Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Trafficking Arrest
May 16, 2017
A recent traffic stop led to a drug trafficking arrest in Escambia County.
Robert Darnell Alexander-Steans, 26, was pulled over by Escambia County deputies for a traffic violation in a silver Volvo SUV near the 70th block of Leyete Drive.
Methamphetamines, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, ecstasy pills, bottles of promethazine and marijuana were located, according to deputies.
Steans was charged with: Cocaine trafficking over 28 grams to 150 kilograms, amphetamine trafficking or methamphetamine 14 grams or over, marijuana distribution, posession of a controlled substance without a prescription, operating a motor vehicle without valid license and possession or use of drug equipment.
Steans remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $171,000.
‘Christmas In May’ For Many College Students
May 16, 2017
Despite broader political turmoil in Washington, D.C., and Tallahassee, federal and state lawmakers have agreed to dramatically increase financial aid to the neediest college and university students.
On May 4, the U.S. Senate approved a series of budget bills that will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, including the extension of Pell grants to cover summer classes for the first time since 2011. Pell grants are the largest federal grant program aimed at students with financial need.
Four days later, the Florida Legislature overwhelmingly approved a new state budget that includes a major expansion of higher-education aid programs, including the Florida “student assistance grants,” the state’s largest need-based aid program for economically challenged students.
“It was Christmas in May,” said Darryl Marshall, director of financial aid at Florida State University. “This is a huge win for students.”
He said expansion of the federal and state financial-aid programs will have an impact throughout higher-education institutions in Florida, including lowering student debt and giving students more options for support.
Pell grants, which can be used in public and private institutions, play a large role in the state university system, with 39 percent of undergraduates receiving the grants in fall 2015, according to the state Board of Governors.
At the high end, more than 65 percent of the students at Florida A&M University and 51 percent of the students at Florida International University received the awards, which do not have to be repaid. At the lower end, Florida State University and New College of Florida each reported about 28 percent of their undergraduates had Pell grants.
Pell grants are equally important in the 28-school state college system. Miami-Dade College, the largest school, reported 53 percent of its students had Pell grants in the 2014-15 academic year, with annual awards averaging $3,934.
Although grants are distributed using a complicated formula, as a general rule students coming from families with less than $30,000 in annual income qualify for a full award, which is currently capped at just under $6,000.
Students have not been able to use Pell grants for summer classes since the end of the 2010-11 academic year because of federal budget cutbacks.
Marshall, the FSU financial-aid director, said some students will benefit from the Pell summer extension this year, although he said he doesn’t expect the full benefits to be realized until next summer because of the timing of the congressional decision.
The future of the extension remains in doubt after Sept. 30 as Congress has struggled in recent years with passing long-term budgets, although U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been supportive of summer Pell grants.
The Pell summer extension is particularly important in Florida because the state’s main need-based aid program, the Florida student-assistance grants, does not cover summer terms.
However, the 2017-18 state budget, which is awaiting the governor’s review, includes a record funding boost of $121 million in the student-assistance grant program, which now serves some 133,000 students who receive an average annual award of $1,113.
About 78 percent of the program’s funding goes to state university and college students, with 12 percent for private college students and 10 percent for students enrolled in other post-secondary programs, including career-training initiatives.
The state support works in conjunction with the Pell grants, with students qualifying for the programs by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.
At Florida State, Marshall said about 3,000 of the more than 10,000 Pell grant students also receive Florida student-assistance grant support, a number he expects to grow with the Legislature’s expansion of the program.
Marshall said the increase in the Pell grant and state-assistance programs will have several effects, including a new push by education officials to encourage more student to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms to determine their eligibility.
“Hopefully, the message will get out to our students and their parents to complete the FAFSA,” Marshall said.
More important, Marshall said the boost in need-based aid will result in students taking out fewer loans, avoiding a debt burden as they begin their careers.
“It’s a big win,” Marshall said. “The more need-based grant dollars, the less loan debt.”
The need-based aid expansion may also help students who receive merit-based aid, like the state’s Bright Futures scholarships.
