Mad Scientist Night At Kingsfield Elementary (With Gallery)
October 26, 2018
Thursday was Mad Scientist Night at Kingsfield Elementary School.
It was night of madness for students, family members and faculty. From dry ice smoke to spider webs, from pumpkin oobleck to building with “bones” (AKA Q-tips), students got to experiment and create for a couple of hours of scientific wonder and adventure.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteer Sought For FloridaWest Board of Directors
October 26, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment on the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business Friday, November 2. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
Woman Writes Bad Checks, Embezzles Rent, Buys $81K In Goods
October 26, 2018
An Escambia County woman is headed to prison for allegedly writing bad checks and embezzling money to purchase items that included a vehicle.
Jessica Harring was sentenced to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to organized fraud and grand theft.
Greyhound Racing Ban Goes To Florida Voters
October 26, 2018
This is part of a series of stories in advance of the November 6 general election.
Amid a sharply partisan backdrop overshadowing nearly everything else on the ballot, Florida voters are being asked this year to settle a long-running dispute that could result in the elimination of dog racing in the state.
Among a long list of proposed constitutional amendments is a measure that, if passed, would end greyhound races at dog tracks by the end of 2020. Florida is one of a handful of places in the country with dog racing, and passage of the amendment would be a serious blow for an industry that has been in the state for decades.
The proposed ban, placed on the ballot by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, has drawn support from Democrats and Republicans.
“So many things these days are partisan,” said Kate MacFall, state director of The Humane Society of the United States and co-chair of the Yes on 13 campaign. “This is really refreshing because it’s bipartisan.”
But bipartisan support doesn’t mean universal support for what is known as Amendment 13.
The measure is opposed by the Florida Greyhound Association, which represents owners and breeders in the racing industry. It is also opposed by a coalition of farmers and sportsmen who contend the proposal is broader than banning dog racing because it includes language that declares, “The humane treatment of animals is a fundamental value of the people of the state of Florida.”
Groups opposed to the amendment sued to try to get the measure stricken from the Nov. 6 ballot. And while a lower court judge sided with them, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that Amendment 13 be placed back on the ballot. The measure would require approval from 60 percent of the voters to pass.
The battle over the amendment has drawn fierce debate from people on both sides, with advocates arguing that racing dogs are often injured or mistreated.
Sonia Stratemann, 46, a supporter of the amendment, started taking in injured greyhounds in 2003. She first worked with friends but eventually launched her own adoption agency called Elite Greyhound Adoption in Palm Beach County.
In the 15 years since initially getting involved, Stratemann estimates that she has saved about 2,300 dogs. She said she has seen health conditions that run the gamut and dogs covered with fleas and usually missing patches of fur.
Stratemann said she initially chose not to publicly share the condition of the dogs or how she contends they were treated. But she said she was “outed” by her daughter, Maya Stratemann, who on her 18th birthday turned to social media to help raise funds for a greyhound who needed surgery.
“The industry went crazy,” she recalled.
A prominent spokesman for the industry is Jack Cory, a lobbyist for the Florida Greyhound Association.
Cory maintains that Grey2K USA Worldwide — one of the groups backing the amendment — is using the ballot initiative as a fundraising tool. Grey2K works to eliminate greyhound racing and promote the rescue and adoption of greyhounds.
“They are the same groups that put the sad puppy commercials on TV, this false information for fundraising,’’ Cory said. “But they don’t take care any of any animals in Florida.”
Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA, disputed Cory’s arguments.
“He is desperately trying to change the subject because he has lost the debate over greyhound confinement and racetrack deaths,” Theil said in an email to The News Service of Florida
As an alternative to banning greyhound racing in Florida, Cory said the groups and others should direct their efforts to help all dogs.
“We could move the state of Florida to no kill,” said Cory, who spends many weekends in Tallahassee volunteering for Florida Pets Alive!, which works to get dogs and cats adopted.
Joining Cory in opposition to Amendment 13 is prominent National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, who is leading a coalition of Florida farmers, ranchers and sportsmen.
Hammer, a former national president of the NRA, issued a prepared statement calling Amendment 13 a “Trojan horse.” In part, Hammer contends that “extreme animal rights groups” could use the amendment to do such things as try to ban hunting and fishing.
“We cannot be fooled. This is an attack on our rights as Floridians and as Americans,” she said.
But Theil, in a recent memo to reporters, said the Florida Supreme Court “debunked” such arguments when it allowed the amendment to go on the November ballot.
“It’s now clear that opponents of Amendment 13 are incapable of debating the merits of commercial dog racing,” Theil wrote in the Sept. 25 memo. “In recent days, they have started to circulate a series of falsehoods. You don’t have to take our word that these claims are false. Every single one was debunked by the Florida Supreme Court in its ruling in favor of Amendment 13.”
The Constitution Revision Commission, which was mostly appointed by Gov. Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders, meets every 20 years and has the power to place proposed amendments before voters.
Commission members, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, pushed for the proposed racing ban even though dog racing could be addressed by legislators.
For several years, lawmakers have considered proposals that would allow dog tracks to drop greyhound racing but continue offering other types gambling such as poker. But the proposals have been blocked amid a larger debate on whether gambling should be expanded.
