Escambia Commission Votes To Request State Funds For Elevated Walkway Over Nine Mile At Beulah Middle
November 17, 2021
The Escambia County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to submit a legislative funding request for a pedestrian bridge over Nine Mile Road at Beulah Middle School.
Local leaders announced in August their plan to work together to seek funding for the walkway, which has a preliminary cost estimate of $3 million. Rep. Michelle Salzman, Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and Escambia County School Board Member Kevin Adams pledged to seek funding for the project.
Bergosh has previously said the elevated walkway will not only be a safety improvement for the school, but also the surrounding community. Along with expanded sidewalk construction on the north and south side of Nine Mile Road near the school, the project will allow for increased pedestrian access and connectivity in the growing community.
The District 1 commissioner has said he will commit up to $500,000 in D1 Local Option Sales Tax funding over the next few years for sidewalk construction that will be complimented by the walkway.
There are nearly 1,000 students at Beulah Middle School. Currently, a bus is transporting students to and from the middle school. State statutes specify that two miles within a school is the walk radius. If no “safe path” exists, then bussing is required.
The bridge would be an approximately 180-foot span with American Disability Act (ADA) accommodations on both sides of the street. The bridge would be completed in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation and consider future widening needed for the Nine-Mile Road corridor.
Sunny And Warm, High Near 80 Today
November 17, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Cantonment Man Gets 30 Years For Armed Home Invasion Robbery Of Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother
November 17, 2021
A Cantonment man was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in state prison for a 2020 home invasion robbery.
Lloyd Christopher Lister must serve a minimum mandatory 10 years under Florida’s 10-20-Life law under the sentence imposed by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles. He was convicted of home invasion robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment with a firearm and grand theft auto by an Escambia County jury.
On December 20, 2020, the victim told deputies she had been inside her residence in the 400 block of Forrest Street with her daughter Autumn Lee Beede when she stepped out to smoke. A few minutes later, Beede came back into the residence followed by a white male holding a handgun while wearing a hoodie, gloves and mask on his face, according to an arrest report.
The victim said the male suspect put the gun to her head, covered her face, zip-tied her wrists together and tied her feet with an extension cord. She was placed in a bathroom, and the door was tied shut with an extension cord. She was in the bathroom about 30 minutes before she could escape.
According to the ECSO, the victim stated the male said, “Don’t turn around or I will shoot you and ma’am, I don’t want to do that.”
As the masked man continued making demands, the victim and her daughter recognized his voice to be that of the daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Lloyd Lister.
The victim discovered her 2019 Kia Sorento was missing, along with her phone and a wallet containing a debit card, cash and checkbook. She called her credit union and discovered there were already unsuccessful attempts to use the debit card at an ATM inside a Tom Thumb on East Nine Mile Road, and the card had been used for a $139.07 purchase at Winn Dixie on Nine Mile Road. In a follow-up investigation, deputies obtained video surveillance of Beede and Lister using the victim’s debit card at both locations.
The ECSO said the victim made positive identification of both suspects from the videos.
Beede was convicted in September of burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft auto and petit theft. She must successfully complete a drug court program. She was sentenced to eight months community control to be followed with 20 months probation.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
November 17, 2021
Northview High School has named Gracie Godwin and Derrick Nicholson as Students of the Month for October. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Posthumously Honors Firefighter Gary Diamond Of Molino
November 17, 2021
The Escambia County Commission on Tuesday issued a proclamation in honor of Gary Diamond, who was recently recognized posthumously as Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year in a ceremony in the Senate Chamber of the Florida Capitol.
Diamond was murdered at his Molino home on December 26, 2020.
“Gary was a dedicated servant to the citizens of Escambia County,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “While we are saddened he is no longer with us, we will continue to honor Gary’s legacy within Escambia County Fire Rescue. It’s a privilege to present this proclamation to the Diamond family.”
Accepting the county proclamation on behalf of Gary Diamond was his wife, Cindy.
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to the Molino Volunteer Firefighter. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He left Escambia in County 2006 to pursue his career calling as a firefighter and EMT at Navarre Beach where he retired as a captain to return home to take care of a family member. At the time of his death, he was volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“Gary was known for his influence on others with the experience and passion to build a strong fire service community,” Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. said during a ceremony in September, “dedicating his time to train younger generations of firefighters.”
“Gary suffered a tragic death in December 2020 doing what he has been know to do his entire career, which was selflessly protecting others at the expense of his own life,” stated a proclamation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, CFO and Fire Marshal Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.
Geneva Elizabeth Sims “Jenie” Beckman
November 17, 2021
Geneva Elizabeth Sims “Jenie” Beckman, resident of Pensacola, FL, passed away on November 12, 2021 at the age of 84. She was born in Houston, Texas to the late Lois Virginia Gottie. Jenie worked for the Escambia County Schools in the cafeteria.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter Beckman; and her parents.
