Century Health And Rehab Residents Celebrate Mardi Gras With Parade
March 1, 2017
The Century Health and Rehabilitation Center held heir annual resident Mardi Gras parade Tuesday with candy, beads, moon pies, music and lots of fun. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Run-Rule Escambia Academy In Explosive 6th Inning
March 1, 2017
The Northview Chiefs defeated Escambia Academy 11-1 Tuesday night in wild sixth inning that ended on the 1o-run rule.
The Chiefs and the visiting Cougars were scoreless at the end of the fifth, with EA taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth.
Northview caught fire in the bottom of the sixth, racking up a string of 11 runs beginning with a single from Zach Payne. John Chivington had a double, Payne score on a stolen base, Bailey Wilson walked. Seth Killam, Quinton Sampson and Payne scored on stolen bases and Josh Neese singled as the Chiefs drove 11 across the plate.
Bailey Wilson pitched the win in six innings for the Chiefs, giving up three hits and one run, and striking out 13 while walking four.
Quinton Sampson 0-2, RBI; Josh Neese 1-3, 2R; John Chivinton 2-4, 2R, RBI; Jared Alif, 0-2, 2R; Zach Payne 2-4, R, 2RBI; Bailey Wilson 1-2, R; Chandley Lowery 1-2, R; Seth Killam 1-3, R, RBI; Blake Reid 2-2, R.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Offers Hunter Safety Classes In Escambia, Santa Rosa
March 1, 2017
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Escambia County this month.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them. Traditional course students must complete the entire course in person.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The locations and times are:
Online Completion Courses
Escambia
March 1 (6 to 10 p.m. CST) and March 18 (7 to 10 a.m. CST)
Molino Community Center,
6450 Highway 95A N in Molino
March 6 (6 to 10 p.m. CST) and March 18 (7 to 10 a.m. CST)
Langley Bell 4-H Club Center,
3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Santa Rosa
March 27 (6 to 10 p.m. CST) and April 8 (7 to 10 a.m. CST)
Avalon Middle School,
5445 King Arthurs Way in Milton
Traditional Courses (must complete all days)
Escambia
March 6, 8, 13 and 15 (6 to 10 p.m. CST) and March 18 (7 to 10 a.m. CST)
Langley Bell 4-H Club Center,
3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Santa Rosa
March 27, 28, and April 3, 4 (6 to 10 p.m. CST) and April 8 (7 to 10 a.m. CST)
Avalon Middle School,
5445 King Arthurs Way in Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.
Editor’s note: This updates a previous story with additional dates and times.
Tungoil Road Closed March 2-17 For Bridge Work
March 1, 2017
Beginning Thursday, March 2 at 7 a.m. the bridge located at Tungoil Road and McDavid Creek will be closed to through traffic for rehabilitation. The closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately three weeks and be completed by Friday, March 17.
Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the bridge in a timely manner. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time periods, another notice will be issued.
Northview Shuts Out Baker; Tate Slips To Milton, Jay Run-Rules Freeport
March 1, 2017
SOFTBALL
Northview 8 Baker 0
Baker 3, Northview 2 (JV)
Tori Herrington tossed a shutout as the Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators 8-0 Tuesday night in Baker.
The Chiefs scored unanswered runs in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh innings for the district win.
Herrington earned the win, pitching six innings with six hits, no runs, no errors, striking out 11 and allowing just one walk.
Jamia Newton 1-4, RBI; Kendall Enfinger 1-4, R; Tori Herrington 1-4, R; Aubree Love 2-4, 2R, 2RBI; Peighton Dorthc 1-4, R; Alayna Brown 3-4, 3RBI; Valen Shelley 3-4, R; Payton Jackson, R; Lydia Smith 1-3, RBI; Tieranna Redmond 0-2.
Northview (3-2, 2-1) will host Jay on Thursday.
Milton 7, Tate 1
The Milton Panthers defeated the Tate Lady Aggies 7-1 Tuesday night.
Hanna Brown took the loss for the Aggies, pitching six innings, allowing seven runs and five hits while striking out four.
Hayden Lindsay 1-3; Hannah Brown 0-3; Belle Wolfenden 1-3; Leslee Scruggs 1-3, R; Madison Nelson 0-3; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, RBI; Sydni Solliday 0-3; Ashley Lunquist 0-2; Shelby McCalean 0-1; Gabby Locke 0-1.
Jay 15, Freeport 0 (4 innings)
Harley Taggart had a grand slam and went 2-3 as the Jay Royals run-ruled Freeport 15-0.
Harley Taggart 2-3 GS, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R; Destiny Herring 3-4 HR, 4 RBI; Avery Jackson 2-4 3 R; Alyssa Baxley 3-4 RBI, R.
Jay will be at Northview on Thursday.
File photo.
Grand Jury Indicts Mary Rice For First Degree Murder
February 28, 2017
An Escambia County grand jury has indicted Mary Barbara Craig Rice for first degree murder in the death of Kayla Crocker in Beulah and accessory after the fact for the homicides of Alicia Greer and Jacqueline Moore at the Emerald Sands Inn in Santa Rosa County.
