Commissioner Questions If Century Courthouse Closure Could Fund African American Chamber
September 18, 2009
County Commissioner Gene Valentino questioned Thursday night if the the Clerk of the Courts Office in the Century Courthouse could be closed in order to provide $40,000 in funding to the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce.
At Thursday night’s Escambia County Commission budget hearing, the chamber approached the commission and asked for the $40,000 not in the budget so the group could work on economic development and work to make sure that the county does more business with minorities.
After Commissioner Marie Young said she supporting funding the chamber, Valentino questioned if the money could come from the courthouse closure.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White was visibly upset by the District 2 commissioner’s suggestion, pointing his finger and saying, “So you want to do that? Is tha what you are saying?”
“I’m just bringing the thought out,” Valentino replied. “You were interesting in seeing it closed at one point.”
“When did you ever hear me say that?” White said.
“I did not hear you say it, but I saw it in the paper,” Valentino said. “I’m just coming up with an idea. I shouldn’t be scolded for trying to think out of the box about trying to find a way to solve problems around here.”
“Oh, but you are going to go in something in my district, and I am not going to scold you? Please.” White said.
“I understand from staff that it’s not a big deal. There’s a few appointments per day or per week up there,” Valentino said.
“I believe it is just a matter of saying ‘yes” here,” Young said about the funding for the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce. “I’m not interested in going into Kevin’s district (where the Century courthouse is located) to try to remove anything.”
“This is suppose to be a state function,” Commissioner Grover Robinson told his fellow commissioners. Escambia Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha’s budget is provided by the state court system. Robinson said that increased court fees on the local level, as mandated by the state, will not stay in Escambia County but go into the state’s budget. “That really upsets me.”
“I don’t think it is fair for Escambia County citizens to pay additional fees, get their services cut and have that money go to somewhere else,” Robinson said. He said that while he was originally against keep the courthouse open in Century, but now he is supporting keeping clerk of the court services in Century.
After Robinson’s remarks, Commissioner Chairperson Young turned the discussion back to the chamber, ending discussion on the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. It was at that point that White walked out of the meeting for a brief time.
Last year, the Century courthouse cost the county $19,300 for maintenance and $34,000 for utilities including the phone system. That was for both sides of the building — the side occupied by the clerk of the courts and tax collector and the side occupied by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office precinct.
The $65,000 needed by the court clerk to keep his office open was cut from the first budget proposal considered by the commission earlier this month. The $65,000 was returned to the budget considered Thursday night by the commission, but the commission failed to ratify that budget. The BOCC will consider the budget again next Thursday night.
Pictured: Commissioner Gene Valentino at Thursday night’s Escambia County Commission budget hearing.
Commissioners Unable To Pass Budget That One Called “Crap”
September 18, 2009
The Escambia County Commission hit an impasse and was unable to approve a proposed $367,489,211 budget for the next fiscal year.
Commissioner Kevin White called the budget “ludicrous” and “crap” because it requires millions in one-time revenue to be balanced. White and fellow commissioner Gene Valentino made the sudden recommendation that the county cut $3 million in funding to the City of Pensacola for libraries that are located in the city.The commissioners proposed that the county still contribute $500,000 to the library system for libraries that are located in the county.
The proposal was prompted by White’s desire to cut $3 million in one-time revenue from the budget and because, they said, the City of Pensacola contributes nothing to Escambia County Area Transit that also serves the city.
The motion to cut the library funding was withdrawn after it became clear it would fail on a 2-2 vote with Commissioner Wilson Robertson not at the meeting for medical reasons.
The actual budget also failed to pass 2-2. Board Attorney Allison Rogers told commissioners that they were required to approve a budget before adjourning their meeting. The commissioners voted to continue their meeting next Thursday at 5:01 p.m. In the event commissioners are unable to approve the final budget draft, the county will be forced to follow the preliminary budget approved two weeks ago.
That preliminary budget, among other differences, cut the funding needed to keep the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century open.
Funeral Services Scheduled For Man Killed By Falling Tree
September 18, 2009
Funeral services have been scheduled for Coy Otis Rhea, the man killed Tuesday by a falling tree in Century.
Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Howard’s View Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. Visitation will be held from noon until service time on Sunday.
Survivors include his wife, Estherline B. Rhea, his children Tarri Lynn Crockett, Rhonda Rhea Marchand, Micahel David Rhea, Tywona Crockett, Kathy Brady, Rhonda Pollits; siblings Christine Rhea Cambell, DaLee Rhea McMahn, and Ronald Reha; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
For Mr. Rhea’s complete obituary, click here.
For a story about his death, click here.
Northview Gets First District Volleyball Win
September 18, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs picked up their first district volleyball win Thursday night 3-1 over Pensacola Christian.
Northview def. PCA – Varsity
15-25, 25-20, 25-9, 25-19
Shawna Montgomery, 11th grade: Kills-17, Aces-5, Block-3, Assists-1
Caitlin Hall, 12th: Assists–12, Aces-7, Block-3, Kills-3
Angela Rodriguez, 12th: Kills-8, Aces-2
Katie Wieborg, 11th: Kills-7, Aces-6
Record: Overall – 3 -4; District 1 -2
Northview def. PCA — JV
25-9, 25-18
Trestine Dean, 11th grade: Aces-3, Digs-2
Morgan Payne, 9th: Kills–4, Aces-8, Digs-1, Assists-1
Josie Doucette, 10th: Kills-1, Aces-2, Digs-3, Blocks-1
Brittiane Poston, 11th: Kills-1, Aces-1
Pictured above: The Northview High School varsity volleyball team. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff Fires Back Over Taxpayer’s Association News Journal Story
September 18, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan fired back Thursday night over a published report in the Pensacola News Journal.
The report said, the Escambia County Taxpayers’ Association, led by attorney Bob Kerrigan, was “blasting” Morgan for a union contract “that contains pay raises no longer available to county employees”.
Morgan’s comments came during an Escambia County Commission budget hearing Thursday night. The commission has already approved a $74 million budget for the Sheriff’s Office, a decrease of just over $4 million from last year. The commission turned down another $2 million to provide a three percent employee raise.
The News Journal report claimed that commission was unaware that employees would receive a raise anyway in the form of longevity pay that increases from two percent at five years up to 10 percent at 25 years. In the PNJ report, Kerrigan spoke out against the sheriff and his budget.
“One of the things I will not tolerate is being misled,” Morgan said Thursday night about Kerrigan and Tax Watch. He said he sat down with Tax Watch and came to an agreement as to how much the sheriff’s office could reasonably cut from their budget.
That report published in the Pensacola News Journal, the sheriff said, was “completely contrary” to his Tax Watch meetings. That report, he said, stated that his department could cut $12 to $27 million in additional cuts. Morgan filed a response which “was sadly not printed in the Pensacola News Journal”. NorthEscambia.com did publish an article about the sheriff’s disagreement with Tax Watch, and we also provided a the full text of Morgan’s response to Tax Watch. Read that story from August 13 by clicking here.
Morgan told commissioners that Tax Watch had agreed to support his budget request, less a three percent requested raise for deputies.
“Then imagine my surprise…when once again we get a full spread in the Pensacola News Journal that bore no resemblance, no resemblance to the meetings that we had held with Tax Watch,” Morgan said. “To tell you that I am angry about that, is an understatement.”
“Tonight I thought I would come in blazing with both guns at the county commission. But something I learned during my military career is target identification,” the sheriff said. “The right target is an unelected self appointed board that is determined that they can run the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office better than I.”
Morgan said that for the county commission to consider any Tax Watch recommendation would be a “disservice to the citizens of Escambia County”.
“When you attack the men and women of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, you attack me,” he said. “And I take personal offense at the statement made by Mr. Kerrigan about the fine men and women of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.”
Commissioner Gene Valentino praised Morgan’s efforts to cut $4 million from his budget, but he said the question asked by some is how much more could have been cut.
“We’ve cut all that we can,” Morgan replied.
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan expresses his anger Thursday night over a story in the Pensacola News Journal.
Monroe County Defeats Ernest Ward 30-16
September 18, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles fell to the Monroe County Tigers 30-16 Thursday night in Monroeville.
