Celebrate The Fourth Today At The Library
July 1, 2008
The next installment of the Summer Reading Series at the Century Branch Library will be at noon on today as the library celebrates the Fourth of July in grand style.
There will be a watermelon eating contest, a watermelon seed spitting contest, apple pies, pigs in a blanket and a hula hoop contest.
Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, and more will make special appearances. The program is for children of all ages and is free. For more information, call the library at 256-6217.
DUI Checkpoint On Highway 29 Tonight
June 27, 2008
If you are traveling on Highway 29 in Pensacola late tonight or early in the morning, you’ll be delayed near Broad Street, just north of I-10, by a “Sobriety Safety Checkpoint”.
The Florida Highway Patrol will hold the roadside Sobriety Safety Checkpoint between 10:00 p.m. tonight and 3:00 a.m Saturday on Highway 20 just north I-10.
There will be approximately 25 uniformed officers participating, as well as support personnel from the Emerald Coast MADD I(Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Chapter. Other participating agencies include the Escambia County Sheriffs Office, Pensacola Police Department, University of West Florida Police Department, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Milton Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office.
During the operation, vehicles will be stopped to check for driver impairment. Should impairment be detected, roadside sobriety testing will be performed on site. Warning devices will be placed in strategic locations for the safety and protection of the public.
Reducing the deaths and injuries associated with impaired drivers is of the utmost importance, says the Florida Highway Patrol. The checkpoints have been successful in removing impaired drivers from public streets and highways.
Highway 29 is a main arterial route for motorist traveling through Escambia County and Century into the state of Alabama, according to the FHP.
The public can report suspected drunk drivers or other traffic hazards 24 hours a day by dialing *FHP (*347) from the cellular phone.
Carver/Century Closure To Be Discussed Today, But No Official Recommendation Today
June 26, 2008
The closure of Carver/Century K-8 School could be discussed at a workshop meeting of the Escambia County School Board this afternoon.
But Superintendent Jim Paul’s expected recommendation to close the school will not officially take place today, Associate Superintendent Ronnie Arnold told NorthEscambia.com
“The meeting…has been advertised as a workshop rather than an official meeting, so no action will be taken,” Arnold said. “It is possible that it will be discussed, but by law no vote can be taken at a workshop.”
Paul announced in a press release on June 17 that he would recommend the closure at the June 26 meeting. But at that time, Paul was under the impression that the June 26 meeting would be a regular advertised meeting at which action could be taken, Arnold said.
This afternoon’s school board workshop will take place at 4:00 in Room 160 at the J.E. Hall Center at 30 East Texar Drive in Pensacola. The meeting is open to the public.
Upcoming School Time Changes Will Not Apply In North Escambia
June 17, 2008
New money saving school start and dismissal times in the works for the next school year will not apply to North Escambia schools.
Shawn Dennis, assistant superintendent for operations, presented the new start times at a school board workshop Monday, but said the changes would not apply to Bratt Elementary, Carver/Century K-8 School, Molino Park Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle or Northview High School.
For the rest of the county:
- Elementary schools would start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m.
- High schools would start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:35 p.m.
- Middle schools would start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:35 p.m.
But there could be some minor time changes for North Escambia students, Associate Superintendent Ronnie Arnold told NorthEscambia.com. The district is proposing adding an additional 30 minutes per day to the elementary schedule. Northview High students could see a minor time change next year as well, as one period is dropped from the daily schedule. Updates to North Escambia school start times will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com.
The start time changes are forecast to save the district an estimated $1.2 million per year by allowing a more efficient use of school buses.
Carver/Century Not To Close This Year
June 16, 2008
NorthEscambia.com has learned that Carver/Century K-8 School will not be closing this year. It will remain open for the 2008-2009 school year.
Superintendent Jim Paul will not formally recommend that school be closed at tomorrow’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board, according to our sources. He was expected to bring the closure up at this afternoon’s workshop meeting of the board later this afternoon, but not recommend the closure. At 8:30 Monday night, that meeting was still ongoing.
We will have more information posted here on NorthEscambia.com as it becomes available this afternoon, and complete coverage Tuesday morning.
Have Something To Buy, Sell Or Trade? Try Our Free Classifieds
June 12, 2008
Don’t forget…NorthEscambia.com has added a classified ad page, and, best of all, personal ads are FREE!
Ads for individuals are free, up to 60 words. They must include a phone number or email address. Items for sale, items to give away, items wanted, pets, cars, trucks, real estate, you name it…you can list it for free on our classifieds page. Ads will run for 10 days, at which time they can be renewed…for FREE!
