Group Offers Free Prom Dresses To Disadvantaged
April 9, 2010
Prom is just a few weeks away for Northview High School, and a group of concerned students is working to make sure every girl can have that perfect dress for a magical evening.
Calling themselves the “SWANS”, the group of young ladies is collecting prom dresses that are being made available to any Northview girl headed to prom that needs a dress, no questions asked.
“Prom is big deal for girls,” said SWANS member Jessica Bloodsworth. “They want to look pretty, and the perfect dress helps them look special. It can boost the self-esteem of a girl.”
Knowing that dresses are without a doubt expensive and that the expense could keep some girls from attending their junior or senior prom, the 20-something students in the SWANS decided to go to work to create a prom dress closet of sorts. So far, they have collected just over a dozen dresses, and they have been promised a donation of about 30 more soon from someone that is closing a bridal shop.
“A lot of girls have dresses left over from other events, and there are girls that need a dress but their family can’t afford one, so it’s a perfect match,” Bloodsworth said.
The girls recently bagged groceries at a Winn Dixie store to raise money — about $200 — so they could dry clean the donated dresses. The dresses are fashionable, modern styles that are free of flaws.
“Prom is just that special night that you get dressed up and feel like an adult,” said Natalie Nall, one of the SWANS teacher sponsors. “This is the big deal for many of the girls. For the girls that don’t go to college, senior prom night is the special time in their lives until their wedding.”
Extra effort is made to make sure that no girl is embarrassed by wearing a donated dress, according to Barbara Luker, another SWANS teacher sponsor. It is all done as quietly as possible to make sure no one knows a girl took part in the program. Even for our NorthEscambia.com photo, Luker worked to make sure the dresses were presented in such a way that no dress could be identified.
Northview girls that donate a dress to the program sign a promise to not let anyone know what dress they donated.
“I promise to not let it be known that this dress once belonged to me and will hold it secret in my heart because I know that my generosity means more than the compromise of someone’s self-esteem,” the prom dress donation promise states.
Girls that receive a SWANS prom dress have the option of keeping it, or returning to the program.
The SWANS — Sophisticated Warriors Advocating Northview Self-Discovery — are also working toward a clothes swap closet at the school for everyday clothing. And they are planning a Mother’s Day tea to allow girls and their moms to get a little closer and allow the girls to meet their friends’ moms.
“It’s all about self-esteem and being a woman,” Bloodsworth said.
Northview’s prom is May 1.
SWANS is actively seeking prom dress donations. Anyone can drop a dress by the school office. Any Northview student in need of a dress can contact any SWANS member at the school, or any teacher sponsor.
Pictured above: Northview SWANS member Jessica Bloodsworth with some of the donated prom dresses. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida House Passes Bill Linking Teacher Pay To Student Performace
April 9, 2010
[Tallahassee] In an early morning vote, the Florida House approved a comprehensive education reform measure that will start paying teachers based on student performance rather than length of service. The bill passed 64-55.
The House continued nine hours of debate until a vote at 2:26 a.m. Eastern Time Friday on the teacher merit pay measure. Northwest Florida’s House members — Greg Evers, Dave Murzin, and Clay Ford — all voted in favor of the plan.
“I want to thank all the teachers, parents, and constituents for their input,” said Rep. Murzin in an early-morning news release. “Our teachers are valuable to Florida and rewarding them for their hard work is important. I am hopeful this increases the quality of education and as a father with a son in public school I am ready to do anything in my power to make Florida better in the classroom.”
“This bill is anti-student, anti-teacher, anti-parent, and anti-public schools,” the Florida Education Association said in a news release just two minutes after the vote.
The future of public school teacher pay is now in the hands of Gov. Charlie Crist. The governor has been coy, though, about what he might do with the bill. He told Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, the Senate sponsor of the measure, that he intended to sign it, but publicly hinted he might wield the veto pen. He told reporters Thursday morning that he hadn’t yet made a decision and planned on watching the House debate.
