Escambia School Board Declares ‘National FFA Week’
January 21, 2018
The Escambia County School Board has approved a resolution declaring National FFA Week for February 17-24, 2018.
“(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 success through agricultural education at the local, state, and national level,” the resolution stated .
FFA members, advisers and administrators from Tate and Northview High Schools were on hand as the school board unanimously approved the resolution.
To read the school board resolution, click here.
Pictured: Tate and Northview high school FFA members at this week’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Jay Mayor Qualls Appointed To West Florida Regional Planning Council
January 21, 2018
Governor Rick Scott has announced the appointment of Kurvin Qualls to the West Florida Regional Planning Council.
Qualls, 55, of Jay, is the former mayor of the town of Jay. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning January 12, 2018 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor. Qualls had previously served as chairman of the Council while his was the mayor of Jay, but was forced to resign from the council in October of last year when he resigned as mayor.
This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The mission of the West Florida Regional Planning Council is to provide professional planning, coordinating and advisory services to local governments, state and federal agencies and the public to preserve and enhance the quality of life in northwest Florida, according to their website.
Local Unemployment Rate Falls Slightly
January 21, 2018
The latest job numbers released Friday show the employment rate falling slightly in Escambia County.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent in December, down slightly from 3.9 percent in November. There were 5,117 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 4.8 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly from November to December, as the estimated number of people out of work grew by 5,000 from the state’s workforce of 10.1 million.
The change pushed the jobless rate from 3.6 percent in November to 3.7 percent in December, representing 374,000 Floridians out of work as the year ended, according to numbers posted Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The numbers also indicate 118,000 fewer people were classified as unemployed in December compared to the end of 2016. Fields that experienced the top growth over the past year include the service industry, office jobs and construction.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Price Of Postage Goes Up Sunday
January 21, 2018
The price of postage increased on Sunday.
The price of First-Class Mail Forever Stamps went up from 49 to 50 cents. Postcards climbed from 34 to 35 cents and metered letters went up from 46 to 47 cents.
The prices for single-piece letters being mailed to international destinations or for additional ounces for letters remained the same.
New Shipping Services product prices increased Priority Mail 3.9 percent and Priority Mail Retail an average of 0.8 percent. The new rates are as follows:
- Small Flat Rate Box
- Current price: $7.15
- Price after increase: $7:20
- Medium Flat Rate Box
- Current price: $13.60
- Price after increase: $13.65
- Large Flat Rate Box
- Current price: $18.85
- Price after increase: $18.90
- APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box
- Current Price: $17.35
- Price after increase: $17.40
- Regular Flat Rate Envelope
- Current price: $6.65
- Price after increase: $6.70
- Legal Flat Rate Envelope
- Current Price: $6.95
- Price after increase: $7.00
- Padded Flat Rate Envelope
- Current price: $7.20
- Price after increase: $7.25
UWF Receives Top Award For Luna Settlement Project
January 21, 2018
The University of West Florida Division of Anthropology and Archaeology recently received the 2018 Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology for the Tristan de Luna y Arellano project. The award was presented at the Society for Historical Archaeology’s annual meeting, held Jan. 3-6 in New Orleans.
“Our Luna Project team has been working for several decades, first on the shipwrecks and recently on the settlement, to explore archaeological traces of Luna’s ships and colonists after a hurricane destroyed the colony’s food supplies, and left the survivors stranded on the shores of Pensacola Bay from 1559 to 1561,” said Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, director of the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Archaeology Institute. “From the beginning, we have reached out to Pensacolians to share our findings through lectures, websites, tours, and hands on opportunities, as we piece together this important story. We are indebted to the support and interest from the community, and especially the Luna neighbors who have allowed us to excavate in their yards. We are very honored to receive this prestigious award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology from the Society for Historical Archaeology.”
The award recognizes the efforts of a large team of faculty, staff, and students from the UWF Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, which includes the Department of Anthropology, the Archaeology Institute, the Florida Public Archaeology Network and Marine Services Center at UWF. The team has been studying the shipwrecks and land settlement linked to the 16th-century Spanish expedition led by Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano from Veracruz, Mexico to modern-day Pensacola, marking the earliest multi-year European settlement in the U.S.
The first ship, named Emanuel Point I by archaeologists, was discovered in Pensacola Bay by the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research in 1992. In 2006, UWF archaeologists identified a second shipwreck, Emanuel Point II. In December 2015, the UWF archaeology program identified the location of the Luna land settlement, serving as evidence of Pensacola being home to the first multi-year European settlement in the U.S. The team then discovered a third shipwreck, Emanuel Point III, in June 2016.
