Barrineau Park Road Controlled Burn Gets Out Of Control
February 19, 2014
A controlled burn near Barrineau Park got of control Wednesday afternoon.
The fire began as a controlled burn in the 4000 block of Barrineau Park Road, just east of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. As the 20-acre fire got escaped its boundaries, the Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service were called on to assist.
There were no injuries and no structures damaged by the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Manhunt At Atmore Prison: No Escape; Suspects Tried To Toss Items Over Fence
February 19, 2014
A manhunt was under Wednesday afternoon along and near Highway 21 and the Fountain Correctional Facility north of Atmore.
Two people reportedly tried to toss contraband over the prison’s fence and into the facility. One was taken into custody while the second suspect fled on foot. The area was secured by local and state law enforcement. K-9 were used in the search for the suspect.
At last report, the second suspect had not been arrested.
The Fountain Correctional Facility is located on 8,200 acres that directly parallels Highway 21 just north of I-65.
Officials said there has been no escape from the medium security prison; officials have accounted for all prisoners.
Pensacola Chamber Honors Business, Community Leaders
February 19, 2014
The Pensacola Chamber Foundation announced its 54th Annual PACE Award recipients last night at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. The PACE Awards are given out each year to honor the outstanding individuals in the community who have made significant contributions to Greater Pensacola’s overall economic progress.
“This year’s award recipients have distinguished themselves as innovative entrepreneurs, visionary business and civic leaders, and exemplary corporate citizens,” said Pensacola Chamber Foundation Executive Director and Chamber President Jerry Maygarden. “They are the very best of us, and we are honored to pay tribute to these individuals who have made positive impacts to our community.”
Jessica Lee, the general manager and vice president of Kia AutoSport of Pensacola, was named Emerging Leader of the Year for her volunteerism with such organizations and groups as OneBlood, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, the University of West Florida College of Business, Leadership Pensacola Alumni Association and Impact 100. Pensacola native and Fitness Onboard, LLC Founder and CEO Cindi Bonner was honored as the Professional Leader of the Year, having helped to grow her company into one of the premier Stand Up Paddleboarding fitness, rental and special event businesses along the Gulf Coast.
John Peacock, chairman of the Downtown Improvement Board and current financial advisor with Edward Jones, was named Community Leader of the Year and was recognized for being a tireless advocate for the revitalization of Downtown Pensacola, as well as a relentless supporter of several local nonprofits. Gulf Power Company President and CEO Stan Connally was named Business Leader of the Year for his contributions toward developing economic development programs and workforce development initiatives in Northwest Florida.
Charles Carlan was awarded the Spirit of Pensacola Award for his devotion toward the betterment of the engineering profession by hiring and mentoring countless young engineers for more than four decades. And finally, the late Dr. Reed Bell, founder of the Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, was posthumously honored with the prestigious Pioneer Award, established in 1978 to honor an individual who has made significant contributions with lasting impact and who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress for the Greater Pensacola Area. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Out Buildings In Cottage Hill, Century
February 19, 2014
Two unrelated fires heavily damaged out buildings in Cottage Hill and near Century Wednesday morning.
Cottage Hill
The fire in a detached building was reported about 6:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Eastman Lane in Cottage Hill. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 15 minutes. There were no reports of any injuries. The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Century
A second, unrelated fire heavily damaged a storage shed in the 6800 block of North Century Boulevard about 11:40 a.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Three Sentenced For Theft Of Copper Wire From International Paper
February 19, 2014
Three of four people charged have been sentenced in connection with the theft of over a half ton of copper wire from International Paper in Cantonment.
Thomas Donald Cox, 38, was found guilty of grand theft and sentenced to two years probation. Adjudication was withheld against Travis Wayne Hancock, 23, and Jacques Pierre Richard, 35, as they were sentenced to six months community control followed by 18 months probation after their no contest pleas to grand theft charges.
All three men were ordered to stay away from International Paper in Cantonment.
A fourth defendant, 24-year old William Maxwell Stewart has pleaded not guilty to grand theft and is set for a jury trial later this month.
IP Security contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office last August to report they had located copper wire that was taken from the Cantonment facility by a group of contract workers. Deputies contacted the suspects and each gave a written confession, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
Approximately 1,220 pounds of copper wire was recovered and returned to International Paper. A vehicle was seized, and deputies learned that other copper wire stolen from IP had been transported to an Alabama recycling center 10-15 other times.
Basketball: Northview Eliminated In State Semis
February 19, 2014
The Northview Chiefs lost to West Gadsden 61-54 Tuesday night in the state regional semi-finals.
The Chiefs were able to tie the game at 44 in the fourth quarter, but were unable to hold onto the momentum through the end of the game. West Gadsden advances to play Chipley in the regional finals after a 66-41 Chipley win over Port St. Joe Tuesday night.
Northview finished the season at 17-3.
‘Do Not Text’ Spam Bill Advances In Senate
February 19, 2014
A proposal to include text messages that feature sales pitches in the state’s “Do Not Call” list is one step closer to the Senate floor.
The measure by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, received the unanimous backing of the Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Tuesday.
“This is a simple bill that simply keeps us up with technology,” Clemens said.
Currently, sales calls are prohibited when made by telephone solicitors to numbers on the list. The bill would expand the definition to include text messages. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has estimated the change could cost about $200,000 a year, mostly for the salaries of regulatory consultants and a staff clerk.
Gripes about violations of the state’s “Do Not Call” list easily dominated the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ top complaints for 2013
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week
February 19, 2014
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events. Tuesday, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program.
Pictured top: Northview FFA Parliamentarian Mitchell Singleton, 2nd Vice President Haylee Weaver, and Vice President Courtney Weekly serve breakfast Tuesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Northview FFA President Courtney Solari. Pictured below: Breakfast was served to mark National FFA Week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cunningham, Chavers To Attend Boys State
February 19, 2014
Two Northview High School juniors — Matthew Chavers and Austin Cunningham — have been chosen by Atmore American Legion Post 90 to attend Florida Boy’s State. Attendees are required to attend one governmental meeting on the local level prior to the trip, and the young men chose to attend a recent meeting of the Century Town Council.
They are being sponsored personally by Century Mayor Freddie McCall.
Matthew Chavers is third academically in his class, a member of the FBLA, tutors his peers in algebra after school and attends Aldersgate United Methodist Church. At Pensacola High School, he was in the International Baccalaureate Program, president of the Chess Club and a member of the Mock Trial Team.
Matthew is an accredited legal secretary — one of the youngest ones in the country. For fun, he enjoys playing video games.
His father and grandfather are both Marine veterans, and his grandfather Mike Adams served in the Vietnam War.
Austin Cunningham plays center on the Northview football team, and was on the state championship team. He lifts weights, able to bench press 240 pounds. He’s a member of the FFA and shows livestock such as cattle.
Austin is class treasurer, SGA treasurer, a member of the Beta Club and is also a member of Highland Baptist Church.
Pictured top: Century Town Council members (seated) Annie Savage, (back, L-R) Gary Riley, Jacke Johnston and Ann Brooks with Northview Boy’s State representative Austin Cunningham and Matthew Chavers. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Board Of Education Approves Common Core Changes
February 19, 2014
The State Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to go forward with dozens of changes to the Common Core State Standards, a move that seemed unlikely to quell the grass-roots furor over the educational benchmarks.
The approval followed a raucous public hearing that seemed to indicate that passionate opposition to the benchmarks remains despite a concerted effort by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Education to tamp down conservative anger over the standards.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has argued that the changes, which include reinserting creative writing into the standards and explicitly including calculus guidelines, as well as the fact that the state has science and social studies standards that aren’t part of the Common Core, justify renaming the initiative as the “Florida Standards.”
Stewart told reporters after the vote that it made the state’s standards clear.
“The vote that the board took today certainly does lay to rest where we’re headed, the direction we’re going with our standards, and this is the right move,” she said.
But dozens of activists slammed the standards during a lengthy public hearing before the vote, portraying Common Core as a federal plot to take over education and blaming it for a variety of ills. While the benchmarks were spearheaded by a coalition of state officials, they have since been encouraged by the U.S. Department of Education.
“I do not want a watered-down, world-class system; I want a school system that promotes American exceptionalism,” said Chris Quackenbush, a leader of the anti-Common Core movement.
At one point, Quackenbush and board chairman Gary Chartrand clashed over an attempt to stop audience members from clapping during the meeting. For a while, the crowd seemed to go along, waving their hands and at least one American flag instead of applauding.
Stacie Clark, another critic of the standards, said Common Core was already causing health problems in the state because of stress over homework and coursework given to students who are too young.
“There is an emergent psychological pandemic taking place among children in Florida,” she said. “It’s called Common Core, or it used to be until it was rebranded. Our children are suffering from anxiety attacks, vomiting, emotional outbursts, headaches and even self-mutilation.”
Terry Kemple, president of Community Issues Council, a Tampa Bay-area Christian advocacy group, was among those saying there could be consequences for elected officeholders, as opposed to the appointed Board of Education.
“We’re hopeful that the Legislature and the governor realize before it’s too late that there will be a political price to pay if they don’t take decisive action to stop Common Core now,” he said.
A few speakers at the hearing took up for Common Core.
“These Florida Standards will help our state and its students remain competitive in the global economy,” said Morgan McCord of Florida TaxWatch.
The board also seemed to indicate agreement with a set of changes to the school grading system, which Stewart will now take to the Legislature. The initiative is meant to simplify the often-confusing grading process while also setting the stage for a new test that will be used in the 2014-15 school year.
While schools will not face penalties for the grades they receive that year, Stewart said the grades would establish a starting point for future cycles. She dismissed the idea that the state should forget doing the grades altogether for fear that it could shock parents and teachers.
“We’ll still see that, but it will just be a year later, and I’m not sure the benefit by just waiting another year,” she said.
But Florida Education Association President Andy Ford said the changes to the grading were “cosmetic” and wouldn’t fix problems with the system.
“Florida needs a pause in this madness,” he said. “School grades are underpinned by high-stakes testing. Even with the education commissioner’s proposed grading simplification, grades will still be largely based on high stakes testing — a test we don’t even have yet.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida