Construction At Halfway Point On New FPL Solar Farm In McDavid. It’s The Second Of Three In North Escambia.
October 24, 2022
Construction has reached about the halfway point at the second of three Florida Power & Light solar farms in North Escambia.
The First City Solar Energy Center, located along Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid, is on track to go into operation in early 2023, Kimberly Blair, FPL spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com. The site will have more than 223,000 photovoltaic panels with a planned output of 75 megawatts.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on Bogia Road near McDavid have been in operation since early 2022 and were officially dedicated in March. It produces. enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes.
The Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is planned for 553 acres south of the end of Pilgrim Trail. According to FPL, over 200,000 solar panels will generate nearly 75 megawatts — enough energy to also power 15,000 homes.
“Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is fully permitted, and construction is expected to begin in early summer of 2023,” Blair said. “It is expected to go into operation in early 2024.”
Pictured: Construction is at about the halfway point for the First City Solar Energy Center in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Residents Without Power For Hours After Highway 196 Wreck
October 24, 2022
A wreck on Highway 196 late Sunday afternoon left residents in the area without power for nearly six hours.
The crash happened just before 5 p.m on Highway 196 at Schifko Road. A pickup truck crashed into a utility pole, bringing down the pole and powerlines.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not confirmed the cause of the wreck, but witnesses told NorthEscambia.com that the driver reportedly swerved to avoid another vehicle that left the scene.
There were no injuries reported.
Florida Power & Light said about 150 customers were left without power until just before 11 p.m.
Photos by Asa Schlobohm and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Homecoming Queen And Her Court (With Photo Gallery)
October 24, 2022
Friday night, Tate High School named Homecoming Queen McKenzie Alfred. First runner-up to the queen was Savannah Guilford, and second runner-up was Emily Brabner.
Members of the Tate High School 2022 Homecoming Court are:
Seniors
- McKenzie Alfred
- Trinity Blackwell
- Emily Brabner
- Ansli Brown
- Kiersten Crooke
- Savannah Guilford
- Adyson Illian
- Aspen Meadows
- Taylor Whalen
- Anna Whetzel
- Brooklyn Wilcox
Senior Boys
(King will be announced Saturday night at dance)
- Ian DeLay
- Jace Fryman
- Ethan Harper
- Nathan Killingsworth
- Rilee Lowery
- Tristin Lynn
- Ethan McAnally
- Aidan McKinney
- Jacob McLemore
- Drew Reaves
- Jamil Sardar
Juniors
- Taylor Fitzgerald
- Reese Forehand
- Lexi Nelson
- Ella Parker
- Alicen Ray
- Delaney Weaver
Sophomores
- Brooke Alvare
- Faith Etheridge
- Carlyn Ham
- Hailey Locke
- Jasmine Stainger
- Savanna Wadsworth
Freshmen
- Jordyn Banks
- Payten Burdette
- Taylor Dyler
- Laciee Glass
- Kati Ingram
- Aubree Vincent
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McElhaney Wins Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K (With Results)
October 24, 2022
James McElhaney won the Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K recently with a time of 17:23.
Top finishers were:
- James McElhaney — male runner — 17:23.0
- Jeff Word — male runner — 28:44.7
- Alan Ash — male runner — 30:45.6
- Audrey Hammac — female runner — 33:39.6
- Miles Hammac — male runner — 33:40.0
- Steve Campbell — male runner — 38:37.0
- Michelle Criswell — female walker — 39:32.1
- Susan Campbell — female runner — 41:19.8
- Dale Ash — female walker — 41:30.0
The 5K was held at Anthony Pleasant Park as a fundraiser for the Century Lions Club
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Average Gas Prices Deline 6 Cents
October 24, 2022
Florida gas prices declined 6 cents per gallon last week.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.36 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.18. A North Escambia low of $3.17 could be found at several Cantonment stations Sunday night, while Pensacola prices were as low as $2.91 on Nine Mile Road.
