Voluntary Pre-K Celebrates 5th
January 10, 2011
Florida’s four-year old voluntary prekindergarten program is celebrating its fifth birthday this school year.
“For five years now results have shown us that when children participate in a VPK program, even partially, they enter kindergarten better prepared for success,” said Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “I’m excited that the latest To the Core segment highlights this and all that VPK has done to give our children a focused head start on their future education.”
Cynthia R. Lorenzo, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, added: “Since its inception, the VPK program has provided Florida’s four-year-olds with a rich learning environment, which is critical to creating a talent pool of future leaders who will thrive in the classroom and in the workforce. We are grateful for the many successes of the VPK program over the past five years and remain committed to preparing our youngest Floridians for a lifetime of learning success.”
Established in 2005, Florida’s VPK program is jointly administered by the Department of Education, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the Department of Children and Families. The program provides funding for 4-year-olds to attend prekindergarten in order to better prepare them for entrance into kindergarten. For more information on VPK, including local provider contact information, click here.
Pictured: VPK students at Bratt Elementary enjoy a little outside learning during an early December snow flurry. Submitted photo, click to enlarge.
Photo: Power Crews Stream Toward Winter Storm Outages
January 10, 2011
Power crews from as far away as Ohio traveled to Alabama, Georgia and beyond to help with power outages caused by winter storm conditions. Sunday, dozens of those power crews traveled through North Escambia.
Monday, Alabama Power only reported 1,500 outages statewide.
Pictured above and below: Power crews head north along Highway 29 near McDavid on Sunday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sleet Reported In Escambia, Santa Rosa (With Photo)
January 9, 2011
We received numerous reports of light sleet Sunday afternoon in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Sleet was reported in Century, Walnut Hill, Molino, Byrneville, McDavid, Cantonment, Beulah, Pensacola, Ferry Pass, Pace and Milton. No real accumulations were reported.
For more on the weather, click here…
Do you have photos? Email them to news@northescambiacom
Pictured: A little sleet began to accumulate on a trampoline in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Distracted By Cell Phone, Hits Hwy 29 Building
January 9, 2011
An elderly Colorado man not was injured in a car versus building accident Sunday morning in Bluff Springs that was blamed on a cell phone.
Jack Ray McAllister, 73, of Littleton, Colorado, blamed the 7:50 a.m. accident on his cell phone; he told the Florida Highway Patrol that he was distracted when his phone rang. While looking for the phone, he failed to negotiate a curve as he traveled northbound on Highway 29 at Bluff Springs Road.
His Chevrolet Malibu struck a support pillar of an old brick and wooden gas pump awning, sending one end of the awning crashing to the ground. The vehicle continued a short distance away from the building, coming to rest upright alongside Highway 29.
McAllister was not injured.
McAllister was charged with careless driving by the FHP. The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
Pictured: A car versus building accident Sunday morning in Bluff Springs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Of Emergency Declared In Alabama In Advance Of Winter Storm
January 9, 2011
A state of emergency has been declared in Alabama and a winter storm is expected to cover most of the state with snow and ice by Monday morning.
The declaration was made Sunday by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley
“We face a serious storm that will have an impact all across Alabama,” Riley said. “With the accumulations of ice that are projected to begin tonight, motorists should stay off roads during these conditions. State agencies have been preparing for this dangerous weather and have already called up extra manpower and equipment. However, the most important thing right now is for citizens to be constantly aware of the hazards and to make sure they themselves are prepared. I urge all Alabamians to heed the weather reports and to make sure their families and friends do the same.”
Gov. Riley also announced:
- The Alabama Department of Transportation has personnel ready throughout the state with sanding and salting equipment. But if current forecasts hold true, many road in Alabama — including interior South Alabama — will be impassable at some point during the night.
- Emergency closures of state roads will be posted online by ALDOT at www.dot.state.al.us.
- The Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) has its officers working 12-hour shifts to assist motorists who insist on traveling, despite the expected dangerous road conditions.
- The ALDOT emergency call center will also be activated beginning 5 p.m. Sunday. The call center is staffed by ALDOT personnel to provide road closure and travel information. The emergency call center number is 888-588-2848.
- The Alabama National Guard also has 7,000 of its troops on drill duty in the state at this time, and they are focusing on storm preparations as well.
Pictured: Gov. Bob Riley declared a state of emergency in the entire state of Alabama due to an approaching winter storm. Watching the signing is Sonny Reagan, the governor’s legal advisor and a major in the Alabama National Guard. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Comments On Arizona Shooting
January 9, 2011
Two area members of Congress have issued statements about the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a Tucson, Arizona, shopping complex on Saturday.
