Here Are The Library Books That Teacher, School Board Member Want Reviewed
September 28, 2022
As we first reported Monday, the Language Arts Department chair at Northview High School and the chairman of the Escambia County School Board are calling for the immediate removal of about 115 books from school libraries until they can be reviewed.
Vicki Baggett has taught for over 30 years, with the last two decades at Northview. She’s compiled a growing list of over 115 books that she says are inappropriate in schools, mostly due to sexual language and graphic drawings that she believes actually violate Florida’s obscenity laws.
School Board Chairman Kevin Adams has called for the removal of the books until they can go before a review committee. They are not calling for the books to be banned, unless they violate state or federal obscenity laws. They do, however, want parental permission for students to read any of the books that pass a committee.
Baggett provided us with a 14-page list of the books, detailing exactly what she believes is wrong. The list was emailed to Escambia School District officials in four parts, beginning August 5 and ending September 14.
Due to the explicit descriptions on her list, we have chosen to make the book list available in two versions. The first is an edited list that details only the name of each book, the author and an indication if is available in elementary, middle or high school libraries in Escambia County. We are also making an unedited version available, exactly as Baggett presented to the school district.
For the edited list, without graphic descriptions, click or tap here.
The following link will load the complete, unedited list. It contains vulgarities, numerous graphic sexual references, references to bestiality and other material that some readers may find disturbing. It is not appropriate for all ages. Clicking the link signifies that you are 18 or older. For the unedited list, click or tap here.
Both lists are information as provided by Baggett to the school district. The accuracy of the information in both documents has not been independently verified by us. It is being presented as a copy of public records.
For an earlier story with more details, click or tap here.
ECUA Approves Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increase, Plus Extra Sanitation Fee
September 28, 2022
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) on Tuesday formally approved rate increase for sanitation, water and wastewater services, plus an additional sanitation fee that will all go into effect on October 1.
Sanitation Rate Increase And Fee
ECUA approved a sanitation (garbage) rate increase of 6% plus the addition of a $1 per month fee to fund the construction of a new sanitation transfer station on Pine Forest Road. Customers will continue to pay the $1 per month until the transfer station is paid off, which is currently projected to be in 2043.
ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody said Tuesday that ECUA customers may not be completely on the hook for the cost of the transfer station. He said ECUA will ask the local state legislative delegation to seek a $3 million appropriation toward the total cost that would eliminate several years of the $1 per month fee payment for customers. Exact calculations on the cost are not yet complete.
The rate increase applies to the collection fee. For the average family with one 90-gallon container, the monthly rate will increase from $26.39 to $27.67, plus the $1 fee for the transfer station. The transfer station location is the current ECUA complex at Godwin Lane and Pine Forest Road.
The motion approving the sanitation rate increase and the $1 fee passed 4-0 with board member Louis Benson absent.
Proposed Water And Wastewater Rate Increase
The ECUA board also approved a 5% rate increase for water and wastewater. For an average customer using 6,000 gallons, the increase will be less than $1 per month for water and about $2 for wastewater.
The rate increase for water and wastewater passed 4-0 with board member Louis Benson absent.
Formal Felony Fraud Charge Filed Against Contractor Matthew Banks
September 28, 2022
A felony fraud charge has been formally filed against contractor Matthew Banks.
Banks was arrested back in August in Okaloosa County on a larceny charge from the Pensacola Police Department for failing to provide a refund. Now, the State Attorney’s Office has formally charged Banks with felony fraud.
A Pensacola resident paid Banks $6,740 by check for a renovation on North G Street in Pensacola. Banks, according to police, never started work and would not provide a refund despite the homeowner’s demand.
It is the only known formal criminal charge against Banks. However, the contractor oversight boards in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have taken multiple actions against him and ordered him to pay well over $1 million in restitution.
State officials have said they expect additional criminal charges will be filed against Banks as an investigation continues.
Hurricane Ian Continues Across Gulf; Here Are The Limited Local Impacts Expected
September 28, 2022
This is an archived story.
Hurricane Ian continued to move across the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane. Confidence is high that the actual hurricane will remain well to the east of our local area.
Locally, a prolonged period of gusty winds is expected today and Thursday due to the gradient between Hurricane Ian entering the Gulf of Mexico and high-pressure building into the region behind a cold front.
