No New Escambia 3-Cent Gas Tax For Mass Transit
June 19, 2009
Escambia County commissioners Thursday night did not approve a 3-cent gas tax to help fund mass transit.
The commission voted 3-2 in favor of the tax with District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson voting against. The tax needed a “super majority” of four votes in favor to pass.
“I can’t in this economy,” Robertson said. “And I don’t want to hear that ‘you’re not compassionate about the needy’. Hey, we are going to fund mass transit as we always do. But why put a brand new tax on it?”
Robertson called for the City of Pensacola to step up with funds for Escambia County Area Transit. The city has put well over $1 million a year into ECAT in the past but now contributes nothing.
“ECAT has some problems, and it will continue to have problems as long as it does not have a dedicated funding source,” said Sherri Myers who spoke in favor of the tax. “This is a tax swap, not a tax increase. I am asking you to do the right thing.”
The commission had discussed rolling back, or “swapping”, the property tax by an amount equal to estimated revenue from the 3-cent gas tax. That, they said, would shift the mass transit funding burden from property owners to those that drive.
“I don’t agree with this tax, or any tax, unless it is brought before the people for a vote,” Escambia resident Jacob Knight said. “I know we need a transportation system, but things have slowed down. You may be making a lot of money, but a lot of people can not afford it.”
“I’m here in favor of ECAT this evening. I personally don’t like taxes,” said Evon Emerson, president of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, adding that ECAT allows some residents to have a job. “There are times in this community when we need to do things that do not benefit us personally…but at the end of the day will benefit all of us.”
Escambia County current contributes about $3 million of ECAT’s$7.6 million budget. The rest of the funds come from federal and state funds.
The City of Pensacola, which currently contributes no funding to ECAT, passed a resolution recently in favor of the 3-cent gas tax. Monday night, the Century Town Council refused to support the tax, citing fears that ECAT would cut Century’s only bus. Additionally, town council members said the additional tax would hurt gas stations in the town that already sell gas about 10 cents higher than stations in nearby Flomaton, Alabama.
Tri-County Falls To Defuniak
June 19, 2009
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Tri-County All-Stars Thursday night as they fell to Defuniak Springs in seven innings.
Defuniak beat Tri-County 21-20 to advance in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Defuniak Springs squeezed out the win on walks in the extra inning.
Defuniak Springs will face Destin Friday evening at 6. The winner of that game will play Niceville-National Saturday evening at 6.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured above: In this play, Seth Killam turned to avoid being hit by a bad pitch. He was not hit, but the end of the bat was hit by the ball. The umpire called the play a valid hit since the ball hit the bat. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tri-County Out Of 7-8 Year Machine Pitch Tourney
June 19, 2009
Tri-County has been eliminated from the 7-8 Year-Old Machine Pitch Tournament going on this week in Niceville.
Tri-County lost their first tournament game to Freeport 19-10. They advanced to beat Shalimar 13-9, and then lost their next game to Defuniak Springs 14-2.
In that tournament, Niceville-American will play Destin Thursday, with the winner advancing to play Niceville-National in the finals.
Northview Food For American Program Number Two In Entire State
June 19, 2009
The Northview High FFA’s Food For America program has been named one of the top two programs in Florida.
The local Food for America Program, sponsored the National FFA Organization and conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave the students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. About 800 elementary school students and 200 volunteers took part in the program.
The program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in Agricultural Literacy and Awareness projects on the local level. The awards were announced during the Sixth General Session of the 81st Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando.
The Northview FFA has participated in the program for 14 years, placing second in the state two years ago. Northview has placed in the top five in the state for the last ten years.
Both the Northview and Ernest Ward FFA chapters attended the FFA state convention last week in Orlando. The chapters traveled together and were able to enjoy the convention and other planned activities as a group.
