Thomas, Other School Superintendents Push For New Florida Testing Rules
February 4, 2015
Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas joined eight of his counterparts to meet with Governor Rick Scott and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart last week in Tallahassee to share their concerns about challenges the districts are facing linked to this year’s state tests.
The Superintendents presented five recommendations:
- Support the administration of the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) this year and use the results as a baseline for measuring progress. The State’s accountability system relies on both learning gains as well as performance. In the first year of FSA administration, there will be no learning gains and therefore will compromise its ability to drive accountability.
- Freeze school grades through 2015-2016 to ensure two consecutive years of reliable and valid data.
- Eliminate the requirement for the 11th grade English and Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment (ELA FSA) and all new End of Course Exams (EOC’s).
- Allow for the determination of teacher evaluations based on local data.
- Ensure adequate technology readiness for the statewide computer-based testing.
“The state of Florida is over testing our students and it is too soon to use the new Florida Standards Assessment as an accountability tool,” said Thomas. “The state needs to use common sense and not use an assessment system that has so many unknown aspects in a way that could hurt our students, our teachers, or our schools.”
Thomas was joined by Santa Rosa County Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, as well as Superintendents Kurt Browning, Alberto Carvalho, MaryEllen Elia, Mike Grego, Barbara Jenkins, Joe Joyner, and John Ruis.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said that the Superintendents’ meeting with the governor was a step along the road to change. The real effort has to come on the legislative side of our state government.
“Parents and teachers who share our concerns should contact their State legislators and ask them to join us in asking for assessment decisions based on common sense,” Thomas concluded.
Northview Opens District Tourney With Win Over Freeport (With Gallery)
February 4, 2015
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport Tuesday night 57-41 in the first round of the Class 1A District 3 basketball tournament.
Stats from the game were not immediately available due to a late finish. The game began almost two hours late when referees from the Tri-State Officials Association failed to show; they were replaced by officials from the Emerald Coast Association.
The Chiefs will advance to take on Holmes County Friday night at 6:00 with the district championship game set for Saturday at 7:00.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Wind Ensemble To Perform Thursday At Troy State
February 4, 2015
The Tate High School Wind Ensemble will perform as one of just four guest bands at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands on the campus of Troy University at 6:15 p.m. Thursday.
The ensemble was selected from a pool of applicants from across the Southeast. The Tate High School Wind Ensemble is encouraging friends, family and supporters to join them for the performance.
Sheriffs Say No To Senator’s Pot Proposal
February 4, 2015
After helping defeat a November ballot measure that would have legalized medical marijuana, Florida’s sheriffs said Tuesday they also object to a Republican lawmaker’s attempt to make pot available to patients.
The Florida Sheriffs Association, meeting at Amelia Island, voted to oppose a bill (SB 528) filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would allow medical marijuana and set up a detailed regulatory structure involving patients, doctors, growers and retail stores.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who is the association’s legislative chairman, said Brandes’ proposal included “loose language” that the sheriffs worried could allow “de facto recreational use” of marijuana.
Among other things, Gualtieri said the sheriffs oppose any medical marijuana that could be smoked by patients. Cannabis can also be used in other ways, such as in oils.
“You don’t smoke medicine,” Gualtieri told reporters.
Brandes filed his bill last week, less than three months after voters narrowly turned down a proposed constitutional amendment that would have legalized medical marijuana. The sheriffs association and other opponents argued, in part, that the ballot measure included loopholes that would have made marijuana available to people who did not have debilitating medical conditions.
With the annual legislative session starting March 3, it is too early to know whether Brandes’ bill has a chance of passing — or what the effect of the sheriffs’ opposition might be. Brandes’ proposal would need approval from three committees before reaching the Senate floor, and a companion measure has not been filed in the House.
“It is critically important that we thoroughly vet any proposal related to medical cannabis, and I am confident that this legislation will be carefully reviewed through the legislative process,” Brandes said last week in a statement issued after he filed the bill. “Many groups have been working on this initiative for quite some time and my goal is to work openly with all of the interested parties on this issue so that we can pass responsible legislation that provides relief to those Floridians in need.”
If lawmakers do not approve a legalization bill, backers of the 2014 ballot measure have vowed to bring back another proposed constitutional amendment in 2016.
Under Brandes’ bill, patients who suffer from cancer, HIV, AIDS, epilepsy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or Parkinson’s disease could qualify to receive medical marijuana if they receive certification from their doctors. Also, patients could qualify if they have conditions that lead them to chronically suffer from symptoms such as wasting syndrome, severe and persistent pain, severe and persistent nausea, persistent seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms, according to the bill.
St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, president of the sheriffs association, said he likes parts of the bill, such as a provision that would give county commissions control about issues such as whether to allow medical-marijuana retail stores and where the stores could be located. Shoar and Gualtieri also expressed compassion for patients with serious conditions who might be helped by cannabis.
But the association issued a lengthy list of “core legislative principles” that included stances such as opposing medical marijuana that can be smoked. Also, the principles said medical marijuana should be limited to people who have cancer, epilepsy, HIV, AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. Also, exceptions could be made for people who are terminally ill.
