Streets Are Named In New 22 Lot Subdivison Off Highway 97
January 14, 2009
Escambia County has granted approval for two new streets to be located in new subdivision just off Highway 97 north of Molino.
“Sunny Brook Court” and “Sunshine Ridge Court” will be located off Sunny Hill Road in Sunshine Hill Estates. The private 22 lot single family residential subdivision will be constructed west of Highway 97 just south of Sunshine Hill Road.
The subdivision is being developed by owner BCK Properties, LLC of Pensacola.
Pictured: This map shows the location of a new 22 lot single family residential subdivision called Sunshine Hill Estates off Highway 97 north of Molino. Click to enlarge.
Chimney Fire Damages Pine Forest Road Home Tuesday Night
January 14, 2009
A two story duplex home near Walnut Hill was damaged by fire Tuesday night.
A resident of the home in the 7400 block of Pine Forest Road reported a chimney fire just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters discovered a small fire burning in the wall around the chimney in the upstairs unit of the wood frame duplex. That fire cause minor damage to the home. Most of the damaged was confined to the upstairs residence.
The only smoke visible from outside the home was from the chimney itself when the first firemen arrived.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire.
Pictured above: A firefighter works to remove siding outside the chimney of a home on Pine Forest Road to check for fire. Pictured inset: Some heat damage was visible to the siding outside the chimney. Pictured below: Several North Escambia fire department responded to this two story home on Pine Forest Road north of Arthur Brown Road Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Basketball: Jay 62, NHS 53
January 14, 2009
The Jay Royals beat the Northview Chiefs in boy’s varsity basketball action Tuesday night in Bratt.
Jay 62, Northview 53
Jay had the lead at the end of the first quarter of play in Bratt Tuesday night, 17-14. By the end of the half, that lead was just a single point, 25-24 for the Royals.
Jay’s Greg Nelson, who had 31 points on the night, helped pull the Royals out to a 9-point victory over the Chiefs
Northview: Aaron Bellamy 12, Colton Sims 12, Austin Arrington 12, Lance Bushaw 5, Wayne Marshall 4, Jody Levins 2, Luke Killam 2, LaDarion White 2, Dabney Langhorn 2.
Jay: Greg Nelson 31, Rush Hendricks 11, Dale Barlow 9, Steven Brabham 5, Dee Walker 3, Hunter Boutwell 3.
The Chiefs will be on the road Friday night against South Walton.
Judge’s Order: No Prayer During School Events, No Religion In Schools
January 13, 2009
In connection with a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, a federal judge has issued preliminary injunction against any policy or practice that promotes prayer or religion in the Santa Rosa County School District. The ACLU has also requested documents concerning prayer from Escambia County Schools.
In August, the ACLU filed the lawsuit in federal court against the school district. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”. Events specifically mentioned in the lawsuit, which was brought on behalf of two students at Pace High, included baccalaureate services, prayers at graduations and other school events. The suit specifically sought an end to baccalaureate services.
“The School District ultimately did the right thing in admitting and accepting responsibility for its violations of students’ constitutional rights,” said Benjamin James Stevenson, principal litigator and staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida’s Northwest Regional office. “We are pleased with Friday’s decision, and we look forward to working with the defendants and the court to permanently bring the school district in line with the First Amendment.”
The ACLU says that for 90 days, the temporary injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Casey Rodgers prevents the school district from promoting or sponsoring prayers during school-sponsored events, including graduation; planning or financing religious baccalaureate services; holding school-sponsored events at religious venues when alternative locations are reasonably available; and prohibits school officials from promoting their personal religious beliefs in class or during school-sponsored events and activities. The order is effective January 19.
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Pensacola, names specific events at several Santa Rosa schools, including Jay. The suit states that Jay High School held an invocation and benediction prayer each year from 2004-2008 led by students from groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The ACLU also complains in the suit that Jay High School has held baccalaureate services that were religious in nature.
The ACLU has also requested documents from the Escambia County School District that might relate to religion or prayer. Specifically, the ACLA requested records from Escambia Schools about graduations and baccalaureate services. The ACLU public records requests also asked for the notes of all speakers at the event as well as any audio or video recordings of the events. The ACLU request extends to all schools in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
“The ACLU may be successful at ending the freedom students currently possess to lead Christian prayers at school-sponsored events. The truth is that no man nor power, on the earth, under the earth or above the earth can stop true Christian parents and their children from praying and worshiping Jesus Christ in their homes,” Pastor Gary Wieborg of the First Baptist Church of Bratt told NorthEscambia.com after the lawsuit was filed. Wieborg was the speaker for Northview’s baccalaureate service last May.
