Purchase Historic Chicago Obama Newspapers, Benefit Relay For Life
January 28, 2009
You can own a piece of American history and support Relay for Life at the same time. NorthEscambia.com is giving you a chance to purchase Obama Inauguration coverage newspapers from Chicago.
The January 21 newspapers — Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition — are being sold at the Country Bumpkin in Century. All proceeds will benefit the NorthEscambia.com American Cancer Society Relay for Life team. The newspapers were purchased in Chicago and flown back to Pensacola in pristine condition.
We are also auctioning off a complete set of Chicago newspapers from January 21 – Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition, and The Herald News — in an online auction.
The Chicago Sun-Times features a full front page color photo of Obama raising his right hand with the headline “So Help Me God”. The Chicago Tribune has full page color Inauguration photo and the headline “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and being the work of remaking America”. The USA Today special edition was a limited run paper that is sold out nationwide. It is not the regular daily edition that was available locally. The Herald News has a full page color photo of Obama with the headline “President Barack Obama Face of Change”.
Each paper, except for the rare The Heralds News, is $15 for the first newspaper and $10 for each additional paper. There are limited number of the papers available, so if you want to own this piece of American history, you must be among the first to visit the Country Bumpkin in Century. Chicago is important in Obama’s history because while in Chicago he worked as a civil rights lawyer, activist and was eventually elected to the U.S. Senate prior to launching his campaign from Chicago.
We are auctioning off a complete set including one each of the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition, and The Herald News. To bid on the complete set of these historic collectible newspapers, send your name, phone number and the amount of your bid to news@northescambia.com. Bids will be accepted until midnight February 3. We will update the high bid amount daily here on NorthEscambia.com. Shipping is available for an additional charge, otherwise the papers will be claimed in Century at the Country Bumpkin.
The Country Bumpkin is located at 7850 North Century Boulevard in Century.
100 percent of the proceeds from the newspaper sale and auction will go to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Ford Motor Company Awards Escambia, Santa Rosa Schools
January 28, 2009
The Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, has designated Escambia County and Santa Rosa County school districts as a Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Next Generation Learning Community (Ford PAS NGLC) at the Leadership Level, one of five in the country, at a Tuesday press conference.In selecting Escambia and Santa Rosa, Ford Motor Company Fund cited its success in increasing the number of students with access to career academies, which teaches academics through the lens of a career. Ford also applauded both districts’ strong partnerships with area businesses.
The Ford PAS NGLC Leadership Level is the highest education accolade given to communities by Ford Motor Company Fund. The Escambia and Santa Rosa communities have reached program requirements for developing a successful and sustainable career academy network through the development of a two-county multi-year master plan. Since being designated as a Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community in 2007,
Ford Motor Company Fund worked with both communities to provide technical assistance from a team of experts to help maximize their career academies by using the Ford PAS NGLC 12-Point Master Plan, which helps align career academies with future workforce and economic development trends.
As a part of this recognition, Escambia and Santa Rosa will have access to professional development for teachers and networking opportunities through Ford Motor Company Fund’s education initiative, Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS). Created in partnership with the Education Development Center, Inc., Ford PAS provides high school students with high-quality, interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. It enhances this curriculum by providing professional development for teachers and networking opportunities between communities using Ford PAS.
Sixty teachers from Escambia School District and Santa Rosa School District received Ford PAS professional development training in November. In addition, twenty Chamber businesses participated in a “Coordinated Learning Experience” session where they shared the training, education and skills needed by students for future success in their companies with these teachers.
The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is working with Escambia and Santa Rosa school districts to strengthen the career academy network for student and workforce readiness. This program ensures that the area has trained students to enter the workforce after high school in entry level positions with the option to continue their education at UWF or PJC.
County, School Board Talk Service Consolidation; Old Molino School Property
January 28, 2009
The Escambia County Commission and Escambia County School District held a joint meeting Tuesday, discussing ways the two could consolidate services. The continued attempt by the county to obtain the old Molino Elementary School for a library and community center.
