Escambia District Did Not Release School Grades. But Now We Have Them.
August 23, 2021
EXCLUSIVE — Escambia County A-F school grades were not released this year by the school district because they did not opt-in to receive the grades from the state.
But now, for the first time, Escambia County parents can see the grade for their child’s school here on NorthEscambia.com. Those grades are below.
The letter grades were calculated by Rep. Michelle Salzman using test scores that were released by the state and the precise formula that would have been used by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).
“I received a lot of inquiries about school grades from constituents, community leaders and media outlet,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com ” I am extremely proud of our teachers, and these grades are a direct indication to the importance of having your children in school. Now that we know where we are, we can navigate together.”
A.K. Suter Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Pensacola Beach Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, West Florida High, and Escambia Virtual Academy were all A schools under Salzman’s calculations.
On the other end of the scale 11 schools received an F — Bellview Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Lincoln Park Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, Bellview Middle, and Workman Middle
Escambia County opted not to have the state calculate the school grades under a pandemic-related FDOE emergency order issued in April that gave that choice to school districts.
“This is the ultimate flexibility and reinforces the compassion and grace we have used throughout this pandemic in making these decisions,” Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said at the time.
“The state did not calculate a letter grade (for Escambia schools), and that was really important because that’s what people use in their assessment of the school is a letter grade. I have to say the commissioner was right on point with this because our test scores were impacted; they did drop,” Escambia School Superintendent Tim Smith said as the new school year got underway. “Had grades been assigned to the schools it would have been devastating so we knew that the possibility of that happening existed.”
“When a good school goes from a C to a D, that has a very dramatic impact on the school,” he said, adding that could be “some devastating news, some really demoralizing news”.
Escambia County school grades, as calculated by Salzman, were as follows for the 2020-2021 school year:
Motorcyclist Airlifted To Hospital After Crash Through Highway 97 Fence
August 23, 2021
A motorcyclist was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after crashing through a fence Sunday near Walnut Hill.
The adult male was northbound on Highway 97 just north of Pelt Road when he left the roadway and crash through a cattle fence. A witness said the motorcycle went through a fence before the man, and both traveled under an upper strand of barbed wire. Both came to rest in a pasture.
The man was reportedly released from the hospital Sunday night.
The Florida Highway patrol investigated and not released the cause of the crash. The Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Recue, Escambia County EMS and Medstar Air Care 2 responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of Overnight Showers
August 23, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Florida Pump Prices Face Downward Pressure As Futures Plummet
August 23, 2021
Florida gas prices are down three cents from a week ago and are about to slip even lower, unless futures prices can recover from sharp declines last week, according to AAA.
Florida gas prices are now averaging $2.98 per gallon.
The price of U.S. crude dropped nearly 10% last week, settling $6 per barrel less than the week before. Meanwhile, gasoline futures dropped 24 cents (12%). Wholesale gasoline prices haven’t been this low since April, when the average price at the pump was below $2.80 per gallon.
The lowest price Sunday night in North Escambia was $2.94 at stations on Muscogee Road and on Highway 29. In Pensacola, a low of $2.75 could be found at on station on Nine Mile Road.
The delta strain of COVID-19 continues to drive fuel prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “The busy summer driving season ends in September and market watchers are worried that COVID-19 will cause demand to drop more dramatically than it has in previous years. If crude oil and gasoline futures hold at current levels, prices at the pump could drop more than 20 cents per gallon in the weeks to come.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
COVID-19 Delayed Century Council Meetings To Be Held Tonight
August 23, 2021
Century Town Council meetings that were delayed a week by COVID-19 are scheduled to be held tonight.
A budget workshop, bill list review meeting and town council meeting that were scheduled for August 16 were postponed a week, and the Century Town Hall was closed for three days (August 16-18) due to a COVID-19 exposure.
The budget workshop will be held at 5:30 p.m., the bill review meeting at 6:45 p.m. and the council meeting will follow at 7 p.m.
Pictured: Century Town Council members at their last regular meeting on August 5. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Conine Homers Twice In Blue Wahoos Series Finale Win
August 23, 2021
After hitting a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday, Griffin Conine belted a pair of home runs in Pensacola’s 9-1 win over Biloxi on Sunday afternoon.
In the bottom of the first inning with Peyton Burdick on first, Conine took Justin Bullock (L, 2-3) deep to left to put the Wahoos ahead 2-0. A couple of pitches prior, the players and fans were treated to a surprise airshow from the Blue Angels, as the six fighter jets flew in formation over the park before soaring over the bay.
The offense did not end for the Wahoos in the first, and Pensacola scored in each of the first four innings. After taking a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the third, Conine came to plate and once again homered off Bullock to the opposite field. For Conine, that was his third consecutive at-bat with a home run, dating back to Saturday’s game-tying heroics.