Crocker was found by her mother on February 6, 2017, with a gunshot wound to her head. Rice is scheduled to make a first appearance in Santa Rosa County on March 1, 2017 and will be arraigned on March 10, 2017 in Escambia County before Circuit Judge Joel Boles.
Rice was arrested after surrendering peacefully at Georgia hotel. She was an accused accomplice of quadruple murder suspect William “Billy” Boyette, who took his own life in Georgia rather than surrendering to authorities.
Highway 29 Vehicle Fire Slows Morning Commute
February 28, 2017
The morning commute was slowed by a vehicle fire this morning on Highway 29 near Roberts Road. There were no injuries reported. Reader photos by Dorreen Allen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Talks Rescinded Raises; Worth of Employees
February 28, 2017
A week after the Century Town Council reversed pay raises for all employees that were given by the mayor, the council sat down Monday night with Mayor Henry Hawkins to discuss employee salaries and future potential raises.
After taking office in January, Hawkins gave each employee 53-cent per hour pay increase. The money to fund the 53-cent per hour pay increase for each employee came from the salary of street department employee that quit in January and was not replaced. Hawkins said that since the funds were already budgeted for salaries, he simply divided the salary among the remaining employees.
“It was money already allocated; it was money already budgeted,” Hawkins said, defending his actions, as Council President Ann Brooks disagreed.
She said Hawkins is limited to spending just $200 for non-emergencies by the town charter, forcing the council to take back the raises.
“To give the men a raise and then take it back is really like a kick in the teeth,” Water Superintendent Alicia Jernigan told the council on behalf of her department’s employees.
“We have people that work for the city, and it’s embarrassing to say, they get food stamps…We do not pay no where close to what anybody else is paying, period, nowhere. There is not a job here that anybody do [sic] that’s not worth at least $15 an hour. And all I am saying is we have to step up and take care of our people as they take care of this town,” Hawkins said.
“That’s not a reasonable rate of pay,” Brooks said of the $15 per hour for every employee.
Brooks said town employees were given a two-percent across the board pay hike the beginning of the fiscal year. She told Hawkins that time to negotiate any raises is during the budget setting process .
“We just gave a raise in October,” Brooks said. Budget time is when to give raises.”
Council member Ben Boutwell reminded Hawkins and the town employees present at Monday night’s meeting that the town charter and budget process must be followed.
“”We are citizens of this town too,” Boutwell said of the council. “There’s 20 something (employees) that we are talking about now, but we also have to worry about the 1,700 plus that live in this town. So we have to think of everyone.”
The Town of Century currently has 19 employees, plus five paid council members ($3,606/yearly each) and a paid mayor ($9,836/yearly). The lowest paid employee is a citizens services clerk hired last September that makes $8.21 per hour, just barely above minimum wage ($8.10). A second citizens services clerk, hired over a year ago, makes $9.58 per hour. The other 17 employees are paid in excess of $10 per hour.
The highest paid employees — the town clerk, street supervisor and water superintendent — each earn $21.30 per hour.
Century employees can also earn up to five weeks paid vacation plus a additional four weeks paid sick leave annually.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
February 28, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending February 23 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report submitted.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While patrolling the Yellow River WMA, Officers Mullins and Roberson observed a vehicle parked on a wood line without a tag. They positioned themselves so that they would see the vehicle pull back onto the trail and conducted a traffic stop for no tag and transitioned into a resource inspection once they determined the subject had been hunting. It was discovered that the subject was hunting with a center-fire rifle during the archery/muzzle-loader season. They subject was issued a misdemeanor notice to appear for hunting with a center-fire rifle during archery/muzzle-loader season only and a warning for no tag.
While on patrol in the north end of Eglin WMA, Officer Ramos conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that appeared to be road hunting. A strong odor of cannabis came from the driver’s window while Officer Ramos was speaking with the driver. After further questioning, the driver admitted to having a “one hitter” in his pocket and promised that was all he had. With the driver out of the vehicle, Officer Ramos continued to smell the odor of cannabis and eventually the driver admitted to having more than just the “one hitter” in his pocket. Officer Ramos recovered nearly nine grams of cannabis, four various smoking devices with cannabis residue and miscellaneous paraphernalia from the vehicle. The man was cited accordingly and given a notice to appear in court.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ernest Ward Students Praise Chromebooks In Superintendent Meeting
February 28, 2017
Chromebooks are hit at Ernest Ward Middle School.
That’s the word from several Ernest Ward students that recently had the chance to take part in an impromptu meeting with Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas about the program that puts a Chromebook computer in the hands of every student.
“They give the power to us,” one student said, “the power to access the information we need when and where we need it.”
“I love having everything in one place,” another student told Thomas. Several students said they like having all of their school books on one computer, rather than dragging around heavy printed books for each class.
When asked about internet access issues, one student said she does not have internet access for her Chromebook at one parent’s house. But she said she uses the internet service on her phone to run the Chromebook and do her assignments.
Students with no home internet access are able to download assignments and needed materials at school before they head home each day.
The students at Ernest Ward Middle School have had their Chromebooks since Christmas break.
Pictured top: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (left) listens to a group of Ernest Ward Middle School discuss their new Chromebooks. Pictured inset and below: EWMS students work on their Chromebooks in the cafeteria before school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
