Escambia School District Proposes Increased Budget, Lower Property Tax Rate
July 28, 2019
The Escambia County School District is proposing a lower property tax millage rate while increasing their budget for the next fiscal year.
The district is proposing a millage rate of 6.043 for 2019-20, down from 6.325 in 2018-19. Due to increase property values, the district expects to collect $1.17 million in property taxes in 2019-2020.
The school district is proposing a $364 million general fund budget.
The Escambia County School Board will meet to adopt the tentative millage and tentative budget during a public hearing scheduled for on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at 5:01 p.m., in Room 160 of the J.E. Hall Center.
“For ten years, the District and the School Board have worked together to increase measurable results, such as our graduation rate, while increasing
school security and responding to budget modifications out of our control, like a shift in state assessments from FCAT to FSA tests. We are very proud to say we have done this without a cost increase to our taxpayers,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said in a written statement.
Escambia Deputy Charged With Capital Sexual Battery On Child
July 27, 2019
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been charged with a capital child sexual offense.
According to jail records, 33-year old Jerome Zaid was booked into the Escambia County Jail at 5:42 p.m. Friday on a capital felony charge of sexual battery on a victim under 12-years old, and a third degree felony charge of battery of a child under 18.
“We were made aware of allegations and turned it over to FDLE who did the investigation and arrest,” Maj. Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said. “We are in the process of terminating his employment.”
Zaid is being held without bond. His mugshot is exempt from release under Florida law because he is a law enforcement officer.
If convicted of capital sexual battery, Zaid would face a mandatory life sentence.
Further details have not yet been released.
Snake Bites Person In Cantonment
July 27, 2019
A person was bitten by a snake Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia EMS responded to a snakebite victim in the 600 block of Greenberry Drive at 2:05 p.m. The adult patient was transported non-emergency to West Florida Hospital, according to an Escambia County spokesperson.
The snake was dead on the scene, but the type of snake was not available from the county.
Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Traffic Shift Delayed
July 27, 2019
The traffic shift for U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge has been rescheduled for Sunday evening, Aug. 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) on Thursday, Aug. 8.
From 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
With all traffic shifted to the new bridge, construction crews will demolish the current bridge, complete the new westbound structure, and reconstruct the 17th Avenue interchange. All work is currently estimated for completion in mid-2021.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Ag Teacher, FFA Sponsor Perry Byars Retires
July 27, 2019
A retirement celebration was held Friday at Northview High School for longtime agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Perry Byars.
Under Byar’s two decades of leadership, the Northview FFA program has received numerous state and national awards
Allie (Vidak) Eubanks had been named the school’s new agricultural teacher and FFA advisor. Eubanks is a 2011 Northview graduate, and Byars was her FFA advisor.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: These Caterpillars Could Be Devouring Your Azaleas Right Now
July 27, 2019
by Beth Bolles, Escambia County Extension, for NorthEscambia.com
Azalea caterpillars have made their presence known this summer and are devouring the foliage of one of our favorite evergreen plants.
The brown moths will lay large numbers of eggs on azaleas throughout the spring and then young emerging caterpillars feed in groups, eating entire leaves. As the caterpillars grow in size, they become more brightly colored with yellow bodies and black stripes. They also have bright red legs and a head. If you touch a mature caterpillar, it will often raise it’s head and ‘tail’ in response. These are not stinging caterpillars so that is only a defensive response.
The feeding damage of the caterpillars results in a very unattractive azalea. Some leaves with damage will also turn brown making the damage more noticeable. The good news is that even through plants look terrible, a relatively heathy azalea will grow new leaves during the season.
If you do have an infestation of azalea caterpillars, you may want to consider a treatment. Remember that it is easier to manage young caterpillar so if you have caterpillars that are already two inches in length, your chemical treatment may not be as successful.
One option for management is to physically remove the caterpillars if you only have a small number on your plants. If you choose to use an insecticide, choose an organic product like B.t (Bacillus thuringiensis) or spinosad. These are safe for many beneficial insects that are also helping in the management of the caterpillars. Both products will be available at our local nurseries.
Pictured: An azalea caterpillar on a bush in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Waterfront Rescue Mission Celebrates 70 Years
July 27, 2019
The Waterfront Rescue Mission held a party for clients and guests Friday to celebrate their 70th anniversary.
Community leaders served lunch to the guests. Attendees enjoyed free haircuts, live music, face painting, lunch and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In McDavid Rollover Crash
July 26, 2019
A driver escaped serious injury in a single vehicle rollover crash Friday morning in McDavid.
The female lost control and overturned off Pine Barren Road near Bogia Road about 7:20 a.m. A fire hydrant was broken off and a telephone company pedestal was damaged in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Allegedly Shooting Cat, Dumping Body
July 26, 2019
A Century man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after allegedly shooting a cat in Walnut Hill before dumping the body.
Austin Everett Berry, 27, was charge with aggravated animal cruelty and unlawful disposal of the a dead animal.
Berry allegedly shot a cat on Green Village Road with a 12-gauge shotgun and then threw the body into an area of overgrown bushes, according to an arrest report.
A woman told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she had exited a house in the area and heard a loud boom like a shotgun. She said she observed a male later identified as Berry place either two kittens on one large cat in a bag, and she said she asked Berry if he had shot the cat. She told deputies he answered, “[Expletive] year I did”, the ECSO report states.
Deputies and Escambia County Animal Control located the deceased black and white domestic cat in large overgrown area about 20 yards off the road by a fence. The remains were removed by animal control for proper disposal.
The Sheriff’s Office seized Berry’s loaded pump action 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition to be placed into evidence.
Berry made statements to the sheriff’s deputy, but those statements were redacted from the arrest report. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,750 bond.
The Chess Challenge: Youth Can Learn To Play Chess For Free Sunday In Century
July 26, 2019
Rafael Lopez of Cantonment loves the game of chess, and he will share that love with children and teens during free classes the next two Sundays in Century.
“I learned to play chess as a younger man. I was taught by a man who was incredible to watch on the board. As he taught me, he would give me reasons as to why he would move certain places. Also, he played handicapped without his queen on the board until I was able to beat him. Once I was able to beat him, he never took his queen off the playing board ever again,” he said.
Lopez calls his learn to play methodology the “chess challenge”.
“The chess challenge is my dream. It’s purpose it’s make chess fun again in a world full of technology. In the extremely beginning stages of turning this dream into a nonprofit,” Lopez said. “Long term, I would love to have a place to call home. There’s some commercial real estate in Cantonment near my house that is vacant. I pass by it every day and wonder how many sad lonely, lost and even bored kids pass by that location that could be served. A safe place after school that is conducive to higher learning with an emphasis on chess and the study of chess. We have so many basketball camps yet very few brain games.”
The chess challenge is targeted to youth ages 6-17 and will be held Sunday, July 28 from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday, August 4 from 2-5 p.m. at 7321 North Century Boulevard (the building with the large “Florida” mural, just south of the library). There is no cost and refreshments will be served.
Youth can attend either of the Sunday sessions, but the second session will recap and expand on the skills learned in the first session. Lopez starts by teaching the basics, and says this is for youth of any skill level.
“I love chess because we all start out equal, but have the potential to be great depending on how much time and effort we put into the study and application of the game. As a game, it’s almost as old as hide and seek,” he said. To teach one brilliant mind would be one of my simplest goals.”
“Chess doesn’t care what color you are or what gender you are. Every player starts out completely equal. But as with anything in life, you get what you put in. Study the previously played games and this study furthers advancement and skill. When a young brain learns the principles that chess teaches, they’re improving and expanding their critical thinking and reasoning skills with each move. Technology isn’t to blame, but relying on technology to think for us is. Chess teaches us how to think— think about future possible outcomes before they may even happen. Predictive.”
For more information on the chess challenge in Century, call Lopez at (850) 723-5362.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.