High School Graduation May Get A Lot Harder
March 17, 2010
A key Senate committee gave its approval Tuesday to a bill that would make it more difficult to graduate high school in Florida, putting more emphasis on high level science and math classes.
Under the bill, all students would eventually have to take geometry, two years of algebra, biology, chemistry or physics and an additional “rigorous” science course. The class requirements would be phased in over the next few years as will end-of-course examinations. The measure would still allow students who fail the exams in those classes to progress to the next grade, but they must pass it by the end of their senior year in order to graduate.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of the plan, which heightens graduation standards, a promise the state made in its application for Race to the Top, a $4.35 billion federal grant that could bring $1 billion in additional dollars to Florida for education reform.
“We are choosing to make courses more rigorous for college bound students and those headed into the workforce,” said Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the sponsor of the measure.
The legislation, Detert said, would make students more competitive in a global economy. Business organizations such as the Florida Chamber have been major backers of the measure, saying that Florida needs a more educated workforce to rebuild the economy.
“Our kids are not prepared for today’s world, and all of the data we see from every source says the same thing,” Detert said.
Similar legislation passed the House last year, but faltered in the Senate with many members concerned about how to fund the changes. Some lawmakers are still not convinced that the changes can be made without a significant infusion of money.
Legislative analysis indicates it will cost $1.5 million annually to implement the new exams, and there are still several unknown budget scenarios that could affect the overall education budget.
Stimulus money will eventually run out and it is still unknown whether the state will get the Race to the Top money. There is also a movement to change the class size provision in the Constitution, which would also save the state money; however, it requires 60 percent voter approval to make that change.
With all the unknowns, said Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, it would be very difficult to implement these changes without putting major stresses on the public school system.
“I perceive that to be an unfunded mandate to our schools,” Rich said.
Northview Beats Jay 9-2; JV Wins 4-3 (Updated)
March 17, 2010
Northview 9 Jay 2
Northview picked up an important district win against Jay. The Chiefs beat the Royals 9-2 on Tuesday.
Northview scored four in the third, one in the fourth, and four in the fifth to pick up their nine runs. Jay got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Northview scored nine runs on 11 hits, and committed one error. Jay scored two runs, on eight hits, and committed an error.
Leading hitters for Northview were Brad Lowery, going 2 for 4, with a double, an RBI, and one run scored. Austin Lowery was 2 for 3, with 3 RBI’s and a run scored. Dakota Stuckey was 1 for 2, with a double, two RBI’s, and two runs. Austin Arrington was 1 for 4, with an RBI, and a run. Austin Reid was 1 for 4 with two runs. Dabney Langhorne was 1 for 3, with an RBI, and a run. Hunter Black was 1 for 3 with a run. Brandon Sheets was 1 for 2, and Aaron Chancery was 1 for 1, with an RBI.
The winning pitcher for the chiefs was Austin Reid, who moved his record to 3-1. He pitched six innings, gave up two runs on eight hits, walked three, and struck out eight. Brad Lowery pitched the seventh and retired the three batters he faced.
Rush Hendricks pitched four for the Royals, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out three.
Rush Hendricks pitched four for the Royals, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out three.<
Northview improves their overall record to 9-4. They are now 3-0 in the district.
Northview 4 Jay 3 (JV)
The Northview JV Chiefs beat the Jay Royals Tuesday, 4-3 in seven full innings.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Harold Harrison going 2 for 4 with two runs scored, Hunter Rigby with two singles, including the game winner in the seventh
inning, Tanner Brooks with a single. Justin Halteman had a single and scored a run. The winning pitcher was Kevin Vaughan.
Another Chance To Take Test To Qualify For Census Bureau Job
March 17, 2010
There is another opportunity this week in Jay for area residents to take the test to qualify for local U.S. Census Bureau jobs that pay up to $15 per hour.
The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary employees to assist with this year’s census. Jobs will include census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistant and census clerks.
Pay generally begins at $12.50 an hour, and can range up to $15 an hour, for up to a 40 hour week.
A valid driver’s license is required for most positions. Additionally, the potential Census Bureau employee must be 18 or older, pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen, pass a written test of basic skills and have a valid social security number.