And for limited time, business ads on our classifieds page are also FREE! Business ads are free until June 16 and will run for one week. Limit two ads per business under the free offer. All ads are subject to approval. After June 16, business ads will be available on the NorthEscambia.com Classifieds for a small charge.
To visit the NorthEscambia.com Classifieds, click here.
Lightning Sparks Water Works Fire
June 11, 2008
An apparent lighting strike sparked an electrical fire Wednesday afternoon at a well house belonging to the Walnut Hill Water Works. The fire, in the 8000 block of Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road, was reported just after 3:00 by a passerby.
The fire was confined to the power meter and electrical boxes on the outside of the building.
NorthEscambia.com will have a complete story and more pictures posted on Thursday morning.
FCAT Results Released Today Are Mixed For Carver/Century
June 10, 2008
The latest round of FCAT scores were released today by the Florida Deparment of Education, and they show mixed results for Carver/Century K-8 School.
Superintendent Jim Paul cited previously released low FCAT scores at Carver/Century as a factor in his upcoming decision whether or not to close Carver/Century.
On the Reading FCAT grades 4-10 released today, Carver/Century improved at every grade level except eighth grade. Some increases were only slight, while some were dramatic percentage wise.
On the Reading FCAT, the fourth grade score improved from 33 to 35 percent scoring a 3.0 or above. The percent at grade level in the fifth grade increased from 29 to 41 percent. In the sixth grade, the percent at grade level increased from 26 to 57 percent. In the seventh grade, the percent at grade level increased slightly from 22 to 26 percent. At the eighth grade level, the percent scoring 3.0 or greater fell from 36 to 18 percent.
On the Science FCAT, the percentage of Carver/Century students at 3.0 grade level or above improved in the fifth grade, at 22 percent, up from 18 percent last year.
On the eighth grade Science FCAT, the percentage of Carver/Century students at grade level or above fell from 29 percent to 11 percent.
NorthEscambia.com will have complete FCAT results for all North Escambia schools posted tomorrow.
Public Meeting To Discuss Carver/Century Tonight
June 10, 2008
The public will get the chance to let a Century committee know their thoughts about the closing of Carver/Century K-8 School tonight.
The town’s blue ribbon committee to save the school will hold a public meeting in the school cafeteria at 6:30 tonight.
Parents and community members will have the opportunity to voice their opinions and their ideas for saving the school.
The committee met behind closed doors with Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul on May 30. NorthEscambia.com was the only media at that meeting.
Paul began that May 30 meeting by telling the Carver/Century supporters that “this is not a decision making meeting,” and said again at the end of the meeting that his mind about a recommendation to close Carver/Century is not made up.
“I want to do what is right for the children of Century, Paul told Century Mayor Freddie Mcall; Blue Ribbon Committee members Laura Nelson, Rev. Willie Carter, Rev. Irvin Stallworth and Brenda Spencer; and Century resident Lina Showalter.
Facing millions in budget cuts, Paul said that the district must look at efficiency and the cost per student at every school. He said that with a principal, assistant principal, a curriculum coordinator and a declining enrollment, Carver/Century is expensive to operate.
“I’ve always been reluctant to close Carver/Century even though the numbers said to close it,” Paul said on May 30. “I continued to keep Carver/Century off the closure list. But when the first grades came out about a month ago, it now became a matter of what is best for the children.” Carver/Century’s FCAT Writing+ score released about a month ago were the worst in the county.
“There are members on the school board that feel strongly that the school should close,” he said. “The school board cannot shut down a school without my recommendation. My staff is recommending that I recommend that the school close. I am here to hear what you have to say before I decide.”
Pictured above: A prayer service for Carver/Century K-8 School was held May 3. Pictured below (L-R): Blue Ribbon Committee members Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Brenda Spencer, Lina Showalter and Rev. Willie Carter listen to Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul at recent meeting at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Bloodmobile Is At Walnut Hill Farm Supply This Afternoon
June 9, 2008
A community blood drive is going on this morning at the Walnut Hill Farm Supply.
The Northwest Florida Blood Services Bloodmobile will be at the store at the intersection of Highway 97 and South Highway 99 until 12:30 p.m.
There is a great need for blood donors of all types according to Sarah Noel from the blood center.
“The need for blood continues to increase as the ability to save and prolong lives increases,” she said. “At the same time the number of donors has not kept pace with the need for blood. Blood cannot be stockpiled. It must be constantly be replenished.”
“We have to ask and ask and ask because the need is very real. Please donate blood for it is the gift of life,” Noel added.
Donors must be in generally good health. Other requirements include:
- At least 17 years of age
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lb
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.