Alabama Correctional Officer Arrested On Contraband Charges
December 21, 2018
Corrections agents from the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) arrested a correctional officer at the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on Thursday for attempting to smuggle illegal contraband into the prison.
Tony Williams, 34, of Frisco City, was arrested Thursday for prohibited activities and use of office for personal gain.
During a search of the officer’s personal vehicle, a K9 unit alerted on Williams vehicle where authorities found multiple packages containing 10 cell phones. Williams admitted to purchasing the phones with the intention of receiving payment from inmates.
Williams was taken to Escambia County Jail and booked following his arrest. He resigned from his job after more than 10 years with the ADOC.
Escambia County High Atmore Names Mason As New Head Football Coach
December 21, 2018
Scott Mason has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
He replaces Rico Jackson, who has been hired as the new head football coach at Murphy High School in Mobile.
Mason was head football coach and athletic director at Florala High School. He was worked as the offensive coordinator at Faith Academy, Citronell, Vigor and Saraland high schools. He also worked as head coach at Fruitdale High School.
Mason is married and has one son, Turner Mason. In his spare time he enjoys writing, reading and hunting.
Escambia Academy Tops Jay; Tate Girls Beat Gulf Breeze
December 21, 2018
BOYS
Escambia Academy 63, Jay 60
GIRLS
Tate 49, Gulf Breeze 32
Moreisha Thompson led Tate in scoring. Also for Tate: Melanie LeTourneau 14, Nya Craig 7, Tia Pryear 4, Danica Riddell 3, Railee Cook 2, Taylor O’Brien 2.
DeSantis Panel Says Health Innovation Is Needed
December 21, 2018
Supporters of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis want Florida to take a more active role in finding innovative ways to overhaul how health care is delivered in the state.
Health-care executive Alan Levine, who is helping lead a committee set up by the DeSantis transition team to examine health care, said Wednesday the state should consider creating an incubator that would help link research at the state’s universities with the buying power of Florida’s $26 billion Medicaid program. Medicaid is overseen by the Agency for Health Care Administration, which will be directly under the control of the incoming governor.
Levine is a former Agency for Health Care Administration secretary who also sits on the state university system’s Board of Governors.
“This is a great evolutionary opportunity for AHCA to expand its role into innovation,” Levine said. “Maybe it’s a public-private partnership where there is investment funds and ideas brought forward whether they are universities or private entrepreneurs. … AHCA’s in a position to be able to help deploy some of those ideas.”
Levine is not the only member of the health-care transition committee to support an increased role for medical innovation.
Committee member David Maymon sent a memo this week that requested the state create an “innovation center” for the public so people can submit ideas and make recommendation. In addition to the center, Maymon suggested that a seven-member board, with representatives from the governor’s office, the Legislature and health-care providers, meet quarterly to discuss the ideas.
Maymon, founder of Advocate Home Care, said his suggestion stems from his own frustrations with the state.
“On more than one occasion, I have come forward with an idea on how to deliver the health-care model in a more proficient manner that would produce reduced costs and provide better patient outcomes,” he wrote in his memo. “The response was always the same. While it sounds like a good idea, that is not within our ability to change.”
The incoming governor set up the Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness this month, with Wednesday marking the second meeting of the group led by Levine and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nunez.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis talked largely about issues such as his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.
Nunez has said the administration wants to help lower health-care costs while also coming up with long-term improvements to the system, which is one of the largest items in the state’s nearly $90 billion budget
During Wednesday’s meeting, the committee also briefly discussed ways to address a shortage of health-care providers. That triggered a discussion over whether to adopt additional limits on lawsuits.
Audrey Brown, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Health Plans, said the DeSantis administration should examine whether to increase the number of physicians who are covered by a state no-risk pool.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Driver Rolls Over On Highway 97
December 20, 2018
There was no word on any injuries following a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday morning.
It was reported about 8 a.m. on Highway 97 about 1.5 miles south of Tungoil Road, but the exact time of the crash was not known.
The driver was not at the scene when first responders arrived on scene. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Minutes Remain Unapproved For Months Due To Theft, Staff Errors
December 20, 2018
The Town of Century still does not have council minutes approved for meetings dating back three months — partially due to a reported document theft and partially due to staff errors.
This week, the council approved minutes for multiple meetings dating back to mid-August. But no minutes have been submitted to the council for two regular meetings in September because the town clerk’s notes are still missing.
