Frontier Airlines Expands To Pensacola Airport
July 19, 2017
Frontier Airlines announced today that Pensacola International Airport will be among the 21 new cities served by the low-fare carrier as part of their nationwide network expansion. Beginning Spring of 2018, Frontier Airlines will offer non-stop service to Denver, Colorado from Pensacola International Airport. Mayor Hayward welcomed today’s announcement and is looking forward to working with Frontier Airlines.
By next spring, Frontier will offer low fares to 90 percent of the U.S. population, which is expected to bring more than $1 billion dollars in savings to consumers through lower airfares.
Official details on when the new service will start, the availability or frequency are not yet available.
Tate Students, Parents: Upcoming Important Dates
July 19, 2017
Tate students and parents — mark your calendars. Here are some upcoming important dates for Aggie Day, Orientation, and schedule pickup for Tate High School.
Thursday, July 27 – AGGIE DAY
Aggie Day is a Welcome to Tate workshop led by Tate’s leadership students. Incoming 9th graders and new students are invited to take a few hours to learn about Tate High School. At 9 a.m., students will be split into groups in the Fryman Gym. Our leadership students will lead their group in a series of workshops to learn about activities, sports, clubs, and what makes Tate a great place to attend. Schedules will not be handed out at this event, and guidance counselors and administrators will not be present. This is a for-students, by-students event.
Drop Off: New Gym, 9:00 am
Pick Up: New Gym, 12:00 pm
Friday, August 4 – Freshmen/New Student Orientation, 9:00 am-10:30 am
Our more formal, assembly-style orientation will be at 9:00 am in the Fryman Gym. You will meet our administrators, deans, and 9th grade guidance counselor, Chuck Stanhope. Also, coaches and club sponsors will be available to answer any questions. At 10:30 am, 9th grade schedules will be available (in the gym). Tate leadership students will be present to assist in learning where classes are located. At 11:00, any schedules not picked up will return to the front office.
Friday, August 4 – Upperclassmen Schedule Pickup
10th-12th Schedules will be available for pick up from 1:00-3:00 in the Cafeteria.
Northview Baseball To Host Coed Softball Tournament
July 19, 2017
The Northview Baseball team will be host a coed softball tournament July 29 at Bradbury Park (NWE).
Entry fee is $200 per team and each team must have a minimum of three females. Rules will be based on USSSA rules. This is a two loss elimination tournament, so each team is guaranteed two games.
To participate or donate, call (850) 232-3205.
Southeastern States Collaborate To Reduce Traffic Fatalities And Crashes
July 19, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is participating in a week-long initiative across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee to reduce serious bodily injury and fatal crashes on Florida’s roadways. The multi-state, multi–jurisdictional, highly visible initiative will raise awareness of traffic safety issues and create increased enforcement of traffic violations, helping to ensure motorists Arrive Alive.
Traffic safety should be a top priority for everyone traveling on Florida’s roadways. Motorists are reminded to:
- Obey all speed limits;
- Every time you get in a vehicle, no matter where you are sitting, buckle up. That click reduces your risk of being injured or killed in a crash by almost 50 percent;
- Do not text and drive; texting is one of the most dangerous distractions because it requires manual, visual and cognitive ability- the same abilities that are needed to drive safely.
Quality Of Schools Confronts Appeals Court
July 19, 2017
A Tallahassee-based appeals court wrestled Tuesday with what standard should be applied to Florida’s education system, with judges sounding skeptical that courts were even a proper place to hear the issue.
At least two members of a three-judge panel from the 1st District Court of Appeal directed sharp questions at Jodi Siegel, an attorney for a coalition of advocates and parents who sued the state eight years ago for allegedly failing to provide a quality education system.
While the judges questioned both sides, even Siegel conceded afterward that they seemed skeptical about courts’ ability to referee the fight.
“They did, and we hope we made our argument,” she said.
The central issue in the appeal is whether courts can evaluate the state’s obligation under a 1998 constitutional amendment that declares it is a “paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.”
The amendment fleshed that out, in part, by saying adequate provision will be made for a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system” of public schools.
But Leon County Circuit Judge George Reynolds ruled last year that the judiciary should be hesitant to wade too deeply into the issue and give deference to the Legislature under the separation of powers. The judges at Tuesday’s hearing seemed more likely than not to agree.
Judge Brad Thomas pointed out to Siegel that writers of a constitutional amendment limiting class sizes set clear benchmarks for the Legislature to follow, but the Constitution Revision Commission that crafted the “paramount duty” clause did not.
“Why didn’t they put an objectively measurable stand in the text and say, you have to meet the standard?” Thomas asked.
