School District, Teacher’s Union Agree On Pay Increases
January 26, 2010
Teachers and staff members in Escambia County are getting a pay raise under a plan tentatively approved by the teacher’s union and the school board Monday night.
The plan includes a higher starting salary — $32,500 — for new teachers, a small raise for teachers with up to four years of experience, and annual 2 -percent raises for teachers with five or more year of experience. The 2 percent raise ends at year 26 and then provides a $500 annual bonus beginning in year 27.
The salary deal will be retroactive to July 1, 2009, once officially ratified by the Escambia County School District and the Escambia Education Association. The union will put the proposal out to members for ratification in the next couple of weeks. The school board will then ratify the plan at their next regular meeting, possibly meaning teachers and staff won’t see the extra cash in their paychecks for a couple of months or more.
The salary increases will cost the school district about $3.7 million.
Click here to see the 10 month salary schedule.
Five Month Long North Escambia Rabies Alert Ends
January 26, 2010
A rabies alert that has been in effect for North Escambia for the past five months expired Tuesday.
The alert first issued August 28, 2009, was to last a period of 60 days. After more persons were bit and more rabid animals were discovered, the alert was extended twice with a final ending date of January 26.
The first Rabies Alert was issued August 28, 2009 to last a period of 60 days after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies. One dog was bitten on Crabtree Church Road in Molino, the second on Handy Road in Cottage Hill. The rabies alert was extended until November 29 when three additional rabid animals — a skunk and two raccoons — were found in the area. The last extension, prompted when a cat exposed at least six people to rabies, continued the alert until January 26.
While the Escambia County Health Department would not confirm the location of the cat incident, NorthEscambia.com independently confirmed that the incident occurred October 23 near McDavid. According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We were told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some of those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would not confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
Even with the rabies alert issued, the health department says residents should follow some basic advice:
- All pets should have current rabies immunizations.
- Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, and foxes.
- All persons with any unusual exposure incident, or bites, with a wild animal should be evaluated by a physician to determine their need for treatment.
- For general questions pertaining to rabies in animals, contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
- Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
- Do not leave pet food outside as this practice also attracts other animals.
- For questions regarding the health of an animal, contact a veterinarian.
- Veterinarian staff and animal control staff should be alert for animals encountered with signs suspicious for rabies and contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/diseases.htm or contact the Escambia County Health Department, Environmental Health office at (850) 595-6700.
Donate To Red Cross Haiti Relief At Pen Air
January 26, 2010
All Pen Air Federal Credit Union offices, including those in Century and Pensacola, are accepting monetary donations for the American Red Cross to aid in the recovery and relief efforts in Haiti due to the recent earthquake.
The American Red Cross along with the Haiti National Red Cross is conducting a massive response operation to help victims as they recover from the extreme devastation following the recent earthquake. The America Red Cross is asking for monetary donations that will be used to buy much needed medical supplies as well as food, clothing, and materials needed to help the victims.
“Pen Air Federal Credit Union is proud to help in any way we can. It wasn’t too long ago when our own area was hit by a major natural disaster and local citizens needed help. We are happy to assist the American Red Cross in their continued efforts to help people in need,” said Patty Veal, vice president of marketing at Pen Air FCU.
For a list of Pen Air FCU locations and hours, please visit www.penair.org or call (850) 505-3200. Membership of Pen Air FCU is not required to make a monetary contribution to the America Red Cross fund.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Parker at (850) 505-3200, Ext. 3417 or parkje@penair.org.
Walnut Hill Fire Dept. No Longer Feeling Blue
January 26, 2010
Things are no longer blue around the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. Monday, workers began the process of repainting the outside blue building. Once they complete all four sides, the trim on the building will be painted a complimentary color New hurricane doors were installed on the station last year. Painting and other upgrades are also being done inside the building.
Pictured above: The process of repainting the outside of the Walnut Hill Fire Station started Monday. Pictured below: The building as seen in January, 2004. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Truancy Cases Up In Escambia Schools, Judge Proposes Solution
January 25, 2010
Truancy is a growing problem in Escambia County’s public schools, with cases that make it to court up 50 percent in two years, and a Circuit Judge is proposing a solution.
“There is a truancy crisis in Escambia County. Truancy data collected by the Escambia County School District shows a continual increase of truancy cases filed in Escambia County Juvenile Division in the past three years. Escambia County children cannot obtain a successful education if they are not in the classroom,” Circuit Judge Ross Goodman said in a letter to the school board.
Goodman is suggesting that the Escambia County School District implement a School Truancy Operation Program, also known as “STOP”. Under the STOP program, law enforcement would transfer the youth to the Hope Center where the Department of Children and Families would be notified that the youth is truant. If the child has been through truancy court before, the presiding truancy judge will be notified. Parents will be required to pick up the child in person at the Hope Center.
At the Hope Center, the child will be presented with an age appropriate educational curriculum and a counselor will meet with the youth and parents together to address the incident and possible refer the family to other services.
Goodman said his plan has been discussed by the Escambia county Truancy Committee — which includes the court system, Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, DCF, Department of Juvenile Justice, Lutheran Services, the GED department and the Hope Center.
