Tryouts Set For West Florida Elite Softball
December 5, 2014
Summer tryouts are coming up soon for West Florida Elite softball.
West Florida Elite was established in 2003 with a mission to assist female athletes in the development of their softball skills to prepare them for a future as a college student athlete. The organization has had over 100 players play at the collegiate level and is recognized as one of the top softball organizations in the Gulf Coast Region.
Their goal is to provide athletes an opportunity to compete at the highest level possible by playing the most competitive tournaments throughout the southeast. The 2014 West Florida Elite class had 18 players sign a National Letter of Intent to play at the next level.
Tryouts for 12U will be held Saturday, December 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Tate High School. Tryouts for 14U will be 2:30 p.m. on December 13; tryouts for 16U will be December 14 at 9:30 a.m.; and tryouts for 18U will be held December 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Tate.
For more information and a registration form, click here.
An Old Fashioned Canoe Christmas Celebration
December 5, 2014
It was an old fashioned Christmas celebration Thursday night a dozens friends and neighbors came together with the Canoe (AL) Civic Club. The group sang Christmas carols, ate great food and just enjoyed spending time with friends and neighbors from Canoe, Bratt, Walnut Hill and surrounding areas in a celebration reminiscent of community gatherings from days gone by.
The dinner table included everything from fried chicken, chicken and dumplings to fruit cake and cake pops.
Mike Hanks from the First Baptist Church of Bratt led the crowd in Christmas carols as his wife Gayle Hanks played the piano, and a group from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church treated the crowd to Christmas carols.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Dispose Of Hazardous Waste, Electronics, Tires Saturday For Free
December 5, 2014
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste will host a Regional Roundup Saturday, December 6 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Perdido Landfill, 13009 Beulah Road. The Regional Roundup event will provide an opportunity to residents to dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste, shoes and up to four tires per vehicle for free of charge.
Businesses and residents can dispose of all types of clean, dry, recyclable electronics including computers, monitors and terminals, keyboards, mice, printers, TVs, copiers, gaming systems, remotes, fax machines, VCRs, stereo systems, cell phones and telephones. Electronics that have been gutted will not be accepted. Businesses with large amounts of electronics should call the Department of Solid Waste Management to make an appointment to dispose of those items at the Perdido Landfill. Appliances, including fans and air conditioners, are not accepted.
Household Hazardous Waste items can cause injury if handled improperly. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their labels, such as flammable, corrosive, poison or toxic and include items such as swimming pool chemicals, cleaners, drain openers, paint and paint products, fuels, gases, lawn and garden chemicals, aerosol cans and automotive repair and maintenance products.
Shoes are also collected for the Soles4Souls program, which accepts donated shoes for the less fortunate. Donated shoes should be bound together with a rubber band.
All electronic, household hazardous waste and tires are recycled.
For more information about Regional Roundup events, proper disposal of waste or to make an appointment for a business electronics drop-off, contact the Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management at (850) 937-2160.
School Officials Warn Parents About “After School” App
December 4, 2014
The Escambia County School District is warning parents to be aware of a new app that can be used for cyberbulling and other inappropriate activity.
The app, called “After School – Funny Anonymous School News For Confessions and Compliments.” According to the school district, the app is described as “an anonymous and private message board for your school” and can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPod or through Safari (a web browser developed by Apple) and accessed via Facebook. In some cases, graphic and sexually explicit videos have been posted and then followed by students displaying inappropriate comments, sometimes about students in their own or neighboring schools.
“As you can imagine, this can be distressing for students, some of whom are following this site just to ensure no one is making comments about them,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “What is different about this site, and makes it even more troubling, is that posts are made anonymously, unlike other social media sites where you can trace a username back to an email account. Because of the way this site functions, there is little the district can do if a student is being targeted, because the person posting the comments cannot be identified.”
The app is is no way associated with the school district.
