Northview To Name Football Stadium, Possibly For Tommy Weaver
September 9, 2013
Northview High School is considering naming their football stadium, possibly in memory of late teacher and coach Tommy Weaver.
The school has received an official request to name the stadium for Weaver, setting the naming process in motion. For a 30 day period, the school will accept suggestions from the community for potential stadium names. Any name change would then be considered by the Escambia County School Board.
Suggestions must be submitted by October 7 by email to bjohnson3@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Receives National Award For Cantonment Facility
September 9, 2013
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has been selected to receive a Silver Peak Performance Award, presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
The award recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for their outstanding compliance records in the previous calendar year.
The ECUA received the Silver Peak Performance Award to honor the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment and its achievement of near-perfect compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the 2012 calendar year.
The CWRF, which provides reclaimed water daily to industrial partners Gulf Power and International Paper, is an advanced wastewater treatment facility that the ECUA has operated since its construction in late 2010. The CWRF was built to replace the Main Street Waste Water Treatment Plant, which was damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.
Pictured top: The Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Ray Yarborough, CWRF plant manager; Don Palmer, director of water reclamation; Kijafa Lee, CWRF plant manager. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
View: Truancy Is No Laughing Matter
September 9, 2013
It’s a classic American coming of age story, so the critics say, but everyone remembers “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” as the quintessential tribute to playing hooky and classic hot-red Ferraris.
Going off to Wrigley Field and fancy French restaurants for a day of laughs and fun with no consequences is only made for the movies, though.
A real-life Ferris Bueller, with nine absences as in the movie, would be a cause for intervention.
Under Florida law, unexcused student absences ranging from 5 in a 30-day period or 10-to-15, in a 90-day calendar period, require the involvement of a range of people and institutions, from school officials to judges.
Truancy is one of the most perplexing public policy issues around. Everyone recognizes it when they see it, but there is no universal definition for truancy.
So it is treated mainly as a local problem, but it has broad, national consequences.
The standard statistical subtype for a Ferris Bueller is not a carefree suburban high-school student anticipating an adulthood full of possibilities, but a low-income, ill-educated, and troubled kid, on the verge of a hard life.
In its landmark 2012 report on the truancy problem, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Youth At-Risk, noted the long-term consequences of truancy: the high unemployment rate for high-school drop-outs (which truancy predicts well) is 20 percent higher than high-school graduates; employed high-school drop-outs earn only 75 percent of what employed high-school graduates earn; and each high-school drop-out costs society between $188,086 to $297,188 annually.
In another report, the stated costs to society in total: $240 billion in lifetime earnings and tax benefits to the national economy.
What is more, truancy predicts 97 percent of first-drug users, with the amount of days a teenager is often truant indicating greater illicit use of drugs.
In many cases, self-reported truants were seven times more likely to have been arrested than the general teenage population.
So the national implications are clear, but how it affects Florida’s future is all-the-more important to highlight.
In many ways, Florida is primed to be a model for addressing truancy: it has been a national leader in considering and adopting educational reforms in the past.
Of its habitually truant students, Florida averages 289,753 out of a total statewide population of 3 million students, according to the state’s School Indicators Report.
Interestingly, Florida’s truancy dilemma has a rural edge: rural counties such as Gadsden and Taylor, as a percentage of their student populations, have truancy rates higher than the state average of 9.6 percent, at 11.2 and 14.3 percent, respectively.
Oddly enough, this serves as a segue way into the nature and face of truancy today.
While any number of cultural indicators or structural problems of society could explain why certain groups and classes are primarily truant cases, it is nonetheless, the case that one-half of all black, Hispanic, and Native American youngsters engage in truancy.
For several years, the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services has dealt with youth at-risk of possible delinquency. At any rate, it is the reason why, as an umbrella organization for 28 crisis shelters, we became involved in the community-based agency business, especially in rural counties and urban places with high minority populations.
Last year, the Florida Network was responsible for over 12,000 at-risk youth referred for truancy-related problems.
Almost daily, our agency staff have to deal with a host of issues that influence and surround truant youth, whether that is working with the local school system, helping those at-risk youth avoid interaction with the court system, or further immersion into the juvenile justice or child welfare system—all of this is geared toward finding a result that helps those at-risk youth get on the right track.
In the end, Ed Rooney, the assistant principal in the movie, had Ferris Bueller’s truancy pegged right: “The example he sets is a first-class ticket to nowhere.”
Stacy Gromatski is president/CEO of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services. Published via contextflorida.com
Local Soldiers Deployed In Afghanistan Receive Anthrax Vaccine
September 9, 2013
National Guard soldiers of the 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Mobile, Ala., received an anthrax vaccination last week.
Many of the soldiers displayed their fear of needles and shots, while others questioned why they had to receive another anthrax vaccination.
According to the Army Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program Plan (AVIP), “the mandatory scope of the AVIP shall encompass all personnel assigned to or deployed for more than 15 days in Higher Threat Areas (HTAs) defined in paragraph 3.a.(2) whose performance is essential for certain mission critical capabilities.”
