Standing Strong: NJROTC Annual Inspection Held (With Photo Gallery)
September 25, 2014
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny with a retired Navy commander.
Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) conducted the inspection. The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. The commander also conducted a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
One by one, Cmdr. Ladner went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conducting a complete inspection of their uniform.
“Yes, sir,” the cadets answered as they faced the questions about their NJROTC service, their ribbons, the shine on their shoes and some less than expected questions about every day life and football that left some cadets trying not to crack a smile.
“They did a very fine job this morning” said Ladner, who conducts annual inspections at dozens of high schools in the Southeast, told the entire group following his inspection. “And they are working their way to the top of my 50 or so units.”
Northview’s NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Captain Charlie Code and Chief Jeffrey Simpkins. The unit is led by Company Commander LCDR Lane Carnley and Executive Officer Cadet LT Sean Allister.
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, Ernest Ward, Northview, Flomaton Place In Cross Country Meet
September 25, 2014
Pensacola Christian and Milton took the top spots during a cross county meet Tuesday afternoon at Northview High School in Bratt.
There were 118 runners — 47 female, 71 male — that finished the race from Central, Ernest Ward Middle, Flomaton High, Milton High, Northview High, Pensacola Christian Academy and Tate High.
Results were as follows:
Female Teams
- 1st – PCA 41
- 2nd – Milton 58
- 3rd – Central 71
- 4th - Ernest Ward 178
- 5th – Northview 179
Top 5 Females
- Katylyn Buschman -PCA
- Lauren Cochran-PCA
- Emma Shows-Tate
- Isabella Potate –Milton
- Camryn Gilliard-Central
Male Teams
- 1st -Milton 30
- 2nd – PCA 38
- 3rd – Tate 94
- 4th- Central 135
- 5th – Flomaton 166
- 6th – Northview 231
- 7th - Ernest Ward 334
Top 5 Male
- Myles Osbourne-Milton
- Alex McDonald-Milton
- Dave Nolen –Tate
- Hunter Stewart-PCA
- Cody Price-Milton
Other results (provided by the school) were:
Top Northview 5 Boys
- Brandon Korinchak
- Heath Sheldt
- Joshua Borelli
- Austin Ates
- Zach Calloway
Top Northview 5 Girls
- Moriah McGahan
- Bethany Reynolds
- Mary Sullivan
- Jessica Barrows
- Tamara Barrows
Top Ernest Ward 5 Boys
- Brandon Sheldt
- Bryce Korinchak
- Shane Hardin
- Keaton Brown
- Alexander Floyd
Top Ernest Ward 5 Girls
- Addison Albritton
- Cailee Wilbirn
- Sierra Harrison
- Lexxi Baggett
- Anna Sullivan
Escambia Schools Focus On Student Athlete Transfer Policies
September 25, 2014
In order to improve e student athlete transfer process, the Escambia County School District is implementing plans to review procedures for high school student athlete transfer requests, and provide additional training opportunities for coaches and parents on Florida High School Athletic Association ) rules.
Malcolm Thomas, superintendent of Escambia County Schools, says that while these actions are a result of the recent events involving Escambia High School’s football program, they will benefit athletic programs across the county.
“When an event occurs that causes this much heartache and impacts so many students and faculty at one of our schools, it becomes our responsibility to take time to examine the situation to understand what can be learned, and make determinations to prevent reoccurrences in the future,” he said.
Several allegations have been made during and after the recent FHSAA investigation. Thomas pledged every complaint reported to a school or district official will be examined. If an investigation yields evidence of rule violations, self-reporting to the FHSAA will be required by the offending school.
“All reported incidents about student athletes who have transferred high schools are being thoroughly reviewed,” the superintendent said. “There will be consistency in enforcement of the FHSAA rules.”
“Training will be increased for athletic directors and coaches regarding FHSAA rules and procedures,” Thomas added. “The district will make a request for the FHSAA to utilize their expertise to facilitate training for all of our District coaches, whether they are new or veterans.”
Athletic directors from all area high schools provided input into the development of new Standard Operating Procedures for the reinstatement of a transfer student’s athletic eligibility. The new procedures began implementation in August 2014. An important change is the creation of a District Student Athlete Eligibility Review committee. The committee reviews requests and determines athletic eligibility for transferring student athletes. This increases consistency and removes the burden from individual schools, thereby reducing the amount of responsibility placed on athletic directors for transfer issues.
“By establishing this committee, students and parents will be able to submit a transfer review request form and receive a determination of whether the student athlete is eligible to play at their new school. Once that student’s eligibility has been reinstated by the committee, the student, parents and coaches will have the confidence that the transfer meets FHSAA requirements,” Thomas said.
A FHSAA information session will be offered for parents and guardians of student athletes to understand the rules, regulations, and procedures that could affect their student athletes’ eligibility. This information session will also be advertised to parents of middle school athletes, so they will know and understand the rules before they make high school commitments with, and for, their child.
Changes already underway include:
- Concerns about our current student athletes who have transferred high schools have been addressed, or are currently being reviewed.
- District athletic department leadership worked with athletic directors to create the Student Athlete Eligibility Review committee to review and reinstate a student’s athletic eligibility for any student athlete who transfers between schools at any time of the year.
- A Student Athlete Eligibility Review form has been made available online at http://ecsd.fl.schoolloop.com/SchoolChoice or at the Office of School Choice.
- Students, parents and athletic directors of transferring student athletes will be informed about the eligibility of a student athlete who has transferred.
The following steps will also be taken:
- FHSAA eligibility and compliance experts will be invited to Pensacola to provide training for all district athletic directors and coaches.
- While the FHSAA experts are in town, an information session will be offered in the evening to help parents of high school and middle school student athletes understand how to protect their students’ athletic eligibility.
- Parents of student athletes will also be directed to the FHSAA web site and the links for students and parents (www.fhsaa.org).
- Details (time/location) for the information session for families will be promoted via a call-out and through the local media.
Court Sets Hearing On Requiring Drug Tests For Welfare
September 25, 2014
A federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments November 20 in a long-running battle about Gov. Rick Scott’s attempt to require drug testing as a condition for people receiving public-assistance benefits.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week scheduled the arguments in an appeal filed by the Scott administration after a federal district judge blocked the program, according to an online docket.
The state is seeking to require drug testing for people who receive welfare benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
But it has faced a series of legal setbacks, with U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven in December issuing a 30-page ruling that concluded the urine tests would violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government and that “there is no set of circumstances under which the warrantless, suspicionless drug testing at issue in this case could be constitutionally applied.”
The Scott administration, however, argues in part that drug use can impede the ability of public-assistance beneficiaries to get jobs and also harms families.
The case stems from a 2011 law, which was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Luis Lebron, a Navy veteran and single father.
by The News Service of Florida
Poll Shows Florida Governor’s Race Too Close To Call
September 25, 2014
Less than two months before Election Day, Florida voters are split between their top two choices for governor, but they agree on one thing — neither candidate is a perfect fit.
That’s according to a poll by Quinnipiac University released Wednesday. The survey found that Republican Gov. Rick Scott has a slight edge over Democrat Charlie Crist but, because that two-point lead falls within the margin of error, the contest is too close to call.
“The race is likely to be won by the candidate who’s able to convince voters that he is the least objectionable,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, told reporters.
The poll found that 44 percent of likely voters support Scott, while 42 percent back Crist and 8 percent support Libertarian Adrian Wyllie.
The poll also found that 17 percent of voters might change their minds, further proof that the race is a toss-up just a week before absentee ballots go in the mail and a month before early voting begins.
With the support of 83 percent of Democrats queried in the survey, Crist — the one-time Republican governor who left the GOP in 2010 in a failed bid for the U.S. Senate as an independent — appears to have solidified support from his new party. Similarly, 80 percent of Republicans favored Scott.
The key to the November election rests with independent voters and Wyllie supporters, Brown said. The level of support in the poll for the relatively unknown Wyllie, whose campaign finances are eclipsed by the war chests amassed by Scott and Crist, might not pan out at the ballot box, according to Brown.
“The big question is, will those who tell us today that they’re going to vote for Mr. Wyllie actually vote for Mr. Wyllie? And if they don’t vote for Mr. Wyllie, will they stay at home, or will they vote for one of the two major party candidates? That’s the $64,000 question,” he said.
Third-party candidates’ popularity tends to fade closer to the election, Brown said.
“Eight percent isn’t chopped liver, but at this point it doesn’t look like Mr. Wyllie’s competitive to win. But his voters could make the winner,” he said.
The survey comes after months of mudslinging on the air by Scott’s campaign and his backers, who have spent more than $30 million on television ads, mostly bashing Crist. Crist and his supporters have spent at least another $10 million, including ads attacking his opponent.
The negative campaigning appears to have paid off for Scott, at least in part. Crist’s popularity has dropped since the ads started airing, according to earlier Quinnipiac polls. But Brown cautioned against comparing Wednesday’s results with previous surveys because the most-recent poll was conducted of likely voters, while the earlier polls were conducted of registered voters, an important distinction.
Voters gave both Scott and Crist low marks on character. By a 49-37 percent margin, voters said Crist is not honest and trustworthy. Fifty-one percent of respondents said that Scott is not honest and trustworthy. Voters were split 46-45 percent on whether Crist cares about their needs and problems, while only 42 percent said they think Scott has those cares.
“Mr. Scott and Mr. Crist are both looked at, meehhhh, by voters in a less than complimentary way,” Brown said, shrugging. “Fewer than four in ten voters think either man is honest and trustworthy. That’s not unheard of, but it is unusual.”
Quinnipiac, which frequently conducts polls in Florida and other states, surveyed 1 likely Florida voters from Sept. 17 to Sept. 22. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac results mirror other recent polls that showed Scott closing a gap in the race or taking a narrow lead. But Democratic pollster Steven Vancore said the Quinnipiac University survey is flawed.
Thirty-two percent of the voters who participated in the poll identified themselves as Republican, 30 percent as Democrats, and 31 percent as belonging to neither major party.
But those party affiliations don’t reflect actual turnout in the last two gubernatorial elections, Vancore said. In 2010, 46 percent of voters who cast ballots were Republicans, 38 percent were Democrats and 16 percent belonged to either minor parties or no party at all.
Republican voters are expected to edge out Democrats in November by at least four percentage points, while independents are predicted to comprise — at most — about 22 percent of the total turnout, Vancore said.
“They slightly under-sampled Republicans and they dramatically over-sampled (no-party affiliation) voters,” Vancore said.
by Dara Kim and Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Numerous Families Homeless After Multi-Unit Apartment Fire
September 24, 2014
The American Red Cross is assisting several families after a multi-unit apartment fire that broke out late Wednesday morning at the Briarwood Condominiums on East Olive Road.
Twenty units in one building were impacted by the flames or smoke and water damage. Red Cross Disaster responders are providing canteen services from their Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and will be working one-on-one with those affected to help meet their disaster-caused needs tonight and in the days to come.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office. There were no injuries reported.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Gather To Pray At The Pole (With Photo Gallery)
September 24, 2014
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area Wednesday morning during the annual See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top and inset: See You at the Pole Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Garbage Truck
September 24, 2014
Fire damaged a garbage truck in Walnut Hill Wednesday morning. The fire was mostly contained to the air cleaner of the commercial truck operated by Creek Waste & Recycling.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue quickly extinguished the blaze, which was reported about 8:35 a.m. on Arthur Brown Road at Kansas Road. There were no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cop Impersonator Reported In North Escambia With Fake Traffic Stop, Chase
September 24, 2014
[EXCLUSIVE FIRST ON NORTHESCAMBIA.COM] Authorities are on alert after a police impersonator reportedly attempted multiple times to stop a local man on his way to work during the early morning hours Monday.
The victim told NorthEscambia.com that he turned off Highway 97 onto Nokomis Road about 3:45 a.m. When he stopped at the stop sign at Nokomis Road and Meadows Lane, he said pickup driven by a male was stopped on Meadows Lane even though there is no stop sign from that direction. The pickup driver turned on Nokomis Road and turned around behind the victim.
He said the pickup followed him for several miles, continually flashing his headlights “on my bumper”. At about Jakes Road in Nokomis, FL, the victim said he decided to stop.
“I began to think that maybe I had a flat tire or some other problem,” the victim said Tuesday afternoon. “So I stopped. He jumped out of his truck and told me he was an undercover cop and that he was going to write me a ticket. He said his blue lights were not working, and began to dig in his wallet for his badge…I knew something was not right, and I took off.”
The victim said he turned on Jakes Road, crossed the state line into Alabama and continued to Highway 31 and called 911.
“He caught up with me on Highway 31 and tried to pass me. I would not let him, but he eventually got around me and blocked Highway 31 with his vehicle twice,” the victim said. Eventually, the police impersonator continued east on Highway 31 toward Atmore.
The victim described the suspect as a white male of average height and build with a full black or dark-colored beard. He was driving a newer model, four-door Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck that was copper in color. The vehicle had an unknown Alabama license plate.
“He acted real funny, not like he had done anything like that before,” the victim told NorthEscambia.com. “I think he was on something…high. He never showed a gun or acted like he had one, and it was like he did not know what to do next if he was going to rob me.”
NorthEscambia.com confirmed Tuesday afternoon that when the victim dialed 911, he reached a cell phone tower that delivered his call to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The call was transferred by a Baldwin County dispatcher to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office in Brewton because the victim was in Escambia County, AL, at that time.
Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said his dispatchers received the call from Baldwin County at about 4:00 a.m. Monday, with the victim relaying the information about the alleged fake traffic stop and Alabama chase.
“We dispatched a deputy to Nokomis, but he was unable to find anything when he arrived,” Lambert said.
As on Tuesday afternoon, the victim had not filed a formal complaint with the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office in regards to the original stop and events in Florida, according to Sena Maddison, public information officer.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured top: The intersection of Nokomis Road and Jacks Road. Pictured top inset: Jack’s Road. Pictured bottom inset: Nokomis Road and Meadows Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium To Be Dedicated At Northview Oct. 2
September 24, 2014
The football stadium at Northview High School will be formally dedicated as the Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium during a special ceremony at 6 p.m. on October 2. The dedication will include the unveiling of a Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium sign and a Chief statue with plaques donated by the Northview classes of 2013 and 2014.
The Escambia County School Board voted in May to rename the stadium.
Tommy Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.