International Paper Community Grant Application Deadline Is July 1
June 29, 2018
International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $85,000 in grants in 2018. The deadline for all 2018 grant applications is Sunday, July 1.
International Paper Pensacola Mill awards grants through the IP Foundation, which makes sustainable investments to address critical needs in the communities where International Paper employees live and work. Grants support projects or programs focused on signature causes.
Signature causes are:
- Education – Priority given to literacy programs from birth through third grade.
- Hunger – Community programs that provide access to food for those in need or provide solutions to alleviate hunger.
- Health and Wellness – Programs that promote basic health and human needs.
- Disaster Relief – Programs that reduce suffering or saves lives as a result of a natural disaster.
For more information about the IP Foundation and/or to apply online, interested applicants should visit www.ipgiving.com.
Pictured: IP 2017 grant recipients. File photo.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
June 29, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area Friday forecast:
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 90. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Independence Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Pictured: A shelf cloud in Cantonment Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Double Up On The M-Braves 10-5
June 29, 2018
The Blue Wahoos had to fend off an hour rain delay and several Mississippi comeback attempts but ultimately won Thursday’s series opener by a 10-5 final.
The Wahoos struck early with a pair of runs in the first two innings of the game. Shed Long unloaded an opposite field two-run shot off Bryse Wilson to make it 2-0. After Mississippi tied it up with two runs of their own, the Wahoos took the lead again after Taylor Sparks tripled home Aristides Aquino and then Chris Okey singled home Sparks.
Daniel Wright cruised through the first four innings of the game allowing one hit and two runs (zero earned runs). In the bottom of the fourth, the rains came down and the tarp was put on the field. After a 1:18 delay, play was resumed with both starting pitchers lifted from the game.
Robinson Leyer (W, 4-2) took the mound for the Wahoos. The Southern League All-Star struggled over his two innings by allowing three runs including a two-run go-ahead home run to Luis Marte in the sixth. However, Pensacola responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead. After back-to-back singles to open the inning, Sparks delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. Okay followed with another RBI single before Brian O’Grady’s pinch-hit single made it 7-5.
In the end, there was simply no slowing down Pensacola’s offense. For the third time this week, the Wahoos scored at least 10 runs and tonight the club finished with 14 hits. Every Wahoo in the starting lineup-with the exception of the starting pitcher-recorded at least one base hit. With the lead safely intact, Jesus Reyes and Rafael De Paula closed out the final three innings in scoreless fashion to preserve the 10-5 final score.
The series continues tomorrow night when RHP Wyatt Strahan (5-7, 6.75) toes the rubber for the hosts against RHP Bruce Zimmerman, who will be making his Double-A debut.
New Florida Budget Year Brings Boost In Spending
June 29, 2018
Florida’s new $88.7 billion budget will take effect Sunday, but that doesn’t tell the whole story about spending on education, health care, transportation and other state programs in the new fiscal year.
Projected spending in 2018-2019 is greater than the budget bottom line because lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved 16 bills during the 2018 legislative session that included additional funding totaling nearly $610 million.
The $89.3 billion in spending is $4.36 billion higher than the 2017-2018 budget year that ends Saturday, representing more than a 5 percent increase. It is more than $20 billion higher than the $69 billion 2011-2012 spending plan, which was the first under Scott, who leaves office in January because of term limits.
The state’s largest expenditures in 2018-2019 will be on human services, which include Medicaid and other health-care programs, accounting for 43.3 percent of the spending. Education will be the second largest component at 28.5 percent.
Among the bills was legislation (SB 4) making permanent an expansion of the Bright Futures scholarship program, including covering 75 percent of the tuition and fees in the new academic year for students who are “medallion scholars.” The $123.5 million in spending will also let those students use their scholarships for summer classes in 2019.
An additional $53.6 million will be spent on dealing with Florida’s ongoing opioid crisis through another bill (HB 21).
The largest spending outside the main budget is $400 million for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026), which passed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at the Broward County school.
The legislation includes $69 million for mental-health programs in school districts, a $97 million increase to hire more school resource officers, a $98 million grant program for improving school security and $67 million for an initiative that would allow school personnel to be trained as armed “guardians” on school campuses.
