Photos: Northview Celebrates With Homecoming Parade
October 27, 2012
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade rolled through Bratt Friday afternoon as hundreds of spectators lined Highway 4.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The 2012 Northview High School Homecoming Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Crowns Homecoming Queen And Her Court
October 27, 2012
The Northview Chiefs crowned Homecoming Queen Ashley Cunningham and her court Friday night. First runner-up was Ashley Mooney, and second runner-up was Ariel Holland. Junior Maid was Audrey Byrd. Sophomore Maid was Kendall Cobb, and Freshman Maid was Lillie Allen.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R) Freshman Maid Lillie Allen, Junior Main Audrey Byrd, Second Runner-up Ariel Holland, Homecoming Queen Ashley Cunningham, First Runner-up Ashley Mooney and Sophomore Maid Kendall Cobb. Pictured inset: 2012 Homecoming Queen Ashley Cunningham is crowned by 2011 Queen Lauren McCall. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Graceville Downs Jay
October 27, 2012
The Jay Royals fell to Graceville Friday night in Jay, 28-14.
Ricky Cofield had 95 yards on 24 carries and had a 1-yard touchdown dash. Hunter Dillashaw totaled seven catches for 212 yards and had one 70-yard touchdown. And quarterback Tate Upton had 231 yards in the loss to Graceville.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Jay hosted Graceville Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Michelle Gibbs, click to enlarge.
Man Sentenced To Prison For Multiple Burglaries
October 27, 2012
An Escambia County man pleaded no contest to a list of burglary and theft charges Friday and was then sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
Between June 2011 to April 2012, Sheldon Clifton Arns and several co-defendants were responsible for numerous thefts of air conditioning units, copper piping, inside and underneath the
residences, and cooper gutter systems. They would dismantle the AC units, take the copper and aluminum parts which they then sold to recycling centers.
Arns was caught in the act of taking a copper downspout from a home and the individual inside the home called 911. He was arrested at the scene of the crime. Damages to the residences
were exceeded $70,000.
Cottage Hill Water Works Boil Water Notice Lifted
October 26, 2012
A precautionary boil water notice issued by Cottage Hill Water Works was discontinued Friday afternoon.
The notice had been issued following a water main break for the following areas:
- Williams Ditch Road
- Clymil Drive
- Gainey Lane
- Glenna Lane
- Wishbone Road
- 1762 Elna Road
For more information, contact the Cottage Hill Water Works office at (850) 968-5485.
Santa Rosa Cuts Transit Funding; Jay To Century Route Might Materialize
October 26, 2012
The Santa Rosa County Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to end its funding of the county’s transit system, but the move won’t impact public transit shuttle service that could one day run between Century and Jay.
The Santa Rosa County Transit bus systems operates mostly along the U.S. 90 corridor in Pace and Milton and connects to Escambia County’s ECAT bus service in north Pensacola.
The Northwest Florida Rural Health Network wants the service to fill an identified need for transportation between Century and Jay, and the needs of citizens to travel to Pace and Milton. The “Jay Public Transportation Shuttle Service”, as proposed, would run between Century and Jay three days per week and between Pace/Milton two days per week.
“The Jay/Century connection is funded through a separate grant program. The only thing that would be affected may be the connection to Milton and Pace if a transit service is not operating along Highway 90,” Shawn Ward, transportation planner for Santa Rosa County Development Services.
A portion of the funding for Jay-Century route would come from the two towns. The idea has already been presented to the Jay Town Council, which did not immediately sign off on the plan. Instead, the Jay council wanted more concrete information about costs and ridership scenarios. The plan has not yet been formally presented to the Town of Century.
The Jay-Century route operating cost is estimated to be $6,000 per month, with the Rural Health Network offering to pay $3,000 per month for six months and the other $3,000 coming from a grant. One or two vehicles would be needed at a 10-percent local cost match of $7,800 or $15,600. Eighty percent of the vehicle cost would be paid for by a Florida Department of Transporation grant, and 10 percent would come from the state.
Jay and Century would be required to share in a 10 percent local match to purchase the vehicles. Santa Rosa County will also apply for the FDOT grant. If the grant is awarded, the vehicle could be purchased after July 1, 2013.