“Truancy isn’t just about missing school. Truancy is about intervention to resolve the obstacles that are preventing a student from attending school,” the judge said.
In Escambia County, truancy cases increased from 65 during the 2006-2007 school year to 96 in the 2008-2009 school year.
Some Consolidation Committee Members Did Not Support Plan
January 25, 2010
The plan for a new consolidated government in Escambia County was not fully supported by the committee that created it.
When the Escambia County Consolidation study commission completed their plan to consolidate the governments of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century, four members voted against the proposal.
C.J. Lewis, representing the Pensacola City Council; Gary Montee, representing Sheriff David Morgan; Doris Harris,representing Clerk of the Court Ernie Lee Magaha; and Sharon Barnett, representing the League of Women Voters, all cast votes against the plan’s final draft.
“Even though I voted against the plan, I worked as hard as I could to make the plan the best it could be because if it did get on the ballot and passed I knew I’d have to live with it,” Lewis said.
Lewis said he tried to look at “what’s broken with our local governments that can only be fixed by consolidating two or more governments”, but he could not find anything. “The problems we did identify all seem relatively minor and can be solved by realigning resources or better communication and collaboration.”
All but four of the 25 members on the consolidation committee either live or work in Pensacola. Only three members directly or specifically represented North Escambia in some manner.
The Town of Century’s representative, Charles Scott, Jr, voted for the plan. The Century Town Council, however, voter earlier this year to withdraw all support for consolidation.
Rusty Tanner, the Escambia County District 5 member, voted in favor of the plan. District 5 includes all of North Escambia. Jimmy Cunningham, representing the Escambia County Farm Bureau, also voted for the plan. The organization, which claims a few thousand members in Escambia County, is based in Molino and represents primarily the rural population of the county.
Three members of the committee were not present for the final vote on the consolidation plan: Jeremy Brown, representing the Escambia County Taxpayers’ Association; Edward Fleming, representing Escambia County District 2; and LuTimothy May, representing the Pensacola Ministerial Alliance.
The Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay any referendum vote on consolidation until 2012 at the earliest. The Pensacola City Council considered, but failed to pass, a similar motion requesting a delay in the public’s vote on the issue. Instead, the council will decide Monday what action to take. The legislative act that created the consolidation study commission does not require the support of any of the three governments to proceed.
The Northwest Florida legislative delegation will have just over a month to review the plan before potentially submitting it to the legislature to set a referendum vote as early as November 2010.
Ball Registration Extended For NWE, Continuing For Molino, Century
January 25, 2010
Northwest Escambia has extended their ball registration one more week, and registration is continuing this weekend in Century and Molino.
Northwest Escambia
Registration for Northwest Escambia baseball and softball ends Saturday, January 30 for ages 3 to 18 for Wee ball to big league.
Registration fees are: 1st child, $35, 2nd child: $25, 3rd child: free. Children will be measured and a $20 uniform deposit collected at registration. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required. There will also be a cleat swap…bring a pair of outgrown cleats and trade/swap while supplies last.
NWE registration will be held from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Tryouts for boys and girls ages 3-12 will be Saturday, February 6 beginning at 10 a.m.
Junior, Senior & Big League boys 13-18 deadline for registration will be March 20th.
Molino Recreation Association
The Molino Recreation Association will hold registration Saturday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration will continue through the last Saturday in February for Wee Ball, tee ball, baseball and softball.
The cost is $50 per child, except Wee Ball which is $45 for the first child, $40 each additional. Girl’s softball teams will form on the third and fourth Saturdays of February.
Century Little League
Registration will be held January 30 and February 6 and 13 for Century Little League.
The registration fee is $30 for the first child and $20 for each additional child. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required.
Anyone interested in coaching can fill out an application on any of the registration days. For more information, contact Wes Sims at (251) 370-0246.
More North Escambia Chances To Get A Census Job
January 25, 2010
There are opportunities this week in North Escambia 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.
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 North Escambia for Florida residents as follows:
- Friday, January 29, 10 a.m.: Aldersgate UMC, Molino
- Friday, January 29: 7 p.m.: Walnut Hill Community Center
For more information on 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.
Angel Mitchell Named Miss Northview High School
January 24, 2010
Freshman Angel Mitchell was crowned Miss Northview High School for 2010 Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd in the school’s theater. First Runner-Up was junior Caitlyn Brown, and Second Runner-Up was Sarah Killam, a junior.
The Top Ten consisted of: Caitlyn Brown, Lauren McCall, Charleigh McPherson, Lindsey Holderfield, Ariel Holland, Sarah Killam, Amber McMillan, Caroline Prater, Angel Mitchell and Felicia Settle.
Felicia Settle was named Miss Congeniality, and Lauren McCall was named Miss Physical Fitness. Miranda Burkett was named Miss Hospitality, and Caroline Prater was named Miss Poise and Appearance.
