Photo Gallery: Molino 16U Jags Beat East Milton
April 5, 2010
The Molino 16U Jags recently beat East Milton. For a submitted photo gallery from Donnie Nicholson, click here.
If you would like to share your photos from baseball, softball or t-ball action in the area, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Spring Break! Share Your Photos, See Yourself On NorthEscambia.com
April 5, 2010
We want to see your Spring Break photos. Email your Spring Break photos to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion in a photo gallery later this week. It’s your chance to be on NorthEscambia.com!
Area Sunrise Services Celebrate Resurrection
April 4, 2010
Easter morning sunrise services were held at many locations in the North Escambia area Sunday morning.
Several Molino churches came together for a community Easter morning sunrise service at Aldersgate Methodist Church, celebrating with music and a message.
In Century, Abundant Life Assembly of God held a sunrise service in the park. In Flomaton, the Flomaton Ministerial Association held a sunrise service at the First United Methodist Church of Flomaton with several local churches in attendance.
In Atmore, a community Easter service was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Atmore; and in Cantonment, a sunrise service was held at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church.
The sunrise services celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, an important event to the faithful.
According to the Bible:
Matthew 28:1-20
Resurrection Morning
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5
But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie
11 As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
The Great Commission
16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
from the Holman Christian Standard Bible
Grammy Award Winner Marty Raybon Performs In Bratt
April 4, 2010
Grammy Award winner Marty Raybon performed two shows Saturday during the first Northview FFA Alumni Bluegrass Festival in Bratt. He was joined by Delta Reign and the Dog River Boys.
Proceeds from the concert benefited the Northview FFA Scholarship Fund, and the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band also took part, selling concessions to raise funds toward an upcoming trip to Orlando.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Several politicians and candidates were also on hand, to meet and greet the public, including Doug Broxson, Dave Murzin, Walter B. Hill, Larry Walker and Greg Evers.
The show was sponsored in part by the Northview FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund, NorthEscambia.com, Sheriff David Morgan and Beulahfest.
Marty Raybon is perhaps best known as the former lead singer of the country mega-group Shenandoah from 1985-1996. He led Shenandoah to 22 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including thirteen number one singles, such as: “The Church on Cumberland Road” (1989), “Sunday in the South” (1989), “Two Dozen Roses” (1989), “Next to You, Next to Me” (1990) and “Butterfly Kisses” (1997). At the top of the charts, Raybon became known for his bluegrass and gospel-influenced semi-traditional country sound.
Pictured above: Marty Raybon performs Saturday during the Northview FFA Alumni Bluegrass Festival in Bratt. Pictured below: Raybon with Northview High FFA members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida House Set To Debate Proposal To Link Teacher Pay To Student Performance
April 4, 2010
Florida House members will get their chance next week to debate at length a controversial education reform measure that would link teacher pay raises to student performance on standardized tests.
And public school teachers will be packing the room in protest of the legislation.
The measure (HB 7189, SB 6) has turned into an ugly source of controversy, pitting Republican lawmakers against the teachers’ union in a fight over how educators should be paid. Proponents contend that teachers should be compensated based largely on results produced. Teachers say that is already the case and that the bill unfairly targets them by not taking into account external factors that could affect a student’s performance on test day.
The House Education Policy Council has scheduled a meeting for Monday to take testimony on two pieces of legislation: HB 7189 on merit pay and HB 7053, which requires students to take more difficult classes to graduate high school. But the bulk of the day will be spent on the merit pay bill.
The legislation, already approved by the Senate, would link teacher pay in part to student learning gains, create end-of-course exams on a district level basis and essentially eliminate any sort of tenure program for new teachers. Proponents of the measure say it will weed out the bad apples in the teaching profession while rewarding good teachers with higher pay.
“We need to make sure we’re rewarding our best teachers,” Education Policy Council Chair Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, told the News Service last month. “We have so many great teachers in the state of Florida and we’ve got to find creative ways to reward them.”
But it has also created outrage among public school officials. A representative of the school board association told senators last month that the plan has “done more to damage morale than anything I’ve seen in a long time” and the teachers’ union bemoaned it was shut out of negotiations.
A previous House meeting on the bill evolved into chaos when a vote was taken without hearing amendments from Democrats and allowing few teachers to testify. Rep. Marty Kiar,D-Davie, called the meeting a “sham” and Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, referred to it as a “miscarriage of justice.”
In response, the House Education Policy Council, the bill’s final stop before it goes before the entire House, scheduled eight hours for teachers and others to air their concerns about the bill on Monday.
Teachers have flooded lawmakers’ offices with emails, letters and phone calls. A spokeswoman for Senate President Jeff Atwater said the President had also received about 30 voice mails on the issue from students during the school day over the past few weeks.
One student, a junior at Park Vista High School in Palm Beach County, wrote Atwater a handwritten letter saying that basing salaries on test scores “is beyond ridiculous.”
“I believe that teachers are there to teach students and actually educate them, not spend 3/4 of the school year preparing for one test,” she wrote.
