Help Tornado Victims: Donate At Any North Escambia School
May 6, 2011
NorthEscambia.com, Pen Air Federal Credit Union and North Escambia schools are joining together to help tornado victims in Alabama.
Donations will be accepted all this week at Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Molino Park Elementary, Bratt Elementary and Byrneville Elementary. Students are being asked to bring in items for the tornado victims, while the general public is encouraged to drop off their donations at any of the schools.
Items being collected include non-perishable food, water, personal care items (like deodorant, soap, toothpaste and shampoo), diapers, baby wipes, trash bags, mops and other cleaning supplies, batteries, flashlights, can openers and more. Clothing and cash are not being accepted at the schools. Monetary donations can be made at any Pen Air FCU location, including Century and Nine Mile Road.
For more information, email news@northescambia.com.
For information on other local tornado victim drives, click here.
Last Minute Budget Deal Cuts School Funding
May 6, 2011
A last-minute budget deal surfaced Thursday would cut the amount of money public school districts receive to provide oversight of certain charter schools.
Revealed in what is likely the last public hearing on the budget, lawmakers agreed to cut the administrative fee that school districts receive for highly-rated charter schools.
Under a bill passed by the Legislature on Wednesday, charter schools that have received an “A” or “B” rating in the last three years would be given the ability to expand enrollment or add new grades without having to wait for approval from the school district. Under the budget deal reached Thursday, the fee school districts receive for providing administrative oversight and support for these schools is cut from 5 percent to 2 percent, capped at 250 students.
“Two percent’s more than adequate to pay for the services that are given from school districts to charter schools,” said Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, the Senate’s budget chief. “This is only for high-performing, which I believe are A and B schools.”
But the budget deal changes a fee districts get for a new charter school rating system that was just voted on Wednesday. When questioned about whether it was appropriate, Alexander said “each chamber will be able to vote it up or down. If they don’t think it is good policy, they can say no.”
Advocates for public schools said the administrative fee is used to pay for the oversight and support that school districts provide charter schools. County school districts oversee charter schools, which are technically public schools and receive state and local funds to operate. But charter schools are given more freedom to adopt their own rules and regulations, such as having parents and students sign contracts prior to enrollment.
“There is definitely an expense to it,” said Palm Beach County schools lobbyist Vernon Pickup-Crawford. For some districts that have a large number of charter schools, a 5 percent fee doesn’t cover the full cost.
He called the proposal to slash funding “not surprising.”
Cutting the fee from 5 to 2 percent ensures more of the per-student funding dollars go to charter schools over traditional public schools. One of the top priorities of the Republican-dominated Legislature has been to expand school choices beyond regular public schools. A raft of school choice bill have passed the Legislature this session, including several that expand charter and virtual schools and are awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature.
A call to the Florida School Boards Association about the fee cut was not returned Thursday.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Lawmakers Send Abortion Bills To Scott
May 6, 2011
After an emotional debate that touched on the role of government and personal values, the Florida Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that will require ultrasounds before women can have abortions.
Senators also approved a bill to tighten the state’s parental-notification law, which deals with minors seeking abortions. In all, the Republican-controlled Legislature has passed four measures this week aimed at making it less likely that women or girls will get abortions.
The Senate voted 24-15 for the ultrasound bill (HB 1127), which is similar to a measure that former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed last year. Supporters said mandating ultrasounds will give women more information — and could lead some to forgo abortions.
“This is not telling them what to do with their body,” said Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne. “This is just giving them more information to make an informed decision.”
But Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, criticized the Legislature’s focus on abortion bills when many Floridians are unemployed and losing homes in foreclosure. She said she would not vote to make a decision about “your personal values, your personal religion, your personal body.”
“This is not the issue that is the most-important issue in this state,” Lynn said.
Senate bill sponsor Ronda Storms, however, defended focusing on abortion, saying lawmakers make value decisions on numerous types of issues.
“The great questions of life are why we’re here,” the Valrico Republican said.
The measure, which now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, would require ultrasounds before women can have first-trimester abortions, a requirement that already is in place for later-term abortions. Women would have to sign forms if they do not want to see the fetal images or hear descriptions.
Democrats blasted what they described as government interfering in the relationship between doctors and patients. They also said Republican support for the ultrasound bill contradicted the GOP’s stance that last year’s federal health-care overhaul was a government intrusion into personal medical issues.
“I think women can make an informed decision on their own without the government interfering,” said Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston.
But Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, said a recent change in the bill led him to support it. That change eliminated a requirement that women hear descriptions of the ultrasound images.
With Republicans dominating both chambers of the Legislature — and the conservative Scott in the governor’s office — abortion opponents have moved forward with a series of bills during this year’s session.
On Wednesday, lawmakers gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would make clear public money cannot be used for abortions. Also, they approved a bill that would ban abortion coverage in policies sold through a state health-insurance exchange, which is expected to start operating in 2014 because of the federal health overhaul.
Before passing the ultrasound bill Thursday, Senators voted 26-12 to approve the parental notice measure (HB 1127), which also is ready to go to Scott.
