Radiothon On Nash, Soft Rock To Benefit Children’s Hospital
March 4, 2015
The 17th Annual Radiothon will be held March 4-6 in the lobby of The Children’s Hospital at Sacred. All proceeds benefit The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart – the region’s only dedicated pediatric hospital – through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
This year, three radio stations are teaming up for an unprecedented Radiothon partnership – NASH FM 102.7, Soft Rock 94.1 and Magic 106.1. The live broadcast is a culmination of community fundraising efforts to help provide sick and injured children along the Gulf Coast with quality, compassionate care, regardless of their ability to pay.
Familiar personalities representing these radio stations will be on the air during the following times to encourage their listeners to pledge donations to The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart:
Thursday, March 5:
- NASH FM 102.7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Soft Rock 94.1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Magic 106.1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, March 6:
- NASH FM 102.7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Soft Rock 94.1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Magic 106.1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Listeners will also hear heartwarming stories from young patients themselves and their parents as they are interviewed on the air about their experiences, along with their doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals at The Children’s Hospital. To make a donation during Radiothon, please call 416-KIDS (5437).
One-hundred percent of funds raised through Radiothon will help patients continue to receive care at The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. The hospital provides a range of children’s services in partnership with Nemours Children’s Clinic, which provides many pediatric specialists to the region.
Northview Talent Show Is Thursday Night
March 4, 2015
The Northview High School Talent Show will be held Thursday night beginning at 6:30 in the school theater. Special guests will be the band Calamity. Tickets are on sale now for $4 in advance; admission will be $5 at the door.
Grilled Seafood — Fire Heavily Damages Delivery Truck
March 3, 2015
Fire heavily damaged a seafood delivery truck Tuesday afternoon on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive in McDavid. The fire apparently began with the brakes on the truck before spreading to tires and the delivery box. The truck was partially loaded with frozen seafood headed to Pensacola area restaurants. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Congratulates Escambia Teacher Of The Year Anna Barry
March 3, 2015
Northview High School welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry back to work Tuesday morning. Teachers, staff and faculty held a small reception for Barry prior to the start of school.
Barry was named Escambia County Teacher of the Year last Thursday night, just a few hours before she departed on a school field trip to Orlando. Tuesday was her first day back in the classroom after returning late Monday night.
Barry is the first county teacher of the year from Northview. She is now in the running for Florida’s teacher of the year award.
Pictured top: A sign welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry to Northview High School Tuesday morning. Pictured inset: Barry (left) and Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Revenue Bonds To Be Issued To Cover Gas Leak Repair Under Highway 29
March 3, 2015
The Century Town Council Monday night authorized the issuance of up to nearly $700,000 in revenue bonds to secure financing for a now-completed project to repair a gas leak under Highway 29.
The project, financed by USDA Rural Development, will likely come in with a bottom line cost closer to $400,000, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, which means all of the bonds may not be issued.
It has been about four years since the leaking section of pipe was publicly revealed as a “major public safety issue”. The project included large pipes bored under Highway 29 that will connect a new 4-inch pipe on west side of Highway 29 with a new 2-inch pipe to be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install individual service lines under the road to service natural gas customers. Pipes were installed where existing easements exist or were obtained at no cost, otherwise, it was installed under existing sidewalks.
R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee worked to install the new natural gas lines along the right-of-way of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) from about McCurdy Lane to West Highway 4 near the courthouse. Town employees then completed the addition of individual taps and service lines.
Pictured: Gas line replacement work along North Century Boulevard at West Highway 4. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Claims $57K Lottery Prize
March 3, 2015
A Cantonment man has claimed a $57,384.10 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week in Cantonment.
Charles T. Harris of Cantonment purchased the ticket for the February 26 drawing at CMP Food Mart. . Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Aventura, West Palm Beach and Parrish.
The 354 tickets matching four numbers won $104.50 each. Another 10,610 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 103,236 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Winning numbers in the February 26 drawing were 7-11-15-18-35.
Schools Experience State Testing Problems; Escambia Suspends Tuesday Tests
March 3, 2015
Students in Escambia County and across the state had problems logging on to the state’s new online-testing platform, raising questions about the testing system as lawmakers consider an overhaul.
