Century Chamber Plans Fall Festival
August 11, 2016
The Century Chamber of Commerce is planning a fall festival for Saturday, October 15.
At a Wednesday lunch meeting, the chamber board discussed the need for festival sponsors. Anyone interested is asked to contact the chamber at (850) 256-3155. Sponsors will be listed on press releases, signage and be recognized during the festival.
The festival will feature arts and crafts, food, entertainment and kid-friendly activities at Showalter Park from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on October 15.
Pictured: The Century Chamber of Commerce board of directors planning a fall festival during a Wednesday lunch meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA To Hold Recycling Facility Kick-Off Event
August 11, 2016
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board, or ECUA, and Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will hold a kick-off ceremony to mark the opening of the ECUA’s Interim Materials Recycling Facility, or IMRF, on August 22 at 9:30 a.m. The event will take place at the facility, which is located at the Escambia County Perdido Landfill at 13009 Beulah Road in Cantonment.
This $10.6 million project was initiated to offer a long-term, regional recycling solution for our community, while at the same time, to assist Escambia County in reaching its state-mandated 75 percent recycling goal.
On February 12, ECUA broke ground for the IMRF, which encompasses a 53,460 square-foot fabric building with recycling equipment that is expected to process up to 165 tons of materials per day.
The event will be attended by the ECUA Board members, county commissioners from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, and city council members from municipalities within the tri-county area. In addition, representatives from the IMRF’s planning, engineering and construction team will also be in attendance.
ECUA spokesperson Natalie Bowers said early September will be a “soft start” for the facility when ECUA will begin running some materials through the equipment. She said September 26 is the best date currently available for full operation.
Pictured: The February 12 ground breaking for a recycling facility at the Perdido Landfill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Thomas: New School Year Brings Focus On Learning
August 10, 2016
As about 40,000 students head back to school today in Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says the district is ready for a successful school year.
“The schools are up to the challenge,” Thomas said. “And we need students and parents to do their part. We need students coming to school prepared to learn. Our expectations are high, but we believe in every student.”
Thomas said his teacher won’t be “teaching the test” — focusing on teaching only what might be on standardized state tests — this year. “Learning is the most important, not the test,’ he said.
Each high school student in the district will receive a Chromebook computer early in the year, while middle and some elementary school students will receive a Chromebook later in the year, likely by Christmas. The shift to Chromebooks will help better prepare students, the superintendent said.
Libraries and media centers will continue to be known as Makerspaces this year — DIY spaces where students can create, invent, explore and learn using everything from arts and crafts to board games.
“It’s going to be a great year,” Thomas said.
School Lunch Information: Prices, Free Or Reduced Application Available
August 10, 2016
Parents can expedite the processing of free or reduced lunch applications in Escambia County by submitting the form online.
For students at 30 Escambia County Schools, all children will be provided free meals with no application necessary and regardless of income. Free breakfast and lunch will begin on the first day of school at the following locations in Escambia County:
Elementary Schools: Bellview Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, C.A. Weis Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Ferry Pass Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Holm Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, and West Pensacola Elementary.
Middle Schools: Bellview Middle, Warrington Middle, Woodham Middle , and Workman Middle.
High School: Pine Forest High School
Special Centers: Judy Andrews, McMillian PreK Center, and Escambia Westgate Center.
Alternative Education/Charters: Camelot, Escambia Charter, and Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
Parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Lunch program at that school.
For schools not on the list, parents must apply for free or reduced price meals. For the 2015-2016 online free and reduced meal application, click here for a secure form.
Application forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or reduced priced meals, parents of students not approved by direct certification must fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available in the front office.
Children from households with incomes of less than or equal to the income criteria may be eligible for either free or reduced priced meals. Each school and the school system’s Food Services office have copies which are available to the public.