“The more you listen, the more you learn,” Crist said. “There are things I like and things that give me some concern,” in the bill. I’m listening to the people of Florida – my boss.”
The legislation, which was passed by the Senate 21-17 two weeks ago, would take five percent of a school’s funding to create a performance pay fund, which would dole out salary increases based on two criteria. The first would be overall performance factors such as class management, subject mastery and an advanced degree. The second part of a teacher’s evaluation would be based on learning gains made by students on standardized exams.
Proponents of the legislation said teachers should be paid on results, not on years of service.
“We have to find a way to pay these great teachers more,” said Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, the chair of the House Pre-K-12 budget committee.
The debate over the bill has been a highly political and partisan process. The proposal has been championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush’s education foundation and opposed by the teachers’ union, which financed Bush’s 2002 gubernatorial opponent, Bill McBride.
Several amendments offered over the last few days were struck down angering Democrats and some Republicans who noted that the bill still needed some work.
Lawmakers have been flooded with thousands of letters, emails and phone calls over the issue and teachers have turned out in bulk to protest the legislation, backed by Democratic legislators who came out swinging during floor debate Thursday night. Most Republican lawmakers have remained steady in their support for the bill though.
Democratic Leader Franklin Sands said that lawmakers should be more considerate of teachers’ opinions because they know how the measure will affect them, not lawmakers.
“This is like spending a night at a Holiday Inn … and waking up an expert, and all of a sudden knowing what’s best for our teachers,” said Sands, D-Weston. Eleven Republicans split from the party to side with the Democrats in the final vote.
Julio Robaina, R-Miami, who voted against the legislation, said that the numerous unknowns of the bill concerned him.
The Department of Education still must determine how it would define learning gains and the testing mechanism to measure those gains. The department was involved in the drafting of the legislation and has been working closely with Vanderbilt University, which has done significant education research, on how to develop this criteria.
“It’s got a lot of good provisions in there, but it’s not complete,” Robaina said. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Education Commissioner Eric Smith has told lawmakers they will be ready to work on implementation should the bill pass. He has also said that the measure could help the state in its application for the second round of competition for the federal Race to the Top grant.
Pictured above: Rep. Keith Fitzgerald debates the teacher merit pay bill Thursday night in the Florida House. David Royse for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Ernest Ward Field Day Canceled Due To Lockdown Will Be Held Today
April 9, 2010
Students at Ernest Ward Middle School will enjoy a Field Day today that they missed two weeks ago while the school was in a lockdown following a dismissal time fight.
The EWMS students were scheduled to have the Field Day on March 26, but the event was postponed as a precaution after a March 25 fight that sent a bus driver to the hospital and seven Ernest Ward and Northview High School students to jail. The seven students were also suspended from school.
The school was out last week for Spring Break. Since students returned to class this week, there have been no violent incidents reported.
Man Pleads Not Guilty To Attempting To Strangle Ex-wife
April 9, 2010
A North Escambia man pleaded not guilty Thursday to allegedly attempting to strangle his ex-wife, with whom he was residing with in violation of a 12-year old restraining order.
Harvey Lamar Brown, 52, of Highway 4A, Century, is charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation and contempt of court for willfully violating a restraining order. After the entry of his not guilty plea on Thursday, Judge Frank Bell set Brown’s jury trial for July 19. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the victim said her ex-husband apparently became jealous because she talked to a young man at a yard sale outside her home. When she went inside, a confrontation erupted, and Brown “strangled her to the point of almost passing out”, Deputy Jeff Gardner wrote in his report. When the victim attempted to call for help, Brown allegedly threw her on the floor and tried to break her neck, the report states.
The victim escaped and ran to a neighbor’s house to call for help. She refused medical treatment.
Brown acknowledged to deputies that an argument had occurred and said that the victim had bitten him on the arm. He admitted to the deputy that they “got into a fight (and) tussled around”.
