Bright Futures Expansion Ready For Summer
May 4, 2018
For the first time in 17 years, top-performing students will be able to use their Bright Futures scholarships to attend summer classes at state universities and colleges.
The state Department of Education sent out a memorandum this week to financial-aid offices at the schools outlining how the merit-based scholarships can be used in summer semesters this year.
Under a new law and the current state budget, the summer scholarships will be limited to 44,456 students who qualify as “academic scholars,” the highest achievement level in the Bright Futures program. The scholarships pay full tuition and fees for the qualifying students.
In the memorandum, Levis Hughes, head of the Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance, said in addition to students already enrolled in universities and colleges, the summer scholarships can also be used by new high-school graduates if they have qualified for the award.
“OSFA (the Office of Student Financial Assistance) will be notifying all 2018 high school graduates eligible for (awards) about the availability of funding for the 2018 summer,” Hughes wrote. “Students will be informed that funding is only available if their postsecondary institution allows them to enroll as a degree-seeking student during the summer.”
This will mark the first use of Bright Futures scholarships for summer classes since 2001. The scholarship program, which began in 1997, is primarily funded by proceeds from the Florida Lottery.
The summer scholarships are part of an expansion of the Bright Futures program that was made permanent by legislation (SB 4) passed during the 2018 legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in early March.
Under the law and the 2018-2019 state budget, the summer scholarships will be expanded to 46,521 students who qualify as “medallion scholars” in the Bright Futures program in the summer of 2019, meaning a total of more than 90,000 Bright Futures students will have the option of using the scholarships for summer classes next year.
The new law also makes permanent the expansion of the “academic scholars” awards to cover 100 percent of tuition and fees, while also giving those students a $300 stipend for books and other costs in the fall and spring semesters.
The law increases the scholarship amount to cover 75 percent of tuition and fees for the “medallion scholars” beginning in the fall.
About 82 percent of Bright Futures students attend state universities, another 9 percent are enrolled in the state college system and the remaining scholarship students attend private institutions.
In funding the expansion of the Bright Futures program, lawmakers brought the overall total to $520 million, a record level.
The higher-education initiative, which was led by Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, also expanded need-based aid, including $270 million in funding in the next academic year for the Florida “student assistance grant” program. That represents more than an 82 percent increase in funding since 2016-2017 and will provide financial aid to an estimated 237,000 students beginning in the fall.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Settles Female Firefighter’s Sexual Harassment Claim For $175,000
May 4, 2018
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to settle for $175,o00 with a female fighter that complained of of sexual harassment and discrimination.
She filed a discrimination claim against the Escambia County with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The woman kept a detailed personal journal in which she detailed a culture of verbal, physical and sexual harassment within Escambia Fire Rescue. The journal was part of a county investigation into Escambia Fire Rescue that led to the county fire chief being relieved of his duties, the dismissal of a firefighter and a reprimand for a lieutenant.
She claimed she endured a hostile work environment, sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
The payment will come from the county’s insurance company.
The commission voted 4-1 to approve the settlement, with Commissioner Lumon May casting the dissenting vote. He said the county has not done enough to address the situations that led to the complaint.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview To Present How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (With Gallery)
May 4, 2018
The Northview High School Theater Department will present “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” this Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00.
Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
Pictured: A dress rehearsal Thursday afternoon at Northview High School for “How Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Warm And Sunny
May 4, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Always A Hero: Escambia Corrections Officer Honored At State Law Enforcement Memorial
May 4, 2018
Escambia County Corrections Officer Joe William Heddy’s family has always known he was a hero.
They knew him to treat everyone with respect and offer help to anyone who needed it – even complete strangers.
“He gave you anything and everything if he had it,” said his wife of 44 years, Jill Heddy.
Heddy will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him, and now his name will forever be remembered by the law enforcement community.
Heddy’s name was recently added to the Fraternal Order of Police Law Enforcement Memorial in the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee, Florida, joining the 805 other names of law enforcement officers throughout the state who have died in the line of duty.
Heddy was a loving husband, father and grandfather, a member of the Air National Guard and a corrections officer for 35 years, ultimately finishing his career as an Escambia County Corrections officer.
He died of a heart attack while working at the county road prison on June 17, 2017, at age 63.
Heddy was honored at the Fraternal Order of Police’s annual ceremony April 29 and 30 in Tallahassee, along with 13 other fallen officers who were added to the memorial this year. The names will also be inscribed with more than 21,000 others at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.
His wife, Jill, and daughter, Joy Laub, attended the ceremony, surrounded by dozens of families of fallen law enforcement officers. Escambia County Corrections officers Lt. Ron Hankinson and Shannon Hankinson attended in support of the family, along with Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin.
Heddy is also survived by his twin sons, Jeffrey and Jason, seven grandchildren and many other family members and friends.
Before working for Escambia County Corrections, Heddy served as a federal corrections officer for 27 years. Laub said her father’s commitment to treating every inmate with respect made him especially good at his job.
“My daddy was a fair man,” she said. “He made a good corrections officer because he didn’t believe that the people who were in there were bad people – he truly believed that they made a bad mistake, and that they could move on from that.”
During the ceremony in Tallahassee, each fallen officer’s name was read aloud, and families were given an opportunity to speak their loved one’s name to honor their memory. Tearful wives, husbands, children and others gathered around the memorial to view their fallen officer’s name engraved among the hundreds of others, with some placing flowers and mementos at the site.
