Registration Begins Now For VPK In Escambia County Schools
March 10, 2022
Registration is underway for a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for 4-year olds that reside in the attendance zone for a Title I school.
Title I schools with a VPK program are Bratt, Jim Allen, Molino Park, Brentwood, Ensley, Ferry Pass, Global, Montclair, OJ Semmes, Weis, West Pensacola, Bellview, Holm, Longleaf, Navy Point, and Sherwood elementary school.
Parents first need to complete the VPK Certificate of Eligibility at familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com or go to the Early Learning Coalition, 1720 West Fairfield Drive, Suite 100/400, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The child’s birth certificate and the parent’s proof of residence must be uploaded when applying for the Certificate of Eligibility.
After completing the VPK Certificate of Eligibility, parents should complete an Escambia County School District online application in FOCUS by clicking here..
Beginning on April 4, the parent or guardian should take the documents listed below to Spencer Bibbs Center at 2005 North 6th Avenue to complete registration, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Families residing in the Bratt and Molino Park attendance zones should take relevant documents directly to the school.
Documents required:
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residence (utility bill or lease)
- Immunization Record
- Physical (or appointment card for upcoming physical)
- Child’s Insurance Card
- Child’s Social Security number
- Proof of Income (2021 W2 for all adults in home)
Schools will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is not complete until all documents have been approved and forms have been signed.
For more information, call (850)595-6915, extension 224.
Lem “Roger” Soles
March 10, 2022
On February 26, 2022, Lem “Roger” Soles, 61, passed away unexpectedly from complications and underlying health issues following open heart surgery. He spent his final hours with his sister Sonja, and a few close friends by his side. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Master Sergeant Lem V. Soles and Opal R. Soles, of Baker, Florida. He is survived by his sister Sonja Ann Spirakis, (Joe) of Cantonment, Florida, and his nephew, Christopher Charles Gravat, of Madison, AL. Roger was a resident of Milton, FL.
Roger was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on April 6, 1960. The son of a globetrotting US Air Force veteran, Roger’s passion for traveling was realized at a young age. After graduating Valedictorian of Baker High School, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master’s of Science in Computer/Electrical Engineering. A lifelong learner, Roger took many continuing education classes at University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, City College of San Francisco, MIT, Stanford, and the University of Florida.
Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, his career started at Coca-Cola in Atlanta, where he worked as an engineer, patenting the Automated Ultrasonic Fountain Soft-drink Dispenser, as well as working on other ground-breaking technologies that would help propel Coke into the worldwide phenomenon they are today. After leaving Coke, Roger headed to the west coast and worked for tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle long before they were household names. His work with these companies while in their infancy, helped to shape the future landscape of technology as we know it. This was just the start of an illustrious career that spanned over 5 decades. Roger never tired of learning or striving to be the best in his field, and his strong work ethic made him a valued consultant with major tech players and educational institutions all over the world. Roger’s career in engineering and technology was central to his life and creative pursuits. He was an outspoken advocate for companies with sustainable business practices that valued community-building and social justice.
A lover of animals, Roger had several beloved pets whom he considered family, the closest being his Siberian Husky, Isis Sobaka Soles, his cat, Mr. Data, and most recently, Sugar, his Chihuahua. In the last years of his life, Roger carried Sugar everywhere with him, they were inseparable. Roger and Sugar passed mere days apart, and were right by each other’s side until the very end.
Roger had his mom’s knack for gardening and he valued the natural environment where he hiked, camped, and kayaked. These hobbies were also apparent in his fashion, as those that knew him well knew how much he loved his trademark Vibram 5 finger shoes.
Roger admired Jimmy Carter, Warren Buffet, Joni Mitchell, and the poetry of E.E. Cummings. He visited all 50 states, Australia, Japan, the UK, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Roger joked that NASA changed the name of the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) on the Apollo moon lander to avoid copyright or trademark issues with his name. His dry sense of humor and brilliance were second to none and were on full display for those familiar with his “Dump Facebook” philosophy and his blog. Roger garnered an extreme amount of respect from everyone he encountered throughout his lifetime, and his loss will forever be felt by family, friends, and his respected colleagues. “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy” – A. Gorman
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12:15PM on Sat., March 12, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Pat Mobley officiating. The family will receive friends at 11:30AM prior to services.
Cantonment Man Wins $1 Million On Lottery Scratch-Off Game
March 9, 2022
A Cantonment man has claimed a $1 million scratch-off Florida Lottery prize.
Ryan Martin, 27, claimed the $1 million prize from the new 500X The Cash scratch-off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.
“After winning on a few tickets last week, I decided to pick up another one on my way home from work,” Martin said. “I was in total shock when I saw that I had won $1 million and immediately called my wife to tell her the good news!”
Martin purchased his winning ticket from Nine Mile Raceway, located at 701 West Nine Mile Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game features a $25 million top prize.
Alleged Check Kiting Lands Man In Jail On Fraud Charge, Months After His Wife Was Charged
March 9, 2022
An alleged check kiting scheme landed an Atmore man in the Escambia County Jail, months after the arrest of his wife in the case.