Individuals that attended from North Escambia were: Mark and Aimee Solari, Courtney Solari, Stephanie Solari, Allie Vidak, Brittany Thompson, Heather Kite, Lydia Weaver, Anna Donald, Cindy Wilson, Perry and Kay Byars, Andrea Byars, Shelby Lewis, Gavin Hinote, Micah Byars, Tyler Hester, Devon Bell and Nathan Waters.
For a photo gallery of the FFA students in Orlando, click here.
The following information was presented to the awards committee that judged the Food for American Program:
Northview FFA chapter members began implementing Food For America planning in early fall of 2008 with a letter of notice to both invited schools and potential vendors letting them know of the date for the 2009 activity on campus. Committees were formed and in January the Northview FFA chapter sent letters of invitation to all of the elementary schools both Escambia County, and two surrounding counties in Alabama. We requested that all of the schools RSVP with the number of students they would be bringing. There were approximately 100 FFA members that participated in running this program along with 38 off campus exhibitors and over 800 invited guests. We had several attention grabbers including tractors, poultry, cattle, horses, an apiary display and a helicopter from the Florida Forestry Division. Other vendors consisted of Pine Ridge Farms, Walnut Hill Fire Department, Northview 4-H, Escambia River Electrical Cooperative, Natural Resource Conservation Service, University of Florida-Milton, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Young Farmers and Ranchers, Humane Society, North Escambia Bee Association and Stewart’s Grist Mill. The NHS-FFA members were tour guides for the elementary students. They were responsible for their group and escorted each class of students to the different exhibits. We also had a safety related puppet show, and a film on the importance of agriculture that students were able to watch while they consumed animal crackers and half pints of milk. Funds for the food were provided by Escambia County Farm Bureau. Coverage of this event consisted of three local newspapers: The Atmore Advance, Tri-City Ledger, and NorthEscambia.com. Pensacola WEAR Channel 3 was also in attendance and ran a package that night on the evening news of the day’s activities.
Pictured above: FFA students from Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools in Orlando. Pictured inset: Students learn about making corn meal at the NHS Food for America Program earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County To Forgive $20K In Code Fines, If Molino Couple Cleans Up Property
June 19, 2009
The Escambia County Commission has agreed to forgive almost $20,000 in code enforcement fines on a piece of Molino property worth just $39,000 — if the new property owners will clean up the property to the county’s satisfaction.
When Claude and Sherrill Ward obtained the half acre lot at 1233 Betts Avenue, they inherited a code enforcement lien totaling $20,032.50. The property had been accumulating a fine of $25 per day since December 21, 2005. The property appraiser says the lot is worth $39,420.
“If you are willing to get the property in compliance and prove that it is in compliance and come back,”District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said, “we’ll forgive the fines but not the hard costs.”
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission agreed to drop all but $675 in court costs on the property, if the Wards will bring the property into compliance with code enforcement orders.
Atmore Man Found Guilty Of Murder
June 19, 2009
An Escambia County (Ala.) jury has found an Atmore man guilty of stabbing his girlfriend to death in August 2008.
Milton Simpson Jr., 42, stabbed his girlfriend Teoria McNeal, 36, to death in an apartment that they shared on Ashley Street on August 24, 2008. Prosecutors said Simpson stabbed McNeal in the chest, leaving a broken knife blade in her chest, after an argument.
It took the jury about four hours to return their verdict.
Simpson is in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center on $200,000 bond. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12.
School Grades Released: Good News For Bratt, EWMS, Byrneville, Jay, Ransom, Jim Allen
June 18, 2009
Florida Department of Education school accountability grades were released Thursday morning, and the results were mixed for North Escambia area schools.
The news was good for Bratt Elementary with an A grade for the eighth year in a row. Ernest Ward Middle School remained at an A for the fourth year.
Byrneville Elementary was also A-rated this year, the second consecutive year for the charter school.
After being an A-rated school for five years — since the year it opened — Molino Park Elementary’s school grade fell to a B. Jim Allen Elementary remained at an A for the seventh year. After an A rating for six years, Jay Elementary fell to a B.