The increased safety spending is reflected in a $485 million increase in the funding formula for the 67 school districts in 2018-2019. But since much of the $101.50 increase in per-student funding is earmarked for the safety programs, the school districts will only see a statewide average increase of 47 cents in the “base student allocation,” the primary source for general operations.
State employees will not receive a general pay raise in the new budget, which was approved by lawmakers in March. But there will be targeted increases.
The seven state Supreme Court justices will see their annual pay rise to $220,600, a 24 percent increase.
State law enforcement officers could get a raise up to 10 percent if they have 10 or more years of experience. Department of Juvenile Justice probation and detention officers will get a 10 percent increase.
State firefighters will get a $2,500 annual pay raise, while there will be adjustment up to $4,000 a year for assistant state attorneys and public defenders if they have worked more than three years in their offices.
In health care, the new budget has nearly a $900 million increase to account for additional costs in Medicaid, the state-federal health program for poor and disabled people. There is $128.5 million increase in Medicaid payments to nursing homes.
Nursing home patients will benefit from a $16.9 million increase in their “personal needs allowance,” which will increase by $25 a month to $130. It will allow them to pay for personal services and items like hair styling and clothes.
In the environmental arena, in addition to $101 million for the Florida Forever land-acquisition program, there is $64 million for an Everglades-area reservoir project, $50 million for natural springs restoration, $50 million for repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee and $50 million for beach-management grants to local governments.
The new budget has a $9.9 billion “work program” for the Department of Transportation, including $3.9 billion for the construction of highways and bridges and $1.3 billion for resurfacing and maintenance.
More than $454 million is slated to be spent on education construction and maintenance projects in the new academic year. That includes $50 million for maintenance at public schools and $145 million for charter schools.
The budget includes $3.25 billion in reserve funding, including $1 billion in unspent general revenue, $1.48 billion in a budget-stabilization fund and $770 million in the Chiles endowment, which is funded by a settlement with tobacco companies.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Patrick Arthur Robinson
June 29, 2018
Patrick Arthur Robinson, age 68, passed away June 23, 2018.
Patrick is preceded in death by his father, Lucian Roosevelt Robinson; mother, Flossie Mae Clark Robinson; brothers, Edward Robinson, James “Jimmy” Robinson, and Larry Robinson; sisters, Barbara Robinson Dansby and Becky Robinson Medows.
Patrick is survived by his life partner, Jackie Annette Lambert; sons, Patrick Ray Robinson and Adam Casey Robinson; daughters, Meagan Robinson Southern, and Emily Robinson Stronko; 11 grandchildren; sisters, Sarah Robinson Mathis, Marsha Robinson Wesson, Charlotte Robinson Donaldson, and Nan Robinson Harvey; brothers, Dick Robinson and Michael Robinson.
Pallbearers will be Kelly Smith, Joseph Mathis, Israel Robinson, Chance Robinson, David Holmquist and Damon Dansby.
Visitation will be Saturday, June 30, 2018, from 1-2 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Brother Wesley Smith will be officiating. Interment will be at Union Hill Cemetery.
Fire Departments Respond To Possible Lightning Strike At Molino Home
June 28, 2018
Firefighters responded to a report of the smell of smoke inside a Molino residence Thursday night, possible from a lightning strike.
They were unable to located any fire and traced the smell of smoke to a clothes dryer inside the home on Molino Road near Barrineau Park School Road. There was no major damage reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Storms Leave Thousands Without Power
June 28, 2018
Update: Gulf Power now reporting 528 customers without power in Escambia County. 9:02 pm
Previous story:
Evening storms have left 3,850 locations without power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
As of just before 9 p.m. Escambia River Electric Cooperative is reporting 1,083 customers without power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in 80 outage locations.
Gulf Power is reporting 2,662 customers without power in Escambia County, all but about 50 are south of I-10. There were 105 Gulf Power customers without power in Santa Rosa County.
Pictured: EREC outages as of about 9 p.m.
