Virtual School Expansion Moves Forward
April 26, 2011
A bill that requires all students in Florida to take one virtual class before graduating and permits kindergarteners to take full-time virtual classes was approved by the Senate Budget Committee on Monday.
The measure (SB 1620) was amended to match a carefully negotiated House version. The Senate bill is now scaled back from its original version, which would have permitted a statewide virtual school with open enrollment to any student in public, private or home schools.
In its amended form, the bill now only permits virtual charter schools and expands the ability of the Florida Virtual School to offer full-time and part-time enrollment to students in grades K-12.
Many Democrats on the committee expressed concern about allowing kindergarteners to take full-time virtual instruction. Bill sponsor Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, defended the bill as likely only attracting a small number of new virtual school students.
“This isn’t just a kindergarten student waking up one day and saying ‘Gee, I want to be in virtual classes,’ ” Flores said. “There will be discussion with parents, of course, and the district as well.”
Other lawmakers said they were concerned about the fiscal impact, which was estimated at over $6 million. A rally will be held on Tuesday to support the bill and its House companion (HB 7197) with Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Mike Haridopolos as well as other lawmakers in attendance.
Small Chance Of Rain Moves Into Forecast
April 25, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Isolated showers early in the evening. Patchy fog late in the night.Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph becoming 5 to10 mph after midnight. Chance of showers 10 percent.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Windy, with a south wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Fog Tonight, Sunny Monday; Rain By Mid Week
April 24, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Windy, with a south wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Easter Services
April 23, 2011
Many events are planned across the North Escambia area for Easter.
If you have an item to add to our list, email news@northescambia.com
EASTER SUNDAY
Molino Community Easter Sunrise Service
Molino area churches will join together for a Community Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m., Sunday, April 24 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Highway 29 just south of Highway 97, Molino.
Atmore Sunrise Service
Presley Street Baptist Church in Atmore will have an Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 24 at 7 a.m.
Atmore Sunrise Service
The First Baptist Church of Atmore will hold an Easter Sunrise Service in Patterson Chapel on Sunday, April 24 at 7 a.m. The public is welcome.
Atmore Sunrise Service
The First Presbyterian Church of Atmore will hold a Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 24 at 6 a.m. in front of the church.
Gonzalez Sunrise Service
Sunrise service, 6 a.m. at Gonzalez United Methodist Church, 2026 Pauline Street, Cantonment.
Beulah Sunrise Service
Sunrise service, 8 a.m. Sunday at Beulah Baptist Church at 5805 Beulah Church Road. Doughnuts and coffee to follow.
Moyeville Easter Service
Moyeville Baptist Church will hold a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. Sunday with Pastor Brett Chancery. Worship service at 11 a.m. Upper Creek Road, Flomaton.
First Baptist Bratt Easter
The First Baptist Church of Bratt Celebration Choir will present “East to West — From One Nail Scarred Hand To The Other” on Sunday, April 24 at 10:15 in the Family Life Center under the direction on Minister of Music Tim Hawsey. Everyone is welcome.
Ray’s Chapel Easter
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church will hold an Easter Celebration with an early service at 8:30 a.m. and a regular morning service at 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday.
Highland Baptist Easter
Highland Baptist Church in Molino will hold an Easter Egg hunt at 9:30 Easter morning. Easter morning worship will be at 10:45 a.m.
Easter Sunday Service- Victory Assembly
At 9:30 at Victory Assembly of God, everyone is welcome for a Human Video by the Impact Student Ministries, music from the children and adult choirs and an Easter message from Pastor Jeff McKee.
Easter Sunday Service – Molino
Easter Sunday Service, Victory Assembly of God Molino, 10:30 a.m., April 24. Easter Choir, Youth drama, Children’s choir. Everyone welcome.
Easter Sunday Services — Dogwood Park
The Dogwood Park Baptist Church will celebrate Easter with a light breakfast at fellowship at 9 a.m., Bible study at 9:30 and worship at 10:30. Everyone is invited.
Living Lord’s Supper
The Atmore First Assembly of God Adult Drama Team will present the Living Lord’s Supper on Sunday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at 1120 South Main Street.
The Resurrection – Atmore
The First Baptist Church of Atmore Sanctuary Choir and Handbell Choir will present The Resurrection on Sunday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Warm Weekend Weather
April 23, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night: Areas of dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Areas of dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Breezy, with a south wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 15 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy and windy, with a high near 85.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Escambia Animal Shelter: Chocolate Bunnies A Better Gift Than Live Ones
April 23, 2011
The bunny in the Easter season movie Hop may grab your kid’s heart, but a live bunny as a house pet may not be a good idea. Animal caregivers say people seem to have gotten the message that baby chicks are not good house pets, but some still want to give kids a cuddly little bunny at Easter.
Dusty Clements, who manages the Escambia County Animal Shelter, urges restraint.
“These people bring these cute little bunnies home – they grow up, they are very powerful. They can, with their claws, cause deep punctures and lacerations,” Clements said.
And when the cuddly little critter reaches puberty, it can get really cranky. Adam Goldfarb, who directs the Humane Society’s “Pets at Risk” program, says most families are unprepared for the changes.
“They might have a very ‘cute’ Easter – but unfortunately, the novelty of having a rabbit and the reality of caring for them long-term, kind-of wears off.”
Rabbits live as long as ten or 12 years, so it may still be hopping around the house when the kids go off to college. Unless your family is ready for that kind of responsibility, the best kind of bunny to give at Easter may be a chocolate one.
Easter Weekend/Spring Break Forecast
April 22, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for Easter weekend and into Spring Break next week:
- Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 85.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Northview Travels To Jay Tonight For District Softball Championship Game
April 21, 2011
The District 1-2A softball championship will be decided tonight between Northview and Jay. The game, originally set for to be played in Freeport, will be easier on the gas money — it has been moved back to Jay at 6 p.m.
Northview easily defeated Baker, district runner-up last year, Tuesday night 10-0, and the Royals beat Ponce de Leon 9-3 to advance to the finals. The Chiefs won the district crown last year, while the Royals last came out on top in 2006.
Looking For A Job? McDonald’s Is Hiring 50,000 Today
April 19, 2011
Several area McDonald’s restaurants will take part in a national hiring day today to fill 50,000 jobs under the golden arches nationwide.
“Our national hiring event is an opportunity to invite more people across the country to join our team, and learn that a McJob is one with career growth and endless possibilities,” said McDonald’s USA President Jan Fields in a company press release.
Nationwide, the company is expected to spend $518 million on the new wages and salaries for positions created by growth and as more restaurants remain open 24 hours a day.
Applicants can apply at any McDonald’s location today — including Atmore and Cantonment — or apply online now at McDonalds.com/careers.
Pictured: The McDonald’s on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Council To Hold Special Meeting, Regular Session Today
April 18, 2011
The Century Town Council will meet twice today.
The council will hold a special meeting at 2:45 with town attorney Matt Dannheisser to consider two resolutions that would approve up to $33 million in bond issues for Sheltering Palms Foundation and Global Ministries Fellowship. The bond would be issued by the Capital Trust Agency, of which Century serves as a “second signature” for the City of Gulf Breeze.
The special meeting will also include discussion on adopting a local business tax ordinance and a report from the town’s mayor on a computer virus.
The Century Town Council’s regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Agenda items include regular discussion, an update to four Community Development Block Grant policies and a budget amendment for the 2010-2011 budget year.
For the special meeting agenda, click here. For the regular meeting agenda, click here.