Northview Opens District Tourney With Win Over Freeport (With Gallery)
February 4, 2015
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport Tuesday night 57-41 in the first round of the Class 1A District 3 basketball tournament.
Stats from the game were not immediately available due to a late finish. The game began almost two hours late when referees from the Tri-State Officials Association failed to show; they were replaced by officials from the Emerald Coast Association.
The Chiefs will advance to take on Holmes County Friday night at 6:00 with the district championship game set for Saturday at 7:00.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriffs Say No To Senator’s Pot Proposal
February 4, 2015
After helping defeat a November ballot measure that would have legalized medical marijuana, Florida’s sheriffs said Tuesday they also object to a Republican lawmaker’s attempt to make pot available to patients.
The Florida Sheriffs Association, meeting at Amelia Island, voted to oppose a bill (SB 528) filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would allow medical marijuana and set up a detailed regulatory structure involving patients, doctors, growers and retail stores.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who is the association’s legislative chairman, said Brandes’ proposal included “loose language” that the sheriffs worried could allow “de facto recreational use” of marijuana.
Among other things, Gualtieri said the sheriffs oppose any medical marijuana that could be smoked by patients. Cannabis can also be used in other ways, such as in oils.
“You don’t smoke medicine,” Gualtieri told reporters.
Brandes filed his bill last week, less than three months after voters narrowly turned down a proposed constitutional amendment that would have legalized medical marijuana. The sheriffs association and other opponents argued, in part, that the ballot measure included loopholes that would have made marijuana available to people who did not have debilitating medical conditions.
With the annual legislative session starting March 3, it is too early to know whether Brandes’ bill has a chance of passing — or what the effect of the sheriffs’ opposition might be. Brandes’ proposal would need approval from three committees before reaching the Senate floor, and a companion measure has not been filed in the House.
“It is critically important that we thoroughly vet any proposal related to medical cannabis, and I am confident that this legislation will be carefully reviewed through the legislative process,” Brandes said last week in a statement issued after he filed the bill. “Many groups have been working on this initiative for quite some time and my goal is to work openly with all of the interested parties on this issue so that we can pass responsible legislation that provides relief to those Floridians in need.”
If lawmakers do not approve a legalization bill, backers of the 2014 ballot measure have vowed to bring back another proposed constitutional amendment in 2016.
Under Brandes’ bill, patients who suffer from cancer, HIV, AIDS, epilepsy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or Parkinson’s disease could qualify to receive medical marijuana if they receive certification from their doctors. Also, patients could qualify if they have conditions that lead them to chronically suffer from symptoms such as wasting syndrome, severe and persistent pain, severe and persistent nausea, persistent seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms, according to the bill.
St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, president of the sheriffs association, said he likes parts of the bill, such as a provision that would give county commissions control about issues such as whether to allow medical-marijuana retail stores and where the stores could be located. Shoar and Gualtieri also expressed compassion for patients with serious conditions who might be helped by cannabis.
But the association issued a lengthy list of “core legislative principles” that included stances such as opposing medical marijuana that can be smoked. Also, the principles said medical marijuana should be limited to people who have cancer, epilepsy, HIV, AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. Also, exceptions could be made for people who are terminally ill.
“A patient must not receive medical marijuana for general ‘pain’ because pain is not a disease,” one of the principles said. “Pain is one of five vital signs assessed by a medical professional, which also includes temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Navy Federal Warns Members Of ATM Fraud
February 4, 2015
Navy Federal Credit Union has identified the source that led to some member seeing fraudulent charges on their accounts.
The credit union said in a statement that n December 20 and January 10 an ATM skimmer was placed on the Navy Federal ATM located on Dogwood Drive in Milton. As a result, some members have experienced fraudulent debit card withdrawals or attempted withdrawals from their accounts via non-Navy Federal ATMs in the Jacksonville area.
Navy Federal is currently working with those members who have reported fraud on their account. They are encouraing any members who used the Milton ATM, or think they may have experienced fraudulent activity on their account, to contact us them at 1-888-842-6328, or visit a local branch. Navy Federal’s “zero liability” policy ensures that members are not responsible for unauthorized purchases or transactions made on Navy Federal debit or credit cards.
ATM skimmers and any ensuing fraudulent activity should not be mistaken for “hacking.” No member accounts, nor any Navy Federal information security systems have been hacked.
Century Hires Brace To Coordinate Disaster, Emergency Training
February 4, 2015
The Town of Century has contracted with the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) to help them be reading the event of a public emergency.
The work by BRACE will be funding by just over $11,000 in grant money provided by a federal grant through the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
BRACE will help develop and implement Citizens Corps and Community Emergency Response TEAM (CERT) programs.
The Citizen Corps mission is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.
The Community Emergency Response Team program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
BRACE has previously coorindated such efforts in Century. But now the implementation was required this year to beopen for public proposals. BRACE was the only company or indidual to submite a bid proposal.
FHP Identifies Wheelchair User Struck And Killed On Highway 29
February 3, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol has released the identity of the wheelchair user struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 29 late last Thursday night.
Steven A. Pate, 49, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 11:56 p.m. crash on Highway 29 (Pensacola Boulevard) near West Devane Street — that’s near Pensacola Pools just south of the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 58-year old Walter Gonzalez Coto was northbound on Highway 29 in a 2004 Audi when he struck Pate and his wheelchair. The FHP said Pate was not in any crosswalk or intersection at the time of the crash.
No charges were filed in the crash.
More Details Released In Weekend Shooting In Century
February 3, 2015
More details have been released in a weekend fatal shooting in Century that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said was the result of the “reckless use” of a firearm.