The two governmental bodies discussed combining services like transportation, health insurance, purchasing, human resources, vehicle maintenance and information technology. They even discussed holding joint town hall meetings in across the county.
The two boards looked options for improving traffic flow at Pine Forest High School, including the possible construction of a road by the county on the PHS property that would run parallel to the exisiting Long Leaf Drive. The county said they would be willing to accept the old Molino Elementary and Wedgewood Middle school properties as payment for the road.
The county has attempted to acqure the old Molino School property from the school board for several months.
In July, the county commission offered the school board $2 million for both unused school campuses, but that offer was shot down by the school district. Then-superintendent Jim Paul made a $3.3 million counter offer that the county commission did not accept. The $3.3 million was broken down as $2.9 million for the Wedgewood property and $400,000 for the old Molino School property.
The county has made standing offer to allow the school board to use the county owned civic center rent-free for graduation ceremonies for a number of years in exchange for the two school properties, but that offer has also not been accepted by the school board.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The commission has already applied for a half million dollar grant for the library portion of the project, but they have yet to be able to obtain the building from the school district.
The half million grant, if awarded, would be matched by another half million from the county. The county’s portion would be from the Local Option Sales Tax. The county has already approved their portion of the funds to renovate part of the old Molino Elementary into a library. The grant, if awarded, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.
The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
Pictured above: An aerial view of the old Molino Elementary School property on Highway 95A.
State Farm Wants To Cancel Florida Property Insurance After Rate Increase Denied
January 28, 2009
State Farm Insurance has announced they plan to discontinue offering property insurance in Florida, potentially leaving thousands of Florida residents hunting for property insurance.
The company said the move was “directly related to its inability to obtain regulatory approval of what it believes to be adequate property insurance rates”. The policies to be discontinued include insurance coverage for homeowners, renters, condominium unit owners, personal liability, boats, personal articles, churches, and business property and liability policies.
In July, the company filed for an average 47.1 percent homeowners policy rate increase, but that increase was denied by the state.
In Escambia County, State Farm has over 13,000 homeowners policies, 87 mobile home policies, 328 condo policies, 1,257 renters policies, 58 apartment policies totaling almost $28 million in premiums.
“We will carefully review State Farm’s intended plans to ensure that they are in compliance with Florida law; and we will explore all legal options as well,” said Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. “I will do everything within my power to protect Florida consumers from unnecessary destabilization of the insurance market that this might cause and to ensure that Florida consumers are protected and have access to insurance at rates that are not excessive or unfairly discriminatory.”
The state insurance commission has up to 90 days to approve State Farm’s property pullout, and then state Farm must then provide 180 days notice to customers before policies can be non-renewed.
“To help ease the transition of policies, Florida already has new companies who are eagerly looking to grow their businesses and will welcome the opportunity to add more customers. I encourage everyone to work closely with their agent to choose a new company that will offer needed coverage at a price you can afford,” McCarty said.
“They probably charge about the highest rates in the state anyway,” Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said. “I think that Floridians will be much better off without them.”
“This is not an action we wanted to take, but one we must take given the realities of the Florida property insurance market,” State Farm Florida President Jim Thompson said in a statement. “We regret the impact this will have on our customers, employees and agents in Florida.”
State Farm has no plans to abandon its auto, health and life policies in Florida.
Century Votes To Bring Escambia County Code Enforcement Back To Town
January 27, 2009
The Town of Century has voted to enter into an agreement with Escambia County that will bring code enforcement back to the town for the first time in several years.
The council approved an agreement with Escambia County Code Enforcement at a Monday night meeting by a 3-0 vote. Council members Henry Hawkins and Gary Riley did not attend the meeting.
The agreement calls for Escambia County to provide code enforcement for both county and town ordinances within the city limits. The enforcement will be “proactive”, according to Sandra Slay, Escambia County’s code enforcement manager. The code officers will not respond to citizen complaints within the Town of Century; rather, the officers will seek out violators.
