It’s official. UWF Argos will play football at Maritime Park in 2016
Collier Merrill is making his last CMPA board meeting a huge one. After weeks of negotiations, University of West Florida President Dr. Judy Bense announced…
TDC approves Visit Pensacola governance. Others are not as positive
Last night, the Escambia County Tourism Development Council met to hear from Ron Ellington about Visit Pensacola, the new entity that has been proposed to…
Visit Pensacola bylaws ensure lodging industry control
Tale of Two Bylaws Ron Ellington drafted on July 10 a set of bylaws for Visit Pensacola that he shared with the Greater Pensacola Chamber…
Congressman uses campaign funds to maintain home
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting is reporting that Congressman Steve Southerland (R-Panama City) used campaign funds to improve and maintain a Panama City home he…
Man allegedly beats juvenile to song Blurred Lines
This is another one for our “News of the Weird” column. NorthEscambia.com is reporting a Molino man is facing multiple child abuse charges after allegedly…
Visit Pensacola tabled until next week
The hoteliers delivered yesterday the bylaw, transition plan with the chamber and business plan for Visit Pensacola, the new “independent” corporation that they want to…
Ellington had plenty of time to give BCC and public more details (draft Visit Pensacola bylaws)
Ellington’s history with the tourism budget goes back beyond the last few weeks: From: Ron Ellington Sent: Monday, July 08, 2013 7:53 PM To: Gene…
Buzz: ACE requests to make presentation
There really are two tourism issues facing the Escambia Board of County Commissioners: the governance and control of $5.5 million in bed tax dollars and…
Lobbyist tried to dictate who would represent the arts community on new tourism board
Ron Ellington, paid lobbyist for the hotel industry, apparently has his Visit Pensacola board chosen to run tourism for Escambia County. According to David Bear,…
Buzz: Visit Pensacola added to next TDC agenda
Just got a phone call. Visit Pensacola has been added to the Sept. 17 meeting of the Escambia County Tourism Council. Will the TDC be…
The role of TDC in the decision to give $5.5 million to Visit Pensacola
Ron Ellington, his hoteliers and the Escambia County Commission are jumping over a very important step in their rush to give control of $5.5 million…
Judge approves Conoco contamination settlement, value $9.5 million
Following a hearing on September 4, 2013, an Escambia County Circuit Court has granted final approval of a class settlement and certification of a settlement…
Clarification: Visit Pensacola was incorporated Aug. 23
Visit Pensacola was incorporated on 8/26/13. Ron Ellington is listed as the president and its principal office as Innsfree address. They are using the PSA…
Time to call bulls#$t
Ron Ellington made several commitments to use local marketing firms and talent for his new group’s tourism efforts. The requests by the commissioners came from…
Smoke, Mirrors and PowerPoint presentation get $5.5 million from county
Yesterday, the Escambia County Commission approved giving an new group, called Visit Pensacola, $5.5 million in bed tax dollars to run tourism for the county….
NY Giant talks about his rehab in Pensacola
Maybe the Escambia County Commission should contribute bed tax dollars to the Andrews Institute for all the publicity Dr. Andrews and his patients give the…
Buzz: Chamber lawsuit dismissed
This morning, Judge Boles dismissed the lawsuits by the former CFO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Brian McBroom, against the chamber and its former CEO…
ContextFlorida: Dishonoring the Fallen
My latest column: “When the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City comes around, my thoughts are…
Double standard for tourism
Any organization that comes from the Escambia County Commission for funds has had to show that they are viable corporation, especially if they are a…
Buzz: County pay raise in final 2014 budget
At last night’s budget meeting, Interim County Administrator George Touart told the Escambia County Commission that he would include a three-percent raise for every county…
