Ernest Ward Middle Seeks Veteran’s Stories For Program
September 28, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School is seeking personal stories from veterans in the local community to use as part of their upcoming Veterans Day program.
Veterans with an inspirational or traumatic account of a military service event are asked to email their story to teacher Katie Roley at kroley@escambia.k12.fl.us or contact the school at (850) 327-4283 for information on submitted a handwritten or typed account.
The following information should be included with the submission: The veteran’s full name, dates of service (peace time or specific war), current community of residence and the detailed account of one specific event.
The submission deadline is Friday, October 9.
Pictured: A “MIA Table” presentation at last year’s Veterans Day Program at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Animal Rights, Environmental Groups Join Effort To Stop Bear Hunt
September 28, 2015
Eleven Florida and national animal-protection and environmental groups jointly filed a “friend of the court” brief Friday that sides with a Seminole County organization seeking to block the state’s upcoming bear-hunting season.
Leon County Circuit Judge George Reynolds III on October 1 will hear a legal challenge by Speak Up Wekiva to the hunt, which was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The season is scheduled to begin October 24 and last two to seven days. It is the first bear hunt in the state in more than two decades. The state agency’s goal is to reduce the bear population in Florida by 320.
As of Friday morning, 2,279 bear hunting permits had been purchased.
The groups backing Speak Up Wekiva were the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Hero Kids, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida,the Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity, CompassionWorks International, Environmental Action, the Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, Lobby for Animals, the South Florida Wildlands Association and Stop the Florida Bear Hunt.
by The News Service of Florida
Free Hunter Safety Class Offered In Molino
September 28, 2015
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety courses in Molino next month.
The class will be held at the Molino Community Center, 6450 Hwy. 95A, Molino. Instruction is from 6 to 10 p.m. October 15. The range portion of the class will be October 17 from 7 to 10 a.m. Directions to the range will be handed out in class.
For the Internet-completion courses, students must complete the Internet course before coming to class and bring a copy of the final report from the online portion of the course. The final report form does not have to be notarized.
An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students should bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.
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.
People interested in attending these courses can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling Hunter Safety Coordinator Will Burnett at the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
Bonus Gallery: NHS Band, Dance, Cheerleaders, NJROTC
September 28, 2015
For a bonus photo gallery from last Friday night with the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, Dance Team, NJROTC and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action summary and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State GOP Sets Requirements For Presidential Primary Candidates
September 28, 2015
Florida Republicans approved a new rule laying out requirements for GOP presidential candidates to appear on next year’s presidential primary ballot.
The rule, approved by the Republican Party of Florida’s executive board in a 35-1 vote early Friday, would give candidates three options if they want to participate in the state’s winner-take-all GOP primary in March.
Under the new rule, candidates can show up at the state party’s “Sunshine Summit” in November, pay a $25,000 fee before November 23 or gather petition signatures from 3,375 registered Republican voters, including at least 125 registered Republicans from each of the state’s 27 congressional districts.
“The Republican Party of Florida finds it necessary for Republican presidential candidates to make a preliminary showing of substantial support in order to qualify for a place on the presidential preference primary ballot,” the rule’s prelude reads.
State Chairman Blaise Ingoglia originally wanted to require all the GOP candidates to attend the fall event to have their names on the ballot. But Ingoglia’s proposal drew harsh criticism from many of his Republican colleagues. The modified rule, which was floated a day before Friday’s executive board’s vote, “gives clear options to candidates while empowering the grassroots of our great party,” Ingoglia said in a statement.
by The News Service of Florida
Only 14 Projects Submitted So Far For Potential Escambia RESTORE Funding
September 27, 2015
The deadline is Wednesday for interested parties to submit ideas to possibly receive a share of millions of dollars in RESTORE Act funding for Escambia County. The act provides for the allocation and use of funds gained through civil penalties from the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill.
As of Friday, there were 137 current registrations in Escambia RESTORE project submission portal, with 91 active project entries. So far, only 14 projects have been submitted as the Wednesday deadline approaches.
Projects submitted for RESTORE act funding as of Friday were:
- Cantonment Community Center
- Community Gathering Center
- Raise the Homes
- Hampton Lakes Flooding Issue
- Dune Walkover Protection Project
- Brownsville Nature Trail
- G.R.U.B.
- Sidewalks, Bike Lanes, Curbs and Gutters Everywhere
- Bayou Chico Restoration
- Escambia County Regional Sediment Management Plan
- STEM Story
- Digital Radiology at Nemours
- Multi-Purpose Suite of Water Quality Models for Escambia County
- Pedestrian Safety on Main Street
The County’s RESTORE project submission portal website launched on July 1. The submission deadline is September 30.
The Escambia County RESTORE Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, October 20, at 4 p.m. in the BCC Chambers, 221 Palafox Place, to discuss the submitted projects and the next step in the process. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The Committee is tasked with reviewing projects and submitting recommendations to the Escambia Board of County Commissioners for consideration.
To submit a project idea today or for more information, visit restore.myescambia.com or contact Shelly Marshall, RESTORE coordinator for Escambia County, at (850) 595-3460 or email restore@myescambia.com.
Pictured: A RESTORE project information meeting held recently in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Killing Elderly Man
September 27, 2015
An Escambia Count man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the second degree murder of an elderly man.
Marcus Ferrell Toler, 37, pleaded guilty to beating 76-year-old Ben Stallworth to death in 2014. He later attempted to change his guilty plea, but that motion was denied by a judge.
In March 2014, deputies responded to a disturbance in the 1700 block of West Lakeview Avenue where they found Stallworth was sitting on his couch with obvious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance were he was pronounced deceased.
Escambia County Weekly Traffic Alerts
September 27, 2015
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers will encounter traffic disruptions through Sunday, October 4 on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- 10 (I-10) eastbound between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17). Alternating lane closures began Friday, and will continue for approximately two weeks. The closure will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. as crews place asphalt on the outside shoulders of the roadway.
- Chief’s Way (State Road 294) from west of Corry Field Road to west of West Navy Boulevard will be temporarily closed Tuesday, September 29 through Friday, October 2. The temporary closure will allow crews to perform shoulder construction, remove concrete pavement and replace it with asphalt. Corry Field Road and West Navy Boulevard will be utilized as a detour route. Variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the change in traffic pattern.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) emergency repair at the intersection of Scenic Highway Circle continues. No lane closures are anticipated, however, traffic flaggers will be on site to assist with traffic control as construction vehicles enter and exit the work area.
- I-10 between U.S. 90 Alt. (Exit 5/W Nine Mile Road) and U.S. 29 (Exit 10), including the on and off ramps at W Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road (State Road 297), on Thursday, October 1 and Sunday, October 4 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Slow moving vehicles will be used as crews stripe the roadway. Drivers may experience minor delays. Drivers are reminded to watch for workers and equipment.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone. All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Big Brothers Big Sisters License Plate Now Available
September 27, 2015
A Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) specialty license plate has been released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Proceeds from the BBBS tag support their programs to bring caring mentors into the lives of children. The group says that youth today will be the professionals, leaders, and caregivers of tomorrow, and BBBS’s vision is to invest time, talent, and treasure in today’s youth to maximize the quality of life in the future.
This specialty plate is now available at the offices of the Escambia County Tax Collector. The annual cost of the tag is $25 in addition to regular registration and service fees.
Open House This Week, Grand Opening Next Week For Ernest Ward Middle School
September 27, 2015
Two big events are planned for Ernest Ward Middle School.
An Open House for parents and students will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29.
An official grand opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 6 at 10 a.m. The even will include remarks from school district officials, the architect and construction company.
NorthEscambia.com photo.