Spring Football: Northview, Escambia County Atmore Play To Tie
May 19, 2018
The Northview Chiefs and the Escambia County County Blue Devils battled it out Friday night in a Spring Game and walked away in a 14-14 tie.
The varsity programs played to 14-14 in the first three quarters, while junior varsity fourth quarter was scoreless in Bratt.
“We were sloppy, they were sloppy, you expect that at this point,” Northview Chiefs Head Coach Derek Marshman said. “I think both teams are going to have a chance to be really good football teams. They’ve got a ton of athletes; they do a really good job. We are going to get after it this summer; that is where games are won. Our kids know that.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Mashman said he’s looking forward to a competitive season in the fall.
“We are going to come out and compete every game. The main thing we want is when we walk off the field for the other team to say that team competed as hard as anyone we’ve played. We have the opportunity to win each and every game, but we are never going to promise a win. But we want the other team to know we brought our A-game.”
Escambia County will be at Wilcox Central on August 31. The Northview Chiefs will host Vernon in a Kickoff Classic on August 17 and open the regular season on the road August 24 at Lighthouse Christian.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Attorney General Releases Info On W.S. Neal Grade Changing Scandal Case
May 19, 2018
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall as confirmed that his office was involved in the arrest of two people in a grade changing case in Escambia County, AL.
Matthew Hutchins, 18, of Brewton and Lisa Odom, 58, of Castleberry were each charged with felony computer tampering by altering grades at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton. Odom has been identified as a special education teacher at the school; she has been placed on administrative leave.
The defendants were arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on warrants brought by special agents of the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office Cybercrime Unit initiated an investigation after being notified by local officials on May 11 that grades had been altered through the school’s INow computer system. Prosecution will be handled by the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division.
If convicted, Hutchins and Odom face a maximum penalty of one to 10 years for the felony charge.
Due to an ongoing investigation, Marshall’s office said no further information about the investigation or about the defendants’ alleged crimes will be released at this time.
Firefighters Respond To Smoke In Store’s Beer Cooler
May 19, 2018
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a report of smoke in a beer cooler at the Circle K at Highway 29 and East Kingsfield Road Friday afternoon. The smell of smoke was traced to an electronic energy saving controller inside the cooler (pictured left). There was no other damage reported. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NRA Appeals Ruling On ‘Jane Doe’ Gun Case
May 19, 2018
The National Rifle Association is appealing a federal judge’s refusal to keep the identity of a 19-year-old Alachua County woman secret in a challenge to a state law that raised the age to purchase rifles and other long guns.
The case was placed on hold Friday pending a decision regarding “Jane Doe” from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to court documents.
The gun-rights group filed the appeal after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker this week decided that previous court rulings forced him to reject the request to keep the identity of “Jane Doe” private.
The NRA requested the use of the pseudonym for Jane Doe and “John Doe,” another 19-year-old who is part of the case. The request was based largely on a declaration filed by the group’s Florida lobbyist, Marion Hammer, who detailed threatening emails she had received featuring derogatory words for parts of the female anatomy.
“It’s time somebody stood up for the First Amendment right to go into court to fight to protect our Second Amendment right without being victimized by hatemongers who threaten you and your family,” Hammer, a onetime president of the national gun-rights organization, told The News Service of Florida on Friday.
The debate over the pseudonyms came in a lawsuit filed March 9 by the NRA, just hours after Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a sweeping school-safety measure that included new gun-related restrictions. The legislation was a rapid response to the Feb. 14 shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 students and faculty members dead and 17 others wounded.
The law raised from 18 to 21 the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns. It also imposed a three-day waiting period on the sale of long guns, such as the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz last year legally purchased and is accused of using in the Valentine’s Day massacre at his former high school.
In late April, the NRA filed a motion to add “Jane Doe” as a plaintiff to the lawsuit, which contends the age restriction in the new law “violates the fundamental rights of thousands of responsible, law-abiding adult Florida citizens and is thus invalid under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.”
