New Fitness Center Opens, Brings Davisville Commercial Space Back To Life
August 2, 2018
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Wednesday for a new fitness center in Davisville, bringing a long-empty commercial space back to life.
Owners Cyndi Keenan and Brandon Overstreet, a certified personal trainer, opened State-Line Fitness on Highway 97 just south of the Alabama-Florida state line. The building was vacant for several years after Keenan closed a daycare.
“State-Line Fitness is not filled with machines for people to workout alone. We offer classes and personal instruction by our certified personal trainer,” Keenan said. The center offers high intensity training and boot camp classes.
For more information, call (850) 327-4799.
Pictured: The grand opening of State-Line Fitness in Davisville on Wednesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Orientation, Schedule Pick Up
August 2, 2018
Here’s back to school information you need to know from Tate High School:
Wednesday, August 8 – FRESHMEN & NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
Fryman Gymnasium at 9:00am
This is a more formal, assembly-style orientation for our newest Aggies and their families. You will meet our administrators, deans, 9th grade guidance counselor, club sponsors, and coaches. Kona Ice and the Aggie Stable (sells Tate merchandise) will be present as well. At the assembly’s conclusion, alphabetical tables will be set up for 9th graders and new students to obtain schedules. Students are then welcome to walk the campus to become more comfortable locating classes. Tate Leadership students will be located throughout the campus to assist.
At 11:00am, any unclaimed schedules will be moved back to Tate’s Administration Office.
Wednesday, August 8 – RETURNING STUDENT SCHEDULE PICK-UP
Returning 10th-12th Grade Students can pick up a printed schedule in the cafeteria from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Students may also access online schedules using the Focus Student Portal at this time.
Families are encouraged to visit www.tateaggies.org for Bus Transportation and other important back to school information!
One Injured In I-10 Crash
August 1, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Wednesday on I-10 near I-110. The crash involved a truck pulling a trailer that collided with a guardrail. The wreck is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Photos by Kristi Barbour and courtesy FDOT for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Attempted Homicide After Cantonment Stabbing
August 1, 2018
A man has been charged with stabbing another man in Cantonment late Tuesday night.
The victim was stabbed on Madrid Road in Cantonment and somehow ended up at a gas station on Nine Mile Road at I-10 where Escambia County EMS responded and transported him to a local hospital. His condition was not available.
Larry Dre’sean Bryant, 37, was charged with attempted homicide and robbery with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $200,000.
When deputies arrived at the Nine Mile Road gas station, they found the victim with multiple stab wounds, including one to his neck. His girlfriend told deputies the stabbing happened at her sister’s house in the 200 block off Madrid Road in Cantonment. She said Bryant arrived at the residence to collect clothing he had left there, and her boyfriend was sitting on a couch.
The woman told deputies that Bryant randomly attacked and stabbed her boyfriend multiple times, according to an arrest report. The woman said she tried to stop Bryant with a metal meat tenderizer, but that did not work. He grabbed her phone and wallet and fled the area.
Bryant was the passenger in a vehicle Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies stopped at Highway 29 and Pinestead Road.
A search warrant was later executed at the home on Madrid Road where a large amount of blood was located in the living room, along with a meat tenderizer, the report states.
Byrneville Elementary Discusses Moving To New Location, Construction Options
August 1, 2018
The Byrneville Elementary School Board of Directors continued their discussion on new school buildings Thursday and even discussed moving the school to a new location within the community.
The board was to meet with a representative of an area bank to discuss financing options, but the bank representative was a no-show.
A final needs assessment by Sam Marshall Architects was presented the board, outlining the construction process, needs and estimated cost of about $7.7 million.
Board members also addressed the idea that property could be purchased in Byrneville to construct an entirely new facility, but that option received a negative reaction.
The school is looking to construct a new building with 10 classrooms, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose room and associated spaces, and a new cafetorium with a serving kitchen. The kitchen will have floor space to be expanded for cooking, but right now meals for the students are cooked at Bratt Elementary School and trucked in each day.
