Thomas: It’s Going To Be A Great School Year
August 18, 2014
As about 40,000 students head back to school today in Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says the district is ready for a successful school year.
“I think we are going to have a good year,” Thomas said. “We ended strong last year, and we are going to build strong on those successes.”
In the North Escambia area, students are anticipating the completion of a new school at Ernest Ward Middle. School officials are hopeful that Ernest Ward students can be transitioned into the new building over this year’s Christmas break.
“We may be a just little off from Christmas, but we have a new facility coming this year for those students,” the superintendent said.
Three North Escambia schools were rated as “A” schools by the Florida Department of Education — Byrneville Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, and Molino Park Elementary — while other schools record grade level increases. And Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward was recently named the county’s principal of the year.
“Student performance has been great,” Thomas said of the North Escambia area. “And student performance will continue to increase. It’s going to be a great year.”
Need To Apply For Free Or Reduced Lunches?
August 18, 2014
Parents can expedite the processing of free or reduced lunch applications in Escambia County by submitted the form online.
For the 2014 – 2015 online free and reduced meal application, click here for a secure form.
The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as administered by Escambia County School District provides free and reduced priced meals for children unable to pay the full price.
Students from households who receive food stamps and/or Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and who have a social security number on file at the school may be eligible for direct certification. Students approved by direct certification are not required to have an application on file.
Application forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or reduced priced meals, parents of students not approved by direct certification must fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available in the front office.
Children from households with incomes of less than or equal to the income criteria may be eligible for either free or reduced priced meals.
Each school and the school system’s Food Services office have copies which are available to the public.
Meal prices are as follows:
Elementary
- Full price breakfast – $1.00
- Reduced price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.00
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Secondary
- Full price breakfast- $1.50
- Reduce price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.50
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Teen Killed In Highway 4 Crash East Of Jay (Updated With Names)
August 18, 2014
UPDATE — A teenager was killed and five people were injured in two-vehicle crash about eight miles east of Jay Sunday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 1998 Nissan Frontier pickup struck the rear of a 2002 Dodge Neon drive by 40-year old Renee Russell of Baker on Highway 4 about 320 feet east of Cornelia Lane. A passenger in the Neon, 13-year old Shawn McLaughlin of Baker, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Other passengers in the Dodge Neon, Shannon McLaughlin, age 14 of Flomaton, and Raistlin Bunch, age 14 of Baker, were seriously injured and airlifted to area hospitals; and Kevin McLaughlin, 37 of White, GA, received minor injuries. The driver, Russell, received minor injuries. All occupants were wearing their seat belts.
According to the FHP, Melvin D. Hawthorne of Jay “was an occupant of (the Nissan pickup) at the time of the crash. It is undetermined if he was the driver of (the pickup). Driver information of (the Nissan pickup) is pending further investigation at this time.”
Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Three Years: Remembering LCpl Travis Nelson
August 18, 2014
Today marks the three year anniversary of the death of local Cpl. Travis M. Nelson. LCpl. Nelson gave all on the battlefields of Afghanistan on August 18, 2011.
A world was shattered at the Nelson home in Bratt as three men in military uniforms stood at the door. “I just screamed and said no,” Beckie Nelson of Bratt said shortly after she learned that her son, LCpl Travis Nelson, was shot and killed while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come in. I knew right away that he was gone.”
It was a tragedy that began a wave an emotions and events that touched the entire North Escambia area and a nation. The community grieved as hundreds if not thousands changed their Facebook profile pictures to a single image in honor of Nelson. Tears flowed as powerful photos were published that showed an honor guard removing Nelson’s flag-draped coffin from a plane at Dover AFB in Delaware.
The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station a few days later as the final leg of Nelson’s journey home began. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flags — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore. Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects. In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.
Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.
As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.
Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many students broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter — a sixth grader at Ernest Ward.
