Fire Destroys Atmore Home
December 21, 2018
Fire destroyed a home in Atmore Friday morning.
The fire on Cloverdale Road, near Atmore Community Hospital, was reported to the Atmore Fire Department about 11:20 a.m. No one was home at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
For Second Time, State Disagrees With Century Mayor’s Claims About Security Cameras, Inmate Labor
December 21, 2018
For the second time, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is disagreeing with claims made by Century Mayor Henry Hawkins about the need for security cameras in order to use inmate labor from Century Correctional Institution.
In November Hawkins said, “We are about to lose our inmates if we don’t get security cameras. People have been dropping off stuff over at Showalter Park and even at the maintenance shop for the inmates to pick up. This has happened now for three straight months. And if we don’t put in security cameras, they are going to pull our inmates.”
“Everywhere that we put inmates, we got to have them. But our biggest traffic area for drugs right now is at Showalter and the maintenance shop. We actually need some at the roadside park (Nadine McCaw Park),” the mayor said in November. Hawkins said the prison is requiring that the cameras be professionally monitored.
NorthEscambia.com followed up with the FDC, and we were told they had not mandated the use of professional monitored cameras by FDC Press Secretary Patrick Manderfield.
This week, Hawkins told the Century Town Council that “whoever” made those statements was wrong.
“Whoever that was … they printed this stuff wouldn’t at this meeting between me, the major and the warden, and the assistant warden. Whoever that was, and I don’t know, they wouldn’t at this table,” he said.
“My question is do we have to have the security cameras to keep the inmates?” Council President Ann Brooks asked.
“Yes we do,” Hawkins replied. “Yes.”
“So whoever spoke for the Department of Corrections was incorrect?” Brooks asked.
“Right,” Hawkins answered.
And, again, the FDC backed up their original statement in an email on Thursday.
“If contraband is discovered in a work squad area, inmate work crews are unable to go out until the issue is investigated, causing a disruption in work. For this reason, the Department recommends the use of cameras with local officials in the best interest of the safety of staff and the community. The Department had discussions with the Town of Century about the potential use of cameras in work squad areas but has never mandated it as a requirement. Since November, the Department has continued to provide work squads for the Town of Century in accordance with our contract agreement,” Manderfield said. He underlined “but has never mandated it as a requirement” in his email.
Hawkins also told the council that the FDC wanted a key and access to search the town shop where inmates often work.
“They wanted to come in early before anybody come to work. They wanted a key to our facilities, and I said nope, that’s not going to happen. Somebody will be there when they do their inspections,” the mayor said.
“There were no specific discussions about searching, but the Department requires institutional staff to search work squad areas for any contraband,” Manderfield said Thursday.
He said the Florida Department of Corrections will continue to provide inmate labor to the Town of Century … even without the cameras.
“If we have to have cameras, I want that in a contract with them,” council member Ben Boutwell said.
In November, Hawkins presented the town council with two quotes for cameras — one from McCullough and Sons in Bratt and one from a company he did not name. The McCullough and Sons quote was for just over $21,000, and included five years of professional monitoring, he said. He recommended that the cameras first be installed at Showalter Park and the town maintenance shop on Alger Road for a cost of about $4,800.
There were no funds budgeted by the town for the purchase of security cameras this fiscal year. “I’m not going on an oral agreement or anything. It has to be written down in a contract that we have to have cameras.
He asked for the approval to purchase security cameras in June after he said vandals had struck several parks. “We need to move quickly on cameras, because we are going to go broke with nickel and dime repairs,” Hawkins said in June.
In May, he presented the town council with a security camera proposal from Security Center USA in Jacksonville for about $700 per month under a 36 month lease purchase with a $1 buyout. The proposal included eight HD cameras at town hall and the Nadine McCaw Park, seven HD cameras at maintenance shop and Showalter Park, and three HD cameras at the water treatment plant. Installation, video recorders, streaming, accessories and monitoring were included.
The council has not approved any of Hawkins’ requests for security cameras.
Pictured: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins discusses security cameras and prison inmates during a council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Five Star Schools Announced
December 21, 2018
The Florida Department of Education announced the winners of the Five Star School Award for the 2017-2018 school year. The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning.
In Escambia County, Five Star Schools Award winners were:
- A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Bellview Elementary School
- Beulah Elementary School
- Blue Angels Elementary School
- Cordova Park Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Jim Allen Elementary School
- McArthur Elementary School
- Molino Park Elementary School
- N.B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary School
“It is an honor to recognize these schools with the Five Star School Award,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand the positive impact family and community involvement can have on the lives of students. When school leaders and educators engage the community, the result is higher academic achievement and more students prepared for future success.”
To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories – Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Council. Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “Maintaining” or “Commendable” for the year being recognized.
Windy And Colder Today
December 21, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind.
Christmas Day: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Pictured: A pond near Walnut Hill on Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate, Jay Cheerleaders Earn Bids To National Competition
December 21, 2018
The Tate High School varsity cheerleaders placed first this recently among small varsity coed teams at the Northwest Florida Universal Cheerleaders Association. They also received a bid to the national competition in Orlando. This was the fifth first place finish of the competitive season for the Aggie varsity cheerleaders.
The Jay High School competition cheer squad also placed second in their small varsity non-tumble division and earned a bid to the national competition in Orlando for the game day routine.
Pictured top: The Tate High School varsity cheerleaders. Pictured below: The Jay High School competition cheer squad. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Presents Annual Christmas Program
December 21, 2018
Ernest Ward Middle School presented their annual Christmas program Thursday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Correctional Officer Arrested On Contraband Charges
December 21, 2018
Corrections agents from the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) arrested a correctional officer at the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on Thursday for attempting to smuggle illegal contraband into the prison.
Tony Williams, 34, of Frisco City, was arrested Thursday for prohibited activities and use of office for personal gain.
During a search of the officer’s personal vehicle, a K9 unit alerted on Williams vehicle where authorities found multiple packages containing 10 cell phones. Williams admitted to purchasing the phones with the intention of receiving payment from inmates.
Williams was taken to Escambia County Jail and booked following his arrest. He resigned from his job after more than 10 years with the ADOC.
Escambia County High Atmore Names Mason As New Head Football Coach
December 21, 2018
Scott Mason has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
He replaces Rico Jackson, who has been hired as the new head football coach at Murphy High School in Mobile.
Mason was head football coach and athletic director at Florala High School. He was worked as the offensive coordinator at Faith Academy, Citronell, Vigor and Saraland high schools. He also worked as head coach at Fruitdale High School.
Mason is married and has one son, Turner Mason. In his spare time he enjoys writing, reading and hunting.
Escambia Academy Tops Jay; Tate Girls Beat Gulf Breeze
December 21, 2018
BOYS
Escambia Academy 63, Jay 60
GIRLS
Tate 49, Gulf Breeze 32
Moreisha Thompson led Tate in scoring. Also for Tate: Melanie LeTourneau 14, Nya Craig 7, Tia Pryear 4, Danica Riddell 3, Railee Cook 2, Taylor O’Brien 2.
DeSantis Panel Says Health Innovation Is Needed
December 21, 2018
Supporters of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis want Florida to take a more active role in finding innovative ways to overhaul how health care is delivered in the state.
Health-care executive Alan Levine, who is helping lead a committee set up by the DeSantis transition team to examine health care, said Wednesday the state should consider creating an incubator that would help link research at the state’s universities with the buying power of Florida’s $26 billion Medicaid program. Medicaid is overseen by the Agency for Health Care Administration, which will be directly under the control of the incoming governor.
Levine is a former Agency for Health Care Administration secretary who also sits on the state university system’s Board of Governors.
“This is a great evolutionary opportunity for AHCA to expand its role into innovation,” Levine said. “Maybe it’s a public-private partnership where there is investment funds and ideas brought forward whether they are universities or private entrepreneurs. … AHCA’s in a position to be able to help deploy some of those ideas.”
Levine is not the only member of the health-care transition committee to support an increased role for medical innovation.
Committee member David Maymon sent a memo this week that requested the state create an “innovation center” for the public so people can submit ideas and make recommendation. In addition to the center, Maymon suggested that a seven-member board, with representatives from the governor’s office, the Legislature and health-care providers, meet quarterly to discuss the ideas.
Maymon, founder of Advocate Home Care, said his suggestion stems from his own frustrations with the state.
“On more than one occasion, I have come forward with an idea on how to deliver the health-care model in a more proficient manner that would produce reduced costs and provide better patient outcomes,” he wrote in his memo. “The response was always the same. While it sounds like a good idea, that is not within our ability to change.”
The incoming governor set up the Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness this month, with Wednesday marking the second meeting of the group led by Levine and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nunez.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis talked largely about issues such as his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.
Nunez has said the administration wants to help lower health-care costs while also coming up with long-term improvements to the system, which is one of the largest items in the state’s nearly $90 billion budget
During Wednesday’s meeting, the committee also briefly discussed ways to address a shortage of health-care providers. That triggered a discussion over whether to adopt additional limits on lawsuits.
Audrey Brown, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Health Plans, said the DeSantis administration should examine whether to increase the number of physicians who are covered by a state no-risk pool.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida