Orientation Tonight At Ernest Ward Middle
May 7, 2009
New student orientation will be held tonight at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The orientation event is for all new students, including students that are transferring from Carver/Century K-8 School which is closing at the end of this school year.
The orientation will begin at 6:00 in the Ernest Ward Middle School gym in Walnut Hill.
Sheriff’s Town Hall Meeting For Tonight Rescheduled
May 7, 2009
The Escambia Sheriff’s town hall meeting that was planned for tonight has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 21 due to a scheduling conflict with an event at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Sheriff David Morgan’s office rescheduled the meeting because it conflicted with the new student orientation at 6:00 tonight at Ernest Ward.
“The sheriff realizes the importance of education and because many new students from Carver/Century will be attending Ernest Ward in the fall, the rescheduling was necessary,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
The Century town hall meeting will now be held at 6:00 on Thursday, May 21 at the Southern Panhandle Restaurant at 8420 North Century Boulevard.
The town hall meeting will allow citizens from the area to ask questions they may have about the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Northview Reunion Band Looking For Members To Practice Tonight
May 7, 2009
Tonight’s practice of the Northview High School Alumni Band — including former members of the Century and Ernest Ward bands — has been moved from Northview to Ernest Ward Middle School.
Tonight’s practice will be held from 6:30 until 8:30 in the Ernest Ward Middle School Band Room. There will be instruments available to borrow.
The first gathering of the Alumni Band was back during Northview’s Homecoming in October. This time, the Alumni Band will be part of the Northview High Spring Concert on May 11.
The reunion band will play with the current middle and high school bands for two or three songs.
For more information, email homerandpunkin@yahoo.com.
Pictured above: The Northview High School Reunion Band performs at the school’s homecoming last October. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Deputies Seek Public’s Help In Locating Donkey Killer
May 6, 2009
Sheriff’s deputies are asking for your help in finding the teen accused of shooting a donkey over the weekend near Jacks Branch Road.
Ted Roy, Escambia County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, said the family of Kyle Mason Driver, 17, is being uncooperative, and deputies have been unable to locate the North Escambia teen.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Kyle Mason Driver of the 1400 block of River Annex Road, Cantonment, is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP (7867).
Deputies said Driver has confessed to deputies that he shot a donkey on River Annex Road near Jacks Branch Road late Saturday night. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says that he will be charged with felony cruelty to animals causing death, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.
The shooting happened within minutes of the birth J.B., a white donkey that has become a local media celebrity of sorts.
For more on the donkey shooting, click here.
Fox 10 Weather Man John Edd’s Farewell Tour Live In Atmore Today
May 6, 2009
Channel 10 meteorologist John Edd Thompson will broadcast live from Atmore this afternoon as part of his farewell tour.
After 32 years on the air at Fox 10, Thompson is retiring.
The Gulf Coast television icon started his broadcasting career in Atmore in 1962 on WATM radio.
National Day Of Prayer Event Planned
May 6, 2009
Today is the National Day of Prayer and an area observance has been scheduled in Atmore.
“We believe many people recognize the need to pray for our great country and will want to join others in this special time of prayer,” said organizer Sharon Keesler, a Walnut Hill resident. “Many of us do not remember our country facing such difficult times, our community has not been exempt from them. It makes it all the more important to come together this year, on this day of prayer and thank God for His past blessings, and humbly ask Him to guide and direct our leaders and bless us in the future.”
The Atmore National Guard unit will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and raise the flag at the event. Atmore Councilman John Garrard will read a proclamation from Atmore Mayor Howard Shell.
Rev. Mike McMorris, Dr. Hattie Bishop, Rev. Jim Reece and Joe Brantley will lead the group in prayer planned by several area churches.
“We will be praying for the following areas government, military, media, education, business, church and families,” Keesler said.
The prayer service will be held at 6:00 Thursday evening on the lawn of the Atmore City Hall. Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. In the event of rain, the service will be moved inside City Hall.
The theme verse for the prayer service is Psalm 33:22 “Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we put our hope in thee.”
Deputies: It Could Be 7-10 Days Before Donkey Shooter Is Arrested
May 5, 2009
The 17-year old that shot and killed a donkey over the weekend off Jacks Branch Road remains free this afternoon, and deputies say it could be a week to 10 days before they have a warrant to arrest him.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has submitted the paperwork to the county’s judicial system to obtain an arrest warrant, according to Lt. Tony Jordan. But Jordan said under ordinary circumstances it can take 7-10 days for the courts to issue the warrant.
A 17-year old white male juvenile from Cantonment has confessed to deputies that he shot a donkey on River Annex Road near Jacks Branch Road late Saturday night. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says the juvenile will be charged with felony cruelty to animals causing death, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.
J.B., named after Jacks Branch, was born minutes before or after his mother’s death. For more, click here.
Pictured above: J.B., the donkey born minutes before or after his mother was shot and killed over the weekend by a 17-year old. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Refuses To Sign Required Public School Document
May 5, 2009
The Town of Century is refusing to sign a Public School Facilities Element document that is required by law that was presented to them by the Escambia County Commission.
The Public School Facilities Element is a joint agreement required between the Escambia County School District, the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. In essence, the document spells out how public schools will be planned in the county and its two municipalities.
“In this agreement it says that they have to get with us, and they haven’t done that,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said Monday night.
The agreement does state in part that the governmental entities “will meet on an as needed basis but not less than annually in joint workshop sessions”.
“There’s never been any meeting,” Council President Ann Brooks said. “There should have been a meeting before April 1 and there wasn’t…the document required a meeting with them, and it never happened.”
“My recommendation is that you sign it,” Mayor Freddie McCall told the council. McCall said he tried to tell the county that Century would opt-out of the agreement because the town’s only school, Carver/Century K-8, is closing. “But they said we could not since the school was still open.”
Hawkins said that he had a problem with other portions of the agreement, specifically a section that says an appointed committee will evaluate the location of schools prior to closure.
“I will have to call them (the county) in the morning and tell them you refused to sign it and go from there,” McCall said.
If the Town of Century had signed the agreement, a provision would have allowed them to opt-out with a 30 day notice. Otherwise, the agreement is in force for 10 years.
Pictured: Century Town Council President Ann Brooks reviews the interlocal agreement at Monday night’s town council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Bill To Be Signed Today By Governor
May 5, 2009
Today, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will sign into law the Florida House bill that will form a commission to study local government consolidation that would combine Century, Pensacola and Escambia County into one.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers, requires the creation of a consolidation study commission by July 1.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission will include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
More Rain Possible
May 4, 2009
(Updated 3:15 p.m.) All watches and warnings have been canceled for North Escambia, but there is still a chance of rain for this afternoon.
There is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms today, with the possibility that some storms could be severe. Tonight, the rain chance decreases to 20 percent, with some fog by morning.
The rain chance increases to 40 percent, and the high will be about 85 on Tuesday.
Here is the forecast for the rest of the week:
Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.