Florida law already requires that parents be notified before minors can have abortions. But the bill seeks to tighten restrictions on what is known as a judicial “bypass” — a process that allows minors to seek court approval for abortions without their parents being told.
As an example, the bill will require minors to go to courts in the judicial circuits where they live. Currently, they are able to go before judges anywhere in their appellate districts — a far-larger number of courts in some regions of the state.
Critics said that could threaten the confidentiality of minors seeking abortions, particularly in rural areas where judges or courthouse workers might know their families. The critics said some teens would be in danger of violence if family members find out they are pregnant or seeking abortions.
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said the current judicial-bypass system works.
“It seems we’re tinkering with the law for no reason,” Smith said.
But bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said minors now can be driven hundreds of miles across North Florida to seek approval for abortions. He said the bill will maintain confidentiality for the minors, because judicial circuits often include numerous counties.
“It’s not like these young ladies have to go to their hometown courthouse,” Hays said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service Florida
FCAT Writing Scores Good News For Local Schools
May 5, 2011
FCAT writing scores are out for fourth, eighth and tenth graders, and they are good news for North Escambia area schools.
Over three quarters of elementary school students in the area scored a proficient 4.0 or above , and each of the schools — Bratt, Byrneville, Jim Allen, Molino Park and Jay were up several percentage points over last year.
At the middle school and high school levels, over 80 percent of eighth grade students a Ernest Ward, Random and Jay scored a 4.0 or greater, as did the tenth graders at Tate, Northview and Jay high schools.
Jim Allen and Jay were on the only area elementary schools to surpass the state average of 81 percent of elementary students at 4.0 or greater. Bratt, Byrneville and Molino Park were below the state average.
At the middle school level, Ernest Ward, Ransom and Jay all surpassed the state 82 percent at 4.0 plus. And among area high schools, Northview, Tate and Jay has more than the state average 75 percent at 4.0 or greater.
The table below shows the percentage of fourth, eighth and tenth grade students cores a 4.0 and above on the FCAT writing test at North Escambia area schools.
Walnut Hill Man Gets Five Years In Federal Prison For Child Pornography
May 5, 2011
A Walnut Hill man has been sentenced to federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Jonathan Mark Jantz, 39, was sentenced this week to five years in prison, the minimum allowed by law. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Cybercrimes Unit investigator Chuck McMullen located known child pornography on Jantz’s computer that was made available on a file sharing network using the program Limewire in 2005.
McMullen, according to court documents, located a child pornography video over three minutes in length on Jantz’s home computer by searching the file sharing network for the term “kiddy”. He also located six computer files that were cataloged as known child porn and 120 files that “were named with file names that would suggest the file contained images of child pornography,” according to federal court documents.
The case was turned over to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and a search warrant was executed at Jantz’s residence on Highway 31, Atmore on February 1, 2006. “A forensic analysis of the digital evidence confirmed the presence of multiple images and videos of child pornography,” according to a court document.
The indictment against Jantz was returned by a federal grand jury on June 24, 2010, charging him with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
In a brief filed August 6, 2010, Jantz asserted that he believed the file sharing software was set to not allow access to the “shared” folder on his computer. His attorney argued that without a search warrant, law enforcement violated the Fourth Amendment that protects individuals against unreasonable search and seizure. Jantz also asserted that authorities were unable to prove that he had actually viewed the child pornography because his anti-virus software had accessed all files on his computer the morning of the search warrant and seizure.
Jantz also claimed that he had unknowingly downloaded any child porn on his computer.
“Mr. Jantz initially downloaded a large quantity of pornography with no intent to download child pornography. His interest was in adult pornography,” according to court documents filed by defense attorney Christopher Knight. “His possession of the alleged child pornography was incidental to his primary interest in collecting adult pornography.”
Jantz’s motion to dismiss the evidence against him was denied by Judge Callie Granade in September 2010. He immediately entered a guilty plea on both counts against him.
According to documents filed last week by his attorney, Jantz downloaded both adult and child pornography using the file-sharing program Limewire. He then organized the adult pornography into separate files by category and “placed what he considered to be suspect or perhaps illegal pornography into files which he designated as ‘New Folder’.”
“He did not select the files to be downloaded initially, but sought files using key words such as ‘teen’ and ’sex’. The result of his Limewire search produced both legal and illegal pornography, which he admittedly saved on his hard drive. He intended to delete the illegal pornography, but he failed to do so due to procrastination. He produced no pornography, distributed no pornography, spent little time viewing the pornography, whether legal or illegal, because of his busy schedule. He did not rape, torture or sodomize children. His reputation in the community is nothing but pristine with respect to his treatment of children,” according to response filed by by his attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Christopher Knight.
“Mr. Jantz is a good man, a hard-working man with a family who made a mistake, which, more than five years after the fact, he has taken steps to correct and go on with his life,” Knight stated.
Santa Rosa Commission Won’t Consider Jay Hospital Changes Next Week; No Decision From Baptist
May 5, 2011
Any proposed changes to Baptist Health Care’s lease on Jay Hospital won’t happen next week, but Baptist says no decision has been made about a future Jay Hospital partnership involving a Naples company.
