Quick Work Keeps Brush Fire Away From Structures
February 21, 2010
Quick work by two area fire departments kept a brush fire from spreading to nearby two structures this morning in the Quintette area. The Cantonment and Molino stations responded about 11:30 a.m. to the half-acre fire on Frank Ard Road. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Study: Century, Jay And Cantonment Unhealthy; Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino Much Healthier
February 21, 2010
An environmental health study shows that residing in the Century, Jay or Cantonment zip codes may be unhealthy, while the McDavid/Walnut Hill and Molino zip codes are among the healthiest places to live in a two county area.
The results were released in a recent University of West Florida study focusing on Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The study shows that residents in the Century and Jay zip codes have the among the highest disease risk in the two-county region, attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde and toluene emission from the petroleum and natural gas extraction operations in the north Santa Rosa County area. For the purposes of the study, the Century and Jay zip codes were combined into one geographic region due to their relatively small populations. The location attributed most to the risk factor attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde emissions from a natural gas compressor station in northern Santa Rosa County.
The risks associated with living in the Cantonment zip code were related to the pulp and paper manufacturing operation, mostly attributed to higher levels of methanol, acetaldehyde, benzene and xylene, which are used as chemical solvents in the pulping operation. The area encompassed by the Cantonment zip had the worst mortality rate due to birth defects.
The McDavid/Walnut Hill and the Molino zip code areas had the lowest rates of hospital admission in the two county area due to respiratory problems. The zip codes also had among the lowest overall health and cancer risks.
Primarily, the study evaluated relationships between the health outcomes and the proximity of the zip codes to air emission sites.
During the past several days, NorthEscambia.com has taken an in-depth look at the health of North Escambia and our immediate neighbors in the series “Our Local Health: North Escambia Area”. For previous articles, click the links below:
- Escambia Alabama And Florida Unhealthy Places To Live; Santa Rosa Much Better
- Our Local Health: Escambia, FL
- Our Local Health: Santa Rosa, FL
- Our Local Health: Escambia, AL
The darker reds and orange colors show the zip codes with the greatest burden of disease in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Liberty Counsel Will Sue Santa Rosa; Calls School Prayer Battle ‘Nuclear War’
February 21, 2010
Liberty Counsel announced Saturday that it plans to sue the Santa Rosa County School District to allow prayer in the county’s schools. The announcement came a day after a federal judge barred the Christian organization from seeking to overturn a consent decree requiring school officials in Santa Rosa County to stop promoting their personal religious beliefs in public schools.
Liberty Counsel released the following statement Saturday:
Following Judge M. Casey Rodgers’ ruling late Friday evening which denied the request for intervention by Christian Educators Association International (CEAI), Liberty Counsel will file a direct lawsuit against the Santa Rosa School District. When the ACLU originally filed its suit against the District, Liberty Counsel offered to represent the school at no cost, but the offer was rejected. The new District Superintendent, Tim Wryosdick, and the school board attorney decided to cave in to the ACLU’s demands and enter into a consent decree which Judge Rodgers approved.
Representing CEAI, Liberty Counsel filed a motion to intervene in order to represent the interest of the faculty and staff, which the District and the ACLU clearly violated. Judge Rodgers’ ruling last evening, denying CEAI’s right to intervene, now means that Liberty Counsel will file a direct lawsuit against the District in order to get this unconstitutional order overturned before an appellate court.
During testimony in December, Michelle Winkler broke down on the witness stand when describing how a coworker sought comfort from her after losing her two-year-old child. The two hid behind a closet door to pray because they feared the consent decree. Denise Gibson, an elementary teacher for 20 years, testified the order forces her to tell parents she cannot respond if they talk about church or their faith. She may not even respond to an email from a parent if it contains a Scripture verse or “God bless you.” Instead, the District requires her to open a separate email to respond rather than hit “reply,” in order to eliminate any trace of religious language. School employees are prohibited from “communication with a deity” when in their “official capacity.” They are considered to be in their “official capacity” even when not working – whenever they attend a “school event,” which includes events during the day, including breaks, after-school events on or off campus, and privately sponsored events on campus for students. Employees cannot bow their head or fold their hands and must prohibit others from praying, even in meetings such as Good News Clubs or privately sponsored baccalaureate services. The ACLU has dragged three employees to court already, yet, Judge Rodgers states there is no “chill” on free speech.
Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “The court’s ruling has elevated this case to nuclear war. Liberty Counsel’s offer to defend the school district was denied by a superintendent who chose instead to sacrifice the rights of his employees. Content with the outrageous order from the ACLU, the superintendent then opposed the request to intervene by the Christian Educators Association International. Now Liberty Counsel will file a direct lawsuit against the school district. I am confident that when an appellate court reviews this outrageous order, it will be overturned and freedom will be vindicated. Anyone familiar with constitutional law cannot believe the breadth of this order. It is blatantly unconstitutional.”
North Escambia Bee Association Holds Chautauqua
February 21, 2010
The Fourth Annual North Escambia Bee Association Chautauqua (workshop) was held Saturday at Northview High School.
The day-long event featured a variety of workshops and demonstrations as beekeepers from across the area gathered.
Participants learned about caring for their hives, pesticides, honey production and more.
Pictured: A hive of North Escambia Bee Association member bees. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Flomaton 16-2 In Area Baseball Tourney
February 21, 2010
Northview’s varsity baseball team beat Flomaton 16-2 in five innings Friday night at W.S. Neal.
The Chiefs scored one in the first, four in the second, two in the third, and nine in the fifth to pick up the win. Leading hitters for Northview were Austin Reid going 3 for 4, with a triple. Brad Lowery was 3 for 4, including a three-run homer. Aaron Chancery had a double. Dabney Langhorne had a two-run single and Austin Arrington collected a single for the Chiefs.
Brad Lowery pitched four innings, giving up two runs on one hit, striking out 11 batters, and walking four. Austin Arrington pitched the fifth, striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.
Panhandle All-Star Cheer Team Places First in Orange Beach Nationals
February 21, 2010
The Panhandle All-Star Cheer Team picked up a first place win in their category Saturday at the Orange Beach Nationals.
The All-Stars, which include girls from across the area, recently placed second in the Saltwater Championship All-Star Level 2 that was held at the Pensacola Civic Center.
For more photos from Saturday’s competition in Orange Beach, click here.
Team members are: Samantha Bethea, Kamryn Brock, Qumesha Brown, Chasity Burt Fatimah Carter, Tiffany Chavers, Sierra Dortch, Kaile-Anne Gumapac, Dajionae Hetherington, Jarelle Hooks, Keyvinana Johnson, Trinity Johnson, Dinesha Jones, Shaniqua Jones, Shaquanna Jones, Jamia Newton, Lizzy Nicholls, Skye Nolan, Danielle Suggs, Raylin Wesley, Tatyanna White, and Tylia White.
Coaches are Tara Jones, head coach and director; Sharon Robinson, assistant coach; Rene Dortch-Wesley, assistant coach and administrator; Kanisha Knight, junior assistant; and Shakeria White, junior assistant.
Pictured top: Members of the Panhandle All-Star Cheer Team Saturday in Orange Beach. Pictured below (L-R): Kneeling: Jarelle Hooks, Fatimah Carter; front row: Kaile-Anne Gumapac, Raylin Wesley; middle row: Danielle Suggs, Keyvinana Johnson, Samantha Bethea, Jamia Newton, Tylia White, Kamryn Brock, Shaquanna Jones; back row: Tatyanna White, Tiffany Chavers, Shaniqua Jones, Chasity Burt, Sierra Dortch, Skye Nolan, Trinity Dixon, Dinesha Jones, Qumesha Brown, Dajionae Hetherington, and Lizzy Nichols. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Good Times Roll: Seniors Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 21, 2010
The residents at Century Care Center held their own Mardi Gras parade and party this week.
Katie Clark was named Mardi Gras queen, and George Locket was named king.
