Northview Names Homecoming Court
September 30, 2009
The Northview High School Chiefs have named their 2009 Homecoming Court. The homecoming queen and her court will be named prior to Friday night’s football game.
Pictured: The Northview High School 2009 Homecoming Court. Front row (L-R): Sophomores Lauren McCall, Raylin Spence, Charleigh McPherson; freshmen Ariel Holland, Sandy Rainwater, Taylor Roberson; Back row: juniors Brooke Tullis, Hayley Simpson, Miranda Burkett; seniors Amber McMillan, Erica Rendell, Kinsey Hendrix, Kassandra Lett, Carley Hetrick, Heather Ward. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested After Firing Shots Near Deputy
September 30, 2009
A 25-year old was arrested early this morning after firing multiple shots from a moving vehicle on Kingsfield Road, including four shots that were fired near an Escambia County Deputy who had just started his patrol shift.
Deputy Rudy Brown had just started his shift at about 6 a.m. Wednesday and was headed toward the Century Precinct in his marked patrol car when he heard gunfire in the area of Kingsfield Road and Bob White Lane. From the sound of the numerous shots, Brown wrote in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office incident report that he could tell the shots were moving toward him.
“A maroon Chevrolet vehicle came into my view and passed in front of my patrol car. At the same time, I heard at least four more shots in rapid succession coming from the maroon Chevy,” Brown wrote.
Deputy Brown pursued the vehicle to the Tom Thumb at Kingsfield and Chemstrand roads where he made contact with the driver, Joshua Lee Brown, 25. of Kingsfield Road. Joshua Brown (pictured left) told Deputy Brown, no relationship, that he heard the gunshots as well.
When Deputy Brown questioned a female passenger in the vehicle, she said “I told him not to shoot that gun,” according to the report. A search of the vehicle recovered a 380 handgun that was found to be stolen according to a report filed with the Pensacola Police Department.
Joshua Brown was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle and theft of a firearm. He is being held on $22,500 bond.
Survey: Escambia Bad Place To Have Kids; Voters Unsure About Government Consolidation
September 30, 2009
A majority of Escambia County voters say that the county is a negative place to raise children, and county voters are about evenly split on the idea of consolidating the governments of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century.
The survey, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc, was commissioned by The Better Pensacola Forum. The survey included 800 registered voters from across Escambia County.
A total of 59 percent of county voters gave Escambia County negative marks as being a place for a family raising children, compared to 48 percent one year ago. Respondents were concerned about schools, crime, traffic and public transportation.
An overwhelming 85 percent gave Escambia’s economy a negative rating. Concerns included economic conditions, poor job opportunities and a lack of vision and leadership in economic development efforts. Just under half of those survey felt that both Escambia County and Pensacola are on the wrong track.
Governmental consolidation — the idea of combining Escambia County, Pensacola and Century governments into one — was split with 42 percent in favor, 40 percent opposed and 18 percent undecided. Along racial lines, 56 percent of African Americans support consolidation compared to 40 percent of Caucasians.
Consolidation support and opposition numbers were essentially the same regardless of whether the voter lives in the city limits of Pensacola, in the suburbs or on the county. Registered Democrats were more likely to be in favor of consolidation than Republicans or Independents.
When respondents were asked to reconsider consolidation if it meant more cost efficient services and a greater chance of economic development, growth and a better quality of life, 64 percent said they would be more likely to support consolidation.
Click here to read the entire survey from The Better Pensacola Forum.
The margin of error for the survey of randomly chosen voters had a marging of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Flu-Like Illnesses Widespread; Vaccine Soon
September 30, 2009
Almost 20 percent of all emergency room visits in Alabama are patients suffering from flu-like symptoms, and health officials are reporting a high number of cases in Florida. The Escambia County (Fla.) Health Departments says that most forms of influenza currently being diagnosed in the county are H1N1 — commonly known as swine flu. Santa Rosa County has not been spared from the swine flu, with the county’s health department reporting Tuesday that a 52-year old man died from H1N1 earlier this month.
About 18 percent of emergency room patients and 9 percent of patients presenting in doctors’ offices in Alabama reported having flu-like symptoms, according to reports from physicians and hospitals participating in Centers for Disease Control surveillance programs. Eight Alabama residents who were positive for H1N1 influenza have died this year, and other potential deaths are being investigated.
H1N1 vaccine should be available in early or mid-October, according to health officials. In Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, it will eventually be available at area colleges, hospitals, participating doctor’s offices, health department offices and in public schools. Public school students will not be vaccinated without written permission from a parent; permission forms will be sent home with each child from their school.
The vaccine currently offered at locations such as grocery stores and drugstores is for the seasonal flu, not H1N1 or swine flu.
The Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. Persons age 65 and older are believed to have a lower risk of getting the H1N1 virus, so vaccination for this age group is not recommended until more at-risk groups have been vaccinated.
For more information on the H1N1 flu, click here to visit the CDC web site.
Video Surveillance Systems Planned For Ernest Ward, Jim Allen
September 30, 2009
The Escambia School district will spend $112,739.15 to install video surveillance systems at four schools, including Ernest Ward Middle and Jim Allen Elementary.
The system will also be installed at Workman Middle and Lincoln Park Elementary.
The systems will be integrated into the district-wide system that will allow the video to be viewed from any designated department.
The contract was awarded in the amount of $44,933.35 to Advanced Control Concepts of Pensacola and $67,805.80 to VT MILCOM of Pensacola. The systems are being funding by half cent sales tax and maintenance funds.
Final Day For Business Owners To Renew Tax Receipt License
September 30, 2009
If you have a business and have not renewed your business tax receipt yet, now is the time.
The final day for all business owners and practicing professionals to renew their business tax receipt (sometimes called a business license) is Wednesday. After today, penalties will be added to the base fee.
Business owners and professionals are encouraged to renew their business tax receipt online; however, other options are available, such as payment by mail, by phone (convenience fee may apply), and in person at any of the four convenient tax collector offices.
Applications and information for business tax receipts are available at www.escambiataxcollector.com. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call the tax collector’s office at 438‑6500, Ext. 252. (TTY users for the hearing impaired call 472‑0031.)
FNB&Trust Earns 5-Star Stability And Strength Rating
September 30, 2009
The First National Bank & Trust in Atmore has been awarded a 5-Star Superior Rating for the fifth consecutive quarter.
The 5-start rating for financial strength and stability is the highest rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s bank rating firm for over a quarter century. The rating is based upon the overall financial strength of the bank; the 5-Start rating denotes the First National Bank & Trust as been among the strongest banks in the nations, according to BauerFinancial.
“There’s an old adage that says no press is bad press, but if you’ve seen the banking news over the past year or two, you know this isn’t always true,” notes Karen L. Dorway, president of BaeurFinancial. “That’s why it’s so important today to share some good banking news, and First National Bank & Trust makes it easy. First National Bank & Trust is a model community bank. You should be proud to call it your bank.”
First National Bank & Trust was established in 1915 and has been serving the banking needs of Atmore and surrounding areas for 94 years. It operates through four conveniently located offices in Atmore and Excel and can also be found on the internet at www.fnbandt.com.In addition to earning the 5-Star designation for five consective quarters, the bank has received “recommended” status for 81 consecutive quarters.
BauerFinancial is an independent bank and credit union ranking and research firm. Financial institutions do not pay for their ratings.
Northview Cross Country Meet: T.R. Miller, PCA And Jay Take Top Spots
September 30, 2009
About 120 runners took part in a cross country meet Tuesday afternoon at Northview High School. T.R. Miller took the top spot among the girls, and Pensacola Christian was first among the boys. The Jay Royals took second in both categories.
The fastest time on the 5K course belonged to T.R. Miller High School’s Brandon Nelson at 18:20, followed by two Jay High School runners: Drew Kennedy at 18:35 and Dylan Nadsady at 18:43. The three fastest female runners were all from T.R. Miller: Karisa Nelson 19:34, Katie Nelson 20:22, and Shelby Youngblood 20:43.
Complete overall results and the top runners from Northview and Jay are below:
For a photo gallery from the meet, click here.
Girls Overall
1st – TR Miller 22
2nd – Jay High 42
3rd – Pensacola Christian 75
4th – East Hill Christian School 120
5th – Northview 147
1st- TR Miller Karisa Nelson 19:34
2nd -TR Miller Katie Nelson 20:22
3rd -TR Miller Shelby Youngblood 20:43
Northview’s Top 5 Girls
Georgia Geotter 25:04
Autumn Bobo 31:48
Angel Mitchell 33:17
Harley Caraway 33:33
Jessica Bloodsworth 37:58
Jay’s Top 5 Girls
Leely Trevino 23:18
Robin Blackman 23:29
Gloria Ramey 24:22
Allison Blaire 24:26
Caristyn Golden 24:28
Boys Overall
1st – Pensacola Christian 37
2nd – Jay High 37
3rd – TR Miller 68
4th – Northview High 163
5th – Central 199
1st TR Miller -Brandon Nelson 18:20
2nd Jay High -Drew Kennedy 18:35
3rd Jay High -Dylan Nadsady 18:43
Northview’s Top 5 Boys
Josh Scott 21:25
AJ Lambert 21:36
Jackson Smith 23:44
Dillian Crutchfield 25:04
Blake Luker 25:45
Jay’s Top 5 Boys
Drew Kennedy 18:35
Dylan Nadsady 18:43
Dusty Kennedy 19:05
Micah Kemp 20:03
Eric Trevino 20:34
Sheriff To Lead Northview Parade In New Tahoe; Crown Victorias On The Way Out
September 30, 2009
The days of seeing deputies on the roads in North Escambia in Ford Crown Victorias are coming to an end, with Ford phasing out the car and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department purchasing a fleet of new Chevrolet Tahoes.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will make the North Escambia debut of the new ESCO Tahoe this Friday as he leads the first annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade.
The last Ford Crown Vic will roll off the assembly line in 2010, forcing law enforcement agencies across the nation to find another vehicle for their men and women on the streets. Some are choosing the Dodge Charger, currently used on a limited basis in our area by the Florida Highway Patrol.
But for the Escambia Sheriff’s Department, the higher price of the Charger — and tires that $185 each — the Tahoe SUV was a better fit.
The base price of a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe is $23,146, but nicely equipped with all the needed police options — like a handling package that puts it two inches closer to the ground than the standard model — the out-the-door price for the sheriff’s office Tahoes is $38,957 each. That’s less than an extra $250 over the Crown Vic with a police package.
There will be a slight gas savings on the Chevy Tahoe, at 15 city miles to the gallon compared to 14 for the Ford Crown Victoria.
The 52 police-equipped Chevrolet Tahoes will cost the sheriff’s department $1.9 million of local option sales tax money. Most will go to patrol and K-9 officers, phasing out older Crown Victories, some of which have well over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will be held on Highway 4 at 12:30 Friday from Bratt Elementary School to Northview. There is still plenty of time to enter the parade, call the school at (850) 327-6681 ext. 254. There is no charge to enter, but all entries must be approved by the sponsoring Northview DCT class.
Pictured above and below: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Ted Roy shows up new ESCO Chevrolet Tahoe. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christian Coalition Gives Evers Top Marks
September 30, 2009
State Rep. Greg Evers has received the “Faith and Family Award” from the Christian Coalition of Florida.
The award was presented during the 20th annual “God and Country” banquet in Orlando. Evers received a score of 100 percent during the 2009 Legislative Session for his work on behalf of the Christian organization.
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by the Christian Coalition of Florida as a recipient of its 2009 Faith and Family Award,” said Representative Evers. “As a man of faith serving in the Florida Legislature, I hold very seriously my duty to uphold our Northwest Florida values, faith and traditions in Tallahassee. I am glad that my votes reflect my commitment to God and our community.”
Evers, a farmer and small businessman from Baker, represents District 1, which includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties — including North Escambia. He was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2001.
He serves as chairman of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee of the Florida House & Florida Senate and serves on the Economic Development Policy Committee, the Agriculture & Environmental Appropriations Committee and the Agriculture Policy Committee.