NHS Cheerleaders Earn Awards At Auburn Camp
July 18, 2012
The Northview High School cheerleaders received numerous awards during a UCA camp last week at Auburn University.
The junior varsity received all superior ratings as they competed in the small varsity division where they received second place in both cheer and extreme routine. Jadlyn Agerton received a gold superior ribbon in the jump contest. Agerton and Danielle Robinson were also chosen as UCA All-American cheerleaders.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The varsity also received all superior ratings and placed first in the large varsity division for cheer. Shaquanna Jones received a gold superior ribbon in the jump contest. Ashley Mooney, Katelynne Calloway, and Madison Arrington were all chosen as UCA All-American cheerleaders. Calloway and Arrington also received an invitation to try-out for UCA staff.
Ashton Gibbs, Northview’s mascot, received all superior ratings on her evaluations and was selected as the camp champion mascot.
The varsity also won the “Softlips Spirit Stick” for being the best dressed team at the summer splash pirates-themed pep rally.
On the second night of camp, Pryor Middle School and the UCA staff awarded both Northview teams with the coveted “Banana Award” for showing spirit.
Ariel Holland was hand selected by a UCA staff member for the “Pin it Forward” award. Morgan Ward was also pinned by another team’s cheerleader who felt she was positive and exhibited spirit.
Several girls received St. Jude’s pins for bringing in addresses and filling out letters to send to family and friends in order to raise money for the hospital.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Scroll down for squad photos and names.
Varsity
Members of the Northview varsity squad are (front, L-R) Ashley Cunningham, Ariel Holland, Ashley Mooney, Shaquanna Jones, (second row) Chloe Leonard, Courtney Weaver, Katelynne Calloway, Kamryn Brock, Madison Arrington, Hannah Gibson, (back row) Ali Martin, Mallory Ryan, Jessica McCullough, Kendal Cobb and Anna Fischer, Kristen Byrd.
Junior Varsity
Members of the NHS JV squad are (front, L-R) Rebekah Sepulveda, Lana Clayton, Samantha Barrow, (second row) Mariah Albritton, Lauryn Walker, (third row) Morgan Ward, Danielle Robinson, Kaylyn Garnet, Megan Bryan, (fourth row) Katie Born, Jadlyn Agerton, Dariane Guy, and (back) Shnala Banks.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Olympic Countdown: Torch Passes Through England (With NorthEscambia Photo Gallery)
July 18, 2012
Tuesday marked 10 days until the official opening of the 2012 Olympics in London, with the Olympic Torch Relay carrying the flame through the town of Crawley, England.
A Molino family living in England was there Tuesday with photos for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photo gallery, click here.
Crawley, with a population of about 106,600, is located 28 miles south of London.
According to organizers, a very precise ritual for the lighting of the flame is followed at every Games. It is lit from the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, in a traditional ceremony among the ruins of the home of the ancient Games.
After a short relay around Greece, the flame is handed over to the new host city at another ceremony in the Panathenaiko stadium in Athens.
The flame is then delivered to the host country, where it is transferred from one torchbearer to another, spreading the message of peace, unity and friendship.
It ends its journey as the last torchbearer lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, marking the official start of the Games. The flame then stays lit until it is extinguished at the closing ceremony to signify the end of the games.
Pictured top: The Olympic Torch passes through Crawley, England, about 28 miles south of London Tuesday. Pictured inset and below: The flame is passed from one Torch bearer to another as crowds look on. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ To Target Beulah Thursday
July 18, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Windy Hill Neighborhood Watch, will conduct an “Operation Clean Sweep” event in Beulah on Thursday.
Volunteers and participants will meet at Windy Hill Baptist Church at 9896 Rebel Road at 8:00 a.m. The community cleanup will include areas between Tower Ridge Road and Beulah Road.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of crime.
The operation task force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Escambia County Environmental Law Enforcement, the military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges, and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Century Care Residents Go ‘Nuts’
July 18, 2012
The residents at Century Care Center went “nuts” Tuesday for boiled peanuts.
The regular Covenant Hospice Coffee Club was combined with a big batch of boiled peanuts donated by Lowry Farms in Jay.
“Yelling ‘boiled peanuts’ or ‘watermelon’ is like yelling ‘Fire!’ around Century Care Center,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center’s activities director. “The only difference is the direction they run in.”
