$10 Million To Save Or Create 130 Escambia School Jobs
May 28, 2009
The Escambia County School District will save or create about 130 jobs using $10 million in federal stimulus funds.
The plan approved Wednesday by the school board will see $5.2 million used for reading coaches, teachers for in-school suspension programs, psychologists, bus aids and clerk. Of the $5.2 million, about $1.8 million will go toward the goal of funding a reading coach at every county school. The reading coaches work with existing staff to implement specific goals in a school’s reading program.
The school district currently has 14 reading coaches in a program called “Reading First”. In North Escambia, schools with reading coaches this year are Bratt Elementary and Carver/Century K-8 School. Escambia County’s program was recognized as one of the top 25 percent in the state. But Congress has cut funding for the program.
Another $2 million of the stimulus funds will be used for materials, training and equipment for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs, including $155,000 for a district audiology clinic to be located at Holm Elementary.
The district has allocated $438,000 for professional development and training, and $264,000 for advanced student programs in middle and high schools.
Another $1.5 million is earmarked for Warrington Middle School, a low performing school in a “turnaround” program.
Pictured above: Lee Cassady (left), Reading First coach at Carver/Century K-8 and Tammy Calloway (right), Reading First coach at Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Advisory Committee Members Are Named
May 28, 2009
The advisory committees that will make recommendations to the full 25-member commission that will study the possibility of government consolidation in Escambia County have been named. The three committees will make recommendations in the areas of health care, public safety and economic development.
The full commission will meet for the first time next week. The group was formed after a bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers on behalf of the Pensacola special interest group Escambia All For One was approved by the Florida Legislature.
Charles Wood of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Economic Development. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Pensacola Junior College: Dr. June Line
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: Charles Wood
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce: Dana Story
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board: Bob Holmes
- The Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce: (position open)
- Florida Black Chamber: (position open)
- Florida’s Great Northwest: Al Wenstraud
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce: Benny E. Barnes
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club: Gary Wiggins
- The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce: Jim Cox
- Women for Responsible Legislation: (position open)
James Hosman of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Public Safety. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Sheriff of Escambia County: William Chavers
- Chief of Police City of Pensacola: Chip Simmons
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau: Gordon Pike
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief: Trisha K. Polmann
- Fire Chief of the City of Pensacola: Frank Edwards
- Fire Chief of Escambia County: John Sims
- Escambia County Medical Director: Charles L. Neal, D.O.
- Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board: James Hosman
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola: (position open)
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County: Bain Custer
- Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters City of Pensacola: John D. Chapman
- Escambia County Professional Firefighters: Dan Brask
Jules Kariher of Sacred Heart Health System was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Health Care. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Baptist Health Care: (position open)
- Sacred Heart Health System: Jules Kariher
- West Florida Hospital: Dennis Taylor, CEO
- Escambia County Health Department: Susan Turner, M.D.
- The Escambia Medical Society: Michael Rieshera, M.D.
The full consolidation committee is tasked with creating a consolidation plan to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would be presented to Escambia County voters.
Century Residents Sign Petitions To Keep Courthouse Open
May 27, 2009
About 200 petition from Century area residents have been delivered to Escambia County’s tax collector and clerk of courts in an effort to keep the courthouse in Century open. Unless the two county officers change their minds, this is the last week of business for the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
Jack and Julie Moran, Century business owners (left), hand-delivered the petitions to Pensacola Tuesday asking officials to keep the Century courthouse open. Unless Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha reconsiders, Tuesday was the last day of court in Century. Friday will be the last day that Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley’s office will be open, unless she changes her mind.
The Escambia County Commission passed a resolution last week asking the two constitutional officers to reconsider the Century closures, but they are under no obligation to take instruction from the commission.
The nearest tax collector office to Century will be in Cantonment, 28 miles to the south of the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. The nearest physical location to access court services, including paying a traffic ticket in person, will be 45 miles away in downtown Pensacola. Both agencies do offer many services online.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has told NorthEscambia.com several times that his Century precinct in the courthouse building will remain open.
Photos courtesy WEAR.
Funeral Services Set For Man Shot Sunday By Atmore Officers; Police Won’t Release More Info
May 27, 2009
As funeral services are set for the man shot by police early Sunday morning, the Atmore Police Department will not release any more information about the incident.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at Monroe Chapel in Frisco City, Alabama, for Danny Ray Williams, 33. Williams was shot by Atmore police officers following a high speed chase that started in Atmore and ended in Walnut Hill just south of Kansas Road about 1:45 Sunday morning.
Atmore Public Safety Directory Glen Carlee said the chase began after a reported shots fired incident near Ashley Street and Jones Street, a location about three miles driving distance from the Florida line. Officers say they spotted the Nissan Altima driven by Williams leaving the area of the shots fired call. That’s when the chase begain that eventually ended with police shooting Williams in Walnut Hill after he tried to run over officers, according to Carlee.
Carlee would not confirm to NorthEscambia.com what his department found at Ashley and Jones streets in Atmore. “I can’t say,” he said when asked if officers discovered if there had or had not actually been shots fired in the area early Sunday morning. He said he would not release any information beyond what was in a press release the department issued on Monday.