After improving to a B-rating last year, Northview High School received a D from the Florida Department of Education.
Ransom Middle School received an A-rating for the fourth consecutive year.
Jay High School returned to an A-rating after slipping to a B last year.
Carver/Century K-8 School, which closed at the end of the school year, received an F rating. Carver/Century was the only F-rated school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Local Man Arrested On Child Molestation Charges
June 18, 2009
A local man has been arrested after he was accused of molesting a four-year girl back in 2000.
Perry Leonard Gibbs, 52, of 5451 Still Road Lot 5 in Bratt, was arrested and charged with molesting a child under the age of 12. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning on $25,000 bond.
A female told the investigators under oath that Gibbs molested her in 2000 when she was four and five years old, according to Sgt. Ted Roy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. The victim told investigators that the molestation occurred in the Walnut Hill area.
The female made the allegations in May of this year, accord to Roy.
Gibbs, who provided an Atmore, Ala., address at the time of his arrest, made his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon via a closed circuit video feed from the Escambia County Jail. If he makes bond, Gibbs was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim and to wear a GPS monitor.
The felony molestation charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Gibbs is due back in court in early July.
Tri-County Downs NWE To Advance In 8-9 Year Old Tournament
June 18, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars have advanced in tournament play by defeating the Northwest Escambia All-Stars Wednesday night.
With their 19-10 win over NWE, Tri-County remains alive in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Tri-County will play Defuniak Springs Thursday at 6 p.m.
Northwest Escambia
Jacob McCullough, catcher, and Brannon Whitehead, third baseman, both went 2 for 4 at the plate, scoring twice, in the first and fourth.
Trey Holder, first baseman, hit a double in the first to score two runs.
Dawson Brown, Trey Holder, Jason Fischer, Preston Milstead, Logan Calloway and Chase Gifford each scored a run.
Jason Fischer was the starting pitcher for NWE. He pitched two complete innings. He threw only five pitches the first inning. Jason had three strike-outs and walked two, allowing only two runs in 39 pitches. Chase Gifford, Logan Calloway, and Levi Wagner also pitched.
Tri-County
Dutch Burkhead started the game as pitcher, allowing four runs. Neikel Robinson came in to explode on the mound striking out seven on 60 pitches in 3 1/2 innings. Brent Groover also pitched and Seth Killiam closed.
Zach Wright , Niekel Robinson, Brent Groover, and Seth Killam each had one single, while Reid Kelly hit three singles. Nolin Hawthorne went 3-4 with singles. Dutch Burkhead and Seth Killam each had a double and Logan Dobson hit two triples.
Niceville-National 18 Destin 8
Also Wednesday night, Niceville-National beat Destin 18-8.
Pictured above and below: NWE versus Tri-County action from Wednesday night at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century, Red Cross Can Use Closed Carver/Century School For Shelter
June 18, 2009
The Escambia County School District has agreed to allow the American Red Cross to continue to use the old Carver/Century K-8 School as Century’s only public shelter.
The district closed the school at the end of the school year, and the future of the building as a shelter had become uncertain. But Mayor Freddie McCall said this week that Superintendent Malcolm Thomas had confirmed that the Red Cross would still be able to utilize the building.
Carver/Century K-8 School served as Century’s only public shelter, with a capacity to house up to 547 people in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. The mayor said there are no other buildings in Century with a sufficient size and wind rating that could be used for a public hurricane shelter.
The next nearest Escambia County public hurricane shelters to Century are located at Northview High School and Molino Park Elementary. Northview has a hurricane shelter capacity of 1,260. Molino Park has space for 2,225 evacuees.
Molino Park is 20 miles from Century, and Northview is about nine miles away. Those distances would have presented a great problem for persons needing to evacuate from Century, McCall said, because many do not have adequate, dependable transportation.