Can You Hear Me Now? Century Purchases Cellular Repeater
July 20, 2011
It’s hard to run a town when you can’t talk on your cell phone, and yelling at people is not a good idea.
That’s the word from Century Mayor Freddie McCall, who asked the town to spend $940 for a cellular repeater to avoid dropped calls in the town hall.
“It is ridiculous,” McCall said of the Nextel cellular service inside the Century Town Hall. “I have to keep hollering at them; I have to go outside to talk on the phone.”
The cellular repeater designed to work with Nextel will be installed by Radio Shack in Century and will repeat voice and data signals in the town hall. While many low cost repeaters will work with other cellular companies, the town discovered that repeaters designed to work with Nextel are much more expensive.
“I just want to be able to conduct business on the phone,” McCall said.
Lawsuit Filed Over Prison Privatization In Florida
July 20, 2011
A group of corrections officers and their union have sued to block the state’s effort to privatize 18 Florida prisons, saying the law allowing the privatization was illegally added to the state budget during the waning days of the 2011 session.
A lawsuit filed last week in circuit court in Tallahassee, says lawmakers overstepped their bounds by including budget proviso language that requires the Department of Corrections to explore the private prison option, a controversial issue that has been simmering in Tallahassee for years.
Under the prison privatization measure, the Department of Corrections could bid out the contract for the private takeover of prisons across the southern third of the state as a group, or as a set of smaller contracts. The Legislative Budget commission would give final approval to the plan.
Plaintiffs who sued the Department of Corrections, including the Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents many corrections officers, say lawmakers essentially crafted legislation that required Gov. Rick Scott to approve the plan. That’s because it tied the transfer to other Department of Corrections appropriations that had to be approved by the governor.
“This effectively made the proviso language veto proof,” the complaint contends.
Further, the group alleges that lawmakers sidestepped the type of research needed to justify the privatization effort, and didn’t provide proof that that the outsourcing would save money while maintaining quality of service and public safety.
The proviso language at issue requires savings of 7 percent in order for a private prison operator to get a contract.
But in essence, the prison guards contend lawmakers used the budget to pass legislation that should have had to stand on its own.
“The subject proviso language attempts to enact or alter substantive law and legal standards that control or should control the privatization of any state correctional facility,” the complaint reads.
The PBA has more than 36,000 law-enforcement and corrections-officer members.
The budget provision allows state officials to transfer up to 1,200 beds to existing private prisons with available capacity.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Jay Cheerleaders Bring Home Awards From Summer Camp
July 20, 2011
The Jay High School cheerleaders recently returned from camp with several awards. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams took part in the UCA cheer camp at the University of Georgia in Athens.
The junior varsity squad competed in home pom, cheer and extreme dance, bringing home two first place awards. Jay’s Brittani Ashworth was also named All-American from her squad.
The varsity squad competed in the Elite Varsity division in three events, finishing first in cheer and receiving the most improved squad award.
Jay’s Tessa Hendricks and Tori Reid were named All-American, and Reid was also invited to tryout for a position with the UCA staff.
Both squads were evaluated daily and received superior scores. The girls were also treated to a Six Flags trip before returning home to begin practice in a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming Royal football season.
Pictured: Jay High School All-American cheerleaders Tessa Hendricks, Brittani Ashworth and Tori Reid. Pictured below: The Jay High School cheerleaders attended camp recently at the University of Georgia in Athens, bringing home several awards. Submitted photos by Junia Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gertrude Bradley
July 20, 2011
Mrs. Gertrude Bradley, 86, of Walnut Hill, died Friday, July 15, 2011, at a Pensacola hospital.
She was a native of Monroe County and a resident of Walnut Hill for most of her life. She was retired from the Escambia Co. (Fla.) Board of Education and a member of the House of Prayer in Walnut Hill.
She is survived by three daughters, Willodean Knighten of Pensacola, Annette (Alfred) Williams of Walnut Hill, and Bobbie (Johnny) Longmire of Chicago, IL; three sons, Alvin (Yvone) Bradley and Glenn Bradley, of Walnut Hill, and James (Debra) Bradley of Chicago, IL; one brother, Aubrey Daughtry of Monterey, CA; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 23, 2011, at the house of Prayer in Walnut Hill with the Rev. Darryl North, eulogist and the Rev. Fountain, host pastor. Retirement of her remains will be in the Williams Cemetery in Quintette with Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC directing.