Alabama To Offer Pay Hike For Many Correctional Officers
June 28, 2018
A portion of a $30 million supplemental appropriation lawmakers added to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) 2018 budget will give a boost in compensation for many correctional officers, state prison officials announced Wednesday. Correctional officers employed at maximum and medium security prisons will receive a location pay differential effective July 1.
“Our correctional officers and security staff are on the front lines every day keeping the public safe under oftentimes dangerous conditions and they deserve to be adequately compensated for their service,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn.
Most security employees assigned to maximum security facilities will receive a four-step, or 10 percent pay differential while those employed at medium security facilities will receive a two-step, or 5 percent pay differential. The location pay differentials will apply to correctional officers, correctional officer trainees, correctional supervisors, canine security staff and wardens.
Dunn said for too long correctional officers have been undercompensated when you compare starting salaries with other state law enforcement agencies. He added that the location pay differentials are designed to attract and retain highly skilled correctional officers and staff at maximum and medium security facilities of which most have staffing levels below 50 percent.
Before the pay differentials, an entry-level correctional officer with a high school diploma earned $28,516.80 compared to the starting salary of $35,589.60 for a state trooper with the same requisite education. The differentials will increase an entry-level correctional officer’s effective rate of pay to $31,368.48 at maximum security prisons and $29,942.64 at medium security facilities, allowing ADOC to offer more competitive effective rates of pay when compared to other state law enforcement agencies.
The location pay differential incentive will help ADOC’s recruitment and retention initiatives for major correctional facilities, leading to higher staffing levels and safer prisons for both employees and inmates.
School Grades Are Out: How Did Your Child’s School Score?
June 28, 2018
The Florida Department of Education released the state’s 2018 school report card Wednesday.
The Escambia County School District improved from a C to a B.
Among North Escambia elementary schools: Molino Park remain an A, Jim Allen improved from a C to B, Bratt and Lipscomb fell from an A to B, Byrneville fell from a B to a C, Pine Meadow remained a B, and McArthur remained a C.
Ramsom Middle School remained at a B, while Ernest Ward remained a C. Tate High school remained a B school, and Northview remained at a C.
Complete grades for Escambia County schools are below:
Man Accusing Of Helping Deadly Hit And Run Suspect Avoid Capture
June 28, 2018
A Pensacola man has been charged with being an accessory after the fact for helping Markquise DeShawn Wallace avoid capture.
Wallace is wanted for a hit and run on June 6 on Cervantes Street that killed an 8-month old infant and a 28-year old woman.
Tadrian Rushing, 20 years of age, has been charged by Pensacola Police with being an accessory after the fact, a second degree felony, for assisting Markquise Wallace avoid capture. Rushing remains in jail with bond set at $605,500.
On June 14, a press conference was held releasing Wallace’s information, the charges against him and the fact he was now driving a gray Lexus 350. The investigation revealed shortly after the press conference Rushing purchased a tarp, parked the Lexus 350 Wallace had been driving, and covered it with a tarp, hiding it from view. The vehicle was found by detectives later that afternoon.
Rushing, who had several active felony warrants of his own, was initially arrested on June 26, after being spotted by Pensacola Police Det. Sgt. Amy Parsons. When patrol units attempted to stop Rushing to arrest him for the felony warrants, he fled in his vehicle. He crashed at Davis Highway and Hart Drive and fled on foot. Off. Jose Matos was able to capture Rushing after a short foot chase and place him under arrest. A large amount of narcotics was found in Rushing’s possession after the arrest resulting in several new charges. In addition to the active warrants, Rushing was charged with fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting and officer without violence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug equipment.
Investigators are still searching for Wallace, following leads both within the community and out of state. The investigation involving others who have assisted Wallace is continuing with more arrests anticipated, police said.
Three people were crossing Cervantes Street near M Street when they were hit by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Neariaah Ikerria Williams, age 8 months, and a family friend, 28-year-old Nephateria Monique Williams, died. The child’s mother, 27-year-old Quineka Tyon Baldwin, was injured.
Anyone with information on the crash or Wallace is asked to call 911, the Pensacola Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.