The NRA asked Walker to allow the woman to remain anonymous due to fear that public exposure could result in “harassment, intimidation, and potentially even physical violence.”
But, representing the state, lawyers for Attorney General Pam Bondi argued the request for anonymity “does not provide a sufficient basis for overcoming the strong presumption in favor of open judicial proceedings.”
Suggesting that the courts have not kept up with the times, a reluctant Walker agreed.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear the appeal, “has made it clear that pseudonyms may only be used in ‘exceptional’ cases … and that there is ‘a strong presumption in favor of parties’ proceeding in their own names,’ ” the judge wrote in a 17-page opinion Sunday.
The relatively rare circumstances where pseudonyms are allowed involve issues such as abortion, prayer and personal religious beliefs, Walker wrote.
Based on precedent, “this court finds that mere evidence of threats and harassment made online is insufficient to outweigh the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings,” Walker wrote. “This is especially true where the targets of such threats and harassment are not minors and where the subject at issue does not involve matters of utmost intimacy.”
But, expressing sympathy for Jane and John Doe, Walker wrote that the factors laid out in the previous decisions fail to take into account “concerns about the potential harassment and threats they face.”
“To be clear, this court does not intend to diminish those concerns,” he added.
In a joint motion filed Friday, lawyers for the NRA and the state asked Walker to put the case on hold until the Atlanta-based appellate court decides on the pseudonyms. The judge agreed.
In a footnote in Sunday’s order, Walker called the messages sent to Hammer “hateful and abhorrent” and of such an “offensive nature” that he would not repeat them in his ruling.
“The attorney general has made it clear that she won’t agree to protecting a 19-year-old woman from bullying, harassment, threats of death or injury, and Judge Walker doesn’t seem to think he has the authority or that it’s his job to protect her, so maybe a higher court will,” Hammer said.
In Sunday’s order, Walker noted that the world has changed since the courts established the standards allowing the use of pseudonyms.
“Today we have the internet, social media, and the 24-hour news cycle. What this means is that if a person attaches their name to a lawsuit — and especially if that lawsuit is sensational — then everyone will quickly be made aware of it. Articles get posted online, and the responding comments, tweets, and whatever-else-have-yous often devolve into a rhetorical barrage of hate. Unfortunately, it seems the internet just doesn’t always bring out the best in us,” he wrote.
“Maybe the law should be modified to reflect these changes. But it’s not this court’s job to change the law; this court’s job is to apply the law,” Walker wrote. “And the law unfortunately directs that the NRA’s motion must be denied.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
New Splash Pad Opens In Atmore
May 19, 2018
A new $150,000 splash pad opened Friday in Atmore. The splash pad was made possible through a partnership between the City of Atmore and the Atmore Rotary Club, along with additional donations. The splash is open 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily at South Trammel Street and West Craig Street, just behind Heritage Park on South Main Street. There is also a new covered seating area for parents.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Arrest Made In Northview High School Bomb Threat (Updated With Details)
May 18, 2018
UPDATED: Thanks to video evidence, an arrest was quickly made after a bomb threat Thursday afternoon at Northview High School.
Gavin Lee Barlow, age 19 of Walnut Hill, was charged with making a bomb threat, a felony, and disturbing the peace/interfering with a school function. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning with bond set at $5,250.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office completed a search and cleared the campus shortly after the threat was made, and deputies were able to quickly develop a suspect thanks to video evidence.
At 2:30 p.m., the school resource officer was made aware that Barlow sent a profanity-laced video through the Snapchat app to a student at the school who had just been suspended for the rest of the year, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In the video, Barlow said, “I hate that (profanity) school, I hate that (profanity), I hate Mrs. Weaver. I wish that (profanity) would blow the (profanity) up at 3:20. (Profanity) I’m gonna set a bomb off in that (profanity). I’m gonna get Russia to blow that (profanity) up.”
Barlow is not a student at the school.
