Tate Lady Aggies Win West Florida JV Showdown For Fourth Consecutive Year
February 24, 2019
The junior varsity Tate Lady Aggies won the 2019 West Florida Tech JV Showdown Saturday night. This was the fourth consecutive year the Lady Aggies have claimed the championship. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Beekeepers Association Holds Annual Seminar In Molino
February 24, 2019
The North Escambia Beekeepers Association held its annual seminar Saturday at the Molino Community Center. Courses were offered for participants of all skill levels, including lectures from University of Florida experts. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commission Honors World Champ NEP Wildcats
February 24, 2019
Earlier this month, the Escambia County Commission honored the 2018 Northeast Pensacola Wildcats 9-Under team for winning their first World Youth Football Championship. The NEP Wildcats beat the Bonny Lake (Washington) Raptors 36-0 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on December 16. The Raptors were unable to to make a first down during the entire game.
Allowing just 12 points the during their season, the 9-U Wildcats were 14-0.
The NEP 11-Under team also played for a national championship in Canton, but fell to the Lousiville (Kentucky) Jaguars 37-8. They outscored their opponents 395-62 points during their season.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: A Sobering Reminder
February 24, 2019
Hate crimes are real. Just ask state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith.
Chicago’s police chief is accusing “Empire” star Jussie Smollett of using the “advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career” by paying two men to stage an attack on him last month.
The allegations concerning Smollett, who is black and gay, sparked an international avalanche of commentary and ignited concerns that reports of the bogus attack could have a chilling effect on victims of hate-related violence.
Smith, an Orlando Democrat who is gay, is turning the controversy into a teachable moment, by sharing his own experience as the survivor of an assault.
While a student at the University of Central Florida, Smith and his friend, Heath Frank, were beaten up at a keg party by a man who repeatedly called his two victims “faggots” after he was arrested, according to a police report.
“I decided to finally tell this very deeply personal story because the reality is that hate crimes are real. Homophobia is real. Bigotry is real. And hate violence is on the rise against many groups. Anti-Semitism is on the rise. Hate violence against transgender women of color is on the rise, especially in Florida,” Smith said in a telephone interview.
Smith took to Twitter on Thursday about his experience as a survivor of “senseless hate violence,” posting a picture of his battered face and a police report of the incident.
The attacker, identified as Eduardo Alessandro Mongio in court documents provided by Smith, was “lingering around” and “acting kind of weird” at a crowded keg party, Smith said.
After beating up Frank, the attacker confronted Smith.
“I didn’t know what was going on. But I got banged up pretty bad. When the dust settled, everyone was telling me about how the guy was making all these homophobic slurs about our group, because hey, listen, we travel in cliques. We queer people, we stick together,” Smith said. “I don’t remember if the guy was drunk or what his deal was, but he started lashing out. It was like a full-fledged gay-bashing.”
Smith said he “felt compelled to speak out” as the controversy around Smollett exploded.
“I don’t know what the outcome is going to become of the Jussie Smollett case. But I can already see there’s a narrative out there that hate crimes aren’t real. No. They are. And they’re on the rise. Especially with the election of Donald Trump, who wears hate for other groups on his sleeve,” he said.
SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
Measures that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana are headed to the House and Senate floors as legislative leaders iron out differences in their plans.
Lawmakers moved closer to agreement Thursday, after the House Appropriations Committee eliminated a proposal that would have restricted medical marijuana dispensaries to selling pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes with filters.
After making the change, the committee approved the House version of the smokable-marijuana bill (HB 7015). But unlike the Senate’s bill, the House version would not allow dispensaries to sell other whole-flower products.
The Senate proposal (SB 182) would require medical marijuana operators to sell at least one type of pre-rolled, filterless cigarette and allow them to sell other whole-flower products. It also would let patients buy equipment to smoke cannabis products from other retail outlets, such as smoke shops.
The House plan would ban children from smoking, while the Senate measure would allow minors to smoke medical marijuana if patients get a second opinion from a pediatrician.
Both proposals are ready for floor votes after the annual legislative session starts March 5.
Shortly after he was sworn into office last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis gave lawmakers until March 15 to address the smoking issue. If they don’t act, the Republican governor threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court ruling that said the ban violates a voter-approved constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana.
Leaders in both chambers remained confident they would finalize a deal in time to meet the governor’s deadline.
“At each committee stop, I believe the two chambers have moved closer. I think by the time we put the bills on the floor, we will have them aligned,” House sponsor Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, told reporters after Thursday’s meeting.
Rodrigues said he expects the full House to vote on the proposal by the end of the first week of session.
Whether patients under age 18 should be allowed to smoke remains the biggest sticking point for the House, according to Rodrigues.
“We don’t believe children should be smoking medical marijuana,” he said.
The Senate’s biggest issue, meanwhile, is allowing patients to access whole-flower products other than pre-rolled joints.
Rep. Ralph Massullo, a Lecanto Republican who is a dermatologist, pointed out that marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug under federal law and that a paucity of research exists related to smoking cannabis as a treatment.
By allowing smoking as a route of administration, “we’re basically letting the tail wag the dog,” he warned.
But, said Massullo, “It’s solving problems, and that’s what we need to do.”
“CHOICE” EDUCATION PLANS
Top Senate Republicans on Thursday released details of a package that would bring significant changes to the state’s education system, most notably through an expansion of school choice.
The package would expand private school options for students, bolster security measures in schools and overhaul a program for teacher bonuses.
The series of proposals, which will be filed next week, are aligned with what DeSantis has proposed, including a pitch for a new voucher-type program funded directly with public money rather than through a system that involves corporate tax credits.
