18 Certified As Level Two Search And Rescue Techs
March 12, 2012
Eighteen area residents have received their certification as Level Two Search and Rescue Technicians (SARTECH II).
The certification included a written exam along with extensive field examinations in land navigation, man tracking, search techniques and rescue ropes/knots.
The 18 are members of various search and rescue groups in the Northwest Florida area, including Escambia Search and Rescue, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue and Klass Kids. This marks the highest number of SARTECH II certifications in the history of search and rescue in the area.
The new SARTECH II certificated individuals are:
- Barbara Blades
- Tina Blake
- Reginald Bruster
- Michelle Caputo
- Jakob Connor
- Glenn Cox
- Adrienne Dahlberg
- Don Esty
- Stacy Hayden
- David Hill
- Michael Lady
- Zachary Litgen
- Donna Mason-Smith
- Alexandra McLaughlin
- Thomas Provo
- Elesebeth Rodgers
- Jarred Snyder
- Kevin Winingar
NorthEscambia file photo, click to enlarge.
Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship Applications Accepted
March 12, 2012
Applications are being accepted now for the Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship to be presented to a Flomaton or Jay high school senior.
The student must have played at last two years of high school football, baseball, softball or track/field and have at least a 2.5 overall GPA. Or, the student must be willing to pursue advanced studies in the forestry field after high school. Students from Jay must have a parent who is a current member of the Santa Rosa Professional Educators association.
Applications are due by April 15 and can be obtained from the guidance departments at Jay and Flomaton high schools.
Three Carjacking Suspects Arrested After Escambia SWAT Standoff
March 12, 2012
Three Gulf Breeze carjacking suspects were arrested Sunday in Escambia County after a SWAT standoff.
The armed carjacking took place at the Gulf Breeze Car Wash just after 7 p.m. Saturday. Three male suspects, one armed with a handgun, took the victim’s 2000 Dodge Ram along with his wallet, keys and cell phone.
Pensacola Police Officers located the stolen vehicle Sunday morning at the Travel Inn on West Cervantes Street. Police said the suspects refused to come to the door of their hotel room. The immediate area was evacuated while police obtained a search warrant for the room.
After a few hours, as a SWAT team was preparing to make entry, the suspects voluntarily exited the room and were taken into custody without incident.
Three Pensacola men — Malcolm Mahummed Wright, 18, Kardale Lamara Black, 22, and Marquise Demetris Jenkins, 18 — were all charged with armed carjacking in connection with the incident.
Bill Would Use Lost Change To Help American Troops
March 11, 2012
Lost change would help go to help American troops under a bill by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller.
Miller’s “Lost Change” bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transfer unclaimed money recovered at airport security checkpoints to United Service Organizations (USO) for its airport programs in support of the military. The bill has passed the Homeland Security Subcommittee.
In fiscal 2010, over $400,000 was collected at TSA airport security checkpoints. That money is then used to support the TSA’s budget.
“The TSA has been keeping the money from your change purse to pay for their bloated bureaucracy,” said Miller. “If TSA representatives get to play ‘finders keepers’ with your hard-earned cash, what’s the incentive to try to get the loose change to its rightful owners?”
The USO is a non-profit organization that is chartered by the U.S. Congress. Each USO airport center provides a place for servicemen and women to enjoy a welcoming atmosphere, connect with family, and utilize the services provided by the USO. Last year, USO centers were visited over 8 million times.
“Congressman Miller is a strong advocate for our men and women in uniform, and I commend him today for this bill that will help support the USO that serves our military as they leave and return in our airports. I am pleased this bill passed the subcommittee today,” said Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers.
“I would much rather see unclaimed change go to help military personnel on their way to and from the battlefield,” Miller added. “The lost change should be put to good use, and I know the USO will make those thousands of coins have a positive impact on millions of our nation’s warriors. I applaud Chairman Rogers’ efforts in helping to get this bill through committee, and I look forward to its final passage.
Flomaton Beats Mobile Christian
March 11, 2012
Flomaton beat Mobile Christian 3-0 Saturday in area play. With the win, Flomaton improved to 7-3 and is on a six game winning streak.
Zack Watson pitch a complete game no-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk. Watson started the second inning with a double followed by Tyler Dove with a single to advance the runner and Watson scored on a past ball. Andrew Cash started the third inning with a single and later scored on a past ball that inning.
In the fourth inning, Jacob Newton was walked on balls and Trey Weeks bunted Newton in on a sacrifice bunt.