The Legislature this spring increased the top-level Bright Futures award to cover full tuition and fees as well as summer classes. But the expansion did not extend to the lower-level Bright Futures “medallion scholars,” who still will have to pay part of their tuition and all of the summer classes.
Marshall said some of the merit scholarship students will now also qualify for the expanded need-based aid because of their financial circumstances.
But the expansion of the Florida need-based aid, like the federal Pell grants, faces some political uncertainty. Gov. Rick Scott has threatened to veto all or part of the new state budget because of lawmakers’ failure to fund business-incentive and tourism programs that he supported.
However, Scott has been a consistent supporter of reducing the cost of higher education in Florida, including taking a firm stand against tuition and fee increases.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Jackson’s Flores Hits Walk-Off To Beat Wahoos 4-3
May 16, 2017
Jackson Generals left fielder Rudy Flores smacked a two-out, walk-off single to help his team rally from three runs down to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-3 on Monday at The Ballpark at Jackson.
Jackson center fielder Evan Marzilli scored the winning run after leading off the ninth inning with a single to right field.
The Blue Wahoos fell to 6-8 on the season in games decided by one run. They are 20-18 on the year and a game behind the Mississippi Braves in the South Division.
Jackson, the defending Southern League champion, improved to 22-15 and leads the North Division by a half game over the Chattanooga Lookouts and Tennessee Smokies.
Blue Wahoos closer Brennan Bernardino came on in the ninth with the game tied, 3-3, but gave up two hits and struck out one to pick up the loss. He is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
Pensacola right-hander Luis Castillo has failed to get a decision in his past two starts, even though he allowed one run in seven innings against the Birmingham Barons and on Monday gave up just two runs in five innings to Jackson. Considered the seventh best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization by MLB Pipeline.com, Castillo scattered six hits to the Generals, walked two and struck out one.
Castillo, who is 1-2 on the year with a 3.07 ERA, last earned a victory April 13 against the Biloxi Shuckers in his second start of the season.
He was relieved by Domingo Tapia, who blew his second save opportunity of the season when he gave up the tying run in the sixth to Jackson. Generals first baseman Kevin Cron led off the sixth inning by crushing a fly ball over the center field wall 390-feet away to tie the game, 3-3. It was his Southern League-leading ninth homer of the season.
All three of Pensacola’s runs happened in the third inning. Blue Wahoos center fielder Brian O’Grady hit his second homer in two games and now has five on the season to lead the ball club.
With two outs, Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino singled to left field and shortstop Blake Trahan singled to right field and then stole second base. That’s when Mr. Clutch Josh VanMeter stepped to the plate and delivered a single to left that drove in both Blandino and Trahan to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 3-0.
VanMeter, Pensacola’s third baseman, is 9-19 (.474) with 12 of his team-leading 17 RBIs coming with runners in scoring position and two outs this year.
Castillo gave up his two runs to Jackson in the fourth inning when second baseman Kevin Medrano doubled in Cron and then starting pitcher Taylor Clark hit a sacrifice fly to score catcher Oscar Hernandez to cut Pensacola’s lead to, 3-2.
Plans Finalized To Rebuild Tornado Ravaged 114 Year Old Century Church
May 15, 2017
Plans have been finalized to reconstruct the historic Century United Methodist Church, which was damaged beyond repair in last year’s Century tornado. Church members hope construction will begin soon.
The appearance of the new building will be much like the old building and will include windows, pews, light fixtures, woodwork and more salvaged from the old church.
The Century United Methodist Church was built in 1902, just after Century was established by The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company. It was constructed of virgin long leaf pine, with interior detail and finish that created a reverent place for worship.
For over 114 years, the sanctuary helped to provide comfort and inspiration to Century residents with weekly services, as well as special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
Time took its toll on the familiar old building, along with a fire and hurricanes. The February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado that struck Century dealt a blow from which the building could not be recovered. Many architectural details were salvaged before the structure had to be dismantled.
Church members have continued to meet since the tornado, operating out of their Annex Building across the street.