To read that press release, click here.
To read the original NorthEscambia.com story about the incident from Sunday morning, click here.
To read about Williams’ court record and outstanding warrant, click here.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Carver/Century Holds Last Ever Graduation Exercise
May 27, 2009
The moment was bittersweet as the final eighth grade class at Carver/Century K-8 School held graduation exercises Tuesday night.
There was excitement over the new beginning that the graduation presents for the students as they head off to high school in the fall, and there was sadness over the class being the last ever to graduate from the Blackcat legacy of Century High School, Carver/Century, Century Elementary and Carver Middle.
Friday is final day of school for the Carver/Century after the school board voted earlier this year to close Century’s last school.
“This really a very poignant moment for all us,” Carver/Century Curriculum Coordinator Paula Jernigan said. Tuesday marked her 25th graduation excercise at a Century school.
“I can remember when it was not easy for someone to event make it to the eighth grade,” Rev. Willie Carter told the graduating eighth graders, holding his Century diploma from May 22, 1936, in his hand. “Tonight, we have to think of it as a beginning.”
Principal Jeff Garthwaite presented a certificate and pin depicting a blackcat and the word “pride”. It was all about the Blackcat pride legacy, he said. “We’ve tried to share that with students that they are continuing that Blackcat pride.”
“Nobody’s going to ask you if came out of a little town like Century, but if you can do the job,” Rev. Carter said.
The top-ranked student in the class, Devon Cottrell, said, “This is only a small step for to walk and leave Carver/Century School; however, out lives experince big change, a chance that will be managed with patience as wisdom.”
The second-ranked student in the class was Skyler Macks, just 1/100th of a point behind Cottrell.
“I am proud that I had the opportunity to attend this school,” Macks said. “I will miss the good times we’ve had at Carver/Century.”
“Today is a day of joy and celebration. We are moving on and growing,” Macks said. “This was a great school.”
The following students were in the final graduation class at Carver/Century K-8 School: Jay Ates; Keairra Brown; LaPorsha Brown; Devon Cottrell; Jaquan Dale; Tyaisha Davison; Ashtin Dixon; Aradius Elliott; Arkelle Elliott; Tierra Floyd; Alisha Grice; Kahlil Grice; Blaze Harkness; Kateria Hoffman; Trevor Hubbard; Cordell Jackson; Shaquanna Jones; Te’Andreia Knight; La’Mikal Kyles; Skyler Macks; Chris Madison; Trevelle McWilliams; Demontra Mitchel; Jontashia Myles; Stetson Nash; Jamell Rivers; Deidre Steel; Talia Syria Dyshun White; Roderick Woods.
Pictured top: Graduation exercises at Carver/Century K-8 School Tuesday night. Pictured inset: Rev. Willie Carter addresses the students, his 1936 Century diploma in hand. Pictured below: Devon Cottrell receives his eighth grade certificate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Customers Will See Decrease In Bills
May 27, 2009
If you are a Gulf Power customer, look for a small decrease on your power bill. A surcharge used for hurricane repairs will be dropped from Gulf Power bills starting in July.
The electric utility will stop collecting the $2.57 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours fee that was approved by the Florida Public Service Commission after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and extended after hurricanes Dennis and Katrina. Combined, those hurricanes did almost $200 million in damages to Northwest Florida’s electric system.
“These hurricanes did a tremendous amount of damage to our system and we worked with the state to soften the impact on customer bills by spreading the repair costs out over the last 5 years,” Sandy Sims, Gulf Power spokeswoman, said. “The surcharge also helped us to rebuild our storm reserve fund which is critical to keep future storms from causing large increases.”
Gulf Power’s charge for 1,000 kilowatt-hours will decrease to $121.53 — down from $124.10.
“We prepare for storm season every year, but when you have back to back hurricanes it carries a tremendous price tag,” Sims said. “We know our customers expect us to work as hard and as fast as possible after a hurricane and to bring in thousands of extra workers and materials. That costs money, but it’s a small price to pay to help get the power on much quicker.”
Sims said lowering the price of electricity is always positive and noted that Gulf Power offers energy and money saving tips on the company’s Web site at www.gulfpower.com. Storm preparation tips and safety information is also available on the web site.
All Smiles At EWMS: Somer Bridges Named A Teacher Of The Year
May 27, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Somer Bridges was all smiles Tuesday as she learned that she had been selected as the Teacher of the Year in a contest sponsored by a local orthodontist.
Brooks Orthodontics, which has locations in Pensacola, Pace and Jay, sponsors a contest in which patients are asked to nominate their favorite teacher for the Teacher of the Year contest. Of the hundreds of entries, Ernest Ward’s Somer Bridges was the only teacher nominated twice.
She was nominated by eighth grade students and classmates, Stephanie Roach and Chad Smith.
“She has always been there for me. She is more than my teacher, she is my friend. When my dad passed away she brought cards from my class and checked on me everyday,” Smith wrote about Bridges.
