Sunny, Warm; No Rain
May 6, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia forecast, with not a drop of rain in sight:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Join NorthEscambia.com On Facebook (Including A Second, Brand New Page)
May 6, 2011
Join NorthEsambia.com on Facebook to stay connected on the latest news plus up to the minute breaking news updates. There are two Facebook pages you can join — the NorthEscambia.com Facebook Fan page (an upgrade from our previous page) and the brand new personal page of William, our publisher.
William’s personal Facebook page will, over time, include behind-the-scenes information about stories that William has covered (or will cover) and other information that you won’t find on the NorthEscambia.com fan page. Plus he will throw in some surprises from time to time.
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Trial Date Set For Molino Couple In Alleged Cancer Scam
May 6, 2011
A trial date was set Thursday for a Molino couple accused in a fake cancer scam that raised thousands of dollars.
Sonja Marsell Luker, 42, and Gerald Christopher “Chris” Luker, 43, are set to appear in court on July 20 for a discovery hearing. Their jury trial is set to begin August 1 on felony charges of fraud and grand theft.
Both were absent from their arraignment hearing on Thursday after entering not guilty pleas and waiving arraignment late last month.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used to avoid foreclosure on their home in 2009 and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
For an earlier story about the arrests, click here.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
National Day Of Prayer Observed (With Photos From Century, Atmore)
May 6, 2011
The National Day of Prayer was observed across the area Thursday.
In Atmore, churches and the faithful from across the Atmore and North Escambia region gathered at an Atmore park for a prayer service. Following prayers for the community, leaders, businesses, government, the media and others, the entire Bible was read in 30 minutes with each of about 200 people reading a different portion of scripture out loud.
In Century, community leaders gathered to prayer for their community, business and government.
Similar services were held in Pace, Pensacola, Brewton and Molino.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with nearly 100 pictures from the Atmore National Day of Prayer event, click here.
For a submitted photo gallery from the Century National Day of Prayer event, click here. (Photos courtesy Cesar Gonzalez for NorthEscambia.com)
Pictured: Scenes as the entire Bible is read in 30 minutes during a National Day of Prayer service in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dozens Of Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Four Area Schools
May 6, 2011
The Atmore Rotary Club recognized an outstanding group of area high school students as Academic All-Stars Thursday night, including over 40 Northview High School students.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year, with at least one A for each grading period.
Those who have maintained this status from the 9th through the 12th grades, were honored as Four-Year Academic All-Stars: Mallory Anne Bell, Ashley Elizabeth Digmon, Laneicia Dynette Gomez and Sarah Malinda Killam from Northview High; Dallas Brown from Atmore Christian School; Kristen Gehman, Corleia McGinnis and Morgan Nichols from Escambia County High School.
The following students were recognized Thursday night as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars:
Northview High School
9th Grade
Madison Brooke Arrington, Kasie Lee Braun, Kira Nerys Cartwright, Lana Leigh Clayton, Morgan Nicole Digmon, Anna Elizabeth Donald, Anna Elizabeth Fischer, Tamara Maria Green, Jessica Nicole Lowery, Tiffani Nichole Pritchett, Mikaela Lynn Santos, Courtney Yvonne Solari, Danielle Nichole Steadham, Courtney Alexandra Weaver, Victoria Anne Wright
10th Grade
Alison Danielle Bardin, Hannah Elizabeth Fiellin, Jazzlyn Shanece Franklin, Ashton Brooke Gibbs, Georgia Anna Goetter, Marcus Trey Johnson, Zachary Sean Johnson, Skyler Ashton Macks, Ashley Nicole Mooney, Maranda Danielle Moye, Sandy Michelle Rainwater
11th Grade
Jamila Akilah Codrington, Holly Nicole Dickson, Josie Britt Doucette, Amber Dianne Francis, Cory Robert King, Joel Nathaniel Wetzel, Elizabeth Ashley Wright
12th Grade
Mallory Ann Bell*, Sara Lynn Conner, Ashley Elizabeth Digmon*, James Tyler Garrett, Laneicia Dynette Gomez*, Jocelyn Marlese Gould, Sarah Malinda Killam*, Jessynia Christina McCall, Christina Nicole Sepulveda, Emily Faith Vickrey, Dustin Brooks Yuhasz.
Atmore Christian School
9th Grade
Travis Smith
10th Grade
Jacinda Stahly, Narisa Wiggins, Hannah Ziglar
11th Grade
Casey Freeman, Tessa de Jongh
12th Grade
Dallas Brown*, Deidre Smith.
Escambia Academy
9th Grade
Abby Akins, Noah Coon, Megan Duncan, Brice McGhee, Sarah Weatherford
10th Grade
Caitlyn Bruley
11th Grade
Branden Goddard
12th Grade
Jordan Colbert, Nycole Thompson.