The Census Bureau hires locally because local residents are knowledgeable about their neighborhood and familiar with the community, its residents, and its local customs, according to their web site.
Persons taking one of the North Escambia census tests must have their valid driver’s license and social security card. Census tests will be given in the North Escambia area for Florida residents as follows:
- Thursday, February 25, 6 p.m.: Jay Public Library
Residents of areas outside of northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties should call (866) 861-2010 for information about testing locations in their area.
For more information on north Escambia and Santa Rosa census jobs, click here or call Tebyl Presley at (251) 253-0622. Churches or other organization that would like to host a census job testing site should call the same number.
Fire Destroys Pollard Home
March 17, 2010
Fire units spent several hours on the scene of a fire that destroyed a house in the Pollard community in Escambia County, Alabama, on Tuesday.
The Friendship, Flomaton and Lambeth fire departments were dispatched to the fire about 6:30 Tuesday morning in the 1600 block of Old Highway 31 in Pollard. No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
The fire units left the scene about 9:30 a.m., but they were called to return about 10:30 when the fire restarted. They remained at the house until about 1 p.m.
Escambia County (Fla.) EMS from Century also responded to the call.
Click here for more photos submitted by Jerod Morris Photography.
Pictured above and below: Fire destroyed this house in Pollard, Alabama, Tuesday morning. Submitted photos by Michael Brantley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Area Students Attend Youth Tour In Tallahassee
March 17, 2010
Escambia River Electric Cooperative recently gave 14 juniors from the EREC service area in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties an opportunity to take part in a youth tour of the state capital.
The students traveled with EREC to Tallahassee to learn more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives. Participants included Allie Bryan, Taylor Fisher, Alexis Harris, Anna Hollingshead, Sarah Killam, A.J. Lambert, Sarah McLean, Nick McMellon, Courtney Penton, Justin Poley, Josh Scott, Ashley Stokes, Leely Trevino and Jami Wessel.
While in Tallahassee, the students toured the governor’s mansion and observed court in session in the Florida Supreme Court. The students participated in a mock session in the house chambers where various members of the House of Representatives addressed the group. In addition, the students enjoyed visiting the Challenger Museum and viewing the IMAX movie, Forces of Nature.
The Youth Tour program provides students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact with other students from co-ops throughout the state. It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group, according to Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson.
Pictured above: Youth Tour participants on the steps of the capital and in front of the Florida Supreme Court. (Front, L-R) Leely Trevino, Alexis Harris, Sarah Killam, Allie Bryan, Sarah McLean, Courtney Penton and Jami Wessel. Back row: Anna Hollingshead, Ashley Stokes, Josh Scott, Nick McMellon, Justin Poley, A.J. Lambert and Taylor Fisher. Pictured inset: Sarah Killam plays the piano in the Governor’s Mansion. Pictured below: Jami Wessel, Courtney Penton and Sarah McLean participate in a mock session in the House of Representatives. Pictured bottom: EREC Youth Tour participants in Tallahassee. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawyer Sends Letter To Century Council, Mayor, NorthEscambia.com Over Reader Comments
March 16, 2010
A Century man , apparently unhappy with reader comments about him on NorthEscambia.com, had his lawyer send a letter to NorthEscambia.com, each member of the Century Town Council and Century’s mayor. Meanwhile, a couple of town council members expressed displeasure over the letter during Monday night’s meeting of the body.
A letter dated March 3 from attorney Stephen B. Shell was mailed to NorthEscambia.com, members of the Century Town Council and Mayor Freddie McCall on behalf of Century resident Alfonzie Cottrell (pictured). Cottrell often attends and sometimes speaks at Century Town Council meetings.
The letter claims that “disparaging references” to Cottrell were made by NorthEscambia.com readers about two published stories that reported on public meetings of the Century Town Council. The letter does not take issue with the stories themselves, but rather with reader comments.
Cottrell and his lawyer take issue with the reader comments on the story “Century Councilman: Faulty Gas Meters Cause High Gas Bills” published February 16. The story does not reference Cottrell. In a single comment, one reader states that they were tired of Cottrell, another Century resident and Council member Henry Hawkins “complaining about everything”. Cottrell and the other Century resident, according to Century Town Council minutes, have often addressed the council in public meetings on various issues.
