School News: Book Fair At Ernest Ward; Orientations At Northview, EWMS
February 11, 2013
Orientation sessions are planned at Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools, and Ernest Ward is holding a book fair this week. Details:
Northview High Orientation
Northview High School will host an orientation for all eighth grade students entering the ninth grade at Northview for the 2013-2014 school year. The orientation agenda will include a variety of useful topics that will help parents and students become more familiar with the registration process, student academic progression, and other requirements. The orientation will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 25th in the Northview theater.
Ernest Ward Book Fair
Ernest Ward Middle School Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be held this week, February 11-15. Students will be allowed to shop during scheduled hours and during their lunches. The Fair will also be available during the Valentine’s Dance Friday evening. Cash only sales. The Book Fairs is also online, click here.
Ernest Ward Middle Orientation
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold an orientation and registration for all students who plan to attend EWMS next school year. The event will be held Thursday, February 21 from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. in the school gym.
Invitations have already been sent home with sixth and seventh grade EWMS students, along with students from Byrneville, Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools.
The invitation includes a free meal catered by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse for the immediate family of each student who returns the completed form to their homeroom teacher, guidance counselor or the school office by Tuesday, February 12.
During the program, EWMS and staff will be available to answer questions and explain middle school programs, extracurricular activities, and middle school academies. Parents are encouraged to attend the event to complete their child’s registration process for the next school year
Effort To Abolish Florida’s Death Penalty Fails On Committee Vote
February 11, 2013
An effort to abolish the death penalty in Florida finally got a hearing last week in a House committee after a three-year effort, but then quickly went down to defeat.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 9-4 against a bill (HB 4005) that would have statutorily abolished the death penalty in the state.
But the rare vote to kill a bill in committee, rather than just bottling it up never to be heard, gave death penalty opponents their first chance to extensively argue for a repeal, following several years in which the measure’s sponsor, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, has been unable to persuade Republican leaders to put the bill before a committee.
Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, offered extensive praise for committee chairman Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, for being willing to allow the debate on the often divisive and emotional issue. Gaetz also had the committee take testimony from a number of death penalty opponents, including a rabbi, a university criminology professor and a woman whose daughter and grandson were murdered but who has advocated against the death penalty.
The debate and vote on the bill preceded another discussion on potential flaws in application of the death penalty, the beginning of a discussion that may result in legislation later this year.
But Gaetz said that before debating whether to make the death penalty law better, it only made sense to take up the “threshold question … of whether Florida should even have the death penalty.”
Rehwinkel Vasilinda said she was passionate about the notion that it should not, citing the too high chance of executing someone who is innocent – considering that 24 death row inmates have been exonerated. She also cited her own personal beliefs that arise out of her Catholic faith. She also said the United States is increasingly out of step with other modern democracies, most of which have banned capital punishment.
Most of those who spoke in favor of abolishing the death penalty said it was because it was unfairly applied, and the state’s track record on wrongful convictions doesn’t seem to be very good.
Rep. Kionne McGhee, a former prosecutor who also experienced the justice system from the perspective of someone whose father and brother were murdered, said regardless of whether it’s right, the system doesn’t work.
“One innocent life taken on death row is enough to question the system,” said McGhee, D-Miami.
Rehwinkel and others also told the committee that there’s a growing sense that even if it were the right thing to do philosophically, that the expense of carrying out the death penalty is depriving communities of money that could go for other criminal justice needs.
Gaetz said he, too, was passionate about the issue, but on the other side, and believes above all else, that it serves as a deterrent in particular situations, if not more broadly.
“I like knowing today that in Florida everybody knows that if you kill a cop you will be executed,” Gaetz said. “I want everybody in prison to know that if a corrections officer is killed by your hand, you will die.”
The committee also heard a plea in favor of keeping the death penalty from another perspective. State Attorney Brad King, a central Florida prosecutor, laid out gruesome details of some of the state’s most notorious murders of children, arguing that some crimes are simply so atrocious that death for the murderer is the only option that makes any sense.
He reminded the panel about the case of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, for example, and how after being abducted and raped, she was buried alive, and investigators noted the marks on her finger nails from trying to claw her way out of a plastic bag.
Murderers chose to end those lives without due process, he said.
“By their choice, by their decision, they should be judged,” King said.
And King asked the panel what he should say to the families of the children he mentioned, who may wonder why their loved ones died but a brutal killer might be allowed to live.
“It is right to say their life is not more valuable than the little lives that they took,” King said.
Gaetz said the committee will continue to listen to death penalty opponents as it takes a broader look at fairness issues with the application of capital punishment.
By The News Service of Florida
FHSAA Approves New Age Limit Rule
February 11, 2013
The Florida High School Athletic Association Representative Assembly has adopted a proposal that will change the age limit for student athletes. The FHSAA voted to change the age restriction from 19 years and 9 months to 19 years.
Previously, the rule stated that a student may participate at the high school level until reaching the age limit of 19 years and 9 months old if the student had not exceeded their four-year limit of eligibility. The new limitation states that a “student who reaches the age of 19 on or after September 1st, and who has not exceeded his/her four-year limit of eligibility, may participate in interscholastic athletics during that school year”.
The amended bylaw will go into effect on July 1, 2014, for the 2014-15 school year, with 2013-14 serving as a notice period. Florida was the only state, before this week, to have an age limit that exceeded 19 years of age. Student athletes will still have the opportunity to appeal if there are extenuating circumstances.
Northview High School linebacker Roderick Woods aged out this past football season, hitting 19 years and 9 months in October. That left him sitting out the last three regular season games, plus the Chief’s entire state championship run. Under the new rule, Woods would not have been eligible for any games last season.