Escambia County High School
9th Grade
Tristen Boothe, Kevin Brown, Dakota Goins, Yamilex Gutierrez, La’Shandra Hartley, Austin Johnson, Cedric Kyles, Dy’rosia Lee, Alexis Moorer, Annah Nichols, Larry Pugh, Matthew Quimby, Sabrina Rivers, Moeshia Salter, Megan Stabler
10th Grade
Mariah Hinton, Scarlet Martin, Jazmine McGinnis, Tiffany McReynolds, Bria Willis
11th Grade
Jazmine Adams, Quinston Ephraim, Marie Gonzalez, Amber Hubert, Keierikai James, Rainy January, Ta’Kia Johnson, Brianna Martin, Jamieka North, LaRose Powell, Taniecha Richardson
12th Grade
Ardelia Barnes, Ebony Bowman, Jasmine Chafin, Amanda Ferguson, Kristen Gehman*; Cody Johnson, Dominique Knight, Alexus Lee, Danielle Lyles, Corleia McGinnis*, Meghan Moye, Morgan Nichols*, Robert Wilkins, Brooke Woolard.
Pictured top: Atmore Royar Four-Year Academic All-Stars Mallory Anne Bell, Ashley Elizabeth Digmon, Laneicia Dynette Gomez and Sarah Malinda Killam from Northview High. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals Finish Impressive Track Season At State Meet
May 6, 2011
The Jay Lady Royals finished an impressive track season recently at the state track meet.
The following was submitted by Jay High School Coach Stan Blackman:
With 133 schools in Florida’s Class 1A, Robin Blackman of Jay High School finished her senior year with three school records – the 400 meter dash with a time of 61.75, the 800 meter run with a time of 2:26.61, and the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 10:03.55.
Blackman placed tenth in the state in both the 800 meter run and the 4×800 meter relay where she ran the anchor leg. Blackman will continue her running career at Troy University next season where she will be running both cross country and track.
Blackman finished as the top point scorer for the Royals with 389 points. She advanced to the state meet every year since seventh grade and was among the top three point scorers since ninth grade. She will be sorely missed.
Leely Trevino was the other senior star for the Royals. She was part of the 4×800 relay that broke the school record and placed tenth in the state. She was also the number two point scorer with 301 points.
She place eleventh in the state meet in the 1600 meter run. Leely’s personal record in the 1600 meter run was set at Washington High School with a time of 5:37.09 where she placed first in the Panhandle Championships.
Both Trevino and Blackman are Florida Elite Runners in the area for Cross Country. Other members of the 4×800 state relay team were Caristyn Golden and Jessica Thornton. Golden was the number three point scorer this year for the Royals. She scored 271 points for the Royals. Thornton is an eighth grader, and she ran her personal best time at state this year with a split of 2:35.
Other state finishers included the 4×400 relay team that finished 15th. Members of this team were Blackman, Trevino, Golden, and Shelby Thomas.
The Royals had a great season and set many personal records. It was definitely a season that will never be forgotten.
Coach Stan Blackman
Jay High School
Pictured top: (front, L-R) Robin Blackman, Leely Trevino, (back, L-R) Coach Sonya Odom, Shelby Thomas, Caristyn Golden and Coach Stan Blackman. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Tonight, Saturday
May 6, 2011
The 20th Tate High School FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo will take place Friday and Saturday nights at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
Admission is $10 at the gate for adults, $5 for children. Proceeds benefit the Tate High School FFA.
The rodeo takes place at 7:30 p.m. both Friday at Saturday at theEscambia County Equestrian Center at 7750 Mobile Highway in Beulah.
Help Tornado Victims: Donate At Any North Escambia School
May 6, 2011
NorthEscambia.com, Pen Air Federal Credit Union and North Escambia schools are joining together to help tornado victims in Alabama.
Donations will be accepted all this week at Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Molino Park Elementary, Bratt Elementary and Byrneville Elementary. Students are being asked to bring in items for the tornado victims, while the general public is encouraged to drop off their donations at any of the schools.
Items being collected include non-perishable food, water, personal care items (like deodorant, soap, toothpaste and shampoo), diapers, baby wipes, trash bags, mops and other cleaning supplies, batteries, flashlights, can openers and more. Clothing and cash are not being accepted at the schools. Monetary donations can be made at any Pen Air FCU location, including Century and Nine Mile Road.
For more information, email news@northescambia.com.
For information on other local tornado victim drives, click here.
Last Minute Budget Deal Cuts School Funding
May 6, 2011
A last-minute budget deal surfaced Thursday would cut the amount of money public school districts receive to provide oversight of certain charter schools.
Revealed in what is likely the last public hearing on the budget, lawmakers agreed to cut the administrative fee that school districts receive for highly-rated charter schools.
