Century Appoints Boutwell To Community Action Program Committee
November 13, 2017
The Town of Century has appointed council member Ben Boutwell to the Community Action Program Committee (CAPC) board.
CAPC has been serving Northwest Florida residents since April 1965.
The agency started as a small summer program for children, and has developed into a multi-faceted agency targeting poverty in the community. CAPC is an anti-poverty agency working cohesively as the organization focuses on its vision to change people’s lives, to embody the spirit of hope and to make the community a better place to live.
The CAPC works with Community Services Block Grants, Head Start/Early Start, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Proram
Proposal Targets Class Size, Higher Teacher Pay
November 13, 2017
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission will consider a proposal that would make it easier for schools to comply with class-size limits, with any financial savings required to go toward higher teacher pay.
Commission member Patricia Levesque, CEO of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, filed the proposal before a deadline last week. If approved by the commission in the coming months, it would go on the November 2018 ballot.
Voters in 2002 approved a constitutional amendment that placed strict limits on public-school class sizes. But the requirements have long been controversial, with many Republicans questioning whether the limits improve student achievement and pointing to the costs. Under Levesque’s proposed constitutional amendment (Proposal 90), schools could comply with class-size limits based on average numbers of students.
For example, the 2002 constitutional amendment set a maximum of 18 students for each teacher in prekindergarten through third grade. Levesque’s proposal would allow schools to have an average of 18 students in those grade levels — an easier standard to meet than a maximum of 18.
The proposal also would require that money “not spent by districts to maintain the school-level average class size maximums must be spent towards raising teacher pay to the national average.” Levesque is a former education staff director in the House who later became a top aide to former Gov. Jeb Bush. The Foundation for Excellence in Education was founded by Bush.
Levesque also is executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, another organization founded by Bush.
by The News Service of Florida
UWF Makes Division II History With First Ever NCAA Playoff Bid
November 13, 2017
The UWF football team earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Football Playoff as announced by the selection committee on Sunday.
UWF was slotted as the No. 6 seed in the Super Region 2 bracket and will travel to play at No. 3 seed Wingate on Saturday, Nov. 18. Kickoff at Irwin Belk Stadium Stadium and John R. Martin Field in Wingate, N.C. is set for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. ET. Ticket prices will be announced on Monday morning. Both general admission and reserved seating will be available for purchase from the Wingate Ticket Office at wingatebulldogs.com.
The Argonauts finished the regular-season at 7-3 and in a 5-way tie for second place in the Gulf South Conference with a 5-3 record. UWF was ranked No. 10 in the most recent NCAA Super Region 2 Rankings and pulled off the biggest win in its 2-year history with a 34-29 upset at No. 18/24 West Georgia on Saturday.
Under second-year head coach Pete Shinnick, UWF has now become the fastest team ever to qualify for the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. The previous mark was three seasons held by UNC Pembroke, who did so in 2009 when Shinnick built the Braves’ program from scratch in 2007.
Wingate went 9-1 and 6-1 in the South Atlantic Conference, dropping its regular-season finale at Tusculum, 25-17.
The UWF-Wingate winner will face the winner of the No. 2 Virginia State-No. 7 West Georgia game.
The Gulf South Conference had four teams receive bids to the playoffs, led by No. 1 seed West Alabama who will have a first round bye before hosting the winner of the No. 5 Delta State-No. 4 Bowie State contest.
Pictured top and inset: Northview High graduate Blake McCall. Photos courtesy Robin L Pooling for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Temporary Bridge Opens On Arthur Brown Road In Walnut Hill
November 12, 2017
A temporary bridge opened Saturday over Boggy Creek on Arthur Brown Road, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Construction started on the temporary bridge in July in order to construct a new permanent bridge. However, main bridge was ordered closed in September after a state inspection found serious structural deficiencies. Work is already underway to construct the new permanent bridge over Boggy Creek, with 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2018.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels End Season With Veterans Day Show (With Photo Gallery)
November 12, 2017
The Blue Angels closed out their season Saturday afternoon before tens of thousands of people during their Homecoming Air Show on Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The day also included extraordinary aerobatics by performers such as the Vertigo Air Shows Jet Glider, the world’s only jet-launched sail plane, flown by Bob Carlton; an A-4 Skyhawk flown by Paul Wood; the Mig-17 piloted by Randy Ball; the Super Stearman flown by Greg Shelton with Wing Walker Ashley Shelton; and John Klatt with the Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco. The Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team jumped in to the show and Chris Darnell drove the 300+ mile per hour Shockwave Jet Truck plus many more acts.