When the dust settled, the Blue Wahoos led the Shuckers 8-1 after four, and eventually cruised to a 9-1 victory.
Antonio Velez made his Double-A debut for the Wahoos and turned in a quality start. The southpaw allowed one run in six innings and only walked one while striking out five on five hits. Outside of the second inning when Tristen Lutz hit an RBI double, Velez’s start never seemed in peril. On the Lutz double, JJ Bleday picked up his 11th outfield assist when he rifled a throw to Demetrius Sims who in turn delivered a strike to Brian Navarreto to nab David Fry at the plate.
After Velez departed the game, three separate relievers pitched the final three innings in scoreless fashion. Other notable performances include Sims, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. J.D. Orr—who entered the game for Jerar Encarnacion after he was struck by a pitch in the fourth— also went 2-for-2 with a double.
Pensacola will now prepare for their series against first-place Mississippi, having captured their first series win since July 4th, when the club won five of six against the Shuckers. Montgomery and Mississippi also split a doubleheader earlier today, meaning the Wahoos are now 2.5 games out of the second and final playoff spot.
The Blue Wahoos will hit the road Monday in preparation of their first and only 12-game road trip of the year. The Blue Wahoos will take on the M-Braves for six games before their final trip to Montgomery for six against the Biscuits. RHP Kyle Nicolas (2-0, 0.90) will take the mound for the Wahoos on Tuesday,
Former Atmore Mayor Howard Shell Has Passed Away
August 23, 2021
Former Atmore Mayor Howard Shell has passed away at age 88.
Shell was born in Monroe County, Alabama, but his family moved to Davisville in Florida. About two years later, the family moved to Walnut Hill, and Shell’s father bought a small general store on Highway 97 just south of the modern day Ernest Ward Middle School.
Shell graduated from Ernest Ward High School, where he played football in 1950. He attended Florida State University, and served in the Korean War in the U.S. Navy. He then spent 30 years in research and development at the Chemstrand plant in Cantonment.
After his retirement, Shell was first elected to the Atmore City Council in 1984 before being appointed mayor after the death of then-Mayor Patricia McKenzie. He served a total of 22 years as Atmore mayor.
Funeral services have not yet been announced.
W. Edward Godwin
August 23, 2021
W. Edward Godwin, a resident of Century, FL, passed away on August 20, 2021, at the age of 79.
He was born on June 17, 1942, to the late Wilbourn J. Godwin and Amanda Ziglar Godwin.
Edward was a member and deacon at Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Web Godwin, sister, Christine Creel, and first wife Diane Godwin.
Edward is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gladys Sharee Strickland Godwin; children, Keith (Barbara) Cauley, Lynn (Greg) Mills, Leah (Doug) Vickery, Darla (Jeff) Brantley and Kiley (Michelle) Godwin; 12 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren with one on the way.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, FL.
Pallbearers will be Lee Cauley, Bradley Dortch, Tripp Vickery, Cade Vickery, Zeb Vickery, Luke Brantley and Robert Fuchsen.
Memorials may be made to Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Kathryn Abramovich Hicks
August 23, 2021
Kathryn Abramovich Hicks, 88 of McDavid, FL passed away August 20, 2021 in McDavid. She was born in Perdido, AL on December 2, 1932 to the late Rudolph and Viola Vidak Abramovich. She was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia, FL and was a retired RN with over 33 years of service. She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Fred Hicks of McDavid, FL; two children, Bro. Ed (Valerie) Hicks of Molino, FL and Rhonda (Brian) Bruley of Atmore, AL; four grandchildren, Ben, Charity, David, Nathan and six great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Monday, August 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery. Interment will follow at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 23, 2021 from 2 pm until 3 pm at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Denise Renee Pace
August 23, 2021
Mrs. Denise Renee Pace, passed away August 21, 2021 at age of 56. She born in Asheville, North Carolina, but has lived most, of her life in the Century, FL. area. She was an avid Florida State Seminole fan. She valued her time she got to spend with family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. She always enjoyed the outdoor cookouts.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Jack Banks and Mrs. Mary Lee Connors Banks, husband, Steve Pace, one brother, Duane Banks.
She is survived by her two sons, Steven Pace (Amie) of Molino, FL; Rannon Pace (Marisah) of Century, FL; one daughter, Rachel Pace (Ronnie Holt) of Cantonment, FL; eight grandchildren, Kaleb, Bella, Harper, Skyla, Ean, Siobaun, Logan, and Braelyn, nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel funeral Home LLC with Bro. Reo Pugh officiating.
Burial will follow at Hollingsworth Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday August 25, 2021 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Pace, Ean Lundy, Logan English, Keith Davis, Dathan Church, and Chandler Rogers.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Corn