Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
December 13, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled the Decembeer 14 planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
Canceling the meeting has been the norm this year.
The BOCC held a regular meeting on December 7 and will meet again on January 5.
Cantonment Man Caught During Traffic Stop Gets Five Years In Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking
December 13, 2023
A Cantonment man was sentenced this week to state prison on drug charges that resulted from a seat belt violation traffic stop.
Samuel Lee Purifoy, Jr., was sentenced to five years in state prison, with credit for 52 days served, for possession of fentanyl.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Purifoy’s vehicle in the area of North S and Delano Street. Purifoy smelled strongly of marijuana and appeared to be under the influence of marijuana, according to an arrest report.
A search of his vehicle uncovered marijuana and 86.3 grams of drugs in the vehicle, and $1,710 in cash was in his pocket, the report states.
Two Red Bulbs Placed on Wreath During “Keep the Wreath Green” Fire Safety Campaign
December 13, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue has placed two more red bulbs on the wreath in 2023 following recent residential structure fires, bringing the current total of red bulbs to three.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire at the 2700 block of W. Belmont Street. Upon arrival, smoke was showing from the exterior of the home. ECFR located the fire and swiftly took action, bringing the situation under control by 6:07 a.m. There were no injuries or fatalities, but the occupants were displaced due to the damages, leading to the second red bulb added to the wreath. ECFR conducted the investigation and determined the cause was accidental, however, the direct cause was undetermined.
At 12:09 a.m. on Friday, ECFR responded to a residential structure fire at the 200 block of Henry Street in Pensacola (not Henry Street in Century). Upon arrival, a fire was located in the utility room at the rear of the home. The fire was quickly extinguished, limiting damages to the utility room and preventing any extension into the home. The fire did cause damage to the electrical panel, causing a loss of power and temporary displacement of the occupants. Due to the displacement, the third red bulb has been added to the wreath. The Bureau of Fire and Arson is investigating the cause of the fire.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in a residential home.
Escambia County Installs Four New Playgrounds At Parks; Four More On The Way In 2024
December 12, 2023
Escambia County Parks and Recreation has installed four new playgrounds this year at several neighborhood and community parks throughout the county, with four additional playgrounds planned for 2024.
A new playground and exercise equipment were also installed at the Escambia County Extension Services building, providing additional play and recreational opportunities.
The new playgrounds provide a variety of play features for children of all ages to enjoy, including slides, climbing structures, exercise equipment, interactive games, musical instruments, and more.
New playgrounds were added at the following locations in 2023:
- Aero Vista Park, 120 Marine Drive – Installed July 2023
- Avondale Park, 5809 Vestavia Lane – Installed August 2023
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road – Installed June 2023
- O’Connor-Colling Community Park, 552 Batten Blvd. – Installed June 2023
- Lexington Terrace Regional Park, 900 S. Old Corry Field Road – Installed July 2023
All of the new playgrounds replaced existing playground equipment that was outdated, with the exception of Extension Services, which did not previously have a playground. Additional playgrounds are planned for the following parks, expected to be installed by summer 2024:
- Garcon Bayou Nature Park, 55 Doug Ford Drive
- Harvester Homes I, 430 Belmont Ave.
- Lakewood Park, 670 Lakewood Road
- Westernmark Park, 751 Massachusetts Ave.
“We are always working on ways to improve our overall park experience for Escambia County residents and visitors, and providing quality playgrounds for children and families to enjoy is an essential part of that goal,” Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said. “These new playgrounds have already been well-used this year, and I’m excited to continue making improvements to parks and playgrounds throughout the county in 2024 and beyond.”
Public Can Now Reserve Parts Of New Navy Federal Recreation Center
December 12, 2023
Navy Federal Credit Union is now allowing members of the public to reserve areas of their Recreation Center.
A ribbon cutting was held in early November for the facility located on the west side of Navy Federal’s Beulah Campus along Nine Mile Road.
Reservable Spaces include:
- Pavilion
- Multi-Purpose Field (7v7 Soccer, Flag Football, Softball)
- Basketball Court
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Pickleball Courts (1&2)
- Informal Lawn
As of now, the community can reserve those select areas Monday-Friday from 5:30 pm to 9 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 9 pm. These select spaces can be reserved up to 1 month in advance. QR codes are also located on signage in front of each space, taking users to the reservation link, availability calendar and feedback form.