Under a bill passed by the Legislature on Wednesday, charter schools that have received an “A” or “B” rating in the last three years would be given the ability to expand enrollment or add new grades without having to wait for approval from the school district. Under the budget deal reached Thursday, the fee school districts receive for providing administrative oversight and support for these schools is cut from 5 percent to 2 percent, capped at 250 students.
“Two percent’s more than adequate to pay for the services that are given from school districts to charter schools,” said Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, the Senate’s budget chief. “This is only for high-performing, which I believe are A and B schools.”
But the budget deal changes a fee districts get for a new charter school rating system that was just voted on Wednesday. When questioned about whether it was appropriate, Alexander said “each chamber will be able to vote it up or down. If they don’t think it is good policy, they can say no.”
Advocates for public schools said the administrative fee is used to pay for the oversight and support that school districts provide charter schools. County school districts oversee charter schools, which are technically public schools and receive state and local funds to operate. But charter schools are given more freedom to adopt their own rules and regulations, such as having parents and students sign contracts prior to enrollment.
“There is definitely an expense to it,” said Palm Beach County schools lobbyist Vernon Pickup-Crawford. For some districts that have a large number of charter schools, a 5 percent fee doesn’t cover the full cost.
He called the proposal to slash funding “not surprising.”
Cutting the fee from 5 to 2 percent ensures more of the per-student funding dollars go to charter schools over traditional public schools. One of the top priorities of the Republican-dominated Legislature has been to expand school choices beyond regular public schools. A raft of school choice bill have passed the Legislature this session, including several that expand charter and virtual schools and are awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature.
A call to the Florida School Boards Association about the fee cut was not returned Thursday.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Lawmakers Send Abortion Bills To Scott
May 6, 2011
After an emotional debate that touched on the role of government and personal values, the Florida Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that will require ultrasounds before women can have abortions.
Senators also approved a bill to tighten the state’s parental-notification law, which deals with minors seeking abortions. In all, the Republican-controlled Legislature has passed four measures this week aimed at making it less likely that women or girls will get abortions.
The Senate voted 24-15 for the ultrasound bill (HB 1127), which is similar to a measure that former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed last year. Supporters said mandating ultrasounds will give women more information — and could lead some to forgo abortions.
“This is not telling them what to do with their body,” said Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne. “This is just giving them more information to make an informed decision.”
But Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, criticized the Legislature’s focus on abortion bills when many Floridians are unemployed and losing homes in foreclosure. She said she would not vote to make a decision about “your personal values, your personal religion, your personal body.”
“This is not the issue that is the most-important issue in this state,” Lynn said.
Senate bill sponsor Ronda Storms, however, defended focusing on abortion, saying lawmakers make value decisions on numerous types of issues.
“The great questions of life are why we’re here,” the Valrico Republican said.
The measure, which now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, would require ultrasounds before women can have first-trimester abortions, a requirement that already is in place for later-term abortions. Women would have to sign forms if they do not want to see the fetal images or hear descriptions.
Democrats blasted what they described as government interfering in the relationship between doctors and patients. They also said Republican support for the ultrasound bill contradicted the GOP’s stance that last year’s federal health-care overhaul was a government intrusion into personal medical issues.
“I think women can make an informed decision on their own without the government interfering,” said Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston.
But Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, said a recent change in the bill led him to support it. That change eliminated a requirement that women hear descriptions of the ultrasound images.
With Republicans dominating both chambers of the Legislature — and the conservative Scott in the governor’s office — abortion opponents have moved forward with a series of bills during this year’s session.
On Wednesday, lawmakers gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would make clear public money cannot be used for abortions. Also, they approved a bill that would ban abortion coverage in policies sold through a state health-insurance exchange, which is expected to start operating in 2014 because of the federal health overhaul.
Before passing the ultrasound bill Thursday, Senators voted 26-12 to approve the parental notice measure (HB 1127), which also is ready to go to Scott.
Florida law already requires that parents be notified before minors can have abortions. But the bill seeks to tighten restrictions on what is known as a judicial “bypass” — a process that allows minors to seek court approval for abortions without their parents being told.
As an example, the bill will require minors to go to courts in the judicial circuits where they live. Currently, they are able to go before judges anywhere in their appellate districts — a far-larger number of courts in some regions of the state.
Critics said that could threaten the confidentiality of minors seeking abortions, particularly in rural areas where judges or courthouse workers might know their families. The critics said some teens would be in danger of violence if family members find out they are pregnant or seeking abortions.
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said the current judicial-bypass system works.
“It seems we’re tinkering with the law for no reason,” Smith said.
But bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said minors now can be driven hundreds of miles across North Florida to seek approval for abortions. He said the bill will maintain confidentiality for the minors, because judicial circuits often include numerous counties.
“It’s not like these young ladies have to go to their hometown courthouse,” Hays said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service Florida