George Stone Has A New Name – George Stone Technical College
June 20, 2018
George Stone Area Vocational–Technical Center has been renamed George Stone Technical College.
Officials hope the new name will better identify its mission so that more parents of high school graduates will realize the opportunities the institution provides for career preparation after high school.
“These technical colleges saw a five to fifteen percent enrollment increase in the first year after changing their names,” said TJ Rollins, GSTC principal.
Vandals Strike Century’s Parks; Mayor Pushes For Security Cameras
June 20, 2018
Vandals are causing damage to Century’s parks, and Mayor Henry Hawkins wants to send the message that there are consequences for actions.
Hawkins said every park in town has been vandalized recently. A few days ago, someone busted locks at Anthony Pleasant Park and broke bathroom fixtures and a water fountain.
Now Hawkins is pushing for town council approval for security cameras.
“We need to move quickly on cameras, because we are going to go broke with nickel and dime repairs,” Hawkins said. He said he wants the vandals arrested and an example made of them to send the message that “if you are caught, you will pay the price.”
About a month ago, Hawkins told the council that he wants to install security cameras at several town properties.
Hawkins presented the town council with a proposal from Security Center USA in Jacksonville for about $700 per month under a 36 month lease purchase with a $1 buyout.
The proposal included eight HD cameras at town hall and the Nadine McCaw Park, seven HD cameras at maintenance shop on Alger Road and Showalter Park, and three HD cameras at the water treatment plant. Installation, video recorders, streaming, accessories and monitoring were included.
The council took no action on the proposal. Hawkins said this week he plans to obtain an additional proposal.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
O.C. Phillips Road Bridge Reopens
June 20, 2018
A bridge over Brushy Creek Bridge on O.C. Phillips Road has reopened. The bridge was closed by the Florida Department of Transportation last November due to a failed inspection, leading to a lengthy detour for some residents. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Voters May Decide Between Elected Or Appointed School Superintendent
June 20, 2018
Should the Escambia County school superintendent be elected or appointed?
That’s a question that voters may see on this year’s general election ballot.
The Escambia County County Commission will hold a public hearing at 5:31 p.m. on June 21 to consider an ordinance authorizing a countywide referendum to be held on the November 6 ballot concerning the appointment of the school superintendent in Escambia County. The superintendent would be appointed by the school board.
The county is considering the referendum at the request of Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. The Escambia County School Board approved a resolution in support of the request on April 17.
FHP Looking For Hit And Run Honda Involved In Nine Mile, Hwy 29 Crash
June 19, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a driver involved in a hit and run crash Tuesday afternoon on the entrance ramp from Nine Mile Road to southbound Highway 29.
The FHP said a gold-colored Honda with a Texas license plate made an improper lane change and struck a Chevrolet pickup truck and several construction barrels. The Honda then left the scene.
There were no injuries to any of the five people in the pickup.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Trooper J. Vennell at (850) 484-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Driver Seriously Injured, Airlifted After Early Morning Wreck On Highway 97
June 19, 2018
One person was seriously injured and airlifted to the hospital after an early morning wreck on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill.
The driver of a passenger car was northbound on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road about 1 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway, hit a culvert and went airborne before coming to rest near the woodline.
The adult male driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to the Molino Fire Station and then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital. His injuries were not considered life threatening.
The accident is being investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino, Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview FFA Chapter, Members Receive Top State Honors
June 19, 2018
The Northview High School FFA’s “Fresh From Florida Advocacy Program” was named the first place program in the state during the FFA state convention Wednesday in Orlando, one of many honors received by the chapter and its members.
The Northview High School FFA chapter was also name a Premier FFA Chapter, and a Florida’s Finest FFA Chapter. Raeleigh Woodfin was elected as FFA District 1 president, and State FFA Degrees were awarded to Cole Hassebrock and Cody Kite. America FFA Degrees were bestowed upon Tabithia Chavers, Brandon Korinchak and Mitchell Singleton.
Singleton also retired as retired as Area 1 state FFA vice president [earlier story...].
Formerly known the Food for America program, the Fresh from Florida Advocacy Program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level. The annual program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
In addition to this year’s first place award. the Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program was awarded first place in Florida in 2017 and three consecutive years from 2012-2014. The program received second place in 2015 and 2016.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bydlak Endorsed By Florida Chamber In Florida House Race
June 19, 2018
The Florida Chamber of Commerce Monday announced their endorsement of Rebekah Bydlak for Florida House District 1.
