Eggart Named Lipscomb Elementary Teacher Of The Year
November 11, 2018
Betsy Eggart has been name the R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches first grade. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Names Employee Of The Month
November 11, 2018
Mike Dixon has been named the November Escambia County Employee of the Month. He is an equipment operator in the operations division of the Escambia County Waste Services Department. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation; Deputy Injured
November 10, 2018
An investigation is underway after an officer involved shooting Saturday afternoon in Escambia County.
At about 1 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted a felony warrant service in the 4600 block of Erress Boulevard. During the warrant service the suspect attempted to flee in a vehicle, striking the deputy.
The deputy fired at the vehicle, striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for a non-life threatening injuries. The deputy was transported to a local hospital and treated for multiple non-life threatening injuries.
The shooting is under under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Further details have no been released.
Photos by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
November 10, 2018
At least one person was injured in an accident early Saturday afternoon on Highway 29 at Morris Avenue in Cantonment. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS als responded. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Vote Recount Ordered In Races For Senate, Governor, Ag Commissioner
November 10, 2018
After the drama of election night and fierce battles about counting votes, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Saturday ordered recounts in high-stakes races for U.S. Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner.
The orders, along with recounts slated in three legislative districts, were no surprise: State law requires “machine” recounts when the margins between candidates are 0.5 percent or less. As local officials continued to count ballots after Tuesday’s election, it became clear that all six of the races would fall under that requirement.
The machine recounts will play out over five days, with county canvassing boards required to report results by 3 p.m. Thursday. At that point, races with margins of .25 percent or less will go to manual, or “hand,” recounts.
The Escambia County Canvassing Board will meet at noon Sunday to conduct the recount. If more time is needed, the canvassing board will meet daily Monday through Thursday at 9 a.m. until the recount is complete. All meetings are open to the public. The Escambia County Canvassing Board meets at the Supervisor of Elections office located on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place.
Counties were required by noon Saturday to report unofficial results to the state. The races set for recounts are:
— The U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott. In the unofficial results, Scott had 4,098,107 votes, or 50.07 percent, while Nelson had 4,085,545 votes, or 49.92 percent.
— The governor’s race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum. In the unofficial results, DeSantis had 4,075,879 votes, or 49.59 percent, while Gillum had 4,042,195 votes, or 49.18 percent.
— The race for agriculture commissioner between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell. In the unofficial results, Fried had 4,030,337 votes, or 50.03 percent, while Caldwell had 4,025,011 votes, or 49.97 percent.
In addition, recounts in Senate and House races will be conducted in Hillsborough, Volusia and Palm Beach counties.
In a machine recount, all ballots are fed through voting machines. Ballots with “undervotes” or “overvotes” — in which voters may have skipped races or made extra marks in races, causing their ballots to be rejected by the machines — are set aside, or “outstacked.”
In races that go to manual recounts after the Thursday deadline, county canvassing boards will examine the “outstacked” ballots.
The results from the manual recounts must be provided to the state no later than noon on Nov. 18. Two days later, the state Elections Canvassing Commission, comprised of Scott and two members of the Florida Cabinet, will meet in Tallahassee to certify the official election results.
by The News Service of Florida with local contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Wards Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
November 10, 2018
The Heath Ward Family was named the Escambia County Farm Bureau Farm Farm Family of the Year.
Heath Ward is a fourth generation farmer who was born and raised in Walnut Hill. On the day he was born, Heath’s father Brett was shelling corn on the on land owned by Heath’s great-grandfather.
He is one of those men who always knew what he wanted from life. At an early age, he realized that he would one day take over the family farm. The FFA and agricultural classes were his favorites in school. Growing up, Heath competed in steer shows and helped his father and grandfather on their farms in both Walnut Hill and Lowndes County, AL.
After attending Auburn University, he moved home to fulfill his calling of, in his words, “feeding America”. His row crops include cotton, corn, and peanuts. In 2006, Heath was named Florida’s Outstanding Young Peanut Farmer of the Year.
In 2011, Heath met Elisabeth Hendrix from Atmore. They were married in 2012, and welcomed their first child, Hendrix, in 2014. Mary-Grace, a true “farmer’s daughter,”‘was welcomed in 2017.