Dalton Daniels put the Ernest Ward on the board with an Eagle touchdown in the first half. Layne Purvis caught an Eagle pass for two point conversion.
Jaron “Run Run” Myles made the second touchdown for EWMS during the last two minutes of the fourth. Another two point pass was good for the Eagles, this time to Jaylen Parker.
Ernest Ward picked up two conversions during the night, recovering Tiger fumbles.
The Ernest Ward Eagles will be home on October 1 against W.S. Neal.
Open Houses Scheduled For Northview, Ernest Ward
September 18, 2009
Open house events will be held next week at both Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School.
Open House at Northview will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. Activities will begin with refreshments in the cafeteria; parents and visitors will then have an opportunity to visit the school’s campus and classrooms. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.
Open House at Ernest Ward will be held Thursday from 6 until 7 p.m. Parents will begin the evening in their student’s homeroom where they will receive a copy of their student’s schedule. If parents attend without the student, they should ask the student the name of the homeroom teacher. The homeroom with largest percent of parents who sign the homeroom sheet will win an ice cream party.
Parents will then follow their child’s schedule to each class where they will have the opportunity to ask general questions about school activities and curriculum. This is not a time for a conference with any faculty member about an individual student. The staff and facility look forward to meeting all parents, school officials said.
Lay, Freeman Not Guilty In School Prayer Case
September 17, 2009
Frank Lay and Robert Freeman have both been found not guilty on criminal charges that they prayed in violation of a federal court order.
The order was issued this evening from U.S. Judge Casey Rogers. The judge did make it clear that her order stands — no prayer or pushing religion in school.
“I want to thank my (Pace High School) Patriot family, but above all, I want to thank the chief counsel, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,” Lay said after exiting the federal courthouse Thursday evening.
Both men could have faced up to six months in jail and fines of $5,000 each if they had been found in contempt of court.
Lay told the judge that the
Pace High School Principal Frank Lay asked the school’s athletic director, Robert Freeman, to bless a meal where sports boosters had gathered to celebrate the completion of a new field house.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
The federal court order issued earlier this year by Rogers prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
River Annex Road Washed Out
September 17, 2009
A portion of River Annex Road has washed out and is closed, according to Escambia County Spokesperson Sonya Daniel.
The Escambia County Road Department is working to repair the road. An updated will be posted when the road is reopened.
River Annex Road runs from Jacks Branch Road to Muscogee Road.
Change Of Plans: Army Airborne’s Delivery Of Northview Game Ball
September 17, 2009
The game ball for one of this year’s Northview High School football games will still be delivered from above, but there’s been a slight change of plans.
The United States Army’s parachute demonstration team the Silver Wings from Ft. Benning, Georgia, will deliver the game ball to Northview’s Senior Night on October 30. But instead of Blackhawk helicopters as first announced, plans now call for the parachutists to jump from a fixed wing aircraft.
SFC Bobby Ewing, an Army recruiter in Pensacola, said that two to four members of the Silver Wings are scheduled to jump from a fixed wing aircraft at least 5,000 feet over the Northview stadium. They will bring down a United States flag, a POW/MIA flag, an Army flag and the official game ball. One jumper will land on the 50-yard line to deliver the game ball for the game against Sneads.
“It will be exciting, and a great way to begin Senior Night,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said.
A ground crew will drive the Silver Wings jumpers back to Ft. Benning. But before they leave, they will be available to meet with fans, and they will be happy to talk about joining the Army, Ewing said.
“Their mission will to be to deliver the game ball, get their gear and move out of the way for the game and Senior Night,” he said.
The Silver Wings’ mission is to perform live aerial demonstrations in support of the United States Army, and Ft. Benning public relations and recruiting.
The Silver Wings is comprised of Soldiers from throughout the Fort Benning airborne community. They have diverse backgrounds and various military specialties. The average age is 33 years old and the average number of free fall jumps range between 200-2500 per team member. The team represents the professionalism and dedication of the specially trained Soldiers that are products of the United States Army Infantry Center and Schools, to include Airborne, Pathfinders, and the Army elite Rangers.
Photos courtesy U.S. Army for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.