“There’s no more calling in on your neighbor,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, referring to Century’s previous attempts at code enforcement that had neighbors literally turning each other in.
“The first thing, we are going to do is go up Highway 29,” Slay told the council. She said her officers would spend one day, most likely Wednesday, each week in Century. “We are going to address every violation as we target an area.”
“I think you are going to have your hands full for a long time,” Council President Ann Brooks told Slay.
Slay told the council that her officers are able to work efficiently from their vehicles. They will be able to issue citations, record information and search property records with wirelessly connected laptops in the county trucks.
The average citation provides seven day for violator to rectify a problem like overgrown or debris-covered property. On a major violation, like a dilapidated building, the most time code enforcement can provide by law is 30 days.
“We can come back later and work with them,” Slay said. “We do have that flexibility.” She said the county will try to find an agency to assist those that cannot afford to resolve their code issue, or they will refer the violator to the mayor who will assist in finding them help.
The county’s code enforcement in Century will be funded out of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant, and all fines collected will go to the county. There will be no direct cost to the town.
The agreement must now be approved by the Escambia County Commission before it is finalized.
Previously, Century ended an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in the town. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
The arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others. That prompted the council to sever the relationship with Escambia Code Enforcement. Currently, there is no code enforcement at all in the town.
Pictured above: Dilapidated buildings such as this one along Highway 29 might become the target of code enforcement in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton A Winner; Jay, Northview Fall On The B-ball Court
January 27, 2009
In Monday night high school basketball action, Flomaton added to their win column, but the night was not as kind to Northview and Jay.
In boy’s action, the Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals in a close one, 76-71. In girl’s action, the ‘Canes also beat the Royals, 48-42.
The Escambia Charter school downed the Northview Chiefs, 72-59.
Escambia Charter 72, Northview 59
Escambia Charter jumped out to an early 24-8 lead by the end of the first period. Northview and EC were nearly point for point in the second, with EC pickup up 17 and NHS adding 16, making it 41-24 at the half. The Chiefs led the scoring in the third period, outscoring EC by a baker’s dozen. But Escambia Charter dominated the fourth period, for a 79-52 win over the Chiefs. Colton Sims led the Chiefs with 23 on the night.
NHS: Colton Sims 23; Jody Levins 8; Lance Bushaw 8; Aaron Bellamy 6; Jocqus Lett 3; Austin Arrington, LaDarion White Marshall and Wayne Marshall, 2; Dabney Langhorne 1.
Northview 8 16 25 10—59
Escambia Charter 24 17 12 19—72
Jay 76, Flomaton 71 (Boys)
FHS: Dee Brooks 20, Dominique Robinson 19, Odom 15, Da’Tavis Ellis 1, Shea Gibson 6, Austin Patterson 1.
JHS: Greg Nelson 37, Rush Hendricks 10, D. Walker 5, Dale Barlow 8, Steven Brabham 6, Hunter Boutwell 5, Jeff Fischer 3.
Flomaton 21 14 14 27—76
Jay 19 13 11 28—71
Flomaton 48, Jay 42 (Girls)
FHS: Paige Harwell 13, Lily Wright 11, Tara Gafford 11, Kaitlyn Hambrick 4, Allison Gafford 4, Brittany Mallet 3, April Cayson 2.
JHS: Joy Gandy 15, Becca Calloway 9, Amber Steadham 6, Danielle Skaggs 4, Tessa Hendricks 4, Ginger Jennings 2, Leely Trevino 2.
Flomaton 11 11 7 19—48
Jay 9 10 11 12 — 42
Two Local StudentsPerform In All-County Band
January 27, 2009
Two North Escambia students performed Tuesday night in the 2009 All-County Instrumental Gala tonight at Pensacola High School. Taylor Brook, an Ernest Ward Middle School student, played the trumpet in the All-County Middle School Band. And Briana Halteman, a student at Northview High School, plaed the flute in the school district’s All-County High School Band.
Taylor and Briana are the only North Escambia students in the All-County bands.
