Tate’s Stacey Signs Scholarship With Huntingdon College
April 3, 2013
Tate High School senior Austin Stacey, recently signed with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. He was awarded the college’s highest academic award, the Bellingrath Scholarship, and will be playing soccer for the college.
He played soccer all four years for the Tate Aggies. This past season, Stacey had 10 goals and six assists for the Aggies.
Stacey currently has a 4.2 GPA, is a member of the Tate Student Council, National Honor Society, Interact Club and yearbook. He is also a Children’s Ministry intern at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Austin Stacey signs with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Georgia Murder Suspect Jailed In Escambia County
April 3, 2013
A 24-year old man wanted for murder in Georgia has surrendered in Escambia County.
Stephen Anthony O’Reilly, 24, turned himself in to officers in Escambia County, and authorities located the murder victim’s stolen 1994 Toyota Camry in Pensacola. O’Reilly is currently being held in Escambia County, awaiting extradition and transport back to Gwinnett County, GA.
The Gwinnett County Police Department said O’Reilly attacked and stabbed his roommate, 28-year old Brent Francis, on March 30 in unincorporated Snellville, GA. Before he died at the Gwinnett County Medical Center .Francis was able to tell officers that he was attacked by O’Reilly.
Molino Woman’s Vehicle Rolls Into Walton County Canal
April 2, 2013
A Molino woman received only minor injuries after her Ford Mustang rolled into a canal in Walton County Monday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 20-year old Holly Shenae Brown of Molino was eastbound on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach when 39-year old James Matthew Murray II of Santa Rosa Beach changed lanes to make a turn and struck her Mustang about 7:20 a.m.
Brown’s vehicle rotated and slid onto a sidewalk and then overturned onto its roof in a canal at the corner of Highway 98 and Walton County Road 393. Brown suffered minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast for observation.
Murray was charged with violation of right-of-way and failure to yield to thru traffic, according to the FHP. He was not injured.
Molino Branch Library Is Now Open
April 2, 2013
The new Molino Branch Library in the Molino Community Complex opened Monday morning.
The new library in the Molino Community Complex will be open 52 hours per week – from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
An opening reception gave the public an opportunity to meet the library staff, peruse the opening day collection, register for a library card and tour the facility.
The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450 Highway 95A (just south of Molino Road) in the Molino Community Complex, which opened back in October 2012.
The Molino Community Complex project included the conversion of the old Molino School in to a library, community center and museum. There was also a new 7,000 square foot facility constructed for the tax collector and property appraiser. The project was funded by local option sales tax monies.
Pictured top: Young library visitors enjoy a story together Monday morning at the new Molino Branch Library. Pictured inset: A patron looks at the book collection. Pictured below: Library staff quickly became busy checking out materials and issuing library cards. Pictured middle below: A portion of the adult book collection at the Molino Branch Library. Pictured bottom: Opening day refreshments were available Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Urgent Need For Blood Donors
April 2, 2013
There is an urgent need for O-negative blood donations, according to the Northwest Florida Blood Center, because of increased usage in area hospitals due to accidents and traumas.
Blood donations of all types are currently needed. Donor centers are located at 999 East Nine Mile Road and 2209 North Ninth Ave. There will also be a blood drive at the Century City Hall on Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.nfbcblood.org or call (850) 473-3853.
Escambia Man Claims Share Of $2 Million Jackpot
April 2, 2013
An Escambia County man has claimed his share of a $2 million lottery jackpot.
Joseph Leccese, 54, of Pensacola, claimed his share of the March 19 Mega Money jackpot of $2 million at Florida Lottery headquarters. Leccese chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $808,134.53. A second jackpot-winning ticket was claimed by Alberto Colon of Sanford.
Leccese’s winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix at 9251 University Parkway in Pensacola. The retailer received a bonus commission of $500 for selling the jackpot-winning Mega Money ticket. This ticket was the ninth jackpot-winning Mega Money ticket sold in Escambia County since 2004.
Northview High Students Win Free Limo Ride To Prom
April 2, 2013
A Northview High School couple will be arriving at the school’s prom in style.
In a random drawing Monday, Johnny Robbins won a free Denali limousine ride with his date Jessica Brown for April 13th’s prom night. There were 223 students attending prom that were eligible for the prize.
