Elementary School FCAT Scores Released
May 28, 2009
Fourth and fifth grade FCAT score were released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education. The following details how each North Escambia school performed.
Numeric scores are based upon the percentage of students to score at grade level or above.
At Bratt Elementary School, fourth grade scores fell slightly from 84 to 83 percent in fourth grade reading, fell in fourth grade math from 93 to 84 and rose slightly in fourth grade writing from 85 to 87. Fifth grade reading improved slightly from 78 to 79, math improved from 73 to 77 and science scores improved from 60 to 63 percent.
At Byrneville Elementary, fourth grade scores in reading fell from 86 to 71 percent, fell in math from 75 to 74 and held steady in writing at 71 percent. Fifth grade reading improved from 73 to 76, fifth grade made improved from 60 to 83, and fifth grade science delined from 53 to 52 percent.
At Carver/Century, fourth grade reading scores fell from 35 to 24 percent, math increased from 17 to 38 and writing scores skyrocketed from 20 to 65. Fifth grade reading fell from 41 to 38, math fell from 19 to 12 percent, and science fell from 22 to just 6 percent at grade level.
At Molino Park, fourth grade reading scores fell from 79 to 75 percent, math improved from 73 to 75 and writing jumped from 75 to 86 percent. Fifth grade reading jumped from 64 to 70 percent, math went from 51 to 81, and science increased from 35 to 56 percent.
Escambia Deputies Conduct Drug Raids Across Century; 19 Are Arrested (Updated With Mug Shot Link)
May 28, 2009
(Updated 11:45 a.m.) The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department simultaneously executed 10 search warrants and made 19 felony drug arrests in Century Wednesday night and early Thursday morning using SWAT teams from across Northwest Florida.
For mug shots of each suspect and a list of their charges, click here.
The department’s narcotics unit, SWAT teams from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department and Crestview Police Department executed the 10 search warrants at addresses across Century. The roundup was the result of an ongoing undercover operation in Century, according to Lt. Eddie Barnard from the ECSO Narcotics Unit.
While executing the search warrants, officers recovered cash drugs paraphernalia, and drugs including marijuana and crack cocaine. Several vehicles were also seized.
Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia Sheriff’s Office, said the investigations are ongoing and investigators were still on scene mid-morning Thursday. The arrests were the result of a several month long narcotics investigation, Roy said.
One of those arrested was Sonya Alexis Carter, 25, a corrections officer at Century Correctional Institution, Barnard said. She was arrested at a mobile home on Salters Lake Road.
For mug shots of each suspect and a list of their charges, click here.
Listed below are the locations where search warrants were executed and the names of those arrested at each location:
21 Ramar Street
- George Dubose, 39, black male
- Bobbie J. Elliott, 56, white female
- Mark Elliot, 33, black male (arrested in Flomaton)
- Willie M. Elliot, 61, black male
6760 Jefferson Avenue
- Eric Maurice Davidson, 34, black male
- Katherine C. Hawsey, 23, white female
- Kevin Deray Johnson, 27, black male
- Kevin Montfort, 27, white male
- Ashley Nicole Scott, 25, black female
- Randall Scott Thames, 57, white male
7551 Sellers Road
- Terrance Terrell Grice, 24, black male
280 Hilltop Road
- Lekicia Ann Manuel, 22, black female
- Nekinely Sonita Manuel, 20, black female
807 Salters Lake Road
- Johnnie Lee Carter, 27, black male
- Sonya Alexis Carter, 25, black female
Additional arrests were made at:
110 Ramar Street
- Christine Chnix Mixon, 32, black female
- David Lynell Williams, 25, black male
116 Ramar Street
- Bridget Dennise Brown, 24, black female
- Brenda Mixon, 49, black female
Additional search warrants were executed at:
50 West Pond Street
61 Green Street
9451 Old Flomaton Road #3
9441 Old Flomaton Road
280 Hill Top Road
7011 Hadley Street
More information on charges and mug shots will be posted later today.
Pictured above and inset: Officers arrested a Century Correctional Institution corrections officer at this home at 807 Salters Lake Road during a drug raid late Wednesday night: Pictured below: Some of the marijuana found Wednesday night as deputies executed search warrants across Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Drug Arrest Mug Shots, Charges Released
May 28, 2009
The following persons were arrested Wednesday night and Thursday morning in a drug operation in Century. Click to enlarge.
For the a complete story about the arrests, click here.
