Northview Beats Jay
March 19, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 2-1 Monday night in seven innings in Bratt.
The varsity Northview Chiefs will host Chipley Friday at 6 p.m., while the Royals will sit out the rest of Spring Break week before hosting Escambia Academy on March 25.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs topped the Jay Royals 2-1 Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 35 Years For Robbing Navy Couple, High Speed Chase
March 19, 2013
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for robbing a couple and leading deputies on a high speed chase.
William Isiah Johnson, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of robbery, aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer with lights and siren activated, resisting an officer without violence, and credit card fraud.
After robbing a Navy couple and using their credit card on December 15, 2011, Johnson led deputies on a high-speed chase through the streets of Escambia County reaching speeds in excess of 100mph. During the pursuit, the defendant crossed through business parking lots and passed through traffic with no reduction in speed.
When Johnson stopped his vehicle, he ran through a nearby neighborhood on foot. A K-9 officer was used to locate the defendant. Once he was located and searched, the defendant had the victim’s drivers license in his pocket and numerous other items belonging to the victim were located in his vehicle.
Following the verdict, Circuit Judge Ross Goodman sentenced Johnson to the maximum sentence under each charge to a total of 35 years in state prison. This sentence is consecutive to Johnson’s 43-year sentenced imposed by Judge Goodman in January 2013, for Johnson’s conviction of the attack on two University of West Florida nursing students in 2011.
Florida Unemployment Dips; Steady To Increasing Rate Locally
March 19, 2013
The latest jobs numbers released Monday show the unemployment rate steady or increasing the North Escambia area, while the state jobless rate in Florida and Alabama decreased slightly.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.8 percent from December to January. There were 34 fewer people reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 10,924 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.1 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment increased from 7.1 percent in December to 7.3 percent in January. Santa Rosa County had a total of 5,421 persons reported to be still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.9 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment jumped from 8.1 percent in December to 9.7 percent in January. That represented 1,372 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 9.0 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s jobless rate dipped slightly in Florida in January. In dropping from 7.9 percent in December to 7.8 percent in January, Florida’s jobless rate went below the national rate, which was 7.9 percent in January, for the first time since January of 2008.
“We are glad to see our unemployment rate fall below the national average for the first time in years, but our work isn’t done until every Floridian who wants a job can find one,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
In dropping to 7.8 percent, Florida’s jobless rate is now at its lowest point since November of 2008, near the beginning of the recession, and down from over 9 percent just a year ago.
And rather than simply improving the rate by losing workers from the workforce – as was the case with some earlier gains – Florida’s economy created jobs in January, the Department of Economic Opportunity said.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.9 percent in January, was up from December’s rate of 6.8 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 7.3 percent.
Northview Hosts Track And Field Meet
March 19, 2013
The Northview Chiefs hosted a track and field meet Monday with J.U. Blacksher and Pensacola Christian. Results were not immediately available and will be posted as they are released, along with a photo gallery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic Day One
March 19, 2013
Here’s a look at Aggie Classic scores from Monday followed by Tuesday’s schedule in the 22-team tournament.
Cardinal Pool
- Hume-Fogg (TN) 12, Grove (OK) 2
- Hueytown (Ala.) 4, Tahlequah (OK) 0
- Overton (TN) 5, Tate 3
- Edmond North (OK) 3, Escambia 1
- Jay (OK) 6, Navarre 0
- Washington 4, Washington (OK) 1
Grey Pool
- Milton 4, Greenwood (Ark.) 2
- Norman North (OK) 5, West Florida 4
- Goodpasture (TN) 4, Claremore (OK) 0
- Arlington 14, Pryor (OK) 4
- Westmoore (OK) 8, McAdory (AL) 7
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Tate High
• Arlington Country Day vs. Westmoore, 4 p.m.
• Tate vs. Washington (OK), 7 p.m.
At Escambia High
• McAdory vs. Claremore, 4 p.m.
• Escambia vs. Hume-Fogg, 7 p.m.
At Washington High
• Overton vs. Tahlequah, 4 p.m.
• Grove vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
At West Florida High
• Edmond North vs. Navarre, 4 p.m.
• West Florida vs. Pryor, 7 p.m.