Jaran Britt Myles, 20, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning on charges of negligent manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping false imprisonment. He is being held on a $260,000 bond after turning himself in for the shooting death of 20-year old Jonathan Wilson.
Investigators said multiple witnesses stated that Myles shot Wilson in the head about 8:00 Saturday night. Both were at a residence in the 1000 block of Backwoods Road.
One witness told deputies that “Run Run”, later identified as Myles, pulled out a gun and asked him if he was scared of it before taking the magazine out of the weapon and pointing it him. Myles then pulled the trigger of the gun, without the magazine, but it “dry fired”, he said
The witness said Myles then pointed the gun to Wilson’s head after loading the magazine back into the gun. Wilson then adjusted the height of the gun to his head, “correcting the placement of the gun pointed at him,” an arrest report states. The witness said when Wilson let go of the gun, Myles pulled the trigger and shot Wilson in the head.
The witness said they all ran out the front door of the residence, and Myles stuck the gun in a witness’ ribs then pointed it at a second witness, ordering the witness to drive him home. The witness told investigators that he then drove Myles to his nearby Backwoods Road home out of fear that Myles might harm them. Myles, the witness said, kept the gun pointed at him while he drove to his residence.
Once they arrived at Myles’ home, he pointed the gun at the two witnesses and told them that “they better not tell on him or they would be next,” according to the arrest report.
The report does not detail the type or caliber of weapon involved.
Myles made his first court appearance on Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Limit Testing Time In Florida Schools
February 3, 2015
.The chairman of a Senate committee that oversees public education filed legislation Monday aimed at cutting back on testing time in Florida schools, opening a debate about how to limit the scope and importance of state assessments.
The legislation (SB 616), sponsored by Senate Education PreK-12 Chairman John Legg, would cap the amount of time students spend on state and local tests at 5 percent of their schools hours. The bill would authorize districts to use something other than tests to assess students in some courses. It would also revamp laws pushed through the Legislature in 2011 tying teachers’ evaluations and pay more closely to student performance.
“We need better, but fewer, tests,” Legg, R-Lutz, said in a prepared statement. “This bill maintains accountability, while creating a much needed framework on assessments, evaluations, and flexibility on implementation.”
The bill comes amid an emerging bipartisan consensus that Florida students are being tested too much. 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. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has launched a review of state testing.
The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, announced last month that it would not continue a court challenge to a separate education law because it had “opened a dialogue with the Senate president on a broad range of issues, including testing, special needs students and other public education concerns of paramount importance to the FEA.”
And the Foundation for Florida’s Future, an organization founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush to push for school accountability, has called for “fewer and better tests.”
The number of hours students will spend on the state’s main tests in many grades this academic year is actually lower than the number of hours students faced seven years ago, according to the Department of Education. 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 administered by districts.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, called the legislation “a great beginning point for discussion” in a brief interview. But he said lawmakers still need to work with school districts on details, like the cap on student testing time.
“We may very well have state-required assessments that would violate that anyway,” he said.
Perhaps most strikingly, the legislation would partially roll back the “Student Success Act,” a sweeping overhaul of teacher evaluations approved four years ago over strident criticism from teachers unions and almost every Democrat in the Legislature. Under the bill, at least 40 percent of a teacher’s evaluation would be based on student learning growth, down from 50 percent.
The bill would also require at least 30 percent of a teacher’s evaluation to be based on classroom teaching methods; the current law has no floor. Up to 30 percent of the evaluation could be based on other job duties.
But Montford, who opposed the performance-pay legislation when it passed the Senate, pushed back on the suggestion that the Legislature was retreating.
“I don’t see it as a lessening of high standards, or even a retreat from high levels of accountability. Quite to the contrary,” he said. “I see this as a reasonable approach to address a very complicated issue.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Vehicle Theft Suspect Found Sleeping, Snoring Like A ‘Wild Boar’
February 3, 2015
A Santa Rosa County vehicle theft suspect was found sleeping under a house, sounding like a wild boar, according to deputies.
Sunday night, a deputy with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol on Avalon Boulevard when he attempted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet pickup truck for a broken tag light. When the deputy activated his blue lights, the suspect vehicle turned around and abruptly came to a stop. Deputies said 37-year old Kevin Lee Barbour of Pensacola exited the vehicle and ran from the scene through a residential neighborhood.
A K-9 unit with the Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and began to track the Barbour. While on the track, deputies heard a noise which was described as a “snorting wild boar” coming from under a trailer. It was discovered the noise was coming from the Barbour who was sleeping heavily while concealed under the trailer.
After interrupting Barbour’s nap, deputies placed him under arrest. It was determined that the vehicle had been stolen in Escambia County.
Barbour was charged with driving with a suspended license third or subsequent offense, criminal mischief property damage, vehicle theft and resisting an officer without violence. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $16,500.
New Ernest Ward Middle School Now Open
February 3, 2015
Students moved into the new Ernest Ward Middle School Monday morning for the first day of classes in the new building.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The $20 million facility is not quite complete; there’s still minor work to be done throughout the building, and the school’s agricultural classroom and band room won’t be completed for several more weeks.
Students reported to their homerooms in the old EWMS building this morning before being escorted grade by grade into the new facility where they were given the grand tour. There will be changes to student drop-off and pick-up areas (click for a map, details).
The old Ernest Ward buildings will be demolished in the coming weeks The oldest buildings, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace 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.
OPEN HOUSE: An open house and tours for the public will be held on Monday, February 16 from noon until 4 p.m.
Pictured: Students moved into and toured the new Ernest Ward Middle School building in Walnut Hill this morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Names January Students Of The Month
February 3, 2015
Northview High School has named Students of the Month for January. They are Desiree Elliard, 12th grade, and David Weber, 10th grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.