Library Board Meets Again In Century, Gets Sunshine Law Refresher After Violation Last Month
May 25, 2021
West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance met again in Century Monday, a month after a Sunshine Law violation.
During the meeting a the Century Branch Library,b oard members received a little refresher on the Sunshine Law – Florida’s open meeting laws – from an assistant attorney from the Escambia County Attorney’s Office.
In April, the county self reported a Sunshine Law violation to the State Attorney’s Office after an advertising blunder left the library board meeting in Century without proper public notice. The State Attorney’s office decided the violation was unintentional and accidental.
The April meeting was advertised for the Main Library downtown, not Century. Florida’s Sunshine Law requires that adequate public notice be given for public meetings, including time and the correct location. When NorthEscambia.com notified the board of the discrepancy in the legal notice, the board continued the meeting for a short period of time. And that, according to the State Attorney’s Office, is where they went wrong.
The April meeting, in violation of the Sunshine Law, of the West Florida Libraries Board of Governance at the Century Branch Library.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Now Driveable End To End, Still Expected To Open Next Week
May 25, 2021
The Pensacola Bay Bridge is now drivable from end to end for construction vehicles, and the Florida Department of Transportation says the bridge will open next week.
All decks needed to restore at least two-lanes of traffic are now in place, although there are multiple additional tasks to complete. Construction vehicles and equipment are now able to cross the bridge from end-to-end as crews work to finalize remaining repairs.
On the flyover structure at the intersection of U.S. 98 and 17th Avenue in Pensacola, several layers of asphalt have been placed along with concrete curb on the 17th Avenue ramp.
The initial restoration will temporarily accommodate four-lanes of traffic for approximately two-miles, along with an approximately one-mile, two-lane segment near the Pensacola shore.
All construction, which consists of two three-lane bridges is currently estimated for completion in early 2022.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Warm Week Continues
May 25, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Memorial Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
FDOH Reports 23 New COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County
May 25, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 23 new COVID-19 cases reported Monday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,520 (+23)
Non-Florida residents: 3,696
Recovered: 34,021*
Total deaths: 697
Long-term care facility deaths: 287
Current hospitalizations: 27
Number of tests reported last day: 237
Percent positive reported last day: 8.9%
Percent positive reported last week: 4.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,381 (+20)
Cantonment: 3,289 (+6)
Century: 1,185
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 496
McDavid: 215
Bellview: 59
Walnut Hill: 58
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,463 (+10)
Non-Florida residents: 261
Total deaths: 291
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 915*
Number of tests reported last day: 124
Percent positive reported last day: 7.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,817 (+4)
Navarre: 3,787 (+2)
Gulf Breeze: 3,389 (+3)
Pace: 1,512
Jay: 561 (+1)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,311,941
Florida residents: 2,268,729
Deaths: 36,501
Hospitalizations: 94,176
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Logan Bryant Mitchell
May 25, 2021
Logan Bryant Mitchell, age 12, passed away Sunday, May 23, 2021 in Flomaton, AL.
Logan was born in Mobile, AL and had been a life-long resident of Flomaton. He was a student at Flomaton Middle School. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and Alabama football. A member of 4-H, he participated in pig shows and chicken shows. He had a big heart and adored his hunting dogs, Duke and Brownie. He attended Bethel Community Mennonite Church.
He was preceded in death by his Paternal grandfather, Darrell Mitchell; paternal great-grandmother, Earline Mitchell; maternal great-grandparents, Jack and Bertha Crutchfield.
He is survived by his parents, Luke and Lacinda Mitchell of Flomaton; two sisters, Lindsey Mitchell and Lainey Mitchell, both of Flomaton; maternal grandparents, Earl and Anita Bradley of Flomaton; paternal grandmother, Ruthie Mitchell of Appleton; uncle and aunt, Willie and Kelly Mitchell of Brewton; first cousins, Madison Mitchell, Ace Mitchell, Rosie Mitchell; and numerous family and friends and the 4 amigos.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Pastor John Kemp and Bro. Woody Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5 P.M. until 9 P.M.
Pallbearers: Mike Agerton, Phillip Lambeth, Tuffy Boutwell, Jared Hinote, Dennis Cochran, Jr., and Steven Robinson.
Honorary Pallbearers include the 3 Amigos, Braden Nall, Mason Yuhasz, Conner Smith, as well as Landon Haveard and the Class of 2027.
Flowers are being accepted, or donations can be made to the Flomaton PTO.
Nancy Mary Mattheiss
May 25, 2021
Nancy Mary Mattheiss, resident of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the age of 79. She was born in Panama City, Florida to the Manly Dingler and Alma Ruby Lee Parrish Dingler. She and Emil Rudolph Mattheiss married on August 23, 1959. Nancy first started working as a car hop on roller skates then became the best homemaker, cosmetologist, and store clerk. She was a full of energy 5′2″ woman who always let you know when she was in the room. Nancy was a devout Christian. She loved dancing in the pouring rain. Her love for nature was incredible. Nancy’s favorite time of life was when her whole family (kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and friends) gathered at her house for a feast. She will be missed dearly by all that knew her.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Emil Rudolph Mattheiss; son, Darryl Allen Mattheiss; parents; brother, Donnie Richard Dingler; and sister, Melinda Dingler.
Nancy is survived by her children, Anthony Emil (Tamala) Mattheiss, Delores Carolyn (Sam) Wood and Melinda Kay Valencia; grandchildren, Caleb, Dustin, Brandi (Derek), Jacob (Madison), Ashley (Matthew), Jenni, Randy (Kayley), Crystal (Oliver), Devan (Amber) and Michael (Megan); great grandchildren, Kyle, Katelyn, Kaylee, Austin, Aliyah, Mikenna, Baylen, Brooklyn, Paxton, Tyler, Taylor, Presley, Colby, Bruce, Robert, Aurora, Taylor and Sophia; great grandchild, Elizabeth; sisters, Shirley, Carol and Dewanna; and brother, Jerry.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 3PM, Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Reception will follow services at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
ATV Crash Claims Life Of 12-Year Old Flomaton Elementary Student
May 24, 2021
An all-terrain vehicle crash claimed the life of a 12-year old boy in Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
Flomaton Elementary Principal George Brown told our news partners at WEAR 3 that the victim is Logan Mitchell, a sixth grade student at the school.
The ATV crash occurred about 5 p.m. on private property in the area of Upper Creek Road west of the Rock Cemetery, about a half mile from Highway 31. He was airlifted by ShandsCair 6 medical helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced deceased.
“At this time the Flomaton Police Department is conducting a lengthy investigation into the total circumstances surrounding the crash,” Thompson said. The Flomaton Police Department and Escambia County Department of Human Resources are investigating. Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said the case will be presented to the Escambia County District Attorney’s Office for review, but at this time no criminal charges have been filed.
“On behalf of the Flomaton Police Department, we send out high respects to the families of both underaged victims in the crash. Our community lost a previous soul, and we together as one are grieving,” the police chief said.
Mitchell was the third Flomaton Elementary School student death in the past year. An ATV accident on May 28, 2020, claimed the life of 6-year old Trayton Adams, and 11-year old Jaden James, was killed in an October 3, 2020, vehicle crash in Walnut Hill.
Pictured: Logan Mitchell. Photo provided by Flomaton Elementary Principal George Brown via WEAR 3. Click to enlarge.
Florida Ending $300 Weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Payments
May 24, 2021
Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday announced that the state will withdraw from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program effective June 26, ending extra $300 per week payments.
The DEO said there are more than 460,000 online jobs posted online that are available throughout the state for job seekers.
“Florida’s employers are also seeing employment growth, as more Floridians, including some who completely left the workforce, are now eagerly reentering the workforce. Transitioning away from this benefit will help meet the demands of small and large businesses who are ready to hire and expand their workforce,” said Dane Eagle, secretary of the Florida DEO.
Florida businesses and employers are hiring across the state and need unemployed Floridians to return to the workforce, according to Florida DEO.
For the week beginning June 27, 2021, eligible reemployment assistance claimants will no longer receive the supplemental $300 weekly FPUC payment.
Century Charter Review Committee Begins Work To Rewrite Future Of Town Government
May 24, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee is back at work to shape the future of government in the town.
The committee was first appointed in August 2019 to explore the town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The charter has not been updated in 40 years, and that often creates problems in the operation of the town.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed regular meetings for the charter committee and any chance of moving forward in 2020, preventing any charter change from making the ballot.
Former interim town manager Buz Eddy, acting as a consultant, met with the committee last week and discussed the forms of government that Century could choose, including the possibility of shifting many responsibilities to a town manager.
Committee chairperson Mary Bourgeois said she wants the committee to being work in earnest next month and explore the current charter “line by line.”
There were 11 members on the original committee, but over half resigned. The town council recently appointed three new members, making the new committee of eight. Returning charter review committee members are Bourgeois, Shelisa Abraham, Michelle Cunningham, Evelyn Hammond and Helen Mincy. The three new members are Leslie Howington, Brenda Spencer and Kathryn Fleming.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee chairperson Mary Bourgeois address the committee at a recent meeting. Pictured below: Consultant Buz Eddy explains the forms of government available for municipalities in Florida. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Animal Shelter Cuts Hours Due To Staffing Shortage, Seeks To Hire Help
May 24, 2021
The Escambia County animal shelter has cut hours due to staffing issues, and they are looking to hire additional help.
Beginning Monday, May 24, the animal shelter will be open to the public as follows:
- Monday — Friday: 1 — 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. — 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
“Animal Welfare is operating at 50 percent of staffing levels due to the nationwide manpower crisis; therefore, hours will be adjusted to opening one hour later for the public,” said County Administrator Janice Gilley. “This manpower shortage is severely impacting Escambia County services and our current employees. This was the best solution to allow our staff time to provide proper care and cleaning for the animals.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare Department is currently hiring. To learn more, click or tap here.