Santa Rosa Cuts Transit Funding; Jay To Century Route Might Materialize
October 26, 2012
The Santa Rosa County Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to end its funding of the county’s transit system, but the move won’t impact public transit shuttle service that could one day run between Century and Jay.
The Santa Rosa County Transit bus systems operates mostly along the U.S. 90 corridor in Pace and Milton and connects to Escambia County’s ECAT bus service in north Pensacola.
The Northwest Florida Rural Health Network wants the service to fill an identified need for transportation between Century and Jay, and the needs of citizens to travel to Pace and Milton. The “Jay Public Transportation Shuttle Service”, as proposed, would run between Century and Jay three days per week and between Pace/Milton two days per week.
“The Jay/Century connection is funded through a separate grant program. The only thing that would be affected may be the connection to Milton and Pace if a transit service is not operating along Highway 90,” Shawn Ward, transportation planner for Santa Rosa County Development Services.
A portion of the funding for Jay-Century route would come from the two towns. The idea has already been presented to the Jay Town Council, which did not immediately sign off on the plan. Instead, the Jay council wanted more concrete information about costs and ridership scenarios. The plan has not yet been formally presented to the Town of Century.
The Jay-Century route operating cost is estimated to be $6,000 per month, with the Rural Health Network offering to pay $3,000 per month for six months and the other $3,000 coming from a grant. One or two vehicles would be needed at a 10-percent local cost match of $7,800 or $15,600. Eighty percent of the vehicle cost would be paid for by a Florida Department of Transporation grant, and 10 percent would come from the state.
Jay and Century would be required to share in a 10 percent local match to purchase the vehicles. Santa Rosa County will also apply for the FDOT grant. If the grant is awarded, the vehicle could be purchased after July 1, 2013.
The public transportation program would be open to anyone, not just the economically or otherwise disadvantaged.
Meanwhile, the future of the current Santa Rosa County Transit system remains in limbo after Thursday’s commission vote — the county says the vote does not necessarily mean the bus service will be canceled. The Northwest Florida Regional Planning Council may seek other sources of funding to keep the buses rolling.
If the bus service is cut, the system will be required to give riders a 60 day notice.
High Flying BMX Team Presents Down To Earth Anti-Drug Message
October 26, 2012
High flying BMX bikes captured the attention of children at Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore Thursday afternoon while spreading a positive anti-drug message.
The event, part of Red Ribbon Week, presented BMX bike jumps and tricks intermingled with healthy lifestyle, stay away from drugs message. Students cheered — some even covered their eyes — as a member of The Freestyle Connection bike trick team literally jumped over the teachers.
The event was sponsored by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office and also included a K-9 demonstration.
For a BMX photo gallery, click here.
For a K-9 demo photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and inset: A BMX bicycle team presented high flying tricks and an anti-drug message Thursday afternoon at Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore. Pictured below: A K-9 demonstration at the Red Ribbon Week event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Homecoming: What You Need To Know
October 26, 2012
It will be a big day in Bratt with the 2012 Homecoming at Northview High School. Homecoming festivities — including presentation of the homecoming court — will begin at about 6:00 Friday, with game kickoff set for 7 p.m.
A homecoming parade was held earlier today…we will have complete photo coverage Saturday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Class homecoming signs along the fence at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Century Library Halloween
October 26, 2012
It was a spooktacular good time for dozens of area children Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. During the library’s seventh annual Halloween program, children in a variety of costumes enjoyed lots of treats.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Children enjoy a Halloween program Thursday at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
4-H Task Force Application Deadline Is Today
October 26, 2012
Today is the last day to apply to be on Escambia County’s 4-H Task Force.
The group will be selected to study and review options that will address outdoor education, animal science programs and natural resources education.
The recent sale of the Langley Bell Center 4-H property marks a transformation for UF/IFAS4-H Youth Development Program in Escambia County. On May 3, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Escambia County Board of Commissioners, the University of Florida IFAS Extension and the Escambia County 4-H Foundation was approved by the county commission. The MOU is a legal binding contract and serves as the blueprint of the immediate goals for the local 4-H program.
Information about the application process, the application form and job description can be found at the Escambia County Extension website: http://escambia.ifas.ufl.edu. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, October 26, at 4:30 p.m.
Applications may be emailed to lainhaf@ufl.edu or mailed or hand delivered to Escambia County Extension Service, Attention: UF/IFAS 4-H Task Force, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, Florida 32533.
For more information contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230.
Scott Unveils Education Agenda; Charters Get Boost
October 26, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott unveiled an education agenda Thursday that could allow more students to go to existing charter schools while preparing the state to adopt a new national curriculum.
Most of the initiatives Scott announced Thursday were not a surprise, but they amount to one of the first vigorous education agendas he has unveiled since taking office last year. Scott largely focused on the economy in 2011, and his main education priority for 2012 was to persuade lawmakers to plow roughly $1 billion of new funding into public schools.
The most controversial element of Scott’s plan could potentially prove to be measures to increase the role of charter schools, public schools that are usually run by third parties and are free of many of the regulations faced by typical schools.
Scott’s plan would remove enrollment caps on existing charter schools and allow school districts to operate their own charter schools.
“We’ve got a lot of choice in our state, but we know in everything else in life, if you have more choice, quality goes up, prices sometimes come down,” Scott told WBBH-TV in Fort Myers in an interview Thursday morning.
