Car Buyers Can Now Shift Sales Tax Money To Hope Scholarship Contributions

October 7, 2018

Florida auto dealers were required Monday to begin carrying out part of a new law that will allow car buyers to help fund the controversial “Hope” scholarship program.

Under the law, car buyers can voluntarily shift up to $105 from the sales taxes they would normally pay on vehicle transactions to the Hope scholarship program. The scholarships, approved during this year’s legislative session, will allow students who are victims of bullying or other violence to receive public funding to move to private schools.

Opponents have argued, in part, that the bullying issue is being used to expand school vouchers to thousands of students. If vehicle buyers want to make contributions, they have to fill out a form designating the money to go to the scholarship program, according to information posted on the Florida Automobile Dealers Association website.

Dealers then will send the money to the non-profit group Step Up for Students, which helps administer the program.

by The News Service of Florida

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Escambia County Farm Family Recognized For Environmental Leadership

October 7, 2018

Two Escambia County farmers and ranchers were recently honored for their environmental stewardship with a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award.

Recipients honored were Jimmy and Jerry McElhaney of McElhaney Farms. They grow cotton, corn and peanuts using recycled water to irrigate more than 1,400 acres. Through best management practices, they have reduced fertilizer use by 50 percent.

The CARES program was established by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership in 2001 to recognize superior natural resource conservation by agricultural producers. The program relies on action by farmers and ranchers to implement state-of-the-art natural resource management systems, or Best Management Practices, on their properties.

McElhaney Farms been in operation in Escambia County for nearly 100 years. Today, Jimmy and Jerry McElhaney grow cotton, peanuts and corn on 1,400 acres. In 2016, they enrolled in Best Management Practices with the goal of reducing water use, nutrient use and improving water quality on their family farm. Some of the BMPs implemented include installing two soil moisture sensors to better determine irrigation needs as well as a surface water pond to capture and recycle water. In order to reduce nutrient use, they use GPS and variable rate applications for spraying and fertilizing applications.

These two BMPs alone have helped them reduce their fertilizer use by 50 percent, and reduced their their use of lime. Planting cover crops, using conservation tillage and terracing their fields all work together to prevent soil erosion, increase crop yields and improve soil health.

Pictured top: (L-R) James McElhaney, Judi McElhaney, Gleda McElhaney, Jerry McElhaney and Florida Farm Bureau President Federation President John Hoblick during the Escambia County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting at Molino Park Elementary School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

High School Volleyball Teams ‘Dig Pink’ For Breast Cancer Awareness

October 7, 2018

Five area high schools took part in a “Dig Pink” volleyball tournament Saturday at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton. Teams from Northview, Flomaton, Central, Milton, and W.S. Neal took part in the breast cancer awareness event. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Priest Dragnet, And You’re A Liar

October 7, 2018

FLORIDA PRIEST DRAGNET

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a statewide probe into sexual abuse by Catholic priests, following a Pennsylvania grand jury report this summer that found more than 1,000 children were molested over decades by hundreds of priests whose wrongdoing was covered up by church leaders.

Bondi, whose office is investigating all seven Catholic dioceses in Florida, said Thursday she launched a tip site “to allow victims and anyone with information about priest abuse to report what they know.”

“Any priest that would exploit a position of power and trust to abuse a child is a disgrace to the church and a threat to society,” she said during a Tampa press conference.

Victims or people with information about past abuse can contact Bondi’s office through a special hotline or submit information on the internet.

“Please share your story with us. Even if you’ve previously reported it to the church, to anyone, report it to us now,” Bondi urged.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox with the probe, and Bondi’s assigned five lawyers to the case.

Bondi said she ordered the Florida statewide inquiry after the August release of the Pennsylvania grand jury’s chilling report of decades of child sexual abuse by priests whose crimes were protected by church leaders.

Several bishops issued statements expressing support for Bondi’s inquiry.

“This has been a very painful period for all Catholics. I hope the outcome of this investigation and other acts of transparency by the dioceses in Florida will bring about greater trust in the Church. Our goals are similar — to ensure the safety of all children and vulnerable adults and to prevent perpetrators of abuse from serving in active ministry,” Bishop Felipe Estévez, who heads the Diocese of St. Augustine, said.