Principal Gayle Weaver was informed of the threat, and a decision was made to dismiss faculty, staff and students early at 3:11 p.m., rather than the normal dismissal time of 3:20 p.m.
“The threat was time specific for 3:20,” Weaver said in a recorded photo call to parents.
After contact was made with Barlow, he met deputies at a house on Pine Barren Road, just outside the Northview campus, and Barlow was placed under arrest without incident at 4:45 p.m. There were no other arrests in connection with the threat, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
The school held their Senior Honors Night program as planned Thursday night without incident.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect on Pine Barren Road, just outside the Northview High School campus, following a bomb threat Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Forest Service Battles 80 Acre Wildfire Near Walnut Hill
May 18, 2018
The Florida Forest Service battled an 80 acre wildfire Thursday afternoon in Enon, south of Walnut Hill.
The Forest Service utilized three bulldozers and a brush truck. It took about two hours to contain the fire off Highway 97A.
No structures were threatened by the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview High Names 2018 Honors Graduates; Announces $835K In Scholarships
May 18, 2018
Northview High School named their honor graduates Thursday night, as $835,812 in scholarships were announced for the Class of 2018.
Valedictorian of the Class of 2018 is Triston Parker Long, and salutatorian is Sarah Elizabeth Perritt (pictured top).
For additional photos, click here.
Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA and above) graduates are, in class rank order:
1. Triston Parker Long
2. Sarah Elizabeth Perritt
3. Hannah Grace Nelson
4. Tara Faith Windham
5. Destiny McKenna Watson
6. Hannah Mascaro
7. Jacob Andrew White
8. Anna Belle Barberree
9. Miracle Breanna Deloach
10. Kayla Nicole Galvan
11. Logan Daniel Calloway
12. Alayna Lauren Brown
Magna Cum Laude graduates (3.85 or higher) are:
13. John Elmer Chivington Jr.
14. Bailee Brianna Hinote
Cum Laude (3.5 and above) graduates are:
15. Jason Riley Fischer
16. Logan Michael Doremus
17. Jarrod Latrell Davison
18. Bria Ashlynn Hardy
19. Laura Abbygale Hammond
20. Braxton Wade Edwards
21. Robin Marie Nahkala
22. Natasha Nykeria Walker
Scholarships were awarded or offered as follows:
Anna Belle Barbarree
- Escambia Retired Educator’s Association – $1,000
- Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship – $150
- PSC Academic – $1,800
- Bright Futures – Gold Seal Vocational – $2,880
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $500
Dawson Brown
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
Rhayeshawnna Davidson
- Johnson & Wales University – FBLA Scholarship – $8,000
- Johnson & Wales University – Presidential Academic Scholarship – $28,000
Logan Calloway
- UWF – Academic Merit – $12,000
Alexandra Carter
- PSC Scholastic Achievement Award – $500
Jarrod Davison
- Leola Robinson – $250
- James O. Gordon Schoalrship – $250
- Strides for Academic Excellence – $500
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
Miracle Deloach
- Bright Fututres – Florida Medallion Scholar – $9,240
- UWF -Academic Merit – $16,000
Donnie Dixon
- George Stone Scholarship – $1,000
- Northview FFA Alumni – Tommy Weaver Award – $500
- Tri Cities Volunteers – $1,000
Jason Fischer
- Take Stock in Children – $12,000
- University of South Alabama University Scholarship – $14,000
- Bright Fututres – Florida Medallion Scholar – $9,240
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
- Zachary Barrow Memorial Scholarship – $1,500
- UWF – Academic Merit – $12,000
Kayla Galvan
- Take Stock in Children – $12,000
- UWF – Academic Merit – $12,000
Austin Ging
- Bright Futures – Gold Seal Vocational – $2,880
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
Logan Hall
- Coastal Alabama Theater Sholarship – $12,300
- Coastal Alabama Book Scholarship – $3,000
John Wesley Hardin
- George Stone Scholarship – $1,000
- Northview FFA Alumni – Tommy Weaver Award – $500
Bria Hardy
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
Cole Hassebrock
- Ruritan Award – $300
- Northview FFA Alumni – Tommy Weaver Award – $1,000
Bailee Hinote
- Bright Futures – Florida Academic Scholar – $25,000
Cody Kite
- Glenn Key Memorial Award – $1,000
- Jamie Hall Memorial Award – $1,000
- Northview FFA Alumni – Tommy Weaver Award – $1,000
Triston Long
- University of Alabama – UA Scholar Scholarship – $90,000
- Valedictorian Award – United Bank – $500
- Auburn University – Ceddrick C. Mack Memorial Beacon Leadership Endowed Scholarship – $20,000
- Auburn University – Spirit of Auburn Founders Scholarship
- Auburn Universtiy – Lee Moody Endowed Scholarship – $1,000
- University of West Florida – Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Bright Futures – Florida Academic Scholar – $25,000
- UWF – Academic Merit – $20,000
Hannah Mascaro
- UWF Academic Merit – $16,000
Hannah Nelson
- Florida State University – University Freshman Scholarship – $9,600
- EREC – Hermann Johnson – $4,000
- Bright Futures – Florida Academic Scholar – $25,000
- UWF – Academic Merit – $20,000
Lari McCann
- Take Stock in Children – $12,000
Sarah Perritt
- University of Alabama – Birmingham – Presidential Recognition Scholarship – $43,440
- University of South Alabama – Presidential Scholarship – $38,992
- Mississippi State – Academic Excellence – $24,000
- University of Mississippi – Academic Excellence – $32,760
- Salutatorian Award – First National Bank – $300
Orelbis Oscar Rodriguez
- Bright Futures – CAPE – $2,880
- Pensacola Civitan – $100
Mary Sanders
- PSC Music Award – $2,000
Andrew Sharpless
- Quarterback Club – $500
- University of South Alabama University Scholarship – $14,000
Fisher Spence
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
Hunter Spence
- Atmore Rotary All Star – $250
- Bright Futures – Gold Seal Vocational – $2,880
Evan Till
- Coastal Alabama Theater Scholarship – $12,300
- Coastal Alabama Book Scholarship – $3,000
- International Paper Scholarship – $1,000
Destiny Watson
- Louisiana State University Tiger Excellence – $48,000
- Louisiana State University Tiger Nation Scholarship – $13,340
- Florida Institute of Technology – Panther Fund Schoalrship – $20,550
- Florida Institute of Technology – LP Whitehead Schoalrship – $5,000
- University of Oklahoma – $32,000
- Bright Futures – Florida Academic Scholar – $25,000
Jacob White
- University of Alabama – Collegiate Scholar Scholarship – $24,000
- UWF – Academic Merit – $16,000
Madison White
- Bright Futures- CAPE – 2880
- Atmore Rotary All Star – 250
Tara Windham
- Atmore Rotary All Star – 500
Escambia County Extension To Host Honey Bee Workshop Saturday
May 18, 2018
Escambia County Extension will host the Escarosa Beekeepers Association Open Hive Bee Workshop on Saturday, May 19.
The meeting will take place at the county Extension Office, located at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $20 for adults and $7 for children ages 10-12, with free admission for children under the age of 9. Lunch is provided and there will be several raffle and door prize drawings.
The workshop will include an open hive inspection, nucleus installation, live swarm demonstration, honey extraction, and a honeycomb cut out.
To register for the event, contact Rizza Johnson at 850-698-6418 or email rizzaxjohnson@gmail.com.
Get Your Important Documents, Photos Digitized At Molino Library
May 18, 2018
Saturday is “Save Yourself Digitization Day” at the Molino Branch Library.
The library will help residents get their personal important documents and photos digitized. Patrons can receive a half hour session with a library specialist who will scan and save items to a flash drive.
The library will provide the flash drives and the technology from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call the Molino Branch Library at (850) 435-1761 to reserve a time. Drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first serve basis.