Molino Park Student One Of Four In Escambia With Perfect FCAT Scores
May 22, 2009
Only four students in Escambia County made a perfect “5″ on the third grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in both reading and math, including a North Escambia student at Molino Park Elementary School.
School district officials say Molino Park’s Sarah Perritt scored that perfect top-rated “5″ on both the reading and math FCAT administered earlier this year. Only three other third grade students in Escambia County had scores as good. The other students are: John Lovall, Hellen Caro Elementary; Milly Ladner, A.K. Suter; and Nathaniel Freeman, West Pensacola.
There were 56 students in Escambia County that made perfect scores in math, and just 24 earned a perfect “5″ in reading.
For more about how North Escambia schools fared on the third grade FCAT, click here.
This Afternoon’s Program At The Library Canceled
May 21, 2009
The program planned for this afternoon at the Century Branch Library has been canceled.
Tuffy, a real American quarter horse hero, was scheduled to appear at the program. The program has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 7 at noon.
Children At Home As Meth Lab Discovered Near Bratt In Search For Bank Robber, Two People Charged
May 21, 2009
The search for an Atmore bank robber led to the discovery of a meth lab near Bratt and the arrest of two people Wednesday.
Daniel Wayne Sheets, 29, and Mary Elaine Sheets, 28, were arrested on multiple drug charged after deputies located the meth lab at 3740 Highway 168 near Wiggins Road.
Escambia County Deputy David Preston said authorities received a tip that a truck belonging to Atmore bank robbery suspect Chad Jeter might be at the residence. The sheriff’s departments from both Escambia counties Florida and Alabama, the Atmore Police Department and the FBI attempted to located Jeter at the mobile home, but he was not there.
“That’s when I saw some products used to manufacture meth,” Preston said, noting several items that he found. “There was a cooler partially open that had a strong smell of ammonia.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and a special Hazmat team from Tallahassee were called to the home to investigate and remove the meth lab. The husband and wife were taken to the Escambia County Jail.
Preston said two children, ages between 6-12, were at home at the time of the incident. The Department of Children and Families placed the children into the care of their grandmother.
“The living conditions in the trailer were pitiful,” Preston said. The children were sleeping on mattresses with no sheets and dirty dishes were piled in the kitchen in the mobile home, he said.
Daniel Wayne Sheets and Mary Elaine Sheets were each charged with a narcotics violation, the production of methamphetamine, use and possession of drug paraphernalia and the possession of chemicals used to manufacture a controlled substance. Both were being held in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning on $45,000 bond each.
3rd Grade Math, Reading FCAT Scores Released : Bratt Declines, All Others Improve
May 21, 2009
Third grade reading and math FCAT scores were released Thursday morning by the Florida Department of Education, with every North Escambia school showing an increase in scores except for Bratt Elementary.
At Bratt Elementary, the number of third grade students scoring at grade level on the reading portion of the FCAT dropped from 83 percent last year to 78 percent this year. In math, Bratt also declined, from 86 percent at grade level last year to 81 percent this year.
Bryneville Elementary School third grade students improved from 83 percent at grade level in reading last year to 86 percent this year. The percentage of students at third grade level in math remained steady at 93 percent.
Carver/Century third graders improved on both the math and reading FCAT tests. The percent scoring a “3″, which is considered grade level, increased from 53 to 72 percent in reading and from 58 to 72 percent in math.
Molino Park Elementary third grade students also showed gains on the FCAT. The percent of grade level students in reading increased from 76 to 81 percent. The number of Molino Park third graders at grade level in math increased from 84 to 89 percent.
Jim Allen Elementary school in Cantonment showed increases as well. The percentage of third grade students at grade level in reading increased from 76 to 78 percent; in math the number went from 84 percent last year to 89 this year.
Overall, third grade students in Escambia County improved one percentage point from one year ago. The number at grade level in reading increased from 71 to 72 percent. In reading, the county score improved from 76 to 77 percent at grade level.
