Ronnie Arnold Drops Out of School Superintendent Race

March 15, 2008

Republican Ronnie Arnold has announced that he is dropping out of the race for the Escambia County School District’s top job. Arnold prefiled for the superintendent job back on February 20 after current Superintendent Jim Paul announced he was dropping out of the race.

Arnold serves as the district’s superintendent of public and interagency affairs. Two other administrators remain on the Republican ticket for the superintendent job. Alan Scott, assistant superintendent of human resources, and Malcolm Thomas, director of evaluation services, remain on the ballot.

Democrats seeking Paul’s job include current school board member Claudia Brown-Curry, Pensacola resident Myra L. Simmons and former board member Cary Stidham.

Paul was arrest for DUI back on January 10 in Pinellas County, Florida.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

NorthEscambia.com Investigative Series: Allied Waste

March 15, 2008

All this past week, we have taken a look at Allied Waste’s service in the North Escambia area. We have taken a look at comments and complaints filed with the ECUA. We have taken a look at a Escambia County Utilities Authority documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com, and shared comments from NorthEscambia. readers.

We were scheduled to continue that series today with a response from Allied Waste. Due a problem we had contacting Allied officials, we were unable to speak to any Allied officials until late afternoon Friday. We have given Allied time to research several issues and then respond to us early next week, most likely Monday. We will conclude the series next week after Allied has responded.

We wish to stress the fact that they delay was a NorthEscambia.com issue. Once we contacted Allied, they have been extremely responsive and willing to investigate several issues for us and for you, our readers.

Thanks for visiting NorthEscambia.com and reading this series. We look forward to presenting you with the conclusion early next week.

To go back and begin reading our Allied Waste series to date, click here.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Elton John Concert Postponed

March 14, 2008

The Elton John concert scheduled for tonight in Pensacola has been postponed until Friday, April 25. According to the artist’s website, John canceled tonight’s performance in Pensacola as well as concerts the next two nights in Tallahassee and Gainesville due to a “sudden illness”.

All tickets for the postponed concerts will be valid for the rescheduled ones, or ticket holders can obtain refunds from their point of purchase.

“Elton and his management extend their apologies for the inconvenience caused by this unavoidable rescheduling of the Florida dates,” the website eltonjohn.com says.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Try These Questions From The Actual Fifth Grade FCAT

March 14, 2008

As the FCAT continues today in schools across North Escambia, we thought we would help you waste a little time by playing a game of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” with actual questions from past fifth grade FCATs.

Grab everybody around you and get ready. To play along and see how you might do on the fifth grade FCAT, you’ll need a piece of paper to record your answers to the following questions:

(1) Samantha baked a dessert for her class using the recipe shown below.
Samantha used the least amount of which ingredient?

CRANBERRY APPLE CRUNCH

A. 3/4 cup chopped apples
B. 1/2 cup oats
C. 2/3 cup cranberry sauce
D. 1/4 cup brown sugar

(2) Louie made 17 bag lunches for the school outing. If Louie
had made 4 more lunches, he would have made exactly
3 times as many bag lunches as Marc did. How many lunches did Marc make?

A. 6
B. 7
C. 13
D. 4

(3) Coach Neal is planning a track meet for 84 students. Each race has 3 teams,
with 4 runners on each team. How many races should Coach Neal plan so
that each student runs in exactly one race?

A. 7
B. 12
C. 21
D. 28

(4) Toshi wants to ﬁnd out which after-school sport is most popular among all
the students at his elementary school. Which of these groups would be best
to survey in order to get this information?

A. all students at the school
B. all teachers at the school
C. all fifth grade students at the school
D. all parents of the students at the school

(5) The 1927 legislative session designated the mockingbird as the state bird of
Florida. The bird is about 10 inches long and has a wingspan of 15 inches.

Which fraction represents the mockingbird’s length compared to
its wingspan?

A. 1/5
B. 2/15
C. 2/3
D. 3/2

(6) Angie is ﬂying to London, England, on a plane departing at 2:00 p.m. She is
required to be at the airport one and a half hours before the departure time and it takes her 45 minutes to get from her house to the airport. What is the latest time
Angie can leave her house to arrive at the airport at the required time?

A. 11:45 am
B. 12:30 am
C. 1:15 pm
D. 4:15 pm

(7) Melanie measured the mass of the textbooks in her backpack. Which unit of
measure best describes the mass of the textbooks?

