Tate Downs NHS JV; Varsity Aggies Fall To Overton
March 27, 2015
Tate 6, Northview 1 (Freshmen/JV)
The freshmen Tate Aggies defeated the JV Northview Chiefs 6-1 Thursday night in Bratt. The JV Chiefs will travel to W.S. Neal Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00. The freshmen Aggies will play at Milton Monday at 4:30.
Overton, TN 8, Tate 6
Overton, TN at Tate (JV) Canceled
Tate lost to Overton, TN, Thursday night in Cantonment 8-6. Branden Fryman 2-4, R, 2B, RBI; Cole Halfacre 2-4, 2 2B; Jacob Saulnier 2-3, 2 2B; Mark Miller 1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, Trace Penton 1-2
The JV Aggies will travel to Milton on Monday for a 7 p.m., while the varsity Aggies. The varsity Aggies are schedule for tournament play April 1-April 4 in Rock Hill, SC.
Pictured: Junior varsity action from Tate at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Most Of ‘Landmark’ Ernest Ward Middle School Now Gone
March 27, 2015
Demolition of the old Ernest Ward Middle School is almost compete. Thursday, crews demolished the former main entrance to the old Ernest Ward High School, including the landmark “Ernest Ward” script lettering over the door.
The building had stood at the center of the Walnut Hill community since 1945, replacing a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
The remainder of the old school is expected to be demolished by Friday afternoon, with work next week to haul off the debris. Most of the area will become a parking lot. Students moved into their new $20 million state of the art Ernest Ward Middle School, located behind the old school, the first week of February.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Sports Group Could Face Overhaul, Elimination
March 27, 2015
A measure overhauling the Florida High School Athletic Association — and opening the door to the group possibly being replaced in two years — was approved Thursday by the House Education Committee on a nearly party-line vote.
Members of the panel voted to move the measure (PCB EDC 15-02) ahead on a 12-5 vote, with Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, joining Republicans in support. Democrats said they were worried about some provisions in the bill, including one that would allow the education commissioner to designate another organization to oversee high-school sports in 2017.
Some also worried that parts of the proposal could open the door to more recruiting of students to switch high schools, though that is technically illegal and would remain so under the bill.
The legislation comes amid years of tension between some lawmakers, particularly in the House, and the association. The FHSAA doesn’t support the proposal, but representatives said the association backs most of the provisions outside of the one that could lead to it being replaced.
“It’s long past the time to limit the power of a very large, protectionist organization and place our priorities with the students,” said Rep. Elizabeth Porter, R-Lake City. “I only wish it had happened of the association’s own volition, and not (because FHSAA) had to be forced to change.”
A similar Senate measure (SB 1480) hasn’t yet been scheduled for a hearing.
The House proposal would overhaul the organization’s governance, setting up a 16-member board to oversee the association. It would also require a third-party review for students suspected of being ineligible and allow students to continue to play while their eligibility is reviewed, though games could be forfeited if the student is later ruled ineligible.
High schools would also be allowed to join FHSAA for some sports, but not in others — particularly football.
But much of the opposition is driven by the provision requiring the education commissioner, with the backing of the State Board of Education, to make a decision in 2017 on whether to keep the association or replace it. The bill also would set up a review of the organization every three years.
The commissioner could technically replace the association under current law, but there is no requirement for a review to be done regularly or by a certain date.
“We think that that is rather arbitrary and that, as a representative democracy, which this association is, if it’s truly violating people’s rights and not looking out for the best interests of our athletes, then FHSAA should be removed,” said Juhan Mixon, representing the association. “But we think that that should come back to this Legislature, and not be put in the legislation at this time.”
Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura, said the vagueness of the process lacked transparency.
“At a minimum, we ought to be saying what the criteria are, what these people need to do,” Geller said.
But Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican offering the proposal, said the provision would actually give the association a “two-year buffer” to make necessary changes.
“At the end of the day, I do believe that they are in the strongest position, that they have the experience and they will continue to do this,” Diaz told reporters after the hearing.
Stuart Weiss, president of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference, said the FHSAA had changed in recent years precisely because of the threat of legislation. Schools in Weiss’ organization play football separately from the association, but still have to be members and have to honor the association’s rules.
“You can’t give a quasi-monopoly to an organization, not oversee (it) and see what they do,” Weiss said.
Former Escambia Coach Willie Spears Named As 1A Vernon Coach
March 27, 2015
The District 2 Class 1A Vernon Yellow Jackets have a new head football coach — Willie Spears, former Escambia High School head coach.
The Northview Chiefs’ dreams of a second state championship were stopped cold in round one of the playoffs last November in Vernon. The Yellow Jackets beat the Chiefs 36-19 in the Region 1-1A football semifinal.
The Chiefs are in District 1, Class 1A with Baker and Jay. Vernon is in District 2 with Cottondale, Graceville, Holmes County, Sneads and Wewahitchka. In the state playoff series, the two districts meet in a regional semifinal game.
On A Quest For A Freshwater Giant: Alligator Gar On The Escambia River
March 26, 2015
The quest is on to find one of Florida’s most mysterious fish with a prehistoric look in the Escambia River.
Finding alligator gar can be a challenge, but it’s one biologists with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are taking on to learn more about the population of the fish in Florida.
