Century Business Center To Host Chamber General Meeting
May 27, 2015
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a general membership meeting next week at the Century Business Center.
“We hope give everyone the opportunity to see the progress made to the Century Business Center and provide updates on the Century Business Challenge,” said Tiffany Barrows, chamber secretary. “We are excited to share the many projects that are underway in Century.”
The meeting will be held at noon Thursday, June 4 at the business center, located at 150 East Pond Street.
Bratt Elementary Presents Grade K-2 Awards
May 27, 2015
Bratt Elementary School presented the following awards Tuesday for grades K-2:
Honor Roll All A’s & B’s
- Bailey Blackwell
- Isaiah Boatwright
- Jaquorious Burt
- Jakyra Carter
- Camden Clarke
- Zakhel Clemmons
- Abigail Coker
- Callie Davis
- Payton Daw
- Trevor Dean
- Addy Eicher
- Alli Flowers
- Aliyah Fountain
- Shelby Greenwell
- Kailey Hawkins
- Keeli Knighten
- Kaitlin Lloyd
- Max Mason
- Adannaya Mondaca
- Carley Moore
- Kai Morton
- Brayden Smith
- Malia Smith
- Zakyla Smith
- Reece Starns
- Jeremy Thomas
- Jasmine Zisa
Academic Achievement All A’s
- Lauren Abbott
- Claire Amerson
- Desiray Bagwell
- Karissa Boatwright
- Jackson Bridges
- Daylan Brown
- Nevaeh Bush
- Luke Chavers
- Addison Classen
- Colton Criswell
- JaCee Dortch
- Noah Faulkner
- Jamison Gilman
- Talise Gregson
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Emily Jarvis
- Tristan Johnson
- Laura Laborde
- Colby Pugh
- Ally Richardson
- Maggie Scott
- Jackson Simmons
- Maggie Stewart
Progress Award
- Troy Ard
- Kylie Bailey
- Margaret Baker
- Montgomery Baker
- Gabby Burklund
- Madilynne Cardwell
- Morgan Hunter
- Deshawn Jackson
- Markavia Johnson
- Jotavia Jones
- Adrian McNeir
- Bryson Orso
- Sophia Rector
- Nehemiah Sanderson
- Treyton Schoonover
- Maggie Stewart
- Jeremy Thomas
- Alona Toney
- Haidyn Turverville
- Halona Walker
- Alexis White
- Jason Wiggins
Outstanding Attendance
- Lauren Abbott
- Austin Allen
- Claire Amerson
- Bailey Blackwell
- Jackson Bridges
- Nevaeh Bush
- Timya Bush
- Christian Caraway
- Luke Chavers
- Talaysha Curry
- Cate Greenwood
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Emily Jarvis
- Presley Johnson
- Keeli Knighten
- Emily Long
- Kaylee Long
- Max Mason
- Logan Parker
- Ally Richardson
- Makayla Sells
- Jeremy Thomas
Outstanding Citizenship
- Desiray Bagwell
- Luke Bryan
- Amara Campbell
- Christian Carayay
- Luke Chavers
- Zakhel Clemmons
- Colton Criswell
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Kaylee Long
- Keira McDuffie
- Ally Richardson
- Dakota Richardson
- Jackson Simmons
- Avery Stuckey
P.E. Award
- Jackson Bridges
- Jacobi Dougall
- Addy Eicher
- Aliyah Fountain
- Emily Jarvis
- Justin Kinley
- Kaylee Long
- Max Mason
- Mikayla McAnally
- Makayla Plato
- Ally Richardson
Music Award
- Amara Campbell
- Colton Criswell
- Markavia Johnson
- Presley Johnson
- Laura Laborde
- Adrian McNeir
- Aydin Odom
- MaKayla Plato
- Jackson Simmons
- Alexis White
- Jasmine Zisa
Art Award
- Luke Amerson
- Bailey Blackwell
- Isaiah Boatwright
- Michael Butler
- Amara Campbell
- Addison Classen
- Will Classen
- Jamison Gilman
- Lori Hall
- Leo Kelson
- Dakota Richardson
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely Again Today
May 27, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Monday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Senate Floats Revised Health Coverage Plan
May 27, 2015
Senate leaders floated a revised plan Tuesday in an effort to break the logjam over extending health insurance to hundreds of thousands of Floridians, but the proposal was swiftly rejected by House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott.