At Pensacola State
• Hueytown vs. Jay, 4 p.m.
• Good Pasture vs. Milton, 7 p.m.
At Woodham Middle
• Norman North vs. Greenwood, 7 p.m.
Century Clerk Gonzalez Presented Certified Municipal Clerk Designation
March 19, 2013
Monday night, Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez was presented her official designation of Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
Gonzalez began working toward certification in October 2010, shortly after being named Century’s town clerk, at the Florida State University’s Institute of Government. Gonzalez was president of her clerk class of 20 and was the speaker at the graduation ceremony that made her eligible for the certification.
Pictured: (L-R) Freeport Town Clerk Robin Haynes, newly-certified Century Clerk Leslie Gonzalez, Jay Town Clerk Linda Carden and Pensacola City Clerk Ericka Burnett. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Fire At Molino Fire Station
March 18, 2013
Firefighters responded to an electrical fire at their own fire station Monday morning.
The fire alarm went off about 9:15 Monday morning at the Molino Fire Station on Molino Road. There were no firefighters at the station at the time; they were out answering another emergency call.
The first firefighters on scene reported smoke inside the fire station. The fire was determined to be electrical, related to a generator transfer switch. Other than the electrical circuit, there was no major damage.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the call.
Pictured top: The Florida Forest Service was among the units responding to an electrical fire at the Molino Fire Station Monday morning. Pictured inset: The fire was related to a transfer switch inside the building connected to this generator. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Credit Unions Off Limits To Local Governments; Bill Seeks Change
March 18, 2013
There’s only one financial institution in Century, and it’s off limits to the town’s government.
Under current Florida law, public entities in the state – such as towns, cities, counties, sheriff’s and schools – can only use banks, not credit unions, for their banking needs.
As a result, Century can’t even consider using Pen Air Federal Credit Union’s branch on North Century Boulevard. Instead, all of the town’s banking business is conducted at United Bank in Flomaton — allowed because United Bank has locations in Florida.
Senate Bill 918 by Senator Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) and House Bill 251 by Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) seek to reverse the mandate that prevents public monies from being deposited in credit unions.
“We would like to have choice in banks,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “A change would not mean we would change banks, but we would be able to shop around for the best place to bank and the best rates.”
Stewart Ramsey, president and CEO of Pen Air, believes his credit union would be able to offer pubic entities like Century a good choice.
“Municipalities and public offices, just like area residents, should be given depository choice, especially in the more rural areas of the state where the most viable option for them is to establish lines of credit with their local credit union,” said Ramsey. “It is important that Florida lawmakers, especially those representing Northwest Florida residents, recognize the importance of this proposal this year, so that public offices can take advantage of putting their money into local, community-based institutions, whose very member-owners are the same people they seek to serve. They should be entitled to receive better rates of return on their tax dollars, which credit unions provide, and the ability to further give back to their communities.”
“The intent of this legislation is to give municipalities choices in where to deposit their funds,” said Rep. Hager. “While the intent may sound simple, the impact will be tremendous. Putting public funds into local credit unions gives municipalities and local entities the opportunity to keep their funds within their communities, and see their dollars be continuously and locally reinvested via personal or small business loans. This legislation does not give any entity preferential treatment, but rather levels the playing field for credit unions to be able to compete for funds that they should already be entitled to receive.”
Patrick La Pine, president of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates, said credit unions are required to meet the same public depository requirements as for-profit banks, and they are held to the same standards of accountability and offer the same protections to their members.
The Florida League of Cities has also weighed in on the issue, supporting the bill to allow governmental use of credit unions.
“Expanding public deposit authority to credit unions would greatly spur competition and lead to greater savings and higher earnings for public entities on their deposits,” said Amber Hughes, legislative advocate for the Florida League of Cities. “Municipalities and local offices are already running on stringent budgets, and any dollar saved and earned means another dollar that goes back to the community to serve a crucial purpose.”
Pictured: The Town of Century is not allowed to bank at Pen Air Federal Credit Union on North Century Boulevard, the only financial institution in the town. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park, Ernest Ward Students Win At County History Fair
March 18, 2013
Students from Molino Park Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle School were recently awarded during the Escambia County School District History Fair. Overall, of the 31 Molino Park students that took part in the history fair, 23 received some type of recognition.
