Heavy Rains Cause Flooding, Damage
September 25, 2013
Thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall and flooding to the North Escambia area Tuesday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Doppler radar estimated up to four inches of rain fell in just over an hour. The Atmore Police Department reported extensive flooding in their city, particularly in the downtown area.
Several downtown Atmore businesses and residents reported minor damage from flooding.
In Florida, minor street and creek flooding occurred, but there was no damage reported.
Pictured top and inset: Flooding on North Main Street in Atmore as water seeps into the Alabama Wing House. Pictured below: A portion of a gas station awning downed and flooding at North Main Street and Jacks Branch Road in Atmore. Pictured bottom: Flooding at Highway 21 and Medical Park Drive in Atmore. Reader photos by Kristen Branch, Lori Eddins and Pamela Iutzi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
USPS Proposes Three Cent Increase In Cost Of Stamps
September 25, 2013
The U.S. Postal Service has announced proposed price changes, including an increase in the price of a first class letter from 46 cents to 49 cents. The proposed changes, which would go into effect in January, are intended to generate $2 billion in annual revenue for the Postal Service.
Other types of mail would also increase in cost:
- Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents
- Letters additional ounces — 1-cent increase to 21 cents
- Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15
- Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents
In a letter disseminated to customers today, Board of Governors Chairman Mickey Barnett described the “precarious financial condition” of the Postal Service and the “uncertain path toward enactment of postal reform legislation” as primary reasons for seeking price changes. He also indicated that the price adjustment is necessary in order to ensure that the Postal Service will be able to maintain and continue the development of postal services.
“Of the options currently available to the Postal Service to align costs and revenues, increasing postage prices is a last resort that reflects extreme financial challenges,” said Barnett in the letter. “However, if these financial challenges were alleviated by the timely enactment of laws that close a $20 billion budget gap, the Postal Service would reconsider its pricing strategy. We are encouraged by the recent introduction of comprehensive postal reform legislation in Congress, and despite an uncertain legislative process, we are hopeful that legislation can be enacted this year.”
Pictured top: Forever stamps. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Patricia Ann Wiggins
September 25, 2013
Mrs. Patricia Ann Wiggins, 64, passed away on Monday, September 23, 2013, in Mobile.
Mrs. Wiggins was a native of Century and a resident of Perdido since 1999. Mrs. Wiggins retired from Piggly Wiggly in Century after 23 years of service. Her first husband, Elbert Ronald Wiggins; second husband, A.G. Smith; one son, Elbert “Bert” Ronald Wiggins, Jr.; and mother, Mary E. Peacock, precede her in death.
Survivors include her three sons, William Henry (Patty) Wiggins of Atmore, Bruce Kendall “Kenny” (Susan) Smith of Perdido and James Agee (Teresa) Smith of Bay Minette; one daughter, Becky (David) Macks of Perdido; two brothers, Raymond Simmons of Missouri and Bo Simmons of Milton; two sisters, Brenda Peacock of Perdido and Linda Sue Wiggins of Bratt; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Floyd officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bruce Smith, John Brantley, Chris Macks, Cameron Macks, Jimmy Wiggins and Henry Wiggins.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
James Leonard “Jimmy” Harrison, Jr.
September 25, 2013
James Leonard “Jimmy” Harrison,Jr., 61, of Opelika, Ala., passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2013, in Mobile. He was a truck driver born in Atmore on January 22, 1952, to James Leonard and Lorraine Galloway Harrison, Sr. He is preceded in death by his father, James Leonard Harrison, Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Cindy Davis Harrison of Opelika; mother, Lorraine Harrison of Atmore; three sons, James Leonard (Abigail Whitaker) Harrison III, Glendon Blake (Amber) Harrison and Dustin Farrell (Emily Dean) Harrison, all of Atmore; one daughter, Audra Lynn (Quinton) Peavy of Uriah; two brothers, Wayne (Barbara) Harrison and Dale Harrison both of Atmore; two grandchildren, Madeline Grace Hartley and Carson Ryan Peavy.
Services will be Thursday September 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., is entrusted with all arrangements.
ECSO: Century Man Caught With Meth In Molino
September 24, 2013
A Century man has been arrested on drug charges after an incident in Molino.
Eric Dean Vickers, age 29 of North Pine Barren Road, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
A resident of the 800 block of Cedar Tree Lane called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that a white truck had just backed into a nearby driveway and into a wooded lot. Deputies arrived to find the truck, doors open, with Vickers and a female engaged in sexual activity.
Vickers consented to a search of his vehicle, where deputies reporting find a glass smoking pipe and a plastic bottle containing a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Vickers also had an outstanding arrest warrant for violation of probation on a reckless driving charge.
As a deputy attempted to place Vickers in handcuffs, he resisted, trying to remove his wallet from his person and saying that he was not taking it to jail.
Wet Tuesday Forecast
September 24, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Cantonment Man Charged With Shooting At Neighbor
September 24, 2013
A Cantonment man has been charged with firing a weapon at his neighbor.
During the early morning hours of August 30, 64-year old James Lee Grandison of 206 Sheppard Street called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had just shot someone across the street that was threatening him.
Deputies arrived to find Grandison and an empty shotgun shell in the front yard of his home, and they located the victim inside of a travel trailer across Sheppard Street.