Meal prices are as follows:
Elementary
- Full price breakfast – $1.25
- Reduced price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.25
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Middle/High Schools
- Full price breakfast- $1.50
- Reduce price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.50
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Clinton, Trump Essentially Tied In Florida In Latest Poll
August 10, 2016
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has pulled into a statistical tie with Republican opponent Donald Trump in Florida, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Clinton, who narrowly trailed in a Quinnipiac University poll of the state last month, now leads the Florida race with 46 percent of likely voters, to 45 percent for Trump. That is well within the survey’s margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac poll seems to back up nationwide surveys that have shown Clinton gaining support in the wake of both parties’ national conventions last month. The poll of 1,056 Florida likely voters was conducted from July 30 to Sunday, which also largely coincided with a fight between Trump and the Muslim-American family of a fallen soldier whose parents slammed Trump at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
In a four-way race, the poll found, Clinton and Trump are tied at 43 percent each. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, received support from 7 percent of those surveyed, while Green Party nominee Jill Stein drew 3 percent.
Last month, Trump held a three-point lead against Clinton in Quinnipiac’s head-to-head poll, with his lead growing to five points when Johnson and Stein were added to the mix.
Florida is the largest of several states that will likely decide November’s election. The Connecticut-based Quinnipiac also released poll numbers Tuesday showing Clinton leading by four points in Ohio and 10 points in Pennsylvania.
In all three states, Clinton’s support came heavily from voters who are opposed to Trump. Florida voters, though, are more hospitable to Clinton than in the other battlegrounds — 41 percent of her Florida supporters say they are mainly voting to stop Trump, while 42 percent said they are casting their ballots because they like Clinton; another 13 percent are doing so because the former secretary of state is the nominee of the Democratic Party.
“It is not that her voters are in love with Secretary Clinton — they just dislike her less than they disdain Trump,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
But Trump relies on an anti-Clinton vote even more: 54 percent of his supporters in Florida say they are backing him to oppose Clinton, with just 29 percent saying they are doing so because they like Trump. Another 10 percent of his backers are going with Trump because he is the GOP nominee.
Both candidates are underwater in terms of Florida voters’ opinions of them, with 39 percent viewing each of the major party nominees favorably. Trump’s unfavorable rating is 54 percent, with Clinton getting that mark from 55 percent of voters.
There are also large gaps between the candidates along racial, ethnic and gender lines. Clinton leads among Florida women, 53-40, while Trump outpolls her by roughly the same margin among men, 51-39. Trump draws the support of 57 percent of white voters, to 36 percent for Clinton, while non-white voters back her by almost 50 points, 68-21.
The survey’s partisan breakdown differs some from the earlier Quinnipiac poll. In July, 31 percent of respondents were Republicans, 29 percent were Democrats and 32 percent were independents. The survey released Tuesday still had the GOP making up 31 percent of the sample, but the Democratic share rose to 34 percent while independents fell to 30 percent.
Both candidates have focused heavily on Florida in recent days. After a visit to the state last week, Trump is set to return to Florida on Wednesday and Thursday. Clinton continued a swing through the state Tuesday, visiting Miami.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
School Bus Safety And Traffic Laws
August 10, 2016
It’s the first day of school in Escambia County, with more than 40,000 students making their way to and from school. About 25,000 of them will be on board 300 school buses across the county.
Parents are reminded to instruct their children to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before scheduled bus arrival time, stay off of the roadway, observe and stay clear of traffic, stay out of the bus blind spots, don’t chase after the bus once it leaves the bus stop, and buckle seat belts as soon as they board.
Motorists are reminded to give themselves plenty of time to get where they’re going and to be patient in traffic. They should watch out for school buses, comply with bus-passing laws, and stay off of those cell phones.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, drivers must follow these school and school bus safety rules:
- Adhere to the posted speed limit in designated school zones.
- When approaching an intersection where a crossing guard is present in the crosswalk with the stop sign raised, do not cross – or turn – into the crosswalk until the guard has completely left the crosswalk.
- Never stop a vehicle in a manner that blocks a crosswalk.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from behind) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you must stop.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from front) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you also must stop, unless:
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by an unpaved space at least five feet in width, or
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by a physical barrier.
- You are required to stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus.
- You must not resume driving until the school bus turns its lights off and withdraws its stop sign.
- Be certain all exiting children have reached a safe place before proceeding.
Bicyclist Hit By Car
August 10, 2016
A bicyclist was critically injured when hit by a vehicle in Beulah Tuesday evening.