Flomaton Hurricanes played an almost perfect game on defense with only one error. Watson( 3-1) was the winning pitcher and Kade Suther took the loss for Mobile Christian.
Bratt Students Help Set National Accelerated Reading Record
March 11, 2012
Students at Bratt Elementary School took part in the recent “Read the Most from Coast to Coast” event and helped set a new national record for the number of Accelerated Reader quizzes taken in one day.
Students across the country, from coast to coast, set a new one day record of 3,581,992 AR tests, breaking the old record of 2,177,586.
At Bratt Elementary, students took 210 AR quizzes with 178 passed during the event. Toatl AR points earned by Bratt students were 140.9.
Supreme Court Doesn’t Like New Evers, Gaetz Districts
March 11, 2012
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled against a redistricting map drawn by the Senate, declaring that 8 of the Senate’s 40 re-drawn districts are in violation of the Fair Districts standards.
Two of the districts in question include Escambia and Santa Rosa counties — a northern district across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties held by Greg Evers and the southern portion of the counties making up a district held by Don Gaetz. Both are Okaloosa County residents; Gaetz lives in Niceville, while Evers resides in Baker.
The court did not like how the counties were split because it said lawmakers could not justify dividing the Panhandle into two districts that ran east-to-west, dividing a number of counties, instead of a north-south alignment.
Opponents of the plan have pushed for a district that includes all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
If Escambia and Santa Rosa make up a new district, leaving Gaetz and Evers in another district — pitting the two against each other if they should both run in the next election — unless one of them should move.
Gov. Rick Scott has called a 15-day extraordinary session beginning Wednesday to give the Senate another shot at creating constitutionally valid districts.
The court tossed districts in practically every major region of the state, but Senate leaders said the damage was limited.
“We’re not starting with a clean sheet of paper, as some of our critics wanted us to,” said Senate Reapportionment Chairman Gaetz. “We’re starting I think with a roadmap that will help us get where we need to go.”
Work Begins On New Family Dollar In Century
March 11, 2012
A construction project is underway on a new Family Dollar store in Century.
The 8,000 square foot discount retail store will be located at 9441 North Century Boulevard — that’s at the corner of North Century Boulevard and Green Street. The site was last occupied by Royal Pizza and Subs, which was destroyed by fire in July 2008. Prior to that, the property housed a barbecue restaurant. The 1.22 acre lot is located just south of the Food Giant grocery store.
There’s no word yet on the number of jobs the business will provide, or when the discount store will open.
Family Dollar currently operates 6,800 stores in 44 states. Other Family Dollar Stores in the North Escambia area are located in Davisville, Cantonment, Pensacola and Atmore.
Pictured top: Construction crews have started work on the lot that will contain a new Family Dollar store on North Century Boulevard. Pictured inset: The property was the former home a pizza and sub restaurant that burned in 2008. Pictured below: A typical Family Dollar store. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
On The Hill: Molino Teen Serves As House Page
March 11, 2012
A young man from Molino recently spent a week serving as a page in the Florida House of Representatives.
Mitchell Singleton, a seventh grader at Ernest Ward Middle School, served as a page for Rep. Doug Broxson.
Pages and messengers are students who work one week at the Capitol during the 60-day Regular Session. Each of Florida’s 120 representatives may sponsor one page (ages 12-14) and one messenger (ages 15-18).
Being selected to serve is considered an honor and privilege. Pages and messengers assist the representatives and their staff during the Capitol’s busiest time of year while observing state government in action.
The page and messenger program is a long-standing tradition in the Florida House, with journals making mention of them as far back as 1865.
Singleton and each page and messenger will have their name appear in the official Journal of the House as an official record of their time spent serving in state government.
Pictured top: Mitchell Singleton (foreground) of Molino recently served as a page in the Florida House. Pictured inset: Mitchell in the House Chambers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Officially Repeal Mandatory Septic Tank Inspection Law
March 10, 2012
Lawmakers on Friday repealed a 2010 law that required septic tank inspections across the state.
The septic tank inspection issue has been controversial across Northwest Florida after the passage of the 2010 law. That law was designed, at least in part, to help limit septic tank discharges that could taint the state’s springs.
But opponents argue the law could lead to increased expenses for homeowners with septic tanks. The bill passed Friday calls for city or county officials to develop inspection programs if their areas include what are known as “first magnitude” springs — but it also allows those local governments to choose not to have the programs. There are no first magnitude springs located in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, described the move as a “very big deal in Northwest Florida.”
Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, praised the passage of the bill, which he said has been his priority for the past two years. He called the repeal of the mandatory septic tank inspection law a “big win” for Floridians.