MEAN GIRLS HOMES FOR SALE All-female roller derby leagues are digging Look for the Homefinder extra Sunday real in their wheels across the area. LIFE, 1E estate section inside today’s PNJ. SECTION F
SUNDAY’SPENSACOLA Darla “The Cruz Hater” Zeisset March 27, 2011 • Pensacola, FL Florida falls in OT Butler again makes the Final Four with 74-71 win
David Brandt trip to the Final Four in six seasons. Associated Press INSIDE • PAGES 1-3D Florida’s Vernon Macklin scored NEW ORLEANS — Florida had a N Full game story. a career high 25 points. The Gators double-digit lead in the second half, N Preview of today’s games. seemed unstoppable in the paint was dominating in the low post and N UConn topples Arizona. until late in the game when ques- slowly suffocating Butler’s second- tionable shot selection by Boynton straight Final Four run. and Erving Walker contributed to How it all went wrong will haunt outrebounded and then just missed the team’s demise. the Gators for a long, long time. some shots. They just wanted it With the score tied at 60, Walker “I don’t really know what to say,” more, I guess. It’s hard to explain.” missed a long 3-pointer at the end of Patrick Semansky/Associated Press Florida guard Kenny Boynton said, Shelvin Mack scored 27 points, Matt regulation that would have won the Howard added 14 and Butler came Florida’s Chandler Parsons pulls down a rebound his head leaning against his locker game. and a blank stare on his face. “We from behind to beat Florida 74-71 in in front of Butler’s Matt Howard during the first half didn’t get a few loose balls, we were overtime, denying the Gators a third See FLORIDA, 11A Saturday in New Orleans. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Eglin Rebuild reloaded blaze likely arson 5,000 acres burned before fire controlled Erin Kourkounis [email protected] Arson is suspected in a fire that has burned about 5,000 acres of land sur- rounding Eglin Air Force Base since Wednesday, investigators said. Eglin and state Division of Forestry Tony Giberson/[email protected] officials are investigating. Carl Terry of Shutter 2 Think, Inc., installs new metal window panels on the home of Pensacola resident Jim Pennewell Mike Spaits, Eglin’s environmental on Wednesday. The local homeowner is having his home strengthened and hardened against future storms with the public affairs officer, said he could not help of Rebuild Northwest Florida. Formed after Hurricane Ivan, Rebuild has been helping shore up homes since 2005. say whether there are any suspects, citing the ongoing investigation. “We’re very confident arson Nonprofit gets $39 million to harden 5,000 homes started the multiple fires,” Spaits said. Got a tip? Troy Moon hardening, hurricane mitigation program. “Becau se there were a dozen differ- Anyone with [email protected] And over the next two years, there’s Rebuild services ent starts, that tells information about going to be plenty more squealing drills Rebuild Northwest Florida’s The concrete drill squealed loudly, but us there’s somebody how the fires in neighborhoods in Escambia and Santa Robert Reece promised the homeowner the program to harden homes for out there going from started should Rosa counties. work on his shutters would be done that hurricanes includes: place to place start- call the Florida day. Rebuild Northwest Florida, formed after N Roof deck attachment. ing these fires.” Division “It’s annoying,” said Reece, a general Hurricane Ivan hit Northwest Florida in N Secondary roof water Eglin officials said of Forestry at contractor for Rebuild Northwest Florida. 2004 with an original mission to repair barrier. Saturday the fires 547-7083. “And it can be obnoxious for the neigh- damaged homes, recently received $39 mil- N Roof covering. were 100 percent bors.” lion in federal funds to hurricane-harden N Bracing gable ends. contained. But homeowner Jim Pennewell doesn’t between 5,000 and 7,000 homes in Escam- N Reinforcing roof-to-wall “Right now, there are no threats,” think his neighbors will mind. After all, bia and Santa Rosa counties over the next connections. Spaits said. “Significant humidity and it was neighbors who turned him on two years. N Home opening protection. rain in the area today reduced the fire to Rebuild Northwest Florida’s home- See REBUILD, 8A N Exterior door protection. danger down to a very minimal num- ber compared to the dangers we saw (Friday) and Thursday.” TIME-LINE On Thursday, six fires broke out across SEPT. JAN. JULY OCT. 2009 293 acres around the Bob Sikes Airport Residential wind retrofit in Crestview. Fire crews still were on 2004 2005 2005 the scene Saturday. Hurricane Hurricane program named the MARCH 2011 Home state of Florida Rebuild is awarded a “With the changing winds, the Ivan repair Dennis devastates strikes Emergency Management, $39 million grant to Crestview fires started as a small program Frank Reddish Mitigation continue its work. Northwest starts Northwest grass fire and spotted up to a mile Florida Florida Program of the year. away,” Forestry Division spokes- man Joe Zwierzchowski said. “It was 2004 carried by the wind.” 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 While the fires are contained, forestry officials discourage any outdoor burning NOV. 2004 SEPT. 2005 OCT. 2006 DEC. 2007 JULY 2008 MAY 2009 because of dry conditions. Rebuild Home Residential wind Scope of Scope of home Rebuild surpasses its “I don’t see rain coming anytime soon Northwest replacement retrofit program home repair replacement is original goal of retrofitting to eliminate this threat,” Zwierzchowski Florida Inc. starts starts. work is completed 3,000 homes forms completed said. “It’s predicted to be a very active Source: www.rebuildnwf.org Graphic by Ron Stallcup/[email protected] fire season.” Quick Read TO SUBSCRIBE: In Local In the World INSIDE (877) 424-0028 Business DANGEROUS DAY: A pedestrian ELECTION 2012: Four Business ...... 1B A Gannett Paper Copyright 2010 MAKING was killed in Escambia County, the high-profile potential GOP Calendar...... 2A second in two days. Page 1C $1.50 (( WAVES: presidential candidates rallied the Classified ...... 1G Curt Morse’s LOOK AND LEARN: A seagrass Republican faithful on Saturday in Coast Life...... 1E locally made Crossword ...... 2E, 6G Caribiana Sea Skiffs awareness event mixed education Iowa. Page 4A have gained national and entertainment. Page 1C Local ...... 1C MIDEAST PROTESTS: Libyan Lottery ...... 1C attention recently for DELIVERING FOOD, HOPE: their sleek design. Community involvement was the rebels took back a key city from Obituaries ...... 6C Page 1B theme during Saturday’s Teen government forces with help from Opinion ...... 12-13C 0 40901 06331 5 Crime Summit. Page 1C international airstrikes. Page 11A Sports ...... 1D 8A Pensacola News Journal L pnj.com Sunday, March 27, 2011 Page edited by Ed Easton/[email protected] HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Rebuild FROM 1A
The program covers the cost of making a home better able to withstand a hurricane, including the installation of storm shut- ters, hurricane-hardened doors and roof straps. .&' .+1 -)( The organization’s board '''+ / of trustees two weeks ago &1 & hired Garrett Walton, '"+ +1' a longtime P e n s a c o l a |ùù ĒşŒ B|ļä lawyer and `ļê|ù ZŒ|źńÍ business- man who has volunteered w i t h t h e Walton group since its inception, as the full-time CEO at a salary of $90,000 a year. Tony Giberson/[email protected] -,!2 ' ,-! Rebuild has seven other full-time employees and Carl Terry of Shutter 2 Think, Inc. installs new metal window panels on the #! &+ '+ & '"+ /' 01$