“We are, of course, pleased with this year’s results and the gains being made in our schools,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “A lot of hard work was put forth by our teachers, principals and students to continue to increase scores at this level. This will give us some momentum heading into next year.”
Among the highlights from across the county:
● Navy Point increased 21% in math and 11% in reading
● Spencer Bibbs increased 15% in math and 16% in reading
● Longleaf increased 5% in math and 10% in reading
● NB Cook students scored 97% in math and 91% in reading
● Suter students scored 97% in math and 90% in reading
● 56 District students earned perfect scores in math
● 24 District students earned perfect scores in reading
● 4 District students earned perfect scores in both categories
Accused Bank Robber Jeter Captured In Florida After He Stabs Police Officer
May 21, 2009
(UPDATED 12:15 p.m.) The suspect in an Atmore bank robbery, Chad Floyd Jeter, 30, was taken into custody early this morning near Yankeetown Florida, after a stabbing an officer with a ninja star.
Authorities said Inglis Police Department officer Tim Swiggett approached Jeter as he slept in his truck at 4:19 EDT this morning. His truck was parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown neighborhood, according to Lt. Scott Finnen with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was described as an older model GMC pickup with no tag.
“The officer approached the subject and initiated the investigation and it was determined that the subject was Chad Floyd Jeter from Atmore, Alabama,” Finnen said. The Swiggett determined Jeter’s identity and that he was wanted in connection with the Tuesday robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
“Jeter then assaulted the officer and managed to cut the officer in neck before running into the woods,” Finnen said. Jeter reportedly thew a ninja star at Swiggett, striking the officer in the neck near his ear. Swiggett was transported to Seven Rivers Hospital with minor injuries where he was treated and released.
Jeter than fled the scene. Jeter was arrested just after 6:00 EDT this morning after manhunt involving the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Inglis Police Department, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Cross City Correctional K-9 team and the US Coast Guard. He was found hiding in a marsh.
Jeter’s truck was towed from the scene to a police impound lot and not searched, according to Finnen. He said a search warrant will be obtained and the truck search later this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
Jeter was charged with attempted homicide on a police officer and booked into the Levy County Jail. He will face an extradition back to Escambia County, Alabama, to face federal bank robbery charges.
Yankeetown, Florida, is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, southwest of Gainesville.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured above: The Levy County (Fla.) Jail booking photo taken this morning of Chad Floyd Jeter. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Welcome To The Real World: NHS Students Juggle Work, School
May 21, 2009
During her senior year, Northview student Ashley Snow maintained her GPA, cheered on the varsity cheerleading squad and was involved in other extracurricular activities. She also worked as an office assistant five days a week. And she worked at the Atmore YMCA. And she worked at the Movie Gallery.
Ashley is one of 27 students enrolled in the Diversified Career Technology/Career Education Clubs of Florida class at Northview High School. It’s a program that is sometimes called OJT, or on the job training. Students like Ashley take three to six periods in school at Northview; then they earn classroom credit for working their jobs under the watchful eye of DCT instructor Tommy Weaver.
“We call it the ‘world of work’,” Weaver said of his class. “It’s a welcome to the real world.”
At one point during the year, Ashley was juggling school and a 40-45 hour work week under the DCT program.
“I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have time to sleep,” she said. She’s since quit her job at the YMCA, but continues to work at the Movie Gallery. She also will continue her job as a paid student aide in the Northview office until the end of the school year.
For senior Amie Sutton (pictured left), the DCT program has allowed her to advance in her job. She started as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly in Century, and now her duties include working as an office clerk, managing cash, checks, money orders and more. She’s learned that advancing in a career has its perks.
“I can tell people what to do,” Sutton said. “But I hate when a customer is rude.”
“Yeah, sometimes when they have late fees they don’t want to pay, people can be so rude,” Ashley said. It’s that “welcome to the real world” that Weaver mentioned.
“It can get real hectic at times,” Jessica Mothershed said of her job as a paid aide in the Northview office. “Sometimes you can lose track because so many people want you to do so many different things.”
Jessica said she is glad she had the opportunity to get the Northview office job through the DCT program. “It’s been a great chance to get real experience, and the people I work with are just wonderful.”