“Oil prices dropped 8% two weeks ago, then hung relatively steady last week, enabling pump prices to decline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Drivers should see pump prices drift even lower this week. But a sudden jump at the pump is likely on November 1, when the state’s gasoline tax holiday ends.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Has Finally Passed A Budget And 151% Tax Increase. Maybe.
October 23, 2022
Last week, the town clerk opened a meeting with prayer that people would understand that Century was not raising taxes by 151%.
But according to the State of Florida, that’s exactly what they did, in a meeting that may or may not even count.
It was the latest in a long string of events as Century tried, and tried again, and again, to pass a property tax rate and a budget for the fiscal year that began October 1. By the time the process was over, a council member had resigned, public notices had been botched, a vote was taken possibly without the required quorum, and another public notice didn’t tell the truth. And the town still raised property taxes by 151.68%.
The municipal budget process in Florida can be a little complicated, but the Florida Department of Revenue publishes a handy 206-page guide and a 97-page workbook with step-by-step guidance. In a nutshell, the process is to hold two public hearings, advertise them a certain way and don’t mess up.
Like most governments in the state, Century started the process back in the summer with workshop meetings to develop a budget. Forms are completed that determine the ad valorem tax. And that was the first big problem.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington said she discovered the forms had not been completed correctly by those before her, and that led to the property tax increase. Back in 2017, the council declared part of the town to be “blighted” and formed a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). As property tax values rise, most of the increase in tax revenue was funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements, none of which have been done to date. Howington said the CRA was not properly reported on the state tax forms, drastically dropping the rolled back rate.
The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and the law says it must be advertised as such.
The rolled back rate — the no tax increase by definition rate — came in at 0.3657 mills. The town approved keeping the millage rate at 0.9204, a 151.68% tax increase.
First Budget Meeting
The town’s first attempt to tentatively approve the budget and property tax increase was stalled after one council member was a no show. At 151.68%, the tax increase was so great that the state required a unanimous vote, or the approval of voters at the ballot box.
Council member Leonard White did not attend the meeting Howington said she did not hear from White on meeting day, but he is employed at Century Correctional Institution where he is not allowed to have his phone for security reasons. She stated that she had been told that the prison had gone into a “class 2″ lockdown at noon that day while he was presumed to be at work.
Second Try At The First Budget Meeting
White resigned from office just hours before a rescheduled meeting in late September, citing time constraints due to his job as correctional officer at the prison.With White officially off the council, that left four members present at the meeting for the unanimous vote needed to approve a property tax increase.
Questions were raised about the legal notice for the meeting.
It was advertised in a published “Notice of Continuation” as being continued from the early September meeting, and stated that the meeting was recessed. That was not correct; that September 8 meeting was adjourned. The big budget guide from the state says that continuation is acceptable, but the meeting must not be adjourned (as it was).
Howington later provided a string of emails between her and the Department of Revenue that ended with apparent instruction to run the continuation notice., even though it was not true.
Second Budget Meeting
On October 4, three days after the fiscal year started with no budget, Century attempted to hold the second meeting.
But due to an error in the public notice — which had different numbers that the actual budget — the meeting adjourned.
Second Budget Meeting, Second Try
A rare, but legally allowed, Saturday afternoon meeting was held October 8, hours before a final report was due to the state.
The council approved a tax increase of 151.68% over the rolled back rate.
Action on the budget was tabled after it was discovered that a balanced budget was not advertised due to an apparent typographical error made by the town. The typo in the budget summary public notice for the meeting showed $10,000 more in expenditures than revenue; state law requires that a budget balance.
The meeting was recessed.
Second Budget Meeting, Third Try
Last week, the council met again in an attempt to square away the tax rate and budget.
The meeting opened with prayer led by the town clerk.
“Father God, we’ve worked hard on this budget. We’ve worked hard on the millage rate,” she prayed. “As I explain it again for people to clear their mind and hear that we are not raising taxes by 151 percent.”
Only three of the four remaining council members were present in the room as the millage rate vote was taken; council member James Smith was on the phone.
