Unfounded Threat Prompts Increased Security at Ernest Ward Middle School Monday
September 9, 2024
What is believed to be an unfounded mention of a threat to Ernest Ward Middle School is under investigation, Escambia County Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard said Monday morning.
Leonard said the alleged threat was discussed on social media and was believed to be “internal” involving students at the Walnut Hill school. He said it the supposed threat was not believed to have any connection to a weekend threat report at Flomaton High School, about 15 miles away.
The superintendent said law enforcement is investigating, and extra law enforcement is at the school. A callout message was sent to parents Monday morning.
In screenshots of messages (pictured above) sent to NorthEscambia.com from outside the school district, someone states, “i heard there is gonna be a school shooting”, before someone replies that they heard it was going to be at Ernest Ward.
NorthEscambia.com image. The image has been edited for conciseness and to remove names.
Escambia (FL) School Superintendent Learns About Alabama Program That Keeps Classrooms Phone-Free
September 9, 2024
Between classes at Flomaton High School, students walk down the hallway talking to each other. And at lunch, they talk to each other.
“Our lunches have gotten really loud,” Flomaton High School Principal Mark Harbison said. “The kids talk to each other instead of looking down at their phones all the time.”
Flomaton High and several other school in Escambia County, Alabama, are using what’s called a Yondr pouch to control cellphone usage in school and make classrooms phone-free. Students keep the pouch with them all day until the final bell, and it makes it impossible to take a picture, shoot a video, send a text, or access social media. The pouches are used by many big-name artists to stop recording at their concerts.
And officials say it is now transforming education.
“This is certainly something that we need to talk to our school board members about,” says Escambia County (FL) School Superintendent Keith Leonard. “And more importantly, get with our school-based administrators and our teachers — actually give them the opportunity to visit three or four of the schools here in Escambia County, Alabama, which have implemented the Yondr pouches. I believe it will help our students have more engagement at school and do better academically and socially for that matter.”
And Leonard is taking notes as his district just across the line in Florida is considering new cellphone restrictions for over 37,000 students. Leonard was so impressed, in fact, with the Yondr pouch system that he expects the Escambia County, Florida, district to do something in the next five to six months.
NorthEscambia.com was present recently as Leonard and Cody Strother, Escambia County (FL) School District coordinator for communications, visitedt to Flomaton High to see the Yondr pouches in action.
Each student in the Alabama program is assigned one of Yondr’s form-fitting lockable soft pouches. Students place their powered-off phones and connected devices like earbuds and smart watches inside their individual pouch before they enter the school, and it locks the phone inside with a magnetic disk mechanism. The lock is much like those anti-theft clothing tags that stores remove after you make a purchase. If a student forgets the pouch, they surrender their phone to be locked up in the office for the day.
When students exit the building at dismissal, a specially designed magnet unlocks the pouch. It’s a process that Harbison said only slows down dismissal by just a few minutes as students funnel out of the building.
And, no, not just any magnet or super-strong rare earth magnet will unlock the pouch. It’s a specially designed magnet from the California-based pouch company. The unlocking magnets at school are closely guarded by school staff.
When students enter Flomaton High, they may be asked to show that their phone is locked inside a pouch, and there are random checks during the school day to make sure phones are secure.
“We have people all the time say what do you do if they cut them (the pouches) open,” George Brown II, Escambia County (AL) Schools assistant superintendent, told Leonard. “You can break into a locked house if you really want to. It’s discernment. You’ve got to choose right from wrong.”
If a student cuts open and destroys a pouch in Escambia County, Alabama, they are on the hook for a $20 replacement.
Teachers are in love, we are talking head over heels smitten, with the Yonder pouches. They say their classrooms are phone-free, students are paying attention, and students are actually learning more. Teachers also love that they are not burdened with collecting phones before class begin. Teachers don’t actually have to do anything with phones. If they see a phone, they let the front office know, and an administrator responds to deal with the policy transgression.
“I just love it,” Flomaton High teacher Amy Dullard said. “It has changed my classroom like I never could have imagined.”
Escambia County (AL) Schools Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier is also in love with the program.
“We are expecting to see real numbers from this in learning gains and scores,” she said.
But what about the students?
We visited a classroom where students said they were very apprehensive when they learned the pouches would be in place this school year.
“I didn’t like it at first. My phone is right here,” one student said, pointing at the Yondr pouch next to her with her phone locked inside. “I guess I feel better because it’s here with me all the time, but I still can’t use it.”
In the event of any kind of personal emergency or illness, students are allowed to go to the office to use a (gasp!) landline to call home.
In a more serious situation…just to talk about the worst that is sometimes a reality in our world…during a school shooting or severe weather, students’ phones would be locked inside the pouches as the situation unfolds.