The motorcade continued into Atmore, where crowds stood along the route, waving Old Glory. At a local bank on Highway 31, people stood with large flags as the Northview High School NJTROC stood steadfast at attention. Across the way at the iconic Atmore train station, a group of local veterans stood proudly and saluted as Nelson’s remains passed.
Nelson’s funeral was held in Atmore where, again, hundreds paid their final respects.
Nelson was not forgotten. His name was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor and other area memorials. A scholarship was announced. The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park. Nelson’s family was honored at the annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward Middle School.
LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Back To School Forecast: Chance Of Rain
August 18, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office: Top Five Back To School Safety Tips
August 18, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is offered the follow five back to school safety tips:
- More cars will be on the road – leave the house earlier than normal to give yourself extra time, and be a patient driver!
- Watch for children walking to and from school – be extra cautious as you approach, sometimes kids get distracted, or while playing with friends may veer onto the roadways.
- School crossing guards will be out in force – please pay attention to them!
- School buses have precious cargo on board – obey the school bus right-of-way laws!
- Obey school zone speed limits – law enforcement will be patrolling these areas!
Wahoos Shut Out 4-0 In Series Opener
August 18, 2014
Despite a strong start from Daniel Corcino, the Wahoos were shut out by Jose Urena and the Jacksonville Suns 4-0 on Sunday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Suns took the lead in the third when Austin Barnes doubled home Austin Nola from first base with one out. They cruised from then on adding an insurance run against Corcino in the seventh and scoring two more in the eighth to put the game away.
The Wahoos biggest threat came in sixth. Pensacola put runners at second and third with only one, out but couldn’t score.
Corcino kept the Wahoos in the game over his seven strong innings on the mound. He allowed just three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. The right-hander retired the Suns in order three times but Pensacola couldn’t provide him any offensive support.
Urena was outstanding on the mound for the Suns. He held the Blue Wahoos to just one hit over his first five innings. Yorman Rodriguez led the game off with a single for Pensacola, and the Wahoos didn’t get another hit until Brodie Greene’s double with one out in the sixth inning. Urena earned the win after working 7.0 shutout innings. He allowed just three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Pensacola will try to even the series on Monday night in Jacksonville. RHP Tim Adleman (3-6, 3.10) is expected to start for Pensacola against Suns starter RHP Jay Rogers (6-5, 4.06). First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.
by Tommy Thrall
Farm Share Provides Food For Families In Need
August 17, 2014
A free food giveaway was held Saturday in Century.
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, the AmeriCorps Coalition of Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties and Farm Share hosted the free food distribution event for residents of the Century and North Escambia areas.
Assisted by volunteers, Farm Share distributed fresh produce and food for about 300 families in need. As the event opened, the line of vehicles waiting for food stretched as far as could be seen down Pond Street. Some people even arrived on foot, pulling wagons.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Young Marines Honor The Memory Of LCpl Travis M. Nelson
August 17, 2014
A young Travis Nelson of Bratt grew up in a military family and had two things on his mind — fishing and growing up to join the military.
He lived that dream, spending many days at his favorite fishing spots. At 14, he joined the Young Marines of Pensacola. By age 19, he had made it from Bratt to the front lines in Afghanistan as a United States Marine. It was there in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, that LCpl Travis M. Nelson lost his life in August 2011 defending the freedom of his family, friends and the America he loved so much.
Saturday, the Young Marines of Pensacola gathered at the LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park on Highway 4 in Bratt, near Nelson’s childhood home, to honor one of their own that paid the ultimate price.
The Young Marines, boys and girls ages 8 to 18, stood silently at attention as a wreath was placed at the park’s memorial to Nelson. Then they posed for a photo, the Young Marines and the memorial to a fallen Marine.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Improvement Association Provides Free School Supplies
August 17, 2014
The Cantonment Improvement Committee’s annual Back to School Bash was held Saturday. The event included free school supplies and a hot lunch at Carver Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