The project cost estimate also includes upgrades to the existing main school building, which was constructed in 1941, to include fire sprinklers and central air conditioning and converting the existing cafeteria into a library space that will include a closed circuit television studio. Additionally, furnishings and associated constructions costs are in the $7.7 million.
There has no been no final decision to to actually build the facility. The board must secure financing and complete other planning processes including a final design.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rep. Bradley Byrne Touts Bipartisan Workforce Development Bill At Local Town Hall
August 1, 2018
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan workforce development bill Tuesday that enables federal workforce development program to send $1.2 billion to states with fewer federal restrictions. And in Atmore, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) praised the effort.
The legislation reenables the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to provide career and technical training to provide students with the skills they need to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow.
“Every day, we are lifting our forgotten Americans off the sidelines, out of the margins, and back into the workforce,” Trump said.
“It’s money to send out to the school and the state so they have money for instructors, for equipment and the supplies, so that we can teach young people and sometimes no so young people the skills that they need to take these jobs “ Byrne said during a town hall meeting Tuesday afternoon in Atmore, one of the first stops in his district-wide “Better Off Now” town hall tour.
“Here’s what true about the American economy today and will be getting truer over time. The jobs that we are creating are requiring every higher levels of education and skills. A lot of what we used to think about skilled work out there is much different that it used to be. We are going to have to have levels of skills education and training for people in order to give them what they need to participate in the economy. If we don’t do that, we are going to slow down our economy. Not having enough workers will slow down the economy.
“By doing that, we lift them out of poverty forever, and their live are intrinsically better….But unfortunately in America we have this mindset where we can’t lift people out of poverty; we are just going to keep paying them money. Well if I gave you the educational skills you need to get a job, you don’t need the government. You don’t want the the government. You have a good job that pays good wages. We should be all about that in America. That should be our main focus,” Byrne said.
A number of major companies attended the bill signing in Washington and pledged to offer millions of new education and job-training opportunities for American workers.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Begins Friday; Laptops, Electronics Not Included
August 1, 2018
With Florida’s back-to-school sales tax “holiday” starting Friday, some retailers may face an enthusiasm dip as laptops and other electronics are not on the discount menu.
But as giant retailers such as Walmart and Target offer their own wide-ranging discounts, state economists and industry lobbyists don’t foresee much difference from past years as parents and other shoppers are still expected to rush out for a weekend of savings on clothes, footwear and school supplies.
“Without technology, I think some of those retailers may not push it as hard. But we still expect it to be popular,” said James Miller of the Florida Retail Federation. “It’s always one of the biggest things we hear about from our members and from the consumers.”
The three-day tax holiday, which will run from Friday through Sunday, will allow shoppers to avoid paying state and local sales taxes on most clothes and footwear costing $60 or less and school supplies that cost $15 or less.
However, this will be the second time in six years that electronics are not in the offering.
Early proposals this year in the Legislature would have offered a 10-day holiday, as requested by Gov. Rick Scott, with taxes lifted on the first $1,000 of the cost of personal computers and related accessories.
But as lawmakers shifted budget priorities after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a broad package (HB 7087) of tax and fee reductions was scaled down from a high of $618 million to a final amount of $171 million. And a proposal to extend the tax discount to computers was cut.
An estimate from state economists doesn’t indicate the exclusion of computers from the tax holiday will alter the plans of families getting ready for the August start of the school year.
The holiday this year is projected to save shoppers $32.7 million, reducing state revenue by $26 million and local-government revenue by $6.7 million.
In 2017, when laptops were on the discount list, the overall savings stood at $33.4 million.
Miller said retailers will push for electronics to be included in any back-to-school discount period considered during the 2019 legislative session.
Lawmakers vote annually on the holiday, which has almost come to be an anticipated shopping period.
The state has offered the school tax holiday 16 times since 1998. The discount period went away a decade ago during the recession. Since being revived in 2010, it has been held annually. Other than in 2015, when the discount period was extended to 10 days, the holiday has lasted for three days.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 1, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 5 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Clark, Allgood, Manning and Long teamed up in two vessels to work a saltwater fisheries enforcement detail in the Gulf of Mexico. During their patrol, they discovered two different for hire charter boats fishing in federal waters that did not have the proper licenses. A vessel captain conducting a charter fishing trip in federal waters for reef fish is required to have a federal reef fish permit. In addition, one of the charter vessels possessed two king mackerel, which requires a separate permit to possess a coastal migratory species on a for hire vessel. Three federal citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Allgood and Captain Glover were on vessel patrol in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola when the officers arrived on an artificial reef where several vessels were fishing. One of the vessels in the group noticed the officers approaching and attempted to leave the area. As Officer Allgood approached the vessel, the operator spun his vessel around to attempt to conceal the left side of the vessel. Officer Allgood maneuvered his patrol vessel to the left side of the subject’s vessel and Captain Glover boarded the vessel. Captain Glover saw an amberjack laying on the deck of the boat which is currently closed for harvest. After inspection of the fish box, Captain Glover found another undersized amberjack on board the vessel. The operator was issued two federal citations for amberjack out of season and not landing fish in whole condition.
Officer Long was on vessel patrol and stopped a vessel for violating the wake zone near Galvez Landing. After a boating safety inspection, Officer Long noticed several fish tails protruding from the cooler on the vessel. A fisheries inspection revealed that the operator was in possession of five king mackerel, two over the daily bag limit. The operator was issued a citation for over the bag limit of king mackerel and violation of the idle speed zone.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Hahr was on vessel patrol on the Blackwater River when he stopped a vessel to address a violation of registration numbering. The subject was operating the vessel with a woman and child on board. Lieutenant Hahr saw indicators of impairment from the operator and after field sobriety tasks, determined that the operator was impaired. The man was arrested and cited for operating a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Molino 18U Lady Astros Wrap Up Season
August 1, 2018
The Molino 18U Lady Astros softball team has wrapped up a great summer after making the championship game in three state and local tournaments.
The Lady Astros took part in the USSSA Slike Into Summer, USSSA South State and Southern Nationals tournaments.
Pictured: (top, L-R) Coach Donnie Nicholson , Meredith Mogan, McKenzie Parker, Alyssa Baxley, Madison Nelson, Avery Jackson, Haylee Watson, Coach David Synder, Katie Synder, Christa Sanders, Sheridian Mauldin, Coach Kathy Blackmon and Coach Dana Blackman. (bottom, L-R) Haileigh Sutton, Kolby Bray, Kelsey Hodges, Katelyn Harrison, Madison Parker and Heather Knowles
Century Historic Board Limits Fence, Shed Options For Some Residents
August 1, 2018
Tuesday, the Century Historic Preservation Board approved a property owner’s new fence in the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District – limiting his options under a new ordinance and restricting a temporary shed.
Felic Fussner filed an application for development to construct an 8-foot privacy fence in the side and rear yard of a home and a storage shed in the 400 block of Front Street, in historic district. He also applied to construct a 4-foot picket fence in the front yard.
At their last meeting, the Century Town council approved new ordinance recommended by the historic board to allow only wooden fences in the historic historic district while reducing the side and rear fence allowable height from eight to six feet. Only transparent picket fences can be used in front yards. The council also agreed to restrict the use of freight containers as storage buildings in the historic district.
“We are not trying to put pressure on you,” board member Regi Burkett told Fussner. “We are tying to protect the historic significance in the district.”
Fussner said he is currently storing tools and materials in a metal freight container on his property — a practice that is now banned. But the board will recommend to the Century Town Council that he be granted a temporary permit for 90 days, with an option to renew for an additional 90 days.
The Century Town Council will consider that historic board’s recommendations on August 6.
Pictured: he Century Historic Preservation Board member Regi Burkett (front left) addresses Felic Fussner (front right) during a board meeting Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.