Middle, High School FCAT Scores Released
May 28, 2009
Middle and high school FCAT scores were released today by the Florida Department of Education. The following details how each North Escambia school performed.
Numeric scores are based upon the percentage of students to score at grade level or above.
At Ernest Ward Middle School, sixth grade students improved from 68 to 77 percent in reading and improved from 56 to 68 percent in math. Seventh grade students improved from 66 to 80 percent at reading grade level and improved from 73 to 75 in math. Eighth grade students improved from 51 to 61 in reading, fell slightly from 76 to 75 in math, held steady at 91 in writing and fell in science from 49 to 44 percent.
At Northview High School, ninth grade fell from 52 to 44 percent in reading and 70 to 66 percent in math. Tenth grade students held steady at 35 percent in reading, improved from 72 to 74 percent in math and decreased in writing from 86 to 83 percent. Eleventh grade science scores decreased from 40 to 37 percent.
$10 Million To Save Or Create 130 Escambia School Jobs
May 28, 2009
The Escambia County School District will save or create about 130 jobs using $10 million in federal stimulus funds.
The plan approved Wednesday by the school board will see $5.2 million used for reading coaches, teachers for in-school suspension programs, psychologists, bus aids and clerk. Of the $5.2 million, about $1.8 million will go toward the goal of funding a reading coach at every county school. The reading coaches work with existing staff to implement specific goals in a school’s reading program.
The school district currently has 14 reading coaches in a program called “Reading First”. In North Escambia, schools with reading coaches this year are Bratt Elementary and Carver/Century K-8 School. Escambia County’s program was recognized as one of the top 25 percent in the state. But Congress has cut funding for the program.
Another $2 million of the stimulus funds will be used for materials, training and equipment for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs, including $155,000 for a district audiology clinic to be located at Holm Elementary.
The district has allocated $438,000 for professional development and training, and $264,000 for advanced student programs in middle and high schools.
Another $1.5 million is earmarked for Warrington Middle School, a low performing school in a “turnaround” program.
Pictured above: Lee Cassady (left), Reading First coach at Carver/Century K-8 and Tammy Calloway (right), Reading First coach at Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Advisory Committee Members Are Named
May 28, 2009
The advisory committees that will make recommendations to the full 25-member commission that will study the possibility of government consolidation in Escambia County have been named. The three committees will make recommendations in the areas of health care, public safety and economic development.
The full commission will meet for the first time next week. The group was formed after a bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers on behalf of the Pensacola special interest group Escambia All For One was approved by the Florida Legislature.
Charles Wood of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Economic Development. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Pensacola Junior College: Dr. June Line
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: Charles Wood
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce: Dana Story
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board: Bob Holmes
- The Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce: (position open)
- Florida Black Chamber: (position open)
- Florida’s Great Northwest: Al Wenstraud
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce: Benny E. Barnes
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club: Gary Wiggins
- The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce: Jim Cox
- Women for Responsible Legislation: (position open)
James Hosman of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Public Safety. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Sheriff of Escambia County: William Chavers
- Chief of Police City of Pensacola: Chip Simmons
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau: Gordon Pike
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief: Trisha K. Polmann
- Fire Chief of the City of Pensacola: Frank Edwards
- Fire Chief of Escambia County: John Sims
- Escambia County Medical Director: Charles L. Neal, D.O.
- Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board: James Hosman
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola: (position open)
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County: Bain Custer
- Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters City of Pensacola: John D. Chapman
- Escambia County Professional Firefighters: Dan Brask
Jules Kariher of Sacred Heart Health System was named chairman of the Special Advisory Committee for Health Care. Members of the committee, and the organization that appointed them, are:
- Baptist Health Care: (position open)
- Sacred Heart Health System: Jules Kariher
- West Florida Hospital: Dennis Taylor, CEO
- Escambia County Health Department: Susan Turner, M.D.
- The Escambia Medical Society: Michael Rieshera, M.D.
The full consolidation committee is tasked with creating a consolidation plan to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would be presented to Escambia County voters.
Sheriff’s K-9 Units To Return
May 28, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department K-9 units are headed back to the streets.
Sheriff David Morgan will hold a news conference Friday morning to discuss the return of the K-9’s and to share information from the Department of Justice about the unit.
In late April, Morgan pulled his department’s K-9 units off the streets following findings released in a Department of Justice investigation.
“The problem was not so much with the K-9 officers,” Morgan told NorthEscambia.com. “It was as much or more with the administration at the time not following up on bites and other paperwork.”