Pictured top: Jessica Brown (left) won’t be pulling up to Northview’s prom with her date, Johnny R0bbins, in the most recognizable vehicle on campus — Principal Gayle Weaver’s golf cart. Instead, Weaver awarded the couple a free Denali limousine ride after they were randomly chosen in a school contest Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Contributes $1,000 To Relay For Life
April 2, 2013
The Town of Century voted Monday night to contribute $1,000 to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
The town likely will not have a team all night due poor participation in previous years, Mayor Freddie McCall said, but the town will take part the Jay Relay for Life event April 19-20 at Jay High School.
Pictured top: Last year’s Jay Relay for Life. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall cooks at the 2012 Jay Relay. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Medical Pot Sponsor: Chances Are Slim, But Ballot Push Coming
April 2, 2013
The sponsor of a bill that would legalize the use of marijuana in Florida for medical purposes said Monday that it has almost no chance of passing, but backers will likely push a constitutional amendment that would put the question up to voters.
Rep. Katie Edwards put the measure’s chances of getting through the Legislature at “slim to none.” She said she didn’t support the idea at one time, but then she met patients with debilitating pain.
“If you had asked me about six months ago when we were campaigning, if I would have filed this bill, I would have said, ‘Absolutely not,’ ” said Edwards, D-Plantation. “Then I got sick myself and in the hospital (began) talking with … cancer patients and people who themselves were very sick.”
Joining Edwards at a news conference on the issue Monday at the Capitol was Cathy Jordan, who has Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The Manatee County woman, for whom the bill is named, believes using marijuana has kept her alive. Jordan has been an activist for legalization of marijuana for medical use.
In February, her home was raided by police, who confiscated 23 marijuana plants, though Jordan and her husband weren’t arrested. Eighteen other states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana use for certain people, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Pictured top: Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, (left) talks about the proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana Monday in Tallahassee. Next to her is Cathy Jordan, a woman with ALS who has advocated for the legalization of medical marijuana and for whom the bill is named. Photo by NSF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By The News Service of Florida
Failing School Turnaround Bill Starts Moving In The Senate
April 2, 2013
A bill giving parents more power to decide the fate of failing schools returned to the chamber that defeated it last year, passing the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote that previewed the fight to come.
The legislation (SB 862) — commonly known as the “parent trigger” bill — passed the panel on the 6-3 vote one day before the House is expected to take up its version of the measure.
It is the second attempt for supporters of the bill, which would allow parents to petition their school district to consider a specific turnaround option for a school that receives an “F” on the state report card for two consecutive years. If the district rejects the parents’ plan in favor of another one, the State Board of Education would choose which plan would be implemented. That board currently approves a district’s plan to overhaul failing schools.
Last year, the legislation died on the Senate floor on a tie vote. But many of the senators who voted against it are gone, having been replaced in some cases by lawmakers who are seen as more willing to support the bill.
Sen. Kelli Stargel, the Lakeland Republican sponsoring the bill, also said after the committee’s vote that this year’s version keeps many of the compromises approved last year to try to push the bill through.
“So I think we have much more support, not as many tweaks necessary,” she said. “I think a lot of what happened last year might have been more political than on the policy of the bill.”
Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Boca Raton, said the legislation was “last year’s homework.” But Sachs, who was part of the effort to kill the bill in 2012, wouldn’t directly address the perception that a more conservative Senate would support the bill.
“I think that the Senate is still the more deliberative body of the two,” she said.
The meeting had much of the same emotion that took center stage in last year’s battle. Critics say the measure is meant to allow for-profit charter school companies to bypass school boards and run sophisticated campaigns encouraging parents to sign a charter-friendly petition.
“This bill is a cynical political device,” said Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder of the advocacy group Fund Education Now. “It empowers us to do the grunt work, then mutes our voice.”
But supporters have said that parents should have a right to determine what happens with the future of their children.
“This is an option that is a statement by the parents within those failing schools that they see a problem, and they have a right to suggest a solution,” said Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland.
The House version of the bill (HB 867) has moved more quickly, and the chamber will begin considering it on Tuesday. That could clear the way for a vote as soon as the following House session, currently scheduled for Thursday.
It is expected to be approved.
By The News Service of Florida