Want Jobless Benefits? Undergo Mandatory Job Training?
December 2, 2011
Continuing efforts to transform the state’s unemployment office into a job training center, a Florida House panel is expected to consider a measure next week that would require low-skilled applicants to undergo job training at no expense in order to receive jobless benefits.
The measure is scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. The bill also renames the Florida Unemployment Compensation Law the Reemployment Assistance Program in an apparent refocus and rebranding of agency efforts. The measure would require applicants who score low on initial job screens to undergo training.
The agency would be required to provide the Legislature with a report on program costs by Jan. 2013.
By The News Service Florida
Northview Fans Rally Behind The Chiefs, Coach Reacts To QB Suspension (With Pep Rally Photos)
December 2, 2011
Northview will be without starting quarterback Brandon Sheets tonight in a state semifinal game against Chipley, but the Chiefs are ready to earn the school’s first ever trip to a state championship game in Orlando with the help of backup quarterback Kevin Vaughan.
NorthEscambia.com will post live updates from tonight’s Chipley at Northview state semifinal game on two Facebook pages:
http://www.Facebook.com/NorthEscambia (“Like” the page for updates)
http://www.Facebook.com/NorthEscambiaWilliam (Send a Friend request)
The Florida High School Athletic Association ruled against a Northview appeal on Thursday, deciding that Sheets’ actions last Friday night were “perceived as taunting”, resulting into a one-game suspension. [Read more details on the alleged actions, see video by clicking here for an earlier story.]
“We knew it (the appeal) could go either way, and we were ready to move on if it didn’t go in our favor,” Northview coach Sid Wheatly said Thursday night. “We were disappointed obviously; I am disappointed for Brandon.”
For a photo gallery from a Thursday night Chiefs pep rally, click here.
The Chiefs are moving forward with plans to “do it with Dewey”, as backup junior QB Kevin Vaughan (#12) is known to his friends and teammates.
“Our plan has been all week to work with Kevin and he’s going to be able to do the job. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him, and we are moving forward,” Wheatley said. “The kids have a lot of confidence in him.”
In tonight’s final four state semifinal game, the Chiefs (9-3) will host Chipley (10-2), a team that beat the Chiefs in game of turnovers back on September 16. But now a more experienced Northview teams is looking for revenge.
“We are going to get out there an complete really hard,” Wheatley said, “and bring home a big win.”
Wheatley admitted that Sheets’ suspension and a Vaughan in the QB slot does give the Chiefs a rather unique advantage over Chipley….the Tigers have likely watched hours of Northview game film — mostly with Sheets at quarterback — so they have no idea how the team performs with Vaughan and what surprise plays they might pull.
While 110 percent ready to perform with Vaughan as quarterback, members of the the varsity Chiefs are standing in support of Sheets, who has thrown for over 1,100 yard and a dozen touchdowns while picking up 16 touchdowns on over 900 yards rushing this year. Their goal? To make sure Sheets has one more shot to play a high school football game. With a win tonight, the Chiefs will head to Orlando December 2 for the state championship game. And Sheets will be eligible to play.
“We are going to do everything we can to make sure that you get to see Brandon Sheets take the field on more time,” junior Chad Smith told Northview fans Thursday night.
“We are going to win and give Brandon one more game to play,” Roderick Woods, also a junior, agreed.
At a Thursday night pep rally, Wheatley and the rest of the Chiefs encouraged Northview fans to pack the Northview stadium in Bratt tonight, and, above all, make a lot of noise in support of their Chiefs.
Wheatley said three playoff games on their home field has been a tremendous advantage for Northview. But he’s ready to pile the team on a bus and get out of Bratt.
“They do want one long road trip to Orlando next week,” he joked.
Tonight semifinal game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in Bratt. [Click here for game details you need to know.] It’s the second ever semifinal game for the Northview Chiefs, and they have big plans for a big win.
“We are going to make history,” Chief Laderious Franklin said.
For a photo gallery from a Thursday night Chiefs pep rally, click here.
Pictured above: Northview High held a community pep rally for the region champ Chiefs Thursday night. Pictured below: Team members autographed almost 100 spirit shirts. NorthEscambia.com photos, click here.
Winning $109,884 Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In North Escambia
December 2, 2011
For the second time this week, a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket was sold in North Escambia. The winning ticket in Thursday night’s drawing was sold in Davisville.
The Quick Pick ticket, with numbers 5-27-28-32-33, was sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97, at the Alabama state line. The ticket was one of two winning tickets in the drawing; the second winning ticket was sold in Miami.
Each of the winning tickets is worth $109,884.61. There were also 262 tickets with four correct numbers worth $135 each, and 8,571 with three of five numbers worth $11.50 each.
The winning ticket in Tuesday night’s Fantasy 5 was sold in Molino. Read more…
Feds Looking At Psych Meds For Foster Kids
December 2, 2011
A federal study released Thursday is sparking Congressional scrutiny of the high rates at which children in state care are prescribed potent psychotropic drugs.
In Florida, one of five states examined by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, foster children were medicated at a rate of 22 percent compared to 8.2 percent for non-foster children in 2008, according to the study.
The GAO found that Florida – along with Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon – “falls short of providing comprehensive oversight as defined by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry” in its oversight of the use of psychotropic drugs.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware held a hearing into the disparate rates.
George Sheldon, formerly Florida’s child welfare chief and now a federal official, last week wrote to states, “Enhanced efforts to properly prescribe and monitor psychotropic medication among children in out-of-home care are necessary, appropriate, and urgent.”
In 2009, as secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, Sheldon presided over an investigation into the suicide of seven-year-old Gabriel Myers, who hanged himself from a shower in Margate; the child had been taking several “black-box” drugs whose side effects include suicidal behavior.
“I am so thankful I was taken off of these types of meds,” said Derrick Riggins, a former Florida foster child who now works at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington, D.C. “Kids in foster care don’t need to be over-medicated. They need a loving home.”
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will convene state directors of child welfare, Medicaid and mental health services to develop action plans for addressing the issue.
By The News Service Florida
Tate Regional Roundup To Collect Electronics, Tires And More For Free
December 2, 2011
Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management hosts the next Regional Roundup on Saturday, December 3, from 8 a.m. until noon at Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment. Regional Roundup events provide an opportunity to properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste (HHW), shoes and up to four tires per vehicle, free of charge.
Businesses and residents can dispose of all types of clean, dry, recyclable electronics including computers, monitors and terminals, keyboards, mice, printers, TVs, copiers, gaming systems, remotes, fax machines, VCRs, stereo systems, cell phones and telephones. Electronics that have been gutted will not be accepted. Businesses with large amounts of electronics should call the Department of Solid Waste Management to make an appointment to dispose of these items at the Perdido Landfill. Appliances, including fans and air conditioners, are not accepted.
HHW items can cause injury if handled improperly. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their labels, such as flammable, corrosive, poison or toxic and include items such as swimming pool chemicals, cleaners, drain openers, paint and paint products, fuels, gases, lawn and garden chemicals, aerosol cans and automotive repair and maintenance products.
Shoes are also collected for the Soles4Souls program. Donated shoes should be bound together with a rubber band.
All electronics, household hazardous waste and tires are recycled.
For more information about Regional Roundup events, proper disposal of waste or to make an appointment for a business electronics drop-off, contact the Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management at (850) 937-2160.
Bank Robber Takes A Cab, Gets Busted In Fun Park
December 2, 2011
A man that took a cab for his getaway car after robbing a bank Thursday afternoon was busted by deputies within a half hour later at an amusement park.
Darrel Ward, 27, walked into the Member’s First Credit Union on Airport Boulevard, passed a note to a teller demanding money and alluded that he had a weapon. After the teller gave Ward an undisclosed amount of cash, Ward fled in a cab, according to Sgt. Mike Ward (no relation), spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The cab driver said he dropped Ward off in the 700 block of Ladner Drive in the Marcus Pointe subdivision. Off duty deputy Troy Brown saw Ward jumping the back fence of Sam’s Fun City. Ward was taken into custody with incident. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on robbery and larceny charges with bond set at $105,000.
Sheriff’s K-9 units were able to recover a bag of money behind Sam’s Fun City and the Rave Theater.
Century Resident Retires After 11 Years With Escambia County Facilities
December 2, 2011
Louie Eugene (Gene) Findley of Century retired this week from Escambia County Facilities Management/Maintenance. He worked for Escambia County for 11 years after retiring from the Westinghouse Corp.