home of Pensacola resident James Pennewell to strengthen Pennewell’s home T8éƃƃƃƃŝÄŗŌÄƃ two part-time employ- & /0 ' % ees. Chief Operations against future storms with the help of Rebuild Northwest Florida. Officer Sandi Woodbery made $67,925 in the fiscal year ending in 2009, and About Rebuild Northwest Florida $72,000 in the 2010 fiscal Rebuild Northwest Florida is a Cq VT` .CZ`<< year. nonprofit organization that began in Benefits of Rebuild 2005 in response to Hurricane Ivan the previous year. Rebuild used more F o r h o m e o w n e r s , than 4,660 volunteers to help repair the ZıĪ %ŒĪ Rebuild Northwest Flori- homes of 1,700 families in Santa Rosa s Tùşń `|Ź da is a deal. and Escambia counties damaged by The nonprofit pays ìĄīī Hurricane Ivan. 75 percent of the cost to In October, 2006, Rebuild began its repair work — the original mission make a home better able current wind-mitigation program. Home — was completed in December 2007. to withstand hurricanes, while the homeowner VT`© T < HV .C said. The program is open 497-7024 or reach the organization Code Standards. to homeowners regardless through its website: www.rebuildnwf. N Project must be cost-effective. ¨ómÏ£ 0ݨÏmy of their income, as long org. N Existing structural features as they’re able to pay the Eligibility requirements: or damage must not prevent the 25 percent. N Applicant must occupy a single- completion of the proposed project. AáÉoô !Aá£oô Coupled with homeown- family home and it must be the person’s N A wind-certified engineer must be ×s~~~~ ers’ payments, the grant principal residence. Applicants must willing to certify that the recommended ŷŷŷĪ|ļĤ¼Œă|ļ÷¼ŒĤ¼ĉń|Ēù|ĪĒă means nearly $50 million provide proof of homestead exemption. projects would increase the home’s in improvements to local sß A£ ôö Z -n£ÓA[¨Ab ßä~üØ N The property cannot be a mobile wind-resistance rating. homes. Since Rebuild North- west Florida transitioned Who runs Rebuild? from repairing homes to HC%.C`.< TTV hardening homes in 2008, The management team about 5,000 homes in the Z+V.C& Vt<.C& two counties have under- N Garrett Walton, chief N Sandra Woodbery, N William Merrill, gone hurricane-mitiga- executive officer. chief operations officer. structural engineer. tion work. HC V.&+`Ī HC Z.`Ī To qualify for the grant The board of trustees includes Z¼şļêŒźéù¼|ļ¼® Ĥ¼ļńĒĉĉ¼ù money, Rebuild North- Ïù¼¼Œ ĒÏ ăĒļ¼ Œä|ĉ ĜĜ Œļş÷ń ń¼ļŶêĉÖ west Florida had to com- N Carolyn Appleyard, N Janice Kilgore, Navy N Megan Pratt, CĪ %ùĒļê®| ZĪ &¼ĒļÖê| mit to hardening at least the Appleyard Agency, an Federal Credit Union. Pensacola City Council 5,000 homes over the next advertising agency. N LuTimothy May, member. Zä¼®şù¼® Ēļ |ùùéêĉ ń¼ļŶê¼ń |Ŷ|êù|ù¼ Ç two years, Walton said. N Alexis Bolin, ERA University of West Florida. N Robin Punyko, Gulf ļ¼|®ź ŷä¼ĉ źĒş |ļ¼ The federal grant money Realty. N Jean Norman, former Power Co. %ļ¼¼ ¼ńŒêă|Œ¼ń is distributed through N Ed Gray, Gulf chief of United Way. N Buzz Ritchie, CEO <Ē|ùùź Ēŷĉ¼® ĒĤ¼ļ|Œ¼® ńêĉ¼ ĜĎĎō the Florida Division of Breeze Financial Services. N David Peaden, of Gulf Coast Community Emergency Management. N Ryan Greenhut, executive director Bank. The money originally was Greenhut Construction Co. of Home Builders N Derek Whidden, slated for drainage proj- N Mike Hill, State Farm Association of West Escambia County Sheriff’s ects and other approved Insurance agent. Florida. Office. federal projects across Florida but went unused for a variety of reasons, 60 subcontractors, includ- major goals of the new shutters, a new garage Walton said. ing roofers, carpenters home-hardening initia- door, a solid steel door “There’s still a pile of and installers, working tive is to