Tate Shuts Out Riverview; Monroe Academy Blanks Northview
March 21, 2017
Monroe Academy 3, Northview 0
Monroe Academy defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-0 Monday evening in Bratt.
Monroe scored on run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings for the win.
John Chivington, Seth Killam, Josh Neese, and Chandler Lowery had one hit each for the Chiefs, while Killam singled in the second inning. Daniel Mascaro pitched five innings for the Northview Chiefs, allowing three hits, two runs, two errors and striking out four. Blake Reid had two strikeouts, one hit , one run and one error in two innings on the mound for the Chiefs.
Northview hosts Baker on Tuesday — the junior varsity at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:30.
Tate 7, Riverview 0
Ryan Green threw a complete game, allowing just one hit, as the Tate Aggies defeated Riverview 7-0 in the Sarasota Baseball Classic.
The Aggies took a commanding 5-0 lead in the second inning and added two more runs in the sixth.
For Tate – Reid Halfacre 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Mason Land R; Logan McGuffey 3-4, R; 3 RBI; Trey LaFleur 1-3; Ethan Bloodsworth 1-1; Kyler Hultgren 2-3; Blake Anderson 1-2, R;
Mosley will play Tate at 4:30 EST Tuesday at Venice High School
Tate 8 Milton 7 (9th)
Pictured: Monroe Academy at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Bratt Brush Fire Quickly Extinguished
March 20, 2017
Firefighters quickly extinguished a brush fire in Bratt Sunday afternoon. The fire was reported about 5:50 p.m. in the 500 block of North Highway 99, between Bratt Elementary School and Highway 4. The fire burned through a small lot between a residence and a parking area. There were no injuries reported. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Incredible Kids Day; Camp Fire Birthday
March 20, 2017
The children at Camp Fire Century recently celebrated Camp Fire’s 108th Birthday and Absolutely Incredible Kids Day.
Camp Fire’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day honors our nation’s youth by asking adults to write letters of encouragement and inspiration to the incredible kids in their lives. It is a simple, meaningful way to let youth know how much they are appreciated. This year, the staff at Camp Fire Century wrote 207 letters for Byrneville Elementary school to pass out to their students.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Names New Drum Major, Assistant
March 20, 2017
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band has named Clayton Findley (left) as drum major for 2017-2018. Camilla Windham (right) has been named assistant drum major. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Moves Forward With State College Changes
March 20, 2017
A bill that would create a new board to oversee the state college system, place limits on students enrolled in baccalaureate-degree programs and revamp the approval process for four-year degrees at state colleges advanced in the Senate.
The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill (SB 374), sponsored by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, after changing some provisions that have drawn opposition from the state college advocates.
Subcommittee Chairman Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who is handling the legislation as Hukill recovers from surgery, said Florida has “a very good college system.” He said where the system “stands out” and has won national awards is with its ability to graduate students with two-year degrees who then finish four-year degrees at state universities, the so-called “2-plus-2 articulation” system.
But Galvano said that changed 15 years ago when state colleges received approval to start four-year, or baccalaureate, degree programs. In the past, the colleges were known as community colleges.
“What we have seen in recent years, since the authorization of the baccalaureate degrees, is a proliferation of these type of degrees,” Galvano said. Senate analysts said 27 of the 28 state colleges offer a total of 179 four-year degrees.
And Galvano said some of those degrees don’t seem to be in line with “workforce demands in communities and regions,” which was the primary purpose of allowing the schools to have four-year degree programs.
To address that issue, the bill would impose a cap on the baccalaureate degree programs. That has been one of the most controversial issues for state college leaders, who argue the four-year degree programs remain a minor part of their mission and that they are serving more “non-traditional” students, including many part-time students, older students and minority students.
As part of ongoing negotiations about the bill, the Senate panel eased off on the cap somewhat, raising the trigger to limit four-year enrollments when baccalaureate students represent 10 percent of the overall school enrollment, up from an original 8 percent.
The amendment came from Sen. Gary Farmer, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who said his analysis showed state colleges were serving critical local workforce needs while not harming university enrollment.
“Our universities are thriving and, frankly, they are packed,” Farmer said.
In another adjustment, the Senate subcommittee backed off a “one-year” notice provision that colleges would have to file if they wanted to propose a new baccalaureate program. The amended bill creates a six-month “notice of interest,” followed by a “notice of intent” that would have to be filed 100 days before submitting the proposal to the Division of Florida Colleges.
The bill also would rename the college system as the Florida Community College system and create a 13-member State Board of Community Colleges to oversee the 28 schools, similar to the Board of Governors, which oversees the 12 state universities. The state college system previously had a separate oversight board, but it was abolished in 2003 and the colleges were moved under the state Board of Education, which also oversees the K-12 system.
Ann McGee, president of Seminole State College, said the 28 college presidents appreciated the changes the Senate has made in the bill, while suggesting they want to see more modifications.
“The baccalaureates are very important to us,” McGee said. “We pledged to work with you as we go forward on this bill because we want to be all about access for our students and success for our students because we know how important that is.”
The bill next heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. A similar bill (HB 929) has not been heard in the House.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Missing Escambia County Senior Located
March 19, 2017
UPDATE 12:40 a.m. 3/20 — The Florida Silver Alert for Joseph Monier has been canceled. He was located safe and sound in Louisiana early Monday morning.
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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has issued a silver alert for a missing man.
They are searching for 69-year old Joseph Monier. He is described as being five-foot, six-inches tall, 190 pounds with salt and pepper hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a green button up shirt, blue jeans and driving a tan 2005 Ford F-150 with Florida tag DV1883C. If you have any information about his whereabouts, call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at at (850) 436-9620.
Century Holds Community Cleanup Day
March 19, 2017
The town of Century did a little spring cleaning Saturday with a community cleanup day.
“I’ve walked 4.5 miles so far,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said as he picked up trash along North Century Boulevard. “People have got to take pride in our town. We need their help to clean up Century. Every little bit is a start.”
Those that took part in the cleanup were treated lunch afterwards at Nadine McCaw Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Wreck North Of Flomaton
March 19, 2017
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash near Flomaton Saturday morning.
The accident happened just before 11 a.m. about three miles north of Flomaton at the intersection of Highway 113 and Wolf Log Road. The passenger in a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was trapped in the crash and extricated by firefighters. The passenger suffered critical injuries, while the driver was also injured. They were transported by Escambia County (FL) EMS to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Two people in a SUV were not injured.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers. The Flomaton Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, Flomaton Police Department and Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
Further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Man Airlifted After Saturday Crash
March 19, 2017
A Jay man was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after a Saturday afternoon wreck.
Jonathan Clyde Wells, 20, was traveling north on North Simmons Road about 4 p.m. when he traveled off the roadway and collided with a group of trees. He was transported by LifeGuard helicopter to Sacred Heat Hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were considered minor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Well was cited for careless driving by troopers.
Photos courtesy Jay VFD for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Escambia County
March 19, 2017
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in Escambia County and 11 other Florida counties as a result of the drought that began on Dec. 1, 2016.
This disaster declaration includes the following counties in Florida: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of the SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and non-farm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 3.125 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA’s website. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Completed loan applications must be returned to the SBA no later than Monday, Oct. 23.