Long-time Gulf Breeze Mayor Lane Gilchrist, 72, has died. I received a phone call early this morning that Lane had passed away during surgery. Lane first was elected to the Gulf Breeze…
Category: News
County may drop longevity pay
Escambia County is looking for $17.1 million in budget cuts. County Budget director Amy Lovoy has made these recommendations to the BOCC: — Eliminate longevity pay after Sept. 30, 2009. Those already…
Nuclear power coming to Escambia County?
Is Gulf Power planning to build a nuclear power plant in north Escambia County? William Reynolds of NorthEscambia.com thinks its possible. The electric utility has spent over $2.1 million to date to…
Seville Rotary
I spoke last night to the Seville Rotary, Pensacola’s newest Rotary club and the only one that meets in the evenings. The club meets at Seville Quarter on Tuesday and has about…
Notes from Gulf Power Leadership Forum
Last Thursday, Gulf Power held a leadership forum. President/CEO Susan Story presented how her company sees the region. While the most are predicting the U.S. unemployment will bottom out in the last…
Escambia County Community Land Trust
What is it? Who is it? Found a December 2005 Florida Trend article by Charlotte Crane. “In 2003, three businessmen incorporated the Escambia County Community Land Trust to develop housing to help…
Wyche arrested
Perennial candidate John Wyche has been arrested and charged with the misappropriation of almost $480,000 in state funds intended for use by Life Skills Center, a local charter school that was closed…
Pensacola starts curbside recycling June 15
The City’s new curbside recycling program begins next week. Garbage and recyclables will be collected on a once-a-week schedule beginning June 15th. These collections are made on separate days so customers should…
This day in blog history
On June 9, 2008, we reported Buzz: Benz will be interim UWF prez: There is persistent buzz that Dr. Judy Benz will be named the interim president of the University of West…
DIB takes away more free parking
For years, the parking area at the corner of Intendencia and Baylen streets has been free. In fact, it was the last free public parking area within a block of Palafox Street….
Rick’s Blog is on twitter
We’ve had a few readers request a more iPhone compatible feed for the blog, so I’ve added a Twitter account that should help. I’ve added the comments feed, too. http://twitter.com/routzen
MPDP Davison responds to criticism
Scott Davison, the vice president of development for Maritime Park Development Partners, has sent at letter to the CMPA. Davison writes that he did have discussion with City Council members regarding the…
CMP Buzz
The Pensacola City Council approved the Conditions Precedent that are in the Master Lease and Master Development Agreement, which set the lease commencement date as May 29, 2009. Before the Master Development…
Elcano is big hit
The Spanish tall ship, Juan Sebastian Elcano, has been a huge hit. Not only have there been long lines for the free tours, but the downtown restaurants and bars have been packed…
Blues to fly over tonight
As a special salute to the visiting Spanish tall ship, Elcano, the Blue Angels will fly over this afternoon from east to west between 6:40 to 7:10 pm.
Last batch of Valentino emails
I will try to summarize all these emails and give my analysis by Sunday morning. Part 2 pages 1-20 Part 2 pages 21-35 Part 2 pages 36-50 Part 2 pages 51-72
Actual Valentino emails for you to read
I realize it may be frustrating for you to get the emails in a piecemeal fashion. Here is the first batch received as part of the third public record request made by…
Valentino is a murder suspect
My Crackerjack staff found this tidbit in Bella: June 13 Murder Mystery Theater: 6 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at New World Landing. The Escambia Federated Republican Women will present a murder mystery…
County property values drop more than city
I realize I’m trailing the PNJ on releasing this information, but I’ve been working on the Valentino emails. According to County Budget Director Amy Lovoy: “Based on the Property Appraiser’s estimate, the…
GE land was considered as casino site
There is a very brief email from Commissioner Gene Valentino to Cy Keefer dated 12/2/08 in which he mentions GE and Jeff DeWeese: “Cy…FYI… this what I got back from Jeff DeWeese…