Pictured top and bottom: Architectural drawings of the new Century United Methodist Church. Pictured inset and below: The Century UMC following the February 15, 2016, tornado. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Winning $60K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
May 15, 2017
Someone is over $60,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97, was one of three winning tickets sold for Sunday night’s drawing worth $60,365.68. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Orlando and Miramar.
The ticket was the fourth winning Fantasy Five ticket sold in just over a year at the State Line Gift Shop.
The 446 tickets matching four numbers won $65 each. Another 10,764 tickets matching three numbers are worth $7.50 each, and 89,179 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Sunday’s winning numbers were 1-5-9-10-16.
Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highwy 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Donates Surplus Office Equipment, Furniture To Century
May 15, 2017
The Escambia County Commission recently voted to donate various surplus office furniture and equipment to the Town of Century.
The county approved the donation of the following surplus items to Century:
- 6-Drawer Desk (Walnut Finish)
- Grey Table (approx 6 feet)
- Grey 4-Foot Table/Desk
- Credenza (Walnut Finish)
- 6-Drawer Desk (Walnut Finish)
- 5-Door Lateral Open File (Legal Size)
- 5-Door Lateral Open File (Legal Size)
- 5-Door Lateral Open File (Legal Size)
- 5-Door Lateral Open File (Legal Size)
- 5-Door Lateral Open File (Legal Size)
- Tennsco 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- Tennsco 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- 2-Drawer Lateral Open File
- HON 6-Shelf Open File
- HON 6-Shelf Open File
- HON 6-Shelf Open File
- HON 6-Shelf Open File
- DELL Latitude 100L Laptop (reformatted to Windows XP sp 3)
- 6-Drawer Desk (Cherry Finish)
- 4-Drawer Desk (Walnut Finish)
Camp Fire Century Holds Graduation (With Photo Gallery)
May 15, 2017
The Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center held a graduation program recently.
Photos by August Whorff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
May 15, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced Students of the Month for March. They are Makayla Garrett, eighth grade; Taylor McMinn, seventh grade; and John Michael Ward, sixth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Girls Weightlifting Team Presents Season Awards
May 15, 2017
The Northview High School girls weightlifting team celebrated their season and presented the following honors:
ECAT Offers Free Summer Rides For Youth, Art Contest
May 15, 2017
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) has announced the launch of their summer youth initiatives. ECAT will hold a Youth Art Contest for students and offer a Summer Wheels Pass that allows youths to ride ECAT for free all summer long.
“ECAT is committed to serving all of Escambia County, including the youth in our area,” said Tonya Ellis, director of Marketing and Community Relations for ECAT. “Our Art Contest and Summer Wheels Pass are designed to encourage young people to explore their community while engaging with public transit.”
ECAT’s 2017 Youth Art Contest calls for students in Pre-K through 12th grades to submit a piece of ECAT-themed artwork. Winning entrants will have their art displayed on ECAT bus shelters for an entire year. Students can submit their work to the ECAT Terminal until Friday, May 26 at 4 p.m. Winners will be chosen based on creativity, originality and use of ECAT theme.
In addition to launching the Art Contest, ECAT will offer a Summer Wheels Pass this year. The pass will allow youth 18 and under to ride ECAT from Memorial Day to Labor Day at no charge.
“We are excited that ECAT will be offering the Summer Wheels Pass to our students again this summer,” said Escambia County School Superintendent Malcom Thomas. “A bus pass can mean easier access to the public libraries, the museums downtown, summer activities all over town and even the beach. We hope the passes will encourage families to spend their free time giving their students new experiences as well as making frequent trips to the libraries because we all know that summer reading is a great way for our students to avoid the summer slide.”
The Summer Wheels Pass can be obtained with an application and a parent or guardian at the ECAT administrative office on Fairfield Ave. Both of ECAT’s summer youth initiatives are done in partnership with local businesses who work to support both the system and area youth. To download the Art Contest entry or Summer Wheels Pass application, please visit GoECAT.com or call Tonya Ellis at 850-595-3229.