Send Us Your Back To School Photos!
August 10, 2017
It’s the first day of school in Escambia County, and we want to share your photos.
Send us your back to school photos along with the first name of your child, grade and school. Submit the photos on the back to school post on our Facebook page or on Twitter @northescambia.com. On Thursday, we’ll publish as many photos as we can.
Pictured: Three of our submitted back to school photos from last year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Name Smith As New Athletic Director
August 10, 2017
Coach Obreonne Smith has been named the new athletic director at Northview High School.
“Coach Smith brings an element of ‘people skills’ to the position, as she exhibits great enthusiasm for the success of all sports at Northview and the goal of assisting all student athletes and other students involved in extracurricular activities,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said. “Northview is truly excited about the future of our athletic program under the guidance of Coach Smith.”
Smith is currently the head volleyball coach. She has taught and coached at Northview for 15 years, during which time she has coached multiple sports, including cheerleading.
Century Holds First Budget Meeting
August 10, 2017
The Century Town Council held the first of two workshops Wednesday afternoon to work on setting the town’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Another meeting is scheduled for August 24 at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
In previous years, the town council has held budget workshop meetings much earlier. During the past couple of years, the town has held two budget workshops in June, followed by one or two meetings to complete the process in July.
The fiscal year 2016-2017 budget in Century was $4.26 million.
Molino Park PTA Holds ‘Welcome Back’ Lunch For School Staffers
August 10, 2017
The Molino Park Elementary School PTA showed their appreciation to the school’s teacher’s faculty and staff with a catered back to school luncheon on Wednesday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Showers And Thunderstorms For The First Day Of School
August 10, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Higher Pay Sought For FHP Troopers
August 10, 2017
Short about 200 troopers and seeking higher salaries to be more competitive with other law-enforcement agencies, the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is backing Gov. Rick Scott’s call to boost pay as part of an election-year budget plan.
The department, which includes the Florida Highway Patrol, is proposing a more-than 10 percent increase in starting pay for troopers as part of a legislative budget request.
Susan Carey, the department’s chief financial officer, told state Cabinet aides on Wednesday that recruitment and retention has been an issue for years. State law-enforcement officers received a 5 percent pay raise in the budget that took effect July 1, and the new proposal would provide an additional increase in the fiscal year that starts in July 2018.
“With the Legislature, Cabinet and governor’s support we were fortunate to have a salary increase for our law enforcement officers in the current fiscal year,” Carey said. “We would like to go further with the new fiscal year.”
Under the proposal, which doesn’t have an overall total amount attached, the annual starting pay would go from about $38,000 to $42,000.
Under the plan, a trooper would earn $60,000, based on an “experienced-based incremental pay plan,” after 20 years.
The department is budgeted for 1,974 full time troopers, but lost 203 troopers in 2016.
Part of the failure to retain officers has been linked to other law-enforcement agencies offering higher pay.
“The FHP continues to have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified candidates due to the inability to pay a comparable rate with local and federal law-enforcement agencies,” said the department’s budget request, which goes before Scott and the Cabinet next Wednesday. “Consequently, all trained and experienced staff will look for competitive salaries elsewhere. Funds invested in training, uniforms, physicals, and other costs associated with these positions is lost.”
Scott, who is expected to run for U.S. Senate next year, said last month he will ask for $30 million to cover pay raises for state law-enforcement officers for the fiscal year that begins July 2018. Law-enforcement officers are spread across different state agencies.
The raise that took effect last month came as Florida’s rookie trooper pay had been deemed the lowest among the 49 states with patrols.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average police officer pay in Florida is $55,050 a year, with the low end of starting salaries at $36,000.
Entry level pay with the Miami-Dade police is $45,074. Jupiter police offer a $49,268 starting salary to officers who are state certified. In Tallahassee, pay starts at $45,192. For Jacksonville Beach, pay starts at $39,395.
The proposal by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which has a $472.2 million budget for the current fiscal year, was included with $35.5 million in additional requests the agency intends to put before lawmakers during the 2018 legislative session. The session starts in January.
Among the other requests:
— FHP Academy dorm renovation: $3.4 million.
— FHP active shooter training building: $2.9 million.
— DUI centralized database: $1.75 million.
— FHP dispatch relocation in Orlando: $1.32 million.
— Hand-held narcotic analyzers: $885,272.
— Security in driver’s license offices: $740,000.
— Increased operating costs for driver’s license offices: $675,910.
— FHP safety equipment, electric flares: $450,000.
National FFA Board Announces Five Local Students To Receive American FFA Degrees
August 10, 2017
The National FFA Board of Directors announced Wednesday that five local students will receive the coveted American FFA Degree.
They are: Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Bethany Reynolds, Haylee Weaver and Courtney Weekley, Northview High School graduates; and Miranda Vidak, West Florida High graduate. The degree is presented after the FFA member graduates from high school.
The American FFA Degree is the highest honor bestowed upon any regular member of the National FFA Organization. The degree is presented to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences.
The American FFA Degree is awarded at the National FFA Convention & Expo each year to less than one percent of FFA members. Requirements to earn the honor are lengthy. In addition to their degree certificate, each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key.
The American FFA degrees will be presented to the students in October at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Pictured above: American FFA Degree recipients Haylee Weaver, Courtney Weekley, Bethany Reynolds and Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Northview High School graduates; Miranda Vidak, West Florida High School graduate. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
John Hoffman
August 10, 2017
Mr. John “Ronny” Hoffman, 75, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, in Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Mr. Hoffman was a native of Montgomery, AL and had resided in Atmore, AL for the past 45 years. He was a member and past treasurer at the Atmore Church of Christ. He taught his first year at Repton, Flomaton for five years, Ernest Ward, Bratt and Northview for a total of 33 years. He coached at Flomaton, Repton and Ernest Ward. He was a graduate of Troy State and was an avid fisherman. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Sarah Hoffman; and one sister, Joan Hoffman Fleshman.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Charlotte Hoffman of Atmore, AL; one son, Ron (Wendy) Hoffman of Spanish Fort, AL; three daughters, Ronda Hoffman of Daphne, AL, Michelle (Ted) Cox of Winfield, AL and Mel (Marc) Bass of Auburn, AL; three brothers, Larry Hoffman of Pike Road, AL, Frances Hoffman of Highland Home, AL and Allan Hoffman of Highland Home, AL; one sister, Judy Best of Honoraville, AL; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 11, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Minister Bobby Boatwright officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Steve Hoffman, John Hoffman, Aubrey Cox, Joseph Cox, Christian Bass, John Stephen Bass and Colton Whitehead.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Greg Evers A Finalist For Public Service Commission
August 10, 2017
Former State Sen. Greg Evers is on the short list of 14 candidates — including a state representative and three other former lawmakers — who will be interviewed next week for openings on Florida’s utility-regulatory board.
The Public Service Commission Nominating Council on Wednesday trimmed the number of candidates from 26. Among those cut without comment was former state Comptroller Bob Milligan, who failed to receive a single vote of support.
The Public Service Commission Nominating Council on Wednesday trimmed the number of candidates from 26. Among those cut without comment was former state Comptroller Bob Milligan, who failed to receive a single vote of support.
The council is required to nominate at least six candidates for the seats held by Brise and Graham. The council must submit a minimum of three names to Scott to replace Patronis.
Along with State Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Rockledge, other candidates besides Evers seeking the Patronis seat include former Rep. Rich Glorioso of Plant City; former Rep. Ken Littlefield of Wesley Chapel; and former Rep. Ritch Workman of Melbourne. All are Republicans.
Not every former lawmaker who applied made the scaled-back list. Former Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola, received only a single vote of support from the council.
Others who will be interviewed include:
— Gary Clark, the Department of Environmental Protection’s deputy secretary of land and recreation who oversees the state’s 174 parks.
— William Conrad, a former mayor of Newberry who owns Conrad Construction Company and serves as chairman of the Florida Municipal Power Agency’s board of directors.
— Clayton Lindstrom, director of the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.
— Anibal Taboas an appointee to the Governors State University Board of Trustees from Woodridge, Ill.
— Ted Schrader, president of the Winter Haven Citrus Growers Association.
— Jody Newman, a former assistant director with the Orange County School District.
— Erik Sayler, a former senior attorney with the Public Service Commission who now works for the state Office of Public Counsel.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Thomas Charles Murphy
August 10, 2017
Thomas Charles Murphy, 69, of Cantonment, passed away at home on August 5, 2017, after a six year battle with cancer. Tommy was born on November 8, 1947, in Montgomery, Alabama, to Thomas Foy and Anne Murphy. He was proud to serve his country in the Marines for two tours in Vietnam. Tommy was a loving husband and father who’s favorite past time was hunting with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Foy Murphy and father-in-law, Charles Cartwright.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 35 years, Suzi Murphy; children, Lenna Philpot, Ryan Murphy, Charles (Heather) Murphy, Elizabeth (Andrew) Kilgore, and Dawn Murphy; grandchildren, Victoria, Mariah, Rebecca, Shanna, Caleb, Colton, Landon and Abygail; great-grandson, Blake; Mother, Anne Murphy; Siblings, Joe (Janet), Joy (Roger) Henson, Jack, Karl (Cathy), Phillip (Pat), Tonya (Boyd) Johnson; several nieces and nephews; and many more family members and friends.
A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2017, with a memorial service to immediately follow at 2 p.m. at Pine Forest Assembly of God Church, 3125 Pine Forest Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Pastor Gene Hudson will be officiating.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Alsayed and Covenant Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice (5041 North 12th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504), in memory of Tommy Murphy.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.