Senate President Andy Gardiner and his lieutenants touted the proposal for a Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange, or FHIX, program as a compromise — but within hours, no one else seemed to be willing to take the deal the upper chamber was offering.
Under the new version of the proposal, the Senate would skip an interim period in which the state would put people in Medicaid managed-care plans, a change aimed at addressing House criticism that FHIX is simply an expansion of oft-criticized Medicaid. The interim period was originally designed to provide coverage while the state waited to hear whether the federal government would approve using Medicaid-expansion funding to help lower-income Floridians purchase private health insurance.
The FHIX plan, which includes a work requirement for recipients, would require the state to get a waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The new Senate bill would also require any “significant changes” made to the waiver by federal officials to be approved by the Legislature before the plan takes effect.
The Senate made the proposal just days before Monday’s scheduled start of a special session to reach a budget agreement that eluded lawmakers during the spring regular session.
“There’s no agreement on any of this,” Gardiner, R-Orlando, conceded to reporters in a meeting Tuesday. “I think what we’re just trying to show here in the Senate is that we’re willing to have an open mind and put forward different ideas and suggestions, and then we’ll see what happens next week.”
Gardiner and his supporters have pitched FHIX as a way to make hospitals whole in light of the federal government’s decision to reduce a program known as the Low Income Pool from $2.2 billion this year to $1 billion in the next budget year, which begins July 1. The so-called “LIP” program sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients.
But Scott and House Republicans have repeatedly said they have no interest in using Medicaid expansion funds that come from the federal Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.”
“A budget that keeps Florida’s economy growing will cut taxes and give Floridians back more of the money they earn, not inevitably raise taxes in order to implement Obamacare and grow government,” Scott said in a statement issued by his office.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, also slammed the proposal. He reiterated a common House talking point: The work requirements that are part of the Senate plan and give it a more conservative sheen are unlikely to be approved by federal officials.
“When you remove the Senate’s ‘conservative guardrails’ that the Obama administration fundamentally opposes, all you are left with is a costly and inefficient entitlement program to serve able-bodied working age adults with no children,” Crisafulli said.
“I would say, let’s find out,” Gardiner said earlier, anticipating the criticism.
Meanwhile, the Scott administration seemed to offer its own solution to the plan, picking up on space provided by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In a letter last week saying the state could expect $1 billion in LIP funding, federal officials suggested the state could also use leftover local dollars that have flowed into the program as matching funds to draw down other Medicaid money. Those dollars would not be a part of LIP, but could help close the shortfall.
“Thank you again for all of your assistance and work to keep Florida’s Medicaid program whole,” wrote Justin Senior, the state’s Medicaid director. “Your guidance has been essential to ensuring that there is no major fiscal impact to Florida health-care providers who support the needs of low-income families in our state.”
Gardiner, though, said in a statement issued by his office that that approach would be “shortsighted,” in part because LIP is scheduled to fall again in the 2016-17 budget year.
Earlier, meeting with reporters, Gardiner said he was optimistic that the Legislature would fulfill its one constitutionally required duty of passing a budget. Asked whether he would allow a spending plan to go through even if FHIX failed, Gardiner responded: “I think we fully intend to pass a budget.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Dies Following Motorcycle Crash
May 27, 2015
An Escambia County man involved in motorcycle crash early Monday morning has passed away.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 39-year old Antonio Robinson died Tuesday from injures received in the crash at 3:18 a.m. Monday. Robinson was northbound on E Street near West Younge Street when he attempted to improperly pass a 2005 Saturn Vue driven by 34-year old Latisha Randall of Pensacola as she began a left turn.
Randall and her passenger were not injured. She was charged with driving as a habitual traffic offender.
Northview Presents Academic Awards For Grades 9-11
May 27, 2015
Northview High School recognized academic award winners in grades 9-11 Tuesday morning.
