Arbor Day Tree Giveaway And Art Contest Set For Jan. 20 In Barrineau Park
January 11, 2018
The annual Arbor Day tree giveaway is coming up Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Barrineau Park Community Center, and entries are being accepted now in an Arbor Day art contest.
Each attendee will receive two free native one-gallon trees. Species available include tulip poplar, Chickasaw plum, Shumard oak, and fringetree.
To participate in the Arbor Day Mail Art Contest, mail a drawing, painting, or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Strong Trees, Strong Communities” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must arrive by mail or be dropped off by January 18, and will be judged at the Tree Giveaway on January 20.
First place winners will receive prizes including a 7-gallon tree, a shovel, and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and and third place winners win gardening gloves. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18), and adult (over 18). All participants in attendance at the tree giveaway will receive a special edition Arbor Day water bottle featuring last year’s winning design.
For more information about the tree giveaway or art contest, call 850-475-5230 or email ctsteven@ufl.edu.
High School Graduation Rates Improve Statewide, Locally
January 11, 2018
Florida’s high school graduation rate has reached a 14-year high according to data released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. For the 2016-17 school year, Florida’s statewide graduation rate rose to 82.3 percent, an increase of 23.1 percentage points since 2003-04 and 1.6 percentage points over last year.
The Escambia County School District’s gradation rate increased to 79.5 percent, as compared to 76.1 percent one year earlier. For the class of 2013, Escambia County’s graduation rate was 64.2 percent.
In District 5, from the graduating class of 2012 to 2016, Tate High School’s graduation rate increased from 73.4 to 81.4 percent, while Northiew High School increased from 67.4 to 84.2 percent.
“I am proud to announce that Florida’s high school graduation rate has reached a 14-year high. We want every Florida student to have access to a world-class education so they can succeed in the classroom and their future careers, and that is why my recommended Securing Florida’s Future budget includes historic funding for education for the sixth consecutive year, including significant investments for teachers and students in our K-12 system. I look forward to working with the Legislature during the upcoming session to make sure our students have the resources they need to continue to build on this accomplishment for years to come,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Little Free Library Now Available In Cantonment
January 11, 2018
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church is now hosting a Little Free Library in Cantonment. The library is contained in an old newspaper stand that is painted bright red directly in front of the church at 699 S. Highway 95A, next to and facing the highway.
Anyone from the community may borrow a book or keep a book or add a book to the library. Anyone taking a book or two from library does not need to return that exact book. The library is currently supplied with mostly children’s books, but donations of more books for adults would be greatly appreciated. The library is never locked, so people can access it at any time.
“The purpose of the Little Free Library is to inspire a love of reading, build community, and spark creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year around the world, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds,” said Viven Welch of Saint Monica’s.
The Little Free Library has its own Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/stmonicaslittlefreelibrary/ — with planned updates on the latest available books.
Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams
January 11, 2018
The Florida Athletics Directors Advisory Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay high schools.
If approved at a future date by the Florida High School Athletic Association, six teams would qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.
The first and second seed would receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team would host the sixth seed and the fourth seed would host the fifth seed.
Currently four team from each region qualify for the playoffs. There is no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change would allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff.
According to the Athletics Directors Committee, there is a built-in extra round for Class 1A-4A and allowing more teams to earn a playoff spot would not affect the current playoff structure. This would also allow the third and fourth seed teams to host a playoff game, earning more revenue for those schools.
“I think there are positives and negatives,” Northview High School Coach Derek Marshman said. “Obviously, more teams will be allowed to participate in the post season. The reason the FHSAA eliminated districts was to eliminate blowouts in the first round. I could see fifth and sixth place teams struggling. That is obviously a case-by-case situation. I do think overall that it is a good thing to allow more teams in the post season.”
“The most beneficial thing is eliminating the bye week the week before the championship games. It could definitely throw a kink into the rhythm of a team if they have the bye week immediately before the state championship game,” Marshman continued.
The proposal was previously unanimously approved by the 1A-4A coaches council and must next be approved by the FHSAA board of directors.
Pictured: Action from last year’s Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Votes To Sell Lot To Church For $1,000 For Expansion
January 11, 2018
The Town of Century has voted to sell a portion of lot located nearly four miles outside town to the Poplar Dell Baptist Church so that they can construct a new fellowship hall.
For years, the church has cut the grass and maintained a lot about one acre in size behind their sanctuary and cemetery on Highway 168 in the Gandyville community. And they had eyed the lot to build their new fellowship hall. But they learned the property actually belongs to the Town of Century. Century’s gas department maintains a “natural gas gate station” — a connection between the town’s gas system and supplier — on one end of the property next to Poplar Dell Road. The remainder of the property is a large grassy lot.
The church determined that they needed 0.23 acres of the lot for the expansion. The town council voted to sell the lot to the church for $1,000. A required buffer around the natural gas station will be maintained.
A $4,000 appraisal had been received for the full acre.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Elementary Announces Spelling Bee Winners
January 11, 2018
Flomaton Elementary School has announced winners of their Spelling Bee. They are:
3rd-5th grade division:
Michael Bowen – Winner
Secily Carter – Runner-up
6th grade division:
Christopher Crawley – Winner
Sam Johnson – Runner-up
The students now advance to the county tournament.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com,click to enlarge.
Carolyn Ann Handler
January 11, 2018
Carolyn Ann Handler, 70, of Cantonment, FL passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Carolyn retired from PJC with 30 years of service. She was married to Ralph Handler, Jr. for 51 years. She was a dedicated mother to Rob and Scott and grandmother to Blade and R.J. Carolyn spent many wonderful weeks at the Perdido Bay Fish Camp with her numerous nephews, nieces, sisters, cousins, brothers-in- law and sisters-in-law over the years.
She is preceded in death by her father, Phillip Woodbury Jennings, Sr.; mother, Ruth Marjorie Jennings; sister, Faye Ellen Mitchell and her brother, James Myrick Jennings.
She is survived by her loving husband, Ralph Robert Handler, Jr.; sons, Ralph Robert Handler, III, and Scott Timothy Handler; sisters, Marjorie Phyllis Gate (Buddy), Virginia Weinman and Ruthie Jennings and her brothers, Phillip W. Jennings, Jr., Michael Jennings and Henry F. Jennings.
Pallbearers will be James Bailey, Brandon Weinman and Tyler Lehman, Jason Gates, Pat Wilson and Jeremy Qualls.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 12, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Riley Richardson officiating.
Interment will follow at Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Eleanor Marie Rouse
January 11, 2018
Eleanor Marie Rouse, 91, of Cantonment, FL, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital on Monday, January 8, 2018. She and her twin sister, Thea Mae, were born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 16, 1926, to Theodore and Hermenia Meyer. She married Herman C. Williams and was widowed upon his death on May 9, 1974. In 1979, she married Donald “Duke’ Rouse who preceded her in death in 2014. She will always be remembered for her faith in Jesus Christ and the love she shared with her family.
She is survived by her children, Paul Williams (Laurie), Jack Williams (Magi), Barbara Thornley (Robert), Sandra Arnold (Michael), David Williams (Joann), Robert Williams, Herman Williams, Jr. and Terry Williams; grandchildren, Jason Claussen, Brandon Williams, Jessica Williams Bachinski (Matthew), Amanda Williams Olsen (Daniel), Melissa Williams, Wesley Williams (Mary Catherine), Erica Williams, Chelsea Williams, Ashley Williams, Christian Williams, Courtney Williams and Jordan Williams and her great-grandchildren, Olivia Williams and Owen Bachinski.
She is preceded in death by her sister, Thea Mae Noblin.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Pastor Carl Shiver officiating.
Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery on Monday, January 15, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
E. Coli Bacteria Prompts Bratt Davisville Water System Boil Water Notice
January 10, 2018
UPDATE: The boil water notice has been rescinded. The latest test results show that the water is safe to drink.
UPDATE: The original release from the water company indicated the well testing was December 10. That was a typographical error on their part. The well was actually tested January 10. This story has been updated to correct their error.
Wednesday night, the Bratt Davisville Water System issued a precautionary boil water notice after a well tested positive for E. Coli bacteria.
The boil water notice covers the areas below:
Nokomis Rd. from Rockaway Creek Rd. traveling West to North Pineville Rd., Rockaway Creek Rd. from Nokomis Rd. traveling North to Alabama Line, Gibbs Rd., Circle Rd., Shady Oak Dr., Miller Rd., Jakes Rd., Jones Rd., Reynolds Rd., Flowers Rd., Albritton Rd., Barlow Rd., Tullis Rd., North Pineville Rd. from Nokomis Rd. North to Alabama Line, Hollingsworth Rd., and three customers immediately south of Hollingsworth Rd. on North Pineville Rd.
The Bratt Davisville Water System issued the following information:
What should I do?
As a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially Immuno-compromised individuals, infants or the elderly.
What happened? What is being done?
We routinely monitor the water in our wells and distribution system for drinking water contaminants. Late on January 10th , we learned that one raw sample taken at Bratt Davisville Well 2 tested positive for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
Water containing E. coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for E. coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E.coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink. The anticipated date for rescinding this notice is January 15, 2018, at 4:00 p.m.
If you have any questions you may contact Customer Service at 1-800- 235-3848 or at 3425 Hwy 4 W, P.O. Box 428, Jay, FL 32565.
Bisquick: Hazmat Crews Respond To Substance At Tax Collector’s Office
January 10, 2018
A white substance caused alarm at the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office in downtown Pensacola on Wednesday.
The substance and a chemical smell on a license plate led to the response of a hazardous materials team and Escambia County Emergency Management.
After investigation, the substance was found to be Bisquick baking mix.