Get Free Tech Help At The Molino Branch Library
February 21, 2018
Need help learning how to use that new Christmas computer, smartphone or other tech item? The Molino branch of the West Florida Library is offering local basic technology helps for free.
At the Molino Branch Library, patrons can register to receive up to 30 minutes of individual technology help on Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find email, increase computer knowledge, improve skills with a smart phone, learn how to download e-books and more. Call (850) 435-1760 to reserve a session.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
School Shooting Survivors Demand Stricter Gun Control
February 21, 2018
With heavy hearts, students, who have become citizen lobbyists, met with lawmakers on Tuesday with one goal – to urge the passage of gun control measures.
Hoping their tragic stories will spur lawmakers to act, a small group of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students went door-to-door asking senators and representatives to put aside their partisan differences and act.
However, a move to push a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines directly to the House floor was rejected on mostly party lines.
Ashley Santoro, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, said she’s trying to cope, but is saddened by the response at the State Capitol.
“I’ve been, like, OK, but, you know, it’s just, this isn’t what I really thought it would be, because people really just are out for themselves,” she stated.
House Bill 219, which prohibits the sale, transfer or possession of large capacity magazines and assault weapons including AR-15s, was rejected by a vote of 36 to 71 in the Republican-controlled House.
Buses of additional students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas are expected to arrive Wednesday in Tallahassee, where the students will walk from the Leon County Civic Center to the State Capitol to continue their advocacy.
Trying to hold back tears, Santoro said it’s important for policy makers to listen.
“I want people to know what it was like for those who really went through it and why we’re fighting for what we are fighting for,” she stressed. “I want to help them try to find a middle ground between both parties, because as it stands, we are just as polarized as ever, and we can’t have that if we’re going to be unified.”
Some Republican Senate leaders are preparing a bill that would limit assault weapon sales to those 21 and older, and place a three-day waiting period on rifle purchases.
But the measures fall short of the complete ban on the sale and transfer of assault weapons that is being advocated by Democrats and Douglas High students.
by The Florida News Connection
Scott: ‘We Have To Make Changes’ On School Safety
February 21, 2018
Metal detectors at schools, better coordination between agencies and keeping guns out of the hands of people who are mentally ill were among the solutions three groups of experts handed Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott, as state leaders search for ways to prevent tragedies like last week’s mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Broward County high school.
Scott met with leaders from workgroups focused on education, law enforcement and mental health, seeking input for legislation he said intends to present to lawmakers on Friday, two weeks before the scheduled March 9 end of the legislative session.
“My goal is to get something accomplished. I know that we need to substantially increase funding, and I know we have to make changes if we want kids to be safe,” Scott said at the outset of the meeting.
Scott ordered the panels in response to the Wednesday massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the second-worst school shooting in the nation’s history. Authorities charged 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school who had a lengthy history of mental-health issues, with 17 counts of premeditated murder in the deaths.
During Tuesday’s workgroup centered on security measures schools should employ, student Stephen Marante, who lives in Parkland but attends Coral Springs High School, said students want — and need — active-shooter training beginning in kindergarten. He also recommended identification badges for students, single points of entry for schools and more school resource officers, among other things, for students to feel safe.
“And kids want metal detectors. They do. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I don’t know if the money’s going to come through the state … but I don’t think the taxpayers will have a problem putting metal detectors on doors if you ask your parents how much is your child’s safety worth to you. How much are you willing to pay to have your kid come back to you?” said Marante, the student adviser to the Broward County school district.
Marante said he doesn’t care if the school “feels like prison.”
“We need to make sure that we’re safe when we come into the building,” he said.
Scott appeared surprised to learn that, while school districts are required by law to conduct regular fire drills, they are not required to perform active-shooter training.
After the evening meeting, Scott rattled off a list of items, including the drills, he said will be included in the package he gives to legislative leaders at the end of the week.
“If you look at the things that are clear, we’ve got to have active shooter drills,” he said.
The governor also said the state needs to “significantly increase” funding for school safety and mental health and needs to figure out “how to make sure the dollars we are spending are coordinated.”
Scott also said he wants to address the issue of people involuntarily committed under the Baker Act because of mental illness, something sheriffs said needs to be fixed.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said individuals can purchase or have access to firearms as soon as they are released after being involuntarily committed.
