Pen Air Credit Union Converts To A State Charter. Here’s What That Means.
October 2, 2022
Pen Air Federal Credit Union members approved converting to a state charter. As of October 1, the credit union is now known as just Pen Air Credit Union.
With the conversion to a state chatter, the credit union can pursue growth opportunities across 17 counties, ranging from Mobile County in Alabama, all the way to Leon and Wakulla Counties in Florida. Membership can be opened to anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in the approved service area.
“Pen Air is currently celebrating our strongest financial position in our history,” Pen Air Credit Union’s President and CEO Delbert Lee Morgan said. “Changing our charter and expanding the geography we serve is an important step to ensure we continue attracting new members. We remain committed to our existing members who have helped us grow and prosper, while expanding our ability to enhance people’s lives across a larger geographic area.”
Pen Air remains federally insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) which is managed by the NCUA and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
The Pen Air Federal Credit Union Board of Directors unanimously approved a recommendation to change from a federal charter to a state charter. Pen Air is a not-for-profit institution and therefore the bylaws required a member vote to approve a change to the charter.
Pen Air now will be able to operate in the following counties under the new state charter:
- Escambia, Florida
- Santa Rosa, Florida
- Okaloosa, Florida
- Walton, Florida
- Bay, Florida
- Washington, Florida
- Holmes, Florida
- Jackson, Florida
- Calhoun, Florida
- Gulf, Florida
- Franklin, Florida
- Liberty, Florida
- Gadsden, Florida
- Wakulla, Florida
- Leon, Florida
- Mobile, Alabama
- Baldwin, Alabama
School Superintendent Moves Questioned Library Books To Parental Opt-In ‘Restricted Section’
October 1, 2022
After a Northview High School teacher and Escambia County School Board member called for the immediate removal of 115 “obscene” books from school libraries until they can be reviewed, the school district has taken a step to control access to the books.
School Superintendent Dr. Smith has implemented a “Restricted Section” in school libraries. The books in question will be housed in the section, and parents will be able to opt-in their students to have access to the restricted book as they are being reviewed.
“While we review disputed books, we want to make sure parents still have the right to make decisions relative to what they believe is and isn’t appropriate for their children,” Smith said. “We feel the implementation of a Restricted Section in each of our school libraries, from which students can access these titles only with parent permission, will best meet the needs of our families as books are under review. The final arbiter of what is appropriate for a child to read is always that child’s parent; not other parents, teachers, or aggrieved members of the public.”
As we first reported on Monday, 30-year veteran teacher Vicki Baggett compiled a growing list of 116 books that she says are inappropriate in schools, mostly due to sexual language and graphic drawings that she believes actually violate Florida’s obscenity laws. To read more about her arguments, click here. To see the list of the books, click here.
Many of the books books on her list contain graphic and descriptive sexual language, include pedophilia and bestiality. One book uses the F-word 116 times. The are numerous books containing underage sex, what she termed “alternate sexualties”, “explicit violent content”, self-mutilation, suicide, rape, racism, and graphic drawings.
School Board Chairman Kevin Adams asked that Smith quarantine or remove from circulation the challenged books until a review consistent with state statute is conducted.
“The School Board has the authority to remove books from its libraries; however, it cannot do so simply because it disagrees with the message of a book or it offends the personal morals of an individual,” School Board General Counsel Ellen Odom said in an emailed statement on Monday. “Through the review process, if the School Board determines that a particular book is pornographic or obscene, is not suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented, is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used, or is factually inaccurate or misleading, it can direct the removal of such book.”
The current school district “Reconsideration of Educational Media Policy” states that requests for reconsideration are to be submitted to the school with the title in question. Once the request has been submitted, the school will form a “School Materials Review Committee” to read the title, review the complaint, consult professional reviews, and consult outside experts as needed. The School Materials Review Committee will then meet to discuss the title and hold a blind vote to keep the title, move the title to another level, or remove the title completely.
The complainant then has the opportunity to appeal the decision to a District Materials Review Committee. That committee will read the title, review the complaint and appeal, consult professional reviews, and consult outside experts as needed. The District Materials Review Committee will then meet to discuss the title and hold a blind vote to keep the title, move the title to another level, or remove the title completely. The complainant then has the opportunity to appeal the decision to the school board.
The Escambia County School Board has scheduled a special workshop for 8 a.m. on October 10 to discuss a revised school library collection development policy and educational media review policy to ensure consistency with a recently passed state law, HB 1467, which requires school districts to be transparent in the selection of instructional materials, including library and reading materials.
