Minor Injuries In Deputy-Involved Wreck In Ensley
September 26, 2014
There were no serious injuries in a traffic crash involving an Escambia County deputy Thursday morning in Ensley.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 24-year old Justin Lee Harris of Pensacola was in the median of Highway 29 at Hannah Street when he pulled his 2005 Chrysler 300 directly into the path of Deputy Darren James Robinson, 39, was was northbound on Highway 29.
Harris and Robinson were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Three passengers in Harris’ vehicle were not injured.
Photos by Andrew McKay, NewsRadio 1620 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1A Chiefs Stepping Up For 6A Challenger Choctaw Tonight
September 26, 2014
The Northview Chiefs will step up to a big challenge Friday night as the 1A Chiefs step up to take on the Class 6A Choctaw Indians on the road.
“They have a really, really good football team regardless of class,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said of the Indians during an afternoon practice this week. “I think the kids are looking forward to it. I know it’s going to be a challenge, but we welcome those from time to time. We are excited about it; it’s going to be a big atmosphere over there.”
The Chiefs at 3-0 are coming off a bye week, while the Indians are 3-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of the powerhouse Niceville Eagles 42-20.
Wheatley said his Chiefs are ready, and they have a plan.
“They’ve got some running backs that are really good; they are tough to tackle. We are going to have to be really tough tacklers on defense this week,” he said. “We are going to have to establish a running game and try to keep the ball away from them.”
After their 6A battle tonight, the Chiefs will celebrate homecoming on October 3 for their first 1-1A district game of the of year again the Jay Royals (1-2).
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs practice this week for the 6A challenge at Choctaw Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Approves New Budget Without Tax Increase
September 26, 2014
The Escambia County Commission has approved a $385 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, up $20 million from the current fiscal year. The increase, officials said, comes from increased property values, and there won’t be an increase in millage rates.
The budget included $750,000 to hire 15 new deputies requested by Sheriff David Morgan, and 3-per cent cost of living raise for all county employees.
Photos: Ernest Ward Eagles Host The SF Toros
September 26, 2014
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles hosted the Spanish Fort (AL) Toros Thursday night in Walnut Hill. The Toros topped the Eagles 42-20.
Ernest Ward will host Jay Tuesday evening at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
DJJ Challenged Over Ending Contract With Controversial Provider In Santa Rosa County
September 26, 2014
A company that operates residential facilities for juvenile offenders has challenged a decision by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to terminate a contract in Santa Rosa County and prevent the firm from bidding on other contracts.
The challenge, filed by Youth Services International, Inc., was sent this week to the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
Youth Services has had contracts to operate nine juvenile facilities in Florida, including the Santa Rosa Substance Abuse Treatment Center. But in an August 20 letter, the Department of Juvenile Justice terminated the Santa Rosa contract and prevented Youth Services from seeking other contracts for 12 months, saying the firm had not taken adequate steps at the Santa Rosa facility to “provide a safe and secure therapeutic environment for our youth.”
But in the legal challenge, Youth Services disputes the department’s position. In part, the company pointed to department decisions to transfer juveniles to the Santa Rosa facility from another facility in Madison County that was closed after “significant disruptions.”
It said several of the youths transferred from the Madison facility caused problems and were involved in an August 16 incident that involved destroying property and altercations between residents.
“YSI (Youth Services International) appropriately handled the events by intervening between the participants and calling law enforcement,” the company said in the legal challenge. “After reviewing the video tapes, law enforcement arrested eight of the individual youth involved.”
by The News Service of Florida
Partly Sunny Today; Rain Likely For The Weekend
September 26, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 82. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
State Board Looks To Boost Per-Student Education Funding
September 26, 2014
The Florida Board of Education on Monday is expected to consider a proposed 2015-16 legislative budget request that would mirror Gov. Rick Scott’s pledge to increase per-student funding to the highest level in state history, according to board documents posted online.
The budget request, which is a first step in a process that will end with lawmakers approving a spending plan next spring, calls for the public-school funding formula to include $7,176 per student, the same number Scott proposed last month.
Scott is using the pledge in his re-election campaign against Democratic candidate Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor. The $7,176 amount would top a previous high of $7,126 achieved while Crist was in office.
Among other issues in the proposed budget request, the Department of Education would not seek a tuition increase at state colleges. Scott also has made a priority of holding down tuition. The Board of Education will meet Monday in Tampa.
by The News Service of Florida
Researchers Identify Two Boys Who Died At Old Dozer Reform School
September 26, 2014
University of South Florida researchers on Thursday announced the identification of two sets of remains found at the site of a former Northwest Florida reform school.
The decades-old remains were of Thomas Varnadoe, who died at age 13, and Earl Wilson, who died at 12. They were the second and third children whose remains were identified after being recovered from graves at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in the Jackson County town of Marianna.
University researchers began exhumations last year after questions arose about whether boys suffered abuse and died at the school, with their bodies buried in unmarked graves.
“There is closure for three families,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said. “I suspect there will be closure for many more in the near future.”
In January, the researchers announced they had exhumed 55 sets of remains from the school grounds. Last month, they announced they had identified the remains of George Owen Smith, who went to Dozier at age 14 in 1940 and was never seen by his family again.
Nelson credited Varnadoe’s nephew, Glen Varnadoe of Polk County, for filing a lawsuit to prevent the state from selling the now-closed school site until researchers from the university could search the grounds.
The state hopes to sell the 1,400-acre Dozier site eventually, a move that has been put on hold by the investigation. In September 2013, Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet gave the research team a one-year window to search the site for more unaccounted-for bodies.
“I am overwhelmed that we have achieved the goal we originally set of removing him from a place of atrocity-laden soils,” Varnadoe said of his uncle.
Thomas Varnadoe was sent to Dozier in September 1934 and died 34 days after being admitted, according to information from the university. His death certificate said the youth died of pneumonia. Ultimately, researchers matched the DNA of Thomas Varnadoe and his brother, Richard.
Wilson was admitted to Dozier in August 1944 and later was moved with eight other students to a cottage known as the “sweat box,” the university said in information released Thursday. Court documents indicated Wilson was killed by four of the students and that the cause of death was listed as blunt trauma to the head.
The university said researchers found Wilson’s grave in an area of the Dozier site where marked crosses had been ceremoniously placed during the 1990s. The university said the crosses did not accurately reflect the location of grave shafts or the number of bodies buried in the vicinity.
Wilson’s DNA was matched with DNA collected from his sister, Cherry Wilson of Lakeland. She and three other relatives also participated in a press conference Thursday in Tampa.
Also on hand was state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, to whom Varnadoe had turned for help.
“I couldn’t believe that was something that could happen in this state,” Stargel said.
The researchers are still trying to locate family members to help identify other sets of remains.
“There are still a lot of mysteries out there,” Nelson said. “The investigation, really, has just begun.”
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Freeport Volleyball Sweeps NHS
September 26, 2014
The Freeport Bulldogs swept straight games from the Northview Chiefs Thursday in Bratt.
Junior Varsity
20-25, 17-25. Freeport wins
Varsity
15-25, 23-25, 16-25 Freeport wins
The Lady Chiefs will host Pensacola Christian Academy Monday. The junior varsity takes the court at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.
Photos by Kayleen Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
McDavid Vehicle Fire Shuts Down Highway 29
September 25, 2014
A vehicle fire temporarily shut down Highway 29 in McDavid Thursday morning. There were no injuries reported. The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.