Update: Tropical Storm Erika Moving Toward Florida
August 27, 2015
The latest on Tropical Storm Erika is in the graphic above from the National Hurricane Center.
Rain Moves Back Into Forecast
August 27, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Atmore Man Indicted For Murder Of His Brother
August 27, 2015
An Atmore man has been indicted for the May murder of his brother despite a stand your ground claim.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted James “Jamie” Tolin Scott on one count of reckless murder for the shooting death of Tony Tolin Scott. Tony Scott was shot to death with a small caliber rifle at James Scott’s home on Jefferson Avenue in McCullough, a small community north of Atmore.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office had responded multiple times to the home prior to the shooting due to fights between the brothers.
James Scott remains in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $250,000.
Jeb Bush Brings Campaign Message To Pensacola
August 27, 2015
Former two-term Florida Gov. Jeb Bush brought his presidential campaign message to Pensacola Wednesday. The Republican touted his experience as governor who can get things done in a crisis.
Bush spoke in a crowded room that held about 400 people at the Pensacola Bay Center. The crowd included many students, including a group from West Florida High School.
Pictured top: Northview High School student Mitchell Singleton with Jeb Bush Wednesday afternoon in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Bush addresses the crowd. Pictured below: Tyler Stilleto asks Bush a question during the town hall style meeting. Photos by Mitchell Singleton, Kim Stefansson and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Expect Delays Tonight Along Several Miles Of Highway 29
August 27, 2015
Drivers can expect delays tonight on a portion of Highway 29 — from Ten Mile Road north to Muscogee Road — as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the operation from 8 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday will require slow moving vehicles as reflective pavement markers are placed.
State Board Of Education To Ask For Record Funding
August 27, 2015
The State Board of Education decided Wednesday to once again ask lawmakers for record per-student funding for public schools — with the lion’s share of the increase coming from local taxpayers.
Board members unanimously approved a budget request of nearly $20.2 billion for the main funding formula for public elementary and secondary schools in the fiscal year that begins next July 1. That would set a new benchmark for total funding, up from this year’s $19.7 billion, as well as marking the highest per-student amount in state history.
“Last year, you’ll remember that Gov. Scott and the Legislature provided historic levels of funding for education, and we are hopeful that for the (coming) year, the governor and the Legislature will make education a top priority once again by providing historic funding levels,” Education Commissioner Pam Stewart told the board.
In a June special legislative session, lawmakers rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s call to increase per-student funding in the current budget year to more than the high-water mark of $7,126, which came in the 2007-08 school year. This year’s decision, made as the House and Senate tried to plug a hole in the health-care budget, deprived Scott of a victory on a campaign promise he had made during his successful re-election bid in 2014.
The proposal approved Wednesday by the board would boost spending to $7,209.39 per student, an increase of $104.33, or 1.47 percent, over the current year.
However, only $50 million of the $475.9 million hike in funding would come from the state. The other $425.9 million would come from local property taxes that make up a key part of the formula for education spending. That approach has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who equate it to a tax increase.
Defenders of the formula point out that the local tax dollars go up because the value of property is rising, not because the actual tax rate is being increased.
The board’s proposal still has several stages to go through before a final number on per-student spending is set. Scott is expected to announce his budget proposal in December, and lawmakers will begin their regular session in January. A final state spending plan will likely be approved in March.
At least one board member held out the possibility that the increase could grow by the time lawmakers are done.
“I hope that percentage increases,” said board member Michael Olenick.
Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who chairs the Senate’s education budget subcommittee, said it is too early to tell whether it’s likely that the Legislature will approve a record amount.
“I hope it is (likely),” he said.
But Gaetz, a former district superintendent, also said he believes “Tallahassee politicians and school board members need to be careful about patting themselves on the back” for funding increases that largely come from local taxpayers.
At their Wednesday meeting, the state board also approved a list of legislative priorities for the 2016 session. Included were measures that would make it easier for high-performing charter schools to open new campuses, allow students in low-performing schools to receive enrollment preferences at charter schools and overhaul the Department of Education’s process for investigating teachers accused of misconduct.
Among other things, the latter bill would put more teachers on the board that investigates alleged wrongdoing and would allow the education agency to get access to the findings of child-protective investigations by the Department of Children and Families.
Meet The Chiefs Tonight At Northview High
August 27, 2015
Northview High School will hold “Meet The Chiefs” Thursday at 7 p.m. Fans will have a chance to meet the football players and cheerleaders ahead of the regular season.
A meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. for parents of football players.
The Chiefs will be one the road Friday night at 7:00 against Crestview.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Carl “Doug” Martin
August 27, 2015
Mr. Carl “Doug” Martin, 64, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mr. Martin was a native and lifelong resident of Bratt. Mr. Martin was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a hardworker who loved gardening and fishing. His nine month old granddaughter was light of his life. He was of the Baptist faith. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Nettie Martin; three brothers, Robert, Shirley and Barnard Ray Martin; and one sister, Lilly Goldman.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Sharon Bailey Martin of Bratt; one on, Adam Martin of Bratt; one daughter, Audra Martin of Bratt; one brother, Carol (Joy) Martin of Atmore; one sister, Shelby (Jake) Hatcher of Atmore; and one grandchild, Layla Martin.
Graveside services were held Thursday, August 27, 2015, at the Godwin Cemetery with Rev. Henry Wilson officiating.
Pallbearers were Benjamin Martin, Michael Chavers, Andrew Redden, Tommy Redden, Blake Young and Jacob Bailey.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Annie Mae Laird Lawson
August 27, 2015
Annie Mae Laird Lawson of Century, joined our Savior on August 26, 2015. She was 91 and passed from natural causes.
Mrs. Lawson was born in Potwin, KS on July 4, 1924. She was raised in Moultrie, GA where she graduated and married Lester Lawson April 22, 1941. They resided in Tallahassee until 1969 when they relocated to Pensacola. She was a patient and supportive teacher at both Beggs Vocational School and Ferry Pass Middle School. She retired in 1984.
Mrs. Lawson was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Lester Lawson;and son, Lewis Floyd “Bucky” Lawson.
She is survived by her four remaining children, Judith Mantell (Charles) of Brentwood, CA, Betty (James) Hodges of Lloyd, FL, John William Lawson (Rhonda) of Cantonment and Sharon Waldron (James, deceased) of Century; 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Lawson will be buried in Moultrie, GA with graveside services at West View Cemetery on August 30, 2015, at 4 p.m.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wahoos Move Into First Place
August 27, 2015
Cody Reed held the Mississippi Braves to one run and struck out eight in six innings of work as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos won, 3-1, Wednesday night to move into first place in the second half of South Division play in the Southern League.
Wednesday night, Reed showed the 4,201 Blue Wahoos fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium what he’s made of. In the battle to make the playoffs, Reed retired nine Mississippi Braves in a row at one point.
On the road, Reed has a 3-0 record and 0.41 earned-run average. At home? Reed was 0-2, lasting just 7.2 innings with an 11.74 ERA.
Pensacola improved to 33-26 in the second half and sole possession of first place, while Mississippi fell to 32-26.
Reed said he knew he lacked his usual good stuff but wasn’t about to let the Braves have a big inning. He struggled early throwing 60 pitches over the first three innings.
“It wasn’t my sharpest day but I got through six innings,” said Reed, who came to Pensacola from the Kansas City organization in a trade for the Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto. “You just got to work through it. I love having that pressure of being the guy they give the ball to.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, who turns 60 Thursday, said Reed’s six innings was exactly what the Blue Wahoos needed Wednesday against Mississippi. Reed improved to 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA.
“I had more guys in turf shoes than cleats tonight,” he said. “I love (Reed’s) stuff. He has a plus fastball with a plus slider. He really competes. He was upset he gave up one run.”
Pensacola scored first in the fourth inning when left fielder Jesse Winker walked and scored on right fielder Juan Duran’s fielder choice to go up, 1-0.
The Blue Wahoos added another in the next inning when Kyle Skipworth hit a shot to right field that was dropped for an error. He scored on Winker’s ground out to the first baseman for a 2-0 Pensacola lead.
But back-to-back doubles by Mississippi’s Keven Ahrens and Rio Ruiz brought the Braves within one run at, 2-1.
Pensacola, though, added an insurance run in the eighth inning to go up, 3-1, when shortstop Alex Blandino hit a rocket to centerfield for a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Marquez Smith.
Kelly said he’s glad to be in the hunt for a playoff spot with 11 games left in the season. The latest Pensacola has had sole possession of first place was July 22, 2012 in its first season.
“If you had told me in April or May that we would be here I would have told you that you were crazy,” Kelly said. “This is great. It’s nice being here at this point. We just gotta keep going.”