Individual Student FCAT Scores Available Soon
July 21, 2010
FCAT scores for individual students will be available next week in Escambia County.
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test score letters have arrived at individual schools. Parents and guardians should receive an automated phone call on Thursday advising them when they can pick up scores at their child’s school.
Parents are asked not to stop by their child’s school for the scores until the date that will be provided during the automated phone call.
Our Hot Week Continues
July 21, 2010
It’s going to be a hot Wednesday, with lower rain chances and temperatures in the upper 90’s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 94.
Forecasters Watching Tropical System
July 21, 2010
Forecasters are keeping a close eye on a tropical system that may organize and head toward Florida.
The tropical wave is located between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Tuesday morning data shows the system has become less organized, and now forecasters say a tropical depression is not likely to form today. But the National Hurricane Center says conditions are favorable for some development as the system moves toward the Bahamas on Thursday.
The Hurricane Center says there is a 60 percent chance the system will become a tropical cyclone within 48 hours.
Escambia Academy Cheerleaders Win Top Honors
July 21, 2010
The Escambia Academy varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders recently won top honors at the Universal Cheerleaders Association camp in Montgomery.
The varsity cheerleaders were named the Alabama Independent School Association state champions for small varsity squads, and the junior varsity cheerleaders were named as runner-ups for the AISA in the small squad junior varsity division.
The varsity squad won first place in Home Pom and Cheer, second place in Extreme Routine. They also received a Leadership Award.
The EA junior varsity cheerleaders were runner-ups in Home Pom and Extreme Routine.
Nycole Thompson and Niki Bryan were named UCA All-American Varsity Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to dance in the New Year’s Day parade in London, England.
Natalie Lassiter and Anna Catherine Sasser were named UCA All-American JV Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to march in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Orlando this fall.
Bailey Vaughn was named an AISA All-Star; she will cheer at the AISA All-Star football and basketball games.
Escambia Academy also had three girls recognized for their leadership through the Pin It Forward Program that exemplifies why America needs cheerleaders. They were Amber Huskey, Page Lancaster and Anna Catherine Sasser.
Members of the Escambia Academy varsity squad are: captain Rachel Fuller, co-captain Bailey Vaughn, Amber Huskey, Samantha Lee, Nycole Thompson, Niki Bryan, Caitlyn Bruley and Page Lancaster. JV squad members are: Sarah Weatherford, Claire Dawe, Jessica Glick, Sissy Jeter, Natalie Lassiter, Anna Catherine Sasser, Kricket White and Hannah Boothe.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy varsity cheerleaders: (front, L-R) captain Rachel Fuller, co-captain Bailey Vaughn, (middle, L-R) Samantha Lee, Caitlyn Bruley, Amber Huskey, Niki Bryan, Page Lancaster,, Nycole Thompson, (back, L-R) Cyndi Vaughn, varsity cheer sponsor. Pictured inset: UCA All American Cheerleaders (L-R) Natalie Lassiter, Niki Bryan, Anna Catherine Sasser and Nycole Thompson. Pictured below: The Escambia Academy junior varsity cheerleaders: (front, L-R) Kricket White, Anna Catherine Sasser, (middle, L-R) Natalie Lassiter, Sarah Weatherford, (back, L-R) Jessica Glick, Claire Dawe, Sissy Jeter and Hannah Boothe. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
TyAnthony Dwayne McGhee-Freeman
July 20, 2010
Infant TyAnthony Dwayne McGhee-Freeman Died Wednesday July 15, 2010 in Birmingham, Ala.
TyAnthony is survived by his parents Paula McGhee and Nathaniel Freeman, grandparents Shirley and Eldnar McGhee, one special cousin Courtney McGhee, numerous aunts and cousins.
A graveside service was held Monday July 19, 2010 at 10 a.m. in Judson Indian Cemetery with Pastor Steve Ward officiating. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc in charge of all arrangements.
Florida House Adjourns With No Vote On Drilling Amendment
July 20, 2010
The House gaveled in for a special session just after 11 a.m. central time, but will adjourn sine die without taking up Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposed constitutional amendment on drilling, House Speaker Larry Cretul says.
He called Crist’s special session call “a terrible way to propose constitutional changes.” Cretul said he was setting up working groups to look at the effects of the spill and come up with solutions. “We were called here today because of politics,” Cretul said. He said lawmakers could consider next year a proposal to put the drilling ban before voters in the 2012 election. “We are instituting a serious approach,” Cretul said.