Click here to read the ACLU’s lawsuit against Santa Rosa County (pdf).
Click here to read the ACLU’s public records request in Escambia County (pdf).
Pictured top: The Class of 2008 Baccalaureate Service at Northview High School. Pictured middle: A sign outside of the New Hope Assembly of God church on Chumuckla Highway just south of Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Photo Gallery: Getting Ready For 2009 Miss Northview High Pageant
January 13, 2009
Tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Miss Northview High School Pageant. You better hurry; tickets will go fast and will not be available at the door.
The pageant will be held Saturday night, January 24 at 7:00. Tickets are on sale now for $5 each in the front office at Northview. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Last week, NorthEscambia.com stopped by a pageant practice where over 30 girls are getting ready for the competition to see who will be crown the 2009 Miss Northview High School.
Click here for a photo gallery from that pageant practice.
Pictured above: Practices are underway for the Miss Northview High School Pageant to be held January 24. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Foley Officer Is Cleared By His Department In Nightclub Shooting
January 13, 2009
The Foley Police Department has cleared one of their officers that shot a man outside a Pensacola nightclub.
Johnny Cloud, 27, was shot by off-duty Foley officer Marcus Wiley at Boomerzzz Lounge on New Warrington Road on December 27. Cloud allegedly yelled racial slurs at Wiley and then threatened him with a knife. Wiley then identified himself as being a police officer before shooting Cloud when he would not drop the knife.
Officials originally identified Cloud as being from Century; however, family members said he is from Pensacola. Cloud remains in a medically-induced coma in a Pensacola hospital.
Foley Police Chief David Wilson issued a statement that said Wiley was acting in self defense when e fired the shot that struck cloud in the abdomen. The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Wilson issued the following statement to the media:
Officer Maurice Wiley has been cleared by this department in the off-duty shooting of Mr Johnny Cloud in Pensacola, Florida on December 27, 2008. This investigation revealed the following: Maurice Wiley had just arrived to meet a friend at the Boomerzzz bar in Pensacola at approximately 2:30 a.m. Within about 15 minutes of his arrival, some white males started using racial slurs. Officer Wiley asked them to stop using those words and he was then threatened by Mr Cloud. Mr Cloud continued to use racial slurs toward Officer Wiley. Mr Cloud called him the “n” word and threatened to go get a gun from his vehicle. At that point Officer Wiley tried to leave the establishment.
Johnny Cloud then confronted him in the parking lot and attacked Officer Wiley with a knife. Several witnesses gave statements that Officer Wiley continued backing away from Mr Cloud while telling him to drop the knife. Mr Cloud continued to come at him thrashing with the knife then Officer Wiley drew a 22 pocket pistol and identified himself as a police officer and ordered him to drop the knife while continuing to back up. This did not stop Mr Cloud who continued to come at Officer Wiley with the Knife. Officer Wiley used self defense when he then shot Mr Cloud in the upper body to stop the knife attack. Officer Wiley received Critical Incident Stress counseling and has been returned to full duty once the investigation was complete. We do not know the status of Mr Cloud.
Century Chamber President Resigns
January 12, 2009
The president of the Century Chamber of Commerce has submitted his resignation, effective immediately.
Benny Barnes said submitted his resignation to the chamber’s board of directors to spend more time in his role of pastor at the Community of Christ Church in Atmore.
“I feel that I am called to devote more time to witnessing for Jesus Christ to the people in that city and that will require more of my time,” Barnes said. “It has been a great travel in my life to work with the chamber and each of you.”
Barnes, who once served as Century’s mayor, played in instrumental role in the location of the Century Correctional Institution and the town’s industrial park.
“I am willing to help the chamber however I can,” Barnes said. “I know there is much yet to do in this organization.”
Current Century Mayor Freddie McCall has been named as the chamber’s new president.
Pictured above: Benny Barnes (left) presents the Century Outstanding Business of the Year award to Terry Sanders of the Country Bumpkin at the Flomaton and Century Joint Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet last February. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Names New 2009 Officers
January 12, 2009
Panhandle Equine Rescue has named officers for 2009, including several people that are new to the PER board.
Diane Lowery was named as PER’s returning president.
