International Paper Awards $50,000 In Grants To Community Groups
April 26, 2013
Thursday, International Paper awarded $50,000 in grants to several community organizations. Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement and critical community needs.
Recipients included Jim Allen Elementary School and a program called “Reading Eggs”. The program will support each student’s leaning by offering individual, one-on-one lessons that allow children to progress at their own rate.
The Reading Eggs program is a powerful educational program that is based on the most up to date research on how children learn to read. The program is interactive and it includes activities, and reward games to keep children motivated and interested in learning to read. The program includes progress reports that can be printed and shared with parents.
Jim Allen’s Reading Eggs program will aim to “foster a love of reading at a young age so our students will continue to read and to be successful throughout their life”.
Another grant recipient included the Health and Hope Clinic, with locations in Pensacola and Century. The clinic provides free medical services for individuals have no other resources for medical care.
“We feel privileged to be able to assist our local non-profits and community organizations in their continued efforts to serve Northwest Florida and Escambia County, Alabama,” said Janice Holmes, Communications Manager. “We look forward to seeing their great results.”
The complete list of local community organizations and their projects that were awarded grants for 2013 are: Ballet Pensacola, ”Discover Dance;” Children Services Center, “Adventure in Learning;” City of Brewton, “Boardwalk Wildflower Garden Project;” Council on Aging of NWFL, “Little Readers;” Escambia County Board of Education, “The Learning Tree;” Escambia County Board of Education, “Down and Dirty: Into the World of Composting;” Escambia County Extension Horticulture Program, “Smart Trees;” Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, “Literacy Classroom Grant Partnership with IP;” Every Child a Reader in Escambia, “Project Ready;” Greater First Baptist Church, “Community Literacy Mentoring and Tutoring Program;” Health and Hope Clinic, Inc., “Direct Patient Care;” Jim Allen Elementary School, “Eggstraordinary Readers;” Manna Food Bank, “Get FRESH Food Initiative;” Pathways for Change; “Pathways to Success;” Pensacola Promise Chain Reaction, “New Wave Project Recycle;” Pensacola State College Foundation, Inc., “PSC Summer Environment Camp;” Perdido Bay Tribe, SE Muscogee Creek Indians, “Native Paths Greenhouse/Native Plant Propagation and Restoration Project;” Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, “Literacy Materials for Global Learning Academy;” Seasons of Hope, “Seasons of Hope;” UWF Foundation, “Explore Summer Camps;” UWF Foundation, “UWF Community Garden;” Waterfront Rescue Mission, “Day Resource Center;” WSRE TV Foundation, “Literacy Link.”
Pictured top: International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill awarded $50,000 in Foundation Grants to local community organizations. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck That Cut Power
April 26, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Thursday night near Walnut Hill that cut power to several homes.
The driver of a pickup truck lost control on Pine Forest Road just off Highway 97 about 8:10 p.m. His pickup struck and power pole, sending the pole and power lines to the ground. The driver was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
The accident cut power to a unknown number of residences in the immediate area.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On 11-Year Old Traffic Ticket
April 26, 2013
A Century man was arrested Thursday afternoon on traffic citation from 11 years ago.
James Ray Foster, now 52, was issued a traffic citation on February 3, 2002, for no valid driver’s license. He pleaded guilty and adjudication was withheld on March 12, 2002. On March 12, 2002, he was fined $186 and ordered to show a valid driver’s license to the court by June 19, 2002, or report to the county jail for 30 days, according to court records.
In August 2002, a pickup and commit order was issued for Foster’s arrest to spend 30 days behind bars after he failed to produce a valid driver’s license.
Foster remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning without bond.
Scott Signs Law Banning 27 New Synthetic Drugs
April 26, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation banning 27 new synthetic drugs on Thursday, as a bill sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram became law.
Scott said, “Florida sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors have done a great job in making Florida communities safer. Thanks to their efforts, Florida is at a 41 year crime low. We will continue to work in close partnership with our state and local law enforcement officials to keep Florida families and visitors to our state safe – and this law will provide them with even more tools to fight new drugs that threaten our children.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi also praised the new law.
“Deadly synthetic drugs are targeted to our youth, and I will remain committed to banning these drugs and keeping them off of store shelves. I thank Governor Scott for signing this key public safety legislation,” she said.
Two School Burglaries Under Investigation
April 26, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in solving burglaries at two schools this month in Escambia County.
Weis Elementary School on North Q Street was vandalized and burglarized early Thursday morning. Video surveillance revealed three suspects had entered the building shortly before 2:00 am. While in the building they broke out glass doors and stole several items. Deputies are searching for three suspects pictured on this page.
Back on April 10, at least three individuals burglarized Woodham Middle School during the early morning hours. Several doors, windows and lockers were damaged. Graffiti was also painted on several walls. The damage was estimated to be in excess of $9,000. Suspects from the surveillance video are pictured on this page.