Along with incredible flying demonstrations, dozens of military and civilian aircraft were on display. The static displays also included a variety of aircraft ranging from the present-day, state-of- the-art fighters to aircraft from the 1930s.
For a photo gallery from Saturday’s show, click here.
For a photo gallery from Friday’s show, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Veterans Honored On 25th Anniversary Of Wall South
November 12, 2017
Crowds gathered Saturday in Pensacola to observe Veterans Day and the 25th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Wall South Vietnam Memorial.l.
Mayor Hayward will formally recognize the dedicated community members that made its construction possible.
Following the Veterans Day Parade, Vice Admiral Jerry Unruh, USNRet. delivered his remarks as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus also participated in the ceremony, performing patriotic favorites.
New granite plaques commemorating the key operations of the Vietnam War were also unveiled at the Wall South.
Prizes were also awarded to local area students who wrote essays on the subject “Why it is important for a community like Pensacola to have a park dedicated to honoring all veterans’ that made the ultimate sacrifice?”. They include four Northview High School NJROTC students — first place Rebekah Amerson and Katlin Roach’e and honorable mentions Crystalyn Daly and Savannah Steadham (pictured bottom).
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Is Deadline For Farmers, Ranchers To Apply For EQIP Funds
November 12, 2017
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Nov. 17th for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2017 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.
Through EQIP, agricultural landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals and related resources. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland and other farm or ranch lands. The application deadline also applies to the following EQIP-funded initiatives:
- Organic Producer Initiative
- Seasonal High Tunnels
- Energy Initiative
- Pollinator Initiative
- Longleaf Pine Initiative
- National Water Quality Initiative
- Working Lands for Wildlife
- Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Applicants can begin by visiting the local NRCS field office. The Escambia County Field Office is located at 151 Highway 97 in Molino (in the Escambia County Farm Bureau Building) For more information, call (850) 587-5404 ext 3, or visit www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
November 12, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews perform construction activities.
-
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- Intermittent closure of the U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp and the U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound ramp. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Intermittent closure of the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south ramp (Exit 10A). Traffic will be detoured to Exit 10B.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 north ramp (Exit 10B).
- I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge- The on-ramp from Scenic Highway to I-10 westbound will be closed from 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13. Traffic will be detoured on I-10 eastbound to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) to access I-10 westbound. In addition, drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound near Scenic Highway from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews perform paving operations.
· U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Nov. 18 as follows:
· Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: The nightly eastbound traffic shift onto the westbound inside travel lane continue as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Lane restrictions are Sundays, through Thursdays.
· U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage operations.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on U.S. 98 near the Pensacola Bay Bridge the week of Sunday, Nov. 12.
-
- U.S. 98 (Bayfront Parkway) east and westbound alternating lane closures, between 14th Avenue and the bridge, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Nov. 18 as crews perform striping work and place temporary curb.
- U.S. 98 eastbound near 14th Avenue will be shifted to the left for utility work. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction.
· S.R. 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16 continue as crews perform milling and paving operations, curb replacement, sidewalk repairs, and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Alternating lane closures on Untreiner Avenue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 as crews perform jack and bore operations.
· I-110 North and Southbound Routine Bridge Maintenance-There will be north and southbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance at various locations.
· I-10 Routine Maintenance between I-110 and Davis Highway- There will be alternating east and westbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews replace lights on overhead lights and signs.
