FBLA Celebrates: Fast Typists And Wacky Photos
February 18, 2011
Northview High School’s FBLA celebrated National FBLA week with several contests, including creating a wacky photo of their teacher.
The winner of the Fastest Typist Contest was Jacob Morris with 91 net words a minute.
The winner of the Wackiest Photo Contest was Ashley Mooney. In the photo contest, students were instructed to digitally enhance a photo of teacher Donna Smith for success (or not).
Mooney and Morris were presented with a teddy bear and certificate for their efforts by FBLA President Elizabeth Wright.
For more “Wackiest Photo Contest” entries, click here.
Pictured top: Ashley Mooney and Jacob Morris are awarded for winning National FBLA Week contests at Northview High School by FBLA President Elizabeth Wright. Pictured inset: Mooney’s digitally enhanced “wacky” photo of teacher Donna Smith. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Proclaims National FFA Week
February 18, 2011
The Escambia County Commission declared February 19-26, as National FFA Week in Escambia County.
The proclamation was made Thursday night as dozens of FFA members, including students from Northview High, Tate High and Ernest Ward Middle schools, looked on.
Pictured top: Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino reads the FFA Week proclamation Thursday night. For more photos, click here.
The text of the complete proclamation is reprinted below:
WHEREAS, the National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is an organization of more than 528,000 high school students studying agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people, by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriscience education at the local, State and national level; and
WHEREAS, nationally more than 75% of the FFA members enroll in a two-year or four-year program of higher education, following graduation from high school, in preparation for one of the more than 300 career opportunities in agriculture. which include more than 8.000 job titles; and
WHEREAS. corporate leaders in America believe so strongly in the proven success of qualified training through FFA that they jointly contribute more than $12 million annually to the National FFA Foundation, of which $2 million in higher education scholarships are awarded nationally to FFA members each year; and
WHEREAS, the FFA motto, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live. and Living to Serve”, epitomizes those high standards and qualities of leadership possessed by FFA members; and WHEREAS, the Escambia County FFA and the agriscience education programs in Escambia County are tremendously successful and extremely valuable in improving the quality of life for Escambia County Citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Escambia County, Florida, hereby proclaims February 19-26, 2011, as
“NATIONAL FFA WEEK”
in Escambia County and recognizes and commends Escambia County National FFA Organization members, their advisors, school administrators, parents, and all who support, promote, and encourage these students of agriscience education on the occasion of the observance of “National FFA Week”,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
Kevin W. White, Chairman
District Five
Wilson B. Robertson, Vice Chairman
District One
Gene M. Valentino, District Two
Marie Young, District Three
Grover C. Robinson, IV, District Four
Lady Canes Fall In Sub-Regionals
February 18, 2011
The Flomaton Lady Hurricanes fell to Samson Thursday night in the 2011 AHSAA Class 2A girls state basketball playoff sub-regionals.
The Samson Tigers defeated the Flomaton Lady ‘Canes 71-69 in Flomaton.
Flomaton went into the game as area champs, 2-0 in tournament play coming off a 59-25 win over J.U. Blacksher and a 47-33 win over Mobile Christian.
Pictured: The Flomaton High School Lady Canes. Submitted photo Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Arrested For Armed Robbery After She Calls Sheriff’s Office
February 17, 2011
Escambia County deputies were able to find and arrest an Escambia County woman for armed robbery after she called them to ask about outstanding warrants.
April Chavonne Thompson, 31, of 1665 Dogwood Place, was arrested after she called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and inquired about warrants for her arrest. During this call, investigators were able to determine where she was calling from, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, ECSO public information officer.
Deputies assigned to the warrants division were dispatched and served the robbery warrants without incident.
On January 6, investigators believe Thompson held up the Kangaroo Express Gas Station, located at 4123 Mobile Highway.
Thompson entered the gas station at around 9:42 pm and demanded money from the cash register. The cashier told deputies that Thompson claimed to have a gun, and the outline of a handgun could be seen under her sweatshirt. Thompson then fled the station with an unspecified amount of cash.
Then about 12:04 a.m. on January 7, deputies say Thompson attempted a robbery at the Whataburger at 1313 New Warrington Road.
According to an offense report, when Thompson demanded cash from the Whataburger employee, the employee ran to the security office and activated an alarm. Thompson then fled from the restaurant and was seen running across Mobile Highway.
Thompson is being held in the Escambia County Jail on a $200,000.00 bond.
Gonzalez Sentenced To Death For Billings Murders
February 17, 2011
An Escambia County judge sentenced Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 36, be put to death for the first degree murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
Circuit Judge Nick Geeker sentenced Gonzalez Thursday afternoon on two counts of first degree murder. An Escambia County jury recommended the death penalty 10-2 last October.
Assistant State Attorney John Molchan told an Escambia County jury that Gonzalez planned, organized and then executed the July 9, 2009, robbery and murder of the Billings, who were known for adopting special needs children.
According to testimony, Gonzalez believed he would steal a safe containing $13 million from the Billings home.
The defense rested in the October trial without calling any witnesses.
Convicted Murderer Alex King Arrested On Traffic Charges
February 17, 2011
Alex David King, released from prison two years ago after the baseball bat slaying of his father while he was a teen, has been arrested on traffic charges.