Greyhound tracks that run a full schedule of live racing are authorized to operate cardrooms, as well as take bets on races going on elsewhere. Facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties that run full schedules of live racing can also offer access to slot machines.
There’s no guarantee, however, that voters will resolve the dog-racing issue with the ballot proposal. Amendment 13 will be at the end of a lengthy ballot. Susan MacManus, a retired political science professor at the University of South Florida, said that could result in many voters skipping the amendment altogether.
“The longer-than-usual ballot plus the large number of amendments is likely to result in a higher rolloff (drop off) rate than normal,” she said in an email to The News Service of Florida. “That said, the amendment would pass if 60 percent of those who chose to vote on it voted yes.”
MacFall worries that voter fatigue could adversely impact Amendment 13 but remains optimistic that the measure will pass.
“We’re hoping it’s lucky 13 this November,” she said.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Effort Underway Rename Part Of Highway 29 For Highway Worker
October 25, 2018
An effort is underway to rename a portion of Highway 29 near McDavid for a highway worker struck and killed by a vehicle earlier this year.
The Escambia County Commission requesting the Florida Department of Transportation rename Highway 29 from Cox Road to Sigler Road as the “Maceo Perkins Parkway”.
Maceo A. Perkins, 41, was with a group of workers employed by Broad Spectrum working on Highway 29 near Sigler Road. Just after noon on April 6, he was hit by a vehicle driven by 60-year old Sharon Odom of Century. The Florida Highway Patrol said Odom’s 2006 Ford Mustang traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with Perkins and the workers’ unoccupied Dodge Ram truck.. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“That was my best friend. That was everything I had. It’s like a part of me is gone,” Perkins’ wife Laquinda Perkins said.
The couple moved to Escambia County in 2017 to be near their parents. Maceo had a distinct passion for cooking and also enjoyed football and traveling. He awoke early every morning to work out, read scripture, and occasionally worked on his plan to open a local Wing Spot franchise. Everyone who knew Maceo always had wonderful things to say about his positive and upbeat character and his respectful and friendly nature, according to an Escambia County resolution.
Odom passed away at her Century home four days after the crash.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Halloween Activities Planned At Molino Library
October 25, 2018
“It Happened One Night at the Molino Library” will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Molino Branch Library. Come dressed in a costume, trick-or-treat throughout the library and tour the spooky Molino Museum.
Pictured: Last year’s “It Happened One Night at the Molino Library”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Raw Sewage Spills Into North Century Boulevard Area Ditch
October 25, 2018
Hundreds of gallons of raw sewage spilled into a ditch off North Century Boulevard Tuesday and Wednesday.
The spill was discovered on Alger Road north of North Century Boulevard during a daily check of a sewage lift station. Town employees found an electrical failure caused by a blown fuse which prevented an alarm that would have alerted workers earlier.
Century Water/Wastewater Superintendent Alicia Jernigan reported that an estimated 500 gallons of wastewater spilled into the ditch, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, between 12:40 p.m. Tuesday and noon Wednesday.
Map courtesy Florida Department of Environmental Protection for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Students Receive Free Dictionaries
October 25, 2018
About 400 students at Jim Allen Elementary School have new dictionaries today, thanks to the national Dictionary Project.
The dictionaries were presented by members of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment.
The goal of The Dictionary Project is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary.
Pictured: Free dictionaries were handed out to students Wednesday at Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Football Playoff Point Standings Released
October 25, 2018
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released current projected football playoff point standings for local schools:
6A Region 1
Niceville 41.88
Escambia 41.38
Pine Forest 40.88
Navarre 40.63
Gulf Breeze 37.75
Pace 36.88
Crestview 36.88
St. Augustine 34.38
Ed White 33.75
Milton 33.50
Fort Walton Beach 33.38
Choctawhatchee 32.88
Tate 31.50
Nease 30.00
Washington (Pensacola) 29.38
Middleburg 29.25
Englewood 27.38
1A Region 1
Baker 39.88
Vernon 37.00
Northview 36.50
Jay 36.43
Graceville 35.33
Bozeman 34.50
Holmes County 34.29
Freeport 32.00
Chipley 31.50
5A Region 1
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 44.22
Godby 42.88
Wakulla 39.75
West Florida 39.40
Bolles 39.38
Mosley 38.13
Ribault 37.50
Ponte Vedra 36.88
Suwannee 36.00
Pensacola 35.29
Arnold 34.00
Rickards 33.88
Terry Parker 32.75
Bishop Kenny 32.75
Westside 32.25
Bay 32.00
Stanton 31.88
Yulee 31.13
Paxon 29.25
For more information on the points system, click here for a informative pdf.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Grocery And Cafe Breaks Ground On Nine Mile Road
October 25, 2018
Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe held a groundbreaking Wednesday for a new location at 1000 East Nine Mile Road.
The store is expected to open by next fall.
Ever’man current operate a location on West Garden Street in downtown Pensacola. Ever’man has been a local staple for more than 40 years, gradually expanding its offerings to include a wealth of wholesome options, including artisanal breads, sustainable meat, dairy and seafood, and a full line of vitamins, herbal remedies and personal care products.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