Public viewing will be held from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Navy Cutting NJROTC Program At Escambia County High
July 20, 2011
The Navy has announced that it will disestablish 29 Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) units next summer, including the unit at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Military.com reports the units, including the one at Escambia County High, are already on probationary status for not meeting statutory and regulatory minimum student enrollment standards.
“Our goal is to maintain a high-quality program that ensures the full range of NJROTC activities are available for participating students across the nation and overseas,” Rear Adm. David F. Steindl, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC). “We are extremely proud of what the NJROTC program offers participating students, so it was important for us to work with each non-compliant high school and continue to support the NJROTC program as long as possible. However, due to projected future funding levels, it is no longer possible to maintain NJROTC units that fail to meet minimum enrollment requirements and are not in compliance with program directives.”
State Gives Warrington Middle One More Year – Or Else
July 20, 2011
The State Board of Education voted Tuesday to give Escambia County’s Warrington Middle School and seven others in Miami-Dade County more time to turn themselves around.
The schools were on “intervene” status for poor performance on state tests and federal accountability standards. Only one state board member – John Padget – voted against granting these schools more time, saying he wants to send a message that the schools should take their poor performance seriously.
The board is giving these schools one year to show increased improvement in learning gains in math, science, reading and writing. The board has yet to take up a similar request for more time from Duval County, which has four schools on “intervene” status. If the board had not approved these requests for more time, the schools would have to privatize, close or become charter schools.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Photos: Rising Rivers
July 20, 2011
After reaching near all-time lows, area river levels are up following a wet weekend that dumped several inches of rain in and upstream from North Escambia.
The Escambia River at Century had dropped to 2.90 feet about two weeks ago. By Sunday the river reached 7.96 feet and had fallen to 6.5 feet by Tuesday night.
The Perdido River at Barrineau Park fell to a low of 1.23 on July 11. By Sunday night, the river was up to 7.46 feet. Tuesday night, the Perdido River was at 5.73 feet.
Pictured top: The Escambia River at Molino two weeks ago with the dock and boat ramp completely dry. Pictured below: the Escambia River at Molino on late Tuesday afternoon. Note that the end piers on the dock are nearly submerged. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bradley Grant Winch
July 20, 2011
Bradley Grant Winch, age 35, was born in Wauseon, OH, on October 10, 1975. He lived in Florida for 26 years until he died at home in Cantonment on July 15, 2011. He never gave up hope when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. His long and courageous fight with admirable strength was an inspiration to all his friends and family.
Bradley graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 1994 before beginning his career in excavating. He enjoyed tinkering with his antique John Deere tractors.
He leaves his memories to his loving wife, Kathy; his daughter Megan; his son Matthew; his granddaughter Jocelynn; along with his mother Cynthia Armstrong; granddad Fred Armstrong; grandma Sandy Armstrong; sister Crystal W inch; brother Brian W inch; his favorite Aunt Lisa and many friends.
The family is thankful for the amazing care he received from Covenant Hospice under the care of Dr. James Smith and his loving and caring nurse, Stacey. We also give a continuous thank you to all the continuous care nurses that helped Brad through this rough time.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Gilliam E. Webb, Jr.
July 20, 2011
Gilliam E. Webb, Jr., 52 of Walnut Hill, formerly of Nolensville, TN, died July 14, 2011.
His father, Gilliam E. Webb, Sr. preceded him in death.
He worked in the concrete business for 31 years in Atmore and served as president and vice president of Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Kathy Webb; sons, Gilliam E. Webb, III and James Wesley Webb; mother, Carol Ann Webb; sister, Cindy (Hal) Lancaster; and brother, Eric (Faith) Webb.
Funeral services were held Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road, Nashville, TN, with the Rev. Jim Norton officiating. Interment was held in Nolensville Cemetery. Visitation was held from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Woodbine Funeral Home Hickory Chapel.
Active pallbearers were Eric Webb, Hal Lancaster, Ernie Bryant, Hal Lancaster, Jr., Ryan Lancaster, Bill Bryant, Clifford Bryant III and Curry Saeger.
Cantonment Women, 87, Crashes Into Dentist Office
July 19, 2011
An 87-year old Cantonment woman crashed her vehicle into a dentist office in Pensacola on Monday.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Charlotte Lucas was traveling through the parking lot of a Doctor Monte Treadway’s office on Village Oaks Drive in Pensacola when she failed to stop in handicap parking place in front of the business. Her 2002 Toyota Avalon continued into the front of the building, causing about $1,500 in damage to the building and $5,000 in damage to the car.
She was not injured.
Lucas was charged with careless driving.