“Rebekah Bydlak is a candidate who is focused on serving the public and will ensure that free-enterprise principles and long-term solutions are put ahead of short term political fixes,” Marian Johnson, senior vice president of Political Strategy at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said. “The Florida Chamber is proud to endorse Rebekah Bydlak to serve in the Florida House.”
Bydlak was endorsed for her pro-jobs commitment and support of continuing to move Florida in the right direction, according to the Florida Chamber.
“As the daughter of a small business owner and as a nonprofit executive, I’m honored to receive the endorsement from the Florida Chamber of Commerce,” said Rebekah Bydlak. “Few organizations have done as much to defend job creators in my home state, and I look forward to fighting for free enterprise, economic growth, and job creation in the legislature.”
Florida Smokable Medical Marijuana Issue May Be On Hold
June 19, 2018
In a widely expected move, an appellate court Monday refused to lift a stay on a Tallahassee judge’s ruling that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana if their doctors approve it.
The 1st District Court of Appeal’s decision means that patients will continue to be barred from legally smoking medical marijuana for the foreseeable future — at least until the appellate court issues a final ruling on the merits of the case.
Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers last month sided with Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan and a group of plaintiffs who filed a legal challenge after the Legislature included a ban on smoking in a 2017 law carrying out a constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana.
Gievers agreed that the text of the constitutional amendment, approved by 72 percent of Floridians in 2016, allows patients to use any form of marijuana as their treatment.
Health officials, who argued that the amendment did not expressly authorize smoking and that the state had broad leeway to regulate medical marijuana use, immediately filed an appeal, which put an automatic stay on Gievers’ May 25 ruling.
On June 6, Gievers vacated the stay, prompting the state to ask the appellate court to keep it in place. The court sided with the state on Monday, saying that Gievers’ order vacating the stay was “quashed” and that the hold “shall remain in effect pending final disposition of the merits of this appeal.”
Whether patients should be able to smoke marijuana if their doctors recommend it has set off a partisan firestorm, with Morgan — a political rainmaker and registered Democrat who largely bankrolled the 2016 constitutional amendment — stirring the political pot.
Morgan told The News Service of Florida he had expected the appellate court to keep Gievers’ ruling on hold.
“Not surprised. Rick Scott could end the appeal today. It will cost him his Senate bid. The makers of opioids are cheering him on,” Morgan wrote in an email Monday.
Morgan has repeatedly asked Scott to drop the appeal, warning that the governor’s opposition to smokable medical marijuana will alienate moderate Republicans and independents in the governor’s quest to oust U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
Nelson, a Democrat, recently came out in support of doctor-ordered smokable marijuana for sick patients, as have each of the Democratic candidates seeking to replace Scott as governor.
In her June 5 order lifting the stay, Gievers wrote that plaintiffs Cathy Jordan, a Lou Gehrig’s disease patient who credits smoking marijuana with saving her life, and Diana Dodson, who has neuralgia associated with HIV, would suffer without having access to smokable marijuana.
“Individual patients Jordan and Dodson are exposed to irreparable harm on two fronts. First, they cannot legally access the treatment recommended for them. Second, they face potential criminal prosecution for possession and use of the medicinal substance,” the judge wrote.
On the other hand, “there is no evidence the defendants (the state) will suffer harm if the stay is vacated,” the judge wrote.
“Lifting the stay preserves the status quo by returning the law to its previous state as it existed following the 2016 adoption of the constitutional medical marijuana rights” and before the 2017 law went into effect, she added.
But during a hearing before Gievers, Assistant Attorney General Karen Brodeen argued that there was no hurry for the stay to be lifted, in part because of a lengthy state rulemaking process. Smokable pot “won’t be available for a long time,” if the courts ultimately decide that it is legal, Brodeen said.
“There’s no irreparable harm here. Nobody, at this time, can go to a medical-marijuana treatment center and purchase smokable marijuana. That’s going to take several months down the road, after an order that requires it to be available,” she said.
The legal tangle over smokable medical marijuana is one of at least eight marijuana-related administrative or legal challenges about the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry, which some experts estimate could exceed $1 billion in revenue by 2020.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Incumbent Boutwell Qualifies To Run For Century Council
June 19, 2018
Incumbent Ben Boutwell qualified Monday to run again for his Century Town Council seat.
Boutwell was first elected to the town council in 2014. In 2016, he resigned to run for mayor. His mayoral bid was unsuccessful, and he was reappointed by the council to succeed himself. He was then re-elected to the seat in a special election.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Supervisor of Elections for NorthEscambia.com.