The pageant, which featured 30 contestants, was sponsored by teachers Anna Barry and Megan Carroll as a fund raiser for the school’s cheerleaders.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Miss Northview High School Angel Mitchell is the 14-year old daughter of Christal Bell. She was selected as the 2008-2009 Ernest Ward Middle School Student of the year. Angel has been a member of the cross country team for one year, where she was awarded the 2009 Coaches Award. She is also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the theatre program, the guitar program, and the track team. She was selected as the 2009 October Student of the Month. In her community, Angel created the “Angel’s Outreach” volunteer service and is part of the Chain Reaction Organization. She was the winner of the “Take Stock” Scholarship project and was awarded Team Leader for Chain Reaction. Her hobbies include singing, dancing, cooking, and reading books written by James Patterson. Her plans are to attend Florida State University and major in Climatology. While there, she hopes to become a part of the dance team.
Pictured above: First Runner-Up Caitlyn Brown, Miss Northview High School Angel Mitchell, Second Runner-Up Sarah Killam. Pictured below: (front, L-R) Lauren McCall, First Runner-Up Caitlyn Brown, Miss Northview High School Angel Mitchell, Second Runner-Up Sarah Killam, Caroline Prater, (back, L-R) Charleigh McPherson, Miss Hospitality Miranda Burkett, Felicia Settle, Lindsey Holderfield, Ariel Holland and Amber McMillan. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. 
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Presents Awards
January 24, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department presented a Medal of Valor to one of its own and honored about five dozen employees and citizens during their annual awards ceremony.
Investigator Curtis Cephas was awarded the Medal of Valor for rescuing a man from a burning building last year. While off duty on July 3, 2009, Cephas was informed by a local citizen that a nearby house was on fire. Deputy Cephas ran to the house, noticed smoke pouring from inside, and began searching the home to determine if anyone was inside.
After discovering that the home’s occupant was inside and unable to escape the fire, Deputy Cephas proceeded to enter the burning house and found the resident inside and immobile. He succeeded in pulling the man outside and safely away from the fire.
Cephas was also honored in the United States House of Representatives last week, with Congressman Jeff Miller saying: “Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Deputy Curtis Cephas for going above and beyond the call of duty. He is a hero to the community and a true public servant. My wife Vicki and I wish Deputy Cephas and his family all the best for the future.”
A large number of the awards presented were to investigators, deputies and other sheriff’s office employees that worked on the investigation of the July 9 murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings in Beulah. Ashley Markham, the daughter of Byrd Billings, attended the ceremony along with her husband Blue Markham. Ashley Markham hugged and personally thanked each person involved in the investigation of her parents’ murders that resulted in the arrests of eight suspects within 118 hours.
Awards were presented as follows:
Law Enforcement Officer of the Quarter: Deputy Donald Lewis
Detention Deputy of the Quarter: Matthew Roth
Employee of the Quarter: Sally Valetta
Detention Employee of the Quarter: Debbie Funderburg
Life Saving Medals: Rebecca Simpson, Charles Dickin
Letter of Commendation: Juneal Whitchard (citizen), Sherrie Enderson (citizen), Shelley Dill, Allen Anderson, Terry Hammock, Jennifer Lovely-Gandy, Cathy Eckols, Scott Seely.
Unit Citations: Pct. 1/ Pensacola Beach – which will include a Meritorious Service Medal for Lt. Joseph Eddins; B Shift Detention
Medal of Distinction: RMA Tracy Hardaway, RN Lisa Seabrook, LPN Bobby Hawkins
Medal of Valor: Curtis Cephas
Billings Medals
Meritorious Service: Medal Captain Bruce Wood
Commendation Medals: Ray Briggs, Lieutenant Rusty Hoard, Sergeant Donald “Buddy” NeSmith, Jr. Sergeant Tom Watts, Master Deputy Tama Barber, Senior Deputy Lee Tyree, Senior Deputy Christopher Baggett, Senior Deputy Zack Ward, Deputy 1st Class Terry Hardy, Deputy 1st Class Bobby Guy, Deputy 1st Class Brian Shorette, Deputy 1st Class Breina Hammond, Criminal Intelligence Technician Melissa Aiken , Protocol Sena Maddison, Protocol
Commendation Medals: Patrol Doyle Gresham, Sergeant Marcus Murphy, Sergeant Shedrick Johnson, Sergeant Kevin Pachucki, Deputy 1st Class Christopher Phelps, Deputy 1st Class Scott Seely, Deputy Sheriff Mark Pearson, Deputy Sheriff Walter Thomas, Deputy Sheriff
Unit Citation: Stan Wehmeier, Sergeant Christine, Percell, Crime Scene Technician Will Bradley, Crime Scene Jennifer Jones, Crime Scene Technician Jennifer Norman, Crime Scene Technician Wayne Wright, Crime Scene Technician Lacey Oden, Crime Scene Technician Scott Glazebrook, Latent Print Examiner Marybeth Bryie, Latent Print Examiner
Achievement medal: David Craig
Letter of Commendation:Marlene Lutz, Secretary Rebecca Edmondson, Secretary Robbie Leverett, Victim Advocate
Employee of the year: Vicki Hodge
Deputy of the year: Lafe Highfill
Detention deputy of the year: James Mayberry
Detention employee of the year: Debbie Funderburg