According to the arrest report, a permanent domestic violence injunction was issued against Brown in December, 1997. Deputy Gardner wrote in his report that Brown thought the injunction had been recalled and that “she mislead him into living with her”. The report states Brown had become the caregiver for the victim, who is suffering from a medical condition.
Criminal Charges Filed Against The Arts Council Of Northwest Florida
April 9, 2010
The State Attorney’s Office has filed two criminal charges against the Arts Council of Northwest Florida for making false official statements.
Complaints investigated by the State Attorney’s Office alleged that the Arts Council filed false reports with Escambia County and the City of Pensacola in order to receive funding and that the designated funds received were used improperly.
That SAO found wrongdoing on the part of the arts organization over “an extended period of time”, according to a report filed Thursday by Chief Assistant State Attorney Gregory Marcille.
In fiscal year 2009, the Arts Council received $100,000 in funding from Escambia County and $60,000 from the City of Pensacola. $120,000 of the funds were to be distributed to a dozen different arts organizations. The agreement with the county stated that the council was to be reimbursed after writing checks to the arts organizations. The Arts Council will provide copies of the checks to Escambia County that were supposedly sent to the arts groups. In reality, the Arts Council was withholding the checks and providing a false statement to the county, according to Marcille’s report.
The City of Pensacola made a lump sum payment each year, and the SAO found that it became regular practice for th group to use the current funding to pay expenses from the prior year.
Marcille said in his report that there was no evidence that anyone misappropriated funds for their own use, and no individuals were charged in connection with the incident.
The Arts Council of Northwest Florida will be arraigned on April 29 before Judge David Ackerman.
To read the full report from the State Attorney’s Office, click here.
Jay Wins Track Meet; Northview Places Second, Third
April 9, 2010
Jay’s boys and girls won a recent seven-school track meet, while the Northview girls placed second and the Northview boys placed third.
The meet at Central High School included track teams from Century, Northview, Jay, Florala, W.S. Neal, Paxton and Pensacola Christian School.
Full results from the meet are below.
OVERALL GIRLS POINTS
132-Jay
102-Northview
68-Central
67-Paxton
46-WS Neal
46-Florala
4-Pensacola Christian
OVERALL BOYS POINTS
160-Jay
143-WS Neal
84-Northview
23- Paxton
20-Pensacola Christian
14-Central
14-Florala
Event -Girls High Jump
1st Katie, Paxton 4’10”
2nd Welch, Paxton 4’6”
3rd Gomez, L Northview 4’6”
Event – Boys High Jump
1st- Elliott, WS Neal 6’4”
2nd- Butts, Paxton 5’10”
3rd Ewing, WS Neal 5’10”
Event – Girls Triple Jump
1st Gomez, L Northview 30’8.5”
2nd Floyd, Northview 29’2”
Event – Boys Triple Jump
1st Elliott, WS Neal 41’11.5”
2nd Gibson, J Northview HS 35’
3rd Flowers, Jay 32’3”
Event- Girls Long Jump
1st Blackman, Jay 14’11”
2nd Ellis, Jay 14’3”
3rd Forsythe, Central 13’5”
Event-Boys Long Jump
