Nine Mile Road Lane Closure
January 20, 2016
The eastbound, right turn lane on Nine Mile Road to Holsberry Lane in Escambia County will be closed from 8 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday as crews mill and resurface access at Zaxby’s. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Deputies Seek Bank Robbery Suspect
January 20, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released a surveillance photo Tuesday of the man who attempted to rob the Coastal Bank and Trust on University Parkway at Nine Mile Road last week.
The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. last Friday.
Anyone with information on the crime or the suspect is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Protesters Demand School Voucher Lawsuit Be Dropped
January 20, 2016
Calling on God and the memory of civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., thousands of protesters descended Tuesday on Tallahassee to demand that opponents of the state’s de facto school-voucher program drop a lawsuit challenging the survival of the system.
Based on head counts from buses and school groups that attended the rally, organizers said that more than 10,500 people gathered on the crisp winter morning. Protesters jammed the street between the Capitol and the Florida Supreme Court and trickled over into a plaza outside the Capitol.
Speakers who backed the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program — mostly African-Americans and Latinos — laced into the state’s largest teachers union, the Florida Education Association, for a legal attack on the system. The program provides tax credits to companies that donate money to nonprofit entities that help pay for low-income children to attend private schools.
“In the name of the Lord, drop the suit,” demanded the Rev. R.B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee. “In the name of the Holy Spirit, drop the suit.”
The star attraction to the rally was Martin Luther King III, son of the slain civil rights leader whose birthday was marked by the nation on Monday.
“My dad — I don’t know if I can aptly speak to what he would say today,” King said. “But what I can say is, I know that he always stood up for justice, and this is an issue of justice.”
The union’s lawsuit, filed in 2014, argues that the voucher program violates the Legislature’s responsibility to provide every student with a quality education. Opponents say the system siphons away money that could be used for public schools, though voucher supporters note that the scholarships actually provide less per student than it costs to educate a child in public schools.
The challenge also draws on a 2006 ruling from the Florida Supreme Court that struck down the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program — a purer version of a voucher system, using public money directly to fund private education for some students.
The lawsuit targeting the Tax Credit Scholarship Program was dismissed last year by a Leon County judge, who said the union didn’t have standing to challenge the program, but voucher opponents have appealed the case to the 1st District Court of Appeal.
In the wake of the challenge, groups that support the voucher system have begun emphasizing the benefits of the program to low-income students, though lawmakers approved legislation in 2014 that would allow for a family of four earning up to $63,050 to be eligible for at least a partial scholarship in the 2016-17 school year.
“I wonder truly how anybody could be against these scholarships,” said Julio Fuentes, head of the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options. “These scholarships are helping low-income children. They are helping minority children. How did that become such a bad thing?”
In a statement issued Tuesday, Florida Education Association President Joanne McCall said the organization didn’t intend to back down.
“For more than a year, voucher groups have been demanding FEA drop a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the tax-credit vouchers. What are they so afraid of going to the courts to ensure this voucher scheme is legal?” McCall said. “Let’s let the courts decide this once and for all. We’re not dropping our legal challenge.”
McCall’s group staged its own rally last week, drawing about 2,000 teachers and other public-school employees to the Capitol to call on lawmakers to place more emphasis on classroom learning and less focus on standardized tests.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Escambia School Board Declares ‘National FFA Week’
January 20, 2016
Tuesday night, the Escambia County School Board approved a resolution declaring National FFA Week for February 20-27, 2016.
“(FFA) is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career successthrough agricultural education at the local, state, and national level,” the resolution stated .
FFA members, advisers and administrators from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools were on hand as the school board unanimously approved the resolution.
To read the school board resolution, click here.
Pictured top: FFA members from Tate, West Florida and Northview high schools with a National FFA Week resolution passed Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board. Pictured inset: Northview FFA members Mitchell Singleton, Brandon Korinchak and Courtney Weekley at the school board meeting. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Tax Forecast Could Pose Problems For Scott
January 20, 2016
Economic forecasters Tuesday slashed nearly $400 million from their estimate of how much lawmakers will have to spend in the budget year that begins July 1, increasing questions about Gov. Rick Scott’s plans to cut taxes and boost economic-development incentives.
With tax revenues lagging over the next 18 months and other slight adjustments to the budget, the Legislature will be working with $395.6 million less than economists predicted in October. Overall, the state’s income will still increase by $1.2 billion over the current budget year, which ends June 30.
