Welcome to Tateville: Tate Baseball Outs The Grinch In Christmas Parade
December 13, 2022
Everyone down in Tateville loved Christmas a lot.
Except the Grinch, who lives outside North Escambia, did not.
The Tate Aggies baseball team had made
The choice to march in the Pensacola Christmas Parade.
In their “Welcome To Tateville” float they were a go.
Who better tossing beads than a baseball team that knows how to throw.
But there too was the Grinch
Trying to steal Christmas in a pinch.
But in a big Christmas triple play,
Tate Baseball saved the day!
In a big Christmas grand slam play,
It was a Merry Christmas parade day.
Merry Christmas to all,
From Tate Aggie baseball.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured: Tate High Baseball’s “Welcome to Tateville” float in the Pensacola Christmas Parade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Resoliciting Proposals For North Escambia Residential Fiber Internet
December 12, 2022
Escambia County is resoliciting bids for a company to provide fiber internet to North Escambia homes and county facilities.
The county originally accepted proposals to provide fiber to homes north of 10 Mile Road and approved entering into a memorandum of understanding with Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Cox Communications retained a law firm and filed a formal protest against the award.
The proposal from EREC included only their electric franchise territory, an area essentially north of Barrineau Park Road. As a member owned electric cooperative, EREC would provide fiber internet service to all 4,000 plus homes and businesses in their territory. Cox submitted a proposal to provide broadband internet to about 2,500 homes in unspecified areas north of 10 Mile Road.
The New Request
In the new solicitation, Escambia County is seeking a company to provide the high speed broadband in area from Muscogee Road/Becks Lake Road north to the Alabama state line.
In addition to providing broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of the northern part of the county, the county is seeking an estimated 104 miles of fiber to serve 40 county facilities in the geographic region. The broadband service must be capable of achieving symmetrical residential speeds of 1 GB or greater.
The “leading-edge” broadband services” must also list retail prices and include a rate cap for residential customers for the first three years after connection and specify a maximum annual increase percentage.
Escambia County is committing up to $10 million American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project, with the company owning and operating the network.
Proposals are due by December 22.
Escambia County has committed another $12 million in a second phase for a future fiber to the home buildout and service to county buildings to the south.
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL DETAIL
EREC Proposal
Under their original proposal, EREC requested $6 million from the county toward a $24 million project. They proposed fiber internet to some 4,000 plus homes and businesses — every single home and business in their footprint — and a fiber ring connecting about two dozen county facilities. The first homes would receive service as early as next summer.
Three basic speed tiers proposed by EREC were:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.95/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $79.95/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $99.95/month
Cox Proposal
In their original proposal, Cox requested the county provide $16.3 million toward a $24.4 million project to construct a 132 mile fiber ring to 44 county facilities and provide fiber internet to 2,514 “underserved” households. Their proposed timeline was 18-36 months to complete the residential portion, with 36 total months needed to ring the county facilities.
Cox proposed package pricing as follows:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.99/month
- 250 Mbps/250 Mbps — $87.99/month
- 500 Mbps/500 Mbps — $99.99/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $119.99/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $149.99/month
Slight Chance Of Showers Monday, Storms Midweek
December 12, 2022
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 72. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 53. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
December 12, 2022
Tate High School has announced their Students of the Month for October. They are Lena Litton and Christian Neptune. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Head Football Coach Pete Shinnick Resigns
December 12, 2022
The University of West Florida has announced Sunday that Pete Shinnick has resigned as the school’s head football coach to accept the same position at Towson University. The announcement came the day after UWF’s semifinal loss Saturday to Ferris State.
Shinnick has spent the past eight years at UWF building the program from the ground up. He was hired as the first coach in school history in 2014 and compiled a 56-21 record in six seasons. During that time, he created a culture that was second-to-none and made UWF a top destination for student-athletes from across the country.
UWF won the 2019 Division II National Championship in just its fourth season of play, matching the NCAA record for fastest startup to win a title. The Argonauts appeared in the NCAA Playoffs four times, advancing to the national championship twice and were one of just two teams to advance to the semifinals three times in that span.
“My family and I have enjoyed every moment of our time at UWF and in Pensacola,” Shinnick said. “This university has supported us in so many ways and the success on and off the field is a direct result of that. A special thank you to Dr. Bense for wanting to start football, Dave Scott for believing in me to be the man to do that and Dr. Saunders for her continued support of our program. Arete! Go Argos.”
“We are grateful for Coach Shinnick and thank him for the dedication he has shown the Argo football program,” UWF Athletics Director Dave Scott said. “It is no easy feat to build a program from the ground up, but Coach Shinnick did just that — accomplishing much in the program’s six seasons.