The Florida Sunshine Law states that a quorum must be present for a vote, and a person taking part on the phone does not count. That’s why the fifth council member resigned a few weeks ago — so the remaining four could have tax rate discussions and vote.
When questioned by the public, Howington said they would move forward with meeting and check with the state.
A lengthy discussion ensued, with Howington providing multiple explanations how the 151.68% tax increase was not really a tax increase, despite the state law, the town’s own legal notice of a tax increase, and the meeting’s agenda all spelling out that it’s a tax increase. She provided sample tax numbers for her home…which showed the extra 151.68% in taxes, amounting to about $30.
Florida law requires the council to openly provide the reason for the tax increase at the meeting. Century provided the somewhat vague explanation “to fund the budget” without providing specifics.
For the final meeting, several citizens filled the updated council chambers, which had recently painted walls and new Mohawk laminate flooring.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
CSX To Begin Work On Atmore Main Street Crossing Monday Night
October 23, 2022
CSX will begin work Monday night on the Main Street railroad crossing in Atmore.
Signage for semi trucks and visitors will be posted for detours. Local traffic is encouraged to navigate other local streets, according to the Atmore Police Department.
The crossing on Highway 21 at Highway 31 is the busiest vehicular crossing in Atmore.
No timeline for the completion of the work has been provided.
Stock photo.
Photos: Tate High School Homecoming Parade
October 23, 2022
The Tate High School Aggies celebrated Homecoming 2022 with a parade prior to Friday night’s football game at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The sophomore float “Alice in Wonderland” was the homecoming float winner.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Elementary Parents: New Car Rider Loop Opens On Monday
October 23, 2022
A new car rider loop opens Monday at Beulah Elementary School.
Students will no longer be dropped off in the parking lot area that has been used since the first of the school year; that area will only be for school buses and daycare vans and buses. Bus riders, daycare riders, and back gate walkers will be allowed on campus at 7:10 a.m.
Here are the complete procedures according to Beulah Elementary School:
- Morning car rider drop off starts at 7:00am. The tardy bell rings at 7:35am.
- Afternoon car rider line begins at 1:50pm. All students need to be picked up by 2:10pm.
- From Mobile Highway, turn onto Beulah Road. The line will get backed up if you enter from Beulah School Road.
- From Beulah Road, turn left onto Helms Road. Proceed on Helms Road until you arrive at the car rider loop entrance.
- Turn right into the car rider drop off lane. Cars will NOT be allowed to turn left into the car rider entrance.
- Follow the line around the car rider loop. We will only have one lane of cars. There will be NO passing while in the car rider line on school grounds.
- Once you have dropped off your child/children, exit left onto Helms Road. Exit by turning LEFT ONLY. (NO right turn out of the car rider lane.)
- Students need to enter and exit their vehicles from the right (passenger) side to ensure their safety while entering/exiting the vehicle.
No. 9 UWF Runs Over Mississippi College, 45-17, On Homecoming
October 23, 2022
The first half of the season has steadily molded UWF’s football team.
What has now emerged is resembling the Argos’ sought-after definition.
The ninth-ranked Argos (6-1) celebrated their first on-campus, Homecoming game amid spectacular weather and a matching performance in a 45-17 rout of Mississippi College, before the largest crowd (5,505) of the season at Pen Air Field.
“We are playing really good football,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “We are getting close to where we need to be. We gave up some plays we shouldn’t give up and I think we can clean up some things in the kicking game, but our guys are starting to see it.
“Our seniors, our players are getting it. Everybody understands the significance of us playing great football at this time.”
The superlatives begin with UWF’s defense. They held the nation’s most prolific rushing attack in NCAA Division II to 211 yards, which was 145 yards under Mississippi College’s average. A week ago, the Choctaws exploded for a school-record 598 yards rushing in a 49-40 win against Valdosta State.
The Argos defense also forced three fumbles, recovering one of those, and snared the first interception this season thrown by Choctaws quarterback John Henry White.