YOU’RE A LIAR! NO, YOU’RE A LIAR!

In a matchup mirroring the deep partisan divide engulfing the nation, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott bickered about red tide, guns, immigration and a controversial Supreme Court nomination in their first debate before next month’s election.

Nelson, a Democrat, and Scott, a Republican winding up his last year as governor, reached almost no consensus during the hour-long Telemundo debate Tuesday.

Instead, Nelson accused his opponent of lying, and Scott painted the incumbent as a partisan do-nothing who’s accomplished little in his nearly 20 years in the Senate.

Proposals backed by Nelson and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum will “kill the economy,” Scott said.

“They like high taxes,” he said.

“The governor keeps coming out with one whopper after another. Apparently, you never got your mouth washed out with soap after telling a lie because you keep on going on, on every part of my record,” Nelson shot back, according to a transcript released by Telemundo.

The two also tangled about Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee who vehemently denies allegations by Christine Blasey Ford and at least two other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct while in high school or college.

Nelson said he intends to vote against Kavanaugh, adding that he tried repeatedly in vain to meet with the appellate judge. Nelson praised Ford’s “compelling” testimony when she and Kavanaugh appeared separately before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.

But Scott rebuked Nelson for having decided to vote against Kavanaugh even before the hearing, accusing Nelson of saying he would reject whoever was nominated.

“The way the U.S. Senate has handled this, it’s a circus. It’s more like a Jerry Springer show,” Scott scolded, calling Kavanaugh and Ford “just pawns in some political game.”

STORY OF THE WEEK: Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she has launched a statewide probe into sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “As far as how widespread this is, frankly we have no idea right now. We love the Catholic religion, the Catholic church. We love youth organizations and we love schools. But abuse is abuse.” — Attorney General Pam Bondi, after announcing the investigation Thursday.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Tate High School Names Interim Director Of Bands After King Resignation

October 6, 2018

Jakob Wisdom has been named the interim director of bands at Tate High School.

He replaces former Tate High School Showband of the South director Roy King who was placed on administrative leave in August. King has since resigned, Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said Friday.

“As of today, we are announcing that Mr. King will not be returning to Tate Band,” Tate Principal Rick Shackle told band students Friday, according to an email sent to band parents. “…We are currently working to provide Mr. Wisdom some assistance with an Interim Assistant Director of Bands. As for now, this program will move forward and continue to function as it has been since the start of the school year.”

“I apologize for the strain that has been on the Tate Band program since the start of this school year. I am grateful and appreciate the students, parents, and band staff for doing everything in their power to keep this program together,” Shackle said.

Wisdom was born and raised in Pensacola and was a student in the Ransom Middle and Tate High band programs. He received his bachelor degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. He expects to complete his masters degree in Music Education next summer from Florida State University.

While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Wisdom worked as a marching band technician and marching band drill designer for numerous band programs from Florida to Mississippi, including his alma mater. Also during college, he marched in the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps that toured and performed in major athletic venues across the United States.

After receiving his undergraduate degree, Wisdom taught at Ferry Pass Middle School for a short stint before relocating to St. Augustine with his wife who is also a band director. While in St. Augustine, Mr. Wisdom was the director of bands and music teacher at Ponte Vedra High School for two years.

Wisdom is in his third year as a band director at Tate. He and his wife celebrated the birth of their firstborn child at the beginning of this school year.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that an investigation involving King is continuing after unspecified allegations were made, but further details have not been released.

Pictured: Tate High Interim Director of Bands Jakob Wisdom. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Over 1,300 Volunteer During United Way’s Day Of Caring

October 6, 2018

Over 1,300 volunteers rolled up their sleeves throughout Escambia County today to help 70 local schools and agencies complete 122 projects Friday on the Day of Caring. The provides provides generous volunteers the opportunity to learn about the needs of our community through service while providing additional capacity that ensures these agencies and schools can continue to provide critical services and resources to our community.

Groups like International Paper at Jim Allen Elementary School, the UWF Haas Center at Ransom Middle School, BRACE at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center and Pal Life Sciences at the Council on Aging in Cantonment volunteered.

“This is the largest single-day volunteer event in Pensacola,” stated United Way of Escambia County’s Education Outreach and Volunteer Manager, Kristy Craig. “It’s a day that volunteers and agencies look forward to all year long, and without them, a lot of crucial projects would not be completed.”

Since the inaugural Day of Caring in 1993, United Way of Escambia County has coordinated over 27,000 volunteers to complete 2,416 projects through this event.

Pictured top and inset: Volunteers from International Paper work at Jim Allen Elementary School Friday morning. Pictured below, top to bottom: IP a Jim Allen Elementary, the UWF Haas Centerat the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center, Lawn work from Humana at the Council on Aging, the Junior League of Pensacola at the Ronald McDonald House, Escambia County Public Safety staff work at the home of a Council on Aging client. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Sheriff’s Office Funeral Escorts Resuming

October 6, 2018

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will resume funeral escorts later this month.

“The funeral escort program is an historical part of the service we provide to the citizens of Escambia County. We are proud to see its resumption,” said Sheriff David Morgan.

The ECSO will begin “phasing in” funeral escorts on October 15.

The funeral escort program was put on hiatus last year as was a portion of the school resource officer program due to lack of manpower and projected shortages. After a prolonged budget fight, a settlement was reached which allowed pay raises for current deputies as well as raising the starting pay over the next three years to attract additional deputies. The SRO positions were reinstated in August.

NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Shelby Bashore Named NHS Homecoming Queen (With Photo Gallery)

October 6, 2018

Shelby Bashore was named Northview High School’s homecoming queen for 2018 Friday night.

Pictured above are Sophomore Maid Kenna Redmond, Junior Maid Raleigh Woodfin, First Runner-up Madison Sherouse, Homecoming Queen Shelby Bashore, Second Runner-up Kherstin Johnson and Freshman Maid Anna Adams.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Northview Celebrates Homecoming With 30-20 Win Over Jay

October 6, 2018

The Northview Chief earned a 30-20 homecoming win Friday night in Bratt over the Jay Royals.

“We played good in a spurts, and we played really bad in spurts,” Northview football coach Derek Marshman said after the win.

The Chiefs got off to a rough start with a a penalty on their first down and no gain on their second before Jayden Jackson scored on a 64-yard run to give the Chiefs and early 6-0 lead with 10:40 remaining in the first quarter.

At 8:30 in the second, Jay quarterback Bryson McCullough found senior Conner Roberts for a 40-yard touchdown to tie it up 6-6.

With 5:55 remaining in the first half, from Ben Wilson connected with Ray’von Bush for another Chiefs TD, 12-6.

For game action photos, click here.

The Chiefs were not going to the lockers without on more before the half. With 1:50 on the clock, Northview moved ahead 18-6 when Wilson found Seth Killam for a 76-yard touchdown. But not to be left out, the Royals squeeze in another touchdown as time expired in the half on a 13-yard pass from McCullough to Austin Ashworth to cut the Chiefs lead to 18-12.

Jackson scored on a 15-yarder with 5:31 go to in the third, and Aunterio Minor powered in from a yard out with 3:02 to go in the fourth for a 30-12 lead.

Solomon Ransom scored from about 30-yards out for the Royals with 1:49 in the game.

“Our run defense was incredible tonight. They have a great running back and a great running team. We challenged them physically all week to stop the run and we did that,” Marshman said.

For game action photos, click here.
For homecoming court photos, click here.
For homecoming parade photos, click here.

The Northview Chiefs (4-2, 1-0) are facing their biggest challenges of the season the next two weeks. NHS will be at Pensacola Catholic next Friday night, then it’s a trip to Baker in a couple of weeks. Catholic is coming off a 48-3 loss Friday night to Madison County, while 1-A powerhouse Baker is riding a 27-game regular season winning streak.

For now, the Chiefs are not thinking about the Baker Gators; they are setting their sights on a “W’ against the Catholic Crusaders.

“Catholic is going to be a tough team. They have beaten a lot of schools that are bigger than they are. They are playing up in class every week, besides next week,” Marshman said. “It’s going to a be a big challenge for us. It’s always tough to play a bigger school like that with the kind of athletes they have, but we are going to be up for the challenge.”

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.