Check kiting is a form of check fraud that involves taking advantage of the float time to make use of nonexistent funds in a bank account.
Derrick Jerel Rudolph, 35, was charged with third degree felony fraud. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
His wife, Sherry Williams Rudolph, was also charged with third degree felony fraud in July 2021. She has since entered into a deferred prosecution agreement which will allow the charges against her to be dropped later this year.
The Rudolphs had a total of six accounts with Pen Air Federal Credit Union. They opened a joint account for checking and savings, and individual accounts were later opened, according to court documents.
Shortly after opening these accounts the Rudolphs began to move money around between accounts, and they began to deposit worthless checks at drive-thru ATMs in Escambia County, the State Attorney’s Office said.
Investigators said Sherry Rudolph then wrote $2,820 in bad checks to herself and deposited them at Pen Air ATMs, mostly in Century. Pen Air records showed account balance inquiries to verify the funds were available, and then cash was withdrawn from ATMs, the report continues.
Derrick Rudolph followed the same process with bad checks, according to investigators.
All total, Pen Air reported a loss of over $5,000.
ECSO: Kidnapping Report Was Unfounded
March 9, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says claims are unfounded that a woman was kidnapped from her car at gunpoint last Thursday morning.
Brianna Renae McGuire, 24, was reported kidnapped at gunpoint from a car on Norstum Drive. That’s off Airway Drive just south of Nine Mile Road. At the time, the ECSO believed 26-year old Nicholas Jody Liberto was the kidnapper.
Now, the ECSO says the kidnapping was unfounded.
McGuire and Liberto were located together hours later at an Escambia County home. Both were highly intoxicated and transported to the hospital, the Sheriff’s Office said. No probable cause was found to file charges.
Escambia County Opens New Monoclonal Antibody Site Today
March 9, 2022
Escambia County opens a new monoclonal antibody site Wednesday.
The clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. util 5 p.m. at the Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center, located at 6405 Wagner Road.
The monoclonal antibody site will also offer COVID-19 testing. Currently, there is no time frame for how long the site will remain open.
This marks the return of monoclonal antibody testing locally since the Bayview Community Center testing location closed last November.
Chance Of Showers And Thunderstorms Continues Tonight
March 9, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 38. Breezy, with a southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Motorcyclist, 70, Dies After Pine Forest Road Crash
March 9, 2022
A crash involving a motorcycle claimed one life Monday afternoon in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 70-year old male motorcyclist failed to yield when he attempted to make a left turn from Pine Forest Road to Wilde Lake Boulevard. He was struck by a car driven by a 45-year old female in the intersection.
The motorcyclist passed away at a local hospital due to his injuries.
FHP does not release the name of traffic crash victims.
Northview Chiefs Battle Back For 19-16 Win Over Catholic
March 9, 2022
The Northview Chiefs beat the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders 19-16 Tuesday night in Bratt.
Catholic took a strong 11-2 lead in the top of the second with seven runs, but the Chiefs battled back with six runs in the in bottom of the fifth to tie things up 15-15.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Jamison Gilman opened in the circle, giving up 11 runs on five hits and striking out three in one and two-thirds innings. Emma Gilmore went for five innings, allowing one hit, five runs and striking out seven.
Gilmore went 3-5 to lead Northview at bat. Chloe Ragsdale, Kaitlin Gafford and Aubrey Stuckey had a couple of hits each, while Makayla Golson, Kailyn Watson, and Payton Gilchrist had one each.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Varsity Shuts Out Pine Forest, As JV Wins; Tate Freshmen Beat Navarre
March 9, 2022
Tate 13, Pine Forest 0
Two Tate Aggie pitchers combined Tuesday night to shut out Pine Forest 13-0.
Josiah Glodfelter went six innings for Tate, allowing no run on one hit, walking none and striking out 11. Ethan McAnally pitched one inning, striking out two and walking one.
Drew Reaves led Tate at the plate as he went 4-5 with two homeruns. Kirk Mosley an Jackson Penton added three hits each for the Aggies. Clif Quiggins, Jay Davis and Cade Kelly had a couple of hits apiece.
For more photos from varsity and JV play, click here.
Tate 11, Pine Forest 4 (JV)
The junior varsity Tate Aggies beat Pine Forest 11-4 Tuesday.
Cole McNair started on the plate for the Aggies, striking out one and allowing one hit with no runs. Cameron Partrick pitched two, allowing four runs, one hit and striking out two.
Allan Beasley led at the plate for the Aggies, going 3-3 with four RBIs. Neal Croom and Trey Rebber had one hit each.
Tate 7, Navarre 4 (Freshman)
The Freshmen Tate High School Aggies beat Navarre 7-4 on Tuesday.
Nathan Ozuna opened at the plate for the Aggies going for one inning, allowing one run and striking out three. Braden Beck was up for one inning, allowing two runs and striking out one. Trevor Land went for three, allowing three hits, one run and striking out six.
Brayden Waler, Zane Warrington, Tyler Folmar, and Brady Smith had one hit each at the plate for the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
