Escambia Middle, High School Report Cards Delayed

June 11, 2014

Middle and high school reports cards in Escambia County have been delayed. According to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, the report cards won’t be mailed until the school district receives End of Course (EOC) grades in select subjects back from the state.

Finals grades can’t be calculated in classes with EOC exams — such as algebra, biology, geometry and U.S. history — until the standard tests scores are back from the state.

In the meantime, parents can check their student’s grades in other courses (and the EOC courses minus the exam grade) at the district’s parent portal. Click here to access.

Boy Run Over By Tractor

June 11, 2014

A boy is recovering today after being run over by a tractor Tuesday afternoon in Gonzalez.

The 11-year old was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert” following the accident in the 1800 block of Pauline Street, just north of the Gonzalez United Methodist Church.

Further details have not been released in the accident, which occurred about 12:20 p.m.

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

More Rain Forecast

June 11, 2014

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Wednesday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Tonight Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
  • Thursday Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
  • Thursday Night Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
  • Friday Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
  • Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
  • Saturday Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
  • Saturday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
  • Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
  • Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
  • Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
  • Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
  • Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Tubas For Tate: Eat Out Tonight, Help The Tate Band

June 11, 2014

Tonight is the Tate High School Showband of the South’s Spirit Night at Logan’s Roadhouse on Bayou  Boulevard.

With a ticket (click to print), Logan’s will donate up to 20 percent of pre-tax sales to the band from 4 p.m. until close. The funds will be used to purchase new tubas for the band.

The event will also take place next Wednesday, June 18 from 4 p.m. to close.

Tate supporters must have a ticket for the donation to occur….click here to print the ticket.

Escambia Sheriff’s Office ‘Camp Friendship’ Underway At Molino Park Elementary

June 11, 2014

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office  “Camp Friendship” is underway this week at Molino Park Elementary School. The free summer day camp for ages 6-14 features presentations by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit,  jail tour, sports, arts and crafts and much more. Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Scott, Crist Keep The Campaign Cash Flowing

June 11, 2014

The arms race continues between Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Crist, trying to win back the governor’s mansion as a Democrat after a mid-life political conversion, raised more than $2 million in cash in May for his campaign and a closely aligned political committee, newly filed records show.

Scott, trying to win a second term and keep Republicans in total control of state government, brought in about $1.16 million in cash for his campaign and the sister “Let’s Get to Work” committee. But the state Republican Party, which is expected to play a huge role in Scott’s campaign, said it collected $3.54 million during the month.

The money will help fuel what is expected to be an expensive — and nasty — race filled with negative ads. As a sign of what’s to come, the Let’s Get to Work committee reported spending about $3.1 million on advertising in May, after spending about $5.1 million on ads in April.

With updated finance reports due Tuesday, Scott’s campaign reported raising $1,116,038 in May, bringing the overall total to nearly $4.7 million. The campaign had also received about $1.5 million in in-kind contributions through May, with the state party covering expenses such as staff and consulting.

Let’s Get to Work reported raising an overall total of slightly less than $28.1 million through May, though it also has spent about $12.9 million. The committee has dramatically ratcheted back its fund-raising during the past two months, collecting $46,100 in May and $257,000 in April. But the significance of that drop-off remains to be seen, as, for example, harder-to-track money can flow through the state GOP.

Crist’s campaign reported raising $410,787 in cash in May, bringing its overall total to nearly $3.7 million. Also, the committee has collected a total of $836,310 in in-kind contributions. Meanwhile, the committee, known as “Charlie Crist for Florida,” collected $1,627,500 in cash during the month, bringing its total to $8,234,580, records show.

by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida

Robert Leslie Bartley

June 11, 2014

Mr. Robert Leslie Bartley, 82, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2014 in Atmore.

Mr. Bartley was a native of Walnut Hill, former resident of Pensacola and had resided in Christian Home since 1973. Mr. Bartley was a Korean War Veteran and an employee of American Linen. He is preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Mary B. Bartley of Christian Home; three sons, Robert W. Bartley of Atmore, Troy Randall Bartley and Ricky Lynn Bartley, both of Christian Home; one daughter, Lorene (Belle) Whitmore of Christian Home; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the Christian Home Cemetery with Rev. Kenny Johnson officiating.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.

Frank James Milstead

June 11, 2014

Frank James Milstead, 89, of Cantonment, passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Born of Creek Indian heritage in Uriah on November 8, 1924, to Jesse James and Almeda Woods Milstead, he spent most of his life in Cantonment. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and after discharge married Bessie Carolyn Silcox. They were married for 68 years. Frank was the last postmaster of the Muscogee post office and retired from Monsanto after 25 years.

He loved fishing, hunting, camping, enjoying nature, and spending time with family. He was a lifelong member of Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association.

Surviving are his wife, Carolyn; children, Janis (Rob) Rose, Cathy Hébert, Frank (Deborah) Milstead, II, Chandra (Art) Dehnz and Steve (Karen) Milstead; 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; sisters, Jessie Mae Fitch and Ruth Crutchfield; and many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents, five brothers, and two sisters.

A visitation will be held for family and friends at the family home at 4 p.m. Friday, June 13, with the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Faith Chapel North.

Interment will be at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your favorite charity.

J.W. Philyaw, Sr.

June 11, 2014

J.W. Philyaw, Sr. 52 of Repton, passed away Monday June 9, 2014, in Brewton. He was a truck driver, born in Atmore on July 2, 1961, to the late John Lee and Dorothy Capers Philyaw.

Survivors are one son, J.W. Philyaw, Jr; two daughters, Dorthy K. Philyaw and Rosa Darlin Philyaw all of Repton; two brothers, William (Every) Philyaw and James Philyaw both of Century; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Services will be Friday, June 13, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Janet Lee officiating.

Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Family will receive friends, Friday June 13, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.

Amendment 2 Opponents: ‘Don’t Let Florida Go To Pot’

June 11, 2014

Opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana launched the “Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot” campaign Tuesday, warning that passing the measure would lead to widespread abuse.

“It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association. “It’s wrought with loopholes. It’s very cleverly written so that there can be use and abuse.”

Judd and other members of the group said they want to educate voters about the dangers of the amendment, which they consider to be so loosely written that Floridians of all ages will be able to obtain marijuana if it passes in November.

“We are literally looking at an unleashing of a Wild, Wild West of potent marijuana products,” said Calvina Faye, executive director of Drug Free America.

A ballot summary that voters will see when they go to the polls says, in part, the medical use of marijuana would be allowed for people with “debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.” The more-detailed text of the amendment lists diseases such as cancer, glaucoma and HIV and also refers to “other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.”

Judd said that given the example of states that have legalized medical marijuana, such as California, the “other conditions” in the amendment could include sleeplessness, stress, cramps and pain from a sore back or broken arm.

“If you just look at the history of what we’ve gone through with pill mills, you can imagine that it would be the same type of doctors making those recommendations,” Faye said.

But Ben Pollara, campaign manager for United for Care, the group driving the amendment, said the anti-pot coalition’s arguments were misleading.

“This is about getting relief to really sick and suffering people,” Pollara said. “Our opponents look at the polls and see that Floridians probably support medical marijuana and are either split or opposed to the adult use of marijuana. And the way that they think they can win this campaign is by tricking people into believing this is about something other than what it really is, which is the medical use of marijuana.”

The constitutional amendment requires approval from 60 percent of voters to pass, and polling has been inconsistent. A Quinnipiac University poll released in early May showed that 88 percent of Florida voters support allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes.

But Sarah Bascom, spokeswoman for another anti-Amendment 2 effort, the “Vote No on 2 Campaign,” pointed to a poll out Tuesday that was conducted for The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. It showed that roughly 54 percent of Miami-Dade County voters supported the medical marijuana measure — not enough for it to pass in November. And that was in a heavily Democratic county.

“It’s completely at odds with what every poll has found on the topic in the last year and a half,” Pollara said of the Miami-Dade poll. “I don’t really think much of it.”

The polls are inconsistent because they’re changing, University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus said.

“I suspect some of them were fairly accurate at the time they were taken,” she said. “But you’ve got to put them in the time frame of when they were asked and what’s going on. … It makes a difference as to what kind of stories have been carried on television in what markets on the whole issue of marijuana in Colorado and groups coming out against it. The publicity, in other words, can really change people’s minds on this issue.”

MacManus said she thought the ballot measure could go either way.

A political committee that is helping fund opposition to the amendment raised $2.6 million in May, with $2.5 million coming from Republican super-donor and Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson. That committee, the Drug Free Florida Committee, had received $100,000 before May.

A spokesman for United for Care, the group backing the amendment, said it raised $195,359 in May, but details had not been posted on the state Division of Elections website late Tuesday afternoon.

by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida

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