start “outreach” and strengthened the money left over from Hur- on Rebuild projects. to let homeowners know home’s gables. ōŝōéĎŝÔŝ ricane Ivan and other At Pennewell’s home about the mitigation pro- Jennings paid about hurricanes,” Walton said. off Spanish Trail Road gram. $2,500 on $10,000 worth ŷŷŷĪńäļ¼®êŒĪĒă “And Rebuild has become last week, Reece had five Rebuild officials plan to of work. accomplished and adept subcontractors installing talk with major employers “It’s a great deal,” said at getting in line for that shutters. in the area to sell them Jennings, a financial money. They told us they “Rebuild is helping put on the program for their adviser. “And I’m happy had enough money for us a lot of people to work,” employees, he said. with the work they did.” to harden thousands more Reece said. “And for “We’ve never really had Paul Keywood, 31, paid homes, but we would have homeowners, it’s the to do outreach to find $1,500 to have $6,000 to ramp up our produc- greatest deal going.” homeowners interested worth of work done on his tion rate. We made them Walton said the addi- in the program,” he said. home off Michigan Avenue. a deal. Give us the money tion of two new general “And we’ve never had to He also heard about the and we can do 50 houses contractors to the Rebuild really tell the world what program from neighbors. a week.” team — Emerald Coast we’re doing and what a “My neighbor recom- Constructors Inc. and deal it is.” mended it to me, and I More construction jobs Toothman Construction That’s because neigh- recommend it to any- The grant money also Co., both of Pensacola — bors have sold the pro- one who can afford the means jobs and income in will ensure that the group gram for them. 25 percent,” said Keywood, Northwest Florida. is not overwhelmed. Just like Pennewell, an IT representative for a R e b u i l d N o r t h w e s t Rebuild went through a Thomas Jennings of the local credit union. “I prob- Florida uses three con- formal process in Novem- Seville Historic District ably wouldn’t have had tractors as project man- ber to hire contractors to contacted Rebuild to have the work done if I had to agers, though two of the manage mitigation con- work done on his home pay the full amount.” local contractors have struction. Twelve firms after talking to a friend Now, Rebuild is look- only recently joined the responded, and a Rebuild who had the work done. ing for more homeowners Rebuild team. committee evaluated Jennings, 61, signed wanting to harden their The third, R.E. Reece them using various cri- up for the program and homes against storms. P.A., has been working teria — references, scope four months ago work The hurricane season with Rebuild since 2006 of work, qualifications of crews installed hurricane begins June 1. and has managed all of personnel and budget. Rebuild’s previous home- E r i c T o o t h m a n o f hardening projects. Toothman Construction According to Rebuild’s said he plans to have 12 latest publicly avail- to 15 people work on each able Internal Revenue project. Service filing, Rebuild “This program is putting paid Reece’s company people to work, and it’s $10.2 million for work great for the homeown- from Oct. 1, 2008, to Sept. ers,” Toothman said. “It’s 30, 2009. That money a win-win for everyone. includes construction We’re excited, because materials and payroll. in this economy, work’s At times, Reece said, been a little slow in the up to 125 subcontrac- Panhandle. We are fixing tors were working on to get started (on Rebuild various Rebuild proj- homes) next week. We ects. Now, with three can’t wait.” contractors managing various Rebuild proj- Getting the word out ects, Reece has about Walton said one of his Aŋ²l 2¬ÕÄíđÕÊ Ìĝ ÷ "²Êy !²¼y /ÕAlg 0Ľ²ħy ÔĪŔŔ -yÊđA\Õ¼Ag ĪĵÝ Ŕ¯Ì¯ŔŔĵ