Buses Delayed At Ernest Ward; Dismissal Without Incident
March 26, 2010
Buses were delayed from leaving Ernest Ward Middle School until about 4:05 this afternoon.
It was part of the school’s security plan to make sure there were no problems today following a fight that landed seven students in jail at dismissal time yesterday.
The school was dismissed without incident this afternoon.
More Details Released: Rumors Predicted Ernest Ward Fight
March 26, 2010
There were rumors of an impending fight at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday before a dismissal time confrontation that landed seven Ernest Ward and Northview High School students in jail, according to an incident report released Friday morning by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Three students were charged with felonies.
“Upon my arrival, I made contact with Glenn Dumas, the school’s dean, who advised me that earlier in the day, he had interview several students and warned them not to be involved in a fight because there was a rumor going around campus of an impending fight,” Deputy James Moretz wrote in his report.
The report states that a bus driver tried to stop a fight that started between two juvenile students. The bus driver ended up on the ground on top of a student, and several other students joined the altercation.
While the bus driver was on the ground, he was kicked several times by a 17-year old female Northview student. A 16-year Northview student was also identified as having punched or kicked the bus driver.
A 16-year old Ernest Ward student was charged after he “was throwing punches and shoved off…the school’s principal, who was trying to hold him back and prevent him from entering the affray”.
One of the seven students, a 12-year old that attends Ernest Ward, was not charged in connection with the actual fight. He was charged with resisting without violence and obstructing justice after allegedly tried to grab a deputy’s handcuffs as he attempted to place a female into custody.
Family Fun: UWF Festival On The Green Continues
March 26, 2010
The University of West Florida Festival on the Green will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday at the UWF Main Campus in Pensacola. The festival is free and open to the public.
The annual arts and crafts festival is back with 20 venues and events, including a motorcycle safety demonstration; the Children’s Festival March 27; Time Portal to the Past; Time Portal to Your Future (featuring different UWF departments, formerly known as UWF Showcase); dog agility demonstrations; the Native American Village; and NCAA Division II men’s and women’s tennis matches.
“This is our 10th anniversary and many of the same individuals who opened the reborn festival in 2001 are still on board the steering committee,” said Connie Marse, Festival on the Green co-chair and UWF director of publications. “Participation from the campus community and attendance has grown significantly since the festival was revived.”
The festival usually welcomes around 20,000 to the UWF campus, according to Jeff Comeau, Festival on the Green chair and assistant director of UWF Human Resources. “This year, considering the economy, we are hoping for even more attendance since we don’t charge admission and we are right in the neighborhood.”
Special appearances are promised by WEAR’s Christian Garman; Sam’s Fun City’s Bullwinkle; Yo-Yo D’Clown making balloon animals; Chick-Fil-A’s friendly cow; The Magic Man doing magic tricks; Pen Air Federal Credit Union’s Penny the Porpoise; UWF’s Argie; The Flip Factory cheerleaders and gymnasts; and singer Mike McCarton.
Entertainment: Acts will include Not Quite Fab, a Beatles tribute band; “Grease,” a UWF Theatre Department teaser; Mass Kunfuzion; UWF Juggling Club Demonstration; Touch of Blue; UWF Symphonic Band; UWF Singers; UWF Madrigals; and the UWF Jazz Band. On March 26, the festival will showcase UWF music and theater students, while March 27 will bring a variety of entertainment on three different stages.
Fine arts: Artists from throughout the region will display and sell their work on both days. In the juried show, festival judges will recognize: Best of Show, President’s Award, First Place Award, Second Place Award and Judges Award. On March 26, student artwork on display at the Fine Arts Show along Magnolia Row, featuring drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media. Also, selected student art will be on display at the juried exhibit at the UWF gallery.
Motorcycles: Motorcycle enthusiasts from the Gulf Coast Chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) will be on hand with an array of bikes and to share motorcycle safety information.
Crafts fair: An assortment of crafts created, exhibited and sold by regional crafters will be on display. Find ceramics, wood, fiber, jewelry, toys and clothing among others.
Diversity stage: Various cultural and international artists will perform March 27. The highlight will be an appearance by South Pacific Luau and its energy-filled revue. Dances and sweet melodies of the islands of Hawaii, the visually stunning Poi-ball dance of New Zealand, the amazing fire knife dance of Samoa and the energetic hip-shaking routine representative of the island of Tahiti will take the audience on an entertaining journey.
Dog exhibition: The Five Flags Dog Training Club will return this year with exciting canine demonstrations presented by club members and their furry friends. At the Agility exhibition area, nimble pooches demonstrate their agile nature by following cues from their handlers through an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels and weave poles. Don’t miss the Country Canine Square Dancers or Pensacola’s first official Fly Ball team, the Panhandle Supersonics.
Children’s Festival: Kids will enjoy arts and crafts, games and activities, magic, clowns and gymnasts during activities March 27. Games will include kidding bowling, tile painting and jigsaw puzzle making. The UWF organizations Marine Ecology Research Society and Explore Summer Programs will host a marine life touch tank, “fish print” art and other games.
For details about Festival on the Green including entertainment schedule and festival map, visit uwf.edu/festival or call (850) 474-3000.
Spring Eggstravaganza Is Saturday
March 26, 2010
Looking for some springtime fun for the whole family? Escambia County will hold the annual Spring Eggstravaganza, Saturday, March 27. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on the soccer fields at Ashton Brosnaham Sportsplex; 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Rd. Admission is free.
Bring your own baskets for the traditional egg hunt starting at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3-5, 6-7 and 8-10. Prizes will be awarded in each age group. Children’s games, crafts, face painting and a bounce house will make this a fun occasion for the entire family.
For more information on the 2010 Spring Eggstravaganza, contact Brandi Daigle in the Office of Public Information and Communications at 595-3476 or visit www.myescambia.com.
Seven Students Arrested Following Fight At Ernest Ward; Bus Driver Injured
March 26, 2010
Seven students were arrested following a fight on the campus of Ernest Ward Middle School that put a bus driver in the hospital Thursday afternoon.
Four of the students were released from jail Thursday night, while three remained in custody overnight.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies said the fight started about 3:50 p.m. as school was dismissed. The fight began between two students on a bus and escalated into an affray in the parking lot involving a small number of students. Several school staff members and bus drivers tried to stop the fight, and several of them were struck by students. One bus driver was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He was reportedly released from the hospital Thursday night. An unknown number of students and staff members were evaluated on scene by medical personnel but were not transported to the hospital.
The fight involved students from both Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High School; Northview and Ernest Ward students are on the same buses each afternoon. There were no weapons involved in the fight. Deputies said they did not know why the fight started.
Four of the students arrested were Ernest Ward students; three were Northview students. The students arrested are facing a variety of charges, including battery and taking part in an affray or riot. One of the seven students, a 12-year old that attends Ernest Ward, was not charged in connection with the actual fight. He was charged with resisting without violence and obstructing justice after allegedly tried to grab a deputy’s handcuffs as he attempted to place a female into custody.
All of the students involved has been temporarily banned from the campuses of Ernest Ward or Northview. Deputies said Thursday night that there could be more arrests forthcoming in the case.
The afternoon fight was the second time deputies had been dispatched to Ernest Ward for a fight on Thursday. The Sheriff’s Office said the earlier fight between two students was not related in any way to the afternoon incident. The students in the morning fight were not taken into custody.
There was no school resource officer at Ernest Ward on Thursday; he had been assigned to work another school. Over a half dozen deputies responded to the school after the fight was reported. By the time deputies arrived a few minutes after the school called for help, the fight was over. Several students were placed in handcuffs and taken to the administration building of the school.
Several parents gathered outside the administration building as the students were questioned inside and deputies gathered witness statements from school employees. Hours later, the arrested students sat handcuffed in the hallway and school office as deputies continued their investigation. They were transported from the school about 7 p.m.
All school buses were held on the scene as emergency personnel worked. Most were released about an hour later; some were held on campus as long as an hour and a half.
Two ambulances were called to the scene, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Walnut Hill station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured top: One of the first deputies to arrive at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday afternoon. Pictured top inset: Emergency workers on scene at EWMS. Pictured bottom inset: Deputy Scott Mashburn takes an unidentified juvenile into custody. Pictured below: The first ambulance arrives at Ernest Ward Middle School following an affray Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
North Santa Rosa Wreck Claims One Life
March 26, 2010
A single vehicle accident claimed one life in north Santa Rosa County Thursday afternoon.
Jeffery Dwight Foster, 41, of Milton was killed in the accident on Highway 4 west of Hurricane Lake Road at 1 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol says Foster was westbound on Highway 4 near Munson when he lost control of his 2006 Chevrolet Z-71 pickup on the wet roadway.
The passenger side of the truck struck a pine tree by the roadway. Foster was transported to Santa Rosa Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The FHP says Foster was wearing his seat belt.
Creative High School Students Honored
March 26, 2010
Several area high school students were honored Thursday night at the Mira Creative Arts Awards ceremony in Pensacola.
The awards honored ten “bright stars” in the creative arts each of Escambia County’s high schools.
Winners from the North Escambia Area were:
Northview High School
- Micah Byars, Props & Set Construction
- Clint Davis, Drama
- Kayla Dempsey, Drama
- Carley Hetrick, Vocal Music
- Tyler Hunter, Drama
- Thaddeus Jones, Instrumental Music
- Parish Kelley, Graphic Art
- Mallorie Okahashi, Set Design
- Jackson Smith, Instrumental Music
- Nathan Taylor, Visual Arts
Tate High School
- Stevie Evans, Visual Arts
- Leslie Ann Godwin, Instrumental Music
- Cally Hayes, Visual Arts
- Destiny Howard, Vocal Music
- Collin Bain Metcalf, Debate
- Megan Otteni, Drama
- Kimberly R. Thompson, Ceramics
- Jakob Ian Wisdom, Instrumental Music
- Kaitlin Williams, Yearbook
- Meghan Wojdyla, Yearbook
West Florida High School
- Heather Lee, Drama
Each student honored received $200 book scholarships from Pensacola Junior College, memberships to the Pensacola Museum of Art and award medallions.
All Escambia School Web Sites To Be Down For A Week
March 26, 2010
If you need any information from your child’s school web site or the Escambia County School District web site, you need to access that information before Monday.
The school district’s web site and individual school district web sites for all Escambia County (Fla.) schools will be down for maintenance during Spring Break. The sites are expected to return by Monday, April 5.
Tate Senior Signs With Jefferson Davis
March 26, 2010
Tate High’s Brandon Blackwelder has signed a letter of intent to play for Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Blackwelder will play third base and catcher for the Warhawks. For the Aggies, he has a batting average of .316 with 11 runs and 10 RBI’s so far this season.
Pictured: Brett Blackwelder, Brandon Blackwelder Dana Blackwelder, Tate Head Coach Todd Boyd, Jeff Davis Head Coach Darrell Blevins, Craig Blackwelder. Submitted photo by Deeann Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Have You Seen This Cup Or This Man?
March 26, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for business in the area that sells beverages in blue and white cups, hoping the information will help them solve a murder.
The cup was found with ice still inside after the weekend shooting death of Donald D. Turner, 24, on Augusta Drive in Pensacola. One person, Alonzo Lee, 34, has been named a “person of interest” in the case. Lee is being held on unrelated outstanding warrants for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking for two more persons of interest in connection with the homicide. One has not been identified. He is described as a black male with light skin, a short haircut and a slight growth of hair on chin and cheeks that appears to be blond in color.
Daniel Maurice McMillian, also known as “LD”. McMillian (pictured), 23, is described as a black male approximately six foot tall and 180 pounds. He currently has active warrants for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence and possession of cocaine and marijuana.
Anyone who may know an establishment that sells the style cup pictured or that has any information on the homicide is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.