County Commissioner Don Salter encouraged hundreds of people at a pro-hospital public forum last week in Jay to attend a commission meeting May 12 for possible action on the Jay Hospital lease. Now, Santa Rosa County Administrator Hunter Walker said Wednesday afternoon that Baptist has not requested any action by the commission next week.
At issue is the future of Jay Hospital — Jay doctor David Smith says Baptist and Naples-based HMA want to strike the term “non-profit” from their 99-year lease with Santa Rosa County, perhaps leading to a reduction in services at the 55-bed Jay Hospital — a reduction that could include the elimination of in-patient care and the emergency room.
According to Salter Baptist and HMA are attempting to form a new company that will share management of Jay Hospital and Santa Rosa County Medical Center. HMA would own a controlling 68 percent interest, he said. Baptist and HMA have declined to discuss their exact plans publicly.
But while a request to alter the lease will not take place next week, Baptist’s plans have not necessarily changed.
“Baptist Health Care conducted a regular scheduled board meeting on Monday, May 2. The boards discussed the proposed partnership with HMA and Jay Hospital but no action has been taken at this point,” said Liz Adams, Baptist spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com late Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, who serves on the Jay Hospital advisory board, said he was encouraged that Baptist will not ask Santa Rosa County to alter the lease next week.
“We still want to work with all the of parties involved,” Smith (pictured) said, “to make sure Jay Hospital is not hurt at all. We do not want reduced or eliminated services or to be closed in the future. There’s room for all parties involved to talk.”
Walker said he believes the five Santa Rosa commissioners will have the best interest of Jay hospital in mind if any changes to the hospital lease are ever presented to the board.
“Our board is not inclined to do much of anything until they (Baptist) agree with the Jay Hospital advisory board and the community’s wishes,” Walker said.
Jay Hospital is the town’s largest employer with 160 employees, a $5 million annual payroll and about $2 million per year in charity care.
Pictured: About 250 people attended a community meeting last week in support of Jay Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Native Among Those Killed In Alabama Tornadoes
May 5, 2011
A McDavid native was among the 236 people killed in last week’s Alabama tornadoes.
Iva Mae “Nana” Cantrell, of Pleasant Grove, Ala., was killed in the Jefferson County town of Concord as the tornadoes ripped through the Birmingham area.
Cantrell was born in McDavid to Sam and Iva Mae (Davis) Eddins in 1937. She lived in the Pensacola area most of her life. Funeral services for the 73-year old were held Tuesday in Pensacola.
For the complete obituary, click here.
No Arrests In Manhunt For Molino Burglary Suspect
May 5, 2011
There were no arrests following a late night manhunt in Molino for a burglary suspect interrupted in the act.
A neighbor called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report the sound of glass breaking and a burglary in progress at a home on Fairground Road between Jahaza and Brickyard roads about 11:05 Tuesday night.
The burglary suspect or suspects fled on foot as deputies arrived a short time later. A brief manhunt ensued, with a K-9 unit attempting to track the suspect.
Deputies were unable to located the suspect, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. He said neighbor was unable to provide a physical description of the suspect. There were no arrests in the case as of late Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Principal Gets Probation In DUI Case
May 5, 2011
An Escambia County principal arrested on a DUI charge last month entered a no contest plea Tuesday.
Sheree Diane Cagle, 49, of Cantonment was sentenced to 12 months probation by Judge Thomas Dannheisser. Her driver’s license was suspended for 12 months, and she was ordered to attend DUI school, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and an ignition interlock breathalyzer was ordered installed on her vehicle for six months. The vehicle will first be impounded for 10 days. She was ordered to not possess or consume alcohol, or prescription drugs without a prescription. She will also be subject to random urine or blood tests.
Cagle is principal of both Hallmark Elementary and Allie Yniestra Elementary. The schools will merge with Spencer Bibbs Elementary this fall to form a 800-student, $17 million high-tech elementary in downtown Pensacola with Cagle as principal.
Deputies stopped Cagle just after 6 p.m. April 9 on Highway 29 just north of Nine and One-Half Mile Road. The deputy reported that he could smell alcohol on Cagle’s breath, and she failed both a breathalyzer and field sobriety test. She tested about twice the legal limit for alcohol — .176 and .178.
On the way to jail, Cagle told deputies “that she was going to be in so much trouble” and asked “is there anyway this could just go away”, according to the arrest report.
According to the report, Cagle told deputies that she had consumed three margaritas and a beer at a Pensacola Beach restaurant about two or three hours prior to the traffic stop.
Learn More About Plan For 15,000 Acres In Escambia County
May 5, 2011
Escambia County residents can learn more next week about a detailed long-term conceptional plan for thousands of acres.
As part of the county’s adopted Optional Sector Plan, the Detailed Specific Area Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project aimed at encouraging orderly, logical growth and economic development in north Escambia County that will incorporate road networks, parks, schools, commercial and residential projects.
Residents are invited to a long-term conceptual planning meeting on the Detailed Specific Area Plan from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 11 at Ransom Middle School, 1000 West Kingfield Road.
The meeting will be host by Escambia County Development Services, in conjunction with the Massachusetts-based engineering firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.