Century Reschedules Tonight’s Town Council Meeting
January 16, 2012
The Century Town Council has rescheduled their normal third Monday of the month meeting.
The meeting scheduled for tonight will be held next Monday, January 23 at 7 p.m. The meeting was rescheduled due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The meeting is open to the public.
Pictured: (L-R) Mayor Freddie McCall, Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez and council members Annie Savage and Ann Brooks at a recent Century Town Council Meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Want To Learn Microsoft Word, Excel Or Outlook?
January 16, 2012
The Escambia County School District’s George Stone Technical Center will offer online classes for Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Classes will be available beginning Wednesday, January 18.
For more information, George Stone’s website at georgestonecenter.com or call (850) 941-6200.
MLK Day Closings
January 16, 2012
The following will be closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:
- All Escambia and Santa Rosa county offices
- All Florida and Alabama state offices
- Century, Jay, Atmore, Flomaton, Pensacola city offices
- All West Florida Public Library branches
- Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools
- ECAT: No buses run today
- Santa Rosa County libraries
- All post offices, but mail will be collected from collection boxes and post offices boxes will receive mail. Express mail will be delivered.
ECUA: There will no trash collection changes.
Florida 12th In 2011 Quality Counts Report
January 16, 2012
Florida was ranked 11th in the nation in Education Week’s Quality Counts 2012: The Global Challenge – Education in a Competitive World report as results were issued Thursday.
The report gives high marks to Florida in both the Standards, Assessments, and Accountability category and the Teaching Profession category. The data used to derive the financial ranking dates back to 2009 and reflects the impact of the economic downturn on spending for education from that year.
Florida scored an overall grade of “C+.”
“Florida’s education system ranks among the best in the nation, but we still face some challenges. I’m confident we will continue to improve,” said Governor Rick Scott.
According to the 2012 report,
- Florida earned an “A” in the Standards, Assessments and Accountability category and ranked fifth in the nation.
- Florida is one of 10 states to have the capability to link teachers and their student performance data back to teacher education programs.
- Florida is among 29 states to have used education data from international models to shape reform policies.
- Florida ranked first on the equity measure that looks at differences between average per pupil spending among districts at the 95th and fifth percentiles.
- Florida is second in the nation in the equal distribution of funds amongst its school districts.
- Florida ranks fourth in the nation with a “B” in The Teaching Profession category.
- Florida earned points for increasing its graduation index by 14 percentage points from 2000 to 2008.
- Advanced Placement achievement and improvement points increased in this year’s analysis. Florida was the fourth highest state in the percent of students who scored “3″ or higher on AP tests and third highest for the percentage of increase in successful AP testers.
Motorcycle Gang Member Facing Prison Time For Sexual Battery
January 16, 2012
An Escambia County man is facing up to five years in prison for an attempted sexual battery at a motorcycle club.
Joseph Borg was convicted by an Escambia County jury for an incident that occurred at the clubhouse of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on Jackson Street in Brownsville. A surveillance video showed Borg and the victim entering the clubhouse on the night of the incident. A short time later, it showed the victim running out partially dressed and being chased by Borg, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. The victim was able to find help and was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital. Borg was arrested the same night.
Both Borg and the victim were bloodied, bruised and scratched up from the attack. The victim was ultimately able to free herself after she struck Borg in the head with a spur from her boot. A search of the clubhouse found blood splatter in the upstairs sitting area. DNA testing showed there was blood from both Borg and the victim.
Judge Linda Nobles ordered a presentence investigation into the background of the defendant, with sentencing scheduled for a later day. Borg, a member of the Black Piston’s Motorcycle Gang, will face up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles.
Elliotts, Green Cedars Farm, Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
January 15, 2012
Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino have been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the year.
Green Cedars Farm is an agricultural tourism farm dedicated to educating people about the origins of their food. The farm also provides a farm experience for events such as birthdays, parties, and even weddings.
Green Cedars Farm produces pastured poultry products, including chicken and Thanksgiving turkeys. Eggs from the pasture management system are marketed as tastier and more nutritious than conventionally produced eggs. Eggs are sold at the farm or at the Palafox Farmers Market on the weekends in Pensacola. The farm also produces lamb and pork for the freezer. Their meat products are designed to fit local niche markets and are promoted as locally and humanely grown.
The farm also has a small apple orchard incorporating the Green Shell Apple that was common in the Brewton area over 100 years ago. After some of the old trees were discovered, a grafting program was initiated to recover the almost lost genetics of the Green Shell Apple. This old heritage variety of apple will become a staple of the farm’s tours as a “you pick” apple.
To support the apple orchard, the Elliotts have a small honey bee yard. The honey bees provide the necessary pollination for the apple orchard as well as the garden and even many of the grasses in the pastures.
The Elliotts utilize the chicken and turkey droppings as fertilizer for their pastures, orchard and gardens. The sheep flock grazes behind the chickens to harvest the rich grasses produced. This management system also encourages a richer and more diverse population of soil microorganisms.
Roger retired from the U. S. Navy in 1993 after a 21 year career as a helicopter pilot. He was then employed by the University of Florida Extension as a Livestock/Small Farms/ 4-H Agent. Roger and Pam moved to their present farm on Gibson Road Molino in 2001.
Motivated by visits to other Agricultural Tourism farms and pastured poultry farms around the country, they began planning for a third career. After deciding that he would rather be a farmer than teach farmers, Roger retired from Extension in 2007 and began farming full time.
Dr. Pam Elliott is employed by the Escambia County Schools as a music teacher at N. B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts. On the farm, she is active as host for those visitors participating in the farm’s trail rides as well as day to day chores and upkeep of facilities. Pam loves canning local foods from the farm’s garden and presenting meals that are almost totally local grown. She has canned over 300 jars of produce and freezes other fresh foods for the family’s freezer.
The Elliott’s daughter, Dr. Laurel Elliott Newman, and her husband Michael Newman bring another set of skills to the farm. As a veterinarian, Laurel is involved in the health and welfare of the farm’s livestock and the livestock guardian dogs used in predator control.
Michael is responsible for the farm’s website — www.greencedarsfarm.com. As a professional photographer, Michael visually records farm events. Michael is also involved with the poultry breeding program in which the farm is involved in breeding Welsummer, Cuckoo Marans, and Delaware chickens — one of the “threatened” breeds of poultry. Michael is also responsible for the farm’s bee hives.
For more information about Green Cedars Farm, visit www.greencedarsfarm.com.
Pictured top: Jimmy Cunningham (left) of the Escambia County Farm Bureau presents the Farm Family of the Year award to Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino. Also pictured: Scenes from the farm. Photos courtesy Michael Newman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Residents Report ‘Explosion’ Sound Across Area
January 15, 2012
Residents across the area reported what sounded like an explosion Saturday evening, and, so far, there’s no official explanation as to what caused the noise.
NorthEscambia.com readers reported hearing the rumble in Bratt, Davisville, Walnut Hill, Enon, Atmore, Nokomis, Ala., and Molino between 5:30-5:45 p.m. Saturday. Most reported a loud, rumbling sound, and a few people reported feeling a vibration or shaking.
Emergency dispatchers in Escambia County, Ala., received a few 911 calls reporting possible explosions, including specific reports of possible explosions on McElhaney Road in Bratt and Johnson Road in Nokomis, Ala.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to the McElhaney Road area, while the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Johnson Road. Neither department reported finding anything related to the noise.
Escambia County, Fla., 911 dispatchers did not receive any calls reporting the noise.
So far, there has been no word as to the source of the noise. Due to the holiday weekend spokespersons for area military bases were not available to determine if the noise was caused by a sonic boom.
Nice Monday, Rain By Tuesday
January 15, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
- M.L.King Day: Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Warmer. Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Near steady temperature in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the morning…then chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Colder…cloudy. Rain showers likely and chance of thunderstorms in the evening…then chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Wednesday: Cooler. Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs around 60.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming east.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Escambia Man With Federal, State Warrants Arrested After Taxi Robbery
January 15, 2012
An Escambia County man wanted on outstanding federal and state warrants was arrested Saturday for the armed robbery of a cab driver.
Tyree Desmond Lindsey, 20, is alleged to have robbed a cab driver at gunpoint at Dianne and Lucy streets in Pensacola about 11:35 a.m. A K-9 tracked Lindsey to a house on Pinestead where deputies found him attempting to climb from a bedroom window as officers surrounded the home.
It was later determined that Lindsey, along with 20 year old Phillip Earl Crenshaw of Pensacola, had entered the home, ordering the occupants to “sit on the couch and be quiet” as the police were after them. Crenshaw offered a false name to deputies and was arrested and charged with obstructing justice.
Lindsey was placed under arrest for outstanding federal warrants issued during Operation “Anything for a Buck” in 2011. He will face additional state charges upon completion of the federal prosecution, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Second Saturday Night In Row: Cantonment Convenience Store Robbery Reported
January 15, 2012
For the second Saturday night in a row, a convenience store robbery was reported in Cantonment.
A robbery was reported about 10:07 Saturday night at the Bindu Food Mart in the 1200 block of Muscogee Road, just east of Jacks Branch Road. Deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were on scene within two minutes of the robbery report.
The clerk reported that he had locked the front door of the business. He said he saw a man waving a gun and attempting to enter the store.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was used in the search for a suspect.
On Saturday night January 7, someone held up the CMP Food Mart at the corner of North Highway 29 and Beck’s Lake Road.
A black male dressed in all black entered the store about 10:35 p.m., jumped over the counter and tried to get into the register. When he was unable to open the register, he beat the clerk with the gun to force him to open the cash drawer. The bandit then fled on foot in an unknown direction. The clerk was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone with information on either robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: The CMP Food Mart in Cantonment on January 7. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.