For photos from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Last year’s Century Care Center Mardi Gras Queen Katie Clark (standing) made it clear that she was passing on her reign, but not her crown. Sitting in 2010’s queen, Judy Macks. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Almost Half Of ECUA Customers Recycle One Year Into Program
February 20, 2010
Curbside recycling has been available in North Escambia for just over a year, and almost half of all ECUA customers now recycle.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority introduced curbside recycling throughout Escambia County in January of 2009, coinciding with their takeover of the Allied Waste franchise in North Escambia.The latest numbers from ECUA show that about 34,500 households — about 47 percent of all ECUA customers in the county — are enrolled in the recycling program, and that number is growing by about 100 new sign-ups per week.
During the first year of the program, ECUA collected over 5,790 tons of recyclables — that’s over 11.5 million pounds — keeping those items out of the Perdido Landfill. The latest average is 116 tons per week, with a record-setting week of 179 tons of recyclables collected the week of December 22.
About 12.5% of recyclables received by ECUA are “contaminated” — containing incorrect items.
The following items are accepted:
- Newspaper & Inserts
- Magazines & Catalogs
- Junk Mail & Envelopes
- Cardboard
- Office and School Papers (colored paper)
- Boxboard (cereal, cracker boxes)
- Brown Paper Bags
- Aluminum Cans
- Tin and Steel Cans
- Plastic Milk Jugs
- Plastic Bottles with necks only
- Phone Books
The following items are not accepted:
- No Food-Tainted Items
- No Ice Cream Cartons
- No polystyrene foam products (coffee cups, coolers, packaging)
- No Pizza Boxes
- No Aluminum Foil
- No Plastic Cups & Silverware
- No Aerosol Cans
- No Other Plastics (hangers, food trays, etc.)
- No Juice Boxes / Bags
- No Garbage Yard Waste
- No Glass. Glass items are accepted at county drop-off centers.
Plastic bags are not recyclable, but ECUA encourages the use of plastic bags to hold other recyclables such as paper to prevent the items from blowing out of the the recycling truck.
Customers that wish to recycle can contact use at (850) 476-0480 or online at www.ecua.org.
Judge Prohibits Christian Educator Group From Involvement In ACLU Prayer Suit
February 20, 2010
A federal judge barred a Christian educators association from seeking to overturn a consent decree requiring school officials in Santa Rosa County stop promoting their personal religious beliefs in public schools. In a 35-page decision issued Friday, U.S. District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers reiterated that school district officials are constitutionally obligated to not promote their religion and that the Christian Educators Association International had no valid basis for seeking to have the consent decree ruled unconstitutional.
The consent decree is the result of a lawsuit filed in 2008 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Florida on behalf of two Pace High School students who alleged that school officials regularly promoted religion and led prayers at school events.
“The consent decree was clearly constitutional and designed to stop school officials’ admitted practice of promoting their personal religious beliefs. The judge’s decision affirms that no one is prevented from doing anything they should be allowed to do,” said Benjamin Stevenson, ACLU of Florida staff attorney. “Hopefully, school officials can now return their focus to educating students.”
Santa Rosa Meth Ring Busted
February 20, 2010
Eight people have been arrested in Santa Rosa County in connection with a methamphetamine manufacturing ring.
A federal indictment announced Friday alleges that that Charles G. Boyer, 37, John I. Lewis, 38, Ronald L. Phares, 46, Tonia L. Phillips, 30, James D. Ramsey, 26, Frank R. Skivington, 27, Shane M. Swann, 37, and Christina A. Williams, 30, all of Santa Rosa County, were involved in a conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine and use it to manufacture methamphetamine. The charges stem from a long-term investigation involving pharmacy records, search warrants, and cooperating witnesses.
Boyer was also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office filed separate state charges against another fourteen individuals involved in the manufacturing ring.
The defendants began to make their initial appearances today in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy. Detention hearings, to determine their pre-trial status, have been set for February 24, 2010. A trial date will also be set at that time.
The case was investigated by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.