud to support Greg Evers and I encourage my fellow Panhandle conservatives to do the same.”
“The Florida Senate needs conservative leaders that believe in keeping government small and growing Florida’s families and communities,” said Senator Andy Gardiner of Winter Garden. “Greg Evers believes in the core conservative values and I believe that he is the best man for the job in the Florida Senate.
Evers currently represents Florida House District 1, which includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. He is a farmer and small businessman who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2001 and was subsequently re-elected.
According to his campaign: Evers has put his experience in agriculture and business to good use in the Florida Legislature and is proud of his legislative accomplishments on behalf of Florida’s critical agriculture industry, economic development and job creation and Second Amendment issues. Most recently, he sponsored and passed: legislation enabling Florida farmers to transport their farm equipment from field to field without the burden of additional government permits or fees; legislation creating tax incentives that enabled the Jay Oil Field to reopen, restoring numerous Northwest Florida jobs; and legislation protecting the right of law-abiding citizens in Florida to have legal firearms secured in their automobiles in public parking lots.
HS Basketball: Jay, Tate
January 16, 2010
Luke Rowell had an impressive 29 points to lead the Jay Royals to a 62-49 win over Freeport in overtime Friday in Jay.
Jay 62 Freeport 49 OT
Jay — Luke Rowell 29, Dakota Walker 5, Hunter Boutwell 6, Connor Weekes 3, Steven Brabham 8, Tyler Prescott 4, Todd Laney 7.
Jay 2 13 15 19 13-62 Freeport 10 13 12 14 5-49
Milton 58, Tate 45
Tate — Petey Jones 14, Krys Walden 7, Tevin Brown 9, Dylan Anderson 9, Shermonne Jones 6.
Tate 10 5 9 21-45 Milton 6 20 11 21-58
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Freeport 47, Jay 46
Jay — Ginger Jennings 15, Courtney Hammac 2, Tessa Hendricks 9, Danielle Skaggs 2, Candace Mulford 2, Amber Steadham 6, Becca Calloway 10.
Jay 10 11 16 9-46 Freeport 10 15 8 14-47
Milton 48, Tate 34
Tate — Courtney Brown 14, Megan Briske 4, Avery Cobb 4, Chelsea Hall 6, Cecillie Olsen 6.
Tate 9 5 6 14-34 Milton 5 14 8 21-48
Driver Rolls Convertible In Hwy. 99 Crash, Charged With DUI
January 16, 2010
The driver of a convertible is facing DUI charges after he escaped serious injury in a single vehicle rollover accident Friday night in Oak Grove.
The accident happened just after 10 p.m. in the 600 block of North Highway 99, just south of Eubanks Road.
Dakota Rhue Heidbreder, 22, of Muldoon Road, Pensacola, was charged with driving under the influence by the Florida Highway Patrol following the crash. Heidbreder was headed south in a Chrysler Sebring when he lost control in a curve, ran off the road, struck a driveway culvert and overturned. The vehicle landed off the roadway in an upright position. Heidbreder, who said he was wearing his seat belt, refused to be transported to the hospital.
Heidbreder was being held in the Escambia County Jail on $500 bond Saturday morning.
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.
Pictured above: The driver of this convertible was charged with DUI after this accident Friday night in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Change Of Plans: Consolidated Government Will Pay For City Pensions
January 15, 2010
Language slipped in the consolidated government proposal at the last minute would make every resident of Escambia County responsible for funding the City of Pensacola’s problematic pension plan.
Consolidation supports had preached multiple times that county residents would not be saddled with Pensacola’s unfunded pension debt — currently over $75 million.
But just before the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission turns their proposal over to the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation today, the following language was added to the plan:
As consideration for the transfer of the assets of the ESP to the Consolidated Utilities Authority, the Consolidated Utilities Authority shall pay for those pension fund obligations of the City of Pensacola as those obligations existed as of October 1, 2010, until such obligations are retired.
The plan previously proposed that only the residents of the current city would be responsible post-consolidation for the pension debt. But with the new language, if voters in Escambia County and Century should vote for consolidation, they too will be responsible for the millions of unfunded debt in the city pension plan.
The consolidation commission’s final plans go the legislative delegation today. If approved by the delegation and the legislature, voters will decide as early as November if they want the governments of Pensacola, Escambia County and Century combined into one.
The Town of Century has withdrawn all support for the idea of consolidation, and the Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay a public vote on consolidation until November 2012 at the earliest.
Commission Changes Mind On Project Rebid For Cantonment Company
January 15, 2010
The Escambia County Commission has voted to rescind an earlier vote to rebid a drainage project won by a Mobile company. The rebid was first approved the commission after a Cantonment company, Roads, Inc., said it made a mistake in the bidding process and could actually do the job for $100,000 less than than they first bid.
At stake was the public trust and $1.9 million federal grant to fund a drainage project in the Maplewood area. The federal grant stipulates the project must be completed by late November, and commissioners were warned by staff that if they were to rebid, they might face legal action from the winner of the original bid, Gulf Equipment of Mobile. Any legal action might have meant a delay that would cost the county the grant.
Despite the advice of county staff that the rebid would be a bad idea and possibly illegal, the commission voted 4-1 to rebid the project, with Commissioner Marie Young voting against. Their plan was to give Roads, Inc. an opportunity to correct their bid mistake.
But commissioners changed their minds Thursday morning and decided not to rebid the project after outcry in the Pensacola media.
“I’m human, I make mistakes,” Commissioner Kevin White said. “I am not infallible, even though I know the public sometimes thinks we should be. Hindsight is always 20/20.”
Commissioner Wilson Robertson agreed with White, “I’m man enough to admit as we said earlier that we erred and we are human.”
“I apologize to the public for not understanding the rebid process,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said.
Gulf Equipment Corp. will retain the project at their low bid of $1,768,621. The Roads, Inc. bid was only slightly more, at $1,791,603