Photo Gallery: NWE Opening Day (With NWE And Molino Game Photos)
March 20, 2011
Saturday was opening day for Northwest Escambia Little League, and NorthEscambia.com was there.
We have over 250 photos in our photo gallery, including action from almost every game with teams from both NWE and Molino.
For the photo gallery, click here.
Don’t forget — we’ll be happy to run your youth sports photos here on NorthEscambia.com all during the season Just email them as soon as possible after the game to news@northescambia.com or contact us on our Facebook page with your Facebook gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Set To Approve New Community Center Rules Monday Night
March 20, 2011
Monday night, the Century Town Council is expected to approve new rental policies for the town’s community centers in response to several violent events.
After a double shooting during a “teen party” at their Habitat building, the council voted two weeks ago to “get tough” with new rules to curb violence and policy abuses at their community centers.
The town’s community center rental agreements have been rewritten by the town attorney with the new policies set for final approval Monday night. Until then, the council issued a moratorium on renting the buildings — only the mayor can override the moratorium.
If the new policies are approved, the rental fee on community centers will increase by $100 to provide for an unarmed security guard at all functions — even church and non-profit events. All events will be required to end by midnight on the day of the rental, and no one other than legal non-profits will be allowed to charge admission for any function. Only non-profits will be exempt for the $100 security fee, if they provide proof that they are providing their own certified law enforcement security guard.
With the $100 security fee, building rentals for the Habitat Building or the Ag Building will now be $300 up front, with a $100 refundable deposit.
The Century Town Council meets at the city hall at 7 p.m. Monday; the meeting is open to the public.
Pictured: The Century Habitat Building. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Did You See The Saturday Night ‘Super Moon’?
March 20, 2011
The full moon brightened the Saturday night sky as the biggest full moon seen in almost two decades.
The moon was at perigee, its closest point to Earth – only 221,565 miles away. The last time the full moon coincided with an extreme perigee was March 8, 1993.
The moon appeared 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter in the sky than lesser full moons — when the moon is farthest from the Earth. But to the casual observer, it was difficult to tell the difference without comparing the moon to a nearby object as in the top photo.
Pictured top: The moon rises behind the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Saturday night (courtesy NASA). Picture inset: The moon rises in Walnut Hill, NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Merit Pay Forward, Budget Backwards
March 20, 2011
Once you’re over a billion, a couple hundred million more is barely noticeable.
Still, when you’re trying to erase a budget deficit that’s more than $3 billion, you’d prefer to have new numbers come along that make that smaller, getting you closer to your goal.
All in all, a bad week for budget balancers – which is everyone in the Legislature by constitutional mandate.
They must now erase a $3.75 billion deficit in the next six weeks, instead of $3.6 billion. Economic forecasters agreed late Friday that sales tax collections have remained slower than previously expected and that will leave the state with more than $100 million less in incoming tax dollars than lawmakers thought they would have when they started the session.
If the above sounds like the beginning of a question on the FCAT, perhaps that’s appropriate.
Some teachers this week may have wondered whether they may be able to forecast an increase in revenue in their household budget. Teachers with students who do well on standardized tests may soon be able to look forward to the prospect of a merit pay increase thanks to legislation that passed the House this week and went to Gov. Rick Scott.
Then again, they may not.
While the new law – Scott has said he will sign it – will allow districts to give merit pay raises for teachers whose students do well on tests, the change doesn’t come with any money to pay for those raises (see above paragraphs about the budget shortfall.)
The notion that nobody is really likely to get much of a raise anyway didn’t blunt complaints from many teachers or their union that the merit pay bill is unfair. Many said much about student performance is beyond their control, and their ability to make more money may now hinge on whether Johnny ate breakfast on test day, or whether Susie’s parents bothered to make her do her homework.
The merit pay bill was the high profile item of the week, in part because the measure has been so controversial the last two years, in part because it is a huge change in the way teachers are paid, ditching the tenure system in place for years – and in part because it was the first bill this year to go to Scott, the new governor, and the first he will sign.
The jobs governor – who came into office promising to focus on job creation almost at the expense of just about anything else – will likely not sign an economic development measure into law first, but rather a bill some teachers say may make them look for a job out of state. Scott and other backers of the legislation say that good teachers need not worry, only those who can’t find a way to make students learn, which is their job, will see their earning ability hampered.
