Northview Congratulates Escambia Teacher Of The Year Anna Barry
March 3, 2015
Northview High School welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry back to work Tuesday morning. Teachers, staff and faculty held a small reception for Barry prior to the start of school.
Barry was named Escambia County Teacher of the Year last Thursday night, just a few hours before she departed on a school field trip to Orlando. Tuesday was her first day back in the classroom after returning late Monday night.
Barry is the first county teacher of the year from Northview. She is now in the running for Florida’s teacher of the year award.
Pictured top: A sign welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry to Northview High School Tuesday morning. Pictured inset: Barry (left) and Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Revenue Bonds To Be Issued To Cover Gas Leak Repair Under Highway 29
March 3, 2015
The Century Town Council Monday night authorized the issuance of up to nearly $700,000 in revenue bonds to secure financing for a now-completed project to repair a gas leak under Highway 29.
The project, financed by USDA Rural Development, will likely come in with a bottom line cost closer to $400,000, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, which means all of the bonds may not be issued.
It has been about four years since the leaking section of pipe was publicly revealed as a “major public safety issue”. The project included large pipes bored under Highway 29 that will connect a new 4-inch pipe on west side of Highway 29 with a new 2-inch pipe to be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install individual service lines under the road to service natural gas customers. Pipes were installed where existing easements exist or were obtained at no cost, otherwise, it was installed under existing sidewalks.
R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee worked to install the new natural gas lines along the right-of-way of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) from about McCurdy Lane to West Highway 4 near the courthouse. Town employees then completed the addition of individual taps and service lines.
Pictured: Gas line replacement work along North Century Boulevard at West Highway 4. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Showers And 75 Today
March 3, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Wednesday Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Wednesday Night Cooler. Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening…then chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Thursday Much cooler. Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain in the morning…then slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Near steady temperature around 50. Chance of rain 50 percent.
- Thursday Night Colder. Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
- Friday Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 50s.
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the upper 30s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
- Saturday Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Highs around 60. Chance of rain 20 percent.
- Saturday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
- Sunday Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
- Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
- Monday Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Cantonment Man Claims $57K Lottery Prize
March 3, 2015
A Cantonment man has claimed a $57,384.10 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week in Cantonment.
Charles T. Harris of Cantonment purchased the ticket for the February 26 drawing at CMP Food Mart. . Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Aventura, West Palm Beach and Parrish.
The 354 tickets matching four numbers won $104.50 each. Another 10,610 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 103,236 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Winning numbers in the February 26 drawing were 7-11-15-18-35.
Schools Experience State Testing Problems; Escambia Suspends Tuesday Tests
March 3, 2015
Students in Escambia County and across the state had problems logging on to the state’s new online-testing platform, raising questions about the testing system as lawmakers consider an overhaul.
Education groups and media reports said students had problems taking the new Florida Standards Assessments in a variety of districts, including Escambia, while other schools or districts had fewer problems. At Northview High School, for instance, all students scheduled for testing on Monday were able to complete their assessments.
Due to the problems at the state level, Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Escambia County was suspending all computer-based state testing for Tuesday, with a plan to resume testing on Wednesday.
State Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said his organization sent a survey to districts about 9 a.m. Monday. By about 3 p.m., 30 had responded, with more than 20 reporting problems.
“Maybe the other 37 have had a perfect day. I doubt it,” Montford said.
Joanne McCall, vice president of the Florida Education Association, said reports of problems were coming from “all over,” but the union didn’t yet know exactly how widespread they were.
“This is our biggest fear coming true,” McCall said. ” … For us, it’s a false start for students.”
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education said Commissioner Pam Stewart was working on the problem.
“While many students across our state are testing successfully, we have heard from some districts that are experiencing difficulties,” spokeswoman Meghan Collins wrote in an email Monday afternoon. “This is a 90-minute test; students have a two-week window, plus a makeup window, to complete the test. Commissioner Stewart is looking into any reported issues to determine the cause and will work to immediately resolve it.”
But Montford said that’s not good enough. He said students were prepared to take the test Monday, and districts made preparations to administer the exams.
“This is a high-stakes assessment with the future of these students riding on it,” said Montford, a former Leon County superintendent.