“We have fulfilled our constitutional obligation.”
from The News Service Florida
Truck Crashes Into Tom Thumb, Propane Tanks
July 20, 2010
A pickup truck crashed into a Highway 29 Tom Thumb Tuesday morning, leaving the truck resting on the store’s case of propane tanks.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Mamie Gregg, 67, of Cantonment, was attempting to park her 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at West Roberts Road. At about 9:35 a.m., she hit a concrete post and storage box containing propane tanks outside the store. The truck came to rest on top of the propane tank storage box. There was no fire or explosion. The store’s building sustained only minor damage.
The store and the immediate area were evacuated while emergency crews worked to ensure the truck was safely removed.
Gregg was not injured. She was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Rep. Greg Evers Files Arizona-Like Immigration Bill
July 20, 2010
Rep Greg Evers today filed legislation Monday for this week’s special session that mirrors the Arizona law on immigration
While the Governor’s call of the special session is solely for consideration of a proposed constitutional amendment banning offshore drilling, Evers filed this legislation should the call of the Special Session be expanded.
Evers said he believes that immigration, job growth and job preservation are intertwined in Florida, and especially in Northwest Florida where many workers are searching for employment as a result of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. He said protecting and creating Northwest Florida jobs for Northwest Floridians is of the utmost importance and is of the utmost urgency.
“Our area has taken an unprecedented economic hit because of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, and I believe that we need to make recovery and economic revival a number one priority. The Arizona law, which I have followed directly in drafting this Florida legislation, accomplishes not only a crackdown on illegal immigration but also stimulation of the economy by making sure that American jobs go to American workers,” said Evers. “While this Special Session may not be expanded to other issues, I am committed to making sure that this critical issue remains our high priority and is addressed at the earliest opportunity possible. I will keep filing this legislation until we can pass it. It’s just that important to me personally and to the future of all Floridians.”
The 33-page bill, among other things, creates Chapter 820 in Florida Statutes entitled “Illegal Immigration,” prohibits state or local government policies that limit or restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law; requires that when lawful contact is made with a person by a law enforcement officer and reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made to determine the person’s immigration status; requires transfer of unlawfully present persons convicted of offenses to custody of the United States upon discharge from imprisonment or assessment of fine; and permits warrantless arrests of certain aliens.
$30 Million Biofuel Plant Could Locate In Jay
July 20, 2010
An Orlando company wants to build a $30 million bio-fuels plant near Jay, but the Santa Rosa County Commission wants more information before revenue bonds are issued in their name.
The Integrated Energy Partners, Inc. facility near Jay would use agricultural products to create biodiesel fuel, kerosene, propane and electricity. The plant would provide about 30 jobs and eventually employee about 50 people in five years.
Santa Rosa County would not be financially responsible for the bonds, but would issue them on behalf of the energy company. Since the county’s name would be used obtain financing for the company. Commissioner Chairman Gordon Goodwin he wanted more information before making a decision about a project using the county’s name. A principal in Integrated Energy Partners, Rodney Higgins, said he should be able to provide that information to the commission by a workshop meeting on August 9.
According to documentation provided by Integrated Energy Partners, the company would use seeds from the Camelina plant in the winter and other traditional year-round crops, including cotton seed, to produce their biofuels. In addition, municipal and other waste products would be used as fuel.
The company said it has secured purchase agreements with farmers involving about 10,000 acres in the Florida Panhandle and has an “in principle” agreement with a municipality for their waste.
At startup, the company plans to have a 5-12 megawatt electricity generation capacity. They would be able to produce, according to documents provided to the commission, a yearly output of 3 million gallons of biodiesel, 9 million gallons of kerosene, 353 thousand gallons of cellulosic alcohol, 437 thousand gallons of propane and 47.8 MWH of electricity.
Sen. Durrell Peaden Suffers Mild Stroke, Will Miss Special Session
July 20, 2010
Florida District 2 Sen. Durrell Peaden will miss this special session on oil drilling this week. Peaden has suffered a minor stroke and is expected to recover, according to a Senate spokeswoman..
“He’s going to be OK,” said spokeswoman Jaryn Emhof.
Further details were not available.
Peaden’s District 2 includes all but the southernmost portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.