Jenie is survived by her daughters, Therese (Dana) Drexler and Lois (David) Krause; sons, Guy (Randy) Beckman, Mike (Jan) Beckman and Chris Beckman; ten grandchildren; and eleven great- grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM, on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32505 with Rev. Gail McGill officiating. Burial will follow in Clopton Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 1:30PM prior to services.
Dana Meri Whiting
November 17, 2021
Dana Meri Whiting, age 55, of Ormond Beach, FL passed away on November 9, 2021. She was born on June 24, 1966 in Jacksonville, FL to Walter Hogge and Anita Polson Zilcosky.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gary Arthur Whiting and her granddaughter, Braylee Ann Chevelle Lambert.
She is survived by her parents, Walter (Geanette) Hogge of Hampton, VA and Anita Zilcosky of Jacksonville, FL; her fiancé, Donald Rebello; her children, Nicholas Whiting of Pensacola, FL, Leslie Whiting (Ray Baxley) of Perdido, AL and Justin Whiting of Orlando, FL; her sister, Tina Peach of Palm Coast, FL and her grandchildren, Sheyanne Lambert, Allison Lambert and Keira Peacock.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. at Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with Bro. Don Sanks officiating. Interment will follow at Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Walnut Hill, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Nicholas Whiting, Justin Whiting, Ray Baxley, Donald Rebello, Richard Padilla and Steven Ripstein.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Jimmy Vickery
November 17, 2021
Jimmy Vickery, born on July 8, 1957, passed away on November 15, 2021, at the age of 64. He lived in Cottage Hill all his life. He was a member of the Mopar Club and a Dodge mechanic for over 40 years.
He is survived by his daughters, Jenifer Stratton (Michael) and Michelle Kimmons (Mike); sons, Jeffery Vickery and Kevin Bell; sister, Janice Chason (Tony); grandchildren, Lindsey Kimmons, Samantha “Sam” Kimmons, Brycen Stratton and Brooklyn Stratton; and numerous other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, W. L. “Red” Vickery and Nancy Jo Vickery; his sister, Shelia Adams; and his brother, Randy Vickery.
A visitation will be held at 3 P.M. on Friday, November 19, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Ronnie Lee Boatwright
November 17, 2021
Mr. Ronnie Lee Boatwright, age 61, passed away, Friday, November 12, 2021 in Flomaton, AL. He was born in Atmore, AL; and has resided most of his life in Barrineau Park, FL. He enjoyed watching tv, and raking yards.
He is preceded in death by his father, Jimmy Jones, grandparents, Irvin and Frances Mitchell, one uncle, Eugene Mitchell, one aunt, Phyllis Joyner and Leon Joyner, and two cousins.
He is survived by his mother, Rose Baldwin, of Flomaton, AL; a special friend, Janice Peterson, two brothers, Ricky (Traci) Boatwright, of Walnut Hill, FL; James Jones, of Flomaton, AL; two sisters, Patsy (Roger) Hart, of Barrineau Park, FL; Susie Miller, of Molino, FL; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Pugh’s Chapel Assembly of God Church with Chaplain: Ricky Tedder officiating.
Burial will follow at Pugh’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2021 from 12:00 PM until service time at 1:00 PM at Pugh’s Chapel Assembly of God Church.
Pallbearers will be Johnathan Ard, Oliver Ard, Christopher Miller, Hunter Poston, Gene Hasserbock, Terry Hasserbock, and Kenny Poston.
Honorary pallbearers will be Don McCall, John McCall, and Doug Poston.
Bergosh New Commission Chair, Underhill Vice Chair
November 16, 2021
The Escambia County Commission has new leadership after their annual reorganizational meeting Tuesday morning.
For the next year, District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will serve as the new chairman and District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill as the vice chairman. A scheduled rotation takes place each year.
“I want to keep the positive momentum of the last six months moving forward, continue to foster better working relationships with our employees, bargaining groups and community partners, and work toward streamlining our budgeting process for 2022 and beyond,” Bergosh said. “Additionally, I look forward to working with my peers on the board to provide our constituents, the taxpayers of Escambia County, maximum transparency and efficiency in all of our county operations as we work toward recruiting, training and deploying a dynamic and talented workforce to take our county into the future with competence and confidence.”
District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender previously served as the chairman. Bergosh was vice chair prior to his appointment as chair.
“I want to thank the commissioners for allowing me the opportunity to lead the board this past year. We continued to recover from Hurricane Sally, navigate through COVID-19, created and finalized a plan for OLF-8 and made great strides in Public Safety with pay increases and ordering new equipment. I look forward to a great year of leadership as Commissioner Bergosh takes control of the gavel, and I am able to continue to represent the citizens of District 4 and Escambia County.”
Bergosh added, “I applaud the accomplishments and achievements of the last year that the board and staff of the county were able to realize under Chairman Bender’s steady leadership. From hurricane rebuilding to the difficulties of COVID-19 on our community, to beach traffic reduction to profound economic development victories at OLF 8 and the Pensacola Airport with ST Engineering—it was a challenging yet still productive year for Escambia County.”