Education Boss Won’t Rule Out Dropping Common Core In Florida
October 22, 2013
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said it’s too early to tell what she might recommend to the State Board of Education regarding Florida’s education standards, but she refused to rule out the possibility that Florida would abandon the controversial Common Core State Standards.
Speaking to reporters before a third public meeting to gather public comments on the standards — which some conservative activists view as federal intrusion in state schools — Stewart brushed off the idea that the state was “reversing course” on Common Core.
“In fact what we’re doing is making higher standards for our students and making more rigorous standards for our students,” she said. But pressed on whether getting rid of Common Core, as some commenters at the meetings have suggested, was on the table, Stewart didn’t directly answer.
“Well, certainly, that’s input,” she said. “So, as I said before, we’re going to take all of the input and we’re going to make a determination of exactly where we want to head as a state as far as moving forward on rigorous standards for our students.”
Stewart said she hopes to present a “summary” of the comments she’s heard to the board at its November meeting.
By The News Service of Florida
Rochelle Graduates From Basic Combat Training
October 22, 2013
Army Pvt. Billy L. Rochelle Jr. has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Rochelle is the son of Bill and Celia Rochelle of Third Avenue, Atmore.
He is a 2012 graduate of Escambia County High School, Atmore.
Walmart Neighborhood Market Planned For Pine Forest, Nine Mile Area
October 21, 2013
Plans are underway for a new Walmart Neighborhood Market just off Nine Mile Road.
The Escambia County Development Review Committee will hear initial plans Wednesday for the 45,000 square foot store to be located at 9301 Pine Forest Road, just south of Nine Mile Road.
Walmart Neighborhood Market stores are smaller than a traditional Walmart store and offer products mostly in line with the average grocery store.
Another Walmart Neighborhood Market is currently under construction near the Pine Forest Road and Mobile Highway intersection.
Suspect Busted After Overnight Manhunt On Alabama/Florida Line
October 21, 2013
A Century man was taken into custody early Monday morning following a manhunt on the Alabama/Florida line after he allegedly ran from a meth lab location in Alabama late Sunday night.
Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said 33-year old David Michael Mathis ran after his department discovered the alleged meth lab at a mobile home on Fowler Lane, just north of Old Atmore Road, about 500 feet north of the Florida line, outside Flomaton.
K-9 teams and law enforcement officers from Alabama and Florida took part in the search that began about 10:20 p.m. and continued into early Monday morning in the area of Fowler Lane, Old Atmore Road and Gandy Lane in Alabama, and Tulip Street and Highway 4A in Florida.
Just after 3 a.m., Lambert reported Mathis was taken into custody. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton where he was booked on charges of manufacturing of a controlled sustance, possession of a controlled substance, first degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Further details were not immediately available early Monday morning.
American Cancer Society Recognizes Ransom Retiree Farish
October 21, 2013
The American Cancer Society is recognizing Tom Farish and his family for significant contributions to Relay for Life events in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Farish, a Ransom Middle School retiree, continues to support multiple local American Cancer Society’s local Relay for Life events by registering teams, selling ice cream and fried treats out of his food truck and donating all proceeds to the individual events.
He has already started his service for the 2014 Relay season by registering with multiple Relays and donating ice cream at the Relay For Life of UWF Kickoff Party.
As the world’s largest grassroots fundraising program, the Relay For Life movement mobilizes friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, service organizations and faith-based groups in communities throughout the country, to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide everyone an opportunity to fight back against the disease.
To register for any of the eight Relay events in the Pensacola area, visit www.relayforlife.org or contact the local American Cancer Society at (850) 475-0850.
Impact 100 Awards Eight $104,500 Grants
October 21, 2013
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropy group, awarded eight grants Sunday worth $104,500 each to community groups.
The winners were:
ARTS & CULTURE
- Santa Rosa Historical Society, Inc. Project: Light Up The Imogene
EDUCATION
- Independence for the Blind of West Florida, Inc. – Project: IMPACT 100 Windows to the World for the Blind Technology Center
ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION
- Humane Society of Pensacola, Inc. – Project: Humane Society of Pensacola Spay and Neuter Clinic
- Pensacola Museum of Art, Inc. – Project: Jail for Art
FAMILY
- Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. - Project: Moving Safely
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – Project: Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc.- Project: Safe haven for People and Paws
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House- Project: Expanding the Foundation of Care
This was the 10th year IMPACT 100 has awarded grants to local non-profits. This year’s awards brought the total funds awarded in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to $5,151,000.