1st Nicholson WS Neal 20’11”
2nd Elliott WS Neal 18’5”
3rd Ewing, WS Neal 17’9.5”
Event-Girls Shot Put
1st Walker, Paxton 30’2”
2nd Edwards, Jay 27’10”
3rd Williams, Florala 27’7”
Event- Boys Shot put
1st Moore, Northview 38’9.5”
2nd Lisonbee, Jay 37’7”
3rd Gilmore, Jay 37’6”
Event- Girls Discus
1st Walker, Paxton 134’3”
2nd Hawthorne, WS Neal 87’1”
3rd Cergeira, Jay 72’1”
Event-Boys Discus
1st Moore, Northview 105’2”
2nd Gilmore, Jay 100’10”
3rd Wright, Central 90’
Event – Girls 4×800 Meter Relay
1st Jay 11:12
2nd Northview HS 14;43
Event -Boys 4×800 Meter Relay
1st Jay 9:32
2nd WS Neal 10:32
Event -Girls 100 Meters Hurdles
1st Evans, Paxton 18:53
2nd Floyd, Northview HS 18.54
3rd Ellis Jay 19:03
Event-Boys 110 Meters Hurdles
1st Nicholsen, WS Neal 15:88
2nd Brabham, Jay 18:67
3rd Jackson, Northview 20:74
Event-Girls 100 Meters
1st Radfred, Florala 14:08
2nd Hobbs, Florala 14:09
3rd Stallworth WS Neal 14:37
Event-Boys 100 Meters
1st Nicholson, WS Neal 11:72
2nd Elliott, WS Neal 11:94
3rd Ewing, WS Neal 12:10
Event-Girls 1600
1st Treviad, Jay 6:14
2nd Smith, Central 6:21
3rd Geotter, Northview 6:32
Event-Boys 1600
1st Nadsady, Jay 5:10
2nd Price, Paxton 5:38
3rd Kemp Jay 5:48
Event – Girls 4×100 Relay
1st Northview HS 54.56
2nd Florala 55.78
3rd Central 55.58
Event-Boys 4 X 100 Relay
1st Jay 51.95
2nd Florala 55.66
3rd Pensacola Christian 57.00
Event-Girls 400 Meters
1st- Golden, Jay 1:05.74
2nd Ellis, Jay 1:08.96
3rd Thomas, Jay 1:11.98
Event-Boys 400 Meters
1st Coticid, Jay 59.05
2nd Kennedy, Jay 59.28
3rd Flowers, Jay 59.53
Event -Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
1st Evans, Paxton 57.80
2nd Ramsey, Paxton 58.35
3rd Jernigan, Central 58.40
Event-Boys 300 Hurdles
1st Brabham, Jay 44.02
2nd Nettles, WS Neal 47.54
3rd Alexander, WS Neal 49.52
Event- Girls 800 Meters
1st- Blackman, Jay 2:39.19
2nd Forsythe, Central 2:43.12
3rd Trestino, Jay 2:46.74
Event-Boys 800 Meters
1st Fisher, Jay 2:21
2nd Phillips, Jay 2:22
3rd Nasady, Jay 2:24
Event-Girls 200 Meters
1st Crook, WS Neal 29.88
2nd Mitchell, Northview 29.86
3rd Russo, Central 30.02
Event-Boys 200 Meters
1st Dixon, Northview 24.62
2nd Nettles, WS Neal 25.22
3rd Jackson, Northview 25.23
Event- Girls 3200 Meters
1st Smith, Central 13:53
2nd Thornton, Jay 13:59
3rd Brown, Jay 15:42
Event-Boys 3200 Meters
1st Regehr, WS Neal 12:13
2nd Kemp, Jay 12:10
3rd Gomez, WS Neal 12:58
Event – Girls 4×400 Relay
1st Jay 4:28
2nd Central 4:55
3rd Florala 5:21
Event – Boys 4×400 Relay
1st Northview HS
2nd Jay
3rd Central
Pictured top: A few members of the Northview High School girls track team. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Damage To Sandy Hollow Bridge More Extensive Than First Reported
April 9, 2010
Escambia County now says that damage to the Sandy Hollow Bridge in Davisville is worse than initially reported.
Updated information released Thursday afternoon shows that the needed repairs are much more substantial than first reported by Escambia County. The bridge on Sandy Hollow Road will require eight new piles to be driven, the replacement of the abutment and wing walls on the south end and the replacement of the guardrail.
The work is scheduled to begin Monday and is expected to continue for about two weeks.