Pictured: The residents at Century Care Center enjoyed a peanut boil Tuesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clinton “Lamar” Lewis
July 18, 2012
Clinton “Lamar” Lewis, age 64 of Jay, passed away July 16, 2012.
Lamar retired from Exxon and worked at Quantum in Jay. He was a wonderful husband, father, granddaddy, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a very hard worker and a very good man. He will be missed by many.
Lamar was preceded in death by his parents, Asa Lewis and Irene Blackman Lewis and nephew, Thomas Asa (Bubba) Hobbs.
Lamar is survived by his wonderful wife, Paula Lewis; his children, Jennifer Karen (Eric) Ruzzin of Ben Salem, PA, Jeremy Clinton Lewis of Milton, Jacquelyn Irene Lewis (Ed Janoff) of New York, NY, Jonathan Lamar Lewis of Pensacola, Tim (Michelle) Lunsford, Jonathan Holland, and Lori (Rusty) Lee; brothers, Elmer (Sandy) Lewis of Van Vleck, TX, Jerry (Ann) Lewis of Brewton, Ed (Jeannie) Lewis of Youngstown, FL; sister, Sarah Lewis Hobbs of Milton; grandchildren, Ashley, Kimee, Erica Ruzzin, Natasha, Zac, Madison Lewis, Kody, Brant, Trevor Lunsford, Connor and Tanner Lee and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel with visitation from 8:30 a.m. until service time.
DOC To Move Forward With Prison Health Privatization
July 18, 2012
The Florida Department of Corrections said late Tuesday it will move ahead with a plan to privatize prison health services, after a judge declined to resolve a legal fight about the issue.
The decision could lead to more legal wrangling, as the Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have fought state attempts to contract with private companies for the services.
Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker said in a prepared statement that the changes will save money. Corizon, Inc., will receive a contract to provide the services in north and central Florida, while Wexford Health Sources will receive a contract for the southern part of the state.
“It’s a decision that’s best for the taxpayers,” Tucker said. “This step will allow us to provide the same services we currently have, which meet state and federal standards, while saving money for the taxpayers. This step will be a cost savings in excess of 7 percent using private vendors.”
But Don Slesnick, an attorney for the Florida Nurses Association, said the department is hurting state employees.
“It doesn’t shock me,” Slesnick said. “It disappoints me that the state is that devious and the DOC is being that anti-employee.”
Lawmakers last year included fine print in the state budget that called for privatizing inmate health services. But the nurses association and AFSCME challenged the constitutionality of using the budget fine print, known as proviso language, to make such a change.
Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll, however, declined this month to rule on the constitutional question because the proviso language expired with the June 30 end of the state fiscal year. That left unclear whether — or how — the privatization would take place.
State attorneys have argued that the Department of Corrections has the legal authority to privatize health services, even without the proviso language. But attorneys for the nurses association and AFSCME last week filed motions seeking a rehearing before Carroll — a move that could provide an avenue for a continued challenge.
Ann Howard, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said it was not immediately clear how soon contracts could be signed with Corizon and Wexford. After the contracts are executed, the department said it expects the changes to take place during a 90- to 120-day transition period and that current employees will be able to interview for jobs.
“We still will continue to work with our employees and seek the best solutions for them and the inmates we serve,” Tucker said. “Change isn’t easy, and we know that it can sometimes be unsettling; however, the hard work of our employees is greatly appreciated and recognized.”
Privatization of state jobs is highly controversial, at least in part because workers worry they will see reductions in benefits and pay if they go to work for contractors. AFSCME Florida Council 79 President Jeanette Wynn issued a statement criticizing Gov. Rick Scott and the decision to move forward with the privatization plan.
“Governor Rick Scott is not above the law, he cannot charge ahead with this scheme to funnel more of our tax dollars to his big business buddies without the input from the Florida Legislature or the legal system,” the union president said.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The medical unit at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jacksonville Edges Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-4 In 10 Innings
July 18, 2012
Suns catcher Kyle Skipworth blasted two home runs and Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 110th base of the season, while four Jacksonville relievers combined to yield just two hits over the final four innings to push the Suns to a 5-4 extra-inning victory on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Jacksonville with the win improved to 12-14 in the second half, while the Fish fell to 15-11 since the league’s All-Star Break. The defeat combined with a Montgomery victory means the two teams are now tied for first in the South Division. Before the game, Woodham High School grad and current Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans was on hand to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
The Blue Wahoos and Suns combined for four longballs in the contest, with Skipworth launching a two-run shot in the second before striking the videoboard in right field with a solo blast two innings later. Six of Skipworth’s ten roundtrippers this year have come against Pensacola.