Findley’s work took him across the North Escambia area — often to the community centers, fire departments, tax and tag offices, Clerk of Courts offices, and Lake Stone.
Escambia County Public Works held a retirement party Wednesday for Findley, celebrating his accomplishments for Escambia County.
Pictured: Gene Findley (left) is congratulated on his retirement by Escambia County Facilities Management Deputy Bureau Chief David Wheeler. Pictured below: A retirement party for Findley was held Wednesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Grad Celebrating Alabama State Football Championship
December 2, 2011
The Flomaton Hurricanes may have fallen short of a state championship this season, but a Flomaton graduate is celebrating a state football championship of his own.
Flomaton High School graduate Patrick Henderson has coached at Handley High School in Roanoke, Ala., for the past 11 years. Thursday, his Handley Tigers rallied from a 14-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter Thursday to claim the school’s first Alabama Class 3A football title.
Handley scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes and turned away a Madison Academy threat from the Tigers’ 12-yard line in the final seconds to capture a 20-14 victory.
“It was a roller coaster of a ride of a fourth quarter,” Handley said Thursday night. “I am just so proud of our kids, coaches, and fans.”
Henderson coaches wide receivers and corner backs at Handley, and he also edits team video. He and his wife, Robyn, have two children, Finley and Sophie Kate.
Pictured top: Celebrating an Alabama Class 3A championship Thursday are Handley High’s Logan Cofield, Flomaton graduate Patrick Henderson, quarterback Tre Kyles, running back Breyon Deberry and offensive coordinator Ron Watters. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Homeless Man Facing Life In Prison For Kidnapping, Robbery
December 2, 2011
A homeless man is facing life in prison for kidnapping and robbing a church secretary.
Richard Lewis Bell entered a plea Thursday to robbery with a deadly weapon, carjacking with a firearm/weapon, and armed kidnapping before Judge Jan Shackelford.
On April 27, 2011, Bell forced Brenda Bartley, the secretary of Pine Summit Baptist Church, out of her office with some type of weapon that he had mostly concealed in a backpack. He then made Bartley drive to her bank where $500 in cash was withdrawn from her account.
Bell filled up her car with gas and eventually abandoned her at the end of Fairfield Drive. Bartley walked to the nearest gas station and contacted law enforcement. Bell was ultimately stopped in Texas 15 days later driving the victim’s vehicle. Bartley’s car was towed back from Texas with many of the defendant’s belongings which were tested and had his DNA as well as the backpack, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Richard Lewis Bell faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced later this month before Judge Shackelford.
Jay High Students Get Hands-On With Hospital Clinical Experience
December 2, 2011
Six Jay High School students who plan to pursue careers in health care are receiving hands-on experience while shadowing staff members at a local hospital.
The Jay seniors — Quinten Garcia, Shelbie Barnhill, Leah Finney, Crystal Brown, Allison Blair and Dallas Belanger — enrolled in the school’s Health Science Academy as sophomores and are now in the final phase of the program. The academy was launched in 2009 as a partnership between Jay High School and Jay Hospital to offer real-world experience for students interested in health care careers.
“Our team of doctors, nurses and support staff has enjoyed working with these talented students,” said Patsy Jackson, director of nursing at Jay Hospital. “The students experience a wide range of health care occupations and have opportunities to learn from our staff members in very small group settings. The mentoring relationships that have formed will be invaluable to these students for years to come.”
During their clinical rotations, Health Science Academy students participate in all areas of the hospital – from patient care to housekeeping to medical records. They observe and practice skills that are allowed within their scope. Prior to the on-site experience, students attended classes at Jay High School to prepare them for the clinical setting.
Participant Allison Blair said she expects the experience to be helpful to her when it comes time to make a career choice. “So far, I have really enjoyed working with patients and getting to know the employees,” Blair said. I have gained a respect for each of them.”
For more information about the Jay High School Health Science Academy, contact program facilitator Nina Hendricks at (850) 675-4507 or HendricksN@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us.
Pictured: (L-R) Quinten Garcia, Shelbie Barnhill, Leah Finney, Crystal Brown, Allison Blair and Dallas Belanger are enrolled in the Jay High School Health Science Academy and are completing clinical rotations. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.