More Movie Money Surfaces In Local Area
March 22, 2017
More motion picture “funny money” has surfaced in the North Escambia area.
The Flomaton Police Department reports coming into contact recently with a juvenile who had 15 “For Motion Picture Use Only” $100 bills in his possession.
“These Motion Picture Use Only (bills) are not illegal to have but they are illegal to use as real currency. If you have some, we suggest that you destroy them,” Flomaton police said.
At first glance, the fake $100 bills look almost exactly like real money — that’s why they are used in movies and TV shows.
However, the fake bills have the words “FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY” clearly printed on the bill along with the statement “This note is not legal. It is to be used for motion pictures”. The security ribbon is fake, and picture of Ben Franklin is slightly different.
Back in December, the Flomaton Police Department reported that two of the bills had been used at local merchants. One woman told police she had no idea that she had spent a fake $100 — she said she received the bill when she cashed in a winning scratch off lottery ticket in Florida.
Authorities say the fake cash — which can be in any denomination — does not feel like real currency. It does not pass a currency pen test designed to detect counterfeit bills. The fake bills are legal to purchase and posses, but it is a felony offense to use the bills in any financial transaction.
Anyone that suspects a fake bill is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured top: Fifteen “For Motion Pictured Use Only” $100 bills recently surfaced in Flomaton. Pictured below: Close-ups of movie money used in Flomaton last December.
Florida Senators Ponder Direction On School Testing
March 22, 2017
A Senate Education Committee meeting Tuesday on the state’s accountability system turned into a show of strength by people who want to scale back standardized testing, as lawmakers consider the next move.
The long-running debate over the use of assessments in school grades, teacher evaluations and retention and graduation decisions has flared again, prompting a spate of new bills from lawmakers to tamp down testing — and pushback from supporters of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s drive to strengthen accountability over the past 15 years.
“The insanity has gone on far too long,” said Luke Flynt, secretary-treasurer for the Florida Education Association, the state’s main teachers union. “The only consistent result that we have seen from state testing is that they have sucked the joy out of learning and out of teaching.”
What is less clear is the way forward in the debate — whether the Republican-dominated Legislature, which still includes many Bush proteges, will back more-sweeping proposals to eliminate several statewide tests or a measured approach backed by the Bush-founded Foundation for Florida’s Future.
Several of the newest proposals were aired Tuesday at the Senate Education Committee.
Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican who has been leading the panel’s meetings in the medical absence of Chairwoman Dorothy Hukill, said after the meeting that no decision has been made.
“We may put together some sort of a committee bill … with a configuration of the bills that you just heard,” Simpson said. “But again, that’s Senator Hukill’s ultimate call. We’ll have to confer with her first.”
House members are already moving forward with what is known as the “Fewer, Better Tests” legislation (HB 773) backed by the foundation — a bill ironically named, critics say, because it doesn’t explicitly eliminate any tests. Supporters say it could lead to some local tests being shelved because they don’t meet reporting standards in the legislation.
But several of the people who spoke Tuesday at the Senate committee meeting, even some traditionally aligned with conservative causes, slammed the Senate version of the “Fewer, Better Tests” bill (SB 926) as insufficient.
“It’s not a bipartisan bill,” said Catherine Baer, chairwoman of The Tea Party Network and part of a coalition backing stronger legislation. “It’s been put forward by former Governor Bush’s foundation. The foundation’s educational philosophy has been soundly rejected by parents in the state of Florida and across the United States.”
Most of those wanting to more strongly dial back testing have rallied around a bipartisan proposal spearheaded by Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as head of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
That measure (SB 964) would, among other things, get rid of the requirement for end-of-course tests in geometry, Algebra II, U.S. history and civics; allow college-entrance exams like the SAT and ACT to be used in lieu of the state’s graduation test; and allow a pencil-and-paper option for the state’s current, computer-based tests.
“What began as a system to measure student performance and to hold students accountable has become an educational system that has been dominated by tests — over-testing, I would suggest,” Montford, a former Leon County schools superintendent, said Tuesday.
But Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican handling her chamber’s version of “Fewer, Better Tests,” said the Florida Department of Education first needs to look at whether the entrance exams would accurately measure how well students have learned the state’s education standards.
Flores’ bill calls for that review.
“If we don’t ask the DOE to look into that, then just arbitrarily replacing it may be problematic,” she said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Tate Beats Mosley; Northview Crushes Baker
March 22, 2017
Northview 15, Baker 3
The Northview Chiefs 10-run ruled the Baker Gators 15-3 Tuesday in Bratt in five innings.
Zach Payne had five RBIs for Northview in the district game, including a double in the first, a single in the third and a double in the fourth.
For Northview – Quinton Sampson 1-3, R; Chandler Lowery 1-3, 2R; John Chivington 1-4, R; Zach Payne 3-4, 5 RBI; 2 R; 2 2B; Seth Killam, 3-4, 2R, 3 RBI; Josh Neese 1-3, 3R; Bailey Wilson 2-4, R, 4 RBI; Daniel Mascaro 2 R.
Up next – the Chiefs will head to Myrtle Grove on March 27 to take on the Escambia Gators. The JV will play at 4:00; the varsity at 6:00.
Tate 6, Mosley 4
The Tate Aggies beat Mosley 6-4 Tuesday in the Sarasota Baseball Classic.
Gabe Castro earned the win for Tate Aggies Varsity. He tossed two innings, giving up one run, two hits, striking out two, and walking zero. Logan McGuffey started the game for Tate Aggies. He went five innings, surrendering three runs, four hits, and striking out one.
Kyler Hultgren and Hunter NeSmith had two RBIs for Tate, while Reid Halfacre and Logan Blackmon had one RBI each. Mason Land had a double for Tate.
Tate will play Sarasota High School at 7:30 Wednesday at Sarasota.
Tate 12, Navarre 1 (9th)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Bratt Elementary’s Sanders Named School District Employee Of The Month
March 22, 2017
The Escambia County School District Stellar Employee for March is Chad Sanders.
According to a proclamation issued by the Escambia County School District:
“Mr. Sanders has been employed with the district for 22 years, the last five years in the Maintenance Department as a Maintenance Mechanic l. Mr. Sanders is the Maintenance Crewman assigned to Bratt Elementary School. Mr. Sanders was nominated because of his cooperative and “can-do” attitude. Mr. Sanders completes the work order requests for Bratt Elementary in a timely, efficient manner and maintains a pleasant, professional attitude toward school staff and his co-workers. If a request is out of his realm of expertise, he makes sure it is submitted to the correct person or department to be fulfilled.
“During his assignment to Bratt Elementary, Mr. Sanders has constructed “story stairs” for the school library, benches for the hallways and a reading gazebo, all from school recycled lumber.
“He has repaired numerous light fixtures and even evaluated the roof to determine the problem with the school satellite dish. After Mr. Sanders determined the satellite dish needed replacing, he and his crew replaced it with a new dish. Mr. Sanders has also been involved in the removal and replacement of outdated smart boards, tvs, overhead projectors and projector screens.
“In preparation for the library end of year Reading Celebration for the 2015-16 school year, Mr. Sanders hung ceiling decorations before the event and removed them after the event, saving teachers a great deal of time.
“Bratt Elementary feels they are very fortunate to have such a dedicated, caring, maintenance crewman assigned to their school.
Mr. Sanders personifies the pillars of “People” and “Service”. It is for these reasons that he has been selected as our stellar employee for the Month of March.”
Firefighters Battle Bratt Brush Fire
March 21, 2017
Firefighters battled a brush fire in Bratt Tuesday afternoon. The fire in the 6000 block of Ashcraft Road burned about an acre before firefighters arrived on scene and brought it under control just after 2:30 p.m.. There were no injuries and no structures reported to be involved. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Considers 59% Water And Sewer Rate Increase, 36% Garbage Rate Hike
March 21, 2017
The Century Town Council is considering a rate increase for water and sewer customers that would increase the average customer’s bill by 59 percent. And Mayor Henry Hawkins is also proposing a 36 percent increase in residential garbage fees. Additionally, a rate study for the town’s gas department is expected to be forthcoming.