“A patient must not receive medical marijuana for general ‘pain’ because pain is not a disease,” one of the principles said. “Pain is one of five vital signs assessed by a medical professional, which also includes temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Thomas A Mickunas
February 4, 2015
Thomas A. Mickunas of Cantonment, formerly of Akron, OH and Independence, MO, passed away on January 31, 2015, at his home. He was retired from the U.S. Navy Reserves as a LtCdr. in which he served as a helicopter pilot, and was retired from Hartford Insurance. For the last 16 years he has volunteered at the National Museum of Naval Aviation and he volunteered for 14 years with AARP.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony T. and Josephine (Connelly) Mickunas.
He is survived by his wife, Gary Mickunas; son, Christopher; daughter-in-law, Ann; granddaughter, Gemma; son, Keith; and siblings, Danny, Terry, Judy, Timmy, Kevin and Rita.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church at noon on February 5, 2015, with the Funeral Mass at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy Early McArthur
February 4, 2015
Jimmy Earl McArthur passed away on January 31, 2015, at the age of 71. Jimmy was born January 7, 1944, in Pensacola.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard D. McArthur and Rettie M. McArthur; and two brothers, Curtis and Raymond McArthur.
Jimmy leaves behind two brothers, John P. McArthur and Carl J. McArthur (Catherine); a sister, Sophia Ann Lehrfeld (Skip) of Riverton, Utah; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Jimmy was special young man, friendly, affectionate, loving, and a hard worker. We know that Jimmy is happy in his Heavenly home and had a joyful reunion with his loved ones on the other side.
Visitation will be at held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2015.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9490 Fox Run Rd., with Bishop Jacob Smith officiating.
Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL.
Pallbearers will be Dean McArthur, Brent McArthur, Trenton McArthur, Mark McArthur, Bud Jennings, and Tom Walked.
The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care by the staff and workers at Arcadia Health Center where Jimmy resided.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Navy Federal Warns Members Of ATM Fraud
February 4, 2015
Navy Federal Credit Union has identified the source that led to some member seeing fraudulent charges on their accounts.
The credit union said in a statement that n December 20 and January 10 an ATM skimmer was placed on the Navy Federal ATM located on Dogwood Drive in Milton. As a result, some members have experienced fraudulent debit card withdrawals or attempted withdrawals from their accounts via non-Navy Federal ATMs in the Jacksonville area.
Navy Federal is currently working with those members who have reported fraud on their account. They are encouraing any members who used the Milton ATM, or think they may have experienced fraudulent activity on their account, to contact us them at 1-888-842-6328, or visit a local branch. Navy Federal’s “zero liability” policy ensures that members are not responsible for unauthorized purchases or transactions made on Navy Federal debit or credit cards.
ATM skimmers and any ensuing fraudulent activity should not be mistaken for “hacking.” No member accounts, nor any Navy Federal information security systems have been hacked.
Gustavo Lara Recio
February 4, 2015
Gustavo Lara Recio, 93, passed away Friday, January 23, 2015, in Pensacola. He was a retired farmer born in Mexico on January 15, 1922, to the late Gustavo Lara and Aurora Recio Perales.
Survivors include three sons, Gustavo (Gloria) Lara and Aaron (Berta) Lara all of Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico; Jose’ (Elizabeth) of San Antonio, TX; four daughters, Hilda (Melvin) Hiebert
of Walnut Hill; Irma Lara of Angie, LA, Maria Isabel Lara of Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico and Karina (Craig) Graham of Angie, LA.
Services were held Sunday, January 25, 2015, at the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church with Bro. Carlos Koehn and Bro. Ben Giesbrecht officiating.
Interment will be in Mexico.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Century Hires Brace To Coordinate Disaster, Emergency Training
February 4, 2015
The Town of Century has contracted with the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) to help them be reading the event of a public emergency.
The work by BRACE will be funding by just over $11,000 in grant money provided by a federal grant through the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
BRACE will help develop and implement Citizens Corps and Community Emergency Response TEAM (CERT) programs.
The Citizen Corps mission is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.
The Community Emergency Response Team program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
BRACE has previously coorindated such efforts in Century. But now the implementation was required this year to beopen for public proposals. BRACE was the only company or indidual to submite a bid proposal.
Charles Richardson, Jr.
February 4, 2015
Charles Richardson, Jr., 88, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 2, 2015, surrounded by his loved ones. Charles was born on March 10, 1926, in Ariton, Alabama. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother to all his family.
He honorably served his country during World War II in the European Theater.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Florence McCrory Richardson; his father, Charlie Oscar Richardson; his mother, Emma Clifford Trawick Richardson; sister, Minnie Lee Richardson; his brothers, Jesse Clarence Richardson, William Dean Richardson, Henry Lewis Richardson, Travis Trawick Richardson, Charles Mathis Richardson, and Jim Jeff Richardson.
Charles is survived by his daughter, Donna Kay Laird; son, Charles Eric Richardson; grandchildren, Matthew Laird, Cole Laird, Chase Richardson, and Amber Richardson; great grandson, Cadem Laird; brother James Esker Richardson (Burnell); sister, Mavis Clifford Jenkins; sister-in-law, Willene Floyd; brother-in-law, Farrell McCrory (Peggy); several nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015, at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Sister Hazel Godwin officiating.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Laird, Cole Laird, Chase Richardson, Greg Eliason, Greg Helms, and Joe Kittrell.
A special thank you to the staff at Select Specialty Hospital for all the wonderful care they showed at this time of need.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.