Judge James Wolf also pushed back on Siegel’s references to the state’s own accountability system, which drives report cards issued to schools every year.
“Not everybody can be in an ‘A’ school. … Is it adequate to have every school that’s a ‘C’ school?” Wolf said.
Siegel said that, if pressed, she would suggest that 75 percent of students across the board meeting state standards would be one potential benchmark. But she also highlighted that some demographic groups and geographic areas of the state don’t do as well as others.
“We have a system in which there are such vast differences across the districts and across groups of children that we have to look to what more is needed. And that has not been analyzed by the state,” Siegel said.
Rocco Testani, a lawyer representing the state, said those kinds of standards weren’t in the amendment.
“This is not Lake Wobegon, and that’s exactly what the plaintiffs over and over again were coming up with,” Testani said. He was referring to a fictional town created by radio host Garrison Keillor where “all the children are above average.”
But the judges seemed wary of the idea that state lawmakers should be given free rein to decide what meets the terms of the amendment.
“Shouldn’t the Legislature be required to come up with standards specifically related to this constitutional amendment? Otherwise, isn’t this constitutional amendment totally useless?” Wolf asked.
Testani countered that issues about what the state should provide to schools are “inherently political questions,” and that the Constitution Revision Commission meant the amendment to be a goal that voters could measure.
“Aspirational statements are enforced at the ballot box — not in courts of law,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
FWC Law Enforcement Report
July 19, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 13 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Clark saw an individual operating his vessel in a careless manner. The individual had the outboard motor trimmed mostly out of the water revving it up, while several people were standing near the prop. He was attending the Blue Angel Air Show and was attempting to leave the area. Officer Clark stopped the vessel and immediately noticed signs of impairment from the operator. The operator agreed to perform several field sobriety tasks. He performed poorly on these tasks and was arrested for BUI. The operator gave a breath sample of more than double the legal limit. Officer Clark transported the individual to the Escambia County Jail.
Officer Bartlett was on vessel patrol providing public safety enforcement at the Blue Angels Airshow when he encountered a highly‑intoxicated individual. The officer was concerned for the welfare of the individual and brought him to the nearest dock and instructed him to stay on land. Within a few minutes, Officer Bartlett saw the same individual attempting to swim across a vessel channel, barely keeping his head above water, obviously struggling to stay afloat. The officer quickly reacted and rescued the individual. For the welfare of the individual, the officer arrested him for disorderly conduct and transported him to the Escambia County Jail for processing.
Officer Bartlett was on vessel patrol providing public safety enforcement at the Blue Angels Airshow, when he saw a boat being loaded/trailered at the 17th Avenue Boat Ramp. The boat speed was too fast causing it to strike the vehicle. The officer approached the operator who showed signs of impairment and was asked to perform field sobriety tasks. Based on the operation of the vessel and the performance of the tasks, the operator was arrested for BUI. The operator refused to provide a breath sample and was transported to the Escambia County Jail for processing.
FWC officers made several fisheries cases this week. Multiple citations were issued for possession of gray triggerfish, possession of undersized red snapper, possession of red snapper not in whole condition and interference with an FWC officer. The interference charge was made when an individual dumped red snapper fillets overboard as the officer approached.
FWC officers took part in the annual Blue Angels Airshow on Pensacola Beach where approximately 500,000 people attended over the three-day period. FWC officers, along with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, were responsible for waterborne security and all public safety on area waterways during this event. Over the three-day period, FWC law enforcement officers conducted 952 hours of law enforcement patrols, 714 of which were on the water. The officers issued several citations and warnings for boating safety violations, including four BUIs, conducted four boat accident investigations and had numerous public assists and calls for service. At the peak of the event, it was estimated that there were more than 2,500 vessels with over 12,500 people on board, within a ten‑square-mile area along Pensacola Beach.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While on his way home from working the Blue Angels Air Show, Officer Hutchinson saw a truck being driven erratically and almost causing an accident. He stopped the driver and immediately determined that the man was showing signs of impairment. The man’s young son was also in the truck. After field sobriety tasks, Officer Hutchinson determined that the man was under the influence of alcoholic beverages and placed him under arrest for DUI. He later provided a breath sample of .12 g/210L. The man’s son was taken to a family member’s home.