A red flag warning is in effect Wednesday due to the wildfire risk. A combination of strong northerly winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels will contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
At the beach, swells associated with Ian will lead to dangerous rip currents and surf this week.
The latest details on Ian are in the graphics on this page.
Blue Wahoos Still Alive In Championship Series After 7-1 Win Over Smokies
September 28, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos forced a winner-take-all Game Three of the Southern League Championship Series on Tuesday night, defeating the Tennessee Smokies by a score of 7-1.
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning with two outs, the Blue Wahoos exploded for seven runs against the Tennessee bullpen. The win sets up a decisive game in Tennessee on Wednesday with the Southern League Championship on the line.
Patrick Monteverde (W, 1-0) was sharp for Pensacola, delivering 5.0 solid innings, though he surrendered an RBI double to Yonathan Perlaza in the third to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee starter Riley Thompson was even better, tossing 5.0 scoreless frames for the Smokies, but was failed by his bullpen. Will Banfield led off the sixth with a double against Dalton Stambaugh, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance tied the game with a two-out RBI single against Michael McAvene (L, 0-1). Things snowballed on McAvene in his Double-A debut, as Davis Bradshaw and Marcus Chiu singled to load the bases before Thomas Jones drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run.
Demetrius Sims followed with a chopper to deep third that was thrown into foul territory, scoring two more runs to extend the lead to 4-1. RBI singles from Banfield and Norel González capped the seven-run outburst, putting the Blue Wahoos ahead for good.
Cody Mincey and Andrew McInvale worked the final four innings in relief of Monteverde to close out the win.
Game three of the Southern League Championship Series from Smokies Stadium takes place Wednesday evening.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Nicole Diane Campbell
September 28, 2022
Nicole Diane Campbell born December 18,1982 passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2022 surrounded by family and friends.
Nicole is the daughter of Tina Martin and Cleve Campbell. She was the most kind hearted person. You could always find her taking care of everyone around her and has passed that kind heart along to her daughter, Serenity.
Nicole grew up riding horses. She enjoyed barrel racing on her beloved horse, Coco. She loved the sweet things in life and you could always count on her to have a bag of candy!
She is preceded in death by her daughter, Nevaeh Harvell; father, Cleve Campbell; and grandmothers, Faye Campbell and Charlotta Rhodes.
Nicole is survived by the loves of her life, daughter Serenity Harvell and son, Prestyn Harvell; her partner of 21 years, Damian Harvell; mother, Tina (Jack) Martin; grandparents, Billy (Joyce) Campbell and Dusty (Geraldine) Rhodes; siblings, Kristin (Josh) Harvey, Trey (Alesha) Campbell, Mariah (Russell) McAnally, Cara (Bryan) Coburn, TJ (Cody) Lepley, Caleb (Kelsey) Campbell, Ciara (Codie) Calloway; lifelong friend Amanda Davidson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Nicole will be greatly missed by many, but we are comforted knowing she is rejoicing in Heaven with her Angel baby Nevaeh and all our loved ones who have gone before us.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bro. Phillip Dean officiating. Burial will follow in McCurdy Cemetery, Century, Florida.
The family will receive friends at 11:30 a.m. prior to services.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Arthur Lewis Gottily
September 28, 2022
Arthur Lewis Gottily, longtime resident of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Saturday,
September 24, 2022, in West Florida Hospital at the age of 92. Art was born on October 16, 1929, the only child of Thomas and Frances Beiner Gottily in Manhattan, New York. His paternal grandparents were Sebastiani and Andriana Gottilla from Ventimiglia di Sicily, Italy.
During his early childhood Art lived in Queens, New York and at 13 years of age he resided with his parents at 25 Central Park West in New York City. He attended middle school and graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey. In 1953, Art earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Philadelphia Textiles Institute now known as Thomas Jefferson University.
Art enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served at Alameda, California. In 1957 Art moved to Pensacola and was employed by Chemstrand/Monsanto for 28 years working in research and design while earning six (6) United States patents. He retired from Monsanto in 1985 at which time he founded Engineering Expertise and became a consultant with Scott Paper Company working in their Mobile, AL plant. He also founded Consolidated Check Dispatching, an innovative preempter of Fed Ex and was a real estate agent for a number of years.
In 1967 Art met the love of his life Sylvia Ann Walker, a nurse who attended him after a surgical procedure. They began dating and were married on October 23,1971. Art shared his love of the outdoors and competition with Sylvia by teaching her to play golf at the Monsanto golf course and to sail at the Pensacola Yacht Club.
