Escambia School District Receives High Credit Ratings
June 27, 2014
The Escambia County School Board was recently issued a “High Quality” credit rating of ‘Aa3’ and a “Very High Quality” credit rating of ‘AA-‘ by Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings, respectively, on its $20.3 million Refunding Certificates of Participation (COPs), Series 2014.
The refunding allows the district to save approximately $2.4 million in debt service interest payments over the remaining eight years of the current financing arrangement. School facilities included in the original debt issue include the entirety of N.B. Cook Elementary School and certain classrooms, cafeterias, and media centers constructed at five other schools.
Both rating agencies indicated that the strength of the School District’s sound financial condition is its
- healthy general fund liquidity and reserves
- very low debt burden
- ample capital outlay revenue for payment of debt service
- conservative budgeting practices
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas remarked, “The taxpayers of Escambia County can be proud of the School District’s conservative financial management practices throughout the years. The assignment of these excellent credit ratings by two national rating agencies is an indication of our careful and prudent use of the public funds to which we are entrusted.”
Study: Locking Up Juveniles Makes Them More Likely To Be Adult Criminals
June 27, 2014
A new report by a youth advocacy group argues against the widespread U.S. practice of locking up teen offenders — a practice that has been on the decline in Florida under the state’s outgoing juvenile justice chief.
Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters, whose last day on the job is Monday, said “Safely Home,” a study by the non-profit Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., is consistent with developments at DJJ during her three-and-a-half-year tenure.
“Safely Home,” which was released Tuesday, argues that the deeper kids go into the juvenile justice system — and the tighter the security in which they’re detained — the less likely it is that they will ever be rehabilitated.
“Institutions provide virtually none of the supports the community can,” wrote the Youth Advocate Programs’ Policy and Advocacy Center. “Youth need to learn how to function and make good decisions within the community, and having the support of caring, competent adults and access to safe and positive people, places and activities is what leads to good long-term outcomes. Kids can’t access these supports in isolation.”
Walters agrees. She has spent time and resources to help community programs provide family therapy, individualized mental health services, substance abuse treatment and anger management classes for young offenders— while keeping them where they’re most likely to find support.
“One of the most important ways of turning kids around that have been in trouble is not ostracizing them from the rest of the community, but allowing them to participate in sporting programs, Boys and Girls Clubs — the kind of programs that make them want to succeed,” she said.
According to DJJ, the number of beds in the most secure facilities in Florida’s juvenile-justice system dropped 42 percent from January 2011 and January 2014. Between fiscal year 2010-11 and fiscal year 2012-13, juvenile arrests declined 23 percent and felony juvenile arrests declined 17 percent, while transfers to adult court declined 36 percent.
Last week, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill (HB 7055) rewriting the laws that govern the Department of Juvenile Justice and placing some of Walters’ reform into state law.
And Walters’ successor, incoming Interim Secretary Kristy Daly, pledges to continue her emphasis on front-end and rehabilitative services.
The report by Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., whose purpose is keeping young people out of institutions, argues that removing kids from their communities may lessen “any perceived immediate risk to the public,” but that incarceration doesn’t change the trajectory of their lives.
“Risk factors that make youth vulnerable to incarceration cannot be eliminated through incarceration,” the report says. “In fact, many of the environmental and social factors that contribute to youth incarceration get worse, not better, with incarceration.”
Nell Bernstein, author of a new book called “Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison,” said incarceration should be the exception, not the rule.
“I saw kids get chewed up in institutions,” said Bernstein, who got her start as a six-dollar-an-hour staffer in a San Francisco group home and has interviewed hundreds of incarcerated youth.
Bernstein said that contrary to common perception, much of the violence that juveniles experience in lock-up is at the hands of the guards.
“According to federal research, 12 percent of juveniles behind bars will be sexually assaulted,” she said. “And on some level, we know that, right? … But what I think people don’t know is that out of that 12 percent, 10 percent are assaulted by guards, only 2 percent by other wards.”
While Bernstein and the Youth Advocate Programs argue for the lowest amount of juvenile detention, Walters said political reality dictates a certain amount.
“Many times, it is those communities that demand of those judges and those prosecutors that those children be removed from that community and sent somewhere,” she said. “Knowing that that is a reality that we live with, we have worked hard to change those numbers.”
There will always be a hard core of offenders who threaten public safety, she said, but most can be rehabilitated with the right services and interventions.
The Youth Advocate Programs report also touts community programs for their cost-effectiveness, maintaining that they can deliver the same services for a fraction of the cost, serving three to four times as many young offenders.