World History HAA: Jewel Garner
World History Exemplary: Mallory Gibson
World History Honors HAA: Alyssa Borelli
World History Honors Exemplary: David Weber
U.S. History HAA: Lawrence Douglas
U.S. History Exemplary: Ladarrius Thames
U.S. History Honors HAA: Madison Weber
U.S. History Honors Exemplary: Jason Perritt
Physical Science HAA: Kayla Galvan
Physical Science Exemplary: Rebecca Hawthorne
Physical Science Honors HAA: Sarah Perritt
Biology HAA: Victoria Amerson
Biology Exemplary: Brianna Smith
Biology Honors HAA: Alyssa Borelli
Environmental Science HAA: Trevor Lassiter
Environmental Science Exemplary: Tyler Houston
Earth Science HAA: Jordan Taylor
Chemistry Honors HAA: Madison Weber
Geometry HAA: Anna Belle Barberree
Geometry Exemplary: Alyssa Bell
Geometry Honors HAA: David Weber
Geometry Honors Exemplary: Triston Long
Math for College Readiness Exemplary: Jensyn Warner
Algebra II HAA: Alyssa Borelli
Algebra II Exemplary: Lawrence Douglas
Liberal Arts Math HAA: Brianna Weaden
Liberal Arts Math Exemplary: Elizabeth Sanders
9th Grade Reading HAA: Bria Hardy
9th Grade Reading Exemplary: Krystal Whitehead
Read 180 HAA: Jarrod Davidson
Read 180 Exemplary: Triyell Abraham
10th Grade Reading HAA: Rachael Irby
10th Grade Reading Exemplary: Brittanee Thomas
11th Grade Reading HAA: Hanna Ging
11th Grade Reading Exemplary: Roman Manning
Family and Consumer Science 9th Grade HAA: Anna Belle Barberree
Family and Consumer Science 9th Grade Exemplary: Lari McCann
Family and Consumer Science 10th Grade HAA: Rachael Irby
Family and Consumer Science 10th Grade Exemplary: Jada Tucker
Family and Consumer Science 11th Grade HAA: Jordan Helmken
Family and Consumer Science 11th Grade Exemplary: Jamilia Smiley-Knight
2D Art I Exemplary: Alyssa Borelli
2D Art II Exemplary: Natalie Barrow
3D Art Exemplary: Lillie Allen
Guitar I Exemplary: Kylie Brook
Guitar I Exemplary: Dustin Radcliff
Advanced Guitar Exemplary: Austin Adams
Advanced Guitar Exemplary: Logan Hendricks
Musical Theatre I Exemplary: Brianna Smith
Musical Theatre I Exemplary: Jordan Taylor
Advanced Musical Theatre Exemplary: Madison Weber
Advanced Musical Theatre Exemplary: Amber Freeman
Freshman Band: Triston Long
Sophomore Band: David Weber
Junior Band: Abbie Johnson
English I HAA: Bailey Spann
English I Exemplary: Natasha Walker
English I Honors HAA: Triston Long
English I Honors Exemplary: Sarah Perritt
English II HAA: Rachael Irby
English II Exemplary: Mallory Gibson
English II Honors HAA: Alyssa Borelli
English II Honors Exemplary: Hadley Woodfin
English III HAA: Sarah Dutton
English III Exemplary: Elizabeth Sanders
English III Honors HAA: Haylee Weaver
English III Honors Exemplary: Courtney Weekley
Spanish I HAA: Tara Windham
Spanish I Exemplary: Elisabeth Amerson
Spanish II HAA: David Weber
Spanish II Exemplary: Jada Tucker
NJROTC Leadership Award: Cadet Hunter Witt
NJROTC Academic Award: Cadet Triston Long
Ag 9th Grade Exemplary Award: John Dixon
Ag 10th Grade Exemplary Award: Mitchell Singleton
Ag 11th Grade HAA: Courtney Weekley
Ag 11th Grade Exemplary Award: Haylee Weaver
Physical Education 9th Grade Girl HAA: Hannah Nelson
Physical Education 9th Grade Boy HAA: Dawson Brown
Physical Education 9th Grade Girl Exemplary: Myisha Syria
Physical Education 9th Grade Boy Exemplary: Austin Ging
Physical Education 10th Grade Girl HAA: Peighton Dortch
Physical Education 10th Grade Girl Exemplary: Audriene Odom
Physical Education 11th Grade Girl HAA: Lillie Allen
Physical Education 11th Grade Boy HAA: Bradley Van Pelt
Physical Education 11th Grade Girl Exemplary: Hanna Ging
Accounting I HAA: Kayla Galvan
Accounting II HAA: Ethan Bomba
Introduction to Information Technology HAA: Triston Long
Introduction to Information Technology Exemplary: Anna Belle Barberree
Algebra II HAA: Alyssa Borelli