“You could be Baker acted 15 times in the last month, have 15 law enforcement contacts for domestic-related issues, tell a cop last night, ‘I’m going to kill my wife,’ you get Baker acted, you’re out this morning and this afternoon you’re buying a gun at a gun store in the state of Florida,” said Gualtieri, who suggested a “cooling-off” period that would require people to receive a judge’s permission to get their guns back or to purchase new firearms.
Law enforcement officials also are unable to take guns away from people who make threats of violence, the sheriff said.
That’s problematic, Scott said.
“We’ve got to figure out, if you or law enforcement see somebody that might be at risk, there should be a process, and it has to be due process, but there should be a process to make sure they don’t have access to a gun,” the governor told reporters after the meeting.
Earlier Tuesday, Scott attended the funeral of 15-year-old student Peter Wang, who reportedly died helping his fellow students escape a classroom. The governor emphasized that he intended to get legislation passed before the session ends.
“I’ve talked to families. I’ve met with families. I’ve gone to funerals. I’ve gone to hospitals. I’ve visited with students that were there,” he said. “We have to do something. We cannot continue where we are.”
Busloads of students from the Parkland high school are expected to meet with lawmakers throughout the day Wednesday, and some early arrivals spent Tuesday roaming the halls of the Capitol to urge legislators to pass a bill that would ban assault-style weapons like the one Cruz used to kill 14 teenagers and three faculty members.
Some of the students broke down when the Republican-dominated Florida House refused to take up such a measure.
Scott praised the students for making their voices heard.
“The students are energized. They’re going to be part of this process,” the governor said, adding that “you’ve got to work hard” to get things accomplished in the legislative process.
Asked if he would sign a ban on assault weapons into law, Scott said “everything is on the table.”
Frank Brogan, a former lieutenant governor and state education commissioner who now serves as a U.S. Department of Education assistant secretary, attended the education meeting and the evening roundtable with Scott.
Brogan applauded Scott for his quick response to the disaster.
“If something better doesn’t come out of this, all we’re going to be left with is an enormous tragedy,” Brogan said, adding that he is optimistic. “This is not just about screaming into the wind. This is about looking for real solutions.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Wins For Tate, Northview, West Florida In Softball, Baseball
February 21, 2018
SOFTBALL
Tate 10 Washington 0
The Tate Aggies varsity shut out the Washington Wildcats 10-0 Tuesday night.
On the mound for five, Avery Beauchaine struck out seven while allowing just one hit. At the plate, she was 1-3 with two runs, a triple and three RBIs.
Also for the Aggies: Hanna Brown 3-3, 2R; Amber DeCoux 1-1, 3B, R; Shelby Ullrich 1-2, 2RBI; Kayliegh Cawthon 1-1. 2RBI; Madisen Nelson 1-3; Shelby McLean 1-2, R; Ryleigh Cawby RBI; Sydni Solliday, 1-2, 3B, R, RBI; Gabby Locke 1-1, R; Deazia Nickerson 1-1; Katie Synder RBI.
Northview 6, Freeport 1
West Florida 7, Pace 1
Tate 15, Washington 0 (JV)
The Tate JV Lady Aggies beat Washington 15-0 Tuesday, let by Brianna Folmer’s 3-3 2 doubles and a triple.
Northview 4, Freeport 0 (JV)
BASEBALL
Northview 9, Century 4
Northview 10, Central 0
Pictured: The Tate Lady Aggies following their victory over Washington High Tuesday night. Photo for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Arrested For Threats At Pensacola Area Schools
February 21, 2018
The Pensacola Police Department arrested three people Tuesday for separate incidents threats involving threats against schools in the city.
The first incident involved a threat via social media against Washington High School, Workman Middle School and Pensacola State College causing each school to go on lockdown. The suspect was identified and was not on campus. He was located and will be charged with false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner and disruption of a school function.
The second incident involved a social media threat against Pensacola High School causing another lockdown. The suspect was identified and was not a student at the school and was not on campus. He was located and will be charged with h false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner and disruption of a school function.
The third incident involved a student at Washington High School after he indicated to another student he was in possession of a firearm. The school went into lockdown again. The student was identified and it was learned he never had a weapon at school. He was charged with disruption of a school function.
“We want to emphasize that at no time were the students or staff in any danger. The Pensacola Police Department will aggressively pursue anyone who threatens the safety of students or disrupts their school day with false threats”, said Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter.
The names of those arrested were not yet available as of Tuesday night.