On offense, the Argos scored points on seven of their first nine possessions until late in the fourth quarter. They amassed 334 yards rushing, led by dynamic tailbacks Ra’veion Hargrove (139 yards) and Shomari Mason (137 yards).
It’s the first time in Argos’ team history to have a pair of running games gain 100 or more yards in the same game. Hargrove got his game-leading yardage of just 10 carries for a 13.9 average.
“I haven’t done anything like that since high school,” said Hargrove, who grew up in Ohio. “It all starts with the offensive line. They were doing a great job creating lanes and we took what the defense gave us.
“Right now I feel like we are hitting that stride. We are at a good point right now.”
The third member of this backfield trio, C.J. Wilson, had seven carries for 33 yards, but three of those carries resulted in touchdowns.
“This was an amazing team effort and just a fantastic job by all our guys of what needed to take place,” Shinnick said. “We got the ball on the ground, had sacks, an interception. Just a tremendous job by our defense to put us the situation we were in.
“Then, offensively, any time you can outrush a rushing team, you really have a great thing going.”
Quarterback Peewee Jarrett started slow in passing, but finished with 133 yards and three touchdown throws. The Argos did not commit a turnover in the game.
“Peewee just did a fantastic job,” Shinnick said. “Almost every run we called had a pass option for him. And he just did a fantastic job of putting the ball in the right guys hands and not really forcing anything.”
The cumulative effort has the Argos in sole possession of second place in the Gulf South Conference with a 4-1 record. The Argos play their final home game next Saturday (Oct. 29) against West Alabama, then have the final two games on the road against Valdosta State, following by a schedule-ending rematch (Nov. 12) against Mississippi College.
“I think we are starting to see what our best can look like,” Shinnick said. “One of the things we talked about around here is when we play our best we are very, very difficult to beat. This is the time to play great.”
In addition to the team’s play was the game atmosphere. The crowd began forming early for a variety of tailgating areas. The players were able to celebrate with the band and fans afterward.
“You could hear it, you can see it,” Shinnick said. “There is just a different vibe when you are not going downtown (at former home Blue Wahoos Stadium) to play your games. We have our team meeting four hours before the game, then go eat our pregame meal and you come out and you’ve got people everywhere.
“It’s like this is a whole different experience. What (UWF president) Doctor (Martha) Saunders has done to create this atmosphere and what (athletic director) Dave Scott has done to put this together, really makes our place a very unique place to play and one that is only going to get better and better.”
The Argos started the day fast. They came out in a no-huddle offense and scored on their first possession, after Wilson completed an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. All seven of the positive yardage plays were running plays.
They took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter on Jarrett’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Jared Smith.
A pivotal sequence in the game followed. Mississippi College got a big-play through the air – a 41-yard completion – that set up a 10-yard rushing score with 2:35 left.
The ensuing kickoff was a touchback. After Jarrett threw a 26-yard strike to David Durden, a holding penalty set UWF back. But the Argos used four rushing plays from Hargrove and Mason to get a first down at the Choctaws’ 25. On the next play, Jarrett found Larry Rembert with a laser throw in the middle of the end zone with 25 seconds left in the half.
From that point, UWF kept a double-digit lead.
“We were in a two-minute (offense) mode, but at same time we had been running the ball so well,” Shinnick said. “So, (Choctaws) kind of gave us some looks we haven’t seen. We had two or three runs that were pretty good. But that was huge. A 10-point swing and our defense took care of it from there.”
The Argos defense did not allow a running play longer than 16 yards from the Choctaws backfield until their backup quarterback rushed late in the fourth quarter for 18 yards.
Defensive coordinator Darian Dulin had the Argos lineman and linebackers staying on assignments and holes never opened.
“Darian did a fantastic job. I thought his gameplan was awesome,” Shinnick said. “You really have to have your D-line dialed in. They have to be 100 percent committed to what their job is. This was a full week commitment. When you do what we were able to do, that is every guy being dialed and every guy being committed.”
By Bill Vilona, GoArgos.com Senior Writer. Photo: Morgan Givens.