Bratt Elementary School Names December Students Of The Month
December 23, 2018
Bratt Elementary School has named students of the month for December. They are:
Pre-K
Makenna Smith
Breanna Campbell
Kindergarten
Paisley Emmons
Luke Kohen
Bella Coy
Dillan Stuart
1st Grade
Lucas Daniel
Cameron Gipson
Madalynn Lowery
Maryann Tedder
Trevor Knighten
2nd Grade
Pryce Flowers
Denis Lambeth
Maybree Johnson
Raieny Nelson
3rd Grade
Brody Hall
Trinity Bryan
Emma Grimes
Levi Peters
Chole Satterwhite
4th Grade
Amara Campbell
Melissa Wilson
Kaylee Long
5th Grade
Aakira Davis
Reagan Peebles
Jasmine Zisa
Cloie Pickern
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: A Little Something Extra In The State’s Stocking
December 23, 2018
State economists came bearing gifts this week when they approved a fiscal forecast showing key revenue sources experiencing robust growth.
Projected increases in sales-tax and corporate income-tax collections, the two largest sources of state general revenue, will provide some maneuvering room for the Legislature and incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis as they work on a new budget this spring.
In contrast, Gov. Rick Scott started off his rookie year in 2011 facing revenue shortfalls and the need to preach fiscal austerity, as the state continued its recovery from the economic recession.
DeSantis should have an easier time and will likely benefit from the expected budget largesse. He faces an early February deadline for advancing his first budget proposal for the 2019 legislative session, which begins in March.
In another fiscal bonus, state analysts said this week that fewer students than expected are showing up in Florida’s kindergarten-to-high-school system. A new report projects that lawmakers will only have to accommodate just under 12,000 additional K-12 students in the coming year, which again should provide some financial relief in budget negotiations.
REV UP THE REVENUES
With the unexpected surge in tax collections, analysts on Tuesday projected a significant increase in state revenue over two years.
State revenue collections during the fiscal year that started July 1 have been running $365.2 million ahead of projections, which were last revised in August. The two largest components of that increase were $173.5 million in sales-tax collections running ahead of estimates and $126 million in additional corporate income-tax collections.
The sales tax, which generates about $26 billion a year, and the corporate income tax, which generates about $2.2 billion, are the two largest general revenue sources in the state budget. General revenue taxes are closely watched in the Capitol because they play a key role in funding schools, health programs and prisons.
Based on the tax collections, the analysts boosted their general-revenue projections by $842 million over two years, with a $461.5 million increase in 2018-2019 and a $380.5 million increase in 2019-2020.
In reading the consensus report, Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, noted the $842 million adjustment has come at the same time analysts have adopted state and national economic forecasts that show some weakening in key economic factors.
“While this is the largest combined (two-year) increase since April 2006, during the peak of the housing boom, the conference recognizes that there is an elevated level of risk due to the mature stage of the current economic expansion,” Baker said.
Nonetheless, the new estimates show the state should collect an additional $1.48 billion in general revenue this year, a 4.8 percent increase over the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The new 2019-2020 general revenue projection is 3.1 percent, or $1.01 billion, higher than this year.
A TALLAHASSEE LEGEND PASSES
Thomas Kent “T.K.” Wetherell was remembered Friday as an athlete, an academic, a clever legislator, a crafty dealmaker and a country boy who could be colorful with his words.
The former state House speaker from Daytona Beach who went on to become president of his alma mater, Florida State University, was noted for having four “F’s” in his life: faith, family, friends and FSU, in that order except on Saturdays when the school’s football team played.
Wetherell was also known for his love of country music, fried food, Blue Bell ice cream, NASCAR, hunting and fishing, said Bill Smith, president and CEO of Capital City Bank who is involved with the Florida State Athletic Board and The Florida State University Student Investment Fund.
“He played that country boy up naturally, but it was a disguise,” Smith said. “He was always three steps ahead of the crowd. The boy was smart.”
Wetherell, who served as speaker from 1990 to 1992, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Wetherell, who would have turned 73 on Saturday, attended Florida State on a football scholarship from 1963 to 1967, while earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the school.
Wetherell went on to serve in the House from 1980 to 1992 and had a long career in education. He was provost and dean at Daytona State College and an associate professor of education at Bethune-Cookman University before becoming president of Tallahassee Community College in 1995. He served as FSU president from 2003 to 2010.
CORCORAN RETURNS
The Florida Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved the appointment of former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as the next state education commissioner.
Corcoran, a Land O’Lakes attorney who served as a Republican House speaker from 2016 until last month, will succeed Pam Stewart, a veteran educator who has led the Department of Education since 2013. Stewart will step down on Jan. 8.
The appointment of Corcoran, who has scant education experience but a lengthy political resume, was all but assured when DeSantis announced his support for the former lawmaker. As speaker, Corcoran made a top priority of expanding charter schools and using voucher-like programs to send students to private schools.
“Richard will be a bold leader committed to the success of students, parents, and teachers,” DeSantis said in a congratulatory tweet on Monday.
Corcoran has clashed with the Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union. In part, he backed a law that will force local teachers’ unions to disband if their membership falls below 50 percent of the employees they represent in the collective-bargaining process.
Fedrick Ingram, president of the union, said he was “disappointed” in the state board’s decision but is hoping for a more “collaborative” relationship with Corcoran. The union has invited Corcoran to visit schools to see successful programs, which Corcoran said he would like to do.