“This app has caused so much difficulty, in so little time, that I want to reach out to our students, staff, district families, and the community to ask everyone to help monitor this app and to eliminate its use,” added Thomas.
The app has been blocked on school Wi-fi networks, and principals have been instructed to warn their students that use of this app on the personal devices on campus will result in disciplinary action.
“We are hoping that everyone will help us with the monitoring and elimination of this app from all student-owned devices. As your superintendent, as a father and grandfather, I am asking for your help. There are too many risks associated with this app to make it worth keeping,” concluded Thomas.
The “After School” app is no longer available for download from the Apple Store, but officials caution it may still be on students’ devices.
Christmas Memories: Antique Nativity Scene Back On Display In Century
December 4, 2014
A Nativity scene that was first displayed at a Century home over 50 years ago is once again shining bright this Christmas season.
“‘When my sisters and I were children, the Christmas season started for us when Mr. & Mrs. Straughn put their nativity up,” Leslie Gonzalez, now town clerk, said.
Bill and Sarah Straughn first displayed the Nativity scene in 1963 on their screened-in porch on State Line Road, just around the curve from Highway 29 behind what was then Straughn’s Hardware, now a laundromat and self-storage facility.
Now, decades later, their granddaughter Joan Carnley and her husband Hal have moved in and fixed up the family home — and returned the manger scene to display with the help of her parents, Cal and Carol Turner.
“Mom and Dad came and spent Thanksgiving with us so we set it up together,” said Joan Carnley. “Mom said grandmother went out and bought it for my sister Judy and me in 1963. We were living here at the time while my dad was in Vietnam. When we came home at Christmas through later years we always ran to see Baby Jesus. Just a simple manger scene but it evokes memories and feelings of love, family, peace and homecomings.”
Have a Christmas story to share? Email news@NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: An antique Nativity scene out once again at a home on State Line Road in Century, over 50 years since it was first displayed. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
How Effective Are Our Local Teachers? Find Out In New Report
December 4, 2014
An overwhelming number of teachers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are effective at their jobs, according to data released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education.
The Florida DOE has posted preliminary results of the 2013-14 district personnel evaluations online. In January, once more complete data are provided by school districts, the Department will post an updated report.
In Escambia County, 93.2 percent of the county’s 2,933 public school teachers were rated as effective or highly effective, while 99.1 percent of Santa Rosa County’s 1,763 teacher received the top ratings.
From the report:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- Highly effective: 22.8%
- Effective: 70.4%
- Needs improvement: 4.6%
- Three years developing: 1.2%
- Unsatisfactory: 0.9%
- Percent not evaluated: 12.6%
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- Highly effective: 66.6%
- Effective: 32.5%
- Needs improvement: 0.5%
- Three years developing: 0.0%
- Unsatisfactory: 0.4%
- Not evaluated: 7.1%
Cantonment Improvement Committee Receives ‘No Dumping’ Mini Grant
December 4, 2014
The Escambia County Commission, acting as the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency, has awarded a mini-grant to the Cantonment Improvement Committee to purchase “No Dumping” signs.
The $500 grant will allow the Cantonment Improvement Committee to install the “No Dumping” signs on Taylor and Hicks streets, within the Cantonment Redevelopment District. The grant requires a volunteer mach from the neighborhood.
New Century Economic Development Coordinator Named
December 4, 2014
The University of West Florida Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development has announced Allison Tyler as economic development coordinator effective November 2014. In her new position, Tyler will oversee implementation of the Town of Century’s economic development strategic plan.
Tyler’s position was created as part of a recent economic development agreement between the Town of Century and the Haas Center.
“We are very happy to have Allison on board to lead the implementation of the Town of Century’s economic development strategy,” said Dr. Brice Harris, co-director of the Haas Center. “There are quite a number of challenges and opportunities besetting Century, and with those comes the need for a seasoned professional to coordinate the various actors who have a role to play in increasing the standards of living for all of Century’s residents. Allison’s background is well-suited for her to lead these efforts, and we look forward to all the good that will come of this partnership between UWF, Escambia County and the town.”