Review Underway In ‘Embarrasing’ Inmate Escape
October 21, 2013
While two escaped murderers released through forged documents were back in custody late Saturday, the head of the state’s law enforcement agency said additional steps are being put in place to keep such incidents from happening again.
And as state lawmakers have called for an in-depth review of the escapes, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey admitted that there is no guarantee at this point that the two are the only inmates who have exploited a “gap” in the paperwork process to scam their way to a similar release.
“I can’t tell you with 100 percent degree of certainty that it hasn’t been done before; that will be part of the review,” Bailey said after a press conference Sunday.
The FDLE announced that Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, were caught about 6:40 p.m. at the Coconut Grove Motor Inn in Panama City as they awaited someone to transport them out of state.
The escapes were announced last week and quickly drew attention from state lawmakers.
Gov. Rick Scott told reporters that “once we resolve this and apprehend these individuals, then we’ll find out what we need to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, who chairs the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has indicated in media reports that the Senate will request a review on how the release could have been pulled off.
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, the ranking Democrat on the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has issued a statement calling for the House to hold hearings on the incident.
“This is unconscionable, almost unthinkable,” Rouson said in the release. “People have faith in government that it will keep the peace and justice. If these two convicted murderers were let go by the Florida Department of Corrections, something must change.”
Bailey and state Corrections Secretary Michael Crews told reporters Sunday that they have been reviewing release procedures and will meet with the Florida Association of Court Clerks & Comptrollers on Monday to outline additional steps that will be implemented in the inmate release process.
“It is embarrassing, but my concentration at this point, and as I think it is for everyone else here, is making sure that we come up with a process and procedure that prohibits this from happening in the future,” Crews said.
Crews said letters were sent Friday to chief justices and judges in each circuit that when an inmate’s sentence is modified, the FDLE will require the judge whose name is on the document to attest in a follow-up check to verify the change in the sentencing.
“We will now require before the release of any inmate, where we receive a modified order that deviates down a reduction in sentence from the original sentence, and certainly those that rise to the level of emergency releases, that is going to require an attestation from the judge that they in fact issued that order,” Crews said.
Crews said there are “a few thousand” modified orders annually, and previously corrections officials simply complied with the paperwork they received.
Bailey said the FDLE does know of at least two other occasions fake documents were submitted to win releases for inmates, but those attempts failed.
Bailey said additional arrests are expected and he estimated that $8,000 was spent to acquire the “official looking” documents.
“They had to have had help, and a lot of help, to get to where they were last night,” Bailey said.
Jenkins, 34, serving a life sentence on a first-degree murder conviction from Orange County, used fake documents to win his release from the Franklin Correctional Institution on Sept. 27.
Walker, serving a life sentence on a second-degree murder conviction also from Orange County, used the same means to get out of the Franklin prison Oct. 8.
Bailey said law enforcement received a tip from an associate of the inmates about their location.
Jenkins and Walker had been in Panama City for about 48 hours before being apprehended.
Both could face charges of escape, but Crews said that since Jenkins and Walker are already serving life sentences “there isn’t much more we can do” to them.
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
A Look Back: Northview’s Homecoming In 350 Photos
October 21, 2013
For a look back at Northview High School’s 2013 Homecoming with about 350 photos, click a link below:
- Homecoming Parade (144 photos)
- Homecoming Queen and Court (51 photos)
- Football Action Photos (62 photos)
- Cheerleaders, Band, Floats, Balloon Spirit Line (92 photos)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kitchen Fire Damages Cantonment Home
October 21, 2013
A small kitchen fire damaged a Cantonment home Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 3:50 p.m. in the 1900 block of Winners Circle. The fire reportedly started with a stove.
There were no injuries reported.
ECAT Union Postpones Strike
October 21, 2013
The union that represents Escambia County Area Transit employees has postponed a strike set to being today.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 Negotiating team has agreed to postpone the set strike date of October. The union has agreed to meet with First Transit management on Tuesday and Wednesday.
First Transit manages the ECAT bus system on behalf of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
The negotiating session will be held at the ECAT main conference room.
“We will reevaluate our position on the strike after we bargain with First Transit, while our bus riders are priority we postpone the strike date because of them, but it has been a year and half with First Transit and it’s time the Transit workers have a contract to focus entirely on the job of providing transportation to our bus riders,” said Michael Lowery, president/business agent for ATU Local 1395.
“We’ve gone over 3 years with an expired labor contract under former Management team Veolia Transportation and now First Transit and almost 6 years without a raise and our retirement benefit is completely unfair compared to employees under the Board of County Commissioners,” Lowery said.