Iowa Primary Over–Now When Does Florida Vote?
January 5, 2008
The Iowa caucus is over, opening up the 2008 presidential campaign season. So the question becomes—now when does Florida vote?
The Florida Presidential Preference Primary will be Tuesday, January 29. If you are not already registered to vote in the primary, it is too late. The registration books and the chance to change your party affiliation ended on December 31.
In the Presidential Primary, you will vote along party lines. Registered Republicans will receive a Republican Party ballot. Registered Democrats will receive a Democratic Party ballot, and those without a stated party affiliation will receive a nonpartisan ballot.
None of the local races for sheriff, county commission, school board or ECUA will be on the January ballot.
All three ballots will include a property tax amendment…we’ll have more coverage on this closer to election day. For now, we’ll focus on the presidential part of the January 29 vote.
The Republican ballot includes names both familiar and perhaps a few you do not know. Republicans will vote for one from a list that includes Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson. To view a sample Escambia County Republican ballot, click here.
Those voting on the Democratic ballot will also choose just one from a list that includes Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christoper Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barrack Obama, and William “Bill” Richardson. To view a sample Escambia County Democratic ballot, click here.
There are no presidential candidates on Florida’s nonpartisan ballot, but nonpartisan voters will have the chance to vote on the property tax amendment. To view a sample Escambia County nonpartisan ballot, click here.
The January 29 Florida Presidential Primary follows primaries in just a handful of states. The Iowa primary was last night. Michigan will vote on January 15, Nevada on January 19 and South Carolina on January 26.
Voters who wish to vote by mail but have not yet made a request may contact the Supervisor of
Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-
3914), or by using the online form at www.EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed. Written requests must include the voter’s signature.
Absentee ballot requests must be received no later than Wednesday, January 23, 2008, and voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, January 29, 2008. Due to a recent change in Florida law, voters who wish to vote regularly by mail in future elections may now make a single request for all elections through the next two general elections (November 2010).
In addition to absentee voting, early voting will be offered during the two weeks prior to the election, or voters may cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day. Voters must present photo and signature ID at the polls, or must vote a provisional ballot.
NorthEscambia.com will have complete election coverage before, during and after each vote during this election year.
Magaha Latest Escambia Candidate To Qualify
January 5, 2008
Incumbent Clerk of the Circuit Court Ernie Lee Magaha became the latest candidate to qualify for the 2008 elections in Escambia County. He filed his qualification papers Friday.
Republican Magaha will face Republican Greg Mitchell for the $132,000 per year job as boss the Escambia court system. Magaha has held the post for 51 years.
As of the close of business Friday, there are still four candidates for Escambia County Commission District 5. The are Democrat John F. Hartman and Republicans Randall McCrackin, Chris Washler and incumbent Kevin White.
Two people, incumbent Pete Gindhl and Tom Harrell, have qualified for the District 5 school board seat.
No one has qualified for the Escambia County Utilities Authority District 5 seat currently held by Larry Walker.
We’ll have complete election coverage during the year here at NorthEscambia.com.
Area Students of The Month Named
January 5, 2008
Area schools recently named their students of the month for November.:
- Bratt Elementary: Delaney Reynolds, first grade and Bradley Van Pelt, fourth grade
- Carver/Century K-8: Markayla Bradley and Desmone Knight, third grade.
- Molino Park Elementary: Mitchell Singleton and Quaneisha Walker, third grade
- Ernest Ward Middle School: Jonathan Foster, seventh grade; Thomas Jackson, eighth grade
Smoke In The Area Friday Tonight
January 4, 2008
There was a lot of smoke across North Escambia Friday night, a lot of it from a fire in the Flomaton, Alabama, area.
Fire departments from Century and McDavid were called to Lambeth Road west of Flomaton about 4:45 Friday afternoon to assist the Flomaton Fire Department with a brush fire.
Heavy smoke was still reported in Century, Bogia and McDavid about 5:30.
Temps Are Warming; North Escambia Residents Speak Out About the Cold
January 4, 2008
Saturday. Partly sunny and 68. Up to 78 on Monday. Now that just sounds better doesn’t it?
After overnight lows in the teens, the coldest they have been in over five years, many North Escambia residents are ready for a return to our normal Florida winter. Over the past few days, we asked NorthEscambia.com readers to comment about this week’s frigid weather. Here’s a sampling of what you had to say:
- “I’m just ready for it to be normal…a sweater in the morning and shirt sleeves in the afternoon,” said Mark in Bogia.
- “This has been bad for us kids out of school,” said Kate from Molino. “I bet it warms up when we go back (to school) next week.”
- “I thought this was Florida, not Alaska,” said Mike from Walnut Hill. “I don’t have the money to heat my house like this. It’s an old house, and it is real expensive to heat.”
- “I like it,” said Joseph from Molino. “I used to live up north, and I missed it.”
- “I’m freezin!” said Chad from Century.
- “It really hurt walking outside,” said Suzanne from McDavid. “It really hurt my face walking in that kind of cold wind. I just don’t like that.”
- “I wish it has been this cold for Christmas,” said Hazel from Walnut Hill. “It needed to be this cold, and it needed to snow for Christmas.”
- “I hope it gets cold enough, for long enough, to kill off some of those blasted mosquitos that have been about to drive us crazy,” said Rene from Atmore. “Seems the last few years it didn’t get cold enough for any length of time to do any good.”
What do you think of this cold weather? What precautions did you take? What problems did you have? We’d love to hear your comments at NorthEscambia.com for possible addition to this story. Click here to fill our our contact form, or email us at news@northescambia.com. Please let us know what community you are in when you contact us.
NorthEscambia.com helps launch AtmoreNews.com
January 3, 2008
AtmoreNews.com has been launched to bring Atmore News in Atmore, Alabama, to the web. The web site was launched with the help of NorthEscambia.com.
“Our close proximity to north Escambia (Fla.) ties us together in many ways,” said Ryan Carter of Atmore News. “We share schools, churches, community activities and many Atmore area residents have relatives who live across the state line.”
“For that reason, the two sites will often share stories that are of interest to visitors to both sites,” said William Reynolds of NorthEscambia.com. “The continued focus of NorthEscambia.com will be on the residents and happenings in North Escambia, but we will be able to bring you some of the news from our neighbors to the north in Atmore and Escambia County, Alabama.”
“Many North Escambia residents regularly visit Atmore to shop, eat and worship,” Reynolds added.
“Our hope is the two websites will serve to bringing the two communities closer together,” Carter said.
The AtmoreNews.com site is hosted by the parent company of NorthEscambia.com, and the technology behind AtmoreNews.com is the same technology that has served over a half million pages in less than two months to the thousands of NorthEscambia.com readers.
Just like NorthEscambia.com, the publishers of AtmoreNews.com plan to update the site daily with the latest local news.
The site is available now on the web at AtmoreNews.com.
Talk to Us: Tell Us What You Think of This Cold Weather
January 2, 2008
What do you think of this cold weather? What precautions did you take? What problems did you have? Just how cold was it on your thermometer? We’d love to hear your comments at NorthEscambia.com for possible inclusion in a story. Click here to fill our our contact form, or email us at news@northescambia.com. Please let us know what community you are in when you contact us.
Be Careful With Space Heaters
January 2, 2008
With our extremely cold overnight temperatures, Escambia County Fire Rescue reminds everyone to be safe while staying warm and offers these safety tips involving heating equipment:
• Properly inspect all heating equipment before using it.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from all combustibles.
• Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances or other heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
• Only use heaters that have safety features such as cut-off switches that turn the heater off if they accidentally tip over and those units that have heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
• Never leave space heaters unattended, turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Make sure to keep children away from space heaters.
• Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
• When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
• If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
• Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
• Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel both explode easily.
• Keep the fire in the fireplace by making sure you have a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
• Heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater and never use them to dry clothes or other materials.
• Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
• Remember its always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
• In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.
If you need assistance in obtaining a smoke alarm for your residence, call the smoke alarm program at 595-HERO.
Minor Flooding On Escambia River
January 2, 2008
A flood warning continues in effect for the Escambia River near Century, with minor flooding reported in low lying areas.
The latest stage was 17.4 feet at 10:00 Wednesday morning. Flood stage is 17.0 feet. The river has crested according to the the National Weather Service, and it is expected to fall below flood stage by noon Thursday.
The weather service says minor lowland flooding will continue until the river level drops below 13 feet.
Seniors Ring In the New Year Tuesday In Century
January 1, 2008
Seniors at the Century Care Center rang in the New Year in a grand fashion Tuesday. The residents enjoyed a little “bubbly”, finger foods, cake and ice cream. The party was complete with party favors and hats as the Century Care Center residents welcomed 2008.
Click any of the photos on this page to enlarge. Submitted Photos by Mae Hildreth. Scroll down for more pictures.