Summer Sanders said it was necessary for her to work while attending school and that she was thankful for the opportunities presented by the DCT class.
“They are a great group of students who have work extremely hard to maintain jobs as well as attend school,” Summer said, thanking Weaver for helping her find her first job at David’s Catfish and her current job at Century Care Center.
I Enjoy working at the Care Center,” she said. “The staff is really nice and caring, and the residents just have a way of brightening my day when I’m having a bad day. It is a great environment to work in.”
Tiffany Chance found her job, well, by accident. An accident landed her at the chiropractor. She found chiropractic work interesting, and now she works at Newlin Chiropractic in Pensacola through the Northview DCT program.
“I just fell in love with the people at the chiropractic office after my accident, and they offered me a job,” she said. “I love having a job where I can help people. There’s nothing bad about it; it is all positive.”
But without the ability to take part in the NHS DCT program, Tiffany said it would be unlikely that she would have the job that she believes will prepare her for life after high school.
“It has taught me to accomplish tasks for myself,” Tiffany said. “It has definitely prepared me for the real world.”
Classroom time in the DCT program does work to prepare students for the real world.
Students learn how to write a resume, conduct an interview and even file their taxes.
Students receive both a classroom grade and a grade from their work supervisors. Good performance is important to maintaining or improving a GPA; students can earn up to five A’s per nine weeks in the DCT program. It is possible for a senior to take DCT, English and Government/Economics during the first three periods of the school day, then leave for work. Their employers are required to provide them with one hour of work for each period they are out of school.
But Weaver encourages the students to not be all work and no play; they are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and to return to campus for school events like pep rallies.
“They are a great group of kids,” Weaver said.
Amanda Barrow, manager of the Atmore Movie Gallery where Ashley works, agrees.
“I couldn’t ask for a better employee. She accepts responsibility. Everyone would wish for an employee as work oriented as Ashley,” Barrow said. “I think it (DCT) is a great program. It gives students the hands-on training they need before they are pursuing their careers.”
Ashley worked as a night nursery attendant during her time at the Atmore YMCA and found out that the DCT program can even provide life lessons.
“I don’t want kids anymore,” she said.
Members of the Northview 2008-2009 DCT program are listed below with their employer:
- Michelle Bellamy, Century Care Center, Century
- Joshua Black, Ernest Ward Middle School, Walnut Hill
- Gretchen Boughner, Whataburger, Century
- Andrew Bowlan, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Richard Braun, Northview High School, Bratt
- Brittany Brown, Country Charms, Atmore
- Tiffany Chance, Newlin Chiropractic, Pensacola
- Matthew Coffee, Winn-Dixie, Cantonment
- Stephanie Doucette, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Whitney Flurnoy, Buster’s Restaurant, Atmore
- Melissa Garrett, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Jasey Gibson, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Jesse Grimes, Piggly Wiggly, Davisville
- Denise Hart, Northview High School, Bratt
- Blaine Jeter, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Dalton Justice, Right Lead Ranch, Walnut Hill
- Ryan Lamber, Smith Tractor, Atmore
- Adam Martin, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Steven Meadows, Chuck E. Cheese, Pensacola
- Jessica Mothershed, Northview High School, Bratt
- Dustin Odom, Subway, Atmore
- Caitlin Roley, Northview High School, Bratt
- Summer Sanders, Century Care Century, Century
- Haley Smith, Northview High School, Bratt
- Ashley Snow, Movie Gallery, Atmore
- Amie Sutton, Piggly Wiggly, Century
- Kayla Wheeler, Winn Dixie, Cantonment
For more on the DCT program at Northview, click here.
Pictured top: Jessica Mothershed (left) and Tiffany Chance are two of 27 students in the DCT program at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Amie Sutton works at Century’s Piggly Wiggly in the DCT program. Pictured below: Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas visits with DCT student Ashley Snow, who works as an office aide at NHS. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friends And Neighbors Show Support For FNB&T After Armed Bank Robbery
May 21, 2009
Friends and neighbors have reached out to the First National Bank & Trust following the Tuesday afternoon armed robbery of the Atmore bank.