In a news release issued after Scott formally unveiled the agenda at an event in Fort Myers, State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand praised the charter school proposal.
“Having been involved with charter schools, I know firsthand how they can positively impact the student performance of children who come from economically disadvantaged areas. … Governor Scott’s agenda would make those opportunities available for more students in Florida,” Chartrand said.
Scott’s agenda would also make other changes, junking some regulations and giving debit cards to teachers to pay for school supplies, with the hopes that businesses would help support the program. And the agenda would require the state not to introduce any new testing that doesn’t conform to the “Common Core Standards,” a national set of curriculum guidelines set to take effect next school year.
Educators largely responded to the news with cautious optimism or at least took a wait-and-see approach.
“It’s kind of sketchy,” said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s main teachers union. “The proof will continue to be in the details.”
Ford’s group has frequently clashed with Republicans in recent years over whether and how to expand policies promoting school choice. Ford said he would like to see accountability for charter schools as part of the expansion.
“We have to make sure that we aren’t allowing charter schools to cherry-pick students,” Ford said.
He also said the state would “have to make sure that all schools are being treated fairly” in the school supply initiative, given that schools in more affluent areas might have an easier time getting businesses to partner with them.
Democrats, meanwhile, questioned Scott’s motives.
“While we hope that Scott’s plan — introduced just 12 days before the election — is sincere, it does not erase the Republican’s long record of hurting our parents, teachers and students,” Florida Democratic Party executive director Scott Arceneaux said in a statement.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Pace Downs Tate For District 1-6A Volleyball Title
October 26, 2012
The Pace Patriots defeated the Lady Aggies of Tate Thursday to claim the District 1-6A tournament title.
Pace won in three straight, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Pace will host Mosley, and Tate will travel to Niceville as regional play begins.
Over 1 Million Absentee Ballots Returned, Slightly More From GOP
October 26, 2012
State election officials said 1.05 million absentee ballots had been returned to local supervisors of elections by Thursday.
In 2008, 1.85 million voters cast absentee ballots, and Republicans held about a 15 percentage point lead. This year, Republicans continue to lead in absentee returns, As of Thursday, elections officials had received 467,820 absentee ballots from self-designated GOP voters. That’s 44.5 percent. Democratic-identified voted had returned 413,516, or 39.4 percent of the total. Another 169,000, or 16.1 percent, did not designate either party on their ballots.
By The News Service of Florida
Overnight Vandalism At Ernest Ward Middle School Under Investigation
October 25, 2012
Vandalism overnight Thursday at Ernest at Ernest Ward Middle School is under investigation.
Some “rolled” a portion of the football field with toilet paper and burglarized a storage building. Football equipment was scattered across the school’s stadium, and vulgar drawings were painted on the stadium grass. Other areas of the school were also egged.
The incident is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A crime scene unit was called to the school Thursday morning to document evidence in the case.
A reward is being offered for information leading to arrests in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman, Bank Teller Guilty In $255,000 Bank Robbery
October 25, 2012
A Century woman has been convicted of the quarter million dollar robbery of the Bank of Brewton in February that was carried out with the help of a bank teller.
Robin Ann Godwin, 43, entered a guilty plea in federal court to bank robbery. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced early next year.
According to federal court documents, Godwin formulated a plan with bank teller Pamela Steele to rob the Bank of Brewton. On February 17, 2012, Godwin entered the Bank of Brewton wearing a blue poncho, a grey fedora, large sunglasses, black face paint, a black Afro wig and body padding. Godwin asked Steele about renting a safe deposit box, and Steele took Godwin into the bank vault.
Once inside the vault, Godwin pulled a large bag out from underneath her poncho and demanded that it be filled with cash. Steele then filled the bag with approximately $255,000 in cash, federal documents state. Steele did not put any bait bills or dye packs in the bag along with the cash. Godwin then fled the bank with the bag full of money.
Godwin was taken into custody April 12 as the FBI raided a small travel trailer located in a campground at 1300 Liahona Trail in Bluff Springs.
“We are executing a search warrant related to a recent bank robbery in Brewton,” James Stewart, a FBI supervisory senior resident agent, told NorthEscambia.com as agents worked to complete their operation.
Nearly a dozen FBI agents from field offices in Mobile and Pensacola spent a couple of hours searching the travel trailer in Bluff Springs Thursday night. Multiple containers of evidence, reportedly including at least part of the $255,000 — were removed by agents and placed into the back of a SUV. Some of the federal agents were wearing shirts identifying them as members of a “FBI Evidence Response Team”. Working undercover, they would not allow their photographs to be taken, by a NorthEscambia.com photographer.
Campground residents were inside neighboring travel trailers as FBI agents finished executing the search warrant. Even a couple of hours after federal agents arrived at the campground, some of the neighbors could be seen periodically peeking out of their doors and windows at the travel trailer in “Lot 2″, with it’s patio crowded with lawn chairs and outdoor decorations. Pink flamingo lawn ornaments and potted plants surrounded the patio — nothing making it look out of place for the quiet area just a few feet from the Escambia River.
Bank teller Pamela Steele previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her part in the robbery. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced next month.
Pictured bottom inset and below: FBI agents executed a search warrant related to a Brewton bank robbery at this travel trailer on Bluff Springs Road south of Century in April. FBI agents, who were just off camera, would not allow their photographs to be taken. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
