No U-Turn Signs To Be Installed Hwy 29 At Pinestead
October 6, 2018
Crews will install No U-turn signs for both north and southbound traffic on Highway 29 at the intersection Pinestead Road in Escambia County at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October. 9. This change is being made to increase safety at the intersection, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Hundreds Attend Northview Homecoming Parade (With Photo Gallery)
October 5, 2018
Hundreds turned out for the annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade Friday afternoon in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Friday night homecoming festivities will begin at 6:00 Friday, with game kickoff set against Jay at 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Placed On Lockdown
October 5, 2018
Ernest Ward Middle School was placed on a precautionary lockdown just before dismissal time Friday afternoon after authorities received a report of a man with a rifle near the school.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office quickly made contact with the man, and there was no threat, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The man was on his own property near the school.
The lockdown was quickly lifted.
File photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery On Pregnant Girlfriend
October 5, 2018
A Cantonment man has been charged with the battery of his pregnant girlfriend.
Leve Leon Dixon, Jr., allegedly accused his girlfriend of cheating on him and punched her about 10 times. He also threw her phone causing the screen to break.
Dixon, 27, was charged with felony aggravated battery when the offender knew the victim was pregnant and criminal mischief with property damage.
Leve remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $15,000.
FDC Announces $1,000 Hiring Bonuses At Century, Santa Rosa Prisons
October 5, 2018
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses at the Century Correctional Institution and Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.
Applicants who complete their correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges will be eligible for the bonus. Paid training is available.
For more information regarding a career with the Florida Department of Corrections, visit FLDOCjobs.com
Photos: Kiss The Goat And Other EWMS Pep Rally Fun
October 5, 2018
From kissing a goat, to the principal dancing with a pink wig, to pies in the face, the Ernest Ward Eagles held a homecoming pep rally Thursday.
The Kiss The Goat contest was a fundraiser benefiting the cheerleaders. And the goat was unharmed (he really seemed to enjoy all the attention).
The Eagles beat W.S. Neal 44-0 in their homecoming game. Click here for photos and details.
For an Ernest Ward Middle pep rally photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Gets Another Win, Outscoring Opponents 154-12 In Four Games
October 5, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles have outscored opponents 154-12 just four games into this season.
Only Saraland has scored against Ernest Ward, the only middle school football team in Escambia County, FL.
Thursday night, EWMS celebrated a homecoming win over the Eagles of W.S. Neal, 40-0.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
Earlier this season, Ernest Ward defeated W.S. Neal 28-0, Summerdale 44-0, and Saraland 42-12.
Next Thursday, Ernest Ward will host Escambia County Middle School of Atmore, and they will wrap up their season October 18 on the road at Summerdale. Both games are at 6 p.m.
For a pep rally photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview JV Battles Back Hard In Game Against Catholic
October 5, 2018
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs may be few in number, but they held their own against Pensacola Catholic’s JV Thursday night in Bratt.
Catholic held a 20-0 lead in the fourth quarter, but the JV Chiefs came alive with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game for a final score of 20-16. The JV Chiefs only have 13 players.
Northview’s JV will travel to Atmore Monday to face the JV Blue Devils of Escambia County High School at 6 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Master Gardeners Winter Plant Sale Saturday In Cantonment
October 5, 2018
The Escambia County Master Gardeners will hold a Winter Vegetable Plant Sale Saturday from 8:30 until 10:30 at their demonstration garden at the Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment. Available selections will grow very well in containers. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Investigates Sexual Abuse By Priests
October 5, 2018
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.
“If you call in, please know, we want to help you. We want to counsel you, and we want to get to the bottom of anything that could have happened in our state,” said Bondi, who has made combating human trafficking and protecting victims among her top priorities during eight years in office. “Please share your story with us. Even if you’ve previously reported it to the church, to anyone, report it to us now.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox with the probe, Bondi told reporters.
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.
“When the case about Pennsylvania aired, I couldn’t sleep that night. The next morning I talked to my statewide prosecutor and said, ‘We have to look into this,’ and he wholeheartedly agreed,” said Bondi, adding that she has five lawyers working on the investigation.
The grand jury report revealed that 300 Catholic priests abused more than 1,000 identified child victims, but thousands more may have been affected. Senior church officials, bishops and monsignors “helped cover up priest abuse,” Bondi said.
“The citizens of Pennsylvania played a major role in reporting this by providing investigators vital stories about past abuse and potential coverups. We have reason to believe there are similar stories in Florida. I know it’s painful for you as a survivor to discuss past abuses. But your story will help bring justice to prevent future abuse,” she said.
Bondi, who is leaving office in January due to term limits, said it is too early to know how many Floridians, former residents or visitors may have been molested.
“As far as how widespread this is, frankly we have no idea right now,” she said. “We love the Catholic religion, the Catholic church. We love youth organizations and we love schools. But abuse is abuse.”
The seven Catholic dioceses in Florida “have been in dialogue with the statewide prosecutor and are cooperating with the investigation,” Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops spokeswoman Michele Taylor said in an email.
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.
Bishop Gregory Parkes of St. Petersburg said he welcomes the investigation “and want to assure the public that the Diocese of St. Petersburg has been and continues to be proactive in its efforts to keep children safe, which should be a priority for everyone.”
“We denounce all forms of sexual abuse by any person or any institution as a reprehensible crime and believe that perpetrators should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Parkes said in a statement.
Bondi said her office is issuing subpoenas and conducting interviews.
“We’re moving very fast, because, again, if this is going on in our state, we want to know and we want to know now,” Bondi said, while assuring victims that information will be kept confidential. “Getting the word out there is what it’s going to take.”
Bondi’s office said tips about past abuse can be reported at MyFloridaLegal.com/StopAbuse.
by Dara Kam The News Service of Florida