Rene Godwin, FNB&T vice president, said that all day Wednesday, customers and friends took the time to offer words of encouragement following the frighting events of Tuesday afternoon when a man armed with a rifle robbed the bank.
United Bank, whose main office is located just across the street from the FNB&T, even sent a gift basket filled with “goodies” to the FNB&T.
“The FNB&Trust team would like to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our customers and the citizens of the Atmore area for the concern shown us during the recent robbery,” Godwin said. “A special thank you to the United Bank employees for their generosity and well wishes.”
Shep Marsh, president of FNB&T, offered his praises to local law enforcement and his staff following the holdup.
“The quick and professional actions of our well trained staff, excellent security technology, and very competent local law enforcement officers resulted in an identification of the individual within two hours,” Marsh said.
Pictured above: A gift basket from United Bank to the FNB&T following their Tuesday robbery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lucky Store? Davisville Store Sells Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket, Again
May 21, 2009
A ticket purchased at the State Line Gift Shop in Davisville has the winning number in Tuesday’s Fantasy 5 drawing, and that ticket is now worth $208,169.03 as the only winning ticket in the state.
The winning FANTASY 5 numbers were: 07 – 19 – 28 – 29 – 30. The winning ticket was a “Quick Pick”.
Two tickets sold at the State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 at the Alabama/Florida state line won two different Fantasy 5 drawings with over a quarter million dollars in payouts.
The State Line Gift Shop, one of the top lottery retailers in Florida, has received $500 for each of the the winning tickets as a bonus from the Florida Lottery.
Consolidation Opinion: ‘Model Government’ Jacksonville Raising Water & Sewer Rates 44%
May 21, 2009
Guest Column By Dale Perkins
The political action committee Escambia All for One has highlighted the City of Jacksonville as the model government in its efforts to move Escambia County away from constitutional government to consolidated government.
A presentation at New World Landing using Jacksonville officials would leave us to believe that Jacksonville is a panacea. The truth is that Jacksonville has horrible, financial, crime, inefficiency and ethical problems. The most recent of these is Jacksonville’s decision to raise water/sewer rates by 44%. (Florida Times Union, 5/19/09) That’s right, 44%, not 4 point 4%.
As a member of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, I (as well as my fellow Board Members) have worked diligently to keep rates as low as possible. At the same time we have made major and myriad environmental and infrastructure improvements. Among these is the permitting and construction of a new 330 million dollar wastewater treatment plant. This massive project is under budget, ahead of schedule and without scandal. Compare that to the attempted building of the Jacksonville Courthouse.
A major concern is that a consolidated form of government will utilize the citizen’s utility bills as just another way to get into our pockets. It has already been proposed in the form of an economic development utility surcharge.
Please, get on your computer, google information on the City of Jacksonville or go to the Florida Times Union Website. Once you do, you will see for yourself that we are once again being misled by a well financed and professionally coordinated campaign effort.
Dale Perkins is an elected Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board Member, and holds a Masters degree in Applied Politics from the University of West Florida.
Swine Flu Case In Santa Rosa County
May 21, 2009
The area has its first case of H1N1 (swine flu), according to health officials.
A sample from an adult female in Santa Rosa County was confirmed positive by testing at the Florida Department of Health Pensacola Branch Laboratory.
At the advice of her physician, the woman has been self-isolating at home for the past two days while taking Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that has shown to be effective in treating the virus, the Santa Rosa County Health Department said. The woman will remain at home until after her antiviral treatment is completed. In addition, there are three other adult family members living in her home, yet none of them are exhibiting influenza-like illness symptoms at this time.
Basic prevention steps that are effective in preventing the seasonal flu, according to the health department, are:
- If you feel sick, stay home from work or school
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or appear ill
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your upper sleeve, not your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- If you experience cough, fever, and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, contact your health care provider
More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, or by calling the Florida Department of Health’s toll free information line for swine flu at 1-800-775-8039.