Some may also see themselves forced out of teaching, as well. The bill also removes a job protection by allowing districts to hire on one year contracts. The bill also will do away with the last in, first out way of laying off teachers, which meant that eager, new teachers were the ones to go when schools have had to shed jobs.
BACK TO THE STATE BUDGET
While the teachers union would say lawmakers were hard on teachers this week, the Senate looked intent on going easier on schools than previously feared, and easier than Gov. Rick Scott would. The Senate spending proposal for education, as it emerged this week, would cut about 2.3 percent per student from its main school budget, which is far less than a more than 7 percent per student cut in early House plans and a roughly 10 percent cut proposed by Scott.
Sen. David Simmons, who writes the Senate’s PreK-12 budget called his plan “roughly level” and said it was a significant statement of the Senate’s belief in the importance of investing in education.
The Senate may be trying to ease the pain for the current users of the education system, but future users got a shock this week when another Senate committee proposed spiking the popular Florida Prepaid program that lets parents lock in tuition and pay it in advance. It’s far from a done-deal, but the idea of closing it to new enrollees was floated in the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee this week.
Doing so would have absolutely no impact on the budget and wouldn’t help lawmakers balance it, because the program gets no state dollars.
But Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said the state would be on the hook should the program go into the red. There’s no indication that it might, but Lynn noted that the stock market hasn’t been doing very well of late.
“With assets exceeding liabilities every year since inception, the program continues to remain financially and actuarially strong with a funding ratio of 105 percent,” Prepaid program officials said in a statement.
Overall, the Higher Education budget isn’t spared the tough cuts facing other parts of the budget. Because of the ending of federal stimulus money, Lynn’s committee is looking to reduce the higher education spending plan by $320 million. A number of Florida high school students also count on the Bright Futures program that makes it easier for many to pay for college. Lawmakers said again this week they are looking to save money by making it harder to get that scholarship.
The governor ended this week as he says he spends much of every day – trying to drum up economic development to create jobs in the state. Scott left the country for his first “trade mission,” visiting the Central American nation of Panama. One of Scott’s bigger job-creating announcements so far was his earmarking of state money earlier this year for an expansion of the Port of Miami with plans to have it get calls from the larger ships that will now be sailing through the Panama Canal, which is being enlarged. Scott checked on that while in Panama this week, along with meeting with government officials there.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Legislature passes and sends to Gov. Rick Scott his first bill, a measure tying teacher pay to student performance, which Scott says he’ll sign. Also this week, the size of the state’s budget shortfall grew as economists reduced their forecast for incoming revenue.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Just because a cat crawls into an oven and has a litter of kittens, you shouldn’t confuse the offspring with biscuits. Don’t confuse teaching with testing,” Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, on the possibility that some teachers may improve students’ lives even if those students don’t do well on tests.
By David Royse
The News Service Florida
Gabriel “Gabe” Kent Carter
March 20, 2011
Gabriel “Gabe” Kent Carter, 15, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2011. He was born on April 13, 1995, in Pensacola. Gabe was a freshman at Tate High School. His life ambition was to become a computer programmer and design video games. Gabe was a weightlifter preparing to play football next fall at Tate High School.
He was a parishioner and former alter boy at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment. Gabriel was very caring and generous with his time and was loved by all who knew him. He spent a lot of time doing volunteer work at his church, and was very family centered. He and his brother Eryn were very close and inseparable.
Survivors include his parents; Charles and Carrie Carter, his brother; Eryn Carter, grandparents; Suzanne Carter, Brenda and Sherman Powell, his uncles; Wallace Arthur Carter, Jr. and Anna Mae Maano, Joshua and Jenna Powell, Monique “ Auntie Mimi” Huthinson, Alan and Vicki LaBerge, Gerard and Pamela LaBerge and numerous cousins.
A mass of celebration will be held at noon on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at St. Judes Thaddeus Catholic Church with Father George officiating.
Serving, as pallbearers will be Eryn Carter, Wallace Carter, Jr., Rodney Raani, Eric Schoppman, James Kelley and Josh Powell.
Interment will follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, March 21, 2011, from 5 until 8 p.m. The rosary will be held at 5 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29, Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Featured Recipe: Bite-Size Bacon Wraps
March 20, 2011
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is Bite-Size Bacon Wraps. They may be tiny, but brown sugar and bacon packs a big taste.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Charles Arnold, Sr.
