Barth Road, Brickyard Road Railroad Crossing Closed
February 20, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the railroad crossing at Barth Road and Brickyard Road near Molino is closed due to maintenance. Drivers should use an alternative route.
No time frame for the project and closure has been announced.
Hit And Run Driver Plows Through House
February 19, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver that crashed into a house early this morning in Escambia County.
The driver of a 2004 Honda Accord was eastbound on Burgess Road near Confederate Drive when they left the roadway and struck a house in the 6300 block of Confederate Drive. The Accord hit a garage door, traveled east through the structure and exited through a west wall. The driver then fled the scene.
Anyone with information on the 3 a.m. crash should contact Trooper Joshua Tucker at joshuatucker@flhsmv.gov.
Cantonment Man Facing Hunting Charges In Two States, Federal Investigation
February 19, 2015
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges in two states and is under federal investigation for hunting violations, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement.
FWC officers first made contact with 26-year old Waylon Lee Adams as he was dropping off a 10-point buck at a taxidermist in the Molino area. Adams told the officers that he shot the buck in Alabama but did not possess an Alabama or Florida hunting license. After documenting his name and related information, the FWC contacted Alabama Game and Fish.
The FWC offiders determined Adams was hunting in the Brewton area. A couple of days later, Alabama Fish and Game reportedly caught Adams trespassing on private property. He was arrested in Alabama for trespassing and drug possession, and cited for not possessing an Alabama hunting license. Adams confessed to shooting additional deer in Alabama.
The day after his Alabama arrest, FWC officers spotted Adams in Century leaving a restaurant despite having no driver’s license and being classified as a habitual traffic offender. As FWC officers were speaking to Adams, he fled on foot and was quickly picked up by a second unknown vehicle. FWC officers had Adams’ vehicle towed, and they reported finding multiple rounds of ammunition inside.
The FWC reports having obtained warrants for Adams for driving as a habitual traffic offender, resisting an officer without violence and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement is investigating Adams for a possible Lacey Act violation, according to the FWC. The Lacey Act regulates federal aspects of hunting and wildlife trace.
FWC officers also seized antlers from five deer which Adams still had at the taxidermist.
CSX: Atmore Crossing Work Should End This Week
February 19, 2015
For the past couple of weeks, driver in Atmore have experienced delays due to closed railroad crossings as CSX upgrades tracks through the city.
That work, according to CSX, is expected to soon be completed/
“CSX engineering crews are laying new rail, new rail ties, resurfacing crossings and repaving them with asphalt. CSX has worked closely with local officials to coordinate the crossing closures to minimize disruption to the community,” said Kristin Seay, spokesperson for CSX. “Several of the crossings have already been re-opened. The remainder of the work is expected to be completed by the end of this week.”
Seay said the Atmore track upgrades are part of CSX’s network-wide infrastructure maintenance program.
“Maintaining railroad infrastructure is critical to minimizing service disruptions and preventing accidents and injuries. CSX spends more than $1 billion annually on improving and maintaining track, bridges, signals and other equipment to keep freight moving safely and reliably. We appreciate the patience of community residents as we complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible,” she said.
Crossings at Industrial Drive and Main Street were the only crossings that remained closed as of late Wednesday.
Pictured top: The Industrial Drive railroad crossing in Atmore remained closed Wednesday afternoon. Picture inset and below: Traffic backed-up at the Main Street crossing last week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Education Boss Calls For Cutting Back Tests
February 19, 2015
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart on Wednesday called for the elimination of at least one statewide test, as a key Senate education committee began hammering out legislation meant to curb the number of exams given to students in Florida’s public schools.
In a report delivered to Gov. Rick Scott, Stewart recommended that the state get rid of a language-arts test students take in 11th grade. An exam in the 10th grade is used to determine whether students have met the state’s graduation requirement in language arts, and many educators say the later test is unnecessary.
Stewart recommended that Scott issue an executive order to suspend the test in the current school year, with lawmakers later approving legislation to permanently scrap the assessment.
The report also recommended making optional a college readiness test that some students are required to take and eliminating final exams in courses that have state-mandated tests at the end of the year. Stewart also urged local school districts to do what they can to lower the amount of time students spend on tests.
“I am recommending that we eliminate as much testing as we can,” Stewart told reporters after brief remarks before the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee.
Scott has pushed for reining in the number of tests and asked Stewart for the review.
“It’s important to measure students’ progress and achievements, but we must not lose sight of our goal to provide every student with the very best education,” Scott said in a statement accompanying the report. “As I have traveled the state, I have heard from parents and teachers that there are too many tests and I agree.”
Stewart’s report also called for local districts not to “test students for the sole purpose of evaluating teachers” — just four years after the Legislature passed a controversial law more closing tying teacher pay to student performance on standardized tests.
“Students already take tests to determine whether they know their subject matter and districts should use information from these tests to help gauge teacher performance,” the report says.
But Senate Education Pre-K-12 Chairman John Legg, R-Lutz, would not commit Wednesday to getting rid of the 11th grade test in language arts.
“It’s one of the items on the table,” Legg said. “We are reviewing that. … It’s one of those options that we are seriously looking at.”
People who addressed the committee Wednesday largely agreed with Stewart’s recommendation on the 11th grade test, even as they pressed for more steps to cut back on exams.
“But trust me, there are opportunities to look at the portfolio of assessments in the state of Florida and identify other areas and examples of duplication that has put us in this position of over-testing,” said Miami-Dade County Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, questioned why students who do well on tests in upper-level courses then have to sit for state exams that are expected to be less rigorous.