Update: FHP Releases Details In Molino Wrong-Way Crash
February 20, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol has released details in a wrong-way driver crash on Highway 29 in Molino that injured multiple people Sunday night.
The FHP said 58-year old Mark Adams of Jacksonville, AL, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of Highway 29 near Barrineau Park Road. His Kia struck a Ford SUV, causing the Ford to overturn. Four people in the Ford SUV were injured, including an infant.
The Kia collided with a Jeep Cherokee driven by 36-year old Thomas Harris of Evergreen and a Ford Explorer driven by 26-year old Alan Noel of Gulf Breeze.
A Ford Focus operated by Walter Ross of Pensacola collided with debris in the roadway. The crash scene was spread over a considerable distance.
The 9:53 p.m. wreck closed Highway 29 until 1:06 a.m. Monday for the crash investigation, vehicle removal and debris cleanup.
Adams was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Four occupants of the Jeep were were transported to an area hospital, but friends and family tell NorthEscambia.com that they have been released.
Adams was cited for driving on the wrong site of the road. The Florida Highway Patrol said it is “unknown” if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The Molino and Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested For Armed Home Invasion
February 20, 2018
A Century man has been charged in connection with a local home invasion robbery with a firearm.
Kendrick Jamar Washington is accused of stealing about $1,500 in cash and an unknown quantity of drugs after forcing his way into a home in the 9500 block of Ivey Street.
Washington allegedly knocked on the female victim’s door about 4 a.m. while dressed in a dark colored hoodie and camouflage pants. As she was closing the door, he pulled the door back and shoved the female backwards, according to an arrest report. He then allegedly pulled a gun and pointed it the victim’s face while demanding money.
The victim told deputies she had about $1,500 in her purse because she had just cashed her paycheck at her employer and not yet deposited it into the bank.
Washington is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Northview High Makes Security Changes, New Drop-off Rules
February 20, 2018
Changes are in place effective today at Northview High School, with one set of entrance doors now locked during school hours for better security.
“While we at Northview have as a top priority to make sure each of our students and staff have a safe and secure place to learn and to work each day, we realize that there are other measures that we can take to enhance our school safety even more,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said in a phone message.
To “assure more control over unauthorized entry into Northview”, the east entrance door (to the faculty parking lot) will be secured at the first bell each day (8:45 a.m.).
Students that drive to school and arriving after the tardy bell should enter the building via the “commons” sidewalk between the classroom wings, as has been current practice. Parents that drop tardy students off, or are checking in a student late, should drop those students off at the bus loop (southern) entrance doors.
Any visitor to Northview should now enter through the bus loop entrance doors, including parents, visitors and deliveries.
“The restriction of the flow of people arriving on our campus and entering our building should help parents to feel confident about our commitment to their student’s safety,” Weaver said.
The security changes will not close either gate entrance (bus look or main parking lot) off Highway 4.
“We are also evaluating all of our other safety and security measures,” the principal added.
No Threat Via Social Media Against Flomaton High School
February 20, 2018
Rumors were rampant on social media last Monday that a student was threatening to take weapons to Flomaton High School today.
Authorites investigated and “didn’t find any threat” made on social media.
“We will have officers around school tomorrow,” Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis said Monday night, in order to reassure parents. He said parents should feel confident that their students are safe at the Flomaton schools.
“The Flomaton Police Department will have an increased presence today at Flomaton Schools. This should not be an alarm to parents but a reassurance with the rumors circulating on social media last night. We have confidence in the school resource officer, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, school administration, along with our department to deter any type of activity,” the department posted on their Facebook page.
Social media rumors indicated that a student had threatened online to take a gun and knife to the school.
Last week, a 19-year was arrested on murder charges in a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Century Council Holds Moment Of Silence, Prayer For School Shooting Victims
February 20, 2018
The Century Town Council held a moment of silence Monday to honor the 17 students killed last week during a mass school shooting in Parkland, FL.
Following the moment of silence, Council member Gary Riley remembered the Parkland victim’s during the council’s traditional opening prayer.
“Oh God, I know we had silent prayer, but we ask you in the name of Jesus to look over those victims of south Florida,” the council member said, “in Jesus name we pray, amen.”
As the moment of silence was held, simultaneous vigils were being held across Florida.
Pictured: Century Town Council members during a moment of silence Monday night for mass school shooting victims last week at a Parkland high school. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.