But given the normal growth in funding for programs like public education — which all sides have promised to boost to record levels — the reduced total for lawmakers will likely put more pressure on Scott’s push for $1 billion in tax cuts and increased spending on incentives used to lure businesses to Florida.
In a statement issued after the new forecast, Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz called the $388.5 million drop in tax revenues “a minor reduction” and said the governor still backed his tax cut plan. The remainder of the $395.6 million forecast reduction stems from budget tweaks. Schutz also said that a proposed gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe would bring in $2.3 billion over eight years. While that funding wouldn’t be available until after the coming budget year, it could soften the tax cuts’ impact on future spending plans.
“We are pleased to also learn that we still have a significant increase in revenues of over $1 billion in fiscal year 2016-17,” Schutz said. “Additionally, most actual revenues end up higher than revenue estimates.”
Legislative leaders, though, were more cautious about the new numbers. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said the revised estimates “remind us that we continue to be in recovery, but we are certainly still bouncing back from the unprecedented recession.”
“Fortunately, we have instituted conservative budgeting principles year after year,” Crisafulli added. “We will be able to make adjustments to our spending plan which will come out in the next few weeks.”
While both Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, have pledged to cut taxes, the House has been more welcoming to Scott’s talk of a larger package. House leaders said last week that they would try to meet the governor’s goal of $1 billion.
Gardiner did not back away from the promise of tax reductions in a statement issued after the new forecast, but emphasized other needs as well.
“Our goal in drafting the Senate budget is to prioritize funding to care for the most vulnerable and other programmatic structural needs of our state,” Gardiner said. “We are also working to strike a balance that reconciles our desire to enhance broad-based tax relief, economic development and other pro-growth policies with our responsibility to set aside ample reserves that allow our state to respond to the potential for continued instability in other economies.”
Driving the softening of the state’s numbers is a projected falloff in corporate income taxes. Economists estimated that Florida would bring in $240.2 million less than previously expected in the current budget year and $257.6 million next year. Meanwhile, the income from sales taxes and insurance premium taxes would increase.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said corporate profits were expected to slow across the country as weakening economic activity overseas made exports a harder sell.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Lady Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night
January 20, 2016
The Northview Lady Chiefs basketball team celebrated Senior Night Tuesday, honoring seniors (pictured below, L-R) Jada Tucker and Lexy Small.
For more photos of the Lady Chiefs’ game against Milton, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lisa Jane Flowers
January 20, 2016
Lisa Jane Flowers of Oak Grove passed away Monday January 18, 2016, in Pensacola. She was born in Atmore to Clayton and Anita Kendrick Flowers.
She was a member of Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill, and was a loving, giving, caring person with a servants heart. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a great witness. She loved horses, swimming, art and excising.
Lisa was a organ and tissue donor by doing that she has helped over a hundred people.
She is preceded in death by grandparents, Wilma Cooper Brooks, Gay and Grace Flowers; aunt Jane Kendrick; step-brother, Jamie Hall and numerous other family members.
She is survived by her parents, Anita (James Earl) Hall of Oak Grove; Clayton (Janice) Flowers of Nokomis; one brother, Scotty (Karen) Flowers of Nokomis; one step-brother, Rusty (Traci) Hall of Waycross, GA; two sisters, Cyndi McGhee
of Spanish Fort and Amanda (Tripp) Dawson of Nokomis; 16 nieces and nephews; eight great nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts uncles, cousins and extended family.
Services will be Friday January 22, 2016, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lee Bateman officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Friday January 22, 2016, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Rain Moving In
January 20, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3am, then a chance of showers. Low around 50. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Driver Plummets Into Deep Ravine In Predawn Wreck
January 19, 2016
A driver escaped injury when he flipped his pickup truck into ravine near Enon, outside Walnut Hill, during the predawn hours Tuesday.
The driver was southbound on South Highway 99 when he failed to negotiate a 90-degree curve at a railroad crossing at South Highway 99 and Highway 97A. His Chevrolet 2500 pickup left the roadway and crashed about 15 feet down into a deep ravine, coming to rest almost upside down in the 5:38 a.m. crash.
The driver was able to free himself from the truck and refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top and below: A driver crashed about 15 feet down into a ravine early Tuesday morning about eight miles from Walnut Hill. Pictured bottom: The truck was not visible from the top of the ravine. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 95A Single Vehicle Crash
January 19, 2016
One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck early Tuesday morning on Highway 95A at North Chipper Road, near Cantonment.
The driver lost control and ran off the roadway and into the woodline about 5:50 a.m. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
