County Declares Chickens Are Not Pets. (Seriously, They Did)
September 12, 2008
Can a chicken be a pet, or is a chicken just a farm animal? In Escambia County, chickens have now been official declared farm animals and stripped of any hope of being legal pets.
The legal status of chickens was considered by the Escambia County Commission Thursday morning at the request of Commissioner Gover Robinson. Apparently, some “cultures” consider chickens as pets, causing things to run afoul when when the fowls end up with the same rights in a neighborhood as cats and dogs.
“You and I many not see chickens as pets, but there are other people that do,” Robinson said. “The question is, if they don’t infringe on their neighbors, is there the ability for them to have it.”
“It’s a gender issue,” Commissioner Mike Whitehead said. “If you allow the chicken, the hen, then you have to allow the rooster.”
“It’s real simple; we just say no. They are farm animals,” Whitehead said. “I understand about diversity. But when you come to America, chickens are farm animals. I’m sorry.”
“The motion is that we reject the request to classify chickens as pets,” Whitehead stated.
The motion passed 3-1, with Robinson voting against it and Commissioner Marie Young absent.
Commission Expresses Concern Over Fire Dept. Unification Plans
September 12, 2008
The Escambia County Commission considered a final fire department unification agreement at their Thursday Committee of the Whole meeting, but they express concern over the agreement about promoting volunteer officers without proper training for their positions.
The plan grandfathers any officer that does not meeting minimal standard for their position for three years. The volunteer not meeting the requirements will be allowed to advance in rank during the three year period. But they would no longer be able to advance in rank after the three year exemption period unless they met all requirements of the advanced position.
“That doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever,” Commissioner Mike Whitehead said. “The whole purpose of this was to create a professional organization that whenever we looked at somebody whether they were a volunteer lieutenant or a paid lieutenant, they had the same qualifications. And this seems to be a huge step backwards.”
“It would be on thing if you said you are frozen at your position…and we are going require that over the next three years you meet these certifications,” he said.
Whitehead said that there are officers in the volunteer system that do not meet Firefighter I standards, the most basic standards above the level of Firefighter Trainee.
Escambia Fire Chief Kenny Perkins said those firefighters, even though they may hold officer positions in a department, would not be allowed to go into the area of a fire, the “exclusionary zone”.
“Then you’ve got officers that can’t fulfill the obligations, the responsibility of the position,” Whitehead said. “He can’t led a group in because he can’t go in. That goes against the very spirit of what we were trying to accomplish here.”
Commissioner Grover Robinson said he agreed, and he found it difficult to imagine promoting someone that did not meet the minimal standards for the position.
Perkins said firefighters, both volunteer and paid, had agreed to the plan.
Commissioner Gene Valentino suggested that long term volunteers with many years of experience get an equivalency type rating without taking the Firefighter I course. He suggest that some of them might not be able to pass the test because that they might not do well on a written exam.
“They’ve given 30 years of their life to this county,” Valentino said. “I’d be foolish to turn my back on them and limit them in their ability to advance in the program if we can design a way to design a program of alternative equivalency.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said he had no problem delaying a vote on the agreement until he had the opportunity to meet with some of the volunteers.
“There may be an educational issue. They just aren’t used to taking exams. And they can’t pass it as hard as they try,” Valentino said, “but they are the best darn guys, soldier I want out there on the front line of a fire because they are good.
“I’ve got no problem keeping them where they are,” Robinson said, “and keeping them doing what they are doing. ”
“If in the next three years a lieutenant can’t achieve the status of a Firefighter I, I’m concerned about him leading a group into a fire. I don’t care how many years he’s done it,” Whitehead said. “I don’t see life safety issues qualifying under a GED approach to things.”
“Do you want someone that can’t pass the 160 hour course trying to save your wife?” Whitehead asked Valentino. “Or your child?”
“But they’ve been saving wives for 30 years,” Valentino responded. “How do you judge that?”
Assistant Chief Robbie Whitfield told the commission that he will personally contact the approximately eight volunteer officers that do not meet Firefighter I standards to find out why they have not yet passed the course.
“These people had eight years to catch up with the program, Mike Herron, chief of the Warrington Volunteer Fire Department said as he encouraged commissioners to not delay action on the agreement. “This is something they have know about since 2001. If they tell you otherwise, it is a lie.”
The commission will vote on the plan at their next regular meeting on September 18.
Click here to read the entire unification plan. (63 pages, 3.73 Mb pdf)
Northview Evacuated For Fire Alarm
September 12, 2008
Northview High School was evacuated Tuesday afternoon following a fire alarm malfunction.
Students were held outside for over half an hour while the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded to the school. The fire department was unable to located any sign of a fire.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department was also dispatched to the school, but they were canceled prior to their arrival.
Driver’s Licenses No Longer Available In Century
September 12, 2008
Thursday was the last day that driver’s license services were be offered at the courthouse in Century, and the tax collector’s hours in Century are being cut back to just three days a week beginning next week.
Janet Holley, Escambia tax collector, said her office in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century will no longer offer driver license services. Those services will be transferred to the Cantonment office on Highway 29.
“The service is being transferred from the Century Tax Collector Office in order to provide easier access to a greater number of citizens in the northern part of Escambia County,” the press release to be issued today from Holley’s office says.
Both the Century and Cantonment tax collector offices was closed Friday to transfer computer systems. The Century branch will reopen on Tuesday with new hours of operation…Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The office had previously been open 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Cantonment branch will continue their same hours of operation from 8:30 until 5:00 Monday to Friday with extended hours unti 6:00 on Wednesdays. The driver license services will be available by appointment only by calling 438-6500, extension 252.
“In this reorganization, we have reallocated our services in order to reach the most citizens while reducing the cost of providing these services,” Holley said. “We expect to save about $100,000 annually in operational costs and reduction in staff.”
A Heroes’ Lunch For 9/11
September 12, 2008
The crew on duty Thursday at the Century Volunteer Fire Department was treated to a pizza lunch on Patriot’s Day to honor them for their service. Pictured (L-R) are Nathan Berry, Lt. Greg Sims, Greg Therrell, Donald Merritt and Kyle Kraatz. The lunch was provided by an group of Century area citizens that wished to remain anonymous. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Votes For Budget At Public Hearing
September 12, 2008
The Town of Century offered a preliminary nod to their nearly $2.5 million budget at a public hearing Thursday afternoon.
The council voted 3-1 for the budget, with council member Ann Brooks voting against it and council member Nadine McCaw absent.
Only one member of the public attended the public hearing, but she did not have any comment on the budget.
For more details on what the budget includes, and what items were cut, click here to read a story from a Tuesday budget workshop.
Northview Falls To Catholic In District Volleyball
September 12, 2008
The Northview varsity and JV volleyballs teams traveled to Pensacola to take on Catholic High School Thursday night in District action.
The varisty girls lost to Catholic, 25-21, 25-13, 25-9.
Ashley Digmon had eight digs for the Chiefs. Shawna Montgomery had half a dozen digs, along with a block and a kill. Brittney Thompson racked up four blocks, three kills, six digs and one ace. Junior Amber McMillan had four digs.
Setter Caitlin Hall, a junior, had three blocks, three assits and two digs against Catholic. Hall was named the Northview volleyball Player of the Week.
The JV Chiefs also lost to Catholic, 25-6, 25-12.
Shaniqua Jones had one dig and one kill against Catholic. Chief Trestine Dean had two digs, and sophomore Miranda Burkett picked up one ace and three digs.
Northview will be at home against W.S. Neal of Brewton Tuesday. The JV will play at 4:30, and the varsity will hit the court at 6:00.
Northview Remembers 9/11
September 11, 2008
Northview High School held a moment of silence and recognition for September 11 this morning. Captain Charlie Code, the Naval Science Instructor for Northview’s NJRTOC unit, penned the following for this morning’s reading:
September 11, 2001
A moment of silence-
To remember the men and women who lost their lives in an attack on American soil. Over thirty six hundred individuals died at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania.
To remember the four thousand seven hundred eighty three soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen who have died as a result of the global war on terrorism.
To remember and give thanks for all that you have, to the dedicated men and women who today continue to sacrifice and serve in our fight for freedom not only for America, but the people of the world who want that same freedom. Our fighting men and women have sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Remember that freedom has a price!
That freedom has been paid so you can attend the school of your choice, to worship in the faith of your choosing, to shop where you want, to go where you want to go without having to explain why. The simple things in life that many in the world can only dream of.
Douglas MacArthur said, “no man (or woman) is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he is vigilant in its preservation”.
Remember that freedom has a price!
That’s A Big Rattlesnake: Six-Two
September 11, 2008
This rattlesnake was killed near the intersection of Tungoil Road and Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Wednesday by Adam Dortch of Bratt. The snake was six feet two inches long. It had 14 rattles and one button. The snake’s head was four inches wide. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
JV Canes Down Excel
September 11, 2008
The Flomaton JV Canes hosted the Excel Panthers Tuesday night in game number two of their regular football season. The younger players started off the night by playing one ten minute quarter. The Canes came out on top of that by a score of 8-0.
After that, the regular JV team took the field for their game. The final of that game was 22-0. The JV Canes are now 2-0.
The JV Canes travel to Uriah next Tuesday to take on JU Blacksher. These two teams met a few weeks ago in a preseason game that saw the Canes victorious in that game also.
For more photos from the game, click here.
For even more photos, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.zenfolio.com.
Pictured above: The Flomaton JV Canes versus Excel. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.