The public transportation program would be open to anyone, not just the economically or otherwise disadvantaged.
Meanwhile, the future of the current Santa Rosa County Transit system remains in limbo after Thursday’s commission vote — the county says the vote does not necessarily mean the bus service will be canceled. The Northwest Florida Regional Planning Council may seek other sources of funding to keep the buses rolling.
If the bus service is cut, the system will be required to give riders a 60 day notice.
High Flying BMX Team Presents Down To Earth Anti-Drug Message
October 26, 2012
High flying BMX bikes captured the attention of children at Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore Thursday afternoon while spreading a positive anti-drug message.
The event, part of Red Ribbon Week, presented BMX bike jumps and tricks intermingled with healthy lifestyle, stay away from drugs message. Students cheered — some even covered their eyes — as a member of The Freestyle Connection bike trick team literally jumped over the teachers.
The event was sponsored by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office and also included a K-9 demonstration.
For a BMX photo gallery, click here.
For a K-9 demo photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and inset: A BMX bicycle team presented high flying tricks and an anti-drug message Thursday afternoon at Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore. Pictured below: A K-9 demonstration at the Red Ribbon Week event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Century Library Halloween
October 26, 2012
It was a spooktacular good time for dozens of area children Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. During the library’s seventh annual Halloween program, children in a variety of costumes enjoyed lots of treats.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Children enjoy a Halloween program Thursday at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Unveils Education Agenda; Charters Get Boost
October 26, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott unveiled an education agenda Thursday that could allow more students to go to existing charter schools while preparing the state to adopt a new national curriculum.
Most of the initiatives Scott announced Thursday were not a surprise, but they amount to one of the first vigorous education agendas he has unveiled since taking office last year. Scott largely focused on the economy in 2011, and his main education priority for 2012 was to persuade lawmakers to plow roughly $1 billion of new funding into public schools.
The most controversial element of Scott’s plan could potentially prove to be measures to increase the role of charter schools, public schools that are usually run by third parties and are free of many of the regulations faced by typical schools.
Scott’s plan would remove enrollment caps on existing charter schools and allow school districts to operate their own charter schools.
“We’ve got a lot of choice in our state, but we know in everything else in life, if you have more choice, quality goes up, prices sometimes come down,” Scott told WBBH-TV in Fort Myers in an interview Thursday morning.
In a news release issued after Scott formally unveiled the agenda at an event in Fort Myers, State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand praised the charter school proposal.
“Having been involved with charter schools, I know firsthand how they can positively impact the student performance of children who come from economically disadvantaged areas. … Governor Scott’s agenda would make those opportunities available for more students in Florida,” Chartrand said.
Scott’s agenda would also make other changes, junking some regulations and giving debit cards to teachers to pay for school supplies, with the hopes that businesses would help support the program. And the agenda would require the state not to introduce any new testing that doesn’t conform to the “Common Core Standards,” a national set of curriculum guidelines set to take effect next school year.
Educators largely responded to the news with cautious optimism or at least took a wait-and-see approach.
“It’s kind of sketchy,” said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s main teachers union. “The proof will continue to be in the details.”
Ford’s group has frequently clashed with Republicans in recent years over whether and how to expand policies promoting school choice. Ford said he would like to see accountability for charter schools as part of the expansion.
“We have to make sure that we aren’t allowing charter schools to cherry-pick students,” Ford said.
He also said the state would “have to make sure that all schools are being treated fairly” in the school supply initiative, given that schools in more affluent areas might have an easier time getting businesses to partner with them.
Democrats, meanwhile, questioned Scott’s motives.
“While we hope that Scott’s plan — introduced just 12 days before the election — is sincere, it does not erase the Republican’s long record of hurting our parents, teachers and students,” Florida Democratic Party executive director Scott Arceneaux said in a statement.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Pace Downs Tate For District 1-6A Volleyball Title
October 26, 2012
The Pace Patriots defeated the Lady Aggies of Tate Thursday to claim the District 1-6A tournament title.
Pace won in three straight, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Pace will host Mosley, and Tate will travel to Niceville as regional play begins.