Planning Board Denies Sector Opt-Outs, Rezoning Requests Withdrawn For Huge Molino Development
July 13, 2023
The developer of a huge planned mixed-use community in Molino withdrew all of their rezoning requests Thursday after the Escambia County Planning Board denied all of their sector plan opt-out requests.
The Woodland Park development, once completed, would have had thousands of homes and nearly 100 acres of commercial development in a 1,500 acre area to the south and west of Highway 196 and Highway 29.
Dozens of residents packed the six-plus hour meeting to speak out against the development and their belief that was absolutely incompatible with the surrounding rural community as it would have tripled the Molino area’s population.
The planning board’s denial of Escambia County Sector Plan opt-outs is not final; it’s just a recommendation that will go to the Escambia County Commission at an upcoming meeting.
Since the rezoning requests were withdrawn from the planning board, the county commission will not consider them.
Exit 3 Investments, LLC will be able to return to the planning board, if they so choose, with future rezoning requests on the parcels.
NorthEscambia.com will have continuing coverage in additional upcoming stories.
Pictured: A packed Escambia County Planning Board meeting Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com image.
Father And Son Both Charged With Multiple Child Porn Counts
July 13, 2023
A father and son have been arrested in Escambia County on child porn charges.
Christopher Curtis Luckie, 56, and Ethan Christopher Luckie, 23, were each charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography.
The Pensacola Police Department said a search warrant was executed Wednesday at 6450 Guilford Drive following a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
A USB thumb located in Christopher Luckie’s room and a laptop belonging to Ethan Christopher Luckie were seized and each contained 30 videos or images of child porn, according to a police report. Authorities said the files depicted child porn, sexual battery involving a child, sadomasochistic abuse of a child, and victims under the age of five.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $450,000 each.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted Pensacola Police with the investigation.
Century Awarded $12.8 Million In Grants For Shelter And Multi-Purpose Building, Bridges Repair
July 13, 2023
Just over $12.8 million in grants were awarded to Century on Wednesday for a shelter and to repair three bridges through the Florida Department of Commerce’s Rebuild Florida program for Hurricane Sally impacts.
The $12,877,137 in grant funds will be used to demolish the old Century High School gym on Hecker Road and build a shelter that can also be used as a multi-purpose facility and to make drainage and road improvements at Jefferson Avenue, Freedom Road Bridge and Alger Road Bridge, which were damaged during Hurricane Sally.
There is no timetable yet as to when work will begin.
Gym/Hurricane Shelter
A $10 million grant to turn the old Century High School gym property into a multipurpose facility that could also serve as a hurricane or other disaster shelter. The town does not own the old gym, which was constructed in 1960; it belongs to Pensacola State College.
Town consultant Robin Phillips, who is managing the grant submissions, said the gym is laden with asbestos and lead. It has been essentially abandoned for years, and is in poor condition. For those reasons, Phillips said an architect recommended that the building be demolished and rebuilt.
The town plans to accept the state funds only if PSC will transfer ownership to the town.
Bridge Repairs
A separate $2,862,137 grant to replace a failed bridge on Freedom Road that has been closed for three years, and make drainage improvements to bridges on Jefferson Avenue and Alger Road that suffered embankment erosion during Hurricane Sally.
The state budget recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis already included an additional $1.257 million for the Freedom Road bridge.
The bridge and drainage grant will not be impacted if the town does not move forward with the gym project.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Multiple Thefts From Nine Mile Lowe’s
July 13, 2023
An Atmore man is facing felony charges after allegedly being caught on video stealing from the Lowe’s on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
Jared Thomas Dean, 32, was charged with two felony counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petit theft.
The alleged thefts occurred on three occasions in May and June with merchandise valued at $5,525.20 reported stolen.
An organized retail crime investigator for Lowe’s contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and alleged Dean was responsible for a “large number” for retailed thefts from several stores, with three of the thefts in Escambia County, Florida, a report states.