Winners from Molino Park and Ernest Ward were as follows:
MOLINO PARK ELEMENTARY
Civil Rights Award
Awarded by the NAACP organization
Winner: “Mary Church Terrell: A Colored Woman in a White World” –
By Lacie Carter (group leader), Micah Calhoun, Jameisha Gross, Emily Boutwell, Jeremiah Morris
Historical Performance Awards
Awarded by the Escambia County School District
Group Winner: 2nd place: “Sacagawea ~ Across the Western Frontier”
By Natalie St. Cyr (group leader), Jacob Hawkins, Kamren Simpkins, Parker Hassebrock
African American Heritage Awards
Awarded by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
1st Place Individual Exhibit: “Frederick Douglass”
By Ariel Ward
1st Place Group Exhibit: “Jim Thorpe: The Greatest Athlete of All Time, ”
By Clay Smith, Logan English
1st Place Group Performance: “Alvin Ailey – Opening the Doors to Dance”
by Jayda Crabtree (group leader), Tanner Davidson, Kayla McKillion, Raeleigh Woodfin, Kyle Simmons
Historical Project Board Exhibit Award
Awarded by the Escambia County School District
1st Place Individual Exhibit Project Board: “Frederick Douglass”
by Ariel Ward
1st Place Group Exhibit Project Board: “The Legacy of 9-11″
by Ronnie Plenkers, Cole Fryman
Best in Show
Awarded by T. T. Wentworth Museum
Group Exhibit: “A Turning Point in the Way the World Communicates”
by Bryce Korinchak, Nathan Danforth
ERNEST WARD MIDDLE
Native American Heritage Award
Mallory Gibson
Group Historical Web Page
Triston Long, Cameron Long
Magnolia Branch Honored As Treasure Forest (With Video)
March 18, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians recently received the Helene Mosley Memorial TREASURE Forest Award for the South Region at the Alabama Natural Resources Council’s Awards Banquet in Auburn.
The event recognized PCI for exemplary dedication to the wise stewardship of natural resources at the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve. (For more information about Magnolia Branch, see the video at the bottom of the page.)
PCI has earned many honors for their forest stewardship. In June 2010, they received three prestigious awards for forest management activities at MBWR: the Alabama Natural Resources Council’s TREASURE Forest Award and certifications for the Forest Stewardshipand the American Tree Farm Programs. This was the first time a landowner had received all three recognitions at the same time.
Magnolia Branch is mostly timberland and is used as a recreational area for the Tribe and their guests. By working with various state and federal agencies, the Tribe has sustained, protected, and enhanced 6,000 acres of timberland and 50 lakes. PCI partnered with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to secure financial and technical assistance for site preparation on about 800 acres planted to longleaf pine, and to install permanent firebreaks and prescribe burn over 2,000 acres of pine plantation.
“Managing for timber is vital to our long-term forest goals. Seventy percent of our forest land is loblolly and 30 percent has been converted to longleaf pine,” said Billy Smith, PCI Tribal elder and manager of the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve. “Whenever we clear-cut an area of loblolly, we plant it back to longleaf pine. Right now we have planted about 800,000 longleaf pines on Tribal land.”
Prescribed burning plays an important role in the longleaf pine ecosystem. It helps control disease and reduces competition of undesirable understory. It also provides wildlife habitat benefits by stimulating the growth of native plants for wildlife food.
“We are on a two year burn cycle and try to burn about 2,000 acres each year,” Smith said.
The wildlife accomplishments include planting 37 acres of food plots to cool and warm season forages, building numerous wood duck boxes and bird houses, and thinning 2,000 acres to improve wildlife habitat.
They are attempting to reestablish native grasses. “After clearing the understory through a controlled burn, we are seeing the comeback of native grasses that have been here all along,” said Smith.
Magnolia Branch is located south of I-65 west of Highway 113.
Pictured top: The Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve. Pictured inset: Tim Albritton/ NRCS state forrester; James W. (Billy) Smith, general manager of Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve; and Keith Martin, Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council member. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.