Heath, Elisabeth, Hendrix, and Mary-Grace enjoy Sunday afternoon rides to check cows or look at crops. They say this time together is relaxing and brings them together as a family. While Heath and Elisabeth want their children to spread their wings and chase their personal dreams, they would love nothing more for them to settle down back home in Walnut Hill, hopefully following in their father’s footsteps in the agricultural business.
Pictured top: Elisabeth Ward holding Hendrix Ward, Farm Bureau board member Jack Livingston, and Heath Ward holding Mary-Grace Ward. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Data Breach Could Affect Escambia, Santa Rosa Health Department Clients
November 10, 2018
A data breach may have compromised the personal information of some health department clients in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
An investigation found that an unauthorized user comprised an employee’s Microsoft Outlook 365 account between October 8-16 of this year. The department immediately reset the employee’s login credentials to terminate any inappropriate account access and promptly reported the event.
It is possible that individuals served by the District 1 Child Protection Team may have had their names, psychological, and medical conditions accessed as a result of this incident, according to a news release.
Currently the department has no reason to believe that client information has been misused. Nor was there any evidence of access to social security numbers, bank accounts, credit cards or other personal or financial information.
As a precautionary measure, clients are encouraged to review their credit history for any fraudulent or suspicious activities they have not authorized. A free report can be obtained at www.annualcreditreport.com. Anyone suspecting fraudulent activity should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630.
The department said it:
- Took immediate steps to remediate the breach and began an ongoing review of potentially impacted information;
- Conducted a full review of department IT data to determine the circumstances of the breach;
- Initiated a new security awareness training and exercises to ensure proper security protocol and monthly testing of employees;
- Is exploring additional security options to protect against further security breaches.
For more information, call Children’s Medical Services at (850) 245-4201 and select option 3.
One Injured In Three-Vehicle Tate School Road Wreck
November 10, 2018
One person was injured in a three-vehicle crash on Tate School Road Friday afternoon. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Opens Playoffs With Big 40-14 Win Over Graceville
November 10, 2018
The Northview Chiefs opened round one of the 1A playoffs Friday night in Bratt with a 40-14 win over the Graceville Tigers.
“They came to play; we are just really starting to play our best football and I think that was evident tonight,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “I thought we ran the ball extremely well. Both of our tailbacks, Jaheem Durant and Trent Peebles, they just really ran their tail off. Jayden Jackson ran really hard. Aunterio Minor ran the ball really well and blocked hard. Jaquan Barton had his best game by far tonight. I mean he blocked his tail off all night.”
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
After a big gain down to the five by Minor, Peebles punched it in as the Chiefs opened the scoring. With 4:53 in the first, the Chiefs were up 6-0. Then a couple of minutes later, Northview’s Johnny Windham recovered a blocked Tigers punt at about the 10 yard line for another Chiefs touchdown 14-0.
The Tigers added a touchdown and two point conversion to end the first quarter with the score 14-8.
The Chiefs added touchdowns in the second from Durant and Barton to hold a 26-8 lead at the half on a damp, chilly and windy night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Jayden Jackson scored for Northview with 5:24 to go in the third. With a successful two point conversion from Peebles, The Chiefs were up 34-8. The Tigers managed their second touchdown of the night in the third.
Northview added two more touchdowns in the fourth to seal their 40-14 victory.
The Northview Chiefs will travel to No. 1 seed Baker next Friday night in the regional semifinals.
“It’s going to be tough. Our kids want it,” Marshman said. “They want that challenge. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”
The winner of Northview and Baker will play the winner of Jay and Vernon on November 23.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
(Look for another galley with cheerleaders and the band by Monday.)
NorthEscambia.com
ECUA Seeks Candidates For Citizens’ Advisory Committee
November 10, 2018
The ECUA Board will conduct its annual Organizational Board Meeting on Thursday, November 15. During this meeting, the Board will select its officers to serve in respective leadership roles through October 2019, and make appointments to its Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC). Any Escambia County resident who is interested in being considered for appointment to the CAC should contact Ms. Glenda White, at 969-3302 or glenda.white@ecua.fl.gov by noon on Friday, November 9.