Sometimes, Morgan said the DOJ investigation found, the previous administration would treat it “like it was just a dog bite, a part of the apprehension. The documentation was not done as it should be.”
The K-9 stand down included the use of dogs for both suspect apprehension and drug searches. But that did not mean Escambia County has been totally without the assistance of K-9 officers.
The City of Pensacola offered the assistance of their K-9 officers when needed. In North Escambia, deputies could still request the assistance of the K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institute.
The DOJ investigation into the sheriff’s department, which the DOJ announced three days after Morgan was sworn into office, stemmed from allegations of excessive force during the administration of former Sheriff Ron McNesby.
At Least Part Of Courthouse To Remain Open In Century
May 28, 2009
NorthEscambia.com has learned that court will continue to be held in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
An email sent Wednesday to all Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies indicated that the courthouse will not close as previous announced this month.
“Per the Clerk’s Office, the Century Courthouse WILL NOT be closing June the 1st. It has been approved for the courthouse to remain opened,” the email sent to the deputies read.
NorthEscambia.com has attempted to contact Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha for comment since the first of the month, but he has yet to return our repeated phone calls.
It was not immediately clear if the services offered by Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley would remain in Century. While the email sent to deputies indicated that the courthouse would remain open, deputies generally do not directly interact with the tax collector’s office. They do, of course, frequently refer people into the court system through arrests and traffic tickets.
On Wednesday, the Tri-Cities Rotary club approved a resolution asking both Magaha and Holley to keep their offices in Century. Century Mayor Freddie McCall, a member of the Tri-Cities Rotary Club, said that it was his understanding that Magaha had indeed decided to keep his office open in Century. McCall said Holley had not offered such a commitment.
We were unable to reach Holley late Wednesday afternoon for comment.
Both constitutional officers announced earlier this month they were pulling out of Century primarily to save money, citing a low usage level for their services as a secondary reason for leaving Century.
Pictured above: The Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Looking For Something To Do This Afternoon? Enjoy Century’s Ole Mill Pond
May 28, 2009
Century Care Center will kick off a planned concert series “An Evening at Century’s Ole Mill Pond” this Friday afternoon, and everyone is invited.
The concert series is fashioned after Pensacola’s Evening in Old Seville Square, CCC Director Don Ripley said. The Century event will feature free live entertainment with the sounds of soul, rhythm and blues from The Sensational Tones of Joy.
We felt that since Century has lost so much recently in the closing of our last school, Century Elementary, and our Escambia County court annex, that we needed to do something to bring the community together,” Ripley said. “What better way than to have a free concert, an open house, with food and art vendors to bring the community together with our most cherished assets, our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers that have given us so much to be thankful for, all from the Century, Jay, Flomaton and Atmore areas.”
The event will take place behind Century Care Center at the Ole Mill Pond, a new pond fully stocked with fish for the enjoyment of the nursing home residents. The pond was built to allow Century care residents to get outside, build their immune systems and stimulate their minds and bodies. The pond was built with a grant from the Agency For Health Care Administration.
The event is open to anyone, regardless if they have family members in Century Care Center or not. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. The Tri-City Rotary Club will be selling barbecue sandwiches, chips and soft drinks. Other vendors will be on hand as well.
The event will begin at 3:00 Friday afternoon and is expected to continue until about dark. Century Care Center is located at the intersection of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard in Century.
For more information, or to reserve a vendor booth, call Mae at 256-1540.
Pictured inset and below: The Ole Mill Pond, a new pond recently constructed behind Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Residents Sign Petitions To Keep Courthouse Open
May 27, 2009
About 200 petition from Century area residents have been delivered to Escambia County’s tax collector and clerk of courts in an effort to keep the courthouse in Century open. Unless the two county officers change their minds, this is the last week of business for the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
Jack and Julie Moran, Century business owners (left), hand-delivered the petitions to Pensacola Tuesday asking officials to keep the Century courthouse open. Unless Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha reconsiders, Tuesday was the last day of court in Century. Friday will be the last day that Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley’s office will be open, unless she changes her mind.
The Escambia County Commission passed a resolution last week asking the two constitutional officers to reconsider the Century closures, but they are under no obligation to take instruction from the commission.
The nearest tax collector office to Century will be in Cantonment, 28 miles to the south of the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. The nearest physical location to access court services, including paying a traffic ticket in person, will be 45 miles away in downtown Pensacola. Both agencies do offer many services online.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has told NorthEscambia.com several times that his Century precinct in the courthouse building will remain open.
Photos courtesy WEAR.