The community is encouraged to check the reservation calendar for availability to ensure any reservations held are honored. Starting in early 2024, the public will be also be able to reserve those spaces during Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida School Grades Released; How Did Your Child’s School Score?
December 12, 2023
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) on Monday released school grades for the 2022-23 school year. For the fourth consecutive year, Escambia County earned an overall grade of “B”.
Four elementary schools earned an “F” — Montclair Elementary, Warrington Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary, and the Global Learning Academy.
“These latest school grades come as no surprise, as we have been aware for quite some time about the changes the state was making to the grading formula this year,” said ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Because the number of components for each school’s grade calculation was decreased by four, changes, both positive and negative, were to be expected.
“Hopefully, next year, the state will go back to something similar to the original formula, so we can get a more accurate snapshot of the progress being made by our schools,” continued Leonard. “Make no mistake, we still have challenges, but we are more determined than ever to address those long-standing issues and work hard to prepare our students for their best possible futures.”
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Hellen Caro Elementary – A
N. B. Cook Elementary – A
Cordova Park Elementary – A
Pine Meadow Elementary – A
Pleasant Grove Elementary – A
A. K. Suter Elementary – A
Molino Park Elementary – A
Kingsfield Elementary – A
Pensacola Beach Elementary , Inc – A
Jim Allen Elementary – B
Bratt Elementary – B
Scenic Heights Elementary – B
Beulah Elementary – B
R. C. Lipscomb Elementary – B
Blue Angels Elementary – B
Byrneville Elementary , Inc. – B
Bellview Elementary – C
Ferry Pass Elementary – C
Myrtle Grove Elementary – C
Navy Point Elementary – C
Oakcrest Elementary – C
Sherwood Elementary – C
C. A. Weis Elementary – C
West Pensacola Elementary – C
Reinhardt Holm Elementary – C
Longleaf Elementary – C
L. D. Mcarthur Elementary – C
Brentwood Elementary – D
Ensley Elementary – D
O. J. Semmes Elementary – D
Montclair Elementary – F
Warrington Elementary – F
Lincoln Park Elementary – F
Global Learning Academy – F
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Brown Barge Middle – A
Ransom Middle – B
Ernest Ward Middle – B
Ferry Pass Middle – C
J. H. Workman Middle – C
Jim C. Bailey Middle – C
Beulah Middle – C
Beulah Academy of Science – C
Bellview Middle – D
Warrington Middle – D
HIGH SCHOOLS
West Florida High – A
J. M. Tate High – B
Escambia High – C
Pensacola High – C
Pine Forest High – C
Washington high – C
Northview High – C
State Attorney To Review Escambia Commissioner’s Text Messages For Any Sunshine Law Violations
December 12, 2023
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden confirmed Monday that her office is reviewing text messages of Escambia County Commissioners after allegations were made that improper communications occurred in violation of the Sunshine Law.
“My office has recently received several inquiries, concerns, and allegations that communications between some of the Escambia County Commissioners which required public notice may have been improper,” Madden said in a release.
“The Florida Sunshine Law is an important tool for ensuring transparency and accountability in government. It helps to protect the public’s right to know and to participate in the decision-making process. Open government is the core of our democratic principles,” Madden continued.
“My office will be reviewing the allegations we have received, including all available government communications, to determine if further investigation is warranted.”
Sunny Tuesday, High Near 60
December 12, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Century To Close Ivey Street On Wednesday
December 12, 2023
The Town of Century will close the road at 9520 Ivey Street, Lot 9 and East State Line Road from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, in order to install a sewer line.
Drivers should detour using East Cottage Street, accoridng to the town.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Front End Loader Stolen, Burned In Flomaton
December 12, 2023
Flomaton Police are seeking information from the public after a front end loader was stolen and later set ablaze.
The front end loader was stolen early Monday morning from the former Air Products property on Railroad Street and driven along Junction and Dixon roads to Old Fannie Road. The loader was then parked in a curve at Old Fannie Road and Welka Road near the railroad tracks. Several parts were stolen from the loader before it was set on fire.
The Flomaton Fire Department responded to extinguish the blaze, and Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue was called for assistance about 5:40 a.m.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
