Lake Stone Camper Fire Under Investigation As Arson
September 29, 2021
A fire that destroyed a camper early Saturday morning at Lake Stone is under investigation as an arson.
“We are investigating this fire as an arson,” Lt. John Bell of the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday. “Due to this being an active investigation I am unable to provide any further details at this time.”
Other campers at the lake told NorthEscambia.com that they saw a gas can that did not belong near the camper after the fire, and they believed there may have been an attempt to block the camper doors from the outside. Those details have not been confirmed by the fire marshal. Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office referred us to the state for additional comment.
Bell said anyone with information about the incident should call 1-877-NoArson (1-877-662-7766).
The fire was reported about 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the campground area of the park just outside Century. The camper was reported to be fully involved when the first fire units arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department were dispatched to the fire.
Last year, two campers belonging to the same person were destroyed by fire.
In January 2020, a camper belonging to an 80-year old man burned. The cause of that fire was preliminarily determined to be a space heater. By February, he had moved into a used RV that was destroyed by fire in February 2020. The cause of that fire was never announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Minimum Wage Increases To $10 An Hour On Thursday
September 29, 2021
The first of six year increases to Florida’s minimum wage will take effect on Thursday.
The current minimum wage of $8.65 per hour will go up $1.35 to $10 per hour. The rate for tipped workers will go from $5.63 an hour to $6.98 per hour.
In November 2020, Florida voters approved changes to the state’s minimum wage, which will gradually increase from the $8.65 an hour to $15 an hour by September 2026
The current federal minimum wage, which neighboring Alabama follows, is $7.25 an hour.
Do Over: Century Meets Again To Approve Tentative Tax Increase, New Budget
September 29, 2021
The Town of Century held a special council meeting Tuesday evening to redo a previous meeting to pass a tentative property tax increase and budget for the next fiscal year after botching the process on the first try.
The votes taken Tuesday give tentative, approval to a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 7.61% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8553 mills. The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. Anything greater than the rolled-back rate is a tax increase.
The town gave tentative approval to a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, up from $4.14 million during the current fiscal year. The increase is mostly due to income from grants.
Council member James Smith joined the meeting by Zoom audio in time for the budget vote, saying he had trouble getting into the meeting call. Council member Leonard White did not attend or take part in the Zoom call.
The town won’t officially have a budget in place when their new fiscal year begins on October 1. The council will vote on final final approval of the tax rate and budget during a meeting at 7:15 p.m. on October 4.
Pictured: A special Century Town Council meeting Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Showers And Thunderstorms For Wednesday
September 29, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Two Injured In Pine Forest Road Head-on Collision
September 29, 2021
Two people were reportedly injured in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Pine Forest Road.
The head-on collision happened on Pine Forest Road near Graham Road, just north of the Pine Forest Assembly of God Church, just before 5 p.m.
Both drivers were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The roadway was closed about an hour by the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Public Schools Foundation Awards $158,566 in Grants to Local Schools
September 29, 2021
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation has awarded Grants for Excellence totaling $158,566 to 20 local school projects.
The grants are intended to support innovation in the classroom and enhance the quality of education for students.
Jim Allen Elementary School’s Amanda Hall, Rene Johnson, Chip Coleman, Anne Fillingim and Rachel Cooley (pictured above, L-R) hope to score big with a grant-funded project they are calling “NBA ‘22″.
“NBA ‘22 is a catalyst for change in attendance and tardiness rates. An environment of encouragement and accountability will create change for our students and coaches will mentor their teams to victory,” Hall said.