King, 21, was charged with violation of right of way, leaving the scene of a crash and violation of a driver’s license restriction following an early morning crash in Pensacola. King, of Cantonment, was released from the Escambia County Jail on $1,000 bond.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, King was traveling north on Lanier Drive in a 2003 Dodge Neon when he pulled into patch of a 1999 Chevrolet van driven by Candace T. O’Conner of Pensacola. After the 12:50 a.m. Crash, King fled the scene on foot, according to the FHP. He was located a short time later by Pensacola Police and taken into custody by the FHP.
A passenger in King’s vehicle, 20-year old Jonathan Aeppli of Milton, was not injured. O’Conner was not injured, while her 14-year old passenger received minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. A third passenger in O’Conner’s vehicle, a 16-year old female, was not injured.
Alex King was 13 when he his 14-year old brother, Derek King, were convicted as adults on second degree murder charges for the death of their father in 2001 . Both boys pleaded guilty to arson for setting fire to their Cantonment home. King was released from prison in October, 2008, while his brother Derek was released in 2009.
Alex King is on probation until 2012 for the death of his father.
Little Found During Daily Drug Dog Searches In Escambia Schools
February 17, 2011
Drug dogs have been used daily in Escambia County’s schools since August, and, so far, very few illegal substances have been found.
Each day, at least one middle or high school in the county is randomly visited by a canine officer and his dog. The North Escambia schools — Ernest Ward, Northview, Ransom and Tate — have each had 13 to 17 random searches since the first day of school. The only findings at the North Escambia schools has been at Tate High School, with marijuana residue found in two different vehicles on campus.
Of 228 searches, there have been 17 searches with drug related finds.
“I’m amazed that some schools have a much higher hit rate than one might expect — while others that many might expect to yield big finds — have so far not had any significant findings,” Escambia County School Board Member Jeff Bergosh said on his blog where he posted the latest numbers. “I’m told the searches and the random nature in which they are being deployed is proving to be an effective deterrent to students bringing drugs to our schools. Less drugs at schools equals safer schools.”
Of the 19 schools searched, 10 have had positive searches. At Washington High, the K-9 has alerted on over half — six of eleven — visits, including finds of two grams of marijuana in a men’s bathroom, an empty baggie that smelled of marijuana and a find of a trace amount of marijuana.
The most searched school is Ransom Middle and West Florida High with 17 drug dog visits each. Bellview Middle, Ferry Pass Middle, and Pine Forest High have been searched 16 times each.
The Escambia County School Board implemented the random drug dog searches this school year, as part of an aggressive anti-drug and alcohol policy. Only one person at the district office, Manager of Protection Services Steven Sharp, knows which school will be visited in advance. The canine officer reports to the principal’s office upon his or her arrival and is accompanied during the search by an administrator or their designee.
Students are not being searched, and they are removed from any classroom that is searched. Searches also include hallways, lockers, parking lots and other common areas.
The district is spending $36,000 from its general fund over the course of a year for the program. Two dozen off-duty canine officers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department are utilized for the searches.
The school district will hold a public hearing at 5:30 tonight to consider a proposed random student drug testing program. Click here for more information.
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby performs a drug dog search at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With Child Abuse Hair Color Argument
February 17, 2011
A Molino woman is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly getting into an argument with a relative over her hair color.
An Ensley man told Escambia County deputies that on January 18, he took his daughter to the Highway 97 home of his aunt, Cynthia Ann Cole, 51. It was the first time Cole had met her great niece, and she told the minor girl that her hair was too dark, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
Cole then told the girl, “You can’t take a joke?” to which the girl replied “Sure can”, according to the arrest report. That’s when Cole allegedly got into the girl’s face and asked her to repeat herself. Cole, according to the report, then grabbed the girl by her hair, pulling it and pushing her down. Cole then allegedly swung at the father, who went outside to call police.
The girl told deputies that Cole then tried to choke her while the father was outside. Arriving deputies noted that the juvenile had scratches and marks on her throat consistent with being choked, and had a swollen black eye. She refused medical treatment.
A warrant was completed for Cole’s arrest. She was booked into the Escambia County earlier this week on the felony child abuse charge and released on $5,000 bond.
Escambia Accepts $1.84 Million BP Settlement
February 17, 2011
Escambia County has accepted $1,841,171 BP settlement for revenues lost in 2010.
The county commission approved the settlement Thursday night, while agreeing not to sue BP for any other revenue covered in the settlement agreement. The county is negotiating a second settlement with BP for about $400,000 to cover lost sales tax revenue.
The $1.84 million settlement will cover revenue lost by the county on toll fees during the 2010 fiscal year from the Bob Sikes bridge, local option sales taxes, local option gas taxes, tipping fees, electric franchise fees and natural gas franchise fees.
Order Boston Butts From The Tri-City Rotary Club
February 17, 2011
The Tri-City Rotary Club is taking orders now for Boston butts.
The six-pound average butts are $25 each, ready to eat or freeze. Orders are due March 1, with pick up on Friday, March 11 from 2-4 p.m. at the Escambia County Bank in Flomaton. Five or more butts will be delivered locally for free.
Orders should be placed by March 1 by calling Bo Brantley at (251) 236-1100, Robert Lasher at (251) 363-7100 or Bill Cox at (251) 296-5356. Or click here for a printable order form to fax.
The Tri-City Rotary Club serves Century, Flomaton, Jay and surrounding areas with community projects such as scholarships for high schools seniors and helping the needy.