Officer Mullins and Lieutenant Hahr were patrolling at the Blue Angel Air Show when they were requested to respond to assist Fire Rescue with a vessel that was seen operating in a reckless and erratic manner. As they approached the vessel, the officers saw that the sole occupant was covered in fresh blood and had a partially bandaged hand that was dripping blood. The man told the officers that he had gotten a rope burn on his hand. Due to the amount of blood, the officers requested assistance from EMS. While waiting for them to arrive, they saw multiple indicators of impairment. After EMS bandaged the man’s hand properly, Officer Mullins conducted field sobriety tasks and determined that the man was intoxicated. The man was arrested for BUI and later refused to provide a breath sample. After receiving several stiches at the hospital, the man was booked into jail for operating a vessel while normal faculties are impaired.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
George Lavon Caylor
July 19, 2017
Mr. George Lavon Caylor, 88, passed away Monday, July 17, 2017, in Fairhope, Alabama.
Mr. Caylor was a native of Uriah, AL and had resided in Atmore, AL since 1953. Mr. Caylor was a great father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was retired from Champion Paper Company with 13 years of service. He was a veteran of the Korean War and was a member and deacon at Presley Street Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Elizabeth Caylor; parents, George W. and Myrtle G. Caylor; two brothers, Cecil and Douglas Caylor; and sister, Anna Laura Turberville.
He is survived by one son, Robert Lavon (Jolene) Caylor of Dothan, AL; two daughters, Sharon C. (Tommy) Freeman of Walland, TN and Karen C. (Cereal) Daniel of Atmore, AL; one sister, Doris Jay of Uriah, AL; four grandchildren, Christy E. (Rick) Marcum, Kevin D. (Sonya) Freeman, Ryan C. (Cindy) Daniel and Chelsea E. (Matthew) George; and five great-grandchildren, Ashlynn E. Breeder, Caylor T. Marcum, Kylee R. Freeman, Jackson D. Freeman and Hudson R. Daniel.
Graveside services will be held Friday, July 21, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Serenity Garden Cemetery with Military Honors.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 20, 2017, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Christy Marcum, Rick Marcum, Kevin Freeman, Sonya Freeman, Ryan Daniel, Cindy Daniel, Chelsea George and Matthew George.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Emmie Belle Wilson
July 19, 2017
Mrs. Emmie Belle Wilson, 77, passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017, in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Wilson was a native and former resident of Enterprise, AL and had resided in Century, FL for the past 30 years. She was a member of the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God. She is preceded in death by her husband, Comer Wilson; parents, Charles and Emma Ivey; and one sister, Kroell Hutto.
She is survived by one daughter, Glenda and Rusty Bagwell of Flomaton, AL; two sisters, Kressie Caraway of Arcadia, FL and Bonnie Thwaites of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Jessica Griffis, Bryan Griffis and Lindsey Bagwell; and six great-grandchildren, Michael Griffis, Hunter Griffis, Jaden Satterwhite, Desiray Bagwell, Chloe Satterwhite and Carlee Satterwhite.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 20, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Eric Bryan and Sis. Lois Aboud officiating.
Burial will be at the Cooper Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jaden Satterwhite, Michael Griffis, Brenton Bell, Carl Godwin, Jr., Scott Godwin and Willie Wilson.
Honorary pallbearers will be J.P. Odom and Bradley Brown.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Mosquito Fogging Operations In Cantonment Tonight (With Area Maps)
July 18, 2017
In an effort to reduce the mosquito population in Escambia County, the Mosquito Control Division has filed a Notice of Intent to proceed with fogging missions in parts the Cantonment area.
The first area to be sprayed is bounded by Muscogee Road to the south, Highway 29 to the east, Quinette Road to the north and the Alabama line to the west (see map above). The second area is south of Muscogee Road, east to Highway 29, south of Kingsfield and I-10 and west to the state line (see map below).
When possible, pre-application surveillance is performed with post-application surveillance to follow. Methods used to determine necessary fogging mission activity include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts and focally located service requests received from the public.
Mission hours vary but typically occur in the evening hours from 6-9:30 p.m.
Man Charged With Attempting To Drown Pregnant Woman
July 18, 2017
At Atmore man has been charged with throwing a pregnant woman into a river and then attempting to drown her.
Daniel Ray Raybon, age 30 of Nathan Road, Atmore, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree and criminal mischief first degree.
According to information released Tuesday by the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, a passerby came across the Perdido River Bridge on Railroad Street in Nokomis on July 7 and witnessed an injured pregnant female and Raybon exiting truck at the creek. The pregnant female appeared to be bleeding from her face.
The witness said Raybon then threw the female into the river, holding her head under the water in what appeared to be an attempt to drown her. When the passerby shouted at Raybon, he released the female and fled the scene, running into the passerby’s truck.
The female was transported to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Raybon was arrested Tuesday. He remains in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.