Lady Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night With Win Over Catholic
January 21, 2015
The Northview Chiefs earned a 32-30 Senior Night win over the Catholic Crusaders Tuesday.
The Lady Chiefs jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and led 8-4 at the end of the first quarter, but Catholic went on a 12-0 run to take a 12-8 lead in the second quarter. Catholic led 16-14 at the break. The score was tied at 21 heading into the fourth, when the Lady Chiefs outscored Catholic 11-9 to secure the victory.
The Chiefs were led by E’Layzha Bates with 11 points and De’Asia Fountain with 10. Angel Lathan chipped in with 7, and Autumn Albritton had 4.
The Crusaders were led by Titianna Fleming with 11 points.
The Chiefs are off until the district tournament, where they play Holmes County on January 27 at 6:00 p.m. The district tournament is at Baker.
Pictured with Coach Derek Marshman are Northview seniors Megan Bryan, Morgan Ward, Angel Lathan and E’Layzha Bates. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Florida Prisons Chief Wants More Money, More Oversight
January 21, 2015
In her first appearance before the Legislature since taking the helm of the Florida Department of Corrections two weeks ago, a candid Secretary Julie Jones painted a picture of an understaffed agency embattled by a crumbling infrastructure, skyrocketing numbers of mentally ill prisoners and private health-care vendors who aren’t living up to their contract requirements.
Jones, who came out of retirement after being tapped by Gov. Rick Scott to become the first woman to lead the agency, told the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday that she needs more money to fill vacant positions, which she blamed in part for mistreatment of inmates by prison guards.
“Staffing is key to lowering the temperature in these facilities,” Jones said. “It’s going to take all hands on deck and it’s going to take a true change in how we look at the role of the corrections officers and also the expectations of what those corrections officers, what services, they deliver to those inmates. Quite frankly, it’s a service. They’re there to keep them happy and they’re there to keep them healthy … and do it in such a way that they enter the facility in the same way that they exit the facility. And we’re not doing that.”
The staffing boost is part of a wide-ranging agenda Jones laid out that includes possibly terminating or renegotiating contracts with prison health-care vendors, intensive training for guards who deal with mentally ill patients and a “direct line” to the agency’s inspector general, who now answers to Scott’s inspector general Melinda Miguel.
Lawmakers cut nearly $1 billion — and did away with more than 1,000 positions — from the department’s $2.1 billion budget over the past four years, committee Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker, noted.
Earlier in the day, Jones told reporters she plans to ask for $17 million to “fully fund” positions now vacant in security and administrative positions and another $15 million to fix what she called a “crumbling infrastructure” that includes one prison that was built in 1913 and is still operating.
After the meeting, Evers, whose Panhandle district includes three prisons and several work camps, put some of the onus on the Legislature for a prison system now under state and federal scrutiny for inmate deaths and corruption. The agency is also grappling with lawsuits from whistleblowers who claim they faced retaliation for exposing cover-ups of inmate abuse. And the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deaths of more than 100 prisoners who died behind bars.
“I think the Legislature has a cross to bear,” Evers told reporters.
Evers said he was uncertain if Jones’ request for increased staffing went far enough.
“I can tell you how far we will go. We will go to the point that when you go to prison that you will be given the opportunity to enter the Department of Corrections. You will be allowed to rehabilitate yourself … and you will come out alive on the other side and not leave the prison in a body bag,” he said.
Jones also told the committee she was dissatisfied with the privatization of health-care services, ordered by the Legislature in 2011 but tied up in court until 2013. Missouri-based Corizon won a five-year, $1.2 billion contract to provide health care to prisoners in North and Central Florida and Wexford Health Services is being paid $240 million over five years to provide health services to nine prisons in South Florida.
Jones said she is talking with both companies about terminating the contracts, renegotiating the deals or putting them out to bid again.
“The standard of health care with our current providers is not at the level that’s required by their contracts,” said Jones, a former head of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles who was named last month by Scott to take over the Department of Corrections.
Jones veered from testimony her predecessors had given regarding private prisons. Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, asked Jones if it was true that private prisons were able to “cherry pick” cheaper prisoners.
“That is my belief,” she said.
Scott tried to convince lawmakers to privatize a major portion of the state’s prisons two years ago, but the measure failed by a single vote in the Senate.
After the meeting, Jones paused when asked if she “broke the code” by criticizing the private prisons. “I don’t know. I’m a very plain-spoken, honest person. And we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing in order to get this thing fixed,” she said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Kilcrease Signs With Jefferson Davis Community College
January 21, 2015
Atmore Christian School senior Grace Kilcrease signed with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton Tuesday. Pictured with Kilcrease are her parents Woody and Angie Kilcrease (seated), and Jefferson Davis Coach Misti Nims, Atmore Christian Coach Yoder, Molino Lady Astros travel team coach Donnie Nicholson and Atmore Christian Principal Tim Battles. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The View: School District To Purchase Corner Lot In Front Of New Ernest Ward
January 20, 2015
Huge library windows are a highlight of the Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, and the Escambia County School Board is now set to purchase “the view” outside those windows.