The report cites the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation Center, which found that of 3,523 high-risk youth living at home and supported by an intensive community-based program nationwide, 86 percent remained arrest-free while in the program.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
United Way Seeks Distinguished Service Award Nominations
June 27, 2014
United Way of Escambia County is seeking nominations for the Annual United Way Distinguished Service and Partner Awards. Each year, United Way honors outstanding individuals, businesses and agency partners who have made significant contributions in core focus areas of education, health and financial stability in the Pensacola area.
Nominations will be accepted until close of business on Monday, July 21 in the following categories:
United Way Partner Agency of the Year: Awarded to an agency that demonstrates innovation and commitment to the community and United Way. The candidate will demonstrate successful organizational planning and collaborative partnerships that effectively and efficiently create positive impacts in the community.
United Way Service Award: Awarded to a community-minded individual who has distinguished him/herself through diligent and exceptional service given through United Way. The award honors those who have given unselfishly of their time and efforts in order to further essential community impacts with little or no public recognition.
Distinguished Community Service: Awarded to an individual or group who has demonstrated dedicated service to the community as exemplified by significant leadership and activity in relation to United Way; health and human service agencies; and civic activity, furthering the health and well-being of the community. The award represents the highest honor the United Way Board of Directors can bestow.
Distinguished Business Partner of the Year: Awarded to a deserving business partner who works tirelessly in support of the community in tandem with United Way and the community at large. The candidate will represent outstanding corporate responsibility or conscience through meaningful contributions to the local health and human service community.
Rayell Irish – “Color a Brighter World”: Awarded to a special individual who exemplifies a commitment to the poor that was evidenced by Rayell Irish, a social worker whose spirit of caring for those less fortunate elevated those serving around her. The award is given to a nominee who has practiced the art of social work for a sustained period; who exhibits an understanding of a broad spectrum of community needs; who is actively involved with those in critical need; and who is committed to meeting individual needs with a genuine understanding and acceptance of the those he/she serves, and his/her personal environment.
To nominate a member of the community, please visit www.unitedwayescambia/awards. For additional information, please call Melissa Lewis at (850) 444-7120 or email melissa@unitedwayescambia.org.
The awards ceremony will be held Thursday, August 21 at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Scott Signs ‘Warning Shot’ And ‘Pop Tart’ Bills
June 27, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott has signed a couple of gun bills commonly known as the warning shot bill and the pop tart bill.
The so-called “warning shot” bill allows people to show guns and fire warning shots if they feel threatened. The bill (HB 89) adds immunity for threats to use force to Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
The House sponsor, Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, has said the bill was inspired by the case of Marissa Alexander, a Jacksonville woman who was faces 60 years in prison under the 10-20-Life sentencing law for firing a warning shot during a domestic dispute.
Democrats in both chambers tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to remove a provision allowing records to be expunged if people who claim “stand your ground” are found innocent. They said keeping open the records would make the law’s success or failure easier to track.
But Republicans argued that people who are forced to defend themselves shouldn’t have a criminal record as a result.
Scott signed another gun bill with a nickname, the “Pop Tart” bill, so called because of its connection to reports of a Maryland 7-year-old who was suspended from school for chewing his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun.
The bill (HB 7029) is aimed at preventing schoolchildren from being disciplined for simulating guns while playing or for wearing clothes that depict firearms. Supporters of the bill, including the National Rifle Association, said it would bring “common sense” to school zero-tolerance disciplinary policies.
Wahoos Edge The Chattanooga Lookouts
June 27, 2014
The Blue Wahoos used a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the 11th to beat the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night and snap a three-game losing streak. Yorman Rodriguez sent the game into extra innings when he threw out J.C. Boscan trying to score from second on a base hit in the ninth inning. Rodriguez threw a strike to home plate and Ross Perez tagged out Boscan to send the game to extras.
Rodriguez had a good game at the plate too. He extended his hit-streak to nine games with a single in his first at bat. He singled again and scored in the third. He finished 2-for-5 with a run scored. Brodie Greene (2-for-5, RBI) and Seth Mejias-Brean (2-for-5, R) also helped the cause with two-hit games.
The Blue Wahoos used some good pitching beginning with Michael Lorenzen. He took a no-decision despite working 6.0 innings and allowing just 2 R/ER on six hits with four strikeouts. Four Blue Wahoos relievers backed him up with five combined innings of scoreless ball out of the bullpen. James Walczak (W, 2-3) picked up the win with 2.0 innings shutout innings despite allowing two hits and three walks. Shane Dyer (S, 6) got a save with a scoreless 11th inning.