LF Donald Lutz and 3B David Vidal each left the yard for the Fish, with Lutz’s big fly coming in his first at bat with the club after being promoted from High-A Bakersfield earlier in the day. Lutz launched 17 longballs for the Blaze before joining Pensacola, while the roundtripper for Vidal was his fifth of 2012.
Hamilton reached on an infield single in the fifth before swiping his 110th base of the year, which ties him for the eighth highest single-season steal total in Minor League Baseball history with Maynard DeWitt’s mark from 1946. Hamilton, who is now 35 steaks away from Vince Coleman’s top mark of 145, would then come across on CF Ryan LaMarre’s RBI single to draw the contest even at 3-3.
The Suns however, answered back in the seventh when 1B Ben Lasater singled and moved to second on a free pass before being sent home on CF Donnie Webb’s run-scoring single to right. The Fish would then tie it again in the next inning when LF Josh Fellhauer walked and went to third on a Jacksonville error prior to C Tucker Barnhart’s clutch two-out single up the middle.
Jacksonville then plated the game-winning run in the first extra frame to take the series. SS Chris Gutierrez reached on a base knock and advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball to set up RF Kyle Jensen, who bounced a single in the hole between third base and shortstop to push the Suns ahead 5-4.
RHP Joshua Schmidt (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the win for Jacksonville to improve to 4-3 this season, while closer A.J. Ramos (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) notched his 12thh save of the year. Schmidt and Ramos combined with Jordan Conley (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Kyle Kaminska (0.1 IP) to give up only two hits in the final four frames. Pensacola reliever Mark Serrano (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-2 in 2012.
Skipworth (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and Gutierrez (2-5, 1 R) each tallied two hits in the contest for the Suns, while LaMarre (2-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and Rojas (2-5) collected multi-hit efforts in the defeat.
The Blue Wahoos have an off-day Wednesday before heading to Mobile for a four-game series with the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the series opener slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Regulators Deny Gulf Power Rate Hike For Potential North Escambia Plant
July 17, 2012
Refusing to backtrack from a decision earlier this year, state regulators on Tuesday rejected a proposal by Gulf Power Company to pass along costs to customers for a potential nuclear power plant site in North Escambia.
Gulf Power wanted the Florida Public Service Commission to approve a relatively small increase in base rates to help cover costs related to the 4,000-acre site. Commissioners turned down the idea in February as part of a broader rate case, but Gulf Power made a somewhat unusual request to reconsider the decision.
In again rejecting the proposal, commissioners sided with the state’s Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers, and two business groups that often tangle with utilities about electricity costs. Opponents pointed, in part, to another Gulf Power property in Caryville that has long been in the rate base but has not been developed for a power plant.
“It would be bad public policy (to approve Gulf Power’s request), and it would go against the record evidence we have before us,” Commissioner Julie Brown said at one point during Tuesday’s discussion.
But Gulf Power attorney Jeffrey Stone said it is important to allow utilities to recover money from customers to help cover costs of future power-plant sites. Otherwise, Stone said, utilities will put off land purchases, ultimately costing customers more money.
“That is a delay that will disadvantage ratepayers in the long term,” Stone said.
The PSC in February approved an overall $64.1 million increase in base rates for Gulf Power customers, but the utility wanted an additional $2.06 million increase to cover costs related to holding the property for future use as a potential nuclear site. The utility said the additional amount would have translated into 20 cents a month for a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
But Robert Scheffel Wright, an attorney for the Florida Retail Federation, one of the business groups in the case, said opponents think Gulf Power prematurely bought the land. He and others said the utility failed to show earlier this year that it was entitled to collecting the additional money.
“This is just an attempt to reweigh the evidence,” said Vicki Gordon Kaufman, an attorney for the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the other business organization that opposed the proposal.
