$48 Million In Construction Projects Planned; Improvements At Every Escambia School
February 3, 2012
Over$48 million in construction projects are planned for the Escambia County School District. Major rebuild projects are planned for Ernest Ward Middle School and A.K. Suter Elementary.
(Click here to read more about the Ernest Ward $16.5 million project.)
Another $5 million is sales tax funding is expected to be allocated for construction and improvement projects at every other school in the district.
Projects planned for North Escambia area schools include:
- Bratt Elementary will receive $75,000 for general renovations to include casework in classrooms (bookshelves and cabinets)
- Jim Allen Elementary will receive $100,000 for general renovations including the replacement of windows in the cafeteria
- Molino Park Elementary will receive $100,000 for sitework, including a 6-foot wide asphalt walking trail
- Ernest Ward Middle will be rebuilt for $16,500,000.
- Ransom Middle School will receive $90,000 for general renovations including updated video and audio for the cafeteria stage
- Northview High School will receive $100,000 for new construction to include a storage facility
- Tate High School will receive $100,000 for general renovations to include the old gym
- West Florida High School will receive $100,000 for sitework, including additional paved parking
All of the projects are subject to approval by the Escambia County School Board. That approval is expected to come in late February.
Rain Chances All Weekend
February 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Pro Ball’s Travis Fryman: Putting Away The Childish Things
February 3, 2012
Travis Fyman appeared to be sitting on top of the world. He has just played in his first American League All-Star Game. He had just met and had his picture taken with the president of the United States. The big money was rolling in for the small town boy in the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers.
“If you met me in 1994, you’d say that this guy is living his dreams,” Fryman told a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Thursday morning before class at Northview High School. “My life and career at that point in my life were better than my dreams as a kid.”
But appearances can be deceiving and it took Fryman a little more to realize what was wrong amidst all that seemed so right.
As for the picture of him with President George H.W. Bush, that problem was pretty obvious when the glossy photo arrived in the mail. After the All-Star Game, the Secret Service had swept the locker room quickly before President Bush visited and posed for a photo with each player.
“I was in my underwear shaking hands with the president of the United States,” Fryman said, evoking a chuckle from the Northview students. “In all of the excitement, I had forgotten to get dressed.”
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Matthew 16:26
But there was something much more wrong than the President Bush photo with Fryman’s life.
“I was completely miserable and lost in my life,” he said. “I didn’t enjoy playing baseball; I was never satisfied.”
After watching his parents divorce as a teen, one of Fryman’s top goals in life was a happy marriage. That too was falling apart.
Fryman knew his wife was attending a Bible study group with other baseball wives. What he did not know right away was that she gave her life to Jesus in the parking lot of the Detroit Tigers stadium in 1994, right before major league baseball went on strike and ended the season without a World Series.
“…When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Cor 13:11
Fryman, who now lives in Molino, knew something was just not right in his life. He and wife Kathleen began going to his childhood church, Olive Baptist in Pensacola. On February 25, 1995, he knew what was missing.
“I took my wife by her hand, and we walked down to the front of the church,” he said. “Boy that was a long walk.”
When asked by the pastor why he had come forward, Fryman said, “I’m ready to put away childish things and become the man God wants me to be.”
It turned out, however, that there were still realizations to come for Fryman.
The first game of the 1995 season was against the Seattle Mariners in the King Dome. The normally strong hitter had struck out three times. He was up to bat a fourth time. “The drunks over third base were taunting me, pushing for a fourth strike out.” A bad hit and the old Travis Fryman reared its ugly head and he cursed and threw his helmet with enough force to shatter it.
Back at the hotel after perhaps his worst-ever pro game, Fryman unlocked the door with his key card and slipped inside. It was about to be that real life changing moment.
“I fell on my face, and I cried like a baby,” he said. “God, I don’t want to live my life this way.”
“Jesus requires everything from us because he gave everything,” Fryman, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Indians, told the Northview FCA members. “You can have a lot of fun in this life but you never know joy until you know God.”
Pictured: Travis Fryman addresses the Northview High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes before school began Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputy Sentenced To Jail Time
February 3, 2012
An Escambia County deputy was sentenced to jail time Thursday.
Deputy Zachary McArthur was convicted last month of misdemeanor battery after originally being charged with felony battery. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and one year probation.
If he successfully completes his sentence, his record will be cleared. McArthur remains on unpaid leave from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as they continue an internal investigation.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, McArthur battered Justin Johnson while he was being detained at the jail. As a result of the incident Johnson received 11 stitches for an injury to his face. The entire incident was captured on video.
Tate High Drama Dept. Presents “Smile” Saturday Night
February 3, 2012
The Tate High School Drama Department will present the musical “Smile” and Saturday evening in their cafetorium at 7:00.
Ticket prices are $10 for reserved sections and $7 for general admission. The musical, written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman, tells of the onstage and offstage activities surrounding the California Young American Miss Pageant in 1985.
Woman Charged With Hitting Ex-boyfriend With Car
February 3, 2012
An Escambia County woman who allegedly struck her ex-boyfriend with her car in early January was arrested Thursday afternoon.