The school sits at the corner of Highway 97 and Highway 99A in Walnut Hill, but the school district does not actually own the grassy lot on the corner — in front of those big windows. The school board expected approve paying property owner Linda Faye Tolliver of Walnut Hill $15,000 for the 0.86 acre parcel.
Students are scheduled to begin classes in the new school on February 2. The school board is expected to approve the land purchase during their February meeting.
Pictured top: The Escambia County School District does not currently own the large grassy lot in front of the new Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: This graphic shows the approximate location of the new school in relation to the property to be purchase. NorthEscambia.com photos/graphics, click to enlarge.
Lawmaker Wants Teachers To Make At Least $50K
January 20, 2015
A Central Florida lawmaker has filed a proposal that calls for the state’s public-school teachers to earn at least $50,000 a year.
The proposal filed by Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, points to a need to “attract and retain instructional personnel.” It would require the Legislature to put enough money in the state’s school-funding formula to ensure that districts could meet the salary standard while also having enough money to maintain other programs.
It also would require annual adjustments to the minimum salary based on inflation.
The bill, which would take effect with the fiscal year that starts July 1, does not detail the increased cost of moving to such a minimum salary.
by The News Service of Florida
Bratt Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
January 20, 2015
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
ALL A’s
- Rabekah Abbot
- Lauren Abbott
- Ragaen Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Claire Amerson
- Erich Amerson
- Desiray Bagwell
- Haydn Baker
- John Bashore
- Bailey Blackwell
- Karissa Boatwright
- Olivia Boatwright
- Lakyn Bodiford
- Jackson Bridges
- Luke Bridges
- Daylan Brown
- Nevaeh Bush
- Luke Chavers
- Camden Clarke
- Addison Classen
- Abigail Coker
- Shelby Cotita
- Colton Criswell
- Callie Davis
- Trevor Dean
- Carsyn Dortch
- JaCee Dortch
- Mayson Edwards
- Addison Eicher
- Noah Faulkner
- Zykuria Fountain
- Caitlyn Gibson
- David Gilley
- Jamison Gilman
- Emma Gilmore
- Talise Gregson
- Ava Gurganus
- Zane Gurganus
- Kailey Hawkins
- Lean Hetrick
- Sarah Hetrick
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Gracie James
- Emily Jarvis
- Tristan Johnson
- Ally Jones
- Keeli Knighten
- Laura Laborde
- Kennedy Long
- Adanaya Mondaca
- Carley Moore
- Jaquez Moorer
- Alyssa Moya
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Ally Richardson
- Maggie Scott
- Jackson Simmons
- McKenna Simmons
- Brayden Smith
- Mia Starns
- Kole Stewart
- Maggie Stewart
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Clay Wilson
- Jasmine Zisa
ALL A’s and B’s
- Adam Adams
- Luke Amerson
- Ethan Bingham
- Nalanna Black
- Kyle Blanton
- Abbie Buford
- Jaquorious Burt
- Michael Butler
- Kadence Calvert
- Jakyra Carter
- Zakhel Clemmons
- Noah Condrey
- Chloe Criswell
- Talaysha Curry
- Casandra Davis
- Kylie Davis
- Payton Daw
- Ryan Dove
- Tyteann Dubose
- Gage Eicher
- Scotty Elliott
- J’Kayla Evans
- Jamyla Feagin
- Allison Flowers
- Tessa Flowers
- Aliyah Fountain
- J.P. Gilman
- Shelby Greewell
- Berklee Hall
- Abbie Hardy
- Logan Hasting
- Kara Hawkins
- KayLeigh Jay
- Trent Knighten
- Gage Lambert
- Anna Lee
- Kaitlin Lloyd
- James Loftis
- Jessica Loftis
- Sarah Long
- Houston Lowry
- Max Mason
- Reid McCall
- Keira McDuffie
- Braeden McGhee
- Megan McGhee
- Landon Mooney
- Elianna Morales
- Kai Morton
- Alexis Moya
- Travis Nelson
- Blaize Parrish
- Reagan Peebles
- Cloie Pickern
- Colby Pugh
- Dallon Rackard
- Angel Schoonover
- Treyton Schoonover
- Adrianne Shanks
- Carter Sigafoose
- Arquavian Smith
- Malia Smith
- Mandell Smith
- Zakyla Smith
- Jacob Spence
- Alyssa Stabler
- Reece Starns
- Emily Stilwell
- David Stokes
- Jeremy Thomas
- Madison Thomas
- Corbin Turberville
- Haidyn Turberville
- Raycer Watson
- DaMius Wesley
- Jordan Wilson
- Raylee Wooten
- Joshua Zisa
Joint City, County Storm Water Workshop Set For Thursday
January 20, 2015
The City of Pensacola and Escambia County will hold a joint public workshop to discuss storm water management within the Pensacola Bay Basin, and information regarding flood mitigation options and their associated costs and benefits.
