ECUA Member Larry Walker Wants To Give Allied Waste The Boot
July 4, 2008
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 5 member Larry Walker said Thursday night that he wants to see Allied Waste loose its waste franchise in North Escambia.
Walker told the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club that he wants to see the ECUA take over residential waste service north of 10 mile road when Allied’s franchise agreement with ECUA expires in early 2010.
“I am going to everything I can do to get the Allied franchise terminated in March 2010,” he said. Walker said ECUA would be able to provide more reliable waste service in North Escambia at the sam he would “continue to work hard as the District 5 representative”.
While it will not serve North Escambia, Walker said a crowning achievement of ECUA is the new wastewater treatment plant under construction near Solutia. It replaces the downtown wastewater treatment plant that flooded during Hurricane Ivan. It is expected to be online before the 2010 hurricane season.
“The economy of the area could be decimated if the downtown plant was wiped out by a hurricane,” Walker said.
Pictured above: ECUA District 5 board member Larry Walker speaks to the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Thursday night.
The Pearls Of The Pacific Perform At Century Care Center
July 4, 2008
The Polynesian dance group the Pearls of the Pacific brought their show to the Century Care Center Thursday afternoon.
From “Tiny Bubbles” to a selection from “Lilo and Stitch”, the girls performed traditional and interpretive hula dances. Several audience members also joined in on stage, trying their hand at the hula.
Pictured above: The Pearls of the Pacific at the Century Care Center Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FHP Stepping Up Patrols For Long Holiday Weekend
July 4, 2008
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is stepping up its enforcement operations for the July Fourth holiday weekend.
“The men and women of the Florida Highway Patrol will be teaming up with law enforcement officers across the state to provide the safest possible driving environment for our visitors and residents during the Independence Day holiday driving period,” stated Colonel John T. Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol.
In order to ensure a safe holiday experience for everyone, the Patrol statewide will increase visibility and enforcement efforts until midnight Sunday, July 6. The FHP will target three specific causes of highway fatalities: speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.
“We want the public to understand that drunk driving is no accident. It’s one of Florida’s most often committed crimes that accounts for one-third of all traffic fatalities. If you choose to drink and drive during this Fourth of July holiday period, law enforcement officers will catch and arrest you,” added Colonel Czernis.
This strategy is intended to increase the Patrol’s presence on major roadways throughout Florida in an effort to increase public compliance of traffic laws and to provide enhanced services to motorists who find themselves in need of assistance. In addition, our Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will be volunteering their time to assist regular troopers during the heightened holiday enforcement weekend.
Motorists are reminded to use their cellular phones safely. FHP urges all drivers to call *FHP (*347) to report drunk or aggressive drivers. They can also use this number if their vehicle breaks down or need assistance. Motorists needing immediate emergency services should dial 911.
For real-time traffic and road condition reports, as well as maps and other safety tips, the public is urged to visit the FHP website at www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/. Florida drivers can also call 511 on their cell phone for up-to-the minute updates on traffic congestion, road construction, lane closures, severe weather and travel delays on Interstates and major highways.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles encourages anyone with a valid Florida driver license or identification card to go online to www.flhsmv.gov and enter their emergency contact information. This vital information gives law enforcement immediate access to this information in cases of an emergency, which makes it easier for them to contact a family member or friend.
Sheriff Ron McNesby Campaigns In Walnut Hill
July 4, 2008
Escambia Sheriff Ron McNesby brought his campaign message to Walnut Hill Thursday night, talking budgets, crime and more.
“If I stood up here and told you what I am going to do the next four years, you would have to ask me what I did the past eight years,” McNesby told the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club.
The sheriff said he was proud of the job he had done as the county’s top law enforcement officer and that he was especially proud that there more deputies than ever on the county’s roads.
“We not increased our budget in two years,’ he said. “We have actually decreased about two million by cutting 83 funded positions.”
“But we have not laid off any deputies or detention deputies, and we won’t do that,” he said.
One the sheriff’s department biggest budget challenges has been the rising cost of fuel in a department that uses about 45,000 gallons a month, McNesby said. “It’s hard to budget for that.”
On crime, the sheriff said crime in Escambia County has increased less than one percent in recent years, while nationwide statistics have soared.
The recent Florida Taxwatch study on Escambia County government reported that the sheriff’s budget is 52 percent of the overall county budget, but that report notes “but it must be mentioned that this is not unique to Escambia County.” (Click here for the NorthEscambia.com story on the Florida Taxwatch report and a link to the report.)
After the report, there was a call for a more in-depth look at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department budget. But McNesby pointed out that his budget had increased just 17.93 percent from the report period of 2001 to 2006. The report says that the Board of County Commissioners’ budget increased 68.13 percent during the same period and increases for most other constitutional officers in the county were also in the 32 to 48 percent range.
“The sheriff that needs to be looked at has increased just 17.9 percent, or about three percent per year,” McNesby told the Ruritan members.
Several of McNesby’s opponents have criticized the expense of helicopters used by the department.
But the sheriff defended the value of the helicopters, citing a recent case where the helicopter was used to locate a missing Alzheimer’s patient and a case where it was used to locate another missing teen.
“His family is with him today because of the helicopter,” McNesby said of the Alzheimer’s patient. “And ask the mom of that boy if it is worth it.”
Pictured above: Escambia Sheriff Ron McNesby addressed the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Gas Soars Past $4 Gallon In North Escambia Just In Time For Holiday Travel
July 3, 2008
Gas soared to a new all time record high Wednesday in North Escambia, passing the $4 mark for the first time.
A gallon of regular unleaded jumped six cents to $4.05 Wednesday afternoon at a station on Highway 97 in Davisville, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend travel period.
A new poll shows that about one third of Americans are curtailing their travel plans for the Fourth because of high fuel prices.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll, 31 percent of Americans have canceled or shortened their planned holiday weekend vacation because of the recent increases in gas prices.
For the first time this decade, AAA estimates a decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Fourth of July holiday travel period.
AAA still projects 40.45 million Americans will still travel during the July Fourth holiday weekend, down 1.3 percent, or nearly 550,000 Americans, from the 41 million who traveled last year. This is the second consecutive travel holiday in 2008 where a year-to-year decrease was forecasted. AAA projected a nearly one percent drop in holiday travelers for the Memorial Day travel holiday in May. The forecast includes U.S. residents traveling 50 miles or more from home.
The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded hit an all time high Wednesday at $4.09 according to AAA. The state average in Florida is $4.06. Last Fourth of July, the average cost for a gallong of regular unleaded in Florida was $2.91.
When NorthEscambia.com last ran a gas price story back on May 13, gas had just hit $3.75 a gallon.
Two Northview Cadets Graduate From Leadership Academy
July 3, 2008
Two Northview High School NJROTC cadet were among cadets from all over the southeast that graduated from a recent leadership academy.
Clinton Davis and Miranda Scott graduated from the Area 8 NJROTC Leadership Academy in Meridian, Mississippi.
Each cadet had to pass a physical fitness test in order to attend the academy, and then they were required to pass another physical fitness test after arriving in Mississippi in order to remain at the camp.
In order to graduate, Davis and Scott were required to receiving a passing score of 70 percent or greater in the academic and inspection portions of the camp.
The Leadership Academy lasted one full week, and consisted of physical training, academics, military drills, inspections and orienteering.
During the graduation ceremony, medals were giving to the top cadets in each of the fields except drill and orienteering.
Both Davis and Scott received academic medals from their respective platoons. Davis’ platoon also received the Honor Platoon award, meaning the platoon scored the highest on drill, inspection, physical fitness and academics.
Pictured above: Miranda Scott and Clinton Davis at the NJROTIC Leadership Academy in Meridian, Mississippi. Submitted photo.
McDavid Home Damaged by Fire
July 2, 2008
A McDavid home was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday evening.
The fire was reported as a kitchen fire in the 1500 block of Cox Road about 6:45. When the first firefighters arrived on scene, they reported smoke and flames visible from outside the home.
The wood frame house and attached mobile home were heavily damaged in the blaze, according to McDavid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eric Gilmore.
The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Gilmore said.
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, the Century Volunteer Fire Department, the Molino Volunteer Fire Department and the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the fire.
Click here for more photos from the scene.
Pictured above: Firefighters work inside a burning home Tuesday evening on Cox Road. Pictured below: Firefighters pull a hose to the attic. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Fourth Of July Comes Early At The Library With Fun And Games
July 2, 2008
Kids of all ages celebrated the Fourth of July in grand style Tuesday afternoon at Century Branch Library.
There was a watermelon eating content, a watermelon seed spitting contest (OK…they were actually sunflower seeds), and a hula hoop contest.
The children also enjoyed pigs in a blanket, Whataburger apple pies and more.
Contest winners were awarded free movie rentals from the Movie Gallery and ice cream from the Tea Room at the Country Bumpkin.
Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty and George Washington all made special appearances.
The next installment of the Summer Reading Program will be at noon Tuesday, July 8 with the fabulous storytelling of Florida’s own Wendell Campbell, storyteller extraordinaire. All events are free.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
Pictured above: Let ‘em fly…the seed spitting contest. Pictured below: The hula hoop contest Tuesday at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Leaders Talk Roads, Taxes, Zoning And More At Town Hall Meeting
July 2, 2008
Roads, zoning, taxes and economic development topped discussion at a town hall meeting with top Escambia County leaders Tuesday night in Molino.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, Commission Chairman Gene Valentino, County Administrator Bob McLaughlin and a host of department leaders met with about three dozen concerned citizens at Molino Park Elementary School.
“There’s a lot of rezoning on the south end,” asked Patty Helton Davis, a North Escambia resident and Atmore real estate agent. “Why not on the north end?”
Davis said current zoning laws allow just one property division of ten acres, a law that hurts those in the north end that own large parcels of land. They are unable to subdivide their property in order to sell it.
“It really does hamper a lot of people,” she said. “It hurts a lot of elderly people.”
“The Land Development Code (LDC) needs to be rewritten,” White said.
“Individuals can apply to have their property rezoned,” said Lloyd Kerr, directory of planning and zoning. “But we are looking at the entire LDC.”
“But that’s a lot of expense on the individual landowner,” Davis reponded.
Many others expressed their concerns about various North Escambia roads at the town hall meeting.
Regi Burkett, chief of the Century Volunteer Fire Department, said the shoulders of Highway 4, Highway 4A and Byrneville road need attention because of deep ruts alongside the roads in many locations.
“These roads need some attention up there,” Burkett said. “We are having a lot of accidents up there.”
Another resident expressed his concerns about Pine Barren Road between Breastworks Road and Highway 4 near Northview High School. While it has been paved for several years, it has never had lines painted or reflectors installed.
“When it rains, you see nothing,” he said. “There are a lot of school buses that use that road, and a lot of kids driving to the high school.”
Other road discussions at the meeting centered around paving dirt roads in North Escambia.
One resident questioned why a portion of Cedar Tree Lane remains unpaved while both ends were paved.
“It all comes down to right of way problems,” White said. “We never got the right of way on that section of road.”
Another right of way problem has prevented Fairground Road in Molino from being paved due to two landowners, Rich Andrews from the county’s engineering department said.
“I’m one of those two people,” one man said. “But you tried to take all of the right of way from my yard and none from my neighbors.”
“If you will take half of the right of way from my yard and half from my neighbor’s, I’ll sign the agreement tonight,” he said.
Another resident asked why Highway 97 from Molino to the Alabama state line had not been widened to four lanes, especially with the growth of the Rivercane area and casino north of Atmore.
“That’s a state highway,” McLaughlin said. “But it’s the second priority for widening in a two county area.”
McLaughlin said he has a meeting scheduled with Congressman Jeff Miller to discuss possibly widening the road under an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation, much like was done between Florida and Alabama when Alabama 113 was approved for four lanes.
The acquisition of the old Molino school was also discussed. White said the Escambia County School Board was asking $400,000 for the old Molino School and $4 million for the old Wedgewood Middle. The county had made a $2 million offer for both schools and is awaiting action by the school board.
One resident asked why there is no recycling bin located in Molino while one is located at the Oak Grove Convenience Center and at the Century Courthouse. They suggested the back parking lot of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department as a possible location. McLaughlin said he would investigate the idea.
“What about property tax relief,” one man asked.
“You are probably looking at a one mil rollback if I had to guess,” White said.
Valentino said he believes the county has saved as much as it possibly can with the elimination of many positions. The county is back to 2002 staffing levels with early retirements and other cuts.
“I’m scared to cut any further,” Valentino said. “If we cut further, we’d be cutting essential services.”
Pictured above: Commissioner Chairman Gene Valentino (left) and Commissioner Kevin White address a town hall meeting Tuesday night at Molino Park Elementary. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Site Upgrade: Post Your Comments About Our Stories
July 1, 2008
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