Here is the complete list of Grants for Excellence recipients for the 2021-2022 school year:
Jim Allen Elementary School, Amanda Hall, Chip Coleman, Rene Johnson, Anne, Fillingim, Rachel Cooley
NBA ‘22
Bailey Middle School, Dr. Roberta Wetzel, Rachel Bryans, Mona Rust Michelle Schick, Madison Fowler, Amanda Breaux, Galen Ringo, Grace Bonsall, Sara Ratliff
Brighten Up Your Reading and Writing with Watt Key: An Author’s Visit
Ensley Elementary School, Regina Smolensky
Surf’s Up for Learning
Escambia High School, Kourtney Hayhurst
DNA Gel Electrophoresis
Ferry Pass Elementary School, Cathy Melton, Ginger Maggiore, Paula McAndrews, James Benny, Dorie Nickerson, Jessica Bryan, Bill Waters
Drummers with Dignity
Fine and Performing Arts, Angela Barberi, Tanya Broom, Sarah Kelly, Elerene Walters, Sarah Ingram, Catherine Roberts, Sarah Stubbs, Brandi Zanthos, Jennifer Rodriquez, Lauralee Best, Andrea Cain, Alicia Gifford, Rachel Pongetti
STEM Art Collaborative: The Future is Ours to Make
Gifted Program (3 sites), Cassie Mense
Eat, Sleep, Code: Programming a Passion for Coding
Holm Elementary School, Sabra Kuhlman
Walking through Walls of Learning
Holm Elementary School, Patricia Swanz-Reiners, Linda Sweeting, Taryne Smith, Michelle Ingram, Jojeana Jernigan, Michelle Davison
Mission: Possible with LEGO
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, Mary O’Connor, Adam Bretschneider
Growing STEM in a Greenhouse
Kingsfield Elementary School, Erica Minchew
Learning with All of Our senses
Media Services, Michelle White
Creating an Oasis of E-Books in Book Deserts
Navy Point Elementary School, Stephanie Gaffney, Jana Arnettt, Ryan Suero, Tanya DeGrucchio, Elizabeth Kennedy, Brittany Turner
Stories in Action
Pensacola High School, Karen Bruening
What Goes Up Must Come Down
Pine Meadow Elementary School, Michelle Williams, Cassi McGee, Patricia Stroud, Kelly Harris, Melissa Broadwater, Courtney Merson
Taking Our Learning to the ExSTREAM
Pine Meadow Elementary School, Vanessa Taylor, Karen Potter, Julie Kendall, Casey Harrison, Amber McCraney, Maxine Mathis
Making Math Count
Booker T. Washington High School, Nancy Barger
How to Care for Your Patients
West Florida High School, Matthew MacGregor
Fish Tank “Pour” No More
West Florida High School, Sarah Ingram
Small Parts Making a Big Difference
West Florida High School, John Dittmar
Teaching the Future “UAVs & CTE”
Grants for Excellence are funded by the Escambia County Public School Foundation and matching grant funds from the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations through their School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. Grants were available for teachers of students in grades K-12. Grants for 2021-2022 were awarded in the priority areas of career/technical education, increasing graduation rates, literacy, low-performing students, STEM education, or teaching quality.
Pictured: (L-R) Jim Allen Elementary School’s Amanda Hall, Rene Johnson, Chip Coleman, Anne Fillingim and Rachel Cooley will use their grant for a project they are calling “NBA ‘22″. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Free-standing ER Opens On Nine Mile Road
September 29, 2021
Tuesday, West Florida Hospital opened its new freestanding emergency care center on Nine Mile Road.
Known as Pine Forest Emergency, it is open 24 hours a day.
Rep. Michelle Salzman and District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry were among those that took part in the ribbon cutting.
The full service facility is located at 3194 West Nine Mile Road, near I-10.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Killed In Alabama Wreck
September 28, 2021
An Alabama crash Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a beloved employee of the Ensley Lowe’s store on Nine Mile Road.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Tuesday that 32-year old Ronald Eduardo Rodriguez, Jr. of Pensacola was driving a 2016 Jeep Renegade when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2011 Nissan Sentra driven by 23-year old Alex Christopher Toddof Pace. The crash happened about 6:30 p.m. Sunday on Highway 90 near Elsanor.
Alabama troopers said Rodriquez was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation is continuing.
File photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Possession of Child Pornography
September 28, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing multiple child pornography counts.
Steven Martin Spurlock, 63, was charged with 10 felony counts of possession of child pornography.
According to an arrest report, the lewd images depicted female children under the age of five.
Two children told a family member that Spurlock frequently showed them child pornography images and videos on his tablet, according to an arrest report, in addition to adults in sexual situations.
Spurlock provided an investigator access to his tablet but said he was uncomfortable with a forensic analyst attempting to recover deleted items, if any. The tablet was seized until a search warrant was obtained. At least 10 thumbnails depicting child pornography were later recovered from the tablet, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Spurlock remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $250,000.
Humidity And A Slight Chance Of Rain Return
September 28, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.