The total rate increases for water, wastewater and garbage, if approved, will cost the average family of four about $300 per year.
GARBAGE
Century’s 545 garbage customers currently pay $16.98 per month. In order to stop financial losses in the garbage department, Hawkins is proposing a 36 percent increase of $6.21 per month, for a total bill of $23.19. The increase will allow the town to continue to collect bulk items such as furniture and appliances and vegetative waste.
WATER AND WASTEWATER
The water and wastewater department had a net income loss of $142,022, according to a Florida Rural Water Association rate study presented to the council Monday night.
The average family of four customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month currently pays $18.65 for water and $13.00 for wastewater, for a total bill of $31.65. The rate study recommends three-year incremental rate increases totaling a 59 percent ($18.59) increase for the average user….$21.27 for 5,000 gallons of water and $27.58 for wastewater.
The study recommended the following water rate increase:
It was recommended that the full water rate increase be spread over a three year period, and incremental tiers be established:
For wastewater, the study found:
It was recommended that the full wastewater rate increase be spread over a three year period, and incremental tiers be established:
For an average family of four, the rate increases would be as folows:
The town is seeking a total legislative appropriation of $60,000 for preliminary engineering reports for the potable water and wastewater systems. These reports will identify the deficiencies in each system, allowing the town to seek funding and make the necessary improvements.
In order to apply for future grants or loans, the water and wastewater systems must be financially viable by implementing the rate increases, according to town officials.
Pictured: The Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured: Century’s water, wastewater and natural gas franchise also serves the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Majorette Smith Earns Straight Superiors At State
March 21, 2017
Northview High School majorette captain Brianna Smith received straight superior ratings Monday in the Florida Bandmaster’s Association state competition in Jacksonville. She performed to the song “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from the musical Hairspray.
Pictured top: Smith performs during a Friday night football game last season, NorthEscambia.com photo. Pictured inset: Smith in Jacksonville on Monday. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Names New Gas Superintendent, Gives A Few Employee Raises
March 21, 2017
The Century Town Council voted Monday night promote an employee from within as their new gas superintendent and also handed out a few employee raises.
The council promoted Kim Godwin, former deputy town clerk, to gas department superintendent to replace an employee that recently stepped down from the responsibilities. The council also increased her salary by $5 per hour to $18.26 to cover her new responsibilities as gas superintendent plus upcoming work on the town’s stagnant website.
The council also voted to provide $2,930 for Godwin to attend two upcoming educational workshops. The funds were already budgeted for gas department operating supplies.
Godwin has been employed by the town since May 2012.
Also Monday night, the council voted to increase the salary of a window clerk from $8.21 to $9.50 per hour and an administrative assistant from $9.68 to $10.50. Both employees have taken on additional responsibilities to justify their pay increases, according to Mayor Henry Hawkins.
Pictured: Kim Godwin, Century’s new gas superintendent. NorthEscambia.com photo.
The Blue Angels Return Home
March 21, 2017
The Blues are back! The U.S. Navy Blue Angels buzzed downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach late Monday afternoon on their way back to their home at NAS Pensacola for the air show season..
The 2017 Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show will be July 9, and the Pensacola Naval Air Station Homecoming Air Show is coming up on November 11 and 12. There are also numerous opportunities to catch a Blue Angels practice aboard NAS Pensacola. Click here for a schedule.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge
Learn How To Do Business With ECUA
March 21, 2017
On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, the Florida Small Business Development Center and the University of West Florida’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Program, will offer a free workshop entitled, “How to do Business with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority” (ECUA).
The informational meeting will educate attendees about the potential of doing business with the ECUA, while increasing participation in obtaining future ECUA contracts. Participants will learn about the bidding process, qualification requirements, future business opportunities, and how the ECUA hiring process is conducted.
The featured speakers will include; Bill Johnson, ECUA director of engineering and Amy Williamson, ECUA senior purchasing agent.
The workshop is free; however, pre-registration is recommended. For additional information contact Laura Subel, PTAC procurement specialist, via email at lsubel@uwf.edu, or by calling (850) 474-2549. The event will be held at the SBDC Office, 9999 University Parkway, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.