What’s Hot: Ernest Ward Middle School’s Newspaper
March 24, 2009
From what’s hot, to what’s not; to the latest news around campus, students at Ernest Ward Middle School turn to the school’s newspaper Through the Eagles Eye.
“It gives us a chance to express our opinions,” Co-editor Anna Donald said. She likes to write stories about FFA and the Ernest Ward Drama Club, because “they are totally me”.
Over the years, the paper had evolved into a publication primarily by teachers with little input from students. Ernest Ward Middle School newspaper sponsor Sara McGinnis has worked to change that.
“We have returned over the past couple of years to student input. We have good group,” McGinnis said. “Every article is totally done by them, and they sell the paper during lunch.”
“It is more focused, not as random now,” staff member Dezarae Turner said.
Articles are, like at most schools, proofed by school staff to make sure they are appropriate. But McGinnis’ staff said that they work hard to play by the rules.
“We know that when she gives us ‘the look’, it is time to be good,” Donald said.
Turner said she enjoys writing articles about student life. “I like to hear what the student body has to say,” she said.
The students have also learned that in the newspaper business, the right story sells.
“We sell at least 20 extra copies with anything in it that is Twilight related,” Donald said.
(In case you don’t know: Twilight is the movie of 2008 that would be on the “hot” side of the what’s hot, and what’s not list at Ernest Ward or any middle school.)
Click here for a pdf of the January Ernest Ward Middle School newspaper. (This is 591Kb file that may be too large for readers on a dialup internet connection.)
Members of the newspaper staff at Ernest Ward Middle School are: Jazzlyn Franklin, Cheyenne Godwin, Dezarae Turner, Indigo Rodriguez, Jessica Warner, Isaac Dukes, Hannah Fiellin, Jeremy Stacey, Anna Donald and Angel Mitchell.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School students (L-R) Dezarae Turner, Jeremy Stacy and Anna Donald proofread the latest issue of the school’s newspaper. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Amerson Named Shining Star Caregiver
March 24, 2009
Davita, Inc. has named Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill as the Shining Star Caregiver for their Atmore Dialysis facility.
DaVita’s Shining Star Caregiver program seeks to engage patients in their care by giving them the opportunity to recognize outstanding caregivers at their clinics, as well as a forum for them to share how their caregivers have positively impacted their lives. The honor is given to a caregiver in each clinic annually.
“Receiving an honor such as the Shining Star Caregiver gives me a deep sense of pride and fulfillment,” Amerson said. “It is so rewarding because it comes directly from the patients I work with every week.”
The Shining Star Caregiver program was founded in 2003, and promotes the company’s standards of high quality clinical care coupled with a personalized approach. Winners are given personalized scrubs with their name and the year embroidered on them. Atmore Dialysis held a center celebration, at which the facility Administrator shared the comments written by patients and presented Felicia with the prize.
Pictured. Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill was named the Shining Star Caregiver at the Atmore Dialysis Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clouds Roll In; Rain Wednesday – Saturday
March 24, 2009
Clouds will roll in today, and by tomorrow there is a good chance of rain all the way through Saturday night.
There is just a 20 percent chance of rain today and tonight. That rain chance increases to 70 percent for Wednesday.
Here is your complete North Escambia forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
A Six-Year Old Missing Person Mystery
March 24, 2009
Six years ago this morning, something went terribly wrong at a home on Kent Road north of Atmore. Melinda Wall McGhee, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda McGhee spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
As recently as early March, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line and North Escambia.
On the last day of January, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch, but they did not locate a body.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Two photos of Melinda Wall McGhee who went missing in March 2003.
Complete text of Sheriff David Morgan’s letter to Escambia Commissioners:
March 24, 2009
20 March 09
Honorable Chairperson Marie Young
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
217 North Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Dear Chairperson Young,
I am writing you and fellow Commissioners to advise of a change in the staffing policy at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Although I have been in office less than three months, a disturbing pattern has shown itself to be the normal operating procedure for the current Escambia County Administrator, Mr. Bob McLaughlin. Therefore, effective this date, all issues requiring the coordination of my office with the county government will be sent directly to you with informational copies to each commissioner.
The following is offered to substantiate this position;
-The ECSO proposed acquisition of the property located at Fairfield and Mobile Hwy. This project is a direct result of requests from citizens due to the rising crime in Warrington and Brownsville. My staff, Chief Deputy Bill Chavers and Captain Gary Montee, worked directly with the Escambia County Facilities Manager, Mr. Dave Wheeler. This package was staffed prior to its submission before the BOCC. The asking price of this structure is $350K, with an estimate interior restructure of $100K, utilizing prisoner labor as we are and have done in the past. As you may recall, this was not the fact set portrayed to you and the BOCC which was subsequently reported in the local media. It was reported as not having been coordinated, not being a “master plan,” and costing $700K. This is a complete misrepresentation.
