NWE Celebrates Northview Chiefs Baseball As They Head Into Regionals
May 7, 2021
Many of the little league players at Northwest Escambia (NWE) in Walnut Hill dream of one day playing baseball for the Northview High School Chiefs.
The NHS Chiefs are headed into the first round of regional playoffs Friday night. So Thursday night, the NWE players decided to celebrate them and wish them the very best.
NWE players presented each district champion NHS Chief with a goody bag that included treats like sports drinks and sunflower seeds, inspirational quotes, and notes of encouragement.
Northview will host Paxton at 7 p.m. Friday in Bratt. The winner will face either Jay or Holmes County in the regional final on May 11.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Concrete Pours Completed On The Last Two Spans Needed To Open Pensacola Bay Bridge
May 7, 2021
Work is continuing on repairs to the Pensacola Bay Bridge, and the Florida Department of Transportation says they are still on track to open two lanes of traffic on the bridge the week of May 31.
Overnight concrete pours are completed on the last two spans before the bridge can open.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Take Two On The Road Over Mississippi
May 7, 2021
The Blue Wahoos swept a doubleheader over the Mississippi Braves Thursday. The Wahoos won the first game 5-1 and shut out the Braves 6-0 in the second. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dean Swindal Graham
May 7, 2021
Mrs. Dean Swindal Graham, age 90, of Atmore, AL. passed away on Thursday May 6, 2021. She was born in Sprott, AL.to the late J.O. and Virgie Mae Swindal and was a retired elementary school teacher. In 1952 she graduated from her beloved Alabama College, now known as Montevallo. Dean taught school for most of her career at A.C. Moore in Atmore, where she had many special friends and colleagues. She was honored to be a “50” year member of Delta Kappa Gamma. A longtime member of First Baptist of Atmore, AL; she taught Sunday school and VBS; was a faithful member of WMU and served on many committees. Her faith, church and family were the delights of her life.
Mrs. Graham is preceded in death by the love of her life, Sam to whom she was married for “59” years and a granddaughter Jessica.
She leaves behind two daughters, Anne Sherrill (Kent) and Gayle Carpenter (Steve); two sons, David (Dale) and Steve (Tammy); four granddaughters, Samantha Graham; Lindsey Sherrill, Kate Sherrill and Meg Walston; four grandsons, Jason Graham, Christopher Graham, Evan Graham (Melea) and Doug Sherrill (Haley); four great grandchildren, with one on the way, Daniel Repasky, Jake, Harper, and Sawyer Walston.
A special thanks is given to her care givers, Angel Searcy, Jamie Dreadin and the ladies of “We are Family Home Health Care Services’ as well as the compassionate staff of Southern Care Hospice for their loving care of Mama.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 2:30 PM at the First Baptist Church., with Rev. Kevin Garrett officiating.
Private burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Atmore, AL. or Atmore Public Library.
FDOH Reports One New Escambia COVID-19 Death, 29 More cases
May 7, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported one additional death and 29 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Thursday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,110 (+29)
Non-Florida residents: 3,620
Recovered: 33,558*
Total deaths: 690 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths: 286 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 29 (-2)
Number of tests reported last day: 639
Percent positive reported last day: 4.2%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.6%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,059 (+19)
Cantonment: 3,235 (+3)
Century: 1,178 (+2)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 494
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 58
Walnut Hill: 55
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,206 (+8)
Non-Florida residents: 249
Total deaths: 287
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 903*
Number of tests reported last day: 411
Percent positive reported last day: 2.9%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,687 (+5)
Navarre: 3,758
Gulf Breeze: 3,357 (+3)
Pace: 1,479 (+1)
Jay: 550
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,258,433
Florida residents: 2,216,159
Deaths: 35,549
Hospitalizations: 91,652
*“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.
Marjorie Faye Grimes Dennis Mathews
May 7, 2021
Marjorie Faye Grimes Dennis Mathews passed away Wednesday May 5th, 2021.
Marjorie was born July 6, 1935 in Pensacola, Florida. She graduated from Pensacola High School Class of 1953 and attended Pensacola College. She was a Former Executive Secretary (Monsanto), Plant Manager Secretary, Borax Company, Long Beach, CA., Secretary, Long Beach Naval Ship Yard- Ship System Command and California Civil Service, as well as a Church Secretary. She was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, Pensacola, FL.
Marjorie is predeceased by her husband, MCPO Bobby Allen Mathews, father- Homer Hart Grimes, mother- Bessie Mae Dean Grimes, brother- Donald Hart Grimes.
Marjorie is survived by her children, Ellen Dennis Griffin (Jim), Stephanie Dennis Pitts and Steven Dennis (Jamie), grandchildren- Michael Griffith (Wynde), Terry Ollervides Jr, Ben Griffith (Kim), Jamie Fielding (Danny), Sarah Jack (Dave), Kristine Moore (Brian), and Kelly Dennis, Great grandchildren- Taylor Suggs, Terry Ollervides III (Sammara), Kelsey Ollervides, Callie O’Buckley, Austin Griffith, Haley Snyder, MacKenzie Ollervides, Claire Griffith, Aaron Fielding, Landon Moore and Lawson Moore, Great great grandchildren- Terry A. Ollervides, and Levi Ollervides.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 11AM prior to services.
Escambia County Names New Fire Chief
May 6, 2021
Escambia County has named a new fire chief.
Jason Catrambone will join Escambia County on June 14 with more than 25 years of experience as an accomplished chief fire officer, including more than 18 years of command-level experience.
As the Escambia County fire chief, Catrambone’s duties will include supervising fire rescue staff, providing oversight and directing the implementation of internal operations, managing expenditures to the approved annual budget, developing goals and objectives and ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Escambia County’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and resigned in April 2019.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to join the Escambia County Fire Rescue team and Escambia County community,” said Catrambone. “I’m looking forward to working with this motivated group of men and women to continue to serve the residents and visitors of Escambia County dutifully and honorably.”
He currently serves as the fire chief for the City of Williston, N.D. and has certifications as a hazardous materials incident commander and strike team task force leader. He earned an associate degree from Columbia Southern University and has continued coursework there toward a Bachelor of Science in fire service administration with an expected graduation date this year. He received an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
“Chief Catrambone brings the wealth of knowledge and a breadth of experience to this position that we were looking for,” said Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “We’re excited to welcome him to the team.”
“We look forward to Chief Catrambone leading ECFR with his vast understanding and knowledge of firefighter personnel management,” said County Administrator Janice Gilley. “His 25 years of experience tell a story of dedicated and unceasing commitment to excellence and public service and we welcome him to the team.”
“I am very happy a new fire chief has been selected,” said Chairman and District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender. “This is the first step in elevating Escambia County’s fire service. There is still a lot of work to do, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Catrambone is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and previously served on the board of directors. He recently accepted the role of International Association of Fire Chiefs international director.
Catrambone was selected from a pool of 108 cumulative applicants for the Escambia County fire chief position after a thorough review process. The selection process included phone and in-person interviews, a tour of Escambia County Public Safety and a meet and greet with staff.
Century Council Rejects Mayor’s New Hires — For The Second Time
May 6, 2021
The Century Town Council has once again rejected the hiring of two employees recommended by the mayor.
In March, the council refused to approve the employees hired by the mayor because he violated the town’s charter. The charter states that the mayor will present his employee selections to the town council to be approved or denied. The council can only vote yes or no on the mayor’s choice; the charter does not give the council any authority to hire anyone not recommended by the mayor.
At a March meeting, the council turned down the employees because Boutwell had already hired them without their permission and voted to re-advertise the entry-level service worker and citizen services clerk jobs.
This week, Boutwell brought the same two employee choices back to the council, but a motion to hire them failed due to the lack of a second.
Council president Luis Gomez expressed concern that the clerk applicant had actually submitted her resume and application in November, months before the positions were advertised.
Gomez said he had personally contacted the references listed by the service worker applicant and had found he was terminated for just cause and was not eligible for rehired by a former employer. Gomez made additional disparaging comments about the individual.
The council provided no next step for the hiring process. Under the town charter, Boutwell can continue to come back to the council for approval of his choices, whether they be the same or different individuals.
The service worker the mayor hired has nine years experience as millwright at a lumber mill, five years in maintenance at a chemical plant, and six years in home construction. The office worker selected by Boutwell has almost 20 years experience at an area bank as a bookkeeper, loan assistance, teller and accounts payable clerk, and holds an associate degree from Pensacola Junior College.
Pictured: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell (above) and council president Luis Gomez (below) debate the hiring of two new employees. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 297A Fully Reopened After Repairs
May 6, 2021
Highway 297A near Highway 97 in Cantonment fully reopened about 1:30 Thursday afternoon after being closed for repairs.
The northbound lane of Highway 297A just north of the intersection was closed about 7 a.m. Thursday.
Temporary repairs were made Wednesday after an existing depression in the roadway worsened about daybreak.
Pictured: Work Wednesday morning on Highway 297A. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Proclamation Honors Town’s Clerks During Municipal Clerks Week
May 6, 2021
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell has issued a proclamation recognizing the town’s clerks during Municipal Clerks Week. Pictured are (left to right) Town Clerk Kim Godwin, Boutwell, Billing Clerk Toni Simmons and Administrative Clerk Emily Easterling. Also honored was Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood (not pictured.) Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