The victim suffered a minor wound to his shin from buckshot. The victim refused medical treatment, and he refused to press charges against Grandison, who was known to him.
A warrant was later issued for Grandison’s arrest on a first degree misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in public. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond.
Escambia Farm Bureau Honors Governmental Officials; 4-H Members Ask For Land
September 24, 2013
At their recent annual meeting, Escambia County Farm Bureau presented appreciation awards to local governmental officials, while local 4-H kids took the opportunity to lobby new land.
Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Commissioner Steven Barry were presented plaques honoring them “in appreciation for support given to Escambia County Farm Bureau and Escambia County 4-H Youth” over the past year.
Members of Escambia County 4-H were on hand to present letters from their membership to Evers about their desires to receive comparable land to replace the Langley Bell 4-H Center. After the sale of the center to Navy Federal Credit Union, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place recommended the 4-H’ers use a combination of the Cottage Hill State Forest, Escambia County Equestrian Center and privately owned land.
Place also recommended that most of the $1.6 million from the Navy Federal sale proceeds that was to have purchased land instead by given to the 4-H Foundation for use only in Escambia County.
Barry, along with Commissioner Wilson Robertson, spoke out against the dean’s proposal, saying that it was not fair and equitable because 4-H sold 240 acres and did not receive something comparable in return. The Escambia Commission voted 3-2 against the plan.
Pictured: Sen Greg Evers (top photo), Rep Clay Ingram (left, bottom photo) and Escambia Commissioner Steven Barry (right, bottom photo) receive plaques from Brett Ward of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. Picture inset: 4-H Escambia County Council Delegate Izzy Kent with Evers. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Girl Scout Troop Seeks Members
September 24, 2013
A new Girl Scout troop is forming and is looking for members.
Troop 935 will be at the Byrneville Elementary School Open House on Thursday, September 26 at 6 p.m. The troop’s kick off and parent meeting will be held Tuesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. at the Century Branch Library.
For more information, contact Callie Pemberton at (850) 449-1372 or Kim Harrison at (850) 583-7084.
Florida Appears Ready To Pull Out Of Common Core Standards Tests
September 24, 2013
Florida appears ready to exit a multistate effort to develop new Common Core Standards tests to measure student learning, abandoning the initiative amid conservative activists’ concerns that it represents federal overreach into the state’s education system.
Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Monday ordering the state to end its role in helping handle the financial affairs of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The project, generally known as PARCC, has received a $186 million federal grant to develop tests for the “Common Core Standards” currently being taught in Florida schools.
Abandoning PARCC would not mean the state is ending the use of Common Core, though another action Scott took Monday could open that door. Instead, leaving the tests would mean that Florida officials would have to develop or buy another testing system to measure whether students are learning the new material.
Scott also called for the Florida Department of Education to hold three public hearings around the state on Common Core by Nov. 1. In a letter to State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand, Scott said the hearings and other forms of public input should “identify any opportunities to strengthen or risks for federal intrusion in Florida’s standards.”
State officials say they’re confident that new assessments could be up and running in time for the 2014-15 school year.
Scott’s order represents a partial victory for a group of activists who have worried that despite PARCC’s evolution as a state-led project, it could become a tool for the U.S. Department of Education to direct education policy nationwide. The governor echoed those concerns in a letter to Chartrand explaining his decision.
“To be clear, as Governor, I support Florida’s high academic standards and strongly reject overreach into those standards and other areas of our education system by the federal government, including state assessments, curriculum and instructional materials,” Scott wrote.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart did not specifically list a concern that Scott had when asked why he was worried about the federal government’s involvement.
“I think that this is the way for us to ensure that there is not federal overreach,” she said.
Republican leaders who had already urged Scott to abandon the tests praised him for the executive order. But they suggested they were still on board with Common Core.
“The fact is that we had a system of evaluation that hadn’t been invented yet that we were being asked to buy into,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. “I don’t think that was fair for our students, for our teachers or for our families or our employers.”
“But the idea of having high standards — and I think Florida has helped lead the nation in that — is an idea that we’re not backing up one bit from,” he continued.
Stewart said that PARCC could still win a competitive bidding process aimed at coming up with the testing system Florida will used. Given Scott’s language about the tests, though, that seemed unlikely. Still, at least one key lawmaker on education issues held out hope.
“I think PARCC is on a respirator, if you will,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. “And so what we have to do is, if it’s going to revive, Florida needs to say, ‘This is what we want, and if you can do it, fine, and if you can’t, fine. We’ll try another route.’ ”
Whatever the decision, the state has to move soon, said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future. That organization, founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush, has strongly supported Common Core.
“I urge the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education to move quickly and carefully to make decisions regarding Florida’s assessment. … In order to effectively field test Common Core-aligned assessments next spring, their decisions must be made soon,” Levesque said in a statement issued by the foundation.
The fact that PARCC could return caused some concern for activists who have fought against Common Core generally and the tests specifically. John Hallman, who lobbies for conservative groups like the Florida Campaign for Liberty and Liberty First Network, expressed cautious optimism about Scott’s move.
“On the other hand, I’ll be honest — I’m skeptical,” he said.
Randy Osborne, who has lobbied against Common Core in the Legislature on behalf of the Florida Eagle Forum, said the state should remain opposed to PARCC.
“I think that, as we move through this process, that the state will do the right thing, the legislators will do the right thing and say that PARCC is something we can’t accept,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida