Northview FFA Names New Officer Team
May 12, 2015
Monday, the Northview High School FFA announced officers for the 2015-2016 school year. They are:
President- Haylee Weaver
Vice President- Mitchell Singleton
2nd Vice President- Bethany Reynolds
Secretary- Courtney Weekley
Treasurer- Tamara Barrows
Reporter- Kaitlyn Kleinatland
Sentinel- Tabitha Chavers
Chaplain- Cody Kite
Historian- Donnie Dixon
Photographer- Breanna Campbell
Public Relations- Emma Fennell
The Northview High School FFA has been continuously honored at top chapter in Florida and the nation.
Pictured top: : On behalf of the Northview FFA, Haylee Weaver (right) and Bethany Reynolds (center) receive the Three Star Chapter award on live national television during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, last October. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Museum Renamed In Honor Of Lillian King
May 12, 2015
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum in Molino was officially dedicated Monday afternoon as the “Lillian F. King Museum”. The museum was renamed in the honor of Lil King, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Molino Community Complex — housing the museum, the Molino Branch of the West Florida Public Library, multiple meeting rooms, and an auditorium — in the former Molino Elementary School.
“It was tough losing her,” King’s husband John said during the dedication. “This was her dream, to save this building.
Lil King also established the Molino Mid-County Historical Society in 1999, of which she served as president from the museum’s inception in 2013 until her passing in February 2015 at the age of 73.
Pictured top: (L-R) Lillian King’s son Ted King, husband John King and son David King listen as Commissioner Steven Barry reads the plaque now on display at the museum in the Molino Community Complex. Pictured below: Friends, family and county officials celebrate the renaming of the museum as the Lillian F. King Museum. Pictured bottom: A few of the displays in the museum. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Face May 22 Deadline On Online Voter Registration , Guns And Growlers
May 12, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott faces a May 22 deadline for deciding whether to approve a bill that would lead to online-voter registration in Florida.
The bill (SB 228), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, was approved despite opposition from Secretary of State Ken Detzner. It is one of 68 bills that the Senate sent to Scott last week, triggering a May 22 deadline for the governor to sign, veto or allow the bills to become law without his signature, according to a list on the governor’s office website. Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux issued a statement Monday calling on Scott to sign the online-registration bill, pointing to bipartisan support that it received in the Legislature.
“Online voter registration is a no-brainer: It saves the state money, has universal support from supervisors of elections, and is more secure than paper forms,” Arceneaux said. “Both parties in the Legislature recognized that expanding voter participation is good for our democracy. We need to seize this opportunity.” Scott also faces the May 22 deadline on issues such as a bill (SB 186) that would allow 64-ounce beer “growlers” in Florida; a bill (SB 290) that would allow more people to carry concealed weapons during emergency evacuations; and a bill (SB 7078) that would make changes in the state’s child-welfare system.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Hits The Road For First Ever State Series
May 12, 2015
The Northview High School Chiefs loaded up and hit the road Monday afternoon for their first-ever in school history trip to the state final four.
The Chiefs will take on Blountstown at 3 p.m. (Bratt local time) Wednesday in the 1A state semi-final game at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. With a win, the Chiefs will advance to the state championship game at 7:35 p.m. Thursday.
The players are staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 4350 Executive Circle, which is now sold out. Other lodging and special rates for fans can be found by clicking here.
Live video from Wednesday’s game (and the following 1A semi-final game between Hamilton County and Williston) will air on the NFHS Network. For a FHSAA.org special access rate of $9.95 for one month, click here.
Live video from Thursday’s championship game will air on the Bright House Sports Network. Click here to purchase a one-day pass for $6.95.
Also, for periodic live score updates and bonus photos, like NorthEscambia.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @northescambia.
The Northview Chiefs baseball team hit the road Monday afternoon for the state tournament in Fort Myers. They received a send-off from the practicing football team (most students were already dismissed and off campus at the time). NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Drills For Hurricane Season
May 12, 2015
The hurricane scenario was ominous — a storm packing 140 mph winds with gusts to 170 was projected to make landfall within 72 hours somewhere between Gulf Breeze and Mary Esther. Gulf Power employees then went to work during their 2015 storm drill on Monday, making plans for this storm — or any storm that approaches Northwest Florida.
When a tropical system approaches Northwest Florida, Gulf Power’s 1,400 employees are ready for action — a coordinated force committed to restoring power — and hope.
To ensure employees are ready, every year team leaders participate in a storm drill to help employees find ways to continually improve storm restoration response. Monday’s storm drill was staged in the utility’s new Douglas McCrary Training & Storm Center.
“We prepare year-round for storm restoration,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “And our crews are among the best in the nation to restore electricity, safely and quickly. This drill enhances our employees’ awareness and sharpens our skills.”
Each year, the utility follows a detailed plan to rebuild the electrical system following a hurricane and works closely with county Emergency Management personnel. Every Gulf Power employee has a storm assignment and if needed, the company is prepared to bring in thousands of outside utility workers to help.
Planning is also important for Gulf Power’s 436,000 customers. Gulf Power’s storm center website offers comprehensive preparation and safety information, as well as general storm tips and directions on how to report outages. The storm center can be accessed at MyGulfPower.com.
Pictured: Gulf Power Company’s hurricane drill on Monday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Moves Into Forecast
May 12, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Wahoos Snap Three-Game Win Streak With Loss To Jacksonville
May 12, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (11-20) are at an early disadvantage in the race for the Golden Skillet as they dropped the first game of the series against Jacksonville (14-16) 5-4 . The defeat also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Wahoos, their longest of the season.
Pensacola starter Keyvius Sampson (1-1) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Jacksonville starter Austin Brice (1-3) earned his first win of the season in 5.0 innings while giving up two runs, two hits and six walks. Sean Donatello earned the save for the Suns, his ninth of the season.
Beau Amaral and Kyle Waldrop each added two hits and an RBI, with Amaral hitting his first home run of the season in the ninth. Ryan Wright made an impact at the plate for the Blue Wahoos, reaching safely on four of his five plate appearances with a hit and three walks to go along with a stolen base. Ray Chang extended his hit streak to eight games on a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
The Wahoos got things started with a run in the top of the first. Second baseman Ryan Wright was able to score from second on an infield single from outfielder Kyle Waldrop as the Wahoos managed a pair of hits and a walk in the inning.
The Suns struck back in the bottom half, first with a ground-rule double from Matt Juengel with runners on first and second. The RBI double left runners at second and third, which allowed Viosergy Rosa to drive in another run on a groundout to give Jacksonville a 2-1 lead.
Jacksonville’s Kenny Wilson opened the bottom of the third with a stand-up triple to the right field corner, but Sampson was able to fan three consecutive batters to leave him stranded.
Rosa was able to add to the Jacksonville lead with a solo shot to right to make the score 3-1 in the fourth. The Suns looked to inflict further damage after a pair of singles to put runners at the corners with nobody out, but Sampson was able to strand both of them with two groundouts and a strikeout.
In the fifth, a pair of walks and a wild pitch put Wright and outfielder Beau Amaral at second and third, respectively. First baseman Marquez Smith was able to send Amaral home on a sac-fly to center, bringing the Wahoos within a run.
Zack Cox sent the second solo shot of the game for Jacksonville to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, his third home run of the season.
The Wahoos managed a pair of singles from Kyle Waldrop and catcher Kyle Skipworth, putting runners at the corners with one out in the top of the eighth. Waldrop was able to reach home on a sacrifice fly from infielder Juan Perez to bring the Wahoos back within a run at 4-3.
The Suns pushed their lead back to two on a pair of doubles from David Adams and Sharif Othman, with Othman’s resulting in an RBI.
Amaral made things interesting with a solo home run to right field in the top of the ninth to make it 5-4, but a fielder’s choice and a fly-out to center ended the game.
Scott Names Hospital Panel Without Hospital Executives
May 12, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday appointed nine people — none of them hospital executives, and only one of whom appears to have significant medical experience — to a commission meant to examine the economics of health care and hospitals in Florida.
The appointments to Scott’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding came as industry officials are still digesting the governor’s call to have hospitals share profits like Major League Baseball teams if federal officials decide not to extend a $2.2 billion program that helps pay for the care of uninsured patients.
The nine people named to the panel, which is aimed at making recommendations for a special legislative session scheduled to begin June 1, are Carlos Beruff, president of Medallion homes, who will be the chairman; former SunTrust Bank executive Tom Kuntz; retired Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl; attorney Marili Cancio Johnson; former Gadsden County Commissioner Eugene Lamb Jr.; Jason Rosenburg, a physician and former chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine; Ken Smith, owner of Integrated Beef Consultants; former Destin Mayor Sam Seevers; and Robert Spottswood, president and director of Spottswood Companies, which has interests that include real estate and hospitality.
Scott, a former hospital chief executive officer, put together the commission after lawmakers ended the 2015 legislative session without a budget due to a complicated stalemate over health-care funding.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department hasn’t ruled on the state’s application to extend the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program beyond a scheduled expiration date of June 30. The program mostly sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients. But the agency said last week that, at first blush, the state’s application “falls short of key principles” that federal officials will consider when weighing the program’s future.
Tony Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, said Monday that the members of the commission looked to be “very competent people” despite the lack of health-care executives.
“We are disappointed that there were no hospital CEOs or financial experts on the commission,” he said.
Lawmakers who had asked to serve on the commission were also turned aside by Scott’s decision.
Funding for LIP is part of a complex health-care logjam that has left legislative leaders unable to reach agreement on a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. Hoping to encourage federal officials to approve the state’s LIP proposal, the Senate offered a $2.8 billion initiative that would use Medicaid expansion funding to help low-income Floridians purchase private insurance.
But Scott and the House have fiercely opposed the expansion alternative, and the governor has sued the Obama administration in an effort to prevent federal officials from linking the LIP decision to Medicaid expansion.
The naming of the panel came after Scott on Friday proposed revenue sharing among Florida hospitals if LIP is not extended for another year.
“Your assistance in suggesting fair profit sharing to replace federal LIP funds at those institutions that rely on them most, like Shands Jacksonville, will be critical to keeping them up and running,” he wrote in a letter to the president of the Florida Hospital Association. “This would be similar to how large market baseball teams share revenues with small market baseball teams.”
Scott said he wanted the hospitals to submit three models by May 22, so that his Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding could consider them on May 26.
So far, industry groups have been cautious about the governor’s initiative.
“We received the letter and will be issuing a response to Governor Scott this week,” said Monica Corbett, a spokeswoman for the FHA.
The Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals has a conference call scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the suggestion.
Carvalho didn’t foreclose the possibility of some form of revenue sharing, but said the commission first needs to consider how much hospitals already contribute, including the hundreds of millions of dollars they pay in taxes.
“I think people will realize that hospitals are doing enormous amounts already,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
James Thomas “Tommy” Fears
May 12, 2015
James Thomas “Tommy” Fears, 63, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2015, in Atmore.
As a child Tommy attended Bethel Baptist Church in Flomaton. He was truly a musician at heart and marched to the beat of his own drum. Tommy loved the outdoors including fishing, hunting, camping and he had an unending love for Native American history and culture. He always said, “Being Native American was not just the color of your skin, it is a condition of the heart.”
He is survived by his daughter, Kayla Marie Fears of Atmore; son, James Daryl Fears of Pensacola; sister, Brenda (Donald) Sales of Century; brother, Charles (Betty) Fears of Monroeville; former wife of 20 years, Juanita Fears; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Friendship Holiness Church in Atmore.
Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home and Crematory in Daphne, AL.
Henry Eugene O’Farrell
May 12, 2015
Henry Eugene O’Farrell, 87 of Davisville, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015, in Pensacola. He was retired after 32 years as an instrument tech with Monsanto. He was born in Bratt on April 8, 1928, to the late John Henry and Lily Belle Wiggins O’Farrell. He served in the United States Army, and was a Korean War veteran. He was a lifetime member of the Oak Grove Church of Christ. He was also a member of the Walnut Hill Rutian Club and the Atmore VFW Post # 7016.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Esther McKinley O’Farrell; sisters, Estelle Hanks and Ethlene Gibson.
Survivors include one son, Kenneth G.( Dana) O’Farrell of Orange Beach, AL; two daughters, Cynthia O. Freeman of Walnut Hill and Barbara O. (Billy) Powell of LaPlace, LA; three brothers, Ellis (Julia Nell) O’Farrell of Bratt, Everette (Janice) O’Farrell of Oak Grove and Lamar (Joan) O’Farrell of Bratt; three sisters, Carolyn (Dalton) Morgan, Rita (Col. Charles) Lowery and Patricia O’Farrell, all of Bratt; four granddaughters, Kimberly O. Myers, Stephanie Rauch, Melanie Powell-St.John and Vickie Gage; one grandson, Nicholas O’Farrell; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brad Sullivan officiating.
Interment will follow in Godwin Cemetery with military honors.
Family will receive friends, Friday evening May 15, 2015, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.