Jolee Josephs has been named as the group’s new vice president, Lindley Barden as the new secretary, and Michelle McKee as treasurer.
Rose Marie Winchester has returned to the PER board of directors. New board members include Mimi McClelland, Michelle Phillips, April Violette, and Vickie Bell.
New Vice President Josephs has excellent credentials and is very qualified for the job. She is a new PER member, has been known to the group since 2005 when she adopted their second rescue, Sky.
She is currently foster coordinator for PER, handles the sponsorship program, serves webmaster, created all the videos on the website and is currently training to become an investigator. Josephs is also taking on the Education Program when schools request someone to come in and talk with the students.
She has done site inspections and has transported horses for PER and is also currently fostering one of the horse rescues. She has been involved with Habitat For Horses; a huge rescue in Texas and she has adopted three horses from them. She is in the process of building a boarding facility off of Quintette Road that is named after the horse she adopted from PER, Forever Sky Ranch.
“She has the passion and heart for the horses and for horse rescue,” said Lowery.
Barden, the new secretary, has adopted two horses from PER. She was interested in adopting those horses that “nobody else wanted”. She also rescues greyhounds and provides a forever retirement home for many of those special dogs. Her and her husband, John, have been members of PER for the past two years.
“The other board members have been very active in helping the organization and we feel that they all will be a huge asset to PER,” Lowery added.
Panhandle Equine Rescue is non-profit organization with the mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected, and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the by the court system in Escambia County to investigate equines in trouble.
Pictured are new PER officers and directors (L-R) April Violette, Diane Lowery, Mimi McClelland, Michelle Phillips, Rose Marie Winchester, Jolee Josephs, Michelle McKee, Vickie Bell and Lindley Barden. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Carver/Century’s ‘B’ Grade Really A ‘D’ Without The Benefit Of State Rule
January 12, 2009
Carver/Century K-8 School’s grade improved only due to the use of district averages rather than the school’s actual FCAT scores.
NorthEscambia.com has learned that while the Florida Department of Education awarded the school “B” status last school year, that grade would have actually been a “D” if it were not for a little known rule that allows a district average to be used at a school where less than 30 students are tested.
“In writing and science, Carver received the district average because there were less than 20 students tested,” Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (pictured left) said.
Carver/Century’s weighted district average score in writing was 82 percent, when only 25 percent of the students actually passed the writing FCAT given to fourth and eighth graders. Only five of 20 students that took the writing FCAT at the Century school met state standards.
On the science FCAT given to students in fifth and eighth grades, Carver/Century received a 42 percentile score, the district average. In reality, the school’s actual score would have been a 24 if it were not for the 30 student rule. Of the 25 students taking the science FCAT at Carver/Century, only six passed.
“Without the group size restrictions, Carver’s school grade would have been a ‘D’,” Thomas said. Carver/Century scored a “D” in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and an “F” in 2007 before receiving the weighted “B” score in 2008.
Thomas has cited the poor school grades as just one reason why he will recommend to the Escambia County School Board that Carver/Century K-8 School be closed at the end of this school year. Students will redistricted to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle School. Both schools have been “A” rated schools for the past several years.
Bratt Elementary has been ranked as an “A” school each year from 2004 to 2008. Ernest Ward was a “C” school in 2004 and a “B” school in 2005. From 2006 to 2008, Ernest Ward has been ranked as an “A” school by the Florida Department of Education.
“I am going to send them to the number one school in the entire county,” Thomas said of the students moving from Carver/Century to Bratt. Bratt was ranked this past school year as Escambia County’s best overall school.
Elderly Couple Dies In House Fire
January 11, 2009
(Updated) An elderly couple died in a northern Escambia County house fire in the Cottage Hill area Saturday morning.
Their names have not been officially released pending the results of an autopsy, but neighbors identified the couple as William and Frances Boyle.
A neighbor reported the fire was at 2010 Cedar Point Road about 7:50 Saturday morning. Cedar Point is located off Cedar Tree Lane between Highway 29 and Highway 95A. That neighbor, Richard Morris, tried to save the couple, was unable to enter the house due to the heat from the fire.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they reported that about two thirds of the small wood frame house was in flames. The elderly couple was found dead in their front bedroom.
Fire departments from across the North Escambia area, including Molino, McDavid and Cantonment, responded to the blaze.
The state fire marshal has been called to the scene to investigate. Authorities would not speculate on the cause of the fire.