District 5 Commissioner Barry To Hold Walnut Hill Town Hall Monday Night
September 12, 2014
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a joint town hall meeting and Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at the Walnut Hill (Ruritan) Community Center at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Six Department Of Corrections Staff Arrested And Fired
September 12, 2014
Six Florida Department of Corrections employees have been arrested and fired for alleged wrongdoings at a Panhandle facility.
The DOC announced Thursday that five members of its staff, Sergeant William Finch, Sergeant James Perkins, Sergeant Robert Miller, Sergeant Christopher Christmas, and Sergeant Dalton Riley, were arrested by the Office of Inspector General for charges of felony battery on an inmate, and a sixth staff member, Captain James Kirkland, was arrested with additional charges of official misconduct.
The staff worked at Northwest Florida Reception Center in Chipley. All six have been dismissed from DOC as a result of their actions.
“These arrests and terminations send a very clear message: we have zero tolerance for criminal activity by our staff. I expect everyone to do what is right and I have restated my commitment to hold those who do not to meet our expectations accountable for their wrongdoing. Our staff should be held to the highest standards, and those who fail to do the right thing will no longer work for this agency. As I have emphasized to our staff in my meetings around the state, we will not let the bad actions of a few undermine our culture of professionalism and tarnish the reputations of all the hard working men and women in our department,” DOC Secretary Mike Crews said.
Crews Crews and Deputy Secretary Tim Cannon met today with the command staff at Northwest Florida Reception Center as part of Crews’ commitment to personally visit every Department of Corrections institution to emphasize his expectations for transparency, accountability and professionalism.
Reimagine Century Event Offers Free Clothes, Food And More Saturday
September 12, 2014
After months of planning, a huge event where everything is absolutely free will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in Century at Showalter Park, just off Hecker Road and Highway 29.
The one-day community outreach event known as “Reimagine Century: will offer local families in need from Century and surrounding areas the opportunity to stock up on free clothing, tons of free food, free resources and much more…with absolutely everything at the vent free. There will also be free medical screenings, free toys, free laundry detergent, a chance for numerous children to win a free bicycle, and free activities including live music and children’s events.
Saturday’s Reimagine event is supported by a $25,000 grant from State Farm Neighborhood Assist, a youth-led philanthropic program that empowers individuals of all ages to identify the issues they feel are the most important to their communities. Reimagine Pensacola, sponsored by Doers of the Word Ministry in Escambia County,will receive their check during a special presentation at noon
“It is awesome to have an organization like State Farm offer communities the opportunity to meet a real need,” said Linda English, director of Doers of the Word Ministry. “Our goal is to connect families in need with the community resources and tools that can help them break the cycle of poverty, all the while offering a day of hope and fun. An event like Reimagine provides the church community, business community, and community agencies to combine efforts to be a part of a venue that is safe, fun, and shows a particular impoverished area that there are those who care and want the best for each one who attends.”
Reimagine Century is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured bottom inset: Linda English.
Senator: Make Florida Students Pass Financial Literacy Class To Graduate
September 12, 2014
A Port Orange senator has announced that she will introduce legislation during the 2015 session that would require Florida students to take a half-credit course in financial literacy.
The proposal by Sen. Dorothy Hukill is intended to help students better manage their money and, if signed into law, would become a graduation requirement.
“Requiring a personal finance course will prepare our high school students heading to college or entering the work force with the tools and insight they need to be well-equipped to handle their personal finances,’” Hukill said in a press release. A similar effort in the 2014 session failed to advance beyond the Education Committee, where it received approval on a 6-3 vote.
by The News Service of Florida
Century Camp Fire Youth Learning Center Kids Observe 9/11
September 12, 2014
The children of the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center took the time to gather around their American flag to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “God Bless America” Thursday in observance of 9/11. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Football: Wins For Tate JV, Ernest Ward Middle
September 12, 2014
The JV Tate Aggies and the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles both recorded wins on the road Thursday night.
The junior varsity Tate Aggies beat Escambia 22-20 in a come back win at Emmitt Smith Field. The JV Aggies (2-1) will host Pine Forest September 25.
In middle school action, Ernest Ward beat the Bay Minette Middle School Tigers 38-20 in Bay Minette. Ernest Ward will be on the road again Tuesday against the Hurricanes of Flomaton. The Eagles will play their first home game on Thursday, September 25 at 6 p.m. as they host Spanish Fort.
NAS Pensacola Marks 9/11
September 11, 2014
Naval Air Station Pensacola held a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum Thursday to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Captain Keith Hoskins was the guest speaker for the event, which included the traditional “Two-Bell Ceremony” and the playing of “Taps” performed by the NASP Honor Guard.
Photos courtesy NASP, Mike O’Conner, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Damaged Shed Near AL/FL State Line
September 11, 2014
A grass and brush fire also damaged a shed Thursday afternoon in Flomaton. The fire was reported about 12:30 p.m. on Highland Avenue near Alabama Street, just north of the Alabama/Florida line. There were no injuries and no immediate word on the cause of the blaze.The Flomaton Fire Department, the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue and Escambia County (FL) EMS were among the responding agencies. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Teens Seriously Injured When Car, ATV Collide In Cantonment
September 11, 2014
Two teenagers were serious injured when they drove their ATV in to path of a car Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Marjorie Martin, age 79 of Cantonment, was southbound on Jacks Branch Road about 4:45 p.m. The Yamaha ATV, driven by a 14-year old male with a 14-year old female passenger, failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Annie Bell Drive and Jacks Branch Road. The ATV traveled directly into the path of the Saturn.
The 14-year old male was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight in serious condition, while the 14-year old female was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital, also in serious condition. Their names were not released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Martin was not injured in the crash.
Charges in the accident are pending, according to the FHP.
Reader submitted photos (inset, below) and courtesy WEAR 3 (top) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Into The Flames: Firefighters Undergo Live Fire Training
September 11, 2014
Firefighters from several area departments have received live fire training this week in the Alabama Fire College’s burn trailer at the Flomaton Fire Department. Firefighters had a chance to experience live fire in a controlled environment, practice search and rescue and safely experience a flashover effect.
Participating fire department included Flomaton, Pineview, Jay, Century and McDavid. Additional departments will undergo the training Thursday nigtt.
Pictured top: A firefighter prepares to enter a training fire Wednesday night. Pictured: Firefighters outside the Alabama Fire College’s live burn trailer. Photos by Katie Fowler for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