Algebra II Exemplary: Lawrence Douglas
Liberal Arts Math HAA: Brianna Weaden
Liberal Arts Math Exemplary: Elizabeth Sanders
(Awards list continues below photo)
ATMORE ROTARY ACADEMIC ALL-STARS
9th Grade
Elisabeth Claire Amerson
Anna Belle Barberree
Logan Daniel Calloway
Kayla Nicole Galvan
Bria Ashlynn Hardy
Bailee Brianna Hinote
Triston Parker Long
Hannah Mascaro
Hannah Grace Nelson
Sarah Elizabeth Perritt
Jacob Andrew White
Tara Faith Windham
10th Grade
Alyssa Brianna Borelli
Emily Michelle Heard
Rachel Nickole Irby
Adrian Daniel King
Brandon Edward Korinchak
Mitchel l James Singleton
Brianna Morgan Smith
Jada Mona Tucker
David Conrad Weber
Hadley Marie Woodfin
11th Grade
Lillie Kathryn Allen
Lawrence CW Douglas
Sarah Elizabeth Dutton
Leah Grace Fischer
Abbie Elizabeth Johnson
Trevor Dale Levins
Moriah Renee’ McGahan
Jason Andrew Perritt
Benjamin Tate Preston
Bethany Cheyenne Reynolds
Savanna Brianne Roux
Jordan Caroline Taylor
Harmoni Faith Till
Bradley Andrew Van Pelt
Brittney Christina Ward
Haylee Alease Weaver
Madison Paige Weber
Courtney Bryce Weekley
Pictured: Northview academic award winners — juniors (top), sophomores (center), and freshmen (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Amendment 1 Backers To Rally For Land Purchases
May 27, 2015
Environmentalists plan to hold rallies across Florida this weekend, again calling on lawmakers to boost the amount of money for land acquisition, Everglades restoration and natural-springs protection.
Supporters of the 2014 ballot initiative known as “Amendment 1″ have announced 10 locations — Bradenton, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Miami, Ocala, Orlando, Sarasota County, Stuart and Tampa — where they intend to hold rallies Saturday. That is two days before lawmakers start a special legislative session to negotiate a budget.
“Hopefully legislators will see that people care about how Amendment 1 dollars are spent,” Audubon Executive Director Eric Draper, a lobbyist on environmental issues, said in an email.
Land buying wasn’t a priority for Republican legislative leaders during this spring’s regular session, which ended abruptly last month with the House and Senate at an impasse on health-care issues.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, was among lawmakers noting that the Amendment 1 funding will be addressed during budget conference talks during the special session.
Draper will participate Wednesday in a media call with officials from the Everglades Trust and the Florida Oceanographic Society to discuss how the state could move forward in buying land south of Lake Okeechobee.
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted May 14 to terminate an option to purchase 46,800 acres in the Everglades from U.S. Sugar Corp.
Environmentalists had called the land vital in helping to reduce pollutants out of Lake Okeechobee and to bring more water through the Everglades.
Similar land-buying calls, which included a brief concert outside the Capitol in April featuring musician Jimmy Buffett, were attempted with little success during the regular session.
The voter-approved Amendment 1 is projected to generate more than $700 million during the upcoming next fiscal year for land and water conservation, about $200 million more than what lawmakers allocated for such uses in the current year.
The House and Senate have proposed using large chunks of the money to continue the daily operations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
As for land acquisition, during the regular session the House proposed selling $205 million in bonds for the Florida Forever program, with about half of the money going toward water resources, the state’s natural springs, Kissimmee River restoration, and ranchland preservation.
