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 beating a juvenile girl on video to…
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 assume control of $5.5 million in tourism…
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 Valentino (district2@co.escambia.fl.us); Wilson Robertson (district1@co.escambia.fl.us); Grover Robinson…
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 the surplus in bed tax dollars for…
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, head of Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc…
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 given documents or only a PowerPoint presentation?
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 in tourism taxes to the new group….
Judge approves Conoco contamination settlement, value $9.5 million
Following a hearing on September 4, 2013, an Escambia County Circuit Court has granted final approval of a class settlement and certification of a settlement class of property owners affected by the…
Clarification: Visit Pensacola was incorporated Aug. 23
Visit Pensacola was incorporated on 8/26/13. Ron Ellington is listed as the president and its principal office as Innsfree address. They are using the PSA as a “fiscal agent” or financial conduit…
Time to call bulls#$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 what appeared to be the Greater Pensacola…
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. The new group isn’t incorporated so the…
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 Pensacola area. Today, NFL player Terrill Thomas…
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 Jim Hizer. The judge did give the…
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 on the firefighters and police officers who…
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 non-profit. Ron Ellington, spokesman for a hotel…
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 employee in the final budget package. The…
Gulf Coast African-American Chamber concerned over tourism plan
Admiral LeRoy, Jr., the executive director of the Gulf Coast African-American Chamber, has sent a letter to Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino over concerns that his organization hasn’t been included in…
Reds to play 2014 exhibition game vs. Wahoos
Pensacola will be dipping its toe into the frenzied waters of professional baseball a little earlier next year as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos host their parent Major League team, the Cincinnati Reds,…
Work Release tales
We’ve gotten several phone calls from people who have been enrolled in the Escambia County Work Release program. The lack of supervision and no follow-up on the actual jobs are the themes…
Firefighters say protest is over safety
By Jesse Farthing Local firefighters are picketing outside Pensacola International Airport in protest of a money-saving proposal by the city that will reduce the number of on-site firefighters at the airport from…