Jill Heddy said seeing her husband honored at the ceremony filled her with pride, but the experience also magnified just how much she misses him. Surrounded by law enforcement officers and police vehicles, she shed tears as bagpipes and drums played during the memorial service.
“His absence is felt even more when we see things he would have liked, like all the motorcycles or the drum band,” she said.
Lt. Ron Hankinson, who worked as Heddy’s supervisor for three years with Escambia County Corrections, remembered him as a fair officer and a good man who had a passion for his family and for helping veterans who were incarcerated.
“He was very dedicated,” Hankinson said. “He was extremely interested in veterans and veteran programs, and he actually would be a liaison between some of them. He would go to the VA and get their benefits started and get the paperwork they needed, and that would give them a base when they got out of jail so they could get the benefits they needed. They were just totally lost, so he would guide them.”
Hankinson said Heddy is deeply missed by all who knew him and had the opportunity to work with him as a corrections officer.
“He was very fair,” Hankinson said. “He followed the rules, but he wasn’t overbearing. He was middle of the road, easygoing – as long as you do what you’re supposed to, everything is fine. He was just a good guy.”
Heddy’s wife and daughter recalled a time when he was in Germany while in the Air Force Reserves and helped save a woman and child caught in a train door as it was leaving the platform. He and another man pried the door open so they could safely get inside the train before it left.
Heddy was awarded the Air Force Medal of Valor for his act of bravery.
“That’s just the way he was, though,” his daughter said. “Every situation where he thought he could help someone, he would get up and do it, no matter what it was.”
Along with the memorials in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., Heddy’s name is being inscribed in the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, Florida.
Although Heddy’s family doesn’t need memorials or plaques to remember him, they expressed their gratitude and pride in knowing his name will forever be memorialized – especially for the young grandchildren he left behind.
“Now they’ve got a hero to look up to,” Jill Heddy said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Observes National Day Of Prayer (With Photo Gallery)
May 4, 2018
A National Day of Prayer event will held Thursday evening in Century.
Community members and spiritual leaders gathered in prayer, asking for God’s favor on their town, surrounding areas and the nation. Guest speaker was Pastor Al Bethea of the Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reimagine Century Is Saturday – Free Food, Free Clothes And Much More
May 4, 2018
An outreach will be held Saturday in Century to help those less fortunate.
The faith-based event will feature a 15,000 pound food giveaway, free clothing, free paper products, free baby diapers, free haircuts, free HIV testing, free lunch and much more. Numerous community agencies will also be on hand explaining their programs, and there will be children’s activities including inflatables, face painting, popcorn, games and a coloring contest with bicycles as prizes.
Everything at the event is free.
Reimagine Century will be held 10 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Saturday at 440 East Hecker Road in Century. Transportation will be available between Reimagine Century and the nearby Sawmill Day activities.
Reimagine Century is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and is sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: A previous Reimagine Century event. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Pace Explodes With 16-Run Inning To Top Tate For District Title
May 4, 2018
The second-seed Pace Patriots beat the top-ranked Tate Aggies 18-4 Thursday night in the 1-7A district championship game in Pace.
The Aggies took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, which the Patriots answered with two runs in the third. But Pace exploded with 16 runs in the top of the fourth – a fourth inning that lasted well over an hour with 22 Pace batters and Tate fielding four different pitchers.
Brandon Sproat earned the win for Pace in four and a third innings, with zero runs on one hit and striking out one.
Cole Fryman took the loss for Tate, giving up four runs on one hit in one-third of an inning.
For Tate: Jesse Sherrill 1-3, R; Mason Land 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Hunter McLean 1-3, RBI; Blake Anderson R; Darrien McDowell 1-2, 2B, 2RBI; Ethan Bloodworth 1-2; Michael Potts R.
Atmore Marks National Day Of Prayer (With Gallery)
May 4, 2018
Atmore marked the National Day of Prayer Thursday with several events, drawing the faithful and pastors from Alabama and Florida.
A prayer service was held at the Atmore City Hall Thursday morning. A community prayer service and Bible reading was held Thursday afternoon in the Cornell Torrence Gym at Escambia County High School.
Community, business and spiritual leaders led those gathered in prayer before the annual Bible reading for government, the church, the family, media, education and business.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gonzalez Baptist Hosting A Free Community Picnic On Saturday
May 4, 2018
The Second Annual Gonzalez Community Picnic will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2p.m. at the Gonzalez Baptist Church.
There will be barbecue sandwiches, hotdogs and more for lunch, plus snow cones, popcorn, slushies and other treats. There will also be plenty of games, including sack races, a three-legged race, a pie eating contest, and other age-appropriate games.
The Tate High School Army JROTC will present the colors, the national anthem will be performed by the Ransom Middle School Acapella Chorus and the guest speaker will be Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse, Escambia County Fire Rescue and the ECSD Math Tutoring Department will also take part.
Representatives of Florida Kidcare will be on hand to help low and moderate income families apply for health insurance, and there will be clothes and other resources for families in need.
The event is free and everyone is invited to attend. The Gonzalez Baptist Church is located at 1590 Pauline Street, just off the intersection of Highway 29 and Old Chemstrand Road.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.