“If you don’t bring all stakeholders to the table, then our children are in the balance,” Ingram said.
Ingram said teachers want Corcoran to address issues like the amount of testing students face, class sizes and the need to recruit and retain teachers.
“The fact that he is not an educator doesn’t mean he can’t do the job. But he’s got some learning to do,” Ingram said.
Corcoran said he is a strong supporter of traditional public schools as well as being an advocate for “choice” programs like charter schools and vouchers.
He said his initial agenda as commissioner would mirror policies outlined by DeSantis in this year’s gubernatorial campaign. The priorities include the expansion of vocational and technical programs, curriculum improvements, revising education standards and making sure 80 percent of education funding is spent in classrooms.
“Those are bold, optimistic visions on (the governor’s) part. I share it,” Corcoran said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Florida Board of Education unanimously approved former House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, to be the next education commissioner.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The fact that he is not an educator doesn’t mean he can’t do the job. But he’s got some learning to do,” said Fedrick Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association, about Corcoran’s appointment.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger
Escambia Jail Collects Hundreds Of Toys For Toys For Tots
December 23, 2018
The Escambia County Jail Division donated 244 toys to Toys for Tots this year. They began their collection the week of Thanksgiving and continued into December. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Couple Charged After Children Found Living In Squalor
December 22, 2018
A Cantonment couple was arrested after authorities found two children living in squalor.
Camie Denean Linton, 36, and Robert Clinton Wooten, 37, were each charged with two counts of felony child abuse.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded after the Department of Children and Families requested a welfare check due to possible child neglect.
Deputies found “a deplorable residence with black mold on the ceiling and walls,” according to a Sheriff’s Office report. They also found cans of rotting food with insects, floors completely covered with piles of clothing and trash, food containers with flying insects inside, and a syringe in a Styrofoam cup that was covered with spider webs, according to the report. The electricity did not work in parts of the residence.
The children’s grandmother told deputies that the children did not have any food and would beg her to bring them food.
DCF took custody of the children and placed them with another family member.
Linton and Wooten remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $10,000 each.
Cantonment Man Appears On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
December 22, 2018
A Cantonment man appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” Friday night.
Curt Bell didn’t win the million dollars, instead he won $5,000 after missing the $10,000 question.
“What country’s second-largest city is named for Mount Royal, which sits right smack in the middle that city?” He answered Switzerland, but the correct answer was Canada (the city is Montreal).
Bell is a Flomaton High School graduate and has taught math the school since 2010.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kids Receive New Bikes From The Escambia Sheriff’s Office
December 22, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office presented 30 new bicycles to children Friday.
The recipients were identified by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Students had to know how to ride a bike, have good academic achievements, and good behavior. Thirty children received bicycles and helmets Friday courtesy of Academy Sports.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Tate Band Do All Of Your Gift Wrapping
December 22, 2018
The Tate Band Showband of the South will be wrapping gifts for donations at Walmart on Highway 29 in Ensley through Christmas Eve. Look for the big white tent near the entrance.
Tate Band Gift Wrap Schedule:
Sunday, Dec. 23rd – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 24th – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Pictured. Tate band moms wrapping gifts outside Walmart in Ensley. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections Schedules Holiday Visitations
December 22, 2018
The Florida Department of Corrections will hold visitation for Christmas Day on December 25 and visitation for New Year’s Day on January 1.
Weekend visitation will take place on December 22-23 and December 29-30. Visitation will not be allowed on December 24 or December 31 regardless of state office closures.
Following the holiday season, visitation will resume regular schedule.
Scott: Escambia Area Creates New Jobs
December 22, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that the Pensacola area added 3,600 new private-sector jobs in the past year, making the total number of new private-sector jobs created in Pensacola 25,100 since December 2010. The area’s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in November, down 0.8 percentage point in the past year. Statewide, Florida businesses created 23,000 new jobs in November bringing the total number of new private-sector jobs created in Florida to 1,673,500 since December 2010.
The industries with the highest growth over the year in the Pensacola area were leisure and hospitality with 1,100 new jobs and government with 1,100 new jobs. In November, Pensacola had 6,219 job openings and of those, 1,810 were for high-skill, high-wage STEM jobs in November.
Florida’s unemployment rate of 3.3 percent represents a drop of 7.5 percentage points since December 2010; this drop is faster than the national decline of 5.6 percentage points.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Selling Drugs From Hotel Room Where His Kids Were Sleeping
December 22, 2018
An Escambia County man that was selling drugs from a Highway 29 motel hotel room has been convicted.
Tony Kwabena Lovelace was convicted of one count of trafficking in heroin, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, two counts of child neglect and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
On May 7, 2018, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators served a search warrant at a hotel room at the Luxury Suites on Pensacola Boulevard. An investigation began after information was received that Lovelace was selling heroin from the hotel room. Lovelace, an unknown female, and Lovelace’s two young children were located in the hotel room, along with more than 19 grams of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and over $6,600 in cash.
Lovelace’s two children were asleep in the bed near the controlled substances. Lovelace is a convicted felon and has a criminal history that includes several prior convictions for possession of controlled substances with intent to sell.
Circuit Judge Stephen Pitre scheduled sentencing for December 31, 2018.
Lovelace faces a maximum of seventy years in State Prison. She faces at least a 15 year minimum mandatory (day for day) sentence on the count of trafficking in heroin.