United States Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL)
“We are all shocked and saddened by the news of the attack on my colleague, Gabrielle Giffords, members of her staff, and her constituents at a public event today in Tucson, Arizona. Congresswoman Giffords is a hard working public servant and this senseless act of violence is unconscionable.
This is a sad day for our nation. Violence and threats of violence against citizens are reprehensible and have no place in society.
Vicki and I will be praying for the Giffords family, the friends and family of Judge John Roll, and for all of the victims of this unfathomable attack.”
U.S. Representative Jo Bonner (R-AL)
“This is an absolute tragedy. Gabby and I briefly served together on the House Science Committee where she was always approachable about working on matters of national interest. The wife of an astronaut and a devoted public servant, Gabby has been a tireless advocate for her district and state. All our hearts are heavy today for her, her family, staff and constituents. They are all in our prayers.”
FHP Plans Checkpoints
January 9, 2011
The Florida Highway Patrol has announced locations for driver’s license and vehicle checkpoints during the month of January in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
In Escambia County, FHP checkpoints will be held during December at the following locations:
- Kemp Road west of Rolling Hills Road
- Jernigan Road south of 9 Mile Road
- Border Street at SR10A overpass
- Cerny Road south of Muldoon Road
In Santa Rosa County, checkpoints will be held:
- Hamilton Bridge Road east of Bridge
- Ward Basin Road at the Fire Department
- Mulat Road south of U.S. 90
- Gardenview east of CR197
Regional Economic Development Alliance Names Executive Director
January 9, 2011
The Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance has named a new executive director.
Jim Searcy was named director by the five county partnership that seeks to market and promote Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Choctaw and Clarke counties in Alabama. Searcy will be responsible for implementing programs for new business attraction, business retention and expansion, and investor relations.
The director works closely with local economic developers, elected officials, chambers of commerce, and industrial boards across the five county region.
Dr. John Johnson, Vice-Chairman of CGEDA, stated that the Board is extremely pleased to bring Searcy on board. “Jim brings over 20 years of economic development experience to the Alliance. Members of the CGEDA Board of Directors are extremely pleased at being able to attract one of the state’s top economic development officials,” said Johnson.
“The Coastal Gateway Executive Director position was very appealing. This region has tremendous potential. An excellent workforce, dedicated education partners, and effective community leadership are important assets in the economic development process,” Searcy said. “This region is fortunate to have those and many other essential attributes. I intend for the CGEDA to be a catalyst in this process. The CGEDA Board is enthusiastic and I look forward to translating that enthusiasm into results.”
Searcy currently serves as Vice President of Business and Industry Retention at the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). Before the 2009 merger of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board into the BBA, Searcy served at the Metropolitan Development Board for 13 years as the Vice President of Marketing.
Prior the Metropolitan Development Board, Searcy worked for the Alabama Development Office (ADO) for seven years as a Senior Project Manager.
Searcy is a past board member at the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA). He holds a achelors Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University Montgomery.
Clean Out Your Closets For Children’s Hospital Kids
January 9, 2011
The holidays have come and gone, and January is the perfect time to clean out your closets to benefit a great cause.
On Saturday, January 22, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital will host ”Clean Out Your Closets 4 Kids Day” from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Greenhut Auditorium at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Area kids and their parents are asked to go through their closets and bring new and gently used items to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and other area children’s charities.
Items needed include DVDs, video games, books, gently-used plastic toys and board games, winter coats, and art supplies.
Once the donations have been brought in, volunteers will sort through the items and designate them for a variety of pediatric departments at Sacred Heart, including the Autism Center, Miracle Camp, Child Life, Pediatric Rehabilitation, and the Pediatric Care Center. Donations will also be given to other area child charity organizations and area Escambia County elementary schools.
For a complete list of needs, click here.
For more information on how to get involved, please call Cat Ellis at (850) 416-1156.
Billy, Lois Ward To Celebrate 65th Anniversary
January 9, 2011
Billy and Lois Ward of Walnut Hill, Fla. will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Sunday, January 30.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend a reception held in their honor at the Walnut Hill Community Center, from 3 until 5 p.m.
Mr. Ward is a retired county judge and Mrs. Ward is a homemaker.
The couple has two sons and daughters-in-law, Roy and Jackie Ward of Bratt, Fla., and Russ and Allison Ward of Birmingham, Ala. They have four grandchildren, Jordana Ward of Bratt, Jocelyn Drew of Atmore, and Hope and Seth Ward of Birmingham.