The Florida Education Association has also launched a Facebook group called NO Tallahassee Takeover and an accompanying Twitter feed to rally support against the legislation. It has also released a TV and radio spot to run in select markets. A spokesman for the FEA wouldn’t release how much the media spots cost or how long they would air.
“It will run as long as we think is necessary,” said FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow.
Some education advocates have warned that the legislation could drive teachers away from the state and that it does not take into account circumstances beyond a teacher’s control like socioeconomic factors, natural disasters like a hurricane or illness. Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, had proposed an amendment during the Senate debate to address that issue but withdrew it, saying he simply didn’t have the votes. Kiar has proposed an identical change to the House version.
Daniel W. Fortner, Sr., a teacher at Booker Middle School in Sarasota, wrote Atwater, Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who sponsored the Senate bill, and Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, saying he fears that even if he does earn merit pay, his potential for future earnings would be cut under the proposal.
“Unfortunately my family and I have come to the conclusion that, should the bill pass, we will move to another state,” Fortner wrote. “One that appreciates teachers and is willing to compensate them accordingly.”
Proponents of the bill will likely be out in force at the committee meeting as well.
The Associated Industries of Florida sent out a release Friday morning attacking the FEA for its opposition to the legislation. And the Florida Chamber of Commerce has also been a big supporter of the proposal.
“It’s time to institute a better process that results in better-prepared students and we can affect the greatest impact by changing how we evaluate and reward our teachers,” said Barney Bishop, AIF President. “Being evaluated based on the results produced and rewarded for a job well-done with additional compensation are not anomalous methods for determining employment status or pay.”
The Foundation for Florida’s Future, a Jeb Bush-backed think tank on education, has also been pushing the legislation. Bush, who ran against the FEA-backed gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride in 2006, has long been a proponent of merit pay for teachers.
By Kathleen Haughney, News Service Florida for NorthEscambia.com
Tate TV Production Students Seek To Win Video Competition
April 4, 2010
TV Production students from Tate High School’s Multimedia Academy are asking for your help so they can win a video contest to encouraging teens not to drink and drive.
This month, students in Tate High School’s TV Production classes entered the annual “Don’t Drink and Drive” video contest sponsored by the Lewis Bear Company and WEAR TV. Judges selected two of Tate’s videos as finalists; Tate is the only Escambia County public school to earn this recognition. The other two video finalists are from Milton and Catholic High Schools.
The director of Tate’s Multimedia Academy, Cynthia Reeves, urges “Please take a few minutes to text in your vote. These students worked very hard for this and deserve to win. Let’s show the community how proud we are of our talented young people.”
The winning school receives $1,000 and the video will play on Channel 3 during prom season.
To vote, send a text from your phone to 45203 and then type either DDD2 or DDD4 in the message area, denoting the second and fourth videos that are from Tate. To view the videos, click here.
Gunter, Flowers To Wed
April 4, 2010
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Gunter, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Leigh, to Mr. Trenton Anthony Flowers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Flowers. Miss Gunter is the granddaughter of Mrs. Dorothy B Gunter and the late Jimmie E Gunter Sr. of McDavid, Fla., and Joyce G Anthony and the late Norman Cecil Anthony of Brewton, Al.
The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Caraway of Atmore, Al., and Mr. Chuck Daughtry of Atlanta, Ga and Ms. Jean Flowers and the late Winston Flowers of Atmore, Al.
The wedding will be held April 17th at 5 p.m at First Baptist Church Atmore, Alabama.
Reception to follow.
All friends and family are invited.
Northview Chiefs Beat T.R. Miller
April 4, 2010
The Northview varsity and junior varsity baseball teams both beat T.R. Miller Saturday in Bratt. The varsity Northview Chiefs (15-4) beat the T.R. Miller Tigers 9-8 . The JV Chiefs beat T.R. Miller 4-3. Pictured after the game are: (front, L-R) Jansen Bodiford, Kaleb Purvis, Hunter Black, Austin Arrington, Shakel Holmes, Austin Lowery, Josh Scott, (back, L-R) Head Coach Sid Wheatly, Tyler Brooks, Dakota Stuckey, Aaron Chancery, Austin Reid, Coach Tommy Weaver, Brad Lowery, Heath Burkett, Taylor Martin, Brandon Sheets, Colton Sims, Dabney Langhorne and Coach Joseph Chastain. Submitted photos by Becky Lowery for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kingsfield Road Home Damaged By Fire
April 3, 2010
A Kingsfield Road home suffered moderate damage in a Saturday morning blaze. The 10:30 a.m. fire was quickly contained by the Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue. There were no injuries reported. Six people were left without a home following fire. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Trapped, Transported By Helicopter After Wreck In Her Neighbor’s Yard
April 3, 2010
A local nurse is recovering after reportedly falling asleep on her way home Saturday morning from Sacred Heart Hospital and hitting a tree in her neighbor’s yard.
Stacy Hancock was flown back to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight after the accident. Her injuries were not considered life threatening. Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to extricate Hancock from her car following the accident about 8 a.m. on Tate Road.
The Ensley and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured below: A Cantonment woman was transported by LifeFlight following a wreck in her neighbor’s yard early Saturday morning. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