The city and county are jointly applying for up to $500 million in disaster recovery funds through the National Disaster Resilience Competition. Area residents will be asked to comment on those options, providing public engagement for future project selection in local neighborhoods. The presentation will be followed with group discussions and a survey of attendee needs.
The workshop will be held Thursday, January 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center at 913 South I Street in Pensacola. For further information, or to request special assistance, please contact City of Pensacola Constituent Services (850) 435-1627 or Escambia County Engineering at (850) 595-3440.
Day Of Service: Volunteers Team Up To Clean Up In Cantonment
January 20, 2015
The Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) AmeriCorps Coalition of Escambia and Santa Rosa (AmeriCorps ACES) program joined Cantonment residents and other volunteers on a national day of service Monday in cleaning up parks in volunteer service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.
“Today we answer Dr. King’s call to serve and are making a difference in the lives of Escambia County residents,” DCF’s Circuit 1 Community Development Administrator Phyllis Gonzalez. “A resourceful way to meet local needs, volunteer service is a powerful tool that builds strong communities. We are putting the core American principles of citizenship and service into action.”
The group cleaned up Carver Park on Webb Street in Cantonment. The park is the future location of the Cantonment Improvement Committee, which worked to make the event possible.
AmeriCorps ACES consists of non-profit and governmental entities working together in Northwest Florida to put an end to poverty. Funding for Florida Department of Children and Families’ AmeriCorps ACES program is administered by Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida.
The annual MLK Day of Service, in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, mobilizes thousands of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, and schools and businesses nationwide. These projects include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence, and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dry Conditions: Firefghters Battle Woods, Grass Fires
January 20, 2015
Firefighters battled brush and woods fires in the North Escambia area Monday, fueled by a moderate wind and dry conditions.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a grass fire behind a home in the 2800 block of North Century Boulevard about 11:25 a.m. The fire was quickly extinguished with no threat to surrounding structures.
Monday afternoon, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a woods fire sparked by a downed power line on Sandy Hollow Road, just south of West Highway 4. It took firefighters about an hour to put out the blaze. There were no structures threatened by the fire.
Pictured top and below: A woods and brush fire sparked by a downed power line Monday afternoon on Sandy Hollow Road. Pictured inset: Linemen work to repair the downed line. Pictured bottom: Firefighters on the scene of a grass fire Monday morning on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Golfer Bubba Watson Purchases Part Ownership In The Blue Wahoos
January 20, 2015
Two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson has purchased ownership in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, joining majority owners Quint and Rishy Studer.
“Ever since I went to my first Blue Wahoos game I have been a big fan of the team. I love the atmosphere, it’s such a great place to go with friends and family. I wish Pensacola had a team like this when I was growing up. There’s something special about pulling for the hometown team. It’s great that Quint and Rishy were willing to let me be a part of it. I look forward to a long and exciting partnership with them. I just hope Quint doesn’t get tired of my crazy ideas because I have been known to have a few. One thing I know for sure is that you won’t see me out there in a uniform playing. I already asked, and they said I can’t do that even if I own part of the team,” said Watson.
Bruce Baldwin ,president of the Blue Wahoos, made the announcement Monday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Following the announcement, Watson took two ceremonial swings from home plate – one with his signature hot pink shafted driver and the other with a Louisville slugger. Jamie Walczak, who pitched for the Wahoos last season, threw to Watson.
Watson is no stranger to the team’s home field, throwing out ceremonial first pitches and greeting Wahoos players and fans in 2012 and 2014 after each of his Masters wins. In 2014, he even wore the famed green jacket while throwing out the first pitch.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bubba Watson into the ownership and to have Bubba’s family, Angie, Caleb and Dakota, as part of the Wahoos family, enjoying the Wahoos Life,” said Quint Studer. “Over the years many have been touched by Bubba beyond golf. His work to make life better for others is what attracted Rishy and I to him. Bubba sends a message of belief and giving, always striving to be the best he can be. Rishy, Bubba and I all view the Wahoos as an investment in improving the quality of life for people. Together we will continue to create great experiences for all ages, make lifelong memories for our fans, be a super place to work and now, with Bubba’s leadership, we will gain a national and international awareness for the Blue Wahoos and Northwest Florida.”
Known for incredible shot-making, mammoth drives, a hot pink shafted driver and an electric personality, Watson is a true all-American superstar. Born in Pensacola and raised in nearby Bagdad, he began the game of golf at age six with a cut down 9-iron and plastic golf balls. As a professional golfer, he has twice won the Masters, golf’s most prestigious tournament, and is a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour.
The first game of the season for the Blue Wahoos is April 9.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.