Captain Ken Kercher Retires From Escambia Fire Rescue, Recognized By BOCC
February 10, 2020
The Escambia County Commission recently adopted a resolution recognizing Captain Ken Kercher upon his retirement from the volunteer service at the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Kercher first volunteered in September 1993 at the age of 18.
“I hope I have done enough for my community and this county,” Kercher said. “I only wanted to help others. I just hope I made a difference.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Chaparrals Take Second In Gulf Coast Color Guard Percussion Competition
February 10, 2020
The Tate High School Chaparrals finished in second place this past weekend in the Gulf Coast Color Guard Percussion Circuit hosted by Choctawhatchee High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Up A Couple Of Pennies
February 10, 2020
Florida gas prices are declining again after briefly rising early last week. The state average jumped 6 cents per gallon, Tuesday. However, that increase was cut in half by the weekend.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.39 per gallon. Sunday’s state average is 2 cents per gallon more than this time last week, and 14 cents more than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.29 on Sunday, with two Cantonment stations a nickel lower at $2.24.
“Retail gas prices increased last week, despite fundamentals that suggested a decline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Fuel supplies are strong, demand is down, and crude and gasoline futures have remained low. However, retailers likely raised prices to offset the cost of new fuel contracts that come with a new month. Despite the initial bump, pump prices are falling again, and could reach the low $2.30s in the coming weeks.”
New Market Street Closure At Nine Mile Road
February 10, 2020
New Market Street will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County beginning Monday as crews perform drainage work. These operations are anticipated to take seven to 10 days to complete.
Traffic will be detoured to Parkside Street and Milestone Boulevard. Signs and variable message boards will be in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and alternate route.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Blue Wahoos New Batboy Wade Vadakin Elected To Southern League Hall Of Fame
February 10, 2020
Wade Vadakin, the beloved former batboy for the Mobile BayBears, who will work games this season for the Blue Wahoos, has been elected to the Southern League Hall of Fame.
Vadakin, 40, born with congenital brain-stem damage and visual impairment, was voted to the 2020 class through the league’s annual Special Consideration Ballot. He endeared himself to the BayBears and Mobile community as the team’s batboy since their inaugural season in 1997.
On August 11, the Blue Wahoos announced Vadakin will work Blue Wahoos home games as their batboy. Team president Jonathan Griffith presented Vadakin that day with a Blue Wahoos jersey during the final “Bay to Bay” series between the teams in Mobile at Hank Aaron Stadium.
After 22 seasons in Mobile, the BayBears’ Southern League franchise transferred to Huntsville following the 2019 season and will debut as the Rocket City Trash Pandas in April.
“Once we knew Mobile was going to leave (as franchise) and knowing that Wade had been at our ballpark (visiting batboy) along with being at Hank Aaron Stadium since day one, it came up in conversation,” Griffith said.
“We talked about what is Wade going to do without baseball and it became one of those things where we said we wanted to make sure he still has baseball and he’s still around baseball enjoying something he loves.”
Vadakin, who lives in Fairhope with his parents, was elected to the Southern League Hall of Fame for his two decades of dedication and effort with the BayBears. He was given the title of “Director of On-Field Operations.
His signature moves were “Riding the Bull” when he pretended to be on horseback, after picking up a bat whenever the BayBears scored a run.
As he said during the Aug. 11 ceremony, “On one hand, it sucks saying goodbye to Mobile, saying goodbye to Hank Aaron Stadium – a place I called home for 22 years. On the other hand, it’s exciting being part of a new team (Blue Wahoos), being with a new organization, being with new players.”
Vadakin will be formally enshrined as part of the 2020 class in June during the Southern League All-Star game. He will be entering with a star-studded class that includes legendary Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, who got his start with the former Asheville (N.C.) Orioles when that franchise was member of the Southern League.
Also inducted will be former Seattle Mariners star Edgar Martinez, who was inducted last summer into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. for his decorated career. Martinez played two full seasons with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1985-86.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who was manager of the former Greenville Braves, now Mississippi Braves, will be inducted as well.
The fifth member of the class will be former Charlotte O’s general manager Frances Crockett Ringley, who was the first female general manager in professional baseball during a 12-year span.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Terry Dennis Rigby
February 10, 2020
Terry Dennis Rigby, 60, of Oak Grove, FL. passed away February 10, 2020 in Pensacola, FL. He was born in Columbia, S.C. on March 28, 1959.
He attended Auburn University. He was a retired fleet maintenance supervisor for Escambia County Solid Waste with over 32 years of service. In 2018, he was honored by the Escambia County Commission for his long career. He served as a volunteer for the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, next month would have made 40 years and served as chief from 1988 to 1989. In 2012, he was named Officer of the Year and was honored for his decades of service to the department.
He is preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Doris Tichi Rigby.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years Sherri Clauss Rigby of Oak Grove, FL; two children Chad Rigby of Oak Grove, FL, and Kristi Rigby Hughes of Orlando, FL; two grandsons Devin and Dakota Hughes; brother Russell Young of South Carolina and numerous family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 14, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Kevin Flannigan officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Escambia Country Fire and Rescue Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 13, 2020, from 6-8 p.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
ECUA Selects Next Executive Director
February 9, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has selected J. Bruce Woody to be the agency’s next executive director.
Woody has been city manager since 2011 in St. Joseph, Missouri, a town of 76,000 people with a $234 million annual budget. His other work experience includes assistant director of public works in St. Joseph, engineer in Olathe, Kansas, and assistant city engineer in Kansas City, Kansas.
He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a M.A. in public administration.
“Good governance of a utility requires regular and honest communication between the Board, the Executive Director, regulators, the district’s customers, and its employees,” Woody said in an introdctory statement on his resume. “Of equal concern are developing relationships with large industry, neighboring property owners and developing strong community partnerships and intergovernmental relationships with its member political jurisdictions. Good relationships are powerful tools to get things accomplished, especially community-wide goals and long-term initiatives.”
ECUA must next come to terms on an employment contract with Woody. That’s expected to take about two weeks, possibly in time for the ECUA board’s next regular meeting on February 25.
The salary range for the position is $160,000 to $225,000 annually.
Sunny And Warm Sunday; Rain For The Rest Of The Week
February 9, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 49.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tree Giveaway Friday To Mark Anniversary Of Century Tornado
February 9, 2020
The 4th Annual Tree Giveaway and Tornado Remembrance will be held Friday in Century.
During the 10 a.m. program at the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4, attendees can choose from red maple, Shumard oak and flatwoods plum trees while supplies last.
The program is sponsored by the Town of Century, Escambia County and the Florida Forest Service. It marks the fourth anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, 2016.
Pictured: A 2019 tree giveaway in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Niceville Soccer Tops Tate In District Championship Game
February 9, 2020
The No. 2 ranked Niceville Eagles defeated the Tate Aggies 3-0 in the District 1-6A soccer championship game Saturday night.
Niceville, also ranked No. 6 nationally, is headed to the playoffs.
With the switch this year to using MaxPreps ratings to determine playoff berths, Tate did not rank high enough to advance to regionals despite being district runner-ups.
Logan Tyree was named the MaxPreps player of the game for Tate.