“She inspires me and all her students to do their best. She treats us as she would her own children. She does whatever she can to help us learn,” Roach wrote in her essay. “She even goes out of her way to talk to us if we need someone to talk to. She listens and talks us through our problem. She is a wonderful person and deserves this after all she’s done for me and my classmates.”
Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry noted that she was proud of Bridges, having encouraged her when she was in the eleventh grade to become a teacher.
“I taught her in high school,” Perry said. “I told her in her eleventh grade anatomy and physiology class that she would make a good teacher. Then I ended up being the one to hire her.”
Pictured above (L-R): EWMS student Stephanie Roach, Teacher of the Year Somer Bridges, student Chad Smith and Stacey Peaden from Brooks Orthodontics. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Thomas: Schools Won’t Lease Old Century High To Church For $1 Per Year Anymore
May 27, 2009
(Updated 9:00 a.m.) Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas does not intend to allow New Life Baptist Church to continue to lease the old Century High School for $1 per year. He’s offering to lease the building to the church for as much as just over $150,000 per year.
Over the past years, New Life has paid just $5 — at $1 per year — to lease the 30,327 square foot building under a lease executed by former Superintendent Jim Paul.
“One dollar per year is just unacceptable,” Thomas told NorthEscambia.com. “I can tell you that we will not be leasing buildings for $1 per year. It’s not right to the taxpayers.”
In a recent letter to the pastor of New Life Baptist Church, Rev. Irvin Stallworth (pictured left), Thomas details the options he is offering the church.
Thomas has offered to rent the building to New Life for $5 per square foot, far below the $10 to $15 per square foot he says similar buildings would cost in monthly rent. The reduced rate, his letter says, is because of the “location, age and configuration of the facility.” At $5 per square foot, the 30,327 square foot building would cost the church $12,636.25 per month, or $151,635 per year of a five year lease.
“Of course, if you are able to adapt your program to use less square footage, the rent would go down accordingly,” the letter says. “We would be glad to work with you to determine a combination of square footage and rent that can accommodate your needs. Whatever the church decides, a new agreement is to be in effect by October 1. If they remain in the building, they will not have to pay a deposit since they are existing tenants, the letters says.
“We are exploring this now to give him plenty of time to consider his options,” Thomas said.
Stallworth told NorthEscambia.com that the church is exploring its options and will discuss them in an upcoming church business meeting.
“We have not finished our discussions or reached a decision at this point,” the pastor said. “We want to look at all of our options.”
Besides the increased $5 per square foot rent, New Life Baptist has one other option to remain in the building — purchase it. Thomas told NorthEscambia.com that he would be happy to sell the building to the church at a fair price that would be determined by an appraisal.
“I would like to get out of the landlord business,” Thomas said. “I would rather sell it.”
“All of this is to protect the taxpayers’ investment,” he added.
Pictured above: The old Century High School building that New Life Baptist Church has leased for $1 per year for the last five year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Rescue ‘Victim’ From Burning McDavid Building
May 27, 2009
Firefighters entered a burning building in McDavid Tuesday night to search on their hands and knees for a person trapped inside.
That was the scenerio that played out again and again at the old McDavid School on Highway 29 as firefighters from the McDavid and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue conducted a training exercise.
A simulated “victim” was placed inside an interior room of the abandoned building. Firefighters were forced to crawl on their hands and knees in full gear, searching a room filled with smoke created by a smoke machine. It was not possible to see directly in front of one’s face in the room due to the thick smoke.
Each time, the groups of firefighters were able to rescue the victim, dragging him to safety.
Outside the building, firefighters received a refresher course in safety and rescue techniques.
Pictured top: Firefighters prepare to enter a smoke filled room. Pictured below: Firefighters locate the “victim” in a simulated McDavid building fire Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Accident Injures Three Tuesday Morning
May 26, 2009
(Updated 2:00 p.m.) A single vehicle accident on Highway 97 sent three people to the hospital Tuesday morning.
The accident happened on Highway 97 north of White Ash Road about 9:15 Tuesday morning. Three people were in a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer when the driver lost control, hit a mailbox then a utility pole knocking it to the ground. The Chevy then overturned and slammed into a fence. Bystanders were working to pull a passenger from the smoking vehicle as the first emergency personnel arrived on scene. The Blazer then burst into flames.
The Florida Highway Patrol identified the driver as Barbara Jean McConico, 61 of Pensacola. Passengers in the Blazer were her husband, Gilbert McConico, 50, and Jaquita Allen, 17. All three are from Pensacola and suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the FHP. They were transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital.
Barbara Jean McConico was charged with careless driving, troopers said.
A downed pole and power lines left many in the area without power and kept Highway 97 blocked for over an hour as Gulf Power worked to rebuild the downed lines.
Click here for a complete NorthEscambia.com exclusive gallery of photos that shows the sequence of events as the Blazer bursts into flames, the first fire truck arrives and the fire is extinguished.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the call.
Pictured above: Three people were injured in this accident on Highway 97 Tuesday morning. The Blazer burst into flames shortly after the last passenger was pulled from the wreckage. Pictured below: The first firefighters on scene about to extinguish the flames. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
