Algebra 1 EOC Offered Tuesday At Northview High School
July 18, 2014
The End of Course (EOC) Exam for Algebra 1 will be offered next Tuesday, July 22 at Northview High School.
Students who should attend should have received a letter or phone call to notify them about the test date.
The exam will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Students should report to the main office no later than 7:45 a.m. Parents can call Mr. Pippins or Mrs. Gruenwald with questions at (850) 327-6681 Monday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Scenic Highway Reopens
July 18, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) completed the reconstruction of Scenic Highway south of Scenic Highway Circle in Escambia County Thursday and has opened the road to traffic.
The $1.2 million repair project south of Scenic Highway Circle began May 14 and included the reconstruction of the road, installation of new drainage features and culverts, installation of guard rail and the construction of a retaining wall. Over 7,000 dump truck loads of dirt were used to reconstruct the roadway and shoulders.
Heavy rains and flooding in the area in April 2014 caused damage to Scenic Highway in several locations, resulting in a partial or total collapse of portions of the roadway.
Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures north of Scenic Highway Circle as crews continue to finish repairs.
Pictured top: Scenic Highway as seen Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Scenic Highway during the week of July 7. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Great Night, Showers Friday
July 17, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Friday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Sunday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Tuesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Wednesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Oak Grove Land Clearing Pit Permit Renewal On Hold
July 17, 2014
The renewal of land clearing disposal pit permit is on hold for a county-owned facility in Oak Grove, but for now it’s business as usual.
The 20 acre disposal area is on a 26 acre piece of property and operates as the Oak Grove Land Clearing Debris Disposal Pit next to the Oak Grove Convenience Center. The first permit for the facility was issued in 1996 and must be periodically renewed. The disposal pit is owned and operated by Escambia County for the purposes of county road and drainage maintenance activities.
The Escambia County Commission is considering a six-month moratorium and permitting or permit renewals for borrow pits, borrow pit reclamation facilities, construction and demolition debris facilities, and land clearing disposal facilities. A final decision on the temporary moratorium will come after public hearings set for commission meeting on July 24 and August 21.
The push for the moratorium has come from residents of the southern half of the county that live near several pits. Before approving the moratorium the commission approved an expansion of the existing Shortleaf borrow pit on Longleaf Drive, with Commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May voting against..
The current permit for the Oak Grove Land Clearing Debris Disposal Pit does not expire until July 9, 2015. The commission tolled, or essentially froze, the permit renewal, allowing the facility to continue to operate as normal until the moratorium issue is settled.
The moratorium has no impact on the adjacent Oak Grove Convenience Center at which area residents dump their own solid waste for transfer to the Perdido Landfill.
Atmore’s Tiger-Sul Expands With Employee Designed Rail Tank System
July 17, 2014
H.J. Baker’s Tiger-Sul Products in Atmore has developed and built a new molten sulphur unloading system which increases capacity on their dedicated rail spur.
The employee designed initiative built a molten sulphur unloading manifold system the length of the spur, which allows for increased capacity, increased safety and decreased service time of the rail cars. This, in addition to the recent installation of a 1,500 ton molten sulphur storage tank and heating pumping system dramatically increases the production efficiency of the Atmore facility.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in demand for our sulphur bentonite fertilizer products in the domestic southeast, especially Florida. As the sulphur market grows, we want to ensure we are able to meet current customer needs and that we are in the best possible position to meet the needs of our customers in the future. The added capacity on the rail spur is another example of our continued commitment to deliver outstanding products and superior customer service,” said H.J. Baker Fertilizer Group President Don Cherry.
Appeals Court; Convicted Felon Could Use ‘Stand Your Ground’
July 17, 2014
An appeals court Wednesday said a convicted felon could use the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law to seek immunity from prosecution in the shooting of another man.
The decision by the 4th District Court of Appeal came as the Florida Supreme Court prepares to consider whether felons — who are barred from possessing guns — can use “stand your ground.”
Wednesday’s decision, which was issued by the full appeals court, stemmed from a Palm Beach County case in which convicted felon Harvey Hill was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. Hill said he fired a gun in self-defense during an altercation with two other men on his front porch. One of the other men was shot in the stomach.
Part of the “stand your ground” law says that a person “who is not engaged in an unlawful activity” can use deadly force if attacked.
An earlier ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeal in the Hill case found that he was barred from using a “stand your ground” defense because he was engaged in an unlawful activity by possessing a gun as a convicted felon. But Wednesday’s decision by the full appeals court pointed to another part of the “stand your ground” law.
Under that part, the court said, “a defendant engaged in an unlawful activity is not necessarily disqualified from seeking self-defense immunity.” It sent the case back to a lower court to determine if Hill was justified in using deadly force under the law.
The Supreme Court early this month said it would consider the issue, which also has emerged in cases in other parts of the state.
by The News Service of Florida
List Of PSC Applicants To Be Whittled; Escambia’s Murzin Among The Hopefuls
July 17, 2014
A state panel will meet July 31 to decide which candidates to interview for two spots on the Florida Public Service Commission.
The terms of commissioners Eduardo Balbis and Julie Brown expire in January, which will lead to Gov. Rick Scott making appointments later this year. Brown is seeking another four-year term on the commission that regulates utilities, while Balbis did not re-apply.
The Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council, which makes recommendations to Scott, is considering a list of 32 applicants, including state Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, and former Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola. Murzin now works as an aide to state Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker.
The council will meet July 31 in Orlando to designate a list of the “most qualified” applicants that it will interview, according to a notice released Monday.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: Dave Murzin.
Fall Tryouts Set For West Florida Elite Softball
July 17, 2014
Fall tryouts are coming up soon for West Florida Elite softball.
West Florida Elite was established in 2003 with a mission to assist female athletes in the development of their softball skills to prepare them for a future as a college student athlete. The organization has had over 100 players play at the collegiate level and is recognized as one of the top softball organizations in the Gulf Coast Region.
Their goal is to provide athletes an opportunity to compete at the highest level possible by playing the most competitive tournaments throughout the southeast. The 2014 West Florida Elite class had 18 players sign a National Letter of Intent to play at the next level.
Tryouts for 12U and 14U will be held Saturday, July 26 at Tate High School. Tryouts for 10U, 16U and 18U will be held August 9 and 10 at Tate.
For more information and a registration form, click here.
Century Camp Fire Kids Get ‘Wild & Wise’
July 17, 2014
The Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center’s “Wild & Wise Day Camp” recently paid a visit to the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. The students were able to get up close and personal with several animals, including snakes. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos, Suns Rained Out
July 17, 2014
Due to heavy rain, and more expected on the way, the Blue Wahoos and Jacksonville Suns series opener at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville has been postponed. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader beginning at 5:35 p.m. Thursday night.
Both games will be seven inning contests with the second game beginning approximately 45 minutes after the completion of game one.
The Blue Wahoos are expected to go with RHP Daniel Corcino (8-7, 4.40) in game one and RHP Jon Moscot (5-8, 3.10) is expected to follow in game two. The Suns are going to start Major League rehabber RHP A.J. Ramos in game one followed by RHP Robert Morey (1-0, 2.79) in the second game. Ramos is only expected to pitch one inning and will be followed by Suns scheduled starter RHP Jay Rogers (4-2, 4.06).
by Tommy Thrall