Independent News‘Escambia County’ Archives
Video: Hot Stove Politics in Escambia and Pensacola
On Jan. 8, I was invited to sit in with attorney Bill Rankin on his television show "Within Reason." Segment One - Ernie Lee Magaha handing out bonuses and pay raises to his employees - "The Danger of the Lame Duck" Segment Two - Gun Violence, Cycle of Poverty and Possible [...]
Library Focus Groups
Escambia County press release: The West Florida Public Library System is looking for individuals interested in participating in focus groups to help shape the future of libraries in Escambia County and the City of Pensacola. Two community sessions will be held on Monday, January 14. The first [...]
The escalating violence in crimes committed in Pensacola is troubling
The violent crime in Pensacola is escalating to a much more dangerous level. In 2009, I was writing about drive-by shootings. Shots were fired over crowds, few people were injured. In 2010 and 2011, people were shot and killed on the streets, in front of houses, in parking lots-but the homes were [...]
Buybacks and a Floating Holiday
The Escambia County Commission paved the way this morning for county employees to buyback accrued leave time and also approved a “floating holiday,” which this year will fall on New Year’s Eve. “I think it’s very important that we—that our employees know that they are appreciated,” [...]
County Looks for Lorax
Escambia County needs someone to represent environmental concerns on an advisory committee being formed to prioritize uses for the expected RESTORE Act money. The county commission is forming a RESTORE Act advisory council ahead of the Gulf Coast’s expected financial windfall connected with [...]
The Discussion Will Not Be Televised
The Escambia County Commission is holding a special meeting Thursday to discuss the specifics of the employee-leave buyout voted on last week, as well as the possibility of a “floating holiday” for employees. The meeting will not be televised. During their last regularly scheduled meeting of [...]
Big Deal at the Airport
A big deal is brewing at the Pensacola International Airport. While local officials have kept the lid on the details fairly tight, it appears something is in the works. During last night’s Pensacola City Council meeting, City Administrator Bill Reynolds noted that Mayor Ashton Hayward wished [...]
Easy decision: Give county employees Dec. 31 off
The Escambia County commissioners debated yesterday how to live up to the old commission's vote (i.e. Gene Valentino, Wilson Robertson and Kevin White) to give all county employees a three-percent raise. "Crazy Uncle" Wilson was working behind-the-scenes to deny the raises for the Escambia County [...]
Buzz: Touart and pals do not want a citizen advisory committee on BP millions
There has been a persistent rumor that interim George Touart and his supporters (both on and off the county commission) don't want to have a citizen advisory committee reviewing how Escambia County spends its estimated $100 million in RESTORE funds. Touart has told several people both in Escambia [...]
New Kids on the Block
Escambia County’s two new commissioners are forgoing any honeymoon. From the get-go, their voices have become pivotal in weighty conversations. During their initial meeting last week, commissioners Lumon May (District 3) and Steven Barry (District 5) entered into discussions concerning both [...]
Wilson’s Town Hall
Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson will host a town hall meeting tomorrow night. The meeting will include a discussion about the upcoming Merlin Road drainage project and will conclude with an open forum. Lately, the District 1 commissioner has taken to speaking openly about his [...]
A Building Named Ernie Lee
The Escambia County downtown complex was renamed yesterday. It is now the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex. During an afternoon ceremony, a crowd of about 100 people stood in front of the Palafox building, where a commemorative plaque was mounted. Magaha—who lost his reelection bid [...]