ECUA Now Hauling Recyclables To Montgomery For A Profit
May 29, 2014
Since the flooding, closure and bankruptcy of West Florida Recycling in Pensacola, ECUA has been hauling recyclables out of state…the past few weeks to the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park in Montgomery, Ala.
“We believe that the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park (IREP) is the best facility in the region to meet the ECUA’s recycling objectives,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said in a recent email.
Thursday the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board voted to make the Montgomery trip more permanent for ECUA’s recyclables and sign off on a two year contract with Infinitus.
Infinitus has propose a two year agreement with ECUA, with two optional one-year extensions, to accept ECUA’s recyclables for processing in Montgomery. ECUA will pay a processing fee of $28.10 per ton and receive a rebate of $38.10 per ton — for a net income of $10 per ton for single stream recyclables. After transportation costs, ECUA will still net a profit of a few dollars per ton for recyclables.
If ECUA were to drop the recycling program and haul everything to the landfill, it would cost $550,000 in tipping fees. However, transporting the recyclables to Montgomery is expected to net about $120,000 in revenue.
Bratt Elementary Presents Fifth Grade Awards
May 29, 2014
Bratt Elementary School recently presented awards to fifth grade students as follows:
Honor Roll
A’s and B’s all year
- Franki Daw
- Madison Peterson
- Libby Pugh
- Madelin Sheedy
- Devon Spencer
- Cody Thomas
- Kayla Campbell
- Mary Paige Nassar
- Abigail Nelson
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Jacob Findley
- Shelby Godwin
- Tyler Ray
- William Lane Wilson
- Makayla Garrett
- Jaylon North
- Kenna Redmond
- Maggie Amerson
- Conner Byrne
- Michael Merchant
Academic Achievement Award
A’s all year
- Sophia Cotita
- Amber Gilman
- Autumn Williams
- Hannah Hughes
- April Johnson
- Taviana Parker
- Savannah Doremus
Progress Award
Students who have made the most improvement during the year
- Taylor Lashley
- Karelis Morales
- Leila Turberville
- Jeremy Ward
- Destiney Bradley
- Cheyenne Philyaw
- Stone Presley
- Andrianna Cooper
Outstanding Attendance
Students whose absenteeism, tardiness, and/or early checkouts equal no more than five days.
- Franki Daw
- Libby Pugh
- Cody Thomas
- Kayla Campbell
- Jacob Conley
- Leila Turberville
- Savannah Doremus
- Jaylon North
- Tyler Chase Cloud
- Maggie Amerson
- Taliyah Rivera
Perfect Attendance
Students who have no absences, tardies, or early checkouts
- Shane Hardin
Outstanding Citizenship Award
Students who best exemplify qualities of good citizenship, work habits, interaction with peers and teachers.
- Amber Gilman
- Libby Pugh
- April Johnson
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Makayla Garrett
- Savannah Doremus
- Kenna Redmond
- William Lane Wilson
- Destiney Bradley
- David Lamb
- Shelby Godwin
- Johnathan Lambert
- Maggie Amerson
- Summer Waters
A.R. Awards
- Hannah Hughes
- April Johnson
- Savannah Doremus
- Tyler Cloud
- Lane Wilson
Art Awards
- Madison Peterson
- Jessi Spicer
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Jacob Conley
- David Lamb
- Kyiah Bailey
- Maggie Amerson
- Andrianna Cooper
Music Awards
- Franki Dawe
- Libby Pugh
- J.D. Ward
- Hannah Hughes
- Savannah Doremus
- David Lamb
- Maggie Amerson
- Summer Waters
P.E. Awards
- Joshuwa Merchant
- Karelis Morales
- Libby Pugh
- Maggie Amerson
- Andrianna Cooper
- Summer Waters
- April Johnson
- Taviana Parker
- Peggy Sunday
- Makayla Garrett
- Jaylon North
- Lane Wilson
Ernest Ward Parents: Important Last Day Of School Information
May 29, 2014
Here is important last day of school information for Ernest Ward Middle School. On Friday:
- The gate from Highway 99A for the car rider line will not be opened until students have loaded the bes (about 12:3 p.m.)
- The traditional “Eighth Grade Walk” will be held from the gym to the buses just before dismissal. Parents wishing to attend the final walk should enter the campus from Highway 97 and park in front of the administrative wing by 12:15 p.m. Parents should not park in the bus area.
- The Eighth Grade Walk will be held from the gym to the bus area. All construction will cease during the walk, and all construction gates will be closed. No vehicles are allowed in the area in front of the gym, along the construction fence to the front of the campus.
Fallen Escambia Deputies Honored
May 29, 2014
Law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty were honored Wednesday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Fifteen Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty — the first in 1923 and the most recent, Lt. George Hura, Jr., in 2004. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary School Presents Fifth Grade Awards
May 29, 2014
Jim Allen Elementary School recently presented the following awards at their Fifth Grade Banquet:
Award of Excellence: Jessica Conti (pictured)
Shining Star: Christian Jacobs
Cox Inspirational Award: Molly McArthur
WSRE Student of the Year: Devine Sutton
President’s Award:
- Kaelin Brinker
- Dawson Butalla
- Sage Bullock
- Jessica Conti
- Joshua Coonrod
- Haleigh Dove
- Deeanna Foster
- Brentley Garrett
- Zaria Griffin
- Hannah Halfacre
- Devon Henton
- Alexis Hurd
- Christian Jacobs
- Jonas Johnson
- Bristol Kelley
- Walter Kelly
- Tre Likely
- Kasen Millwood
- Harlie Odom
- Hailey Riggan
- Andrew Robinson
- Kiera Stern
- Maci Street
- Logan Vessey
- Kiauna Watson
- Charlie Wine
- Elise Winters
Pictured top: Jim Allen Elementary Fifth Grade Award of Excellence winner Jessica Conti. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Honor Top Baseball Players
May 29, 2014
Several awards and a scholarship were presented at the annual Northview High School baseball team banquet:
- Sportsmanship Award — Trevor Levins and Doug Sherrill
- Diamond Thief Award (most stolen bases) — Jody Bonner
- Offensive Player Award — Thomas Moore
- Defensive Player Award — Jody Bonner
- Pitching Award — Daulton Tullis
- Academic Award — Doug Sherrill
- MVP Award — Thomas Moore
- Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship — Brannon Freeman
Pictured top: (L-R) Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship winner Brannon Freeman, Northview Principal Gayle Weaver, Most Valuable Player Award winner Thomas Moore and Coach Marty Lister. Pictured below: The annual Northview High School baseball team banquet. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Scott Wants State To Sue For Access To VA Hospitals
May 29, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott, who has increased efforts to appeal to military voters as he seeks re-election, wants to sue the federal government for blocking state inspectors from Veterans Administration hospitals.
The state Agency for Health Care Administration, at Scott’s urging, said Wednesday it will file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeking to allow state inspectors access to Florida-based VA hospitals so they can determine if the health care needs of veterans are being met.
While no legal action has been taken, AHCA spokeswoman Shelisha Coleman said in an email that “the agency will take the necessary actions to hold the VA accountable.”
Mary Kay Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for the federal agency, said it would be “inappropriate for us to speculate” on the specifics of Florida’s litigation until it is filed.
State inspectors have been trying for more than a month to gain access to the federal facilities to conduct a review of allegations of inappropriate scheduling and treatment that have been reported at VA facilities nationwide.
The governor’s request follows his call May 21 for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign as investigations are ongoing into the treatment of veterans, and the potential cover-up of delayed care, at 26 health clinics nationwide, including the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville.
“To date, Secretary Shinseki has refused to step down, our inspectors continue to be turned away, and none of the information we’ve asked for has been provided,” Scott said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “Transparency and accountability are critical to supporting our veterans, and this suit will fight the federal VA’s continued practice of stonewalling our inspectors.”
Calls for Shinseki to resign were heightened Wednesday after the federal agency’s Office of Inspector General released a preliminary report indicating that delayed medical care, along with efforts to hide records, was “systemic” throughout the veterans’ health system.
According to AHCA, state staff members were denied access to Malcom Randall on May 19. Also, between April 3 and April 14 they were blocked from access to medical clinics in Gainesville, Lake City, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach.
A spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist said Scott has failed to help an estimated 41,000 veterans in Florida by declining to expand access to health care through the federal Affordable Care Act.
“It’s unfortunate that Rick Scott may be attempting to inject politics (through calling for a lawsuit against the VA) into a tragic situation,” Crist spokesman Kevin Cate said Wednesday.
Crist accused Scott of using the VA issue as a “political tool” last week.
The Republican Party of Florida has responded that Crist is the one “exploiting” the issue, noting that the former governor included a link to his political campaign and a fundraising page when tweeting his own message that Shinseki should resign.
The state currently is home to 1.5 million veterans, with nearly a third from the Vietnam era and 231,000 having served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Scott, who served in the Navy, turned his attention to the veterans’ hospital issue on April 1, a day after signing the “Florida GI Bill,” a wide-ranging measure modeled after the federal World War II-era program.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Drop Second Straight In Extras To Braves
May 29, 2014
For the second straight night, the Mississippi Braves came from behind late in a game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and won in walk-off fashion in extra innings. Blue Wahoos second baseman, Brodie Greene, committed a costly throwing error on an attempted double play which allowed former Wahoo Matt Kennelly to score with two outs handing the Braves the 5-4 win 13 innings.
Pensacola moved in front, 3-2, with a three-run sixth inning, but the Braves quickly responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to even the score. Pensacola reclaimed the lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center field. It wasn’t until the ninth, that the Braves tied the game with an RBI double from, Tuesday night’s hero, Mycal Jones. It stayed that way until Mississippi took advantage of the Blue Wahoos miscues in the 13th inning for the 5-4 win.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen was tremendous allowing just 2R/1ER between three relievers over 7.2 innings. Drew Hayes, Justin Freeman and Tim Adleman combined to strike out seven Braves hitters and allowed just four hits. Adleman retired the first nine hitters he faced before allowing a leadoff single to Kennelly to begin the 13th. He suffered the loss despite allowing just the one hit in 3.2 innings.
Jon Moscot went 5.0 innings in the start for the Wahoos. He allowed 3R/ER on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in the no-decision. Braves starter J.R. Graham was tough to solve for Pensacola. He went 5.1 innings and allowed just 2R/ER on only two hits with six strikeouts. He also took a no-decision. Ryne Harper earned the win with a scoreless inning out of the Braves bullpen. It was the second straight night he had pitched for Mississippi.
Offensively, Greene led the way. He finished 3-for-4 with double and two runs scored. He had Pensacola’s only multi-hit game.
Pensacola will look to rebound on Thursday night. RHP Mikey O’Brien (2-2, 4.58) will get the nod for the Blue Wahoos against Braves RHP Jason Hursh (3-4, 4.18). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Trustmark Park.
by Tommy Thrall
Teen Hit By Van On North Century Boulevard
May 28, 2014
A teenager was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle on North Century Boulevard in Century Tuesday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 16-year old Eric Carthon of Century was walking in the paved middle lane of North Century Boulevard about 9 p.m. when he was struck by a Ford Windstar van. The driver of the van, 19-year old Ciara Sparta of Flomaton, told authorities she was moving into the center lane to make a left turn on Highway 4A and did not see the teen.
Carthon was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol said charges are pending in the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names May Students Of The Month
May 28, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School has named students of the month for May. They (L-R) Susannah Amerson, seventh grade; Tara Windham, eighth grade; and Karlee Criswell, sixth grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.