The snafus came as the Legislature is considering whether to overhaul the state’s testing plan, which some parents and educators argue has become too overbearing.
Critics of the tests say the early problems simply back up their arguments.
“Today’s fiasco once again demonstrates that Florida testing policy is being driven by politicians and ideologues, not educators,” said Bob Schaeffer, a Florida resident and public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, an organization critical of high-stakes testing. “Florida schools and the children they serve need a pause in testing insanity and a thorough overhaul of the state’s assessment system. Enough is enough.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
A Century That Lasts Forever — Town Slogan Winner Awarded
March 3, 2015
Century Mayor Freddie McCall presented a personal $50 check Monday night to the winner of the town’s recent slogan contest. Josie Leonard of Milton, a Northview High School graduate, submitted the winning “A Century that lasts forever” slogan. Pictured top: Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Josie Leonard and her husband Caleb Leonard. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Curious about the other slogans submitted in the contest? Click here for an earlier story.
Northview Beats Escambia County
March 3, 2015
Northview 11, Escambia County High 1
Northview 4, Escambia County 1 (JV)
The undefeated Northview Chiefs beat the Blue Devils of Escambia County High School of Atmore 11-1 Monday night in Bratt. The Chiefs took a commanding 5-1 lead in the first inning. In junior varsity action, the Chiefs also beat ECHS, 4-1. On Tuesday, the Northview Chiefs will travel to Jay for a varsity district game at 6:30, following a junior varsity game at 4:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge
Extension Service Offering Beekeeping In The Panhandle Short Course
March 3, 2015
The UF/IFAS Extension Panhandle Agriculture Team is offering a beekeeping short- curse in March. These classes will be offered via interactive video at extension offices across the Panhandle.
Classes will be taught by Jamie Ellis, Ph.D., and other state and nationally recognized experts from the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection.
Classes are Mondays from 6-8 p.m. with a Saturday morning bee yard field day 9 a.m. to noon. Each presentation will be followed by an interactive question & answer period.
- March 9: Honey Bee Biology, Anatomy, & Hive Structure
- March 16: Bee Nutrition and Bee Botany (Identification of Nectar Plants)
- March 21: Bee-Yard Field-Day – A hands on learning opportunity!
- March 23: Important Pest and Diseases – Identification and Management
Registration for all four classes is $20 per person, or $30 for a family. This fee covers course materials and refreshments. To register, call (850) 475-5230 in Escambia County, or (850) 623-3868 in Santa Rosa County.
Escambia County classes will be held at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, while Santa Rosa County classes will be held at 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton.
Prison Boss: ‘Free Passage’ For Guards Who Speak To Lawmakers
March 3, 2015
Corrections officers called to testify before state lawmakers won’t face retaliation, Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones assured senators Monday. Jones told members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee that anyone who addresses the committee “will have free passage.” Jones added that the agency has started to hold meetings at the different prisons to address safety equipment, staffing and other concerns.
Committee Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker, said a number of corrections officers he’s talked to have said they would testify before the committee if subpoenaed. However, Evers said those people “are afraid of retaliation” if they publicly discuss concerns about issues such as staffing levels, shift hours, the lack of proper uniforms or below-grade equipment.
“They all stepped up and said, ‘Absolutely, here’s what is going on, here’s what’s happening, but this is what will happen, because then I will be looked at as if I’m snitching on somebody,’ ” Evers said.
Last month, Jones told a House panel that a staff directive barring inspectors from disclosing information about investigations was necessary to shut down gossip and protect investigators. Jones’ appearance before the House committee came after six whistleblowers sued the Department of Corrections over a “gag order.”
The agency has been getting hit from all sides. Among other things, it faces investigations into inmate deaths, allegations of cover-ups, complaints about low staffing levels and questions about health care provided to prisoners. A proposal to create new penalties for guards who abuse prisoners and establish a new commission to oversee the prison system goes before the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday. The proposal previously received support from the Criminal Justice Committee.
by The News Service of Florida
Lady Jags Beat Catholic
March 3, 2015
The West Florida Lady Jaguars beat Catholic 11-1 Monday night, coming off 2-1 loss to Walton Friday night.
For photos from both games, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.