Escambia County Takes Next Step Toward Broadband Internet Network; Thousands Could Get True High Speed Access
July 13, 2021
Escambia County is moving forward with plans toward a countywide broadband network following a study that found the county has large high speed internet gaps.
A late 2020 assessment by Magellan Advisors found that almost all residents in the more northern parts of Escambia County do not have any access to the internet at speeds defined as broadband by the Federal Communications Commission.
The Escambia County Commission recently voted unanimously enter into a contract with Magellan for $645,000 in CARES Act funding for design engineering, detailed business and financial planning, along with grant services and applications in a major step toward a county broadband network. It essentially will create a plan for moving forward if commissioners later determine the network is financially feasible.
“I want to thank my colleagues for continuing to support the expansion of broadband internet into the unserved, as well as the underserved areas of Escambia County,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “Even though the franchising and licensing of cable and internet companies is not an Escambia County government right or responsibility, I have thousands of constituents whose quality of life, work and education is negatively impacted by the quality of their internet connection, so it is a huge priority of mine.
The earlier study identified about 3,000 underserved or unserved residents without access to true broadband in North Escambia. After the planning, the next step in the project outlined by Magellan Advisors would be a fiber based wireless network in North Escambia in areas from Molino north (pictured above). That move would take additional action by the commission in coming months.
The Wi-Fi type network would immediately offer high speed internet to 3,000 underserved North Escambia residents Costs have been initially estimated at $79 per month for a speed of 150/50 Mbps. Additional fiber connections up to a symmetrical (same upload and download speed) 1 Gigabit would also become available.
None of those North Escambia residents currently have access to the federally defined minimum broadband speed of 25/3 Mbps.
“While I do not know exactly what the solution looks like yet, I am confident that we are going to put something together that will work well for all of Escambia County, especially District 5,” Barry told NorthEscambia.com. “It is the type of project which can truly change people’s lives forever.”
Magellan Advisors of Denver, Colorado, was selected from five submitted. The company has done similar work in Florida for 25 governmental clients including Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Seminole County.
The company estimates it will take about five months to deliver a final design and road map, including a business plan, engineering design and deployment road map.
Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Stars Win Florida State Championship
July 13, 2021
The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team won the Florida little league state championship Monday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Felony Burglary With Battery Against Mother Of His Child
July 13, 2021
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly reaching into a vehicle occupied by the mother of his child and hitting her on two different occasions.
Alondo Sherrod Thompkins, 25, was charged with two counts of first degree felony burglary with battery.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office she was a passenger in a vehicle stopped at the traffic light at Davis Highway and Brent Lane when Thompkins suddenly arrived in his own vehicle. He got out of his car, reached through the open windows of the vehicle in which the victim was a passenger and struck her in the face, according to arrest report.
When they arrived at their destination in the 500 block of Fairfield Drive, Thompkins had followed them. He rant out of his car again, reached through the still open window and struck the victim several more times in the side and face, the report states.
Thompkins told deputies he reached into the car toward the victim, but he was actually trying to reclaim a set of keys that belonged to him, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Escambia County’s Vaccination Rate Lagging Behind State Average
July 13, 2021
Escambia County’s coronavirus vaccination rate is lagging behind the state average, according to recently released data from the Florida Department of Health
Statewide, 58% of Floridians have received at least one dose.
In Escambia County 117,425 people, or 42% of the population over age 12, have received at least one dose. There were just 833 people vaccinated in Escambia County last week.
Rain Is Likely Again Today
July 13, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
IP Accepting Applications For $80,000 In Foundation Grants Through July 26
July 13, 2021
The International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $80,000 in foundation grants to non-profit organizations in 2021, in honor of the mill’s 80th anniversary.
Grant applications will be accepted at www.ipgiving.com through Monday, July 26.
The International Paper Foundation makes sustainable investments to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work.
Signature Causes include:
- Education – Programs focused on helping children succeed via a comprehensive approach to education. Priority is given to literacy programs from birth through 3rd grade.
- Hunger – Programs dedicated to improving food security throughout our communities.
- Health & Wellness – Programs that promote healthy living habits.
- Disaster Relief – Programs that help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
Funding also is available to address environmental initiatives (forests, water and air), employee involvement grants and other critical community needs.
Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or qualifying federal entity to apply for a grant. To be considered, organizations must have a program that addresses critical community needs and have measureable objectives to demonstrate impact. Details on grant eligibility, guidelines and restrictions are available on the website.
An eligible non-profit organization with a program in an area that the foundation supports must apply online by visiting http://www.ipgiving.com. Applications are routed to the local IP facility and must be completed in its entirety to be considered.
For more information about the grant guidelines or process, contact Whitney Fike, communications manager at whitney.fike@ipaper.com or (850) 968-3076.
Lynnette Miller Spinks
July 13, 2021
Lynnette Miller Spinks passed away peacefully on June 8, 2021 at the age of 69. Born in Pueblo, Colorado, she became a resident of Molino, Florida in 1983. Lynnette was well-known and loved by everyone in the area. A wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt, Nanny, and friend, her passing is felt by so many. She had a great passion for life, cooking, old time country music, old time church hymns, the Florida State Seminoles, and the 2020 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Lynnette loved taking care of her family, friends, church family, and those in need.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister.
She is survived by her husband and love of her life Stephen Spinks; her children John Miller (Susie), Michael Beard (Karen), and Kendra Molchanoff (Joseph), as well as her sister Carolyn Miller and brothers Howard Miller (Edna) and Lee Miller. Lynnette loved all of her 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Even now we can hear, “Kiss those grandbabies for me.”
A celebration of her life will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino, Florida on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 1:30 PM. Casual dress, please.
DeSantis Makes Local Appointment To State Board Of Optometry
July 13, 2021
Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed an Escambia County woman to the Board of Optometry.
Katie Spear is a licensed optometrist and owner of The Visual Performance Center. She is a member of the Florida Optometric Association, American Optometric Association and is a past co-editor of Women in Optometry. Spear earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University, master’s degree in public health and doctorate of optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her juris doctor from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
John Francis (Jack) Murphy Jr.
July 13, 2021
John Francis (Jack) Murphy Jr. was born on March 14th, 1936, in Albany, NY to Marion Margaret Brand and John F. Murphy. He served 3 years in the Army as an engineer including 10 months in a combat zone in Korea where the cease fire was signed while he was on a troop ship headed for the war zone with the 841st Engineer Aviation Battalion. He returned to the U.S. to complete his enlistment and later returned to Albany. He eventually went to work for Niagara-Mohawk Power Company.
Jack and his first wife Helene Jane Van Beusichem were married on April 12, 1958 and settled in Claverack, NY. They adopted three children, Thomas John (Kelly), Linda Jean Turner (Bruce), and James Matthew (Jayne).
Jack served his community as a member and leader of several organizations including the A.B. Shaw Fire Company, St. John’s and St. Thomas’ Lutheran Churches, the Hudson Elks, VFW, American Legion, Hudson Power Boat Association, and Hudson Whalers Pop Warner Football. He also served 10 years as a member of the Hudson City School District Board of Education including two years as president and liaison to the NY State Schools Boards.
Jack retired from NiMo as the superintendent of transmission and distribution for the Hudson service area after 35 years. His wife Jane preceded him in death in August 1986. Jack remarried Joan Steineke and they later retired in North Fort Myers, FL, where he remained active in civic organizations. After many years in Florida, Jack returned to the Hudson, NY, area.
After his second wife passed away, he met his second “soul mate” in Rose (Betty) Taylor and they split time between Crossville, TN, and East Greenbush, NY. Betty passed away in 2019 and Jack moved to Pensacola, FL, and was a proud member of American Legion Post 240 where he was the eldest of four generations of Post and Sons of the American Legion members, the youngest being his great grandson, Seamus.
Jack loved his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers and their wives, Kenneth Pleat (Clarice) and George Pleat (Georgette).
The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Summer Vista assisted living facility (particularly Kerrianna, Danielle, and Holly) and Vitas Healthcare (particularly Stephanie, Jasmine, Ellen, and Kelly). Jack requested his family have “a big party” instead of a funeral.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s name to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, Inc. or the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola, Inc.
Annola Margaret Hall
July 13, 2021
Annola Margaret Hall, was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. She passed from this life suddenly on July 9, 2021 at 76 years of age. Born in Beeville, Texas, she was raised in Corpus Christi, where she met the love of her life, Claude Stuard Hall. Married for 56 years, they traveled the world together, as he served our country. As mom to Gina, Kristine, and step-mother to Belinda, this military wife still pursued higher education. Annola completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawaii and earned a Masters degree in Mathematics from University of West Florida.
Annola was loved by many and blessed all those she touched. Her life’s passion was education, where she taught upper-level mathematics at Escambia High School and J.M. Tate High School for 43 years. ‘Mrs. Hall,’ was a favorite of students and peers. She was a trusted counselor, mentor, friend, and continuing to substitute-teach even in retirement. Mrs. Hall’s pride was in her school and students, and she shared her passion for learning with thousands of students over the years. One of her favorite titles, however, was ‘Gran.’ She loved her grandchildren, affectionately known as ‘Gran’s Sugars,’ Taylor (Sugar-Booger), Michael (Sugar-Bum), John (Sugar-Cube), Danielle (Sugar-Dumpling) , and Nathan (Sugar-Baby), with all of her heart and she spoiled them accordingly.
Annola was an avid reader, gardener, and loved to crochet and play games. She was often seen in the yard with Claude, in the kitchen canning vegetables, or in her chair with a book, a ball of yarn, or a sudoku puzzle. Of course, whenever there was a need for family fun, she was gathered around the Parcheesi Board.
Annola was preceded in death my her mother, Lenola Lavenia Ferguson, and her father William James Ferguson.
Survivors include her beloved husband Claude Stuard Hall; two beautiful daughters, Gina Nola Howard with husband William Davis Howard and Kristine Margaret Scapin, with husband Deamon John Scapin II; grandchildren Taylor Leann, Michael, John, Danielle, Nathan, Taylor, Olivia, and Blakely; her brother Bill Ferguson with wife Jan and nephew Ryan.
A celebration of Annola’s life will include a visitation on Wednesday, July 14, 5p-7p and Memorial Service on Thursday, July 15, 10:30am at Fatih Chapel North, 1000 Hwy 29, Cantonment, Florida. A brief Graveside will follow the service at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery, 1pm.