Escambia previously appropriated $40,000 for the chamber’s economic development program under an agreement that did not allow the chamber to subcontract services with the funds without the prior written approval of the county. The chamber requested the county approve a subcontract with the University of West Florida for the services of an economic development coordinator.
The Haas Center recently developed Century’s economic development strategic plan, funding by a $25,000 grant.
Tyler comes to the Haas Center from Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, where she had served as communications associate since 2013. Before that, she worked as community needs director for the United Way of Charlotte County in Port Charlotte, Florida, as part of the AmeriCorps VISTA program. There she oversaw the completion of a comprehensive communitywide needs assessment and participated in initiatives that included a community health improvement plan and a 10-year plan to prevent and end homelessness.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to join the Haas Center staff and look forward to working with the Century community towards implementation of the economic development plan,” Tyler said.
Tyler earned a Master of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
Santa To Visit Local Library Branches This Month
December 4, 2014
Santa Claus is planning several upcoming stops at local West Florida Library branches across Escambia County:
An Evening With Santa – Southwest Branch
- Thursday, December 11, 6 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus will sing Jingle Bells, pose for photos and each child will receive a free book.
Pajama Story Time With Santa — Molino Branch
- Monday, December 15, 6 p.m. – Wear your cozy pajamas, bring your blankets and join us for caroling, Christmas stories, milk and cookies and a visit from Santa himself. This will be a great photo opportunity, so parents, be sure to bring your cameras.
Santa Visits Story Time – Southwest Branch
- Tuesday, December 16, 10:30 a.m. –Santa and Mrs. Claus will sing Jingle Bells, pose for photos and greet each child. (recommended for preschool age children)
Little Santa’s Holiday Party – Main Library
- Tuesday, December 16, 6 p.m. – Ever wonder how Santa Claus came to be? Children will decorate a holiday cookie, enjoy carols with the Pensacola Choral Society and learn the backstory of the jolly ol’ elf from the man himself.
Meet Santa and Sing Carols – Tyron Branch
- Thursday, December 18, 4 p.m. –Meet Santa, sing carols and enjoy holiday treats.
Christmas With Santa – Century Branch
- Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. – Enjoy a story, cookies and a visit with Santa Claus. Each child will receive a gift from Santa.
Florida Gay Marriage Ban Could Be Lifted In January
December 4, 2014
A federal appeals court Wednesday rejected Attorney General Pam Bondi’s request to at least temporarily extend Florida’s ban on gay marriage — possibly setting the stage for same-sex marriages to start in January.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in August ruled that the voter-approved ban was unconstitutional but placed a stay on his decision to allow time for appeals. That stay is scheduled to expire Jan. 5.
Bondi last month asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the stay in place until appeals of Hinkle’s ruling are finished. But a three-judge panel of the court issued a short decision Wednesday turning down Bondi’s request and saying that the stay entered by Hinkle “expires at the end of the day on January 5, 2015.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which has represented a group of plaintiffs challenging the ban, said Wednesday afternoon same-sex marriages will be able to start Jan. 6 if no other attempts at extending the stay are successful. Also on Jan. 6, same-sex marriages from other states would be recognized in Florida, the ACLU said.
“Today, in denying the state’s request to further delay the ruling, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the state’s argument that allowing same-sex couples to marry and have their marriages recognized will cause harm to the state and refused to make these families wait any longer,” ACLU attorney Daniel Tilley said in a prepared statement. “The court effectively ruled that the state does not have a likelihood of succeeding in its appeal.”
A series of federal appeals-court decisions have struck down similar gay-marriage bans in other states, and the U.S. Supreme Court in October declined to take up the issue.
But in asking the appeals court for an extension of the stay, Bondi pointed to a decision in November by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
“This court should extend the stay because, on balance, it is in the public’s best interest to wait for an appellate decision before implementing an order of this significance,” Bondi argued in a document.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida