County Applies For Grant For Molino Library
September 5, 2008
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission took a step toward bringing a library to Molino.
The commission voted to apply for a half million dollar grant to remodel a portion of the old Molino Elementary School into a branch library. In July, the county made an offer of $2 million to acquire the old Molino Elementary and the former Wedgewood Middle School in Penasacola. That offer was rejected by Escambia School Superintendet Jim Paul, who made a counter request of $3.3 million for both properties.
Negotiations to acquire the two pieces of property are ongoing, County Adminstrator Bob McLaughlin told NorthEscambia.com Thursday night. 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 McLaughlin said the school board “wants cash in the hand”.
There were some issues with the property line at the old Molino school with an adjacent property owner, McLaughlin said, but a quit claim deed has been signed to alleviate that hurdle. No it’s just a matter of the two government entities agreeing on a purchase price.
The commission first applied for the half million grant from the State of Florida in March 2007. The application was ranked number two out of 23 applications in the state, but the legislature failed to provide funding for the state library program. Thursday night’s vote by the commission was to simply reapply for grant money this year.
“The library in Molino would be a very good thing for people in that area,” McLaughlin told NorthEscambia.com.
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 minumum of 20 years.
Property Taxes Headed Down
September 5, 2008
Escambia County residents can expect to see a little lower property tax bill this year after action taken Thursday night by the county commission.
The Escambia County commission voted to cut property taxes from 8.017 mils to 6.9755 mils for the 2008-2009 fiscal year that beings October 1. On a $150,000 house, that would reduce the property tax bill from $801 to $697.
The county was required to reduce the tax under Admendment 1 passed by voters in January, but the reduction is more than the law required. Overall, the county cut the budget by $27.7 million. That includes $23 million from the property tax adjustment.
The commission’s unanimous vote Thursday night won’t become official until a second public hearing on the decrease is held on September 18.
The county approved next year’s $402 million budget on a 3-2 vote. District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and outgoing Commissioner Mike Whitehead said they felt the budget could be cut even more and voted against it.
Meet The Chiefs: Ready For The Season
September 5, 2008
The Northview Chiefs held their annual Meet the Chiefs event Thursday afternoon at the school, and they are ready for tonight’s season opener against Catholic.
“We are ready for Catholic,” NHS Head Coach Cody Keene said. “Hopefully Catholic is looking past us, and we can have a good night.
“We have a good chemistry this year,” he said. “If you play hard with your teammates, you will win. And that is what we are going to do.”
The Chiefs are chasing a school record this year…their fourth straight season to make the state playoffs.
They will spend most of their season on the road, often three plus hours on the road one way, with just four home games this year. The Chief’s first district game will be September 26 against Holmes County in Bonifay.
Click here for more photos from Meet the Chiefs Thursday at Northview High School.
Pictured above. Northview Head Coach Cody Keene introduce the 2008-2009 Northview Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ernest Ward Eagles Take On Pollard
September 5, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School Lady Eagles took two from the Pollard (AL) Wolves Thursday afternoon in volleyball action at Northview High School.
The Eagles won both games 25-21 and 25-20. To view a complete photo gallery, click here.
Football Season Opens: Tate Slides Past Escambia
September 5, 2008
The Tate Aggies picked up the first win of the season on home turf Thursday night as Northwest Florida’s high school football season got underway.
The Escambia Gator’s Trent Richardson picked up 191 yards on 25 carries and four TD’s, but that was not enough to stop the Aggies at Pete Gindl stadium. The Aggies finished up by one, beating Escambia 28-27.
The Gators put the first points of the season on the board early in the game on a four yard plunge from Richardson. A good kick, and the Gators were up 7-0.
Tate’s number 10, Q Ford, answered with a touchdown and a good Aggie kick to tie the game 7-7.
A 46 yard touchdown run by Richardson late in the first half put the Gators up 14-7. A 30 yard throw to Jamarian Bonner evened things up for the Aggies in the third, 14-14.
Tate took the lead on their home field on a 25 yarder from Edwin Richburg to Tevon Padgett. Tate was up for the first time in the game 21-14.
Richardson hit paydirt again, tying the game. Ford added another to give the Aggies a 28-21 lead. Richardson scored another TD with just five minutes on the clock, making the game a close 28-27. The kick was blocked, sealing an Aggie victory.