“We look forward to the future of Argo football and the new opportunities that are to come. We are committed to finding a head coach who embodies the Argo spirit and will continue the legacy of building champions for life, on and off the field.”
Shinnick has a 159-67 career coaching record, which includes a 50-24 record in seven seasons at UNC Pembroke from 2007-13, and 53-22 in seven seasons at Azusa Pacific from 1999-2005.
Photo: Morgan Givens/University of West Florida
Charges Dropped Against Century Man Accused Of Stalking Of Female PSC Student
December 12, 2022
Charges have been dropped against a Century man accused last month based of stalking a female student at a local college.
Kenneth Tyrese Lowery, 23, was originally charged with felony aggravated stalking with the threat of injury.
The victim and victim’s mother declined to press charges, according to a court document filed last week.
Lowery texted a fellow student the Pensacola State College Century Campus multiple times and made “inappropriate sexual comments” to her on various social media platforms, according to an Pensacola State College Police Department arrest report. The text messages included harassing language, and Lowery threatened to rape the female student, the report continues.
The victim had told college police that she did not feel safe at her home or at school due to sexual threats allegedly made in text messages sent by Lowery, according to an arrest report.
Century Council To Hold Only December Meeting Tonight
December 12, 2022
The Century Town Council will depart from their normal Tuesday night meetings for their only regular meeting of December.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight (December 12) at town hall.
A bill list review will begin at 6:45 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ronald Wayne Kaatz
December 12, 2022
Ronald Wayne Kaatz or “Ronnie” as he was affectionately known by his family and friends, passed away suddenly December 5, 2022 in Pensacola Florida where he lived.
Ron was born September 10, 1964 in Stuttgart, Germany to Robert R. and Rosalie A. Kaatz, while stationed there in the U.S. Army. The family relocated to Pasadena Texas in August, 1965. Four years later the family moved to LaPorte Texas, where Ron graduated from high school in the top 10% of his class. He attended two years of college at San Jacinto College in Pasadena Texas. Ron was quiet, until you got to know him, and he was a fun and loving guy! He loved to cook and grill outdoors. Ron had many close friends, and loved his wife and family very much. He had a strong passion for offshore fishing, and loved deer hunting every year at his dad’s.
Ron is survived by his wife Amy, his step daughter Sara, his father Robert (Nancilee) Kaatz, and his mother Rosalie (Don) Peck, and all of his loving family and friends. Ron will be terribly missed by all.
Memorial services were held December 9, 2022 at 10:00 am.
Linda Elizabeth Driver
December 12, 2022
Linda Elizabeth Driver, 81, of Cantonment, Florida passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022. She was born in Denmark, South Carolina on December 11, 1941 to the late James Hightower and Jackie Still Hightower. She was
married to Lloyd Driver for 58 years. Linda loved and adored Jesus Christ and her blessed church family at Smyrna Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Tommy Hightower; sister, Sybil Hightower; great grandson, Bryce Driver; In-laws, Charlie Driver and Lou Agnes Driver; and brother-in-law, Don Driver.
She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Driver; children, Ed (Connie) Driver, Mike (Theresa) Driver, Linda Susan (Daniel) Puckett, Debbie (Barry) Joyner and Stephen Driver; sister, Sherri Ann Bell; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-two great children; and her special friend, Carolyn Findley.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Smyrna Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. prior to services.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons Christopher Driver, Eddie Driver, Charlie Driver, Douglas Driver, Jared Driver, Wesley Joyner and Joey Bragg.
Rosemary Marie Merchant
December 12, 2022
Rosemary Marie Merchant, age 50, of Jay, FL passed away on December 10, 2022 in Pensacola, FL. She was born on May 9, 1972 in Pensacola, FL to Clifford F. and Mary Ann Weekley Williams. She attended Cora Baptist Church and the store manager of the Family Dollar Store in Jay, FL. Rosemary enjoyed traveling to the mountains. She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Ronnie Merchant of Jay, FL; her son, Coty (Kirsten) Merchant of Jay, FL; her daughter, Kayla (Tyler) Cofield of Century, FL; her brother, James Williams of Uriah, AL; her sister, Terri Williams of Uriah, AL; her grandchildren: Lane Merchant, Bralyn Merchant and Aiden Cofield, and her nephews: Bailey Williams and Austin Williams.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church with Bro. Ladon Hall officiating. Interment will follow in Cora Baptist Church Cemetery in Jay, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Coty Merchant, Keaton Maher, Timothy Victor, Brian Moore, Steven Dunsford and Tyler Cofield.
Honorary pallbearers will be Erik Merchant and Michael Merchant.
Visitation will be held Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. until service time at 11:30 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made toward funeral expenses at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.