Free Adoptions This Month At The Animal Shelter; Special ‘Adoptapalooza’ On Sunday
October 1, 2022
Adoptions are free this month at the Escambia County animal shelter, and they are hosting an “Adoptapalooza” adoption event on Sunday.
The Adoptapalooza event is open to the public, their pets and anyone who has been considering adopting. Come out and enjoy food, games, and activities for both kids and dogs. Free pet adoptions will also be offered during the event. Staff will be available to help match families with their perfect pet from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday.
In addition to Sunday’s event, the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is open Monday-Friday from 12-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Adoptions are free and license fees are waived through October 31.
Florida’s Month-Long Gas Tax Holiday Started Saturday
October 1, 2022
Florida’s month-long gas tax holiday started Saturday and continues through the entire month of October.
The holiday is expected to save Floridians about $200 million by lowering the price of gas by 25.3 cents per gallon.
The gas tax holiday is not in response to Hurricane Ian. It was approved by the Florida Legislature as part of a broader tax savings package earlier this year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Firefighters From Alabama, Florida Battle Fire Near Atmore Airport
October 1, 2022
Fighters from Alabama and Florida battled a large field fire Friday afternoon near the Atmore Municipal Airport.
The fire burned quickly across a field to the east of the airport, along Hanger Road. There was no immediate word on the number of acres involved or the cause of the blaze.
The Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Creek Fire Department, and multiple units from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue responded.
The Atmore airport is located on Highway 31 just east of the city, about a mile north of the Alabama-Florida state line.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EREC Crews Join Hurricane Ian Power Restoration Efforts
October 1, 2022
A convoy of power trucks pulled out of Escambia River Electric Cooperative in Jay Friday headed to assist with power restoration following Hurricane Ian.
About 125 line crews from Texas and Louisiana spent Thursday night in bunk trailers at EREC due to the lack of hotel room availability. They joined EREC crews in Thursday’s convoy.
They will first help the Peace River Electric Cooperative to restore power. Peace River expects to utilize some 300 electric cooperative and contract crews from seven states.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Milton Tops Tate 21-7
October 1, 2022
The Milton Panthers defeated the Tate Aggies 21-7 Friday night in Milton.
Tate took a 7-0 lead with about six minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Aggies held their lead until the second quarter when Milton answered with a touchdown to tie it headed into halftime.
The Tate Aggies will be at the West Florida Jaguars next Friday night.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
October 1, 2022
Here are Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Milton 21, Tate 7 [Story, photos...]
- Pine Forest 54, Fort Walton Beach 0
- West Florida 50, Walton 29
- Jay 25, Destin 6
- Escambia 18, Booker T. Washington 15
- Pensacola Catholic 35, Pensacola High 8
- Gulf Breeze 35, Pace 28
- Baker 48, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 7
- Bye: Northview, Navarre
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 38, Hooper Academy 20
- Thomasville 28, Flomaton 20
- Jackson 49, Escambia County (Atmore) 21
- W.S. Neal 9, Cottage Hill 0
- T.R. Miller 28, Bayside Academy 3
Pictured: Tate traveled to Milton Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Cottage Hill Boil Water Notice Rescinded: Contractor Hit Water Main In McDavid
September 30, 2022
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS LIFTED 9/30 AFTER TESTING SHOWED THAT THE WATER WAS SAFE TO DRINK.
A contractor working in McDavid Tuesday hit a water main causing a water outage for Central Water Works customers from South Century Boulevard to Byrneville Road.
The leak was valved off and water service returned to most customers in the area within the hour.
A precautionary boil water notice is in effect until further notice.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Customers can monitor their phone, texts and emails from Central Water Works, and this story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
ECSO: Century Man Was Pushing Stolen Shotgun In Shopping Cart Along Road In Bratt
September 30, 2022
A Century man is facing charges after deputies spotted him pushing a shopping cart containing a shotgun along a rural roadway near Bratt.
Rudy Matthew Lamar Marquardt, 28, was pushing the shopping cart on C.W. Carraway off Highway 4, about 1.5 miles east of Northview High School.
A Winchester 12-gauge shotgun was in the shopping cart, according to an arrest report. Records indicated that it was stolen from Memphis, Tennessee.
After his arrest, deputies found two Alprazolam pills in Marquardt’s pants pocket along with a straw made from a writing pen, the report continues. In the shopping cart, they found “smoking apparatus” with marijuana residue.
Marquardt was taken to the ECSO precinct in Century where he started showing signs of a possible overdose and was transported to Jay Hospital, the report states.
Marquardt was arrested this week on outstanding warrants from the February 22 incident. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning without bond.