The Senate offered $37 million for land acquisition, which included Kissimmee River restoration and springs preservation.
While environmental sought more money for land-buying, they also have other concerns about the legislative proposals.
Janet Bowman of The Nature Conservancy had hoped for a higher base level of funding to manage existing lands in state hands.
“In evaluating Amendment 1 spending it is important to look at the specific functions funded with Amendment 1 money and whether the functions are integral to achieving the purposes set forth in the amendment,” Bowman said in an email. “For example, DEP can’t buy land under the Florida Forever program if it doesn’t have staff to process the land deals and manage the program. Similarly, increasing the amount of prescribed fire on conservation land requires additional equipment and personnel costs to accomplish.”
The House has pitched $18 million for water-management districts to manage land, while the Senate didn’t specify a similar proposal in its spending plan during the regular session. The House also offered a $25 million line item for the Rural and Family Land Protection Program, an item that the Senate didn’t include in its proposed budget.
Meanwhile, the Senate proposed $38.5 million to control invasive plants, with the House offering $24.8 million.
“The folks that voted for Amendment 1 expect new land and water resource protection beyond the status quo and the Florida Legislature still has the opportunity to meet this expectation in a number of ways — through increased funding above 2014 levels for land management, Rural and Family Lands and Florida Forever funding and springs protection,” Bowman said in the email.
Supporters of the 2014 constitutional amendment pitched it as a 20-year funding plan to replenish the Florida Forever program. Florida Forever, which uses bonds backed with revenue from the documentary stamps, authorizes lawmakers to spend up to $300 million a year for preservation.
The special session will start Monday and could last through June 20.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Rain Chances Continue
May 26, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Monday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
National Missing Children’s Day: Search Continues In North Escambia Case
May 26, 2015
A Tate High School student last seen over a dozen years ago in North Escambia was among those remembered Monday on National Missing Children’s Day.
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day in 1983 and the nation observes this day each year.
During 2014, Florida law enforcement agencies received 35,038 reports of missing children and FDLE’s Missing Persons and Offender Registration unit provided direct assistance in the recovery of 76 missing children last year.
Danielle Arion Bell, then 14, was last seen at a party in September 2001 in the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane, between Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment. Witnesses told authorities that Bell left a party with a man that was in his mid-twenties at the time. Escambia County deputies later questioned that man and searched his home, but he was never charged in connection with the case.
During the summer of 2007, Alfredo Gomez Sanchez, Jr. was charged with providing law enforcement with false information about his whereabouts at the time Bell disappeared. He was not implicated in her disappearance.
In October 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit served a search warrant at the home.
As part of that search warrant, a septic tank behind the residence was pumped out, and dogs from Escambia Search and Rescue were also used to search the area. Investigators said nothing was found, and they would not say what new information might have led to the search.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Danielle has a scar on her right forearm and blue eyes. She had brown hair at the time of her disappearance. Danielle, whose nickname was “Dani”, was a member of the Tate Aggies cheerleading squad. The popular teen enjoyed dancing and drawing.
Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
FDLE invites the public to sign up to receive Missing Child Alerts and AMBER Alerts via email or text message by visiting www.missingchildrenalert.com. To view photos of missing children, visit www.fdle.state.fl.us.
Pictured top: Investigators pumped and searched a septic tank at this home on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment in October 2010 in the case of missing teen Danielle Arion Bell. Pictured below: A search and rescue K-9 team was also on site. Pictured bottom: A septic tank company employee prepares to pump a septic tank at the home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Services Honors The Fallen (With Photo Gallery)
May 26, 2015
Over 100 people gathered in Atmore Monday morning for a Memorial Day service to recognize those that have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice from Atmore, Walnut Hill, Bratt and surrounding areas.
Members of American Legion Post 90 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7016 took part in a solemn ceremony, reading aloud the names of each deceased service member that appear on a spire-shaped monument. A bell was tolled in honor of those that served.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Among the latest names memorialized was LCpl Travis Nelson of Bratt, who was killed in a action in August 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
Pictured: A Memorial Day service Monday morning in Atmore, honoring those that served from Atmore and North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
