Study: Floridians Support Mandatory Spanish Classes In Public Schools
July 9, 2015
Two-thirds of Floridians support requiring Spanish language instruction in Florida public schools, according to a new University of Florida survey.
“Overall reactions to the notion that Spanish should be a required subject in public schools was far less polarized and more popular than we imagined,” said Chris McCarty, director of the University of Florida Survey Research Center at the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, which conducted the survey. “As immigration and the Hispanic vote will be front and center in the 2016 presidential election and Florida a swing state, we can expect this to be a topic of discussion.”
The questionnaire was designed to gather opinions about requiring Spanish instruction without focusing explicitly on that subject. The questions asked by professional telephone interviewers included five topics of instruction, with emphasis on requirement: “The next questions are about REQUIRED classes in Florida public schools. For each class, please tell me if you think it should be REQUIRED.”
The highest support was for basic computer skills, with 95 percent saying “agree” or “strongly agree.” Next was “a second language of student’s choice” with 81 percent agreement, followed by Florida history (77 percent) and geometry (75 percent).
The magnitude of support for requiring Spanish (67 percent) is important because a constitutional amendment requiring Spanish instruction would need 60 percent of voters. However, the survey did not ask about funding, which may pose a barrier to implementation.
Mike “Country” Wilson
July 9, 2015
Mr. Mike “Country” Wilson, 64, passed away on Monday, July 6, 2015, in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Mr. Wilson was a native and lifelong resident of Brewton. Mr. Wilson was of the Christian faith. His sister, Denise Wilson, precedes him in death.
Survivors include one son, Cole (Hollie) Wilson of Mobile; one daughter, Tina Guerrero of Bentonville, AR; one sister, Linda Beasley of Brewton; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, July 9, 2015, at 10 a.m. at the Byrneville Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating.
Burial will follow at the Byrneville Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Clay Smith, Chad Smith, Brady Levins, Todd Levins, Jody Levins and Dale Levins.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Francis Louise Taylor
July 9, 2015
Francis Louise Taylor passed away Monday, July 6, 2015. She was born on October 22, 1922, in Bay Minette, AL, to loving parents, Bosso McKinley Wilson and Maggie Zell Gates Wilson.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Ernest Jackson Taylor, Sr.; sons, Ernest “Jack” Taylor and Stephen Alan Taylor; daughter, Ann Taylor Pate; and brother, Arthur McKinley Wilson.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda (David) Knouse and Brenda Diane (Patrick) Maloney; sisters, Lorine Weaver and Flora Kearley; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Our mother and grandmother was a sweet soft-spoken woman who was the heart and soul of our family. She always made each of us feel loved and special. We will miss her everyday of our lives until we are reunited again.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Mike Mashburn officiating.
Burial will follow in Clopton Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. prior to services.
The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Covenant Hospice for the loving care they gave to our precious mother and the support and comfort they so graciously provided during this difficult time.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Not A Good Neighbor: Man Charged With Shooting Into State Farm Office
July 8, 2015
An Atmore man has been charged with firing a weapon into a local State Farm insurance company office.
Jerry Herman Reed, 66, was arrested Tuesday on charges of criminal mischief and shooting into an unoccupied building, both felonies.
Employees of State Farm on Church Street in Atmore arrived for work the morning of June 30 and discovered that it appeared someone had a fire a weapon at the front of the building. Atmore Police determined a small weapon was fired at the building, leaving behind holes in both front glass windows and a glass door. The building was unoccupied at the time of the shooting.
Atmore Police said their investigation led to the arrest of Reed. The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and the Atmore Police Department took Reed into custody without incident. He is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Jay Woman Claims $50K Scratch Off Lottery Prize
July 8, 2015
Ashton Edwards, 21, of Jay, claimed a top prize in the $50,000 GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off game at the Florida Lottery District Office in Pensacola, where she purchased her winning ticket.
Edwards visited the Pensacola lottery office with her mother, who was claiming a $1,000 prize, when she decided to purchase a ticket of her own. Edwards was shaking when she approached the counter to claim her prize and said she was very excited to use the winnings to take her daughter shopping for her birthday, according to Florida Lottery officials
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Votes To Permanently Replace Confederate Flag
July 8, 2015
No version of the Confederate flag will fly over Escambia County buildings, following a unanimous vote Tuesday night by the Escambia County commission. It will be replaced with the state flag of Florida permanently.
The county was following a resolution that called for the county to mirror the five-flag displays as flown by the city of Pensacola. So the county followed when Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward ordered the Confederate flag replace by the State of Florida flag on June 25. But commissioner decided to act on their own and not be bound by any future flag decisions of the city.
Scores of residents — most against flying the Confederate flag — addressed the commission for over two hours Tuesday night.
Any display of the five-flags at county owned buildings, such as the Pensacola Bay Center, will now consist of the America, Florida, British, Spanish and French flags.
Grand Finale – Century Votes After The Show To Pay For Fireworks
July 8, 2015
The show’s not over until it’s over – or until the bill is paid.
Last Friday night, the towns of Century and Flomaton presented their annual fireworks show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton — a highly successful event, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall. But a check of council minutes from this year found that the Century Town Council never formally approved funds for their share of the bill for the fireworks show.
Now, the council has officially voted to rectify the mistake and to pay $2,500 for their half of the show.
Flomaton and Century split the bill each year for the event, and they alternate hosting the show. The 2016 Century-Flomaton Fireworks Show will be at Century’s Showalter Park.
For a photo gallery from the Century-Flomaton Fireworks Show, click here.
Pictured: Last Friday night’s Century-Flomaton fireworks show in at Flomaton’s Hurricane Park. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Voter Registration Event Today In Century
July 8, 2015
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office will hold a voter registration drive today in Century.
The event will be held Wednesday from 1 until 3 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. Florida residents can register to vote or, if already registered, make sure the elections office has their most current information on file.
Florida residents attending the event should bring their Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card or the last four digits of their social security number.
For more information, call (850) 595-3900.
Horse Rescue Group Needs Foster ‘Parents’, Financial Help
July 8, 2015
A local horse rescue groups is turning to the public with an urgent need for foster homes and financial donations.
Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment needs experienced horse owners to take any one of their special needs facility horses. The PER facility is full and seeking foster homes to make room for a rescue horse. “Jumper” needs to return to the PER facility for treatment, but they are full after taking in six rescue horses during the month of June, according to PER board member Georgia Brazzell.
Under PER policy, no barbed wire is permitted where horses will be fostered and full shelter must be provided. Financial donations are also needed to assist with veterinary care if six rescue horses.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, Panhandle Equine Rescue was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
For more information on Panhandle Equine Rescue and how to donate to the organization contact Diane Lowery at rlowery@panhandle.rr.com or visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org to print a foster application.
Bergosh Prefiles For Escambia Commission
July 8, 2015
Three-term Escambia County School Board member Jeffrey Bergosh pre-filed Tuesday as a Republican for Escambia County Commission, District 1 in the 2016 Election.
Bergosh was first elected to the Escambia County School Board District 1 in 2006.