The high schools are under tight security after the slaying of high school student Daryl Williams, 15, was fatally shot Saturday night during an altercation in the Burger King parking lot on…
Category: News
Notes: Pensacola Committee of the Whole
Yesterday the Pensacola City Council met as the Committee of the Whole and its individual committees. Here are our notes on the meeting: All city council and committee members were present. The…
Roads awarded county business without bids
In 2006, the Escambia County Board of Commissioners approved staff recommendations that awarded Roads, Inc. $3,578,380.16 in paving and drainage work without bids. Road, Inc., like other contractors, offered a general price…
Building green
The Mobile Press Register reports that builders there are building more environmentally friendly homes and offices. Building green is the new buzz word, said Mark Swanson, president of the Home Builders Association…
Ricks Blog: Most Influential Political Blog
Once again, this blog has been ranked the Most Influential Political Blog in Florida by Blognetnews.com. This is truly a surprise. Last month we established more defined rules for commentary on this…
How to behave on PNJ forum
How To Behave On PNJ Forum
Sheriff concerned about Bubbas July 07
Through our record requests, we received a copy of letter from ECSO legal advisor, Darlene Dickey, to asst. county attorney Ryan Ross regarding “Law Enforcement Authority of Code Enforcement Officers.” It is…
Bubbas disarmed and de-lighted
On Feb. 19, two days before the county commission voted to pay for the legal defense of its code enforcement officers, County Administrator Bob McLauglin sent a memo to Charlie Walker, head…
Bubbas on Patrol cases
Through a public record request, we received copies of the lawsuits against county code enforcement and the Sheriff Ron McNesby. There are common threads. Both cases involved Saufley Landfill, construction debris haulers,…
City insisted Fire Captains get 10 percent
At meeting today with Fire union members, we were told that the union sought an 8 percent across-the-board raise for all ranks during the negotiations on the recently approved bargaining agreement. However,…
Roads Inc paid $12.3 million
As per a public request, we have found that Roads, Inc has been paid $12,352,346.36 this decade for work for Escambia County. FY 2001 $586,588.99 FY 2002 $600,261.71 FY 2003 $692,557.91 FY…
What’s wrong with Escambia County
Last night’s county commission meeting is the perfect example. A contractor – who has made hundreds of thousands from the county in the Hurricane Ivan clean-up and who employs the former county…
County code enforcement
The 2007-08 budget for code enforcement is $2,454,000. It’s funded by fines and fees ($1,654,000), General Fund ($300,000) and Solid Waste ($500,000). Two years ago the budget was $1,296,349. Hmmmmm – budget…
Roads Inc catfish pond
Last night the Escambia County Commission revoked the stormwater permit for a pit that Roads, Inc has claimed for two years was a catfish pond. According to the PNJ article, Roads Inc….
Presidential Politics
On IN Your Head Radio, two of top political writers in the South: Jackson Baker (Memphis Flyer) and Max Brantley (Arkansas Times). Listen online from 1-2 p.m. newsradio1620.com
Notes on Council fire vote
The Pensacola City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 707. Councilman Mike Wiggins was absent from the meeting. Councilwoman Jewel Cannda-Wynn…
State still pursues Allstate
From Orlando Sentinel: Insurance regulators on Tuesday filed a complaint seeking to suspend Allstate’s authority to write new insurance policies in Florida in response to what they said was the company’s continued…
Okaloosa counts on military to weather recession
The Daily News reports a study released by Enterprise Florida concluded that military spending remains one of the state’s leading growth industries. It’s particularly valuable to Northwest Florida, where defense-related spending accounts…
Pace Award winners
Emerging Leader Of The Year was given to Mike Hicks – CEO of Hixardt Technologies Business Leader Of The Year was given to Keith Gregory – Cox Communications Professional Leader Of The…
Council passes fire agreement, 9-0
Everybody approved it. Mike Wiggins was absent. So much for cutting the city budget.