Local School Bus Driver Honored With State Award For Saving Child
September 9, 2014
An Escambia County School District bus driver received statewide recognition at the Florida capitol in Tallahassee Monday for saving a young boy found wandering along in the middle of Kingsfield Road.
Bus driver Daisy Robinson will be honored Monday as Florida Missing Children’s Day School Bus Operator of the Year. She was selected for the honor by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board.
Click here for an earlier story published Saturday with details on why Robinson received the award for actions she took on the way to Ransom Middle School on October 28, 2013.
Pictured top: Florida First Lady Ann Scott, bus driver Daisy Robinson and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey Monday morning at the capitol in Tallahassee. Pictured inset Robinson with Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. Pictured below: Robinson was accompanied to Tallahassee by Escambia County Schools Director of Transporation Rob Doss. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Increased Budget, Sets Tax Rate
September 9, 2014
The Town of Century Monday night gave tentative approval to a budget for the next fiscal year that’s up about 16 percent over this year and $2.2 million greater than the previous budget year.
The town council gave first approval to a $5,107,641.34 budget for 2014-2015 that is up $722,850 over the current fiscal year. The increase is due to grant income and expenditures included in the budget of $2,280,296.
There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2014-2015, which begins October 1. The proposed millage rate is .8707, which is equal to and does not exceed the rolled-back rate.
The council will vote on final approval of the budget and millage rate during public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 15, just prior to a regular council meeting.
To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here or the image below.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, photo, click to enlarge.
Deadline Approaching For Conservation Dollars For Florida Farmers
September 9, 2014
Time is quickly running out for Florida farmers who want to continue receiving federal assistance to improve soil, water, air and habitat on their land. Since the Conservation Stewardship Program was launched five years ago, more than 60-million farm acres nationwide have been enrolled. Sophia Kruszewski, policy specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, says the program isn’t about helping farmers avoid environmental harm; it’s about enhancing and improving what conservation-minded farmers already do.
“Maybe they started doing a little cover-cropping, but they really want to get more into a full suite of resource-conserving crop rotations,” Kruszewski says. “Maybe they’ve done some improvements in the way they’re managing their livestock, but they want to start looking at rotational grazing.”
The Conservation Stewardship Program, created in the 2008 Farm Bill, has been reauthorized and strengthened. The roughly 20,000 farmers with five-year contracts up for renewal must do so by September 12 at the Milton Service Center at 6277 Dogwood Drive, (850) 623-2441, or at the nearest office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Kruszewski calls the program a win-win for the environment and for farmers, and says the program represents a new, forward-thinking vision of American agriculture.
“We’re really seeing a strong focus on the need to support farmers,” Kruszewski says. “Not only to have productive, viable farms and ranches, but also be able to work those farms with an eye toward natural-resource conservation. ”
Kruszewski says new farmers interested in the program can submit an application at any time, with NRCS collecting and ranking the applications once per year, typically in February.
by Florida News Connection
Volleyball: PHS Over NHS
September 9, 2014
Pensacola High School topped Northview High School in straight sets Monday in Pensacola.
Junior Varsity
- 22-25, 25-22, 12-15. PHS wins
Varsity
- 16-25, 16-25, 20-25. PHS wins
The Lady Chiefs will host Baker Tuesday. Junior varsity play beings at 4:30 p.m.; varsity follows at 5:30 p.m.
Grand Jury To Review Escambia Jail Explosion
September 8, 2014
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Monday morning that his office has completed its review of the facts and circumstances leading up to and immediately following the explosion at the Escambia County Jail.
The review followed an extensive and comprehensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Office of the State Attorney.
Based on this review, it has been determined that incident should be presented to an Escambia County Grand Jury for their consideration, Eddins said.
The grand ury will begin their consideration of this matter on September 30 and will continue until such time as they complete their review. As part of their review, the grand jury will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to establish that any crime was committed.
