Category: Escambia County
BP Hot Line: What to expect
I called last night the BP Hot Line for oil spill claims ( 1-800-440-0858). Got a call center and was told that I had to…
Sheriff Bill Davis – King of Dirty Politics
Escambia County has a history of crooked, dirty politics. While people like to point to W.D. Childers as the “grandfather” of such dealings, the king…
Questions for Touart
1. Who else was at the breakfast table when Mark Clabaugh talked about going to the Sindel home? How often do you dine with him?…
Touart spin machine kicks in
Commissioner candidate George Touart has a problem….a huge problem. He is running his campaign on a theme of being the most ethical person to ever…
Dirty Tricks Ops: part of Escambia politics
“Bubba-Gate” –Mark Clabaugh’s alleged attempted burglary of Karen Sindel’s home– isn’t the first dirty tricks operation for a political campaign in Escambia County. Clabaugh is…
Pending Crist decision dominating state papers
My sources in Tallahassee have gone silent on whether Gov. Charlie Crist will drop out of the Republican primary and run as an Independent. He…
Buzz: Perkins may have opponent
Dale Perkins was first elected to the Emerald Coast Utility Authority in 1994. He is seeking his fifth term. When he first ran the utility…
Valentino framed…or so it goes
Valentino supporters are alleging that the commissioner’s political opponent, George Touart, is behind the grand jury investigation of Gene Valentino’s campaign fundraising. They point to…
No criminal charges against Consolidation Commission
The State Attorney has issued a report that his office will not pursue criminal charges against the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission. The State Attorney’s…
Buzz: Pace High will have two graduations
There is a group in Pace that is quietly organizing a separate high school graduation for the Class of 2010 from Pace High School. It…
Buzz: Escambia County Safety Bureau Chief resigns
We have heard that Frank Edwards, the chief of the Public Safety Bureau, has submitted his letter of resignation. The troubles in the county’s fire…
Memos on Fire Marshall resignation, transfer
We have, through our public records request, the March 29 memo from interim County Administrator Larry Newsom to Frank Edwards, public safety bureau chief. Newsom…
County Fire Marshall transferred (updated)
Escambia County remains “Bubba-ville USA.” WEAR TV 3 reports that last week Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom asked for the voluntary resignation of Stephen Rinaldi,…
Arts Council of Northwest Florida charged
State Attorney Bill Eddins has announced that his office has determined that criminal charges are appropriate regarding the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. The non-profit…
Ibuprofen suspension rescinded
Last month we reported on Washington High School valedictorian Christa Childers being suspended for five days because Ibuprofen was found in her backpack ( No…
Buzz: Early polls on county commission races
Over the weekend, I heard about two polls that have been conducted on the Escambia County Commission races. The rumor is former county administrator George…
SAO reports to be issued soon
Spoke with assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille yesterday on his investigations into the Arts Council of Northwest Florida and Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino. Marcille…
McNesby overcharged FEMA for Ivan (DHS letter)
While doing research on another project, I came across this April 30, 2009 letter from the regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on…
Lister allegedly stole over $1.43 million (updated)
Former Escambia County Sheriff’s Office employee Cathy Lister has stolen $1.43 million in her role in the ECSO finance department from the period of June…
ECUA continues to attack EWG
While the community is seeking more unfiltered information on its drinking water, ECUA officials continue to attack the Environmental Working Group, which published last December…