March 20, 2011
Charles Arnold, Sr., 83 ,of Cantonment passed away Saturday, March 19, 2011.
Charlie was a member of Gonzalez Baptist Church. He was also a Master Mason and belonged to the Hadji Shrine. He was a lifetime resident of the Pensacola area and was a man who lived life to the fullest and loved God and family.
Survivors include his son, Chuck Arnold and wife Hilda; daughter, Sherry Key and husband Troy; grandchildren, Scotty & Jill Arnold, Walker & Emil Arnold, Hope & Dave Bonucchi, Samantha Key, Greg Key, and Guy Finney; several great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild; brothers, M.J., Billy and Jimmy Arnold; sisters, Helen White, Mary Davis, and Sharon Steelreath; sister-in-law, Joan Arnold.
Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at Gonzalez Baptist Church with Rev. Roy Chewning officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29, Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gonzalez Baptist Church or the Hadji Shrine Crippled Children’s Fund.
Youth Bags First Turkey
March 20, 2011
David Donald took advantage of the Florida youth turkey hunting season last weekend and bagged his first turkey in Walnut Hill. He shot the bird at 16 steps with his 870 shotgun. The gobbler weighed 15.6 lbs, had 7/8″ spurs and two beards. One was 10″ and the other was 6″.
Pictured, David Donald, accompanied by his father Joey Donald, bagged his first turkey last weekend during the Florida youth turkey hunting season. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Julia Jeanette Comalander
March 20, 2011
Mrs. Julia Jeanette Comalander, 47, of Cary Street in Flomaton, passed away Thursday evening March 17, 2011, at her residence after an extended illness. Mrs. Comalander was a native of Rome, Georgia, and had lived in Flomaton for more than 30 years. During her working years, she worked as a clerk at the Minute Stop and she was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Milam and a brother, Walter Daniel “Buck” Milam.
She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Vera & Adolph Riendeau of Robertsdale, Alabama; husband, Joseph H Blackburn of Flomaton; stepson, Joseph R. (Amanda) Blackburn of Flomaton; stepdaughter, Velina (Blake) Calloway of Byrneville, Florida; three brothers, Billy Milam, Ronnie Milam, and James Milam all of Summerville, Georgia; two sisters Diane (Jim) Badgero of Rome, Georgia; Freda Laycock of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; and four grandchildren, Nathan, Savannah, Luke and Sarah.
Visitation will be held Sunday March 20, 2011, from 2 p.m. until the 3 p.m. service time at Flomaton Funeral Home Inc,.
Funeral services for Mrs. Julia Jeanette Comalander are scheduled for Sunday evening March 20, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home with Dr. Jerry Keese officiating. Interment will follow in McCurdy Cemetery in Century, Florida, with Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
U.S. Begins Attack On Libya, Gadhafi
March 19, 2011
American forces launched at least 112 cruise missiles Saturday against Libya’s air defenses, clearing European and other allied aircraft to enforce a no-fly zone to ground Qaddafi’s forces and cripple his ability to inflict further violence on rebels.
Coalition forces launched “Operation Odyssey Dawn” to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect the Libyan people from the country’s ruler.
The goal of the military coalition is to prevent further attacks by regime forces on Libyan citizens, officials said, adding that the coalition also wants to degrade the ability of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime to resist a no-fly zone being implemented.
U.S. military forces are on the leading edge of the coalition operation, taking out Libya’s integrated air and missile defense system, Defense Department officials said. The ordnance is aimed at radars and anti-aircraft sites around the capital of Tripoli and other facilities along the Mediterranean coast.
Operation Odyssey Dawn is commanded by U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney. The Mount Whitney joins 24 other ships from Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom and France in launching the operation.
Cruise missiles from U.S. submarines and frigates began the attack on the anti-aircraft system. A senior defense official speaking on background said the attacks will “open up the environment so we could enforce the no-fly zone from east to west throughout Libya.”
In addition to the cruise missiles, the United States will provide command and control and logistics. American airmen and sailors also will launch electronic attacks against the systems.
The United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada already have announced that they are part of the coalition. Officials expect Arab countries will publicly announce their participation soon.
Pictured inset: Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, director of the Joint Staff, briefs the press Satirdau on “Operation New Dawn” at the Pentagon. Gortney announced that coalition forces launched the operation to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which protects the Libyan people from their ruler. U.S. Department of Defense photos, click to enlarge.