Volleyball: Lady Chiefs Fall To PCA On The Road
September 5, 2008
The Northview Chief varsity volleyball team had a disappointing night in Pensacola Thursday, dropping three to Pensacola Christian Academy.
The night ended 25-17, 25-7 and 25-22 for the Lady Chiefs.
Amber McMillan rackup up 10 digs on the night. Shawna Montgomery had five digs, five blocks, one kill and two aces. Senior Brittney Thompson had four digs, one block, eight kills and a couple of aces. Ashley Digmon had 13 digs against PCA. Caitlin Hall chipped in for one block and eight assists.
The varsity Lady Chiefs will be at home against Northview on Monday at 6:00.
Store Burglarized Thursday Morning
September 5, 2008
The Century Kwik Stop was burglarized at sunrise Thursday morning, with the bandit breaking the glass out of a door to gain entry.
Someone threw a lawnmower battery through the front door of the convenience store located at 8130 North Century Boulevard about 6:20, according to Sgt. Steve Smith with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. The burglar made off with a few packs of cigarettes before leaving the store.
A red pickup with tools in the back was spotted near the store at the time of the burglary according to surveillance video.
The incident is still under investigation.
Pictured above: Broken glass covers the sidewalk Thursday morning at the Century Kwik Stop after a burglary. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ike Explodes Into Category 4 Hurricane, Winds 145 MPH
September 4, 2008
Ike became the fifth hurricane of the season less than 24 hours ago, and by this morning, it had exploded into a major category 4 storm.
Ike had winds of 145 mph with gusts to 180. Ike is expected that Ike will maintain category 3 or category 4 intensity over the next 48 hours. Hurricane Ike was 550 miles from the Leeward Islands.
Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, with a turn toward the west expected on Thursday and Friday. This will take Ike over the open waters of the west-central Atlantic during the next couple of days. It is too early to determine what if any land areas might eventually be affected by Ike, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hanna has weakened to tropical storm status as she approached the Bahamas with winds of 70 mph. The extended forecast for Hanna takes it into North or South Carolina early Saturday as a tropical storm.
Josephine remains a tropical storm with winds of 60 mph. It is expected to remain tropical storm in the central Atlantic in the five day forecast.
Atmore Chases ‘Stolen’ Vehicle Into Florida, Turns Out To Be A Repo
September 4, 2008
The Atmore Police Department chased a van that was reported stolen into Florida just before 10:00 Wednesday night, but it turned out that the van had actually been repossessed.
The pursuit went south of Highway 97 to a bridge in Davisville between Ficklin Road and Pelt Road. That’s about a mile south of Highway 4, or about three and a half miles south of Atmore.
Atmore officers quickly discovered that the van was not stolen but repossessed.
Several units from the Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Department as well as the department’s helicopter were dispatched toward Davisville, but the units were canceled before arriving.
“B” Is For “Benny’s Bar-B-Q”; Chamber Honors Carver/Century School For Recent Gains
September 4, 2008
The letter “B” was for “Benny’s Bar-B-Q” Wednesday at Carver/Century K-8 School as the faculty and staff were honored for their part in improving the school’s state grade.
The Century Chamber of Commerce provided the lunch for the entire staff at Carver/Century to thank them for their hard work in taking the school from an “F” school to a “B” rated school in just one year.
“Principal Jeff Garthwaite, teachers and staff of Carver Century K-8 Elementary School in recognition of their hard work and dedication to bring our school from and “F” to a “B” in just one year. ‘Thank you’ from the entire community of Century,” a certificate presented to Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite said.
The faculty and staff enjoyed barbecue pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and cake, all served up by a smiling and grateful Benny Barnes, president of the Century Chamber of Commerce. Sporting a red “Benny’s Bar-B-Q” apron, he piled barbecue high on each sandwich while offering up words of praise to each faculty member for their part in the school’s improvement.
Several community leaders were also on hand for the event sponsored by the Century Chamber of Commerce. Two local businesses also helped out with the event…Whataburger in Century donated buns, and Century’s Piggly Wiggly provided the cake.
Pictured above: Century Chamber President Benny Barnes, in the red “Benny’s Bar-B-Q” apron, serves up smoked pork Wednesday to Carver/Century K-8 staff and faculty. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite and Barnes with a certificate presented to Carver/Century honored them for their work in improving from a “F” to a “B” school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