Lowe’s alleged that an individual, later identified by authorities as Dean, would simply walk out of stores with merchandise including power tools, batteries, pipe and other items, the ECSO said. Lowes provided photographs and video to ECSO investigators.
A local Lowe’s loss prevention officer selected Dean a from a photo lineup, deputies said.
Dean remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $9,000.
Mark Your Calendars For Upcoming School Orientations
July 13, 2023
Mark your calendars; here is the schedule of upcoming orientations for public schools in Escambia County.
July 28 — 9 a.m. — Washington High 9th Grade
August 3 — 9 a.m. — Pensacola High 9th Grade
August 4 — 9 a.m. — Escambia High 9th Grade
August 4 — 9 a.m. — Tate High 9th Grade
August 5 — 9:30 a.m. — Pine Forest High 9th Grade
August 5 — 9:30 a.m. — West Florida High 9th Grade
August 7 — 9-11 a.m. – All Elementary Schools
August 7 — 1 pm — Bailey Middle, Brown Barge Middle, Workman Middle
August 8 — 9:30 a.m. — Beulah Middle, Ernest Ward Middle
August 8 — 1 pm — Ransom Middle
August 3 — 1 pm — Ferry Pass Middle
August 8 — 1:30 pm — Northview High
August 9 — 1 pm — Bellview Middle
Clouds, Showers And Storms Again Thursday
July 13, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Tate Aggies Holding Youth Football Camp July 26-27
July 13, 2023
The Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp will be held July 26-27.
The camp is for incoming first through eighth grades and will be held from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $50 per player, including a t-shirt.
To register, complete this form and bring payment on the first day of camp.
3-Mile Bridge Renamed In Honor Of General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James, Jr.
July 13, 2023
The Pensacola Bay Bridge was official named the “General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James, Jr. Bridge” as ground was broken Wednesday for a memorial plaza at the base of the bridge.
James, a proud son of Pensacola, was a Tuskegee Airman, Korean and Vietnam War combat fighter pilot, and the nation’s first Black four-star general.
In June 2020, Florida Governor DeSantis signed the legislation that named the new 3-mile bridge over Pensacola Bay the General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Bridge.
The memorial plaza will be located adjacent to the Pensacola Visitors’ Center and will feature a 10-foot statute of James, an 80-foot high flagpole and a phantom jet similar to the one he flew. A foundation is in the final stages of fundraising $2 million for the plaza.
Food And Backpack Distribution Set For July 22 In Gonzalez
July 13, 2023
A food school backpack distribution will be held Saturday, July 22 in Gonzelez.
The event begins at 8 a.m, with line up no earlier than 7:30 a.m., at the Gonzalez Methodist Church at 2026 Pauline Street. The event will continue while supplies last (a minimum of 300 families).
Rep. Michelle Salzman, the Gonzalez Methodist Church and other community partners are sponsoring the event, which is open to all in need with no eligibility requirements.
“We understand that going back to school is a struggle for many families, so during our Fall Food Distribution, we are also giving away backpacks, courtesy of Ascend Cares, State Farm Tyler Kercher, Kevin Stephens, and Jubilee Church. Along with our food distribution, we want our families to get a good start for the new school year,” Salzman said.
Pictured: A similar distribution was held last July at the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
L.C. Stewart
July 13, 2023
L.C. Stewart, age 86, of Stockton, AL passed away on July 12, 2023. He was born on May 3, 1937, in Perdido, AL, to T.C. and Catherine Stewart. He worked as a forestry pulpwood loader. He is preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Linda Allen Stewart; his sons, Billy Stewart of Rabun, AL and Barry (Angie) Stewart of Stockton, AL; his daughters, Robin Pipkin of Bay Minette, AL, Marie (Toby) Eaton of Bay Minette, AL and Sherry (Paul) Barker of Spring Hill, FL; his sister, Lizzie Bell Skipper of Huxford, AL and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023, at noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Earl Crook officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery in Davisville, FL.
Visitation will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023, from 11 a.m. until service time at noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.