School Board Passes Emergency Rule Prohibiting Weapons In Student Vehicles
March 23, 2022
The Escambia County School Board Tuesday night approved an emergency rule to make it illegal for students to have a weapon in a vehicle on a school campus.
Florida law says it’s technically legal for anyone 18 or older to have a lawfully concealed firearm in their vehicle, except when a school board approves an exception to the law for students.
The school district currently has rules against a weapon in a vehicle on a campus, but until Tuesday night a violation would only lead to school disciplinary action. With the emergency rule, law enforcement now had the authority to arrest a student for a weapon on campus.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported earlier this month, the district had proposed an emergency rule that was much broader and would have applied to anyone except law enforcement and school security personnel.
There were two major changes between the emergency rule as first presented and as considered Tuesday night, according to board attorney Elle Odom. She said the biggest change limited the impact to just students, and the second only allows school guardians, or contracted security personnel, to have additional firearms secured in their vehicle without it being a law violation.
“It is my understanding that a number of concerns were raised by members of the public about whether or not they would be impacted by this when they had concealed carry permits. Not just members of the public but also our employees,” Patty Hightower, District 4 school board member said.
“I feel like we are covering the concerns that I have heard from the public,” District 5 board member Bill Slayton said,” and we are mainly covering the concerns I have for the safety of the students.”
One a motion from Hightower and a second by Slayton, the board approved the emergency order 4-0 with Dr. Laura Edler not present.
Hightower said she was supporting the emergency rule, but she wants to have a much broader conversation in the future about preventing people other than students from carrying a weapon on a school campus.
“I really am concerned about firearms being carried by anybody but license law enforcement and our campus security on our school grounds,” Hightower said. “I understand people’s right to carry arms, but these are our students, and these are our schools, and I really am concerned about their safety.”
The emergency rule approved Tuesday night will be in place for up to 90 days while the district works on a permanent rule following a formal rulemaking and advertising process.
The school board took action after a rifle was found inside a vehicle on the Tate High School campus last month.
An AR-15 rifle along with four magazines and 34 rounds of ammunition were found February 15 inside an 18-year old student’s truck while it was parked on campus, and the student was suspended. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said it was determined in consultation with the State Attorney’s Office that no law was broken because the school district had not ever approved a waiver like the emergency rule now in effect.
The student and a 16-year old were later charged with felony grand theft of a firearm after the weapon was reported as stolen.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walbridge Street To Close At Ten Mile Next Week
March 23, 2022
Walbridge Street will be closed at the intersection of West Ten Mile Road will be closed temporarily beginning Monday, March 28 at 8 a.m.
Traffic will be detoured to Haley Land and Bowman Avenue as Escambia County installs a new drainage systems. The road is expected to reopen by Wednesday, March 30.
NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic, click to enlarge.
Century Reschedules American Rescue Plan Budget Meeting Due To Weather
March 23, 2022
The Century Town Council has rescheduled a workshop meeting to discuss how to spend American Rescue Plan funds.
The workshop was planned for Tuesday night but was rescheduled due to the threat of severe weather.
The workshop will now be held on Tuesday, March 29.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Welcomes New Horticulture Agent
March 23, 2022
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (US/IFAS) Santa Rosa Extension has hired Joshua Criss as a new residential horticulture agent.
Criss earned a degree in plant science from the University of Florida and worked at the West Florida Research and Education Center. He previously had a career in the Air Force. Familial ties to farming drove his interest in plant growth and production where he maintains a desire to serve his community by helping others succeed. Currently, Criss and his family live in Santa Rosa County. His role is to lead a team of master gardeners who provide expertise in horticulture and Florida friendly landscaping.
The UF/IFAS Santa Rosa Extension provides residents of Santa Rosa County with research-backed education and expertise in specific areas. The extension office offers clinics that provide plant diagnostics and help gardeners maximize production in the local environment, including lawn, edible and ornamental gardening. These clinics are available five days a week at the Milton office, 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton, and Tuesdays in the Gulf Breeze tax office, 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
Truck Snags Wires, Bringing Down Utility Poles And Closing North Century Boulevard
March 22, 2022
A semi truck snagged wires and snapped two utility poles in Century Tuesday afternoon.
It happened about 4:55 p.m. on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) just south of the Florida-Alabama state line when the truck attempted to turn into the Food Giant parking lot.
The downed lines closed all lanes of the roadway for about 35 minutes. By 5:30 p.m., two lanes were reopened — one northbound and one southbound. At 6 p.m., the roadway was completely reopened to traffic.
At 7:33 FPL was reporting 130 customers without power as they work to make repairs. That includes the grocery store and other businesses in the area.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
American Idol: Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Is Going To Hollywood
March 22, 2022
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez is going to Hollywood.
Torrez is on the 20th season of American Idol, and he received three yes votes from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
“I love y’all so much and thank you everyone who has supported me this far,” Torrez said in making the announcement Tuesday afternoon.
Unfortunately for local fans, Torrez said his audition will not air, but stay tuned for Hollywood Week on American Idol.
Torrez is a 2019 graduate of Tate High School.
Update: Bomb Threat Cleared At Pine Forest High School
March 22, 2022
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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has cleared a bomb threat at Pine Forest High School.
Pine Forest was placed on a “Code Red” lockdown Tuesday morning during the bomb threat.
By about 10 a.m., the bomb threat had been determined to be unfounded, according to the ECSO.
Nearby Longleaf Elementary, George Stone, and Success Academy were also placed on alert during the incident.
No further details were released.
Pictured: the scene outside Pine Forest High School Tuesday morning. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Transportation, Development Issues Dominate District 5 Town Hall Meeting
March 22, 2022
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held ann open forum town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment, with most of the comments or questions centered around transportation or development.
Residents complained about commercial truck traffic on East Kingsfield Road, which is designated with no-truck signs. Barry said he would reach out to Ascend Performance Materials and other area companies to ask them to remind haulers about the posted no-truck zone on Kingsfield.
Another resident sarcastically asked Barry if he’s heard about Escambia County’s newest drag strip — the residential Cricket Ridge Drive off East Kingsfield. Barry said a petition is in progress for speed bumps on the road.
A Century resident nudged Barry to request a traffic light on Highway 29 in Century, either at the intersection with West Highway 4 or Pond Street. Another asked for a traffic light at Nine Mile and Stefani Road. Barry said that’s not likely to happen, but he feels the Florida Department of Transportation will consider a traffic light at Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue.
A Barrineau Park resident expressed concern about a rezoning proposal for property on Gibson Road in Molino. The rezoning proposal is still in the Planning Board process; Barry said he would address it publicly once it reaches the county commission.
Pictured. Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall open forum meeting Monday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: ECSO Locates Missing, Endangered Century Man Last Seen Nearly A Week Ago
March 22, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday morning that this missing and endangered man has been safely located.
Previous story:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing and endangered man last seen nearly a week ago near Century.
Kenny Wayne Gordon, 71, was last seen on Wednesday, March 16 in the area of Poplar Dell Road and Highway 4A west of Century, the ECSO said Monday night.
He is five-foot, seven-inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. There was no available clothing description.
Gordon may be driving a gold in color Chevrolet Equinox with damage to the right side.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 29, Kingsfield Crash
March 22, 2022
There were no serious injuries reported in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon at Highway 29 and Kingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
