Open House Tonight At Northview High School
September 14, 2010
The annual open house will be held this evening at Northview High School.
The Open House will a bit different than in years past. Parents will report to the theater at 6 p.m. for a brief opening presentation and then attend mini-sessions in the school.
There will be four mini-sessions as follows:
- Parent Portal — the online parent portal will be demonstrated in the media center
- Vocational — in the cafeteria, with refreshments
- Reading, math, science, history, reading, language arts — Room 218
- Music, art, ROTC, P.E., Journalism — theater
Parents will be given instructions on attending the mini-sessions during the opening presentation.
Pictured: Parents and students attend Open House last year at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Relay For Life Committee Meeting Tonight
September 14, 2010
A Century Relay for Life committee meeting will be held tonight.
Anyone interested on serving on the committee is welcome to attend. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Century Library.
Teams may also sign up online at www.CenturyRelay.com. For more information, contact event chair Jacke Johnston (850) 336-2091.
Vinson To Hear Federal Health Care Lawsuit Beginning Today
September 14, 2010
Escambia County will take center stage this week in the fight over the federal health care law that consumed Congress for the better part of a year, and along with it, so will a Pensacola judge who is no stranger to hot button issues.
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson, a Reagan nominee to the bench who presided over two high profile abortion clinic violence cases in the 1980s and 1990s, will hear oral arguments on the U.S. Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed against the health care law by Florida and 18 other states on Tuesday.
The arguments will include Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Pensacola courtroom.
The plaintiffs, the states, argue that the health care law illegally requires all citizens and legal residents to have health care coverage or pay a tax penalty, which they say is a violation the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. The plaintiffs also say the law runs afoul of the states’ rights guaranteed in the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The defendant, the U.S. Justice Department, counters that overturning the health care law would unduly expand judicial review of Congress and other government branches. More specially, the DOJ argues that Congress has the power to determine how federal money appropriated for Medicaid may be spent and can give states an option of setting up their own health exchanges or having the federal government do so.
Sorting it all out will be Vinson, a senior judge at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola.
Vinson, who was nominated to the federal bench in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, has indicated he knows the legal world will be waiting for his verdict, but that it will almost certainly be immediately appealed no matter which way he comes down. The case is widely expected to end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, which means a final legal decision could take years.
Other than the timing and allowing the arguments on the merits of the case to be heard, Vinson has not said much about the non-jury proceeding. But Ben Gordon, a Fort Walton Beach lawyer who clerked for him from 2000-2002, said Vinson will likely keep the lawyers from both sides on their toes.
“He will be a very intelligent judge who does a lot of his own work,” Gordon said, which made clerking for Vinson “interesting because he wouldn’t just rely on what I and other clerks told him.”
“He’ll educate himself and have read all the key cases,” Gordon said. “I anticipate he’ll ask probing questions on both sides. It’ll be interesting to watch. I believe he will have some questions the lawyers might not anticipate. He’ll be that engaged in this.”
Vinson, 70, is no stranger to cases involving issues at the center of national debates. In 1985, Vinson sentenced two men, Matt Goldsby and James Simmons, to 10 years in prison for their role in bombing an abortion clinic, though he made them eligible for early parole and gave Goldsby’s fiancée and Simmons’ wife, who were convicted of conspiracy, to five years probation. Nobody was killed in the bombing.
Vinson also presided over the federal trial of Paul Hill, who was convicted and later executed for the 1994 murders of a Pensacola abortion provider and a volunteer escort at an abortion clinic. Hill was sentenced to death in state court, but Vinson sentenced him to two additional life terms for violating the federal clinic access law. Hill was executed in 2003.
In 1988, Vinson also made news when he overturned an Escambia County ban on the film The Last Temptation of Christ.
Vinson also dismissed a case in 1998 that was brought by Medal of Honor winner Bud Day of Fort Walton Beach, who sued the government on behalf of military retirees who said they weren’t getting promised adequate medical care.
More recently, Vinson has been a visiting judge in Texas, where he has heard the case of a federal judge in Houston who was charged with sexually harassing female court employees.
By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
Record Heat Sunday, Cooler Weather This Week
September 13, 2010
After record high temperatures along the Gulf Coast Sunday, there will be a little heat relief this week after the passage of a weak cold front.
Mobile set a record high temperature Sunday of 95 degrees, while Pensacola set a record high of 96. Around the North Escambia area, high temperatures on Sunday were: Walnut Hill – 94; Bratt – 95; Molino – 94; Atmore – 94; Jay 95.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Century Meetings Tonight: Grant Application And Council
September 13, 2010
The Town of Century will hold a public hearing tonight at 6:30 at the town hall to consider a recommendation from the Century Recreation Advisory Committee to submit a grant application for Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program funds to complete development of the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex (formerly known as the Showalter Park Expansion Project).
The hearing will also be to solicit public input and comment regarding the submission of the grant application in order to enhance recreational opportunities for the residents of the town.
The meeting will precede a regular council meeting at 7:00. Tonight’s council meeting was rescheduled from September 6, the Labor Day holiday.
Hurricane Igor Now A Category 4
September 12, 2010
Hurricane Igor became a category 4 storm Sunday afternoon as winds topped 135 mph, and the National Hurricane Center continues to monitor another tropical depression that is expected to strengthen.
Hurricane Igor is in the central Atlantic is not currently a threat to land. The storm is expected to turn to the west-northwest by Tuesday, possibly becoming a threat to Bermuda.
A tropical depression was located just off the coast of Africa, and expected to become a tropical storm by Monday. Complete information on both systems can be found in the graphics on this page.
Cold Front Moving Across Gulf
September 12, 2010
An early season cold front will move across the area today and be offshore by late tonight — bringing slightly cooler and drier air.
The front won’t bring real fall air, but it will result in lower overnight temperatures in the 60’s and highs in the upper 80’s to lower 90’s. The front’s biggest bonus will be lower humidity.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Hot Saturday, Rain Moving Back Into The Forecast
September 11, 2010
It’s going to be a hot Saturday except for those that get a cooling afternoon shower. The heat index will climb to near 105 this afternoon. Rain chances will increase for Sunday as a cold front brings better weather for next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Highest heat index readings around 105 in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night…Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Sunday Night…Partly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows in the mid 60s. North winds around 5 mph.
- Monday…Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
- Monday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
- Tuesday…Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
- Tuesday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s.
- Wednesday…Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 90s.
- Wednesday Night…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
- Thursday…Partly cloudy. Highs around 90.
- Thursday Night…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
- Friday…Partly cloudy. Highs around 90.
Tonight’s Prep Football Schedule
September 10, 2010
Here is a schedule of area prep football games tonight in the North Escambia area.
Remember, if you are attending a game, we encourage you to email us scores, stats and/or photos tonight to news@northescambia.com.
Florida
- Northview at South Walton
- Holmes County at Jay
- Tate at Pensacola
- Escambia High at West Florida
- Washington at Pine Forest
Alabama
- J.U. Blacksher at Flomaton
- Escambia County (Atmore) at UMS-Wright Prep
- Marengo at Escambia Academy
- Excel at T.R. Miller
- Jackson @ W.S. Neal
9-11 Breakfast To Honor Police, Fire, Public Officials
September 10, 2010
There will be a 9-11 breakfast Saturday morning for all fire, police and public officials.
The breakfast will take place at the Little Escambia Baptist Church at 445 Highway 113 in Flomaton at 7 a.m.