“These students who have already taken and passed Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests are bored out of their gourds when we then ask them to take another test on the same material,” said Gaetz, a former Okaloosa County schools superintendent.
Education groups largely agree that the state should hold off on assigning school grades and making decisions about whether students should be promoted from the third grade or allowed to graduate based on new tests the state is introducing this year. A similar test has caused a backlash in Utah, though Legg said he still has confidence in the exam.
Lawmakers have already ensured that schools won’t face consequences from this year’s results under the state accountability system. But supporters of pushing back some of the other ways the results are used say that’s not enough.
“The letter grades are so important in terms of perception of a school,” Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said after the meeting.
Much of the concern revolves around the fact that the new assessments have not been tested on Florida students. Educators say the FCAT was used for letter grades for schools only after a couple of years.
“We’re taking this exam and coming in and laying it down, saying, ‘We’re going to use it this year,’ ” Montford said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Receive Emergency Notices From ‘Alert Escambia’ Service
February 19, 2015
The new Alert Escambia Emergency Notification System allows citizens to receive alert notifications about community emergencies in Escambia County. Participants will receive time-sensitive messages at home, work, mobile or business phones, email addresses, text messages and more.
Escambia County’s EMA has found it necessary to replace its previous mass notification system that allowed it to communicate with the public and other agencies and entities during emergencies. The Escambia County Commission approved the system subscription last year with funding from Escambia County Emergency Management, the Escambia County Health Department, ECUA, International Paper , Ascend Performance Materials and Gulf Power Company.
The agencies will share the cost of the system on a prorated basis through June 30, and then each agency will contribute an equal $11,229.16 for the July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, time period for a total yearly cost of $67,375. Escambia County will utilize federal grant funds to pay for its share of the total subscription cost.
These messages will include emergency information regarding potential protective measures required to protect local citizens during an emergency situation such as evacuation notices or shelter in place instructions.
Register Now: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611911#/signup
Login To An Existing Account: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611911#/login
Century Resident Celebrates Her 103rd Birthday
February 19, 2015
Della Godwin of Century celebrated her 103rd birthday Thursday.
Godwin was born in Jay back in 1912, one of 12 children born to her parents Annie and William Griffis. She has two younger surviving siblings - Jean Clark and Veda Welch. She raised two sons, one of which is deceased, and has four grandchildren.
She was raised in the Mount Carmel community of Santa Rosa County. In her early years, she spent most of time in the cotton fields, but she was always in church on Sundays.
Godwin attributes her long life to hard work and faith. Those who know her will say that she was always caring for and helping others. She always put family first, even if it meant she had to do without the things she needed.
Godwin is longtime resident of the Century area and is the oldest resident at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Pictured top: Century resident Della Godwin turns 103 years old Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Updated: Wanted Man Behind Bars
February 19, 2015
UPDATE: Pete Anthony Jimenez is in custody in the Covington County Jail in Andalusia, AL.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man on outstanding warrants that has been seen in the North Escambia area.
Pete Anthony Jimenez is wanted on seven outstanding warrants in Santa Rosa County including multiple felony grand theft charges and fleeing law enforcement. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, he has been seen in northern Santa Rosa County and in the Atmore area.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP or their local law enforcement agency.
Pensacola Beach Named One Of The Best In The USA
February 19, 2015
TripAdvisor has named Pensacola Beach as one of the top five beaches in the United States.
Travelers’ Choice award-winning beaches were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period.
“Travelers visiting this Emerald Coast beach will experience miles of powdery-sanded coastline and a destination ideal for relaxation. The Pensacola Beach Pier offers fishing and unparalleled views of the ocean, while nearby beachfront restaurants serve mouthwatering gulf seafood,” TripAdvisor said in their review of Pensacola Beach.
Trip Advisor’s other top five beaches in the U.S. were Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, FL, followed by St. Pete Beach in Florida, Ka’anapali Beach in Hawaii and Wai’anapanapa State Park in Hawaii.
Pictured top and inset: A sunny winter day on Pensacola Beach. Pictured below: Looking back at Pensacola Beach from the end of the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Water Project Wishlist Includes $126K For Century, $26 Million in Escambia, Santa Rosa
February 18, 2015
Water-related projects totaling nearly $1.2 billion have been proposed as state lawmakers decide how to carve up a pot of money that voters want for land and water conservation and management.
The list of 475 requested water projects across the state includes almost $26.7 million in local projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties:
- Lime additional facilities at the Century wastewater treatment plant, $126,000.
- Flood improvement project for the Institute for Machine and Human Cognition, $550,000.
- Innerarity water and sewer upgrade in Escambia County, $1,020,000.
- Milton beneficial effluent reuse project, $349,115.
- East Milton water reclamation and effluent disposal facility, $15,000,000
- Santa Rosa County Navarre Beach wastewater treatment plant relocation, $9,650,000.
The East Milton project is among the largest requests in the state, which range from $96.8 million for phase two of the Yankee Lake Surface Water Plant in Seminole County to $15,000 for the replacement of sewage flowmeters in Miami-Dade County.
The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee panel is working to define the intent of the ballot initiative, which was known as Amendment 1 and was approved by 75 percent of voters.
“There is going to be somebody, somewhere, that isn’t happy with the way the funds are distributed,” subcommittee Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said. “It’s going to happen, because there are so many people and so many perspectives.”
The amendment, which directs 33 percent of the proceeds from a real-estate tax to land and water projects, is expected to provide $757 million for the efforts during the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida, contributed to this report.