In December of 2008, the Federal Drug Administration approved a five dose vaccination series in lieu of six. The injection will no longer be administered under the skin. The vaccination is now received in the upper deltoid region of the arm. Anthrax boosters are give, to soldiers who have completed the five series vaccination annually to maintain immunity.
All military service members, civilians, and DoD employees deploying to high risk areas are inoculated for the threat of anthrax.
“Anthrax is a disease of military importance. It can be weaponized and used with devastating effects. It is important for American soldiers to maintain a current valid anthrax immunization status,” says Col. John McGuinness, Task Force Tarpon Surgeon, 226th MEB.
Pictured top: U.S. Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Alexander Williams from Birmingham laughingly attempts to talk his way out of an anthrax shot from Staff Sgt. Kevin Bishop from Atmore at Kabul Base Cluster in Afghanistan. “But I don’t like getting shots,” said Williams. Bishop assured Williams everything would be fine as he administered the vaccine. U.S. Army photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Weapons Charges
September 9, 2013
A Century man has been charged with dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Randy Wayne Sims, 41, was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
Over 20 long guns were reported stolen during a July residential burglary in Brewton, Ala. The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the federal ATF in the case.
Sims allegedly purchased an AR-15 type rifle for $175 and three single barrel shotguns for $125 each from a man who said he obtained the guns from his grandfather. The man, who was not named in a released Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office report, later returned and Sims purchased three double barrel shotguns for $125 each. Sims told investigators that he did not realize the serial numbers had been removed from several of the weapons.
He also told investigators that he just thought it was a “really good deal” that he purchased an AR-15 type rifle for just $175 when it usually retails for over $1,000. Sims also said he was purchasing the weapons as Christmas presents for his family members.
Because Sims purchased numerous firearms for well below their value, some of the firearms had their serial numbers removed and he said he was very familiar with firearms and their value, he should have reasonably believed the firearms he purchased were stolen, according to an arrest report.
A federal investigation in the case is ongoing.
Two other people were previously arrested in the case; Joshua James Land and Joseph Williams, both of Jay were charged with burglary of a residence and theft of property second degree.
Northview Open House Tuesday Evening
September 9, 2013
Northview High School will host their annual Open House Tuesday evening, beginning at 6:00, in the school’s theater. The evening’s agenda is planned to meet informational needs of parents. All parents, students, community members and other stakeholders are invited to attend.
For a printable agenda, click here.
High School Football Standings, Upcoming Schedule
September 9, 2013
Here is a district by district look at last Friday night’s high school football scores and this week’s schedule. District play has not yet started, so there are no district rankings.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Those Pesky Love Bugs – Even Making The Power Blink?
September 9, 2013
Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported a blinking problem in the Pace and Quintette areas on Sunday afternoon from a seemingly unlikely source — love bugs.
“Clusters of love bugs are believed to be causing this issue,” the electric utility reported in a statement on their Facebook page.
Here are some love bug facts, from the University of Florida:
- Origins. Contrary to popular belief, the University of Florida did not introduce the love bug to the state. During the 20th century, lovebugs migrated from Central America, traveling through Texas and Louisiana before arriving in Florida.
- Attractants. Lovebugs are attracted to decomposing plant debris, but may confuse these odors with chemicals in exhaust fumes. Heat also attracts lovebugs. Both of these factors can lead them to congregate around highways.
- Active times. Lovebugs are usually active between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., in temperatures above 84°F.
- Mating season. Mating peaks and lasts about four weeks in May and September. Typically, two main generations occur during this time, but the insects can be seen throughout the summer.
- Problems. Lovebugs are mainly a nuisance. They do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases and are not poisonous. They can damage automobile paint if they are “baked” in the sun.
- Solutions. After a lovebug-filled drive, wash your car with water and scrub it to remove the lovebugs. A hood air deflector or screen will reduce the number of spattered lovebugs on your car. Using car wax will protect an automobile’s paint.
- Pesticides. Chemical controls are ineffective, as the lovebug is widespread and continually drifts onto highways from adjacent areas.
Photo Gallery: Northview Takes On Marianna
September 9, 2013
The Northview Chiefs traveled to Marianna Friday night to take on the Bulldogs.
For a game results story, click here.
For a photo gallery featuring action photos, cheerleaders and the band, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Young Marines Honor The Memory Of LCpl Travis M. Nelson
September 8, 2013
A young Travis Nelson of Bratt grew up in a military family and had two things on his mind — fishing and growing up to join the military.
He lived that dream, spending many days at his favorite fishing spots. At 14, he joined the Young Marines of Pensacola. By age 19, he had made it from Bratt to the front lines in Afghanistan as a United States Marine. It was there in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, that LCpl Travis M. Nelson lost his life in August 2011 defending the freedom of his family, friends and the America he loved so much.
Saturday, the Young Marines of Pensacola gathered at the LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park on Highway 4 in Bratt, near Nelson’s childhood home, to honor one of their own that paid the ultimate price.
The Young Marines, boys and girls ages 8 to 18, stood silently at attention as a wreath was placed at the park’s memorial to Nelson. Then they posed for a photo, the Young Marines and the memorial to a fallen Marine.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