-The ECSO (Sheriff) is not going to reduce their budget. Prior to the meeting on 03/13/09 at the County Extension Service on Stefani Road, my staff (I, Commander Aiken, and Mr. Dias) met with Mr. McLaughlin in his office. The subject of the ECSO budget was one of the topics. I advised Mr. McLaughlin that the ECSO had already identified $1.7M in reductions and we were pursuing several other areas, but at that time we did not feel comfortable with giving specific data (numbers) that had yet to be verified. However, we were comfortable in saying that it was currently down in the $76-77M range. As you may recall, Mr. McLaughlin began the meeting with “the Sheriff is not reducing his budget.” (?) As I articulated during the meeting, we are looking at every aspect of our operations and will be presenting a detailed line-item budget to the BOCC. This is another complete misrepresentation.
-The “Leadership Workshop” of 03/13/09. This meeting, as you are aware was not as portrayed (advertised). In point of fact, it was a Budget meeting. Neither I nor any representative of the Sheriff’s Office would have been in attendance had the meeting not been referenced in a separate conversation.
Why? We were not invited nor advised of the actual agenda for the meeting. Can you imagine our surprise to learn that “the Sheriff’s Office budget is one of the agenda items?” What could possibly be the motive of dissecting a constitutional officer’s budget without the courtesy of advising them? So yet again I observe a complete misrepresentation.
This is an unacceptable management style. One of which I will not tolerate nor participate.
Therefore, to ensure that the misrepresentations cease, I will communicate directly with the other duly elected officials in the Escambia County Government, working of course, within the applicable legal parameters.
Respectfully,
David Morgan
Sheriff, Escambia County
Anderson Selected As Assistant Escambia Administrator
March 23, 2009
Cindy Anderson, former executive director of Team Santa Rosa, will be the new Escambia County deputy administrator.
Anderson tendered her resignation late Friday to Team Santa Rosa, an economic development council that promotes Santa Rosa County. She told NorthEscambia.com that she has tentatively accepted the position of deputy administrator and economic development coordinator for Escambia County — a position that pays $120,000 a year.
“I am tickled to death,” Anderson said. “I am really excited about it.”
Anderson also serves as director of Panhandle Fresh, a marketing cooperative that assists agricultural interests with marketing their products to retailers. She plans to keep that position, and she said he has discussed that decision with Escambia Administrator Bob McLaughlin.
“Agriculture is a part of economic development, and my job with Escambia will involved economic development,” Anderson said. “It’s the perfect match.”
Anderson’s position with Escambia County will not be official until McLaughlin offically recommends her and until after she is approved by the full county commission. Anderson said she expects the position to be on the April 2 commission agenda.
Anderson served as county engineer for Escambia County for nine years prior to joining Team Santa Rosa. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Brush Fire On Barth Road
March 23, 2009
Are fire units were called to a woods fire on Barth Road near Barth Lane in Molino Monday afternoon.
The Molino and McDavid station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry were called to the blaze behind a home in the 1000 block of Barth Road about 3:30 Monday afternoon.
Firefighters reported a fire about 1.5 acres in size that was not threatening any structures upon arriving.
Forestry reportedly created a fire line around about six to eight acres to contain the fire.
Fire, Ambulance Respond To Northview High School
March 23, 2009
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to a routine medical call at Northview High School just before noon today.
While several fire units and an ambulance did respond to the school, authorities say they were responding to a routine medical call.
Attorney General Announces Cybercrime Arrests
March 23, 2009
A joint agency operation has resulted in the arrest of three men on charges they either possessed child pornography or used the internet to sexually solicit individuals they believed were children, when they were actually chatting with undercover CyberCrime investigators. The operation was coordinated by Attorney General Bill McCollum’s CyberCrime Unit.
“Cooperative efforts are the best way to address this statewide threat to our children,” said Attorney General McCollum.
Arrested during the operation were the following individuals:
Jason Hatch, 23, of Milton, unemployed; charged with two counts of possession of child pornography; booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail;
Joseph Misleh; 56, of Mary Ester, lawn care worker; charged with online solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor for a sexual encounter; booked into the Okaloosa County Jail;
David Girard; 53, of Robertsdale, Ala., unemployed; charged with online solicitation of a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery; booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
“Joint operations like this make a clear statement that preying on children will not be tolerated in our community,” said Santa Rosa Sheriff Wendall Hall. “The internet will be patrolled, just as we patrol our neighborhoods.”
Over the course of the operation, 11 search warrants were served in Okaloosa, Escambia, and Santa Rosa counties.
“Our police department was happy to be working cooperatively with all these agencies, making a difference and protecting our children,” said Pensacola Assistant Police Chief Chip Simmons.
The agencies involved in the operation included the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Gulf Breeze Police Department, the Milton Police Department, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Pensacola Junior College Police Department, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Numerous criminal investigations are ongoing.
Pictured above: Suspects (L-R) Jason Hatch, Joseph Misleh and David Girard. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Driver In March 9 North Santa Rosa Crash Dies
March 23, 2009
A second person has died from injuries they received in March 9 crash in north Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Louis J. Konicek, 74, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, died Sunday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola from injuries he received in the crash March 9 in Munson.
His wife, Carol Konicek, 71, also of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at the intersection of Highway 4 and Munson Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Louis Konicek failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection at 7:14 a.m. on March 9, driving into the path of pickup driven by Charles L. Owens, 66, of Santa Rosa Beach.
The Koniceks’ vehicle continued into the parking lot of Ruth’s store where it struck a parked vehicle.
Owens received minor injuries in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into the crash.