The Senate and the Republican governor want to create the voucher program to help reduce a waiting list of roughly 14,000 low-income students in the existing Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. In that program, corporations receive tax credits for contributions to non-profit organizations, which, in turn, pay for children to go to private schools.
Senate Education Chairman Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, said the eligibility requirements between the Senate and the governor’s proposals for the new program are “very similar.” But details will have to be worked out during the legislative session.
“My plan is to provide relief for these kids who are on a waitlist and those parents who want to provide a better education for their child,” Diaz said. “We start with the premise that every child is different … and what works for one child may not work for another.”
Senate Democrats slammed the package for putting taxpayer dollars into a voucher program that benefits private schools.
“The latest move is not only an abandonment of the traditional public-school system in Florida but an abandonment of the constitutional obligation to fully fund a ‘high quality system of free public schools’ that has been built over generations by the people, for the people,” said Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The House and Senate are getting closer to agreement on a plan that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We really don’t know what we’re doing.” — Rep. Ralph Massullo, a dermatologist, referring to a lack of scientific research about the effects of smoking medical marijuana on patients.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Woman Injured As Kitchen Fire Damages Walnut Hill Home
February 23, 2019
A woman was injured as kitchen fire damaged a home in Walnut Hill just before midnight Friday.
The fire in the 8000 block of Pine Forest Road, at the intersection of Arthur Brown Road, was reportedly cooking related.
A 40-year old female resident was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital suffering from minor burns and minor smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control in the 2,500 square foot brick home and work to evacuate smoke from the residence.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Shoe Drive Far Exceeds Goal To Help Train Service Dogs For Veterans
February 23, 2019
Ransom Middle School more than tripled their goal in a recent shoe drive.
They had set a goal to collect 100 pairs of shoes to benefit Healing Paws for Warriors, a group that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to become service dogs for veterans.
But the shoes just kept walking in. Pair after pair after pair.
When the counting was done, the 35 students that started Kicks for a Cause had collected 366 pairs of shoes.
Kicks for a Cause is a shoe drive created by librarian Crystal Roberts and her student book club members for Acts of Kindness Week. Healing Paws will receive $10 for every 25 pairs of donated shoes, helping the organization with the $5,000 cost to train a service dog.
The donated shoes will also be used to help needy people in 24 Third World countries.
The students held a small event Friday morning to announce their results and to thank students and the community for the donations, and to thank WEAR 3 and NorthEscambia.com for supporting the shoe drive with media coverage.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Very Special Mardi Gras Parade (With Photo Gallery)
February 23, 2019
A very special Mardi Gras parade was held Friday morning for the special needs students of Escambia Westgate School.
With plenty of beads, Moon Pies, stuffed animals and smiles, the parade rolled through the school parking lot for students that might not otherwise be able to attend a regular Mardi Gras parade.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prep Softball, Baseball Roundup (With Northview vs. Catholic Gallery)
February 23, 2019
High school scores from Friday:
BASEBALL
- Northview 7, Pensacola High 2
- Catholic 13, Northview 1
The Northview Chiefs beat Pensacola High 7-2 Friday afternoon. In the nightcap, Pensacola Catholic led with a homer on the way to a 13-1 win over the Chiefs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview’s JV will open the regular season with a doubleheader Monday at Escambia beginning at 4:00. The JV will be in action again Tuesday at W.S. Neal at 4:00, and the varsity Chiefs open play at 6:30 also at W.S. Neal.
- Tate 10, Escambia 0
- Tate 12, Washington 1
The Tate Aggies shut out the Escambia Gators 10-0, and the Aggies beat Washington 12-1 in preseason action Friday.
Darrien McDowell led on the mound for the Aggies against Escambia, striking out six and allowing no hits and no runs in three innings. Mason Land went 3-4 at the plate, and Raymond Lafleur homered.
Land homered in the first as the Aggies drove past Washington. Land drove in four on two hits. Land and Cole Fryman also had a couple of hits each.
Preseason action for the Tate Aggies will continue at 4:00 Saturday afternoon against Washington at West Florida
The JV Aggies open their regular season Monday at 6:30 as they host Gulf Breeze, and the varsity Aggies open away on Tuesday at 6:00 at West Florida
SOFTBALL
- Northview 7, Crestview 4
- Northview 13, Crestview 1 (JV)
The Northview Lady Chiefs hit the road Friday to beat Crestview 7-4. The junior varsity Lady Chiefs beat Crestview 13-1. The JV Chiefs were coming off a 13-3 three inning run-rule win over Flomaton on Thursday.
Northview will host the T.R. Miller Tigers Tuesday at 4:00 for JV and 6:00 for varsity.
Pictured: Catholic at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Annual Blue Jacket Jamboree Receives $2.5K From Escambia County
February 23, 2019
The upcoming Northview High School FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree will receive a $2,500 contribution from Escambia County.
The Northview FFA requested funding for the event that benefits students with scholarships and transportation funding for state and national conventions. This event continues to grow every year, attracting over 1,000 people annually, according to the county.
The Escambia County Commission approved a request by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry for $2,500 in funds for the Blue Jacket Jamboree from his $50,000 annual discretionary funding.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree will be held Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Escambia County 4-H Facility off South Highway 99 in Molino.
Pictured top: An Easter egg drop during the 2018 Blue Jacket Jamboree in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Lifted For 365 Center Water Works Customers
February 23, 2019
A precautionary boil water notice has been lifted for about 365 Century Water Works Customers. The utility said bacterial testing showed the water is safe to drink.
The notice was issued due to a broken water main discovered about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of North Century Boulevard.