On November 27, Town Clerk Kim Godwin filed a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stating that on November 27 she discovered a memory card containing audio recordings of council meetings was missing, along with her written notes.
On December 4, assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com that most of the items were located by Godwin.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said this week the notes are still missing that pertained to the September regular council meetings.
Monday night, the council declined to approve minutes for October 15, November 5 and November 19. Brooks said the draft minutes contained “many, many errors.” Errors she cited including incorrect resolution numbers that were considered or passed by the council.
At a November 19 town council meeting, Brooks warned Godwin that someone could go to jail for violating the Sunshine Law, which stipulates minutes should be prepared “promptly.”
Godwin was not present at Monday night’s council meeting.
Northview Principal Gayle Weaver Retiring
December 20, 2018
Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver has announced her retirement.
“I am officially retiring,” Weaver said Thursday. “I would like to thank everybody for everything they have always done. Great parents, great students, great community.”
“Please keep supporting Northview High School. Get out, volunteer, help in the booster clubs, help anyway you can,” she said. “This is a great place because of the people. I’ve enjoyed it here … thank you very much. It’s been a great quarter of a century.”
After teaching in Alabama, Weaver joined the Escambia County School District in 1989 as a teacher at Ernest Ward High School. She became assistant principal at Ernest Ward in 1992, and was named principal of the new Northview High School in 1994.
Weaver is the only person to have served as Northview’s principal since the school opened in 1995.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins has been named Northview’s interim principal for the remainder of the school year. The position will be advertised for a permanent replacement.
Pictured top: Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver with the school’s 2012 1A State Championship team in Orlando. Pictured below: Weaver comes face to face with a BMX bicycle jumping over her during a 2016 program at the school. Pictured bottom: Weaver during a recent graduation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Neglect And Exploitation Of Elderly Man
December 20, 2018
A Cantonment woman has been charged with neglect and exploitation of an elderly man.
Dona Josephine Moyer, 68, was charged with neglecting an elderly person and exploitation of the elderly.
Moyer was the alleged victim’s court appointed guardian, according to an arrest report. She allegedly failed to provide medical care and supervision for the 66-year disabled man. He had reportedly not seen his primary care physician for two years, and needed medication had not been refilled since August of 2017.
ECUA Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule
December 20, 2018
For the holiday season, ECUA collections will be as follows:
Escambia County
All of the ECUA sanitation collections in Escambia County (garbage, recycling an yard trash) will be made one day later than normally scheduled during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s.
Santa Rosa County
There will be no collections on Tuesday, December 25 or Tuesday, January 1. Tuesday recycling collections for our Santa Rosa County customers will be made on Wednesday, December 26 and January 2, 2019, respectively for each holiday week.
Christmas Tree Collections in Escambia and Santa Rosa
ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties may place real wreaths and Christmas trees at the curb with their regular yard waste collection. Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees before placing them at the curb, and to ensure that trees, or portions thereof, are no more than 6 feet in length. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash and should not be placed in the recycling cans or green garbage containers.
For more information, call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Byrneville Elementary Considers Bond Issue For $7 Million Building Project
December 20, 2018
The Byrneville Elementary School Board of Directors is continuing to explore financing options for a $7 million building and renovation project.
Thursday, the board met with Capital Trust Agency (CTA), an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. CTA is located in Gulf Breeze, with Gulf Breeze and Century signing off on CTA projects. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations. No funding comes from the or is approved by the municipalities; it is directly from CTA.
“You are family to us; we are going to assist you anyway we can,” CTA Executive Director Ed Gray said. “We are not going to charge you our usual fees. We are just going to offer advice through the process, whether that is a bank or CTA.”
CTA has financed numerous charter schools in Florida.
The Byrneville Elementary Board is also considering the use of bank financing using the New Market Tax Credits program, part of a federal tax credit program enacted by Congress in 2000, designed to stimulate private investment in low income urban neighborhoods and rural communities.
The charter school is considering expansions and improvements including classrooms and a new cafetorium, in addition to improvements to their main building.
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School. Pictured inset: Capital Trust Agency Executive Director Ed Gray address the Byrneville Elementary School Board of Directors Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Byrneville Elementary board members Cheryl Boutwell, Melanie Killam and Brandy Carter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.