This is not an honor to be taken lightly. The All-County honors bands perform in the Instrumental Gala that is sponsored by the Florida Band Masters Association. Students are allowed to audition for a seat in the band. The students’ audition is judged by local band directors that sit with their backs to the student so that the students are graded solely by their talent, technique and tone. Each student is required to play a prepared piece of music, five major scales in under two minutes, a chromatic scale and sight-reading – where the students have to play a random piece of music placed in front of them.
Charles Tucker serves as band director for both Northview and Ernest Ward. He worked to prepare both young ladies for their performances tonight.
In September, Taylor received the music and scales that are required to play at the auditions. She practiced and learned the music and in November, before the Christmas Break, Taylor went to Jim C. Baily Middle School for tryouts. More than 20 students auditioned for the trumpet section of the Honors Band, but there were only 16 positions available. After waiting for two days, Taylor received notice that she had passed the auditions and was now a member of the Honors Band.
After the Christmas break, Taylor attended weekly practices at Jim C. Bailey and Ferry Pass Middle Schools. On Monday, she was in an all-day practice with the other students at Ransom Middle School. She practiced for a half day Tuesday, and then returned Tuesday night for the concert.
“I am excited that I made All-County Band since it is my senior year,,” said Briana, who current serves as the Northview Tribal Beat’s Drum Major.
The conductors this year were Robert W. Smith of Troy University, directing the Middle School Honors Band; Don Snowden of Pensacola Junior College, leading the High School Honors Band; and Andra Bohnet of The University of South Alabama, conducting the Honor orchestra
Taylor is the daughter of Matthew and Connie Brook of McDavid. Briana is the daughter of Lyndon and Norma Halteman of McDavid.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School student Taylor Brook. Pictured bottom: Northview student Briana Halteman.
County Renews Contract With Atmore Ambulance For 327 Exchange
January 27, 2009
The Escambia County has renewed a contract with Atmore Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for the portion of North Escambia in the 327 phone exchange.
Atmore Ambulance has been providing ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978.
The county’s current contract with Atmore Ambulance expires on February 3. The contract was first executed in 2004 for a three year period, with an option to extend it for two one-year periods. The cost was $70,000 for the first year, $72,500 for the second year and $75,000 per year for the third, fourth and fifth years.
Under the terms of the contract, Atmore Ambulance directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.
Atmore Ambulance will be paid $6,250 per month under the agreement. Renewal of the agreement was recommended by Public Safety Bureau Chief Michael Hardin.
Brickyard Rd. At Bamer Holley Closed
January 27, 2009
Brickyard Road at Bamer Holley Lane in Molino is scheduled to be closed until Thursday.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the road will was closed Monday to allow work on railroad crossing.
The area of Brickyard Road has very little traffic; it is dirt road along the railroad tracks between Molino Road and Rawhide Lane. There are just a few homes in the area.
Police Chase Ends With Crash (Updated With Names)
January 26, 2009
An early morning police chase by the Flomaton Police Department ended with a minor crash in Century.
Officer Kataris Jenkins with the Flomaton Police Department chased a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier out of Flomaton into Century, crossing the state line on Old Flomaton Road about 12:15 this morning. The chase continued down Old Flomaton Road, crossing over Highway 4 onto Jefferson Avenue. The suspect and Jenkins’ unmarked patrol car collided on Jefferson Avenue just south of Pond Street. The suspect fled on foot and escaped.
The Florida Highway Patrol identified the passenger of the vehicle as Orlando Dixon, 21, of Century.
There were no injuries in the crash, and damage to both vehicles was reported to be minor. The damage estimate to the suspect’s car was $50, and damage was estimated at $250 to the patrol car.
Preliminary reports indicate that the chase began after the vehicle’s driver failed to stop in Flomaton when the officer initiated a routine traffic stop.
Escambia County deputies were responding to the area at the time the crash occurred, but were not involved in the pursuit.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, which says an arrest is pending by the Flomaton Police Department.