Bill Would Allow Concealed Weapon Carry With No License During Evacuations
January 9, 2015
After a similar proposal died last year amid a contentious debate, Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed a bill Thursday that would allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without licenses during times of mandatory emergency evacuations.
Brandes’ 2014 proposal drew criticism from the Florida Sheriffs Association, which raised questions about issues such as how long and where a person could continue to carry a concealed weapon without a license outside an evacuation area.
The National Rifle Association made clear last May it would seek to bring back the issue during the 2015 legislative session and described the sheriffs association as declaring “war on the Second Amendment.”
Brandes’ 2015 bill would make an exception to the state’s concealed-weapons laws. That exception would apply to an unlicensed person “who carries a concealed firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the governor … or declared by a local authority.”
The proposal will be considered during the legislative session that starts in March.
by The News Service of Florida
Four Tate Players Named To All-State Class 7A Team
January 9, 2015
Four members of the Tate High School Aggie football team have been named to the Florida All-State Class 7A team.
Linebacker Marquis Cass (6-0, 220) was named to the first team defense. Christ Terrell was named to the second team defense, and Reggie Payne was named to the third team offense.
Tate quarterback Sawyer Smith received an All-State Class 7A team honorable mention.
Law Seeks To Finalize Last Year’s CareerSource Escarosa Name Change
January 9, 2015
It has been about year since the local nonprofit employment and training agency Workforce Escarosa rebranded as CareerSource Escarosa. The name change included one-stop service center in Pensacola, Century and Milton. Across the state, 24 regional workforce boards and nearly 100 one-stop career centers were renamed under the statewide title of CareerSource.
And the now, the change is one its way to being fixed into law.
Members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on this week advanced a proposal that replaces throughout state law all references to the former Workforce Florida, Inc., with the new name.
“We’ve already moved forward with this,” CareerSource Florida President Chris Hart told the committee. The name change, which occurred in the first quarter of 2014, is part of a rebranding of Workforce Florida to boost awareness and improve access to the employment-related agency. As part of the new brand, each region retained its own identifier:
Orlando-based marketing firm IDEAS was hired for nearly $500,000 to oversee the rebranding, which was authorized as part of the Regional Workforce Boards Accountability Act of 2012.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: The sign change last February at the main Careersource Escarosa Center in Pensacola, formerly known as Workforce Escarosa. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Jay Over Freeport, Tate Loses To Freeport, Niceville
January 9, 2015
Here are high school basketball scores from around the area Thursday:
Jay 46, Freeport 40
The Jay Royals defeated Freeport Thursday evening, 46-40. Justice Garcia led the Royals with 16, while Thomas Fischer added 14. Other scorers were: Victor Mishoe 5, Eric Trevino 5, Taylor Kelley 4 and Dallin Edwards 2.
The Royals will play Escambia Charter on Tuesday.
Pace 68, Tate 44
The Pace Patriots down the Tate Aggies Thursday night, 68-44. Christian Cass scored 13 for the Aggies. Other Tate scorers: Daniel Cafarella 8, Jordan Watkins 5, Robert Rush 5, Mike Roberts 4, Quintin McGhee 3, Jake Henry 2, Justin Baker 2, and Zach Phalen 2.
The Aggies will take on Crestview at 7 p.m. Friday.
GIRLS
Niceville 58, Tate 32
The Tate Lady Aggies fell to Niceville Thursday, 58-32, in a District 1-7A game.. Scoring for Tate: Victoria Samuel 11, Brianna Daniels 8, Callie Richardson 6, Valerie Samuel 3, Madison 2, and Amani McRae 2.
No Injuries In Kingsfield Train Versus Car Crash
January 8, 2015
There were no injuries in a collision between a train and passenger car Thursday afternoon in Cantonment.
About 1:30 p.m., a CSX engineer reported that his train had struck an occupied vehicle at the East Kingsfield Road crossing at Highway 95A. Ryan Collier, age 22 of Pensacola, had stopped his 2013 Dodge Avenger in traffic on East Kingsfield while waiting for the red traffic light at Highway 95A. The Dodge was not on the railroad crossing, but it was not fully clear from the path of the northbound CSX train, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The train clipped the back bumper of the vehicle, causing relatively minor damage to the Dodge. Collier continued to a nearby parking lot. He was not injured.
Any charges in the crash are pending, according to the FHP. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County EMS, and the Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos (above) by Kristi Price and (below) by Heather Murphy, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Highway 29 Crash In Molino
January 8, 2015
Three people were injured in a two-vehicle rear-end type collision Thursday afternoon in Molino.
The accident happened about 12:30 on Highway 29 near Duxbury Avenue. The driver of a pickup truck apparently rear-ended a SUV in the southbound lane of Highway 29. The pickup truck then left the roadway and came to rest in an open area off the highway.
The injured were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Further details have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation. The Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Photos: Icy Morning
January 8, 2015
It was cold, and in some instances, icy Thursday morning in North Escambia. On Highway 168, these trees were iced over using a sprinkler.
Do you have icy or cold photos to share? Email news@northescambia.com
Photos submitted by Terry Emmons for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Shed, Fence
January 8, 2015
Fire destroyed a detached shed and a privacy fence Thursday morning. The fire was reported about 9:25 in the 500 block of Templehill Street, near the intersection of East Kingfield and Chemstrand roads. There were no injuries and no damage to any adjacent homes reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Winning $57K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
January 8, 2015
Someone is almost $57,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the Grey Goose Liquors, 11330 Highway 97, was one of four winning tickets sold for Wednesday night’s drawing worth $56,900.34. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Jacksonville and Miami.
The 265 tickets matching four numbers won $138.50 each. Another 8,473 tickets matching three numbers are worth $12 each, and 87,204 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Wednesday’s winning numbers were 15-20-28-32-34.
Senate Looks To Cut Back On Test Taking In Florida Schools
January 8, 2015
With parents complaining about a glut of tests in public schools and the Florida Department of Education investigating how much time students spend on exams, senators appear ready to refocus how the state assesses learning gains.
After members of the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee spent about an hour Wednesday hearing from and grilling Education Commissioner Pam Stewart about tests, the panel’s chairman said legislation addressing the issue was likely during the Legislature’s spring session.
“I’ve got a message very clearly from our members that they’re interested in doing something,” said Chairman John Legg, R-Lutz.
But as for the details of the would-be bill, Legg conceded that “I don’t know what it looks like yet.” Issues that might be addressed range from which grades of students should be tested, to how many tests should be administered, to whether “assessments” required by the state necessarily have to be tests at all.
Even lawmakers who spearheaded the state’s accountability movement, which led to many of the testing requirements now on the books, are beginning to rethink things.
“Here’s what I’ve learned today: We don’t know how much time is consumed by state-mandated tests. We don’t know how much money it costs to perform state-mandated tests. We don’t know whether tests that are performed by state mandate are valid and reliable,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who has long backed education reform. ” … That troubles me as someone who believes in measurement and believes in accountability.”
Gaetz, a former Okaloosa County schools superintendent, referred to statements by an organization founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush — the father of Florida’s school accountability system — that Florida needs “fewer tests” and “better tests” as it moves forward.
“Given the things that we don’t know, and the time that’s overtaken us, are we headed in the direction of fewer tests and better tests, and if so, when will we get there?” he asked.
“In order to have fewer tests, it will take legislative change,” Stewart responded.
According to the Department of Education, the number of hours students will spend on the state’s main tests in many grades in 2014-15 is actually lower than the number of hours students faced seven years ago. But testing time this school year will be longer than in 2013-14, by more than two hours in several cases.
And that doesn’t include other assessments required by the state that are administrated by districts. Stewart has asked districts for information on those tests and plans to report her findings to lawmakers before the legislative session begins in March.
Meanwhile, some legislators are saying they should look at themselves when trying to determine who is responsible for the number of tests Florida students take.
“We passed all these laws, and then we call you in to yell at you,” Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, told Stewart.”I mean, it’s almost ludicrous.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida