Byrneville Elementary School Votes To Change Charter Status
June 1, 2017
The Byrneville Elementary School Board of Directors officially voted Thursday afternoon to change the school’s charter status and relationship with the Escambia County School District.
Byrneville has been a “conversion charter” school since 2002 when the Escambia County School District closed the existing Byrneville Elementary School and converted it into charter school operated under its own board of directors. Funding for the school was still provided by the state and local government, with the local school district providing the campus and major maintenance services.
Now, Byrneville has officially voted in support of becoming a full charter school, taking over building ownership and becoming eligible to construct a a new permanent building to replace numerous portables.
The next step will be the presentation of the status change to the Escambia County School District for mutual approval.
Once completed, the school will be in control of its own property and buildings, allowing the desired building project to move forward.
The charter school is considering the construction of a new multi-million dollar modern building containing 8-10 classrooms, likely a cafetorium and possibly even a small gym. The largest building on the current Byrneville campus was build in 1941 and contains five classrooms, plus offices and a cafeteria.
Pictured: Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan and Byrneville Elementary Board members Michelle Driskell, Jeremy Hawsey, Tammy Jo Smith and Melanie Killam. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Claims $78K Prize For Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket
June 1, 2017
A Century woman has claimed her prize for a winning lottery ticket sold Saturday at a local store.
The Florida Lottery says the May 27 Fantasy 5 ticket worth $78,166.19 was sold to Annie M. Cottrell of Century. She purchased the ticket at the Korner Kwik Stop at 8360 North Century Boulevard. It was one of three winning tickets sold for Saturday night’s drawing. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Hileah and North Miami Beach.
The 303 tickets matching four numbers won $124.50 each. Another 10,347 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 101,382 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers for May 27 were 15-17-18-22-25.
Fate Of Budget Now In Scott’s Hands
June 1, 2017
With a narrowing deadline and an uncertain outcome, Florida legislative leaders on Wednesday sent the new $82.4 billion state budget to Gov. Rick Scott, as education leaders urge a veto of all or major parts of the spending plan.
Scott has not tipped his hand. But the Republican governor remains angered over the Legislature’s decision to slash spending for economic development and tourism incentives, as well as rejecting his call for $200 million to repair the Herbert Hoover dike around Lake Okeechobee.
“I have a lot of options,” Scott said Tuesday in Orlando. “I can veto it. I can veto a section or any line. I’m still reviewing it.”
One certainty is that a new budget must be in place by the July 1 start of the fiscal year or Florida will face some type of a government shutdown, with agencies, ranging from schools to prisons, being forced to operate on an emergency basis.
With the 451-page appropriations bill (SB 2500) delivered to Scott at 12:09 p.m. on Wednesday, the governor has 15 days to act on the legislation.
He may not need the full review period, as he and his budget staff are very aware of what is in the bill and Scott could act quickly. It took him only four days to act on the 2015-16 budget bill, after lawmakers broke an extended deadlock by passing a budget on June 19.
If Scott takes the full 15 days and issues substantial vetoes, it would give lawmakers little more than two weeks to pass a new or revised budget before the start of the fiscal year. And that period would be further narrowed by a required 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote on an appropriations bill.
The budget outcome is complicated by a series of related bills, which are not yet in the governor’s possession. Part of the mix includes a key education policy bill (HB 7069) that includes $419 million in charter-school incentives and pay bonuses for teachers and principals but is opposed by major education groups.
Here are some of the possible budget scenarios that could play out in the next month:
— THE NUCLEAR OPTION: Scott could veto the entire $82.4 billion bill and call lawmakers back into a special session to pass a new budget. It would give Scott a chance to renew his pitch for $85 million in economic-development incentives and $100 million for tourism-marketer Visit Florida. In the budget passed May 8, lawmakers did not provide money for economic-development incentives and included $25 million for Visit Florida.
But a full budget veto is a rare maneuver, last carried out by Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1992.
A budget veto could prompt calls for an override, which would require two-thirds votes by the House and Senate. That last occurred in 1970 when lawmakers overrode Gov. Claude Kirk’s veto of the annual budget bill.
And although the new budget bill passed overwhelmingly, an override could be blocked by Senate Democrats, who control 15 of 39 currently occupied seats and could use their leverage to increase spending on public schools.
— EDUCATION VETOES: Upset by a budget that includes a small $24.49 per-pupil spending increase, the Florida Education Association, the Florida School Boards Association, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and a number of school boards are urging Scott to veto the $20 billion-plus portion of the budget related to school financing.
If he vetoes the K-12 budget, it would force lawmakers back into session and essentially open up the entire budget, as lawmakers would have to find additional funding for the schools.
A K-12 budget veto last occurred in 1983, and then-Gov. Bob Graham was successful in using his veto power to force lawmakers back into session to increase education funding.
State college advocates are also asking Scott to veto their $1.2 billion portion of the budget, with the hope it would force lawmakers to restore a $30 million cut in remedial-education funding for the 28-school system.
— LINE BY LINE: As he has done with the six prior annual appropriations bills, Scott can use his line-item veto power to reject individual projects and spending items. Last year, he cut $256 million from the budget, with his record of $615 million in line-item vetoes set in 2011, his first year in office.
If Scott exercises his line-item veto power, it would not prompt the need for a special session. The new budget, with its reductions, would take effect on July 1.
The downside for Scott in such a scenario is that eliminating budget line items does nothing to restore funding for his priorities, including economic incentives, tourism and public education.
— LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Not surprisingly, lawmakers and Scott are already negotiating on a way to bring the 2017-18 budget in for a landing. The challenge is finding a path for the governor, the House and Senate to each claim a win, or at least, a partial victory.
Scott has clearly outlined his priorities. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, wants the bill with charter schools (HB 7069) to become law while still opposing economic incentives and supporting a reduced tourism-promotion budget. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, wants to defend his state university initiatives in the budget as well as a related policy bill (SB 374).
Additionally, legislative leaders have said they would use a special session on the budget to try to resolve an impasse over legislation enacting the November constitutional amendment on medical marijuana.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Dara Kam The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Take Stock In Children Graduates Celebrated
June 1, 2017
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships recently. The event honored 19 graduating seniors who received tuition scholarships and a laptop computer.
The 2017 Take Stock in Children graduates are:
- Escambia High: Juliana Cunningham:
- Escambia Virtual Academy: Myiesha Pitts;
- Northview High: Chase Olsen, Alston Wiggins;
- Pensacola High: Ronald Coro, Terrie Pointer, Darin Redick;
- Pine Forest High: Mariaestella Silva, Meghan Hermance, Quadell Evans;
- Tate High: Angeliyah Osuna;
- Washington High: Ebony House, Si’Miah Johnson, Deonna Lewis, Selena Williams, De’Aja Woods;
- West Florida High: Jervae Cannon, Taylor Lopes, Kaitlyn Negron.
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students receive college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors, college readiness skills, and hope for a better life. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Each student is matched with a volunteer mentor who meets with the student weekly at school.
Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year. Laptops were donated through a program coordinated by Paul Snider and Ana DeCesare.
Pictured: Representative Clay Ingram, Quadell Evans, Si’Miah Johnson, Chase Olsen, Kaitlyn Negron, Alston Wiggins, Juliana Cunningham, Ron Coro, De’Aja Woods, Terrie Pointer, Deonna Lewis, Mariaestella Silva, Meghan Hermance, Angeliyah Osuna, Selena Williams, Taylor Lopes, Myiesha Pitts, Jervae Cannon, Darin Redick, Representative Frank White. Not pictured: Ebony House. Photo courtesy Rodney Cammauf Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
RESTORE MYIP Public Comment Period Opens June 5
June 1, 2017
The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012, or RESTORE Act, and U.S. Department of Treasury’s regulations direct Escambia County to prepare a Multi-Year Implementation Plan that prioritizes eligible activities for Direct Component funds awarded to the county through the Deepwater Horizon Settlement and RESTORE Act, and to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes and non-profit organizations as part of plan preparation.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners established the RESTORE Advisory Committee in 2012 to gain input from Escambia County citizens to develop a Needs Assessment, Selection Criteria and rank project submittals to the Project Portal. The BCC then shortlisted the following ten projects in February 2017 to include in the initial MYIP:
- Carpenter Creek Revitalization Plan
- Eleven Mile Creek Basin
- Eleven Mile Creek Restoration
- Hollice T. Williams Stormwater & Recreational Park
- OLF8 Commerce Park Improvements
- Perdido Key Gulf of Mexico Beach Access
- Perdido Key Multi-Use Path
- Project Universal Access
- SOAR with RESTORE
- South Dogtrack Drainage
In preparation of submitting the final MYIP, Escambia County is accepting public comment for a period of 45 days for those projects included within the plan.
The board authorized staff at the May 25, 2017 regular board meeting to conduct the 45 day public comment period. The public comment period will open June 5, 2017 and close July 19, 2017. On Monday, June 5 RESTORE staff will host a public comment kickoff meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office Complex (3363 West Park Place), Room 104.
Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- In person: MYIP kickoff meeting, Monday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m., Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
- Email RESTORE@myescambia.com
- Mail: Attention – Escambia County Natural Resources Management-RESTORE, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502
- Phone: 850-595-0820
On July 19 RESTORE staff will review the public comments submitted and incorporate them into the MYIP.
Next, Escambia County will submit the MYIP to the U.S. Treasury who will take 30 to 60 days to review and approve. The BCC anticipates voting to accept the approved MYIP in early September.
Approval of the MYIP allows Escambia County to begin individual grant applications for the projects. It is anticipated that final adoption of grant awards will occur in January 2018 with projects beginning shortly thereafter.
Is Your Name On The List? Here Are The 2017 Hurricane Names
June 1, 2017
Hurricane season begins today. Is your name on the list of storms?
Here’s the list of storm names for 2017:
- Arlene
- Bret
- Cindy
- Don
- Emily
- Franklin
- Gert
- Harvey
- Irma
- Jose
- Katia
- Lee
- Maria
- Nate
- Ophelia
- Philippe
- Rina
- Sean
- Tammy
- Vince
- Whitney
Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms had been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated through a strict procedure by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization.
The six lists above are used in rotation and re-cycled every six years — the 2017 list will be used again in 2023. The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity.
Jumbo Shrimp Beat The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
June 1, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitching staff gave up a season-high 11 walks Wednesday to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, not to mention 10 hits.
That allowed Jacksonville to snap its six-game losing streak to Pensacola this season, winning, 9-8, on a homer to lead off the ninth inning by shortstop Alex Yarbrough in front of 4,102 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The most walks the Blue Wahoos have given up is 13 in the 2014 season.
“The walks were killers,” Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said. “Our bullpen has been so good but they were hurt by walks today.”
The Blue Wahoos dropped to 29-23 but remain in first place in the Southern League South Division. This season Pensacola has been out of first place just six days.
The game Thursday also featured the Double-A debut of 23-year-old right-hander Jose Lopez.
The second batter of the game, Jacksonville second baseman KC Serna, welcomed him to the Southern League by clobbering a home run to left field to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead, 1-0. Lopez also walked one and allowed a single but closed the inning by striking out Jumbo Shrimp catcher Austin Nola. He threw 33 pitches in the first inning, 21 for strikes.
However, Pensacola came right back for Lopez with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead, 2-1. Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel scored on right fielder Aristides Aquino’s single up the middle. Then center fielder Gabriel Guerrero crossed the plate on first baseman Eric Jagielo’s ground out to shortstop.
Lopez was called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas on May 30 to replace Pensacola starter Austin Ross, the Southern League ERA leader (1.21), who was promoted to Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Pensacola went ahead, 6-1, in the fourth inning that included a solo homer by Jagielo and two-run homer by catcher Adrian Nieto that rocketed into the Hill Kelly Dodge berm. Goeddel then doubled on a grounder that hugged the third base line to score Nieto.
But Jacksonville came right back in the fifth inning against Lopez, scoring three runs to pull the Jumbo Shrimp within, 6-4, when first baseman Cal Towey launched a high fly ball out of sight over the right field wall.
It was the second homer off Blue Wahoos’ Lopez who then walked the next batter and was relieved by Robert Stock. In his first game, Lopez ended up working 4.2 innings, and giving up four runs on four hits and six walks. He struck out five in his 101-pitch outing.
“He made some good pitches,” Kelly said. “He hurt himself with walks. Overall, I liked his stuff and liked his composure.”
After Jacksonville pulled within, 6-4, Pensacola scored two more runs in the sixth inning to go ahead, 8-4. Goeddel singled in Angelo Gumbs with two outs and then third baseman Josh VanMeter hit a sharp grounder to right field to score Goeddel.
However, Pensacola reliever Ariel Hernandez gave up two hits, two walks and four runs in 0.1 innings to allow Jacksonville to knot the game, 8-8, in the seventh. The big blows came on back-to-back triples by Yarbrough and Jeremias Pineda that each drove in a run for the Jumbo Shrimp. Hernandez entered the game leading the Southern League with seven holds in his 19 appearances.
Police: After Dispute With Wife, Man Sets Trailer On Fire, Tries To Kill Himself
May 31, 2017
An Atmore man has been charged with setting fire to his home after a fight with wife Tuesday afternoon.
The Poarch Fire Department and the Escambia County (AL) heriff’s Office responded to a mobile home engulfed in flames at 7135 Jacks Springs Road about 12:30 p.m. Deputies received information that the fire was started by 31-year old Jason Paul Mitchell after he was involved in a domestic situation with his wife.
He made statements to people in the area about setting fire to the residence and property before entering a wooded area with a gun in an attempt to shoot himself, according to investigators. ECSO deputies and Poarch Police officers were able to disarm Mitchell and take him into custody without incident.
After an investigation by the Alabama Fire Marhal’s Office, Mitchell was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on charges of arson second degree, domestic violence and domestic violence third degree.
Flomaton Railroad Crossing Closed Near State Line
May 31, 2017
The Palafox Street railroad crossing at the train yard in Flomaton will be closed through Friday, according to CSX and the Flomaton Police Department.
This will prevent Old Flomaton Road traffic from Century from crossing the state line and entering downtown Flomaton.
The Highway 29 bridge over the railroad tracks will remain open and be the detour for the closure.
Vandals Strike Cantonment Sportsplex Again
May 31, 2017
More vandalism has been reported at the Cantonment Sportsplex. This time, park officials said lights were damaged or destroyed and the vandals once again attacked bathroom fixtures.
Ab Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene unit responded to the park Tuesday night to collect evidence from the scene.
Just over a week ago, we told you the vandalism of bathrooms at the facility. Bathrooms were vandalized –fixtures were broken and paper towels were used to cause overflows.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