Education groups and media reports said students had problems taking the new Florida Standards Assessments in a variety of districts, including Escambia, while other schools or districts had fewer problems. At Northview High School, for instance, all students scheduled for testing on Monday were able to complete their assessments.
Due to the problems at the state level, Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Escambia County was suspending all computer-based state testing for Tuesday, with a plan to resume testing on Wednesday.
State Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said his organization sent a survey to districts about 9 a.m. Monday. By about 3 p.m., 30 had responded, with more than 20 reporting problems.
“Maybe the other 37 have had a perfect day. I doubt it,” Montford said.
Joanne McCall, vice president of the Florida Education Association, said reports of problems were coming from “all over,” but the union didn’t yet know exactly how widespread they were.
“This is our biggest fear coming true,” McCall said. ” … For us, it’s a false start for students.”
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education said Commissioner Pam Stewart was working on the problem.
“While many students across our state are testing successfully, we have heard from some districts that are experiencing difficulties,” spokeswoman Meghan Collins wrote in an email Monday afternoon. “This is a 90-minute test; students have a two-week window, plus a makeup window, to complete the test. Commissioner Stewart is looking into any reported issues to determine the cause and will work to immediately resolve it.”
But Montford said that’s not good enough. He said students were prepared to take the test Monday, and districts made preparations to administer the exams.
“This is a high-stakes assessment with the future of these students riding on it,” said Montford, a former Leon County superintendent.
The snafus came as the Legislature is considering whether to overhaul the state’s testing plan, which some parents and educators argue has become too overbearing.
Critics of the tests say the early problems simply back up their arguments.
“Today’s fiasco once again demonstrates that Florida testing policy is being driven by politicians and ideologues, not educators,” said Bob Schaeffer, a Florida resident and public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, an organization critical of high-stakes testing. “Florida schools and the children they serve need a pause in testing insanity and a thorough overhaul of the state’s assessment system. Enough is enough.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
A Century That Lasts Forever — Town Slogan Winner Awarded
March 3, 2015
Century Mayor Freddie McCall presented a personal $50 check Monday night to the winner of the town’s recent slogan contest. Josie Leonard of Milton, a Northview High School graduate, submitted the winning “A Century that lasts forever” slogan. Pictured top: Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Josie Leonard and her husband Caleb Leonard. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Curious about the other slogans submitted in the contest? Click here for an earlier story.
Northview Beats Escambia County
March 3, 2015
Northview 11, Escambia County High 1
Northview 4, Escambia County 1 (JV)
The undefeated Northview Chiefs beat the Blue Devils of Escambia County High School of Atmore 11-1 Monday night in Bratt. The Chiefs took a commanding 5-1 lead in the first inning. In junior varsity action, the Chiefs also beat ECHS, 4-1. On Tuesday, the Northview Chiefs will travel to Jay for a varsity district game at 6:30, following a junior varsity game at 4:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge
Extension Service Offering Beekeeping In The Panhandle Short Course
March 3, 2015
The UF/IFAS Extension Panhandle Agriculture Team is offering a beekeeping short- curse in March. These classes will be offered via interactive video at extension offices across the Panhandle.
Classes will be taught by Jamie Ellis, Ph.D., and other state and nationally recognized experts from the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection.
Classes are Mondays from 6-8 p.m. with a Saturday morning bee yard field day 9 a.m. to noon. Each presentation will be followed by an interactive question & answer period.
- March 9: Honey Bee Biology, Anatomy, & Hive Structure
- March 16: Bee Nutrition and Bee Botany (Identification of Nectar Plants)
- March 21: Bee-Yard Field-Day – A hands on learning opportunity!
- March 23: Important Pest and Diseases – Identification and Management
Registration for all four classes is $20 per person, or $30 for a family. This fee covers course materials and refreshments. To register, call (850) 475-5230 in Escambia County, or (850) 623-3868 in Santa Rosa County.
Escambia County classes will be held at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, while Santa Rosa County classes will be held at 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton.