Today: 41st Annual Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction
February 28, 2015
The 41st Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction is going on as of 9:30 this morning.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but also household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more. A $5 lot fee will be charged. Must be present to “no sale” items.
Settlement must be made the day of the sale; unknown buyers must have cash, cashier’s check, major credit card, or a letter of credit from their bank. Items must be removed within 24 hours.
Concessions will be available all day from the Ruritan Club. The is at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97 just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Pictured: Hundreds attended a previous Walnut Hill Ruritan Club farm equipment auction in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Gastrointestinal Infections On The Rise In Escambia County
February 28, 2015
An increased number of gastrointestinal infections have been reported in Escambia County, and the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County would like to remind the community of proper hygiene practices to prevent gastrointestinal illness.
Gastrointestinal infections can be highly contagious and are usually spread through person to person contact with an infected person, contact with contaminated surfaces, or contaminated food or drinking water. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low to high grade fever, and headache.
Most gastrointestinal infections can be prevented with proper hygiene practices, clean drinking water, and safe food preparation. The best way to avoid contracting or spreading these infections is to take the following precautions:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, handling diapers, and before preparing or eating food.
- Use proper hand washing practices by rubbing soapy water on hands and under fingernails for 15 to 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
- If you become ill, stay home. If your child becomes ill, keep him/her out of school or childcare until free from symptoms for 48 hours.
- If you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, do not prepare food for other people.
- Thoroughly disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
- Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated after an episode of diarrhea or vomiting.
- Cook foods properly and wash fruits and vegetables before serving. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for preparing meats, fish, vegetables, or fruits.
Treatment for gastrointestinal illness includes drinking plenty of clear fluids and getting rest. Dehydration may be a concern, especially among elderly adults and young children, so it is important to maintain proper fluid replacement. If you have severe symptoms, including bloody stool, vomiting that does not resolve, high fever, or signs of dehydration such as reduced urination, you should contact your doctor.
For more information about prevention of these infections through proper hand hygiene please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing. If you are concerned that you have a gastrointestinal infection, please contact your doctor.
Judge Orders State To Pay Sansom Legal Fees
February 28, 2015
A Leon County circuit court judge ruled Friday that state taxpayers will have to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees for the defense of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, who was cleared four years ago of charges that had already driven him from office.
The decision came on the same day that Sansom took the stand in a lawsuit about his legal fees — marking the first time he had ever testified in open court about the case that left the man who was briefly one of the most powerful figures in the state out of office and, for a time, unemployed. Sansom, who is currently a vice president at a charter-school management company, said he would defend the project at the center of the dispute “for the rest of my life.”
Judge Angela Dempsey found in favor of Sansom and his criminal defense lawyer, who argued that the state was required to pay Sansom’s legal bills under a common-law principle that public officials who successfully defend themselves against charges related to public duties are entitled to have legal costs covered.
“I think today completely solidifies the fact that I was completely acquitted. I was found completely not guilty,” Sansom told reporters outside the courtroom.
During the case, the state argued that the manner in which prosecutor Willie Meggs decided to drop the 2011 criminal charges, which concerned a 2007 budget item that was supposed to pay for an emergency operations center in Sansom’s Panhandle district, essentially amounted to a settlement of the case rather than a successful defense. Dempsey rejected that argument.
“Based on everything I heard and applying that to the case law that I’m required to follow, I’m going to find that what happened in this case was not any different than an acquittal,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey still has to decide how much in legal fees to award Sansom, and in turn his attorney Stephen Dobson, but it is certain to cost the state several hundred thousand dollars. The plaintiffs were seeking almost $1million dollars in legal fees and interest.
Meggs agreed to drop the criminal case in 2011 after being assured that Sansom and a political contributor, Jay Odom, would pay $206,000 to help reimburse the state for design costs of the project, which was never built. Sansom’s attorneys note that Odom actually paid the money and contend that Samson was not really a party to the agreement.
State lawyers argued that Sansom was included in the settlement and was expected to repay Odom for his half of the money — contracting claims that the former speaker was exonerated.
“There are zero cases in Florida supporting the proposition that a six-figure settlement is an exoneration,” Lisa Raleigh, a lawyer with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office, argued Friday.
But attorney Stephen Turner, who represented Sansom and Dobson, said the agreement with Odom was simply a “face-saving device” on the part of Meggs, who had just received what he has conceded was a devastating ruling in the case.
“It is plainly clear that he knew he had lost and he was trying to salvage something for the state,” Turner said.
During testimony Friday, the second day of the trial on the fee dispute, Sansom also gave his take on the emergency operations center that Meggs argued was really a thinly disguised effort to build a taxpayer-funded aircraft hangar for Odom. Sansom said the project arose in response to devastating storms that hit Destin in 1995.
The center was designed to withstand a powerful hurricane, Samson said, and could house emergency vehicles that were previously moved from the barrier island to a mainland facility before a storm. It would also serve as a locale for training first responders.
And Samson defended his decision to push for the inclusion of the project as House budget chairman in 2007.
“I will stand by this budget item for the rest of my life as being one of the best things that I’ve ever seen try to be done for my area,” he said.
Earlier, Dobson denied testimony by Meggs that Dobson had been involved in hammering out the deal that ended the case. He said Sansom specifically dismissed one version of the offer.
“I clearly communicated it to him, and he clearly rejected any offer to pay money or to waive his fees,” Dobson said.
After Dempsey’s decision, Sansom reiterated that he never agreed to anything.
“He lied about an agreement,” Sansom said of Meggs.
That brought a sharp rejoinder from Meggs.
“If Mr. Sansom wants to say I’m a liar … I would point out to you that I am still employed and he is not,” Meggs said. “And he resigned his position because of his conduct and I have not resigned my position because of my conduct.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Baseball Wins For NHS, Tate; Softball Win For Tate
February 28, 2015
Tate 7, Washington 5
Tate 9, Washington 3 (JV)
Tate 8, Washington 0 (9th)
The Tate Aggies swept three from Washington Friday. The Tate varsity beat Washington 7-5, the JV topped Washington 9-3, while the freshmen shut out Washington 8-0.
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Northview 12, Freeport 1
Northview 4, Freeport 0 (JV)
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport in a district game 12-1 at home in Bratt Friday night. The Chiefs (5-0, 2-0) were up 5-0 before rallying for seven in the fourth. The Chiefs will host the Atmore Blue Devils on Monday.
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SOFTBALL
Tate 3, Chiles 2
Tate 4, Mortimer Jordan 1
The Tate Aggies are on the road for four weekend games in Panama City. In the first game Friday night, the Lady Aggies beat Chiles 3-2. In their second game, ending just before midnight, the Lady Aggies beat Mortimer Jorday 4-1.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs earned a district win over Freeport Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Sawyer Smith Gets Offer From Mississippi State
February 28, 2015
Mississippi State has made an offer to Tate High School quarterback Sawyer Smith, the Tate Quarterback Club announced Friday. He also as an offer from Southern Mississippi. Penn State and BYI have also expressed interest in Smith.
Northview JV Softball Back On Again
February 27, 2015
The Northview High School Junior Varsity softball game against Freeport that was canceled because Freeport did not have enough players is back on again. Now the Northview versus Freeport JV softball game will be played a 4:00 in Bratt, followed by the varsity at 6:00.
Northview’s Anna Barry Named Escambia Teacher Of The Year
February 27, 2015
Anna Barry of Northview High School has been named the Escambia County Teacher of the Year.
“As a teacher, it’s great to see what you did really did impact students later in life,” Barry said. “Sometimes you have to get them to step outside their comfort zones, and in the end it can all be worth it when they succeed.”
Barry teaches world history and honors world history at Northview. Barry is a product of the Escambia County School systems, from kindergarten at Bratt Elementary School, to Ernest Ward Middle School through gradation from Northview in 2000.
“To give back to something that gave so much to me, words can’t express that,” she said while accepting the award.
Barry received a bachelor of science degree in health education and went on to become professionally certified in several areas. She has taught for 10 years — two years at Ernest Ward and eight years at Northview.
She was quick to thank her students and the entire Northview faculty, staff and leadership for the Teacher of the Year award. “This is an award for Northview. Northview High School is such an incredible place with incredible people.”
Other finalists were Krystal Gibson of Beulah Elementary School, Andrew Rehwinkle of Pensacola High School, Sheila Hall of N.B. Cook Elementary and Doreen Wells of Ensley Elementary School. The award was presented Thursday night at the Golden Apple Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.
Pictured top: Anna Barry of Northview High School was named Escambia County Teacher of the Year Thursday night. Pictured inset: Barry with Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. Pictured below: Barry’s parents Ben and Dottie Davis of Walnut Hill react to the Teacher of the Year announcement, as does Northview teacher James Moretz (background). Pictured bottom: Barry and fellow teacher of the years finalists (L-R) Krystal Gibson of Beulah Elementary School, Sheila Harrington Hall of N. B. Cook Elementary School, Andrew Rehwinkle of Pensacola High School, and Doreen Wells of Ensley Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local High Performing Schools Receive $3.3 Million In Bonus Money
February 27, 2015
High performing schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are receiving over $3.3 million in School Recognition Program funding. The financial awards are based on sustained or significantly improved student achievement.
Schools may use their award for faculty or staff bonuses, to purchase educational equipment or materials, or hire temporary staff to help maintain or improve student performance. How the money will be spent will be decided by the School Advisory Council at each awarded school.
Schools in Escambia County will receive $1,420,617, while schools in Santa Rosa County will receive $1,925,063.
Schools eligible for recognition awards include those receiving an “A” school grade, improving at least one letter grade from the previous year, or improving more than one letter grade and sustaining the improvement the following school year.
A list of local school receiving funding was not yet available.
Local Elementary School Custodian Arrested For Child Porn
February 27, 2015
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Pensacola Regional Operations Center Special Agents have arrested Samuel Dwain Yates, 43, of 4289 W. Avenida De Golf, Milton, Fla. on four counts of possession of child pornography. Yates is a custodian at the Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment.
Agents began investigating Yates after receiving a tip that an electronic device at his residence was downloading child pornography. Agents served a search warrant at Yates’ residence yesterday and gathered evidence that Yates was in possession of at least four images of child pornography. Agents seized several items of digital media for forensic analysis. This investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are expected.
Yates, a 10-year employee at Jim Allen Elementary, has been suspended from his position, according to Norm Ross, deputy superintendent. He did not have computer access at the school, Ross said. Yates was an “evening custodian” beginning his workday in the early afternoon and remaining after most children were off campus.
Yates was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail on $20,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney 1st Judicial Circuit. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office assisted in his arrest.
Mostly Sunny Skies Today
February 27, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Wednesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Wednesday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.