Commissioners raised repeated questions about Gulf Power’s unused site at Caryville, which likely would not house a nuclear facility but could hold another type of power plant. As an example, Commissioner Art Graham has expressed support for the idea of buying land far ahead of the time Gulf Power might build a nuclear plant, but he also questioned utility customers paying for both the North Escambia and Caryville sites.
PSC members and staff said Gulf Power could request another, more-limited proceeding to address the issue of having both sites. Stone said the utility would have to evaluate whether it wanted to make such a request.
By The News Service of Florida
One Man, One Garage Shot In Unrelated Incidents
July 17, 2012
One person and one garage ceiling were shot early this morning in two unrelated incidents in Escambia County.
One Man Shot
Escambia County deputies are investigating an overnight shooting on North “D” Street about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The victim said he was outside his home when he was approached by a black male that pulled a gun after a brief conversation. The victim was hit and suffered a non-life threatening injury.
The victim was driven to a local hospital by a relative where he was treated and released.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
One Garage Shot
A 62-year old Escambia County man was jailed after pointing a gun at two people and then firing the weapon into a garage ceiling.
Michael Raymond Davis is being held without bond on charges of aggravated assault and using a firearm while under the influence, according to jail records.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he was in his garage on Juno Circle when he got into an argument with his step daughter and her husband. Davis pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it at his son-in-law, telling him to get out of his house. Davis’ step-daughter quickly jumped in to shield her husband and try to calm Davis down, but Davis pointed the gun in the air and fired the weapon. There were no injuries in the 1 a.m. incident.
A neighbor, who overheard the altercation, quickly called the Sheriff’s Office to report the incident. When deputies arrived on scene they were able to talk Davis into coming out of the house unarmed. Davis then admitted to deputies that he fired the weapon, but did not shoot anyone.
Good Budget News: Medicaid Costs Reduced For Escambia, Santa Rosa
July 17, 2012
The amount of Medicaid costs passed on to Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has been reduced, according to Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze.
Broxson said he received an email from the Florida Agency on Healthcare Administration (ACHA) revealing a marked decrease in Escambia County’s expected liability in total open Medicaid claims. The communication from Karen Zeiler, deputy Secretary of Administration for ACHA, stated the preliminary certification of Escambia County’s open Medicaid claims dropped to $4.2 million, down from a previously estimated $8.5 million.
Santa Rosa County’s $813,000 was reduced to $34,065.
““We worked extremely hard to convince the state to take a look at how they were calculating what they said we owed in back Medicaid payments,” said Escambia Board of County Commission Chairman Wilson Robertson. “We didn’t believe it fairly represented Escambia County’s liability and was essentially an unfunded mandate.”
The state mandated payments sent Escambia County scrambling to balance the upcoming fiscal year budget. The library systems was one of the first potential targets to save cash, but branch libraries were spared after public outcry.
The more than $4.3 million reduction in the Escambia County’s Medicaid liability refers only to the “backlog” of open Medicaid claims, which are to be paid out over a five-year period. Escambia County is estimating that numbers will mean a savings of approximately $1.2 million fiscal year 2012/2013 and just under $600,000 per year for the next four fiscal years. The payments do not include any current or future claims.
“We have notified each county with the good news and appreciate their hard work. I would also like to thank AHCA for their effort as they spent thousands of hours to help soften the blow of past Medicaid bills for our counties. This is what happens when leaders don’t shy away from controversy and work together towards a solution,” Broxson said.
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have both joined a Florida Association of Counties lawsuit against the mandated payments.
Counties argue the Legislature violated part of the Florida Constitution that is aimed at making it harder for the state to pass along what are known as “unfunded mandates,” which increase costs for local governments. The constitution requires unfunded mandates to be approved by two-thirds of the House and the Senate — a threshold that was not met with the new Medicaid law.
Though he signed the law, Gov. Rick Scott ordered the Agency for Health Care Administration to meet with county officials across the state to try to resolve billing disputes. But a key part of the lawsuit alleges that counties commonly have received incorrect bills for such things as people who live in other areas of Florida or even out of state.
“Although counties are willing to pay their fair share for Medicaid services received by their residents, they cannot in good faith make payments for bills that are clearly erroneous and lacking support,” the lawsuit says.