Anyone with information about either school burglary is asked asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
No Injuries In Wreck At Ernest Ward Middle School
April 26, 2013
There were no injuries in a Thursday afternoon wreck in front of Ernest Ward Middle School.
The accident happened about 6:15 p.m. on Highway 97 when a driver left the roadway and struck a crape myrtle tree next to the school’s main entrance. The 20-year old man refused medical treatment.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: The driver of this vehicle was not injured when he struck a crape myrtle tree (in background) in front of Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Out Of AISA Playoffs With 2-Game Loss
April 26, 2013
Escambia Academy’s Alabama Independent School Association playoff hopes were dashed Thursday as the Cougars from Canoe, Ala., dropped two to Pike County Liberal Arts of Troy.
Pike won game one 11-1 and took the nightcap 16-1 in the best two of three series.
Escambia Academy was coming off a two-game sweep of Kingwood Christian in round one of the AISA playoffs.
Atmore Relay For Life Is Tonight
April 26, 2013
Atmore’s Relay for Life 2013 begins tonight and continues into Saturday morning.
The event begins with opening ceremonies at Tom Byrne Park at 7 p.m., followed by a survivor and caregivers lap at about 7:15. Then 11 teams will walk through the night until 6 a.m.. A luminaria lap will be held at about 9 p.m., with lighted luminarias lining the track honoring lives affected or taken by cancer.
Teams in this year’s Atmore Relay for Life 2013 include Atmore Community Hospital, Atmore Family Dental, Atmore News, First National Bank & Trust, Johnson Ford, Poarch Creek Indians, Team Lucky Charms, The Meadows Assisted Living, Walgreen’s, Wrangler’s Steakhouse and United Bank.
Pictured: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Atmore Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
House Backs Speeding Up Death Penalty
April 26, 2013
After a debate that touched on justice, innocence and the Bible, the Florida House on Thursday approved a bill aimed at reducing delays in carrying out the death penalty.
Supporters of the bill (HB 7083) pointed to convicted murderers who, in some cases, have been on Death Row for more than 30 years. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who is the bill sponsor, said it is a “blight on our whole justice system” when people are on Death Row for decades with no questions remaining about their guilt.
“This is not about the death penalty,” said Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart. “This is about justice. And justice delayed is justice denied.”
But opponents said they fear that trying to shorten the appeal process could lead to innocent people being executed, particularly with scientific advances that have helped exonerate Death Row inmates.
“What in the world is the hurry?” asked Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood.
The bill focuses, at least in part, on what is known as the “post-conviction” legal process, which starts after the Florida Supreme Court upholds death sentences in initial appeals. The post-conviction process can involve appeals about issues such as whether defendants have received ineffective legal representation.
Approved in an 84-34 vote, the bill would make a series of changes to try to reduce delays and end what one lawmaker described as gamesmanship in post-conviction proceedings.
As an example, part of the bill would try to ensure that attorneys have “actual” conflicts of interest before being replaced in death-penalty cases — replacements that can cause delays. “A possible, speculative or merely hypothetical conflict is insufficient to support an allegation that an actual conflict of interest exists,” the bill says.
Another part of the bill, meanwhile, would try to weed out attorneys who have inadequately represented defendants in death-penalty cases. It would bar such attorneys from working on death-penalty cases for five years if courts have found that they provided deficient representation twice.
Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, said the bill is aimed at making sure attorneys and Death Row inmates don’t abuse the system.
“We’re not speeding up the death penalty,” Grant said. “We’re just slowing down fraud.”
But critics repeatedly raised concerns about the potential of executing wrongly convicted inmates.
“The one thing that you cannot take back is, if you put a person to death, you can’t bring them back to life,” said Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville.
Debate about the bill became intense at times, with some lawmakers even citing the Bible to back their positions.
Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican who supported the bill, referred to a passage in the Old Testament book of Genesis. That drew a response from Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, who countered with passages from the New Testament.
At one point, Rep. Larry Lee, Jr., D-Port St. Lucie, said his sister was murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend. But he said was torn about the bill, because he said he often sees reports of inmates being exonerated by scientific evidence. In the end, Lee voted against the bill.
By The News Service of Florida
Sheriff’s Office To Hold Church Safety And Security Workshop
April 26, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is inviting church leaders to attend a special conference on Church Safety and Security next month.
“Our places of worship should be regarded as safe havens where the community can worship and experience fellowship free from worries about violence, theft or unethical behavior,” says Sheriff David Morgan, “I encourage all citizens to arm themselves with the knowledge necessary to prevent fraud, theft and other crimes.”
The workshop is free and is designed to assist you in efforts to reduce crime in our places of worship and in our community. It will be held at the ECSO Main Administration Building, 1700 West Leonard Street on May 16 at 5:30 p.m.
To register, call Deputy Delarian Wiggins at (850) 436-9496.