Healthier Schools Donate French Fries To Non-Profits
February 18, 2013
The Escambia County School Board has voted to donate 138 cases of shoestring French fries to three area non-profits. In a push for healthier eating, the county’s school cafeterias are no longer frying foods, making the french fries unusable to to the school district.
The surplus frozen fries, valued at $2,310.12 were donated to the Escambia County Waterfront Rescue Mission, the Escambia County Salvation Army and Manna Food Pantries.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
February 18, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their Students of the Month from January. They are (left to right) Lexxi Baggett, 6th grade; Jessica Stacey, 8th grade; and Cody Kite, 7th grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Food For America: Northview FFA Officers Share With Elementary Students
February 18, 2013
Members of the Northview High School FFA officer team recently visited several area elementary schools to read ag-related books to students.
The FFA officers visited Bratt, Jim Allen and Molino Park elementary schools. Reading to the students and sharing information about food-related agriculture is part of the events leading up to Northview’s award-winning Food for America program in March.
Northview’s Food for America program has been name the best in the state . Each year, the program gives hundreds of elementary school students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more as they visit displays on the Northview campus.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man’s Medical Problem Causes I-10 Crash
February 18, 2013
Three people were injured, two of them seriously, in a morning accident that backed up traffic on I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 34-year old Gerald Dominque James of Cantonment was eastbound on I-10 near the Davis Highway exit about 5:50 a.m. when he drove across the center median into oncoming westbound traffic due to an unknown medical condition. His 2004 Nissan Altima collided with a 2007 Honda Accord driven by 55-year old Billy Johnston of Gordon, Ala.
James’ Altima was then struck by a 1996 Ford F150 driven by 74-year old Henry Matowitz of Milton who then continued off the roadway and struck a tree.
James and Johnston were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. Matowitz suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
All westbound lanes of I-10 at the 13 mile maker were blocked by the wreck, according to the FHP. The roadway has since reopened.
No charges were filed in connection with the accident.
Pictured: Three people were injured in this accident early Monday morning on I-10 near the Davis Highway exit. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
President’s Day Closures
February 18, 2013
The following will be closed Monday in observance of the President’s Day holiday:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Clerk of the Court
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- ECUA business offices
- Escambia County Schools
ECUA Residential and Commercial Sanitation customers will not experience any schedule changes as collections remain on their regular schedule.
OPEN:
- Escambia 911 Dispatch, EMS and Fire Services
- Perdido Landfill, except administrative offices
- Town of Century offices
MAIL: No mail delivery, except for Express Mail. Post Offices closed.
Florida Leads Nation In Foreclosures For 5th Month
February 18, 2013
Move over California. Florida led the nation in January in the percentage and total number of properties in foreclosure, according to monthly figures released by RealtyTrac,
For the fifth month in a row, Florida had the highest rate of foreclosures in the nation, with one in every 300 Florida housing units under some type of foreclosure filing. That’s more than twice the national average and 20 percent higher than a year earlier.
Florida also had the dubious honor of bypassing California for the total number of foreclosure filings for the month, marking the first time that California has been out of the top spot since 2007.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties accounted for the bulk of homes under foreclosure. But Ocala held the top spot among metropolitan areas, with one in 223 homes involved in foreclosures during the month.
Nationally, the number of foreclosures dropped 28 percent in January from the year before.
By The News Service of Florida
School Board Set To Hire Contractor For New Ernest Ward Middle School
February 17, 2013
The Escambia County School Board is set to approve a contractor at their Tuesday meeting to manage the rebuilding of Ernest Ward Middle School.
A school district committee ranked five qualified firms for the job, with Greenhut Construction Company of Pensacola receiving the nod. If approved by the school board, Greenhut will provide “Construction Management at Risk Services” for the project — the overall planning, coordination and control of the project from beginning to completion.
The $16.5 million, 115,202 square foot building is currently being designed by Sam Marshall Architects of Pensacola.
The new facility will replace the entire Ernest Ward campus, with the exception of the current gymnasium and football stadium. The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945.
A few portable buildings and the Ag Building will be demolished as early as this summer to be replaced by temporary portable buildings during the construction process. The new school is expected to open in the fall of 2016. The current administration building is slated to become a maintenance facility.
In addition to Ernest Ward, the district will rebuild A.K. Suter Elementary in Pensacola for $21.5 million. Tuesday, the school board is expected to approved the Morette Company of Pensacola as the construction management firm for the Suter project.
Pictured top: The gymnasium at Ernest Ward Middle School will receive some updates, but will not be demolished, as a new school is built on the Walnut Hill campus. The Ag Building (interior pictured inset, exterior below) could be demolished as early as this summer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cool Tonight, Sunny Monday, Rain Moving In
February 17, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Washington’s Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 52. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers before noon. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. Southwest wind around 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Thursday: Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Walnut Hill Fire Grows To 53 Acres
February 17, 2013
Early Sunday afternoon, the Florida Forest Service estimated that a wildfire about about eight miles southwest of Walnut Hill had grown to 53 acres.
The fire was initially reported about 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon to be a wind-fueled 20 acre grass fire off Ryals Lane west of Pineville Road.
FFS firefighters said the blaze started from a bush hogging operation and burned through a pasture and into the woods. The fire is mostly contained and crews will continue to monitor, and the Forest Service said the fire still has some internal smoke.
No structures were threatened by the fire, and there were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service responded to the blaze and remained until about 6 p.m. By 7 p.m., the Forest Service reported the fire wost mostly contained and had burned toward a swamp. Dozer lines were created around the fire, with Forest Service firefighters returning on Sunday morning.
“Despite recent rains, today’s high winds dried brush, grass and other flammable vegetation and helped fan the flames. Florida experiences a year round wildfire season and these blazes serve as reminders that homeowners and landowners always should use caution when burning yard debris,” Zwierzchowski said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest Cooled Off By Jay
February 17, 2013
The Pine Forest softball team couldn’t get anything going Saturday, as the pitching of Jay junior Sydney Lowery and the cold, windy weather cooled off the Lady Eagles’ bats in an 11-1 victory.
Lowery, who pitched Jay to the state championship game last season, struck out 11 and allowed just four hits and two walks.
Pine Forest (2-2) actually jumped out quickly, as Rebecca Rudd and Aleecia Ybarra singled to open the game. After back-to-back strikeouts, Kellie Payne singled to right field to drive in Rudd and give the Lady Eagles the early lead. But Pine Forest got only one more hit off Lowery — a fifth-inning single by Rudd.
Jay (1-1) tied the game in the bottom of the first thanks to a couple of errors, then added three in the third and fourth innings before finishing the game with four in the fifth.
Sophomore Brooke Lauter took the loss in her first varsity start. The lefty allowed 10 hits and four walks but only six earned runs as her defense committed four errors.
The Pine Forest junior varsity (3-1) suffered its first loss, 5-4, earlier in the day.