Great Weather: Sunny And 70 For Your Sunday
January 21, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 53. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Otha Douglas Morgan
January 21, 2018
On January 19, 2018, Otha Douglas Morgan was transported to Heaven at age 93. He was born in McKenzie, AL on December 4, 1924, to the late Albert Orie and Maude Jenkins Morgan. He married the love of his life Christeen Glover Morgan on December 5, 1953 and they spent 64 years together. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Evada Steffler, Lorene Graham, Mavis Parnell, Veneta Sims; and two brothers, Clinton and Cleveland.
His is survived by his loving wife Christeen; and his daughters, Cynthia (Randy) Peters and Fay (Glenn) Faircloth; grandsons, Jason (Jamie) Peters and Brandon Peters; great-grandchildren, Zach, Scott, Emily and Michael; one brother, Dalton (Carolyn) Morgan; and numerous nieces and nephews and one special next door “son”, Joey Brown.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 2 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Kevin Flannagin and Bro. Doug Odom officiating.
Interment will follow in Bratt-Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home. Public viewing will be from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Family visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Shane Harigel and staff at Atmore Community Hospital, Dr. Aron Morgan, everyone who cared for him at D.W. McMillian Memorial Hospital, Justin Cole and D.W. McMillian EMS.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Vernon L. Nyce
January 21, 2018
Vernon L. Nyce, age 73, died on Tuesday January 18, 2018. Vernon is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda (Stover) Nyce; children, Darren Nyce and his wife, Rhoda Valpatice Nyce, Leann Stover Nyce; and four grandchildren, Lauren and Isabel Ballester, and Gabrielle and Josiah Nyce; brother, Ronald Nyce and his wife, Blanche; and, sister, Grace Nyce Hunt and her husband, John; along with several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Grace Nyce; and his sister, Ruth Ann (Nyce) Frederick. A celebration of his life was held Saturday, January 20, 2018 in Atmore, Alabama. There will be a memorial service in the summer in Romulus NY at Seneca Community Church where he was a co-founder.
Vern loved his wife, Jesus and studying God’s word. He grew up in Bucks County PA and met the love of his life while ice skating on a local lake. Turns out lakes were going to be prominent in his life for some time. After marrying Linda on the lawn of Christopher Dock High School, and living in several places in the area – Bedminster, the “mouse house”, Perkasie,. In 1973, Vern moved his family to upstate New York in the Finger Lakes region. His dream of being a farmer was becoming a reality. He called the area God’s country. He and a few other fellow searchers started a church, Seneca Community Church . This church was a second home. Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night you could find Vern there ministering or teaching or learning. Some of his dearest friendships were forged there. Over time he would grow his farm to over a thousand acres, have pigs, cattle, chickens, and even sheep. Even after he moved away, he would still consider it home.
Growing tired of cold, he decided to try Alabama where he could grow three crops in two years. There he grew cotton, soybeans, wheat and corn. He enjoyed spending time at Escambia Seed and would love when his family would visit.
In 2000, he moved back to Pennsylvania to help care for his aging parents. After they died in 2008, he and Linda moved back to Alabama, while keeping his hands in the dirt in Pennsylvania. He lived out the rest of his days battling his heart, loving his wife, studying the Bible, and looking forward to seeing Jesus.
A Memorial Service was held Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 3 p.m. from Mennonite Christian Fellowship with Bro. Jim Weber and Bro. Anthony Swartzendruber officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Driver In Neck Brace Flees Hwy 97 Accident Scene
January 20, 2018
A driver already wearing a neck brace allegedly fled the scene of a crash on Highway 97 near Dogwood Park Friday afternoon.
The accident happened about 2:15 in the 2400 block of Highway 97, just north of Gibson Road. The vehicle that left the scene was described by a witness as a blue, older model four door sedan of an unknown type driven by a white male who was wearing a neck brace at the time of the crash. It is believed he left southbound on Highway 97.
The driver of the vehicle that remained on scene was not injured.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000.
Pictured: One of the vehicles involved in a crash Friday afternoon on Highway 97 in Molino. The vehicle was removed from the roadway following the accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Library Book Blowout Sale Today: $5 For A Paper Bag Of Books
January 20, 2018
The Friends of the West Florida Library Winter Blowout Book Sale will be held today a the downtown library.
For just $5, visitors can take home as many books as will fit inside a brown paper grocery bag, with no limit on the number of bags. Proceeds will benefit the West West Florida Public Library’s efforts to build community and improve literacy.
The Main Library is located at 239 North Spring Street. The sale will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
