Escambia Jail To Be Rebuilt At Current Location
November 13, 2015
The new Escambia County Jail will be built at or near the site of the current jail — not at any of three prospective sites that were under consideration.
Following the April 2014 flooding and explosion at the jail, the county developed a list of potential new jail locations, including locations in Cantonment and Molino. That list was cut to three sites, one of which was set to be chosen at a special meeting Thursday night.
Those sites were at Palafox Street and Airport Boulevard, an area near Brent Lane and Palafox and an area known as the Midtown Commerce site, a former Superfund site. The Airport Boulevard and Brent Lane sites were both near schools.
But after listening to speakers against the new locations, most calling for the jail to be rebuilt at its current location, the commission reversed course on the three sites. Numerous people spoke out against the three proposed sites, while several bail bondsmen said moving the jail would destroy their businesses.
After the public comments, Commissioner Luman May made a motion to rebuild the jail at its current location.
Commissioner Grover Robinson said the current jail site will not work for the larger complex envisioned for the new jail; instead it would required more vertical, multi-story construction. Plus, he said, flooding issues exist at the location. In the long run, he said it will cost Escambia County residents.
Robinson cast the lone dissenting vote against keeping the jail at its current location.
Pictured: The Central Booking and Detention Center was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30. 2014. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bought A New Vehicle Recently? Police Say Check For This
November 13, 2015
Have you bought a new vehicle lately? Did you check the owner’s manual for a valet key?
Pensacola Police said if not, please do, and if it’s in there, you might want to consider removing it from the vehicle to inside your residence.
The reason: Vehicle burglars have learned a valet key often is placed in the owner’s manual on newer model cars. If they can get the key, they can steal the vehicle.
Detective Darlene Loftin said over the past few months, she has investigated several vehicle thefts where the valet key was removed from the owner’s manual and used to steal a vehicle.
“We’ll go to a scene and while looking around find the owner’s manual on the ground away from the vehicle,” Loftin said. “That’s because the burglar was looking for the key and didn’t find it…so they threw the book down.”
Or, if the vehicle is missing, they used the key to drive away.
Finally Some Fall Weather: Comfortable Days, Cold Nights
November 13, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Molino Park Elementary Students Participate In All County Chorus
November 13, 2015
The Escambia County School District All County Chorus performed earlier this week at the Saenger Theater in Pensacola. Participants from Molino Park Elementary School included were (pictured L-R) fifth graders Shelby Lashley, Aaron Adams and Alyssa Jackson. Also pictured is Katherine Powell, Molino Park music teacher. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Students Participate In All County Chorus
Florida Worker’s Comp Rates Reduced
November 13, 2015
Florida employers will see overall workers-compensation insurance rates drop 4.7 percent as of January. 1, according to an order issued Thursday by the state Office of Insurance Regulation.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance, while files proposed rates each year for insurers, initially called for a 1.9 percent decrease. The Office of Insurance Regulation rejected that proposal and said overall rates should go down 5.1 percent. But at the request of the organization known as NCCI, regulators looked again at some factors used in setting rates. That led to Thursday’s order for the 4.7 percent decrease in 2016.
Ransom Academic Teams Compete; One Headed To Nationals
November 13, 2015
Three Ransom Middle School academic teams competed recently in Tallahassee, with one team walking away qualified to move on to the national level.
Ransom Middle School academic teams participated in the Second Annual Fairview Egghead Tournament Tallahassee. There were 10 intense rounds, as they competed against 28 middle school teams from North Florida and South Georgia.
The matches in the tournament paired opposing teams and challenged them to work together to answer complex academic questions.
Clarissa Brown and Lucinda Bateman coached the teams for Ransom Middle and explained that the tournament questions are much more than quick “trivia” questions.
“They have a ‘pyramidal’ structure, where the questions begin with more difficult clues, slowly progressing to more familiar information. It rewards the more knowledgeable students for their ability to answer with less and more difficult, high level information,” Brown said.
Members of the teams were:
Ransom Team A – Captain Elizabeth McConnell, Braden Boutwell, Maggie Brown and Chris Espy
Ransom Team B - Captain Ravyn Brown, Jordan Hay, and Tristin Kayworth
Ransom Team C – Co-Captain Sarah Stringer, Co-Captain Tia Sweet, Natalie Holt, and Tristan Espy
Ransom’s Team A finished third overall and qualified for the 2016 Middle School National Championship Tournament, which will be held the weekend of May 6–8, 2016, in Atlanta.
“Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth, Braden, Maggie and Chris, along with the rest of the teams for their outstanding effort and enthusiasm,” Ransom Principal Brent Brummet said. “We are so proud of how well they represented Ransom Middle School and Escambia County.”
Pictured top: Ransom Academic Team members (front, L-R) Elizabeth McConnell, Tristin Kayworth, Tristan Espy, (middle row) Natalie Holt, Tia Sweet, Maggie Brown, Jordan Hay, (back) Chris Espy, Braden Boutwell, Sarah Stringer, Ravyn Brown and Coach Clarissa Brown. Pictured below: Ransom’s Team A in action. Submitted photos for NorthEscabia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Travels To Navarre In Region 1-6A Quarterfinal
November 13, 2015
The Tate Aggies are on the road tonight against the Navarre Raiders in the first round of the playoffs.
The Raiders are 10-0, while the Aggies are 7-2 headed into the Region 1-6A quarterfinals.
Navarre is coming off the first perfect season in school history, while Tate ended a four-game winning streak with a 47-28 loss to Pine Forest. Tate’s other loss of the year came against Niceville.
It’s been 35 years…since 1980 when Carl Madison’s Aggies won state…since Tate has won a district championship.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies ended their regular season with loss to Pine Forest.
Northview Chiefs Look For Playoff Win On The Road Against Vernon
November 13, 2015
For the third time in three years, the Northview Chiefs will face the Vernon Yellow Jackets in the playoffs tonight.
In 2013, the defending state 1A champion Northview Chiefs were 3-7 when they advanced in the first round of the playoffs with a 22-19 win on the road over a district champion Vernon team.
The story was different in 2014 when the Yellow Jackets beat the Chiefs 36-19 in the Region 1-1A football semifinal to end the Chiefs’ playoff hopes.
Tonight the District 1-1A runner-up Chiefs (2-7) are on the road looking to setting a score with Vernon. The Yellow Jackets (8-2) are District 2-1A champs under the leadership of head coach Willie Spears, former head coach of the Escambia Gators.
The winner of tonight’s Northview at Vernon game will face the winner of tonight’s Baker-Graceville game in the Region 1-1A finals next Friday night.
Pictured top: Northview beat Vernon during the 2013 playoffs. Pictured below: Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley and his Chiefs celebrate the 2013 win. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension To Offer Wildlife And Winter Forage Workshop
November 13, 2015
The UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension will be offering a wildlife and winter forage workshop for both youth and adults interested in learning more about livestock in the local community.
The free event will take place this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Outdoor Education Facilities (5681 Chalker Road, Molino). Activities will include soil testing and preparation, plot planting and a variety of techniques that can be used to extend the grazing season or attract wildlife.
All are welcomed to this no-cost event. To register or for more information, call (850) 475-5230 or email Libbie Johnson at libbiej@ufl.edu or Hank Bignell at hdbignell@ufl.edu
Judy Annette McDonald
November 13, 2015
Judy Annette McDonald was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Judy was born February 26, 1949, to W.T. (Bud) Shehan and the late Betty Jean McDonald. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Cecil and Elizabeth (Bessie) McDonald. Judy is preceded in death by one very special uncle, Billy McDonald and her twin sons, Christopher and Chandler Petty.
Judy is survived by her daughter and best friend, Lynn Petty McGhee and daughter by heart, Necole Rolin; one extra special grandson, Malcolm Troy McGhee, Jr. (TJ) and granddaughter by heart, Laura Marie Sells; two great-grandsons by heart, Keaton Lee Sells and Brylynn Lane Smedley. She is also survived by one sister, Rebecca Shehan Rolin (Doug) and one sister by heart, Ginger Troutman Caraway (Terry). Judy is survived by special niece and nephew, Teresa and Wayne Garrettson; and special great-nephew, Josiah Carter; very special friends, June, Jodie and Woodie. She also leaves behind her most precious puppy girl, Trudi J McDonald and the newest addition to our family, Sissy Pup. Judy will always be remembered for the exceptional mother, grandmother and friend she was. She will most certainly be missed. She loved and was loved by so many, too numerous to name, but each and every one of you know who you are. God bless you all.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. J.T. Guyton officiating.
Burial will follow at the Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.