The adult male bicyclist was struck by a Honda car on West Nine Mile Road at Beulah Road about 6:30 p.m. The man was transported by Escambia County EMS as a “trauma alert” to Sacred Heart Hospital. An update on the man and his condition was not available.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released.
The Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park PTA Holds ‘Welcome Back’ Lunch For School Staffers
August 10, 2016
The Molino Park Elementary School PTA hosted a “Welcome Back” luncheon for faculty and staff Thursday to help start the new school year right. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Long Named To FCS Preseason All American Team
August 10, 2016
The STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team has been announced and includes a Tate High School graduate.
Fullback Lorenzo Long was named to the third team.
Long was named second team All-Southern Conference last season. He led the team in rushing with 969 yards, which was fourth in the league. For his career, he has 2,055 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. Long earned a spot on the Preseason All-SoCon second team which was released last week.
Long currently plays for the Wofford Terriers
Wahoos Earn 11 Hits In 7-4 Win Over Biloxi
August 10, 2016
This time the Pensacola Blue Wahoos changed up its game script a little bit. Instead of waiting until late in the game to score, the Blue Wahoos jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
Behind four players who had multi-hit games and seven of the nine starters getting a hit, Pensacola won the final game of the five-game series over the Biloxi Shuckers, 7-4, Tuesday at MGM Park.
The Pensacola lineup that scored 11 runs in the first four games and hit .236 broke out in the last game of the series with seven runs on 11-36 hitting for a .305 batting average.
Although Biloxi snapped a six series losing streak, beating Pensacola, 3-2, the Blue Wahoos closed out the season with the Shuckers Tuesday with a 13-12 record.
Pensacola, the first half Southern League South Division champions, is now 21-24 in the second half and 7.5 games behind the South Division leader Mississippi Braves that have a 28-16 record. Biloxi fell to 18-27 and are in last place after being neck-and-neck with the Blue Wahoos in the race for the first half title.
Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej and right fielder Sebastian Elizalde led the Pensacola offense on Tuesday. Vincej was 2-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. He is hitting .309 in the second half, so far, after hitting .258 in the first half of the season. Vincej leads the Blue Wahoos with 22 multi-hit games.
Elizalde went 2-5 with two runs scored and has 21 multi-hit games this season for Pensacola. He has gotten a hit in his last six games.
Also having a good game at the plate Tuesday was left fielder Phillip Ervin, who went 2-4 with a double, solo home run and scored twice. He leads Pensacola with 51 runs scored this season, plus is second on the team in both homers with 10 and RBIs with 36.
Pensacola scored five runs in the second inning when it sent all nine batters to the plate with four hits, including three doubles by Phillips, Vincej and second baseman Alex Blandino, and two walks.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Ervin started the big inning when he doubled in Elizalde to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 1-0. Vincej doubled in both catcher Joe Hudson (2-4, one run scored) and Ervin to give Pensacola a 3-0 lead. Vincej then scored when center fielder Brandon Dixon grounded out to second base to make the score, 4-0. The final run of the inning scored when Blandino doubled in first baseman Chad Wallach for a 5-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Nick Travieso pitched for the first time since July 18 and threw 3.1 scoreless innings with three hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin relieved Travieso and got the win (7-3) working 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out two. Astin lowered his ERA to 2.37.
Biloxi did earn four in the bottom of the eighth inning when catcher Jacob Nottingham singled back up the middle to knock in both pinch hitter Tom Belza and left fielder Johnny Davis to trail Pensacola, 7-2.
Pensacola sent in its top closer Alejandro Chacin to rescue reliever Carlos Gonzalez, who loaded the bases with one out by walking first baseman Dustin DeMuth and hitting right fielder Clint Coulter.
Chacin then promptly walked Biloxi second baseman Javier Betancourt to score Nottingham making the score, 7-3, Pensacola. Shuckers third baseman Gabriel Noriega than hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored DeMuth to pull the Shuckers within, 7-4.
Chacin, who has a 1.76 ERA, settled down in the ninth inning setting down the Biloxi side with two strikeouts. He ended up working 1.2 innings with a walk and three strikeouts to earn his Southern League-leading 22nd save of the season.