Art was the father of three (3) children Karen Gottily Gauvey, Norwood, CO; Tom Gottily, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Scott Gottilla fou (Courtney) Tucson, AZ. He loved and was extremely proud of his four grandsons Chauncey Gauvey, Anthony Gottilla, Andrew Gottilla and Micah Gottilla, and great grandson Lane Gauvey.
Art was an ardent patriot, often recalling his days at Farragut Military Academy and his time in the US Navy. His interest in government and politics led him to join the Republican Party where he worked tirelessly for conservative principles and candidates. Fox News was his favorite information source. He was a lover of history, especially the exploits of the Flying Tigers of World War II. On a presidential visit to Pensacola, Art met his longtime hero President Ronald Reagan. Art was a member of the John Birch Society. He and Sylvia received recognition for fifty years of membership with Escambia County Republican Party.
Art was also a member of Pine Forest Baptist Church and during the 1960s he served as senior warden of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Services for Art will be held Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, located at 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, FL 32533. A private burial will be at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Ocean Springs, MS on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff and doctors in the West Florida Hospital ICU. Their kindness and care of Art will always be cherished.
Linda Slate Garrick
September 28, 2022
Linda Slate Garrick, age 79, of Atmore, AL passed away on September 27, 2022 in Atmore, AL. She was born on June 24, 1943 in Jay, FL to Rupert Eugene and Gussie Lou Eddins Jackson. She was a member of Canoe Church and a retired seamstress with Vanity Fair. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald H. Slate, Sr.; her son, Ronald H. Slate, II; her baby brother, Anthony Jackson and her sister, Evelyn Sullivan.
She is survived by her children: Tony (Sandra) Slate of Bratt, FL, Tim (Liezel) Slate of Atmore, AL, Rusty (Tracey) Slate of Atmore, AL and Melanie (Thomas) Guy of Atmore, AL; her grandchildren: DeWayne Slate, Casey Little, Natalie Rodgers, Ronnie Slate, III, Magen Weaver, Jarvis Slate, John Wayne Slate and T.J. Jarrell along with twelve great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore, AL with Bro. Willie Armstrong officiating. Interment will follow in Cora Baptist Church Cemetery in Jay, FL.
Active pallbearers will be DeWayne Slate, Jarvis Slate, Bo Slate, Duck Weaver, Ronnie Slate, III and Mark Rodgers.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canoe Church Cemetery Fund:
Chris Black
166 Nichols Avenue
Atmore, AL 36502
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Red Flag Warning: Forest Service Says No Outdoor Burning
September 27, 2022
The Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center is issuing words of warning for anyone considering any outdoor burning activities in the coming days: Use extreme caution or simply don’t do it.
It has been more than two weeks since most of the three-county area (Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties) has seen rainfall and wildfire danger is on the rise. Add to that a forecast calling for increased winds and low humidity for the next few days and firefighters are bracing for the possibility of significant fire activity.
“With the conditions – dry and windy – any new fire has the potential to become a problem,” said David Smith, operations administrator for Blackwater. “The southernmost end of our area received some rainfall Monday evening, but we are very dry with no rain in the extended forecast.”
Current forecasts call for low humidity (below 35% during the day) for the next several days and north winds up to 20 mph. No burn authorizations will be issued for prescribed burns or pile burns until conditions improve and residents are asked to refrain from any outdoor fire activity for the time being.
Residents should always be prepared for the possibility of a wildfire as Florida experiences a year-round fire season that typically peaks from April to June in our area. The Florida Forest Service offers tips and advice on how to prepare yourself and your home in case you are impacted by a wildfire online at www.BeWildfireReadyFL.com.
FHP Seeks Driver After Fatal Motorcycle Hit And Run In Santa Rosa County
September 27, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver that killed a motorcyclist Monday night in Santa Rosa County.
About 9:40 p.m. a red Ford Focus turned left from Oakleaf Drive onto Hamilton Bridge Road, directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle operated by a 29-year old Utica, Mississippi, man. The motorcyclist was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he later died.
FHP said the driver of the Ford Focus fled the scene on foot. He was described as a white male, about 6-feet tall, with a large build and blondish hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact troopers by calling *FHP or Crime Stoppers.