A. 3 grams
B. 3 kilograms
C. 3 metric tons
D. 3 milligrams

(8) Marchelle built a rectangular wooden picture frame. The frame has a
perimeter of 130 inches and a width of 30 inches.

What is the height, in inches, of the picture frame?

A. 30 inches
B. 35 inches
C. 10 inches
D. 13 inches

(9) Sonya has to write the greatest four-digit number she can think of by
following these three rules:
1. Any digit 0 through 9 may be used.
2. Any digit may be used only once.
3. There must be an 8 in the tens place.
What is the greatest number Sonya could write by following the three rules?

A. 9876
B. 9786
C. 8796
D. 9867

For the next two questions, read the two selections in blue.

Betsy Brandon Meets the Betsy Brandon Meets the President
by M.V. Pollock
There was a ﬂurry of excitement in the Brandon household early one morning in
1791. It was the day that General Washington, the president, was supposed to visit
Salisbury, North Carolina. For most of the people, it would be their only chance to
see anyone so important. Everybody planned to be there. Everybody, it seemed,
except fourteen-year-old Betsy, the oldest child of Squire Richard Brandon’s
family. Betsy had to stay at home to ﬁnish the chores.
“Ha! Betsy won’t get to see the president,” teased the younger children as they
climbed into the family buggy. Betsy tried to hide her disappointment as they rode
away.
But Betsy was not one to mope. She returned to the kitchen and washed the
breakfast dishes and swept the ﬂoor. Then she took her bonnet from the hook on
the back of the door. She was going outside to feed the chickens. But what was
that rumbling noise? It sounded like wheels, but not like those of her father’s
buggy. It seemed to come from the opposite direction.
Betsy hurried to the front door and peeked out. Her eyes grew wide. Coming
down the road that passed in front of the house was the most beautiful coach she
had ever seen. It was pale ivory and trimmed in gold.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a better
view. The coach was decorated with elaborate scenes that reminded Betsy of the
four seasons. And it bore an impressive emblem, like a coat of arms.
Suddenly the driver pulled on the reins. “Whoa!” he said loudly. The ornate
harnesses tinkled musically as the four ﬁne horses halted right in front of the gate
where Betsy stood.
Fearful, Betsy wanted to run, but she felt as if her feet were glued to the path.
The door of the coach opened, and a tall, handsome man in uniform stepped down.
He was almost as tall as her father. He tipped his hat and nodded in her direction.
Then another, even more handsome man stepped out. He was white haired and at
least six-feet-four. Surely they were men of importance on their way to Salisbury
to see the president.
“Good morning, miss,” said the white-haired man. His face was stern and
deeply lined, but his blue eyes were warm and friendly.
“Good morning, sir.” Betsy’s voice quavered when she spoke.
“Is your father home?”
“No, sir.”
“Is your mother home?”
As Betsy shook her head, her golden braids moved back and forth. “My family
all went to Salisbury to see the president,” she explained.
“Did you not wish to see the president, too?” The voice was kind.
“Oh yes, sir,” Betsy replied. “I wanted to see the president more than anything,
but I must stay here to do the chores.”
The two men exchanged amused glances. “If you will prepare breakfast for us,
I promise you will see the president before any of the others.”
Thinking that the president would soon pass by on his way to Salisbury, Betsy
hurried into the kitchen. She prepared a delicious breakfast, which the two men
seemed to enjoy.
They thanked her and prepared to leave. Betsy asked, “Sir, when my family
returns, to whom shall I say I served breakfast?”
The white-haired man climbed inside the coach. Leaning out the window he
smiled. “Just tell them you served breakfast to President Washington and his aide,”
he said. And the coach rolled away in clouds of dust.

Washington by Nancy Byrd Turner
He played by the river when he was young,
He raced with rabbits along the hills,
He ﬁshed for minnows, and climbed and swung,
And hooted back at the whippoorwills.1
Strong and slender and tall he grew —
And then, one morning, the bugles blew.
Over the hills the summons came,
Over the river’s shining rim.
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
And he answered, “Coming!” and marched away
For many a night and many a day.
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river ﬂowing by
Or, camping under the winter sky,
Would hear the whippoorwill’s far-off song.
Boy or soldier, in peace or strife,
He loved America all his life!

(10) Based on the story and the poem, how was Washington’s life as a child
different from Betsy Brandon’s life?

A. Washington played by the river, but Betsy played at home.
B. Washington practiced marching, but Betsy prepared tasty meals.
C. Washington practiced birdcalls, but Betsy listened for passing coaches.
D. Washington spent his days playing, but Betsy spent her days helping at home.