Alligator gar have historically resided in rivers and brackish waters throughout the southeastern U.S. from the Florida Panhandle – from the Apalachicola River west to the Perdido River – to Texas and Mexico. Since the mid-1900s, alligator gar numbers have declined, leaving populations in only half of the 14 states they once inhabited. The FWC acknowledged this in 2006, prohibiting harvest of alligator gar for all but scientific purposes.
Since 2010, FWRI researchers have been tagging alligator gar in the Escambia River to learn more about their movement and habitat use. Using large-mesh gill nets, researchers collect adult alligator gar and fit them with telemetry tags before releasing them back into the river. These tags transmit information through radio and sound signals, allowing researchers to track each individual’s location for about two years.
Three years into the study, researchers have tagged 22 alligator gar ranging from 11 pounds to a state record 132 pounds; tagged fish average 60 pounds. Researchers are trying to identify what habitats these fish prefer, how far they travel and whether they return to the same location over time. Preliminary tracking data indicate alligator gar are highly mobile and can travel more than 40 miles in a single week.
The data also reveal their movement and habitat use varies by season. In winter, the tagged fish tend to reside in a slough – a cove off the main river with no current – and move very little. As the season changes to spring, they begin traveling the river’s main channel but return repeatedly to the slough. Only in late spring did the gar venture from their home-base slough and begin cruising. Biologists recorded alligator gar moving as far north as Century and the Alabama state line and as far south as Escambia Bay during this time.
No population data for alligator gar in Florida currently exists. However, data from this tagging study are helping biologists develop a strategy for estimating the population size of alligator gar, first in the Escambia River, then possibly in other rivers in northwest Florida’s coastal plain.
Pictured: Alligator gar research on the Escambia River. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Considers Rezoning For Nine Schools
March 26, 2015
The Santa Rosa County School Board is set to consider the rezoning of nine schools at their April 23 meeting.
The schools set for rezoning are: Avalan Middle, Bennett Russell Elementary, Chumuckla Elementary, Central School, Dixon Primary and Intermediate, Pace High, Pea Ridge Elementary and Sims Middle.
For more information, including rezoning maps for each school, click here.
Billings Murder Getaway Driver Gonzalez, Sr. Denied Early Release
March 26, 2015
Early release from prison has been denied Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Sr., who was convicted in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings and then sentenced to 17½ years. He will be required to serve the remainder of his sentence.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Gonzalez, Sr. has a terminal illness and has less than one year to live. He is now in a wheelchair and needs assistance to complete ordinary daily activities.
The State Attorney’s Office opposed the request.
In total, eight people were convicted for planning and participating in the Beulah murders, including Gonzalez, Sr.’s son Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. An Escambia County Jury convicted Gonzalez, Jr. to two counts of first degree murder and one count of home invasion robbery with a firearm. Gonzalez, Jr. received two death penalties and a life sentence and remains on Florida’s death row.
The special needs children that were at home during the July 9, 2009, murder of their adoptive parents have been adopted by the Billings’ older daughter Ashley Markham.
Bill Would Boost Power Of Nurse Practitioners
March 26, 2015
Wading into a fierce debate in the health-care industry, a House panel Wednesday approved a bill that would increase the authority of advanced registered nurse practitioners to care for patients.
The House Health Innovation Subcommittee voted 9-4 to approve the measure (HB 547), sponsored by Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park. The bill, in part, would allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances. Also, it would allow nurse practitioners who meet certain requirements to be designated as “independent advanced practice registered nurses,” which would allow them to provide many services without physician supervision.
“This is about trying to establish some economies and efficiencies and competition in health care,” said Pigman, a physician. “This is predicated on a notion that we cannot continue to increase spending on health care doing what we’re doing now.” Though Pigman is a physician, he differs from doctors’ groups that have long fought efforts to expand the powers of nurse practitioners. Those critics argue, in part, that nurse practitioners don’t have the same training as physicians.
“This is not what I believe is best for Florida patients, and as legislators we should be careful not to award titles and privileges through legislation but rather leave it to education,” said Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, a Ponte Vedra Beach Republican who is a physician.
by The News Service of Florida
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Trailer Thief Caught On Camera
March 26, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a stolen utility trailer after the thief was caught on camera.
The ECSO said Wednesday that the trailer was stolen from a residence on Hummingbird Drive on March 22. The trailer had a diamond toolbox in the front and had Florida tag 1599LS at the time of the theft.
Anyone that recognized the SUV pulling the trailer or that has any information on the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers do not have to provide their name and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Regional City Clerks Meet In Century
March 26, 2015
The Town of Century was host to a recent meeting of the Northwest District of the Florida Association of City Clerks. Municipal clerks from Escambia to Jefferson county were invited to a Best Business Practices Workshop.
“The clerk’s office is the hub of local government and it is vitally important for clerks to come together and share their knowledge. Clerks are a tight-knit group, constantly learning from each other. As always, our time together was time well spent,” said NW District Director Leslie Gonzalez, Century town clerk.
Pictured: (L-R) L-R: Leslie Gonzalez, CMC, district director, Century; Audry Sikes, MMC, president, Lake City; Kim Godwin, Century; Dana Williams, CMC, Mary Esther; Linda Carden, MMC, Jay; Betsy Roy, Crestview; Dewitt Nobles, Milton; Kristina Wood, Century; and Tammy Bowers, Westville.