Cottrell and his lawyer also take issue with comments on the story “Code Enforcement Cases Headed To Court; Resident Claims Racial Bias”. According to the story and Century Town Council meeting minutes, Cottrell claimed in a regular Century Town Council meeting that Escambia County’s code enforcement in Century is racial biased. Several readers made various online comments about his statements to the council in a December 7, 2009, public meeting.
According to the minutes of that December meeting as approved by the Century Town Council, Cottrell, Helen Mincy and Robert Mitchell took part in a lengthy banter with the council over Escambia County’s code enforcement in the town.
At that meeting, after Council President Ann Brooks stated that the identity of persons cited by code enforcement should not matter, the council minutes state “Alfonzie Cottrell said it matters and he will tell them why — one reason why it is important is because code enforcement is going around in primarily the black areas — and that is exactly what they’re doing and he thinks that everything ought to be in the open on that thing”. The minutes also state “Alfonzie Cottrell said he knows they’re going around in the black areas”, and later “Alfonzie Cottrell said….And they going around and doing this thing and to him it looks like their just dwelling in black areas”.
It should be noted that council minutes are the town’s official record of what occurred in a meeting, and the wording in the minutes summarizes what is said. Minutes do not contain exact word-for-word quotes from individuals.
Cottrell’s attorney, Stephen B. Shell concluded his letter to NorthEscambia.com and copied to the Town of Century: “I have assured Mr. Cottrell that, as a conscientious journalist who is now cognizant of the legal requirements for defamation, you will provide unbiased but ethical coverage of future matters when Mr. Cottrell exercises his guaranteed right of free speech, and that you will be careful in attribution of words or positions to him.”
“Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we trust that there will be no need for any action with respect to future publications.”
Council Member Comments On Letter
“I got a problem with sending me a letter…it doesn’t concern the council,” Council member Sharon Scott said about the letter from Cottrell’s attorney during Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting. “I don’t have any control over what he say. I have to watch what I say because I get in trouble with him. I get mad with him myself…I don’t know why we got this letter. That’s between the media and whoever.”
Council member Henry Hawkins did not express concern over the contents of the letter, but over the fact that he believes that it was not delivered to him by town staff in a timely manner.
“Suppose we had to answer this, suppose we had to do something with it, and it sat here for three or four days in the office,” he said. He claimed that it is a “federal offense, a federal crime to not post mail in a timely manner”.
“When stuff comes in that has anybody’s name on it, it needs to be got to them,” Hawkins said.
Mayor Freddie McCall said there would be a box made available in the town hall for Hawkins by Tuesday morning. “You come everyday and see if you’ve got anything.”
Public Records
NorthEscambia.com made a written public records request for a copy of the letter received by Century Mayor Freddie McCall. To see the letter, click here (pdf). We also made a public records request for the official council meeting minutes from December 7. To read those minutes, click here (pdf).
Pictured top: Alfonzie Cottrell listens as the Century Town Council discusses a letter from his attorney Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Jobs For Century? Announcement Expected Soon
March 16, 2010
It looks like Century may be in for some good economic news with the announcement of a new industry expected to come soon.
Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night that there is “something on the horizon” for the old Alger-Sullivan lumberyard location on Front Street. He said he expects to have an announcement about the facility very soon. In fact, he said he had expected the announcement last week, but there were minor delays.
The 38 acre property was last sold in early 2006 to DMT Holdings, LLC in Navarre, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s online records. The facility includes five buildings totaling just over 300,000 square feet, according to the property appraiser. The buildings on the property range in age from 11 to 54 years,with the largest 160,150 square foot building constructed in 1972.
Pictured above: A portion of the old Alger-Sullivan Lumberyard in Century as seen in February. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Arrested For Threatening Family With Knife Following Funeral
March 16, 2010
A Walnut Hill man is being held in the Escambia County Jail, charged with an incident where he allegedly used a knife to threaten three members of his family after a funeral.
