Escambia BOCC Tentatively Approves Static Millage Rate, Defined By State As Tax Increase
September 7, 2022
The Escambia County Commission Tuesday night gave tentative approval to a static property tax rate for next fiscal year, which is defined by the state as a tax increase.
The proposed millage rate is 7.4679, which is not an increased millage rate but is a 13.20% increase over the rolled back rate of 6.5969 mills.
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 must be advertised as such.
“I’m very happy that we are leaving the millage rate static; that provides a little revenue based upon the growth of the tax roll,” Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh said. “Keeping the millage rate static provides the additional revenue necessary for us to provide raises to our first responders and our employees, and keep up with the inflation that we are dealing with.”
“We have not raised the millage rate in all the years (of service by current board members), so that’s fiscal prudence that I’m proud to say we’ve done,” Commissioner Lumon May said.
The BOCC will hold a second public hearing later this month to adopt their budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.
Volleyball: Jay Tops Northview 3-2 (With Photo Gallery)
September 7, 2022
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-2 in high school basketball Tuesday night in Bratt.
The Royals came out on top 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 15-8.
In junior varsity action, Jay won in two straight, 25-15, 25-23.
For a photo gallery from the varsity matchup, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Claims $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
September 7, 2022
An Escambia County woman has claimed a $1 million scratch-off lottery prize.
Zabetti Pappas, 66, claimed the Gold Rush Limited prize at the Florida Lottery Pensacola District Office on Tuesday.
Pappas purchased her winning ticket from Publix on Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.
The $20 game launched in September 2021 and features 32 top prizes of $5 million and 100 prizes of $1 million.
Smokies Beat The Wahoos 14-4
September 7, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell in their series opener against the Tennessee Smokies on Tuesday night by a score of 14-4.
Jake Slaughter hit a pair of homers, scored four runs and drove in six to lead Tennessee’s winning effort as the Smokies inched closer to clinching a North Division playoff berth.
Slaughter opened up the scoring right away in the first inning with a two-run homer against Zach King (L, 2-5), who allowed four more runs in the third on RBI doubles from Nelson Maldonado and Chase Strumpf.
The Smokies added two more runs in the fourth on a Miguel Amaya sacrifice fly and Andy Weber RBI double. Pensacola got their only run against Tennessee starter Chris Clarke (W, 7-4) with a Norel González RBI double in the sixth to bring the score to 8-1, but Yonathan Perlaza answered back with a solo homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning as Tennessee got their bats back to work.
Bryce Ball hit an RBI double in the seventh before Slaughter capped his night with a grand slam in the eighth. Will Banfield’s third single of the game brought home a Pensacola run in the eighth, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance drove in another in the ninth with a sacrifice fly, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Tuesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Construction Progressing On New Dollar General Stores In Molino, Walnut Hill
September 6, 2022
Construction is well underway on new Dollar General stores in Molino and Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill store is located at 7100 Highway 97, on the north side of the intersection of South Highway 99. The development was limited to 2.08 acres of a 4.12 acre property, including a 10,769 square-foot store with 43 parking spaces and a new driveway connection to Highway 97 directly across from South Highway 99.
The store near Molino is located at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 196. The 10,640 square foot Dollar General is located on a 1.5 acre parcel with driveway access to Highway 196, not Highway 29.
At an Escambia County development review meeting in May, several area residents spoke out against the Molino area store. Most cited traffic concerns about the intersection, including several fatal accidents that have occurred. They also expressed that the store is not needed due to the proximity of other Dollar Generals on Highway 29, including at Molino Road 2.5 miles to the north and Neal Road four miles to the south.
Pictured top: The Dollar General Store under construction at Highway 97 and South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. First two photos below show the store at Highway 29 and Highway 196 near Molino, and the bottom photo shows the Walnut Hill store as seen from South Highway 99. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Above: Molino area store.
Above: Molino area store, seen from Highway 29.
Above: Walnut Hill store, seen from South Highway 99.
Traffic Stop Leads To Fentanyl, Meth Arrest
September 6, 2022
Two people are facing drug charges after a traffic stop along Highway 29.
Harvey Drexel Heath, age 66 of McDavid, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (fentanyl), possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine) and driving without a license.
James Tyler Josey, a 42-year old who listed an address of homeless, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Nissan Titan driven by Heath at the Winn Dixie on Highway 29.
Josey, the passenger, was taken into custody due to an outstanding warrant from Santa Rosa County. The deputy noted a small bag containing methamphetamine and a straw in the passenger seat where Josey was seated.
A white powder that tested positive for fentanyl was found on a mirror in the center console, along with two bags containing fentanyl and two bags containing methamphetamine, according to an arrest report.
Heath told the deputy that a woman stole his truck in the past and had been driving it for a week, and the narcotics were not his, the report states.
Heath remained jailed Tuesday with bond set at $7,000 bond, while Josey was jailed with a $4,000 bond.
Pictured: Harvey Drexel Heath (left) and James Tyler Josey.
Bonus Gallery: Tate Cheerleaders, Showband And ROTC
September 6, 2022
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pensacola High Tigers 35-26 in a Saturday morning game.
For a bonus photo gallery with the Tate cheerleaders, Showband and ROTC, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECFR Volunteers Take Part In Standards Training
September 6, 2022
Volunteers from the Beulah, Ferry Pass and Myrtle Grove stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue took part in training held recently at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Beulah.
About 35 firefighters took part in the National Fire Protection Association standards training for emergency scene operations.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA Says Gas Prices Declined During The Labor Day Weekend
September 6, 2022
Florida gas prices declined during the past week and through the Labor Day holiday weekend. Holiday travelers paid the fourth-most expensive Labor Day gas prices on record. The all-time highest price for Labor Day weekend was set back in 2012, at $3.78 per gallon, according to AAA.
On Monday, the state average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.52 per gallon. That’s 50 cents per gallon more than what drivers paid during last year’s holiday.
The average price Monday night in Escambia County was $3.37 per gallon. A North Escambia low of $3.28 could be found on Muscogee Road in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices bottomed out at $3.09 at multiple station on Nine Mile Road.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Recycling Center Restart Delayed Again Due To Repair Part Delays
September 5, 2022
A restart of ECUA recycling services has been delayed as they await the arrival of repair parts.
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) was closed in June after the failure of an essential piece of equipment.
ECUA has received an update with a delayed shipping date from the supplier providing the two conveyor belts needed to return the processing lines to service.
Based on the new shipping date, ECUA is proposing a stage reopening of the recycling facility. On Monday, September 26, they plan to begin processing recycling materials for other partners. Materials from ECUA and the City of Pensacola will begin processing on Thursday, September 29.
ECUA is continuing to use the downtime for important maintenance that generally requires a facility shutdown on other equipment.
The second of two aging conveyor belts was slated for replacement in this fiscal year. The ECUA Board approved the $82,000 purchase of two new replacement belts at its February 2022 meeting.
ECUA is continuing normal recycling collections in the meantime.
“We urge our customers to keep in a positive recycling habit during this interruption in the recycling program,” Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
