Bratt Elementary Dedicates Meagan Wilburn Rose Garden (With Gallery)
March 9, 2012
Fourth graders at Bratt Elementary listened quietly Thursday afternoon as a small rose garden in memory of one of their own was dedicated.
The rose garden, located just outside the fourth grade wing of the school, was dedicated in honor of Meagan Wilburn, a nine-year old Bratt Elementary fourth grader who died after an ATV accident last October in Walnut Hill.
“We are going to remember Meagan forever with this rose garden,” Bratt Principal Jeanene Hall told the students.
“Respectful. Kind. Gentle. Oh, and bubbly…that’s one I just thought of just now,” were the carefully chosen words of Guidance Counselor Sheila Bryan as she described her memories of Meagan to the students.
Following the dedication, the students walked single file past the rose garden — which for now contains a small plaque and just two rose bushes that were purchased with change collected by Meagan’s classmates. Some of the students were visibly touched, breaking down in tears and hugging friends.
“Meagan will always be in our hearts and minds,” Hall said.
For more photos from the dedication, click here.
Pictured: A rose garden was dedicated Thursday afternoon in honor of Meagan Wilburn, a 9-year old Bratt Elementary student killed in an ATV accident last year. Pictured below: Meagan’s sister Cailee Wilburn looks at the garden. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Caylee’s Law Goes To Gov.
March 9, 2012
Prompted by the 2008 death of two-year-old Caylee Anthony, the Senate on Thursday sent to the governor a bill that would increase penalties for lying to police when a child goes missing.
The measure would make it a third degree felony to give false information to a law enforcement officer in the event of missing child.
The bill was introduced following the highly publicized trial of Caylee’s mother, Casey Anthony, who was acquitted of murder but charged with lying to police. She was sentenced to four years in prison for lying to police, but was released last summer after time served.
Coast Guard Crew Remembered
March 9, 2012
Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard bid farewell to four of its own.
In a memorial service held at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, the service paid tribute to the crew of Coast Guard helicopter 6535 – Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor, Lt. Thomas Cameron, Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge and Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Knight.
“Dale, Tom, Nando and Drew answered the call,” said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp. “They stepped forward and dedicated their lives to helping others – the only thing stronger than their desire to fly, was their desire to serve. And, they did serve – they served all of us.”
On February 28, a Coast Guard helicopter went down in Mobile Bay during a training flight. The bodies of Taylor, Cameron and Jorge were recovered from the crash site shortly after the crash. Knight’s body was recovered Thursday.
Pictured: A memorial service honoring the Coast Crew that died last week in a Mobile Bay crash was held Thursday in Mobile. Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Want Electronic Time Clocks For Prisons
March 9, 2012
Legislators will consider a budget today that includes provision to withhold up to $1 million from the Department of Corrections until it puts in place an electronic time and attendance system.
The issue of electronic time clocks has irked Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, for a couple of years, since lawmakers first put a requirement for such a time clock system for state prisons in the law in 2010. The prison system didn’t implement the requirement however, even though it was put in the law again last year.
This session, Alexander mentioned the issue several times in complaining that the Department of Corrections hasn’t done enough to save money – citing that reluctance as part of the reason some members of the Legislature were intent on privatizing more prisons, though they were unsuccessful in that effort this year.
The budget up for a vote on Friday says that of the money earmarked for the Department of Corrections, $1 million of it will be held in reserve until the agency’s “successful statewide implementation of the electronic time and attendance system.”
By The News Service of Florida
Northview Remembers Coach, Teacher Tommy Weaver
March 9, 2012
Thursday was described as quiet, difficult day at Northview High School as they mourned the loss of 61-year old teacher and coach Tommy Weaver.
Students began their day with a mile-long vehicle procession from the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park on West Highway 4 in Bratt to the school parking lot. As the vehicles passed by the school, most of the students stared quietly ahead, many visibly crying.
Grief counselors from the Escambia County School District were on campus during the day for students and faculty that wanted to talk about the death of Weaver, husband of Northview High Principal Gayle Weaver.
Funeral services for Weaver were held Saturday.
Northview Senior Class President Mallory Turner encouraged students and community members to visit a Facebook page setup in honor of Weaver and share their memories. The recollections will be used in a special Senior Class project. To visit the page, click www.facebook.com/CoachTommyWeaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baseball: Varsity Aggies Remain Undefeated; JV Falls To Pace
March 9, 2012
The Tate Aggies remain undefeated after a a win over Pace Thursday night, while the JV Aggies lost to the Patriots 3-1.
The Tate Aggies continued their winning ways as they beat Pace Thursday night 4-2 in a well played game by both teams.
Riley Hodge collected the win pitching six strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits. JT Granat picked up another save pitching a perfect seventh.
Offensively, the Aggies tallied eight hits led by Mac Seibert (3-3, 2B, Run, RBI), Andrew Mack (2-4, Run, RBI), and JT Granat (1-3, RBI).
Pace’s Addison Russell, who is considered future first round draft pick in Major League Baseball’s June draft, was 1-2 with a home run.
Steven Jernigan took the loss for the Patriots despite an outstanding performance.
The Aggies are back in action Friday, playing host to the Navarre Raiders in a JV/Varsity doubleheader at 4:30/7:00.
Major Tuition Hike Bill Gets Final Approval
March 9, 2012
Senators approved a plan Thursday that could allow the University of Florida and Florida State University to pass along major tuition increases to students.
The bill drew little discussion before passing on a 36-3 vote, with Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Sens. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, dissenting.
It passed the House last week and now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, who has expressed reluctance about raising university tuition.
The bill would allow universities that meet 11 of 14 standards to submit plans for tuition increases that go beyond ordinary state limits. Supporters say the state’s top research universities need more control over tuition, but opponents question passing along potentially far-higher costs to students and families.
While the bill does not name specific institutions, it is at least initially targeted at UF and FSU.
By The News Service of Florida
High School Sports Recruiting Bill Headed To Governor
March 9, 2012
A bill curbing the authority of the Florida High School Athletic Association to sideline transferring students narrowly passed the Senate on Thursday, sending it to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.
The measure (HB 1403) cleared the chamber on a 21-18 vote, with a diverse group of eight Republicans joining the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats in opposing the bill. Among Democrats, only Sens. Larcenia Bullard of Miami and Gary Siplin of Orlando supported the proposal.
The bill would allow transfer students to largely remain eligible in the same year they transfer and would limit the ability of FHSAA to sideline students for recruiting violations.
At the same time, the measure would crack down on schools and coaches involved in the violations.
Supporters said the proposal was intended to punish the adults responsible for violations instead of often unwitting students at the center of the controversies.
“This is about kids,” said Senate Education Chairman Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville. “This is all about kids. I don’t think that you want to disenfranchise kids because of a bad coach that goes out and particularly recruits a student to come there.”
Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, echoed the complaints of some schools that FHSAA had become an unaccountable organization.
“They rule with a hammer,” Thrasher said. ” … If there was ever a top-down process in Florida high school athletics, this is the organization that represents it.”
But opponents argued that the bill would instead open the door to more of the recruiting that the FHSAA has worked hard to combat and could turn athletics into a lawless scramble to recruit the best student athletes, or even some who should be ineligible.
“The driving issue is that every child in Florida should be playing on a team that follows the same rules,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. “I do not want my grandson playing football when he’s 17 against another player who is 19 years or older.”
Recruiting scandals, often involving private schools that reportedly try to draw the best athletes away from public schools, have periodically broken out in high-school athletics. But most private schools have opposed the measure, something opponents seized on.
They said a few disgruntled schools who had run-ins with the association seemed to be the driving force behind the bill — undermining the reasons for supporting the measure.
“Now, there’s something wrong when we’re trying to fix this for privates and publics who work cooperatively, and then you’ve got the privates saying that they’re against it,” Lynn said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Story by The News Service of Florida
PSC To Set Higher Rates For Gulf Power; Nothing For McDavid Plans
March 9, 2012
The Florida Public Service Commission will hold conference Monday in Tallahassee to consider to set new higher rates for Gulf Power Company customers. The new rates will not include any money specifically for a potential Gulf Power plant in North Escambia.
Customer rates will be based on the PSC’s February 27 decision that reduced the company’s request by $37.5 million. The PSC also lowered the company’s requested return on equity from 11.7 to 10.25 percent., setting its revenue requirement increase at $64.1 million.
While the increase was less than the company sought, it was more than attorneys for consumers and business groups said the Pensacola-based utility should receive.
Gulf Power oiginally requested a $93.5 million hike, but that number increased to $101.6 million because of accounting-related issues stemming from improvements to a power plant.
The Public Service Commission did not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential nuclear-power plant site in North Escambia because the utility has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
The PSC also trimmed a company request to pay for new employees.
Gulf Power serves approximately 431,000 customers in eight counties in Northwest Florida.
The Special Commission Conference will be broadcast online at www.floridapsc.com (look for the “Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the web page).
Pictured top: One of many house that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. One of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Arrangements Announced For Northview’s Tommy Weaver
March 8, 2012
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Northview High School coach and teacher Tommy Weaver.
Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Petty Eastside Chapel in Atmore. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:00 at Petty Eastside Chapel in Atmore.
A graveside service will follow at Old Town Cemetery near Evergreen, Ala.