Shana Hills, 26, was taken into custody without incident at her residence by the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Hills is accused of driving onto the shoulder of the road and striking her ex-boyfriend as he was walking north on Palafox Street on January 9. The victim was thrown on top of the hood of the car Hills was driving and then fell off slamming his head onto the pavement, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was taken to a local hospital in serious condition.
Investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest on January 24 and looked for her ever since on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Hills was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Photos: Career Night
February 3, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School held a Career Night Thursday evening to give parents, students and community members the chance to learn more about career and educational opportunities available in the area.
From attorney to EMT, from interior designer to electrical lineman, attendees were able to learn about a variety of career fields. School representatives — including Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate and George Stone, were on hand to provide more information about career academies, middle and high school academic programs and extracurricular activities.
Pictured top: Tim Hawsey from the First Baptist Church of Bratt explains “minister of music” as a career choice. Pictured inset: Chefs demonstrate cake decorating at Ernest Ward Middle School’s Career Night Thursday evening at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chief Houston Lee McGhee
February 3, 2012
Chief Houston Lee McGhee, age 74 of Atmore, died Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at his residence. He was maintenance supervisor with Poarch Creek Indians, born in Escambia County (Ala.) on March 17, 1937, to the late Chief Calvin William and Joyce Ingram McGhee.
He was preceded in death by three brothers – Roy L. McGhee, Curtis E. McGhee and J. Frank McGhee.
He is survived by his wife, Margie L. Brown McGhee; three daughters, Jacqueline L. Hadley, Valerie L. McGhee and husband Nicky, Beverly A. Holcomb and husband Nathan, all of Atmore; one brother, Dewey L. McGhee and wife Olivette, of Atmore; six grandchildren, Valisa L. Hadley, John Houston Chance and wife Ashley, Robert Shane Hadley, Kelley Danielle Presley and husband Matt, John English and wife Magen, Jessica Martin and husband Dusty; seven great-grandchildren, Nenaeh Hadley, Hunter Chance, Colby and Cara English, Makenzie, Layton and Kaison Martin.
Services will be Saturday, February 4, 2012, at 2 p.m. from Atmore Memorial Chapel with Rev. Robert Thrower officiating. Internment will follow in New Home Cemetery at Poarch.
Family will receive friends Friday evening February 3, at Atmore Memorial Chapel from 6 – 9 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Attempts Begin, Again, To Tax Internet Sales In Florida
February 3, 2012
Bills to tax Internet companies doing business in Florida resumed their treks on Thursday as separate measures began to move in the Senate.
The Senate Finance and Tax Committee approved the introduction of a proposed committee bill, HB 7206, which would set up a mechanism to begin collecting sales tax from out-of-state, online vendors that do not currently pay state sales tax. Sales tax collections would be returned to taxpayers by way of sales tax holidays or other routes.
“I have shopping centers that are half empty,” said Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami. “We’re not talking about mom and pops, we’re talking about all kinds of large box stores.”
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee approved a similar bill, SB 1514, on a 5-1 vote later Thursday. That measure, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert, does not earmark tax collections, which would instead revert to the state’s general revenue fund. That provision may be too heavy a load, said Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami. who was the sole vote against adopting the bill as a committee substitute.
“The leadership in both the Senate and House has said that if this bill passes, they want to have a bill that would equal the reduced revenue, because this bill is going to increase revenue,” Flores said. “So if it’s increasing revenue, in my opinion it’s still a tax, and I just don’t think that’s the way we need to be going this year.”
States around the country are grappling with how to glean tax revenue from Internet companies, which have sought protection under the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause. Several lawsuits are pending.
By The News Service of Florida
Marie “Minerva” Burnette-Watson
February 3, 2012
Marie “Minerva” Burnette-Watson, age 86, of Chicago, went to heaven peacefully with family by her side Saturday, January 28, 2012 at University of Chicago Hospital.
Known by her church family as “Mother Watson” she was a member of New Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago and Gayles Memorial Baptist Church in Aurora, IL where she lived for many years. She was a dedicated member of the Mothers’ Board at both churches. She was also a State of Illinois certified and licensed Foster Parent who opened her heart and home to many children on a long and short term bases.
Minerva was born October 10, 1925 in Molino, FL and is preceded in death by parents, Dollan and George Burnette; husband, Henry Lee Watson of Chicago; and twelve sisters and brothers: Dorothy Weaden, Cleo Lovely, Hattie Pearl Burnette, R D Burnette, Lee Raniel Burnette, Otis Burnette, Elmer Burnette, Marion Burnette, Major Burnette, William Burnette, Nathaniel Burnette, and Jimmie Burnette. She is also preceded in death by two children, Mamie L. Taylor, and her only son, Bobby G. Burnette.
She leaves to mourn, sisters, Annie Ruth Smith (Pensacola) and Wilmer Althea Burnette (New York); as well as five daughters, Lillie P. Lindsey, Rathel (Ralph) Walker, Dorothy (Melvin) Davis-Caldwell, Jean Preston and Wanda (Frank) Askew-Tatem. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life Service and Internment at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012 at New Hope Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery, 5639 Highway 95A, Molino, FL.
Services are being handled by Joe Morris and Son Funeral Home.