Proponents also said the rule will stop athletes who age out in their home state, such as Alabama, and transfer to Florida where they were eligible to play for another nine months.
Walnut Hill Man Passes Away Following Early Morning Crash
February 10, 2013
A Walnut Hill man passed away as a result of injuries he received early Sunday morning when he crashed his pickup into the yard of his current residence.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 59-year old Everett Berry was traveling eastbound on West Highway 4 east of C.W. Caraway Road about 3 a.m. when he lost control of his 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck and veered off the roadway. Berry over-corrected, re-entering the roadway before traveling back onto the shoulder. Once off the roadway, the pickup began to spin before striking a culvert pipe and overturning multiple times through a fence and into a the front yard of a residence in the 3500 block of West Highway 4.
Berry was ejected from the pickup. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced deceased at 9:20 a.m. Sunday.
Authorities said Berry was currently residing at the residence where the pickup came to rest.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured top and inset: A Walnut Hill man died as a result of injuries he received in this single vehicle crash early Sunday morning near Bratt. Pictured below: The driver was airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Prayer Breakfast Unites Political Leaders, Superintendent Honored
February 10, 2013
Leaders from across the area gathered Saturday morning in Pensacola for the 37th annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast. The non-denominational event seeks to cross political lines is to encourage moral and spiritual values in government.
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas was honored with the God in Government Award during the event at New World Landing.
“We commend you for demonstrating a measure of Moral and Spiritual Excellence in your elected office,” a plaque presented to Thomas states. “Your commitment to Biblical and Christian Principles in office is commendable. Thank you for service to God and Country.”
Deadline Approaching To Register For Dave Ramsey Financial Program
February 10, 2013
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia will offer classes from Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University beginning March 1. The registration deadline in February 15.
The nine-week course includes video classes and group discussion and has changed lives all across the country. More than 1.5 million families have completed the program at their workplace, church, military base, nonprofit organization or community group and are working toward debt freedom and financial peace.
Through common-sense principles and small-group accountability, FPU gives people the tools they need to change their behavior and succeed financially. On average families who complete FPU pay off $5,300 and save $2,700 in the first 90 days; following the class nearly 94 percent of those families budget regularly, according to Ramsey.
“FPU will not only transform the way you handle money, but also your marriage and other areas of your life,” says Ramsey. “This isn’t a boring financial class. We make learning about money fun and easy to understand so people in every situation can benefit from the information.”
Ramsey knows first-hand the pain that financial stress can cause. After creating a net worth of more than a million dollars by age 26, he quickly lost it all. Since then Ramsey has helped families and individuals across the country learn how to get control of their finances and avoid debt so they don’t have to experience the same pain he did.
After purchasing a membership each participant receives a workbook, Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money, an envelope system and an audio CD library. Participants will also have access to budgeting forms and MP3’s of all the lessons.
Classes at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church begin March 1 and will meet each Friday at 7 pm. Registration ends February 15. The even is open to the entire community. Childcare is available for a minimal fee.
To register or more information, click here. For additional details, contact Rachel Gilmore at ((850) 572-6465 or brgilmore@frontiernet.net.
Photos: Atmore Mardi Gras Parade
February 10, 2013
The Ladies of Essence held their annual Mardi Gras Parade Saturday afternoon in Atmore with plenty of MoonPies and beads.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The annual Mardi Gras Parade Saturday in Atmore. Submitted photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Search And Rescue Holds Meet And Greet
February 10, 2013
The volunteers of Escambia Search and Rescue held a meet and greet event Saturday at Tractor Supply Company on Nine Mile Road. ESAR is celebrating its 50th year of service, and the K-9 unit is in it s 19th year.
ESAR trains for and responds to many different types of incidents including lost children, missing hunters, drowning victims, overdue boats, natural disasters, and missing persons with Alzheimer’s, autism or other forms of dementia.
Search volunteers from Northwest Florida and South Alabama are trained in communication, rescue and recovery diving and K-9 searches.
Pictures: ESAR and some of the K-9’s held a meet and greet Saturday at Tractor Supply Company on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Equine Rescue Group Receives Global Verification Status
February 10, 2013
The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) has awarded Verified status to Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. GFAS) is the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries.
Verification means that Panhandle Equine Rescue meets the criteria of a true equine sanctuary orrescue and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site visit and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational principles.
“Panhandle Equine Rescue came into existence because so few resources existed in north Florida for equines involved in cruelty and neglect investigations,” said Jeannine Alexander, a GFAS deputy director. “This organization works closely with law enforcement ensuring these equines get the protection and care they need until a final home can be found.”
“It is such an honor to be Verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, an organization that is recognized worldwide in promoting excellence in sanctuary management and in humane care of animals,” said Diane Lowery, president of Panhandle Equine Rescue. “ To be Verified, opens up many doors for our organization, not only in receiving grants, but also to assure potential donors that we are legitimate and put the welfare of our horses first.”
Pictured top: “Raven” been care for by Panhandle Equine Rescue. Pictured bottom inset: PER President Diane Lowery. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Coed Softball Tourney Next Weekend, Entry Fee Reduced
February 10, 2013
The Northview High School Diamond Club will hold a softball tournament next weekend, and the entry fee has been reduced.
The coed tournament will be held Saturday, February 16 at the Northwest Escambia ballpark. The entry fee has been reduced to $200 per team. Three females must play at all times.
To register, call Amy Holland at (850) 516-8400. Proceeds benefit the Northview High School baseball team.