Brown said that in the near-term that would be good, because perhaps hundreds of students would not call 911 at the same time. “They would tie up the lines,” he said. “They (emergency services) would be the first person to tell you that.”
“We have a procedure. We have Centegix (brand) badges. We can get police to a building when we press this,” as he held out a badge on a lanyard around his neck. “And once it’s cleared for it to happen, then they could come around and open them (the phone pouches). And they would. Severe weather, they would come around and do that as well.”
As the Escambia County (AL) Schools pilot their use of the phone pouches, they’ve developed a few exceptions to the program. Students with a medical reason — such as those that use their phones to scan a glucose monitor — are issued a pouch that does not lock. It instead has a Velcro-like closure. It’s loud when it opens. There’s just no way to open it quietly and sneak a phone out during class (We saw it tested by Stother, and it just can’t be opened without garnering attention.)
At Flomaton, yearbook staff members are given a press pass that allows them to sometimes have their phones unlocked for snapping yearbook student life photos at school events.
NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated on any future cellphone policy changes for Escambia County (FL) Schools.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Officials Say ‘Potential School Threat’ At Flomaton High Was Not Credible
September 9, 2024
A potential threat at Flomaton High School over the weekend was unfounded, according to the school district, but extra law enforcement will be at all Escambia County, Alabama, schools today.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Saturday about a possible threat made that involved Flomaton High School,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson told NorthEscambia.com. “An in-depth investigation is still in going and there does not appear to be any legitimate threat at this time. As a precaution, All county schools will have an extra law enforcement presence on Monday morning. East Brewton police, Atmore Police, Flomaton Police, and the Brewton Police Departments are all aware and are providing extra coverage.”
Sunday, Escambia County (AL) School Superintendent Michelle Collier issued a statement about “a serious matter that occured over the weekend at Flomaton High School…we received notice of a potential school threat.”
School district officials and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office investigated, and “no credible threat was found”, she said.
“However, we take these matters very seriously and only want to protect our school communities. As part of our response to this situation, we will be utilizing our metal detectors more thoroughly and frequently. Local law enforcement will be visible and monitoring our schools. These enhanced safety measures are in place to protect everyone on campus and provide peace of mind to our students, staff, and community,” the superintendent’s statement continued.
Pictured: An empty hallway during classes Friday at Flomaton High School. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Falling Oil Prices Equate To Lower Florida Gas Prices, AAA Says
September 9, 2024
Florida gas prices fell after a drop in the crude oil market, according to AAA.
Last week, the U.S. price for a barrel of oil fell to the lowest level since June 2023. The crude price plunge has reportedly been driven by concerns about both the U.S. and international economies, and the belief that global oil supplies could outpace global fuel demand by the end of the year.
On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.16 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since February 12, 2024. Sunday’s state average is 15 cents less than last week, 24 cents less than last month, and 47 cents less than this time last year. The highest price so far this year was $3.64 per gallon. The all-time high was $4.89 per gallon – recorded in June 2022.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.95. North Escambia prices were as low as $2.77 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices dipped to $2.63 on East Nine Mile Road.
On Friday, domestic oil prices settled at $67.67 per barrel. That’s almost $6 per barrel (-8%) less than last week. Oil prices had been trading at more than $80 per barrel just one month ago.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Girls High School Golf: Tate Claims Victory; Northview’s Anna Kunkel Shoots 37
September 9, 2024
Tate High School emerged victorious in a girls’ varsity golf match recently at Cypress Lakes Golf Club against Pensacola and Northview high schools.
Tate’s team score of 193 secured the win. PHS was second with 213, while the Northview finished in third place with a total of 220.
Northview’s Anna Kunkel led the Chiefs with a score of 37. Talia and Jordan Smith of Tate both shot 46 to tie for third overall for the Aggies.
Tate Individual Scores By Position
3. Talia Smith: 46
3. Jordan Smith: 46
5. Kinzlee Biggs: 49
6. Alessa Lloyd: 52
7. Paige Raiter: 53
9. Lacy Wilson: 55
10. Kara Wine: 57
15. Destiny Owen: 63
Northview Individual Scores By Position
1. Anna Kunkel: 37
12. Bailey Burkett: 57
13. Presley Amos: 60
14. Payton Daw: 61
15. Kaylee Long: 63
15. Reena Lin: 63
Highway 21 Resurfacing In Atmore To Have Impacts South To Florida Line
September 9, 2024
A resurfacing project is underway in Atmore that will have impacts to the Florida line.
An Alabama Department of Transportation project will resurface Highway 21 (known as Main Street) in Atmore from the state line north to Sunset Drive, just north of Escambia County Middle School. The first phase of the project was from the railroad tracks in downtown Atmore north, and the second phase is ongoing from the railroad tracks south to Florida Highway 97 at the state line. Drivers can expect single lane closures, mostly nights and overnights.
Pictured: Resurfacing on Highway 21 near downtown Atmore recently. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Finish Off Road Series Win, Enter Final Week With Momentum
September 9, 2024
written by Carter Bainbridge
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (68-62) clinched a road series victory on Sunday with a 6-5 win over the Birmingham Barons (69-63). Sunday’s decision marked Pensacola’s first series win since August 6-11 at Mississippi.
The Wahoos fell behind early in their series finale. Behind lefthander Luis Palacios, Pensacola spotted the Barons a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back run-scoring hits from catcher Weston Eberly and center fielder Matt Hogan helped plate an early Barons pair. The two runs would be all Palacios allowed across 4.2 innings of work.
Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth, when Blue Wahoos first baseman Josh Zamora smacked his first Double-A home run of the season off Barons righthander Riley Gowens to cut the Birmingham lead to 2-1. In the sixth, Zamora delivered again with a hard-hit RBI double that bounced off the top of the center field wall. Two batters later, Barons righthander Jordan Mikel (L, 4-2) threw a wild pitch to score right fielder Shane Sasaki from third base and give the Wahoos a 3-2 lead. Designated hitter Nathan Martorella then hit a sacrifice fly to score Zamora from third base and double the Pensacola lead. After six innings, the Wahoos led 4-2.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on additional insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings. Birmingham broke through for three runs in the ninth, but righthander Woo-Suk Go held on to strand the tying run at first base and preserve a 6-5 win.
With its victory, Pensacola returns home for its final regular season series with an outside chance to qualify for postseason play. With six games remaining, the Blue Wahoos begin their final week 2.5 games behind the wild card-leading Biloxi Shuckers.
The Wahoos return home on Tuesday to begin their final regular season series versus the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT,
Atmore Man Arrested After Pursuit Ended With Highway 29 Crash In Molino
September 8, 2024
An Atmore man was arrested on multiple charges after a pursuit last Saturday night in Molino.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed an SUV fleeing from two marked Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cruisers. FHP confirmed that the deputies were in pursuit of a vehicle which was reported as driving recklessly, driving the wrong way against traffic, and was a possible DUI.
The deputies pulled to the outside lane allowing the trooper to take lead of the pursuit and utilize the PIT maneuver. The SUV rotated counter-clockwise into the median and overturned twice, until coming to stop upside down on its roof.
The driver, identified as 34-year old Derek Michael Coleman of Atmore, was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital. After his release, Coleman was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of felony fleeing and eluding, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and DUI. He was also cited for having an open container
Coleman remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday afternoon with bond set at $11,000.
Pictured top: Dash cam image from the pursuing FHP trooper.
Fresh Produce on Wheels: Millie Mobile Market Visits Molino
September 8, 2024
The Millie Mobile Market recently stopped in Molino, and it will be back later this month with a variety of fresh produce.
Feeding the Gulf Coast launched the initiative this year that is designed to help people living in “food deserts”. Millie offers a variety of fresh produce.
During the Molino visit, Millie offered a menu of fresh produce that included cabbage, carrots, corn, garlic, onions, oranges, yellow squash, sweet potatoes and zucchini at below-market prices.
Millie will travel routes throughout Feeding the Gulf Coast’s Florida service area, addressing pockets of low food access (food deserts) where supermarkets are scarce, to provide community members the opportunity to buy affordable fresh produce and other nutritious foods at a significantly discounted rate. As the program progresses, the Mobile Market aims to become a SNAP-authorized retailer, enabling families to use their SNAP benefits for purchasing nutritious food.
“We are thrilled to launch this exciting new program as an extension of the food bank,” Michael Ledger, president and CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast, said after the program was launched. “There are many obstacles to healthy food access within rural, hard to serve communities. This vehicle will help broaden the availability of nutritious and affordable food to those we serve, bringing hope and health to our Florida communities.”
Feeding the Gulf Coast collaborates with local farmers to purchase produce specifically for the Millie Mobile Market.
Millie will return to the Molino Branch Library on Highway 95A on Thursday, September 26 from 10 a.m. until noon. It will also be at the Jay Farmers Market on Friday, September 27.
Pictured: The Millie Mobile Market made a recent stop in Molino. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
September 8, 2024
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their August Students of the Month.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Trusten Nall and Saga Waters
- 1st Grade: Ares Parish and Bailey Rogers
- 2nd Grade: Ava Culliver and Jacob Vollmer
- 3rd Grade: Adelina Sims and Sieanna Lambeth
- 4th Grade: Paislee Cash and Kolin Rogers
- 5th Grade: Jaxon Sparks and Marlee McElhaney
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.