Santa Rosa County
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22)- Roadway widening and reconstruction work continues on I-10 and Avalon Boulevard. There will be alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 17. In addition, drivers can expect alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
- U.S. 90 Pavement Testing from Glover lane to Stewart Street (S.R. 87N)- Drivers can expect alternating restrictions from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 to 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17 as crews perform pavement testing.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Photo: Yellow Gold And White
November 12, 2017
Pictured: The yellow gold sky and white cotton crop seen during Saturday afternoon’s sunset on Gobbler Road in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
UWF Stuns Nationally Ranked West Georgia 34-29
November 12, 2017
The UWF football team knew facing a nationally-ranked West Georgia squad that had won its last six home games and was playing for a potential playoff home game would be a tall order. But they also had played with the best in the Gulf South Conference and were up to the task themselves.
UWF (7-3, 5-3) scored 24 unanswered and got an outstanding effort from its defense over the final 45 minutes to end the regular-season tied for second in the final league standings. UWF’s 395 yards of total offense was its third-highest this season and helped the squad finish 4-1 on the road in 2017.
Freshman Mike Beaudry threw for 236 yards on 19-of-35 with four touchdowns against the top-rated defense in the league which was seventh nationally allowing just 268.8 yards per game. The Argonauts also rushed for 159 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry.
Sophomore Chris Schwarz had a career-best 94 yards on 17 rushes, while senior Leroy Wilson and freshman Anthony Johnson, Jr. combined for 55 yards on 15 plays.
Senior tight end Austin Blake-Smith had a great game, hauling in five catches for 32 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, UWF was in the UWG backfield 14 times on the 62 plays with five sacks and nine additional tackles for loss. The defense held the Wolves to minus-2 yards rushing over the final three quarters.
UWG (8-3, 5-3) had 398 yards of total offense but just 199 after the first quarter. Willie Candler completed 19 passes for 295 yards, with scoring plays of 72 and 41 yards.
Things got off to a rough start as UWG scored on its first play from scrimmage when Candler connected with DeNiko Carter for a 72-yard pass and catch. The point after was missed as the Wolves led 6-0 just 19 seconds into the game. Trey Wiggins made a 20-yard field goal and Mikell Lands-Davis found the end zone on a 22-yard run that put UWG up 16-0 at the end of the first.
After managing just 30 yards in the opening 15 minutes, the Argos’ offense started to get into a rhythm in the second. UWF outgained the home squad 139-19 in the second frame, pulling to within 16-14 at the break.
UWF secured its first score when Beaudry found Ka’Ron Ashley from 12 yards at the midway point, before Rodney Coates made the catch of the year, grabbing a corner route ball with one hand fully extended with 12 seconds to play.
After punting on its first possession of the second half, UWF sophomore Trent Archie forced and recovered a Candler fumble. Beaudry and company needed just 57 seconds to score, this time a pass that bounced off a defender’s hands and another player’s foot right to Blake-Smith in the end zone.
UWF got another big stop on the ensuing possession, snuffing out a UWF fake punt near midfield for a turnover on downs. Sophomore Austin Williams made a 26-yard field goal for a 24-16 lead. The Wolves answered when Shaq Roland broke a number of tackles down the sideline for a 41-yard score.
The Argos had a response for that, scoring the next 10 points – getting a 30-yard field goal from Williams and an 8-yard Beaudry-to-Blake-Smith pass that the senior tight end waltzed in after the catch. UWF led 34-23 with just over 10 minutes to play at that point.
Once again, UWG battled back and made it a 5-point game on a Candler-to-Taylor Turner pass from seven yards. But the 2-point conversion failed and UWF led 34-29 with 2:24 remaining.
The Argos ran seven plays while the Wolves burned through all three timeouts. UWF punted to UWG with 15 seconds left. Candler’s pass attempts on two plays fell incomplete, including a Hail Mary as time expired.
UWF outgained West Georgia 365-199 over the final three quarters.
UWF was ranked No. 10 in the most recent NCAA Super Region 2 Rankings and will see if the win over the Wolves – ranked No. 4 themselves – was enough to sway the regional advisory committee and award the Argos one of the seven NCAA regional berths.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.