David Earl Fountain, 54, of Arthur Brown Road, Walnut Hill, is being held on $75,000 bond on a felony aggravated assault charge.
Escambia County deputies responded to a residence in the 6000 block of Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill Saturday night where family members said the incident occurred. Fountain’s wife, age 50, told deputies that she had returned home after a funeral and began to hug family members to console them. That’s when Fountain became angry, grabbed a pair of scissors and swung them at his wife, according to the arrest report. The wife’s son then grabbed Fountain in attempt to protect his mother. The trio began to wrestle before Fountain broke free and grabbed a knife from the kitchen, the report states.
The victim’s daughter escorted Fountain, 32, outside where he was still armed with the knife, deputies said. Fountain’s son said his father tried to stab him several times with the scissors, and another son, 36, said Fountain tried to stab him with the knife, according to Deputy Tod Day’s incident report.
Fountain had left the residence and traveled to Atmore before deputies arrived. Family members called Fountain and convinced him to return to Walnut Hill where he was arrested.
All of the victims refused medical treatment.
Fountain is due in court March 31.
Everyone Qualifies: $70 Worth Of Groceries For $30
March 16, 2010
As the cost of food continues to rise, there is a program available locally that can save more than half of the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached .It’s called Angel Food Ministries, a program that provides food relief to more than a half million families a month across the nation.
It’s a simple concept…pay $30 for a box of food worth about $70. There are no applications; everyone qualifies regardless of family status or income. The process is simple too…just stop by one of the designated local locations, pay the $30 and return on the designated pickup day to receive the box of food. They even accept food stamps. Or, the food can be ordered online at angelfoodministries.com.
The March “Signature Box” for $30 includes enough food to assist in feeding a family of four for about a week, including beef steaks, bacon wrapped turkey fillets, boneless center cut pork chops, ground beef, pizza, fruits, vegetables and more.
In the North Escambia area, orders can be placed online or through Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment, New Life Baptist Church in Century or the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
By combining different food orders, an entire family of four can be fed meals for April for $152 — less than $6 per meal, according to Katrina Williamson, program director at Allen Memorial. To see her meal plan, click here (pdf).
For the complete March menu options, click here (pdf).
At Allen Memorial in Cantonment orders for March can be placed March 17th from 2p.m. -5 p.m. at the church at 206 Pace Parkway in Cantonment for a food delivery on March 27. The church accepts cash, food stamps, checks, money orders or SNAP. Online orders can be made with a credit or debit card for pickup in Cantonment.
“Our food is “restaurant grade” meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. which we acquire through our involvement with only the best producers/vendors of high quality, “name brand” foods. Never “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved,” according to the Angel Food Ministries web site.
For more information about the program in Cantonment, call Allen Memorial United Methodist Church at 968-6213 or online at www.angelfoodministries.com. To visit the church and place an order…take Highway 29 south into Cantonment. Turn right at the red light onto Muscogee Road. and take the second right onto Pace Parkway.
For more information about the program in the Century area, call New Life Baptist Church at (850) 256-5696. For more information about the program in the Atmore area, call the Poarch Band of Creek Indians at (251) 368-9136 ext. 2600. Or for information about the program at any site, visit www.angelfoodministries.com.
1,156 ‘Buckets Of Hope’ Headed From North Escambia To Haiti
March 16, 2010
Over 1,100 food-containing Buckets of Hope were donated by North Escambia area residents to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
The 1,156 buckets were donated in just over a month at host site First Baptist Church of Cantonment as well as the First Baptist Church of Bratt, area schools and other drop-off points. The buckets contain specific food items, including beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials. Each bucket contains enough food to feed a family of four for about a week, plus they have the bucket to reuse to haul water, store food items or even move rubble in the earthquake stricken land.
Monday, the buckets were loaded a trailer donated by Gilmore Services. The company will transport the buckets to Marianna to be made ready for delivery to Haiti.
Pictured top: Volunteers load over 1,100 Buckets of Hope into a Gilmore Services trailer Monday in Cantonment. Pictured inset: First Baptist Church of Cantonment Associate Pastor Larry Huff, Marc Wilson, Ottoway Fillingim, Dalton Smith and Dylan Smith. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.