The emergency closure of the bridge on Sandy Hollow Road was announced Wednesday afternoon due to the Florida Department of Transportation’s bridge consultant, Volkert and Associates, inspection of the bridge. At that time, Escambia County said just one or possibly two of the pilings that support the bridge would be replaced.
Highway 97 is the detour for the road, which runs from West Highway 4 to Gobbler Road. The bridge, located about a mile and a half south of Highway 4, already had a restricted weight limit of 20 tons.
Pictured above: Work crews place barricades on Sandy Hollow Road late Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Woman, Infant Escape Serious Injury In Collision With Train
April 8, 2010
A woman and an infant escaped serious injury in a train versus car accident Thursday morning in the Friendship community near Flomaton.
The 21-year old and her 18-month old infant were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital. Their injuries were not life threatening; authorities said the infant’s injuries were minor. The mother was reportedly wearing her seat belt, and the child was properly restrained in a car seat.
The woman’s car collided with the southbound Alabama Railroad train about 7:45 a.m. at a crossing on Wolf Log Road the intersection of Jordan Road.
The accident is still under investigation.
Pictured top: The driver and an infant passenger in this car escape serious injury in a collision with a train this morning near Flomaton. Pictured below: The car’s bumper can be seen on the tracks in front of the train. NorthEscambia.com photos by Alisa Hart, click to enlarge.
Your Forecast: Cooler Tonight
April 8, 2010
A few scattered showers are still possible this afternoon, but most of use will see a little sun. By tonight, it will be a bit cooler.Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for Thursday:
- Today: Cloudy, with a slight chance of a shower. A high of 71.
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Calm wind.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Former Northview Coach Named New Escambia County High Head Coach
April 8, 2010
Former Northview High School offensive coordinator Mark Heaton has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Heaton’s appointment was unanimously approved Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board after a short executive session. Heaton was one of seven candidates for the job interviewed by School Superintendent Billy Hines and Assistant Superintendent Randall Little. Escambia County High School Principal Harvey Means was left out of the selection process because his contract was non-renewed in March by the school board.
“I was excited that this opportunity presented itself,” Heaton told NorthEscambia.com. “God really opened the door wide open and kicked me through it. I hope we are going to be blessed and prosper.”
The new Blue Devils head coach believes he can return the program to glory. And he’s not aiming low, setting a goal of state championship, something Escambia County High School has not seen since 1983.
“There’s a lot of deep tradition at Escambia County,” he said. “This is a great time and a great opportunity to build on that tradition.”
Heaton admitted that he will miss J.U. Blacksher where he was 13-9, including a trip to the state playoffs.
“I’m going to miss a lot of those kids,” he said. “I am so proud of them and the program.” He spent early Thursday evening calling his J.U. Blacksher seniors to tell them about his decision to take the Escambia County job. He will meet with the entire team on Friday to announce that he’s leaving.
Heaton’s first day as the new Blue Devils head coach will be April 18.
Heaton is a 1997 graduate of Demopolis (Ala.) High School where he was a student teacher for one year. He then joined the coaching staff at Oglethorpe County High School in Crawford, Georgia under Cody Keene. Two years later, he would eventually follow Keene to Northview High School.
Heaton joined the Northview coaching staff as an offensive coordinator in 2004 under Keene. After four seasons with the Chiefs, Heaton was hired from a field of 28 as head coach at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, Ala.
He is a 2001 graduate of the University of West Alabama where he played on scholarship as a quarterback and punter.
Heaton’s wife, Betty Heaton, will remain at Northview High School where she currently is the head volleyball coach and teaches reading. The couple lives in Atmore, and they have two preschool daughters, Jae and Payton.
Heaton replaces Kyle Davis at Escambia County High. Davis was fired with a 16-35 record over five seasons.
Pictured top: New Escambia County High School Coach Mark Heaton. Pictured bottom: (L-R) Jay, Betty, Payton and Mark Heaton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.