(11) Which event from the story FIRST prepares the reader for something
unexpected to happen?

A. Betsy watched the family buggy leave.
B. The coach stopped in front of the house.
C. Betsy wondered what the rumbling noise was.
D. People were excited about seeing an important man.

(12) Read this sentence from the story.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a
better view.
In which sentence below does the word view have the same meaning as it
does in “Betsy Brandon Meets the President”?

A. Direct your view to the second picture on the left.
B. The report clearly states the writer’s point of view.
C. The defense lawyer’s speech affected the judge’s view of the situation.
D. The guests can get a view of the garden by looking out of the window.

(13) The author of the story describes Washington as having a face that is “stern
and deeply lined” and eyes that are “warm and friendly.” What does this lead
the reader to believe?

A. Washington was always polite to others, even when he was worried.
B. Washington’s experiences in life had made him tough, but he remained akind person.
C. Washington was difﬁcult to know because his looks were so different from his personality.
D. Washington’s hardships as a soldier made him older than he really was, but he continued to serve his country.

(14) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
The poet includes these lines to show that Washington

A. heard the sounds of nature.
B. wanted to travel the country.
C. played a musical instrument.
D. felt patriotic toward his country.

(15) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river ﬂowing by
The poet includes these lines to suggest that whenever Washington felt weary
and tired, he would

A. ﬁnd shade by a river.
B. cool himself in a river.
C. change his travel route to follow a river.
D. recall a childhood experience about a river.

That concludes our questions from last year’s actual fifth grade FCAT. Now it is time to grade yourself. Click here for the answer key.

Just so you know…we picked the “easier” multiple choice questions. We did not use the math questions, for instance, were you had to draw geometric figures or show and explain your work.

If you’d like to let us know how you did, click here to email news@northescambia.com

For the entire fifth grade reading FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.
For the entire fifth grade math FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.

Pictured above: Students at Carver/Century K-8 School just before taking the FCAT.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Education, FEATURE TOP STORY, News

NorthEscambia.com Investigative Series Part Five: The Positive Comments About Allied Waste

March 14, 2008

Today, NorthEscambia.com continues our seven part investigative series looking at Allied Waste and their service to the citizens of the North Escambia area. We will take a look at Allied’s service through comments both good and bad from dozens of Allied customers. And we will learn where our representative on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Larry Walker, and the ECUA stand on Allied Waste service in North Escambia.

In today’s installment of this series, we will take a look at the documented positive comments about Allied’s service. On Saturday, we plan to have a response from Allied Waste officials. On Sunday, we will end the series with a wrap-up and a blog.

NorthEscambia.com asked Walker to provide the positive comments he has received about Allied Waste. In the North Escambia area, north of Quintette Road, he could find three:

John Killam, Buck Smith Rd., reported no problems with Allied in July 2007.
Leroy White of Byrneville reported that his service was good in June 2007.
Bonnie King of Molino reported no problem with Allied in May 2007.

“These exhaust my list of people living north of Quintette Rd whom I have in my files as praising Allied,” Walker wrote in an email response to NorthEscambia.com. “There are more, further south, including one caller who sang Allied’s praises while forgetting to mention that she worked for Allied.”

In an email obtained by NorthEscambia.com, Walker discusses one customer’s satisfaction with other members of ECUA. Those customers, identified only as Pat and Joan of the 3100 block of Byron Place in Cantonment, wrote the following in an email to Allied’s corporate office in Arizona:

We do not know who covers waste pickup in Glenmoor Trail (Cantonment, Fl) but this particular individual is the nicest, most courteous, considerate and professional we have had the pleasure of experiencing. Examples: he does not hesitate to upright overturned trash bins, (no matter how bad the weather is outside;) he displays concern for the safety of a homeowner trying to toss a late trash bag directly into the truck and will get out to assist the homeowner;) he has waited until a homeowner backs out of their driveway so as not to delay them (already late for work;) he is mindfully cautious of children or a loose stray in the street;) and the list goes on.

This type of demeanor is seldom acknowledge but always expected. We would like to compliment you and staff, particularly this individual, who reflects the integrity and social mindedness of their company. He’s more of a neighbor than a hired sanitation engineer. You are to be congratulated. So should he. Please convey our thanks, as well as the thanks of all the neighbors in Glenmoor Trail who appreciate him and the staff who assist us.

Your Chance to Be Heard

If you would like to add your comments about Allied Waste’s service (good or bad) in North Escambia, email your comments to news@northescambia.com. Please include your name and your address. In our story, will will only use the area in which you live (such as “the 13000 block of Highway 97″) and will not print your name. You can also send photographs of your can to the email address. We will feature more NorthEscambia.com reader comments on Sunday, the final day of this series.

Also, Larry Walker of the ECUA had requested that NorthEscambia.com readers contact him with their comments, whether good or bad, about Allied Waste by email to lwalker@ecua.org or by phone at 723-6094. Note that emails sent to the ecua.org address would be public record under Florida law (this does not apply to emails sent to the northescambia.com address in the paragraph above).

To read part one of this series from Monday, click here, for background information.
To read part two of this series from Tuesday, click here.
To read part three of this series from Wednesday, click here.
To read part four of this series from Thursday, click here.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Planned County Budgets Cuts Extend All The Way To The Grave

March 14, 2008

Budget cuts planned in Escambia County will literally to go all the way to the grave. The Escambia County currently pays to bury indigent people that die in the county, but the commission discussed switching from burial to cremation at a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday.

Escambia County spent $113,400 to bury 102 indigent people in the 2006-2007 fiscal year. That was at an average cost of $1,160 per adult and $335 per infant. It is estimated that it would have cost only $52,200 if those persons had been cremated rather than buried, a savings of over $61,000.

Some deceased persons would still have to be buried. Victims of crimes, suspects in crimes and those that are unidentifiable would still be buried and not cremated. That is because the courts might rule that the body should be exhumed.

The cremation plan was proposed by Commissioner Mike Whitehead.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

One Candidate Drops Out Of District 5 Commission Race

March 13, 2008

One candidate has dropped out of the District 5 County Commission race, leaving five more that are seeking the seat.

Independent candidate Aaron M. Schmidt has withdrawn from the race, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Electons office. Schmidt prefiled February 29 for the office currently held by Kevin White of Molino. Schmidt is a mechanical contractor from Gonzalez.

Republican White will face fellow Republicans Randall McCrackin, Packy Mitchell and Chris Washler, and Democrat John Hartman. The primary election will be held August 26. Candidates can prefile to run until July28. The general election is November 4.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Local Gas Prices Continue To Rocket Upwards

March 13, 2008

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline has climbed to a new high of $3.24, and Florida’s average price for a gallon has risen to $3.29.

Rocketing oil prices shot above $110 a barrel for the first time ever on Wednesday. It ended up closing at $109.92 a barrel.

The average Pensacola area price, according to AAA, was $3.24, up about two cents from Tuesday. A month ago, that average $2.92. A year ago, the average Pensacola area price per gallon was $2.50.

The lowest price in the Pensacola area Wednesday night was $3.15 at Sam’s Club on Airport Boulevard, the second lowest priced station in the state according to www.floridastategasprices.com. Wednesday night in Century, a gallon of regular unleaded was at $3.24. In Davisville, it was $3.25. In nearby Atmore, AL, the lowest price we could find was $3.21.

Industry experts are saying gas could hit $3.75 a gallon by spring. Prices by summer are expected to creep even higher, leaving even more consumers cash-strapped as fuel prices rise and housing values drop.

Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded gas in Davisville was $3.25 a gallon late Wednesday afternooon. NorthEscambia.com photos. Click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

FCATs Continue, Lots Of Focus On Improvement At Carver/Century

March 13, 2008

Thursday marks day three of the FCAT tests at schools across North Escambia.

The area’s bottom school, Carver/Century K-8 has tried many tactics to improve last year’s “F” rating, and in a recent interview the principal said he thinks the school is on track to improve this year.

“I feel confident that we are going to show some improvement from last year, Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite said.

“The more you learn, the more you earn” has become a common slogan among Garthwaite and his Carver students. The school recently held a “cash grab” awarding cold hard cash to students that show improvements on practice FCATS given late last calender year.

“We have taken the two practice FCATs, and all indications show that our students are improving,” he said. “We done as much tutoring as possible. We have held ‘FCAT chats’ one on one with students to explain their scores.”

“We have worked to give the students the confidence they need to do their best and to motivate them,” Garthwaite said. “And we will continue to do that right up to the time of the testing.”

Students in grades three through 10 will take the reading and math portions this week. Grades five, eight, and 10 will also take the science portion.

Pictured above and below: Students at the area’s only “F” rated school, Carver/Century K-8, prepare to take the FCAT on Wednesday.Click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

NorthEscambia.com Investigative Series Part Four: Comments From NorthEscambia.com Readers

March 13, 2008

In today’s installment of this series, we will take a look at some of the comments submitted by NorthEscambia.com readers. On Friday, we will take a look at some of the positive comments about Allied’s service. On Saturday, we plan to have a response from Allied Waste officials. On Sunday, we will end the series with a wrap-up and a blog.

Here is a sample of what NorthEscambia.com readers had to say about Allied Waste:

10 Days Without A Pickup

Upon reading the article about Allied Waste, I too have had many concerns. I have never been able to talk with anyone personally when I call. It always puts me on
hold. Also, I have noticed that during holidays, when the schedule gets moved up a day or two, sometimes we only get one pickup during that week instead of two.
During Christmas holidays, there was a week that the truck didn’t come at all. My garbage can was out by the road for about a ten day before a truck finally came by.

Robert, 6800 block of Bratt Road, Century

Problems, But Area Manager Solved Them

I too had numerous problems with Allied Waste skipping my street all together and making promises not kept. After numerous calls and persistence I finally got in
touch with the area manager for this area. It seems Allied had so many problems that they sent one of their top managers from Mobile. I cannot remember his name but once
I talked to him things improved drastically. In fact they missed my street the next week so I called the manager on his cell phone and he had one of the supervisors
come out in his truck and load my trash in the bed while in a tie. The area manager assured me if things didn’t change he was going to fire anyone and everyone needed.
I have had very little problems since then.Maybe who ever has problems needs to call Mobile and ask for their boss, it seems they have a different work ethic over there.

Andy, Harvest Hill Drive, Cantonment

Nothing But Good Experiences With Allied

My experience with Allied Waste has been good, one time a while back my can was stolen, I was placed on hold for just a short time, which I can understand, they could have been busy, but then I told them my can had been stolen and they said I would have another in just a few days which I did, then I heard the truck coming and the Allied driver said till I get the can just place it beside the roadway and He would be sure and pick the trash up, then a couple of days after I called Allied the can came. Another time we were afraid we were late on our bill because of the due date but the lady said as long as they received the money within a couple weeks after the due date that was just fine.

Isaac, South Century Boulevard, McDavid

Bad Experiences, ECUA Would Be Much Better

I am writing to you regarding the service, or lack of, of Allied Waste “of space”. I have been living up here for nearly 5 years and never have had such rude and crude
people. I have gone 2 weeks without pickup before. I know Allied’s customer service number by heart. Now that’s bad! I have called customer service and been
passed off from person to person until I demand a supervisor to which I get a voicemail and a never returned call. There has to be something done. I use to live
in Pensacola and had ECUA service. There was never a missed pickup and I actually spoke with intelligent human beings. Hopefully IF this deal happens, ECUA will
continue such great service to us “Northerners”. Can’t get any worse. Thanks for the chance to finally voice our opinion.

Heidi, 6300 block of Garrett Road, Walnut Hill

People Don’t Care Who Handles Their Service

People really don’t care who “handles” services, as long as there is trust and reliability built into customer care. Corporate talks So much about “World Class Service” it’s become a joke. Employees are the backbone who carry the weight, those are the ones to whom we give thanks. It doesn’t matter who carries in the water or carries out the trash; naturally we’ve always preferred our county, but now wonder why the franchises were allowed in the first place. Ah, and the saga continues; looking forward to tomorrow’s promising good read. Have a good night. Thanks again.

Joan,3100 block of Byron Place, Cantonment

Paying For Services Not Received

I live just off of Pineville Rd. in Walnut Hill. I did have service with Allied Waste but I canceled it due mainly the fact that the trucks only ran about half the scheduled pickups. My father, who lives in the same area, currently has their service (if you want to call it a service) and he is having the same problem. He is scheduled for pick up twice a week,
which is 8 times per month. He is lucky if they pick up 5 times a month. The main gripe we have had with them is that we are paying for a service we are not getting. They are, however, doing a little better since my father called and informed them that he would be taking a running log of every missed pick up and prorating his payment every month accordingly. They didn’t seem to be too keen on losing that money (go figure).

Also, my father never did get a can. I ended up giving him my can when I cancelled my service because they didn’t bring him one. Just the other day he told me that his bill doubled in one month. He was checking into that so I’m not sure what the reason or outcome of that situation was. I do know that a lot of people on Pineville and Phillips Roads have serious issues with the current garbage service. As far as I am concerned it is a rip off!

Gwen, 7500 block of Dagen Road, Walnut Hill

Your Chance to Be Heard

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

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