Lookouts starter and Dodger prospect Chris Reed matched Lorenzen over 6.0 innings. He was charged with 2 R/1 ER on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in the no-decision. Mike Thomas (L, 2-2) took the loss. He allowed a hit with three walks to force in the eventual winning run in the 11th inning.
Pensacola can even the series with a win on Friday night at AT&T Field. RHP Robert Stephenson (3-5, 3.97) will start for the Blue Wahoos against Lookouts RHP Andres Santiago (1-1, 5.60). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. (CT) in Chattanooga.
by Tommy Thrall
Bratt-Davisville Water Customers May Experience Low Or No Water Pressure
June 27, 2014
Over the next few days, Bratt-Davisville Water System customers may experience low to no water pressure periodically as line flushing is conducted.
The flushing, according to the utility, is required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The utility will be working to flush lines through July 3.
“Customers will be not be affected continuously during that time, they’ll only be affected when their line is being flushed,” said Sabrina Owens, spokesperson for Escambia River Electric Cooperative, which now owns the water system. “As soon as the line is finished, the pressure will return to normal.”
Elderly Woman Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash
June 26, 2014
An elderly woman was injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 97 in Davisville about a mile south of the state line Thursday morning.
An 81-year old female lost control, left the roadway and flipped her vehicle upside down into heavy brush. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to cut the brush using chainsaws and extricate the woman from the vehicle.
She was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were were not considered life threatening.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lookouts Beat Wahoos 4-3
June 26, 2014
The Lookouts scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off with a 4-3 win over Pensacola Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Field in Chattanooga. The Blue Wahoos took a 3-2 lead on Juan Duran’s solo home run in the eighth inning, but it wasn’t enough. The Lookouts have now won the first two games of the five-game set.
Yorman Rodriguez continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 game including an RBI single in the third to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He later scored the go-ahead run in the inning to put Pensacola in front 2-1. Duran also had a nice afternoon with a 2-for-4 game.
Jon Moscot started for the Blue Wahoos and went 6.0 innings allowing just 2 R/ER on nine hits. He walked just one and struck out four. Elvin Ramirez (L, 0-2) faced five batters in the ninth inning and retired just one before the Lookouts scored the winning run to take the loss. It was his second blown save of the year.
Matt Shelton made his longest start of the season going 5.1 innings. He was charged with 2 R/ER on two walks, four hits and four strikeouts. He also got a no-decision. Despite allowing the go-ahead home run from Duran in the eighth, Robert Carson picked up the win after pitching the final two innings.
Pensacola will try to bounce back on Thursday night with RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-4, 2.61) heading to the mound against LHP Chris Reed (4-5, 3.00). First pitch is slated for 6:15 p.m. (CT) from AT&T Field in Chattanooga.
by Tommy Thrall
Deputies: Walnut Hill Man Caught With Cocaine In Molino Parking Lot
June 26, 2014
A Walnut Hill man was arrested on felony charges after deputies say he was caught with drugs in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb in Molino.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy reported he spotted 50-year old Curtis Tucker driving a box truck on Highway 97, towing a trailer with no tag attached. The deputy watched Tucker pull up to gas pumps at the Tom Thumb located at Highway 29 and Highway 97 and exit the vehicle. He then, according to an arrest report, returned to the front of the truck, retrieved a plastic bag with a white substance, ran to the front of the truck and tossed the bag into a trash can despite warnings from the deputy to stand still.
The deputy was able to detain Tucker after a short foot pursuit in the gas station parking lot. The bag was retrieved from the trash can and contained multiple smaller bags of marijuana and cocaine, according to an arrest report. Deputies also seized $295 in cash from Tucker.
Tucker was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell or distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or distribute, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued traffic citations.
Tucker was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $16,000 bond.
According to court and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office records, Tucker has an outstanding case from September 2013 pending against him with charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance (Xanax and Roxicodone) with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance (bath salts).
The 2013 charges stemmed from a search warrant served at Tucker’s residence by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Narcotics Unit. During a search of the brick home, investigators reported finding about $3,197 in cash, crack cocaine, 89 Xanax in an unlabeled pill bottle, a quantity of crack cocaine, over 20 grams of marijuana, one roxicodone pill in a plastic container, a baggie containing methylenedioxypyrovalerone (commonly known as a type of bath salts), and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Pictured inset and below: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Narcotics Unit serve execute a search warrant at the home of Curtis Tucker on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill during September 2013. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Head Start Program Moves From Cantonment To Molino
June 26, 2014
The Sid Nelson Head Start has moved to the Molino Community Center and is now taking applications for the 2014-2015 school year.
Apply at 296 Muscogee Road in Cantonment, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information call (850) 679-4817.