The grand jury may also consider any other issues surrounding the jail explosion as they deem appropriate. Because of the confidential nature of grand jury proceedings, no additional facts will be released by the State Attorney’s Office.
“Escambia County administration, county attorney and staff will continue to fully cooperate with the State Attorney’s Office through this process,” Escambia County said in a written response to receipt of a press release from the State Attorney’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Blake McCall Starts For JSU In 59-0 Shutout
September 8, 2014
Northview High School graduate Blake McCall started in his first game Saturday for the Jackson State Tigers.
The Jackson State football team dominated the Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons en route to a 59-0 victory Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The shutout was JSU’s first since 2002.
McCall was in for the entire game as JSU recorded 430 total offensive yards and held VUL to 94 as the Tigers improve to a 2-0 record.
At Northview, McCall helped lead the Chiefs to an overall 11-3 record, 4-0, in the district on the way to a state championship. He was a three-year starter and played all five positions along the offensive line for the Chiefs.
Century Man Charged With Chasing Brother With Knife, Threatening To Kill Him
September 8, 2014
A Century man is facing a felony charge after allegedly chasing his brother around the family yard with a knife until his mother intervened.
Nakeetric Devonte Davison was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the incident at an address on West Highway 4 in Century.
The brother, Kendrick Washington, told deputies that he and Davison, his brother, had argued about money that was discovered to be missing. Washington said Davison grabbed a knife and chased him around a yard, threatening to kill him. Washington reported that Davison was swinging the knife towards his chest, causing him to fear for his life. The fight was allegedly broken up by the duo’s mother.
Davison denied the allegations and said that his mother has always been against him, according to an arrest report. He remains jailed with bond set at $13,500.
High School Open House Events Tuesday Night
September 8, 2014
Open House events for high schools in Escambia County will be held Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m.
Northview High specific information as submitted by the school:
Open House at Northview High School is September 9, 2014. We have planned for a very informative night for our parents. Presentations will begin at 6 p.m.
Parents should report to the main hall, where they will pick up a menu of selections for presentations for the night.
Parents will have time to attend three (3) sessions of their choice from the following:
- Compass Learning, Room 201
- Progress Monitoring via UsaTestPrep, Room 218
- Career Technology Education – Workforce Education, Room 307
- Athletics, Room 126C
- English Language Arts/Reading, Room 204
- Math, Room 217
- Social Studies, Room 313
- Science, Room 308
- Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp, Room 212
- Music/Art/Physical Education., Media Center
At 6:50 after the last presentations, there will be a Title One Meeting. Everyone should report to the Media Center.
The meeting will last approximately 15 minutes. We hope this proves to be a night that helps parents become familiar with the many programs at Northview High School.
Report Projects $336 Million Florida Budget Surplus Next Year
September 8, 2014
State lawmakers will have about $336 million extra in the budget year that begins next July, according to a draft state report issued recently
The Long-Range Financial Outlook, an annual report, says that surplus takes into account the likelihood that the Legislature will continue to set aside $1 billion in reserves and spend money on other high-priority areas.
The report says lawmakers could use the surplus on programs or tax cuts that continue from one year to the next, but that doing so would have “a compounding effect over time” and leave less money for the Legislature to use in future years — though the state would never go into the red as long as it keeps the reserves steady.
The report also says that Florida’s economy will likely continue to grow for the time being but is still trying to fully regain its footing.
“In the forecast, months of modest growth are expected before normalcy is largely achieved by Fiscal Year 2016-17 with construction and real estate still presenting notable exceptions,” it says. The draft report is scheduled to be presented Wednesday to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, a panel made up of House and Senate members.
Teen Injured In Deer Collision
September 8, 2014
One person was injured in a single vehicle collision with a deer late Sunday night near Cantonment.
The driver of a Ford Ranger reportedly collided with the deer about 11:35 p.m. on River Annex Road. A teenager reported to be injured, while two other people in vehicle refused medical treatment.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.