New ‘Paper Park’ At Former IP Golf Course Is Now Open
January 30, 2025
Escambia County’s new Paper Park is now open on the 68-acre former International Paper golf course in Cantonment following a ribbon cutting Thursday.
The park is a cooperative effort of Escambia County and International Paper, with the county leasing the property from IP and years of planning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“What you see on the ground is the culmination of those efforts and those conversations,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “This is one (project) that you could see the success before you even finished the project and cut the ribbon, and it’s fantastic.”
Paper Park features a 0.81 mile walking path, playground, a complete 18-hole “Timber Toss Disc Golf” course, and a 704 square feet covered pavilion with picnic tables. The park at the corner of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road is open to the public free of charge from sunrise to sunset. The parking area is off Mintz Lane at the southeast corner of the property.
Barry announced that plans are already in the works to expand the walking track, about doubling the total length. That is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
“It’s absolutely a great amenity for the community,” Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said at the opening ceremony. “We put a lot of work into Cantonment and the area around Muscogee Road. We put a three or four million dollar project in for Carver Park. And we also partnered with International Paper, and they worked with us, always a good community partner. We have a community center right now that is under design (for nearby Carver Park). There is a lot of focus, a lot of emphasis here in this community to improve it and make it better every day.”
“This former golf course that just sat her vacant, to be able to transform it into something that truly remarkable,” IP Communications Manager Whitney Fike said, calling the park a “big community partnership”. “I’m excited to see the community members out here working and playing.”
“We’ve had many conversations just this week about walking out of work to go home and hearing the laughter on the playgrounds and seeing people being able to enjoy the playground, the walking track, and even as the disc golf course,” Fike added “It’s been packed just since yesterday, so it’s really amazing of what the vision turned into, and we’re excited to see it grow.”
Barry said he is always open to ideas on how to improve parks, including the new Paper Park, Carver Park, Santa Maria Park and others in the district, even gleaning a few ideas and suggestions from the comments on NorthEscambia.com and our social media channels.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Manufacturing Company Opened In Century Last Week. Now They Are Ready For $1.6 Million Expansion.
January 30, 2025
Less than a week after celebrating their official grand opening in Century, a 50-year-old Brazilian manufacturing company is looking to expand their facility in the Century Industrial Park.
In May 2023, AlgaPlast Corp. signed a lease on a town-owned industrial park building formerly known as the Helicopter Technology Building. AlagaPlast is the new American subsidiary of Grupa GA230 of Arujá, Brazil.
This week, the company went before the Century Town Council seeking permission to begin the process, such as soil testing and engineering, leading to constructing a new warehouse and operations building. Company officials say the company needs more space and a higher ceiling for larger equipment and an overhead crane.
The town council has voted to allow Algaplast to begin soil testing and design of a new 18,200 square feet warehouse expansion to their current building. Algaplast is estimating that they will invest nearly $1.6 million in the new construction with an estimated 10 additional fulltime jobs.
Since Algapast will pay for the new construction, they are asking the town to keep the current monthly rental fee for the excising building.
In Century, Algaplast produces a variety of projects, including plastic injection products such as the front panels of retail gas station fuel pumps and laser cut and welded metal parts for other companies. Some of their custom metal parts are used by Blue Wind Technology and GE Vernova in Pensacola. The metal parts for GE are used to secure wind turbines as they are transported by train out of Pensacola.
Algaplast current employs five people in Century, according to CFO Marcos Martins.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Town of Century re-acquired the 40,000 square foot industrial space at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology company. The building sat empty since empty from 2009 until AlgaPlast’s occupancy.
Martins said the company has already invested $2.5 million in the new Century facility.
RELATED: Ribbon Cutting Held For Brazilian Manufacturing Company’s Expansion In Century
Pictured top and bottom: Algaplast in the Century Industrial Park. Pictured bottom inset: Algaplast Operations Engineer Pyetro Curvelo explains the company’s expansion plans to the Century Town Council this week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Reported House Fire In Century
January 30, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a reported house fire in Century Wednesday night.
The fire on George Avenue was reported about 6:47 p.m.
Firefighters arrived to find a burnt pot on a stove and smoke filling the interior. There was no significant damage.
An adult male was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS but not transported to the hospital.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Partly Sunny And 70s Today, Rain For Friday
January 30, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. High near 73. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Three Atmore Residents Charged, One Wanted, For Brewton Attempted Murder
January 30, 2025
Three Atmore residents have been charged and a fourth is wanted on attempted murder charges after shots were fired into a home in Brewton.
About 2 a.m. on Sunday, the Brewton Police department responded after several shots were fired into an occupied home in the 1300 block of Sowell Road. There were no injuries.
Brewton PD attempted to stop a vehicle that fled from the scene. After a pursuit, four suspects were detained, and police later obtained warrants for their arrests.
The driver of the vehicle, 27-year-old Shakera Nicholson was charged with attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and attempting to elude. Jalen Martin, 22, and Ahmad Daily, 24, were arrested in Atmore Wednesday by U.S. Marshals on charges of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling.
A fourth suspect, 27-year-old Scottie McNeal, is wanted on outstanding warrants for attempted murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.
Celebrate Literacy Week: Career Dress Up Day At Lipscomb Elementary
January 30, 2025
It’s Celebrate Literacy Week at schools across Escambia County.
Wednesday at Lipscomb Elementary School was “Constructing Young Minda Career Dress Up Day”. Students went to school dressed in their career attire as community leaders and workers took time out of their busy schedules to read to them.
Participants included the Escambia County Public Schools and Superintendent Keith Leonard, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Fishbein Orthodontics, Escambia County Property Appraiser Bubba Peters, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys, Girls Basketball Earn Wins Wednesday Night
January 30, 2025
Boys
Tate 67 Washington 64
Girls
Tate 71 Escambia 37
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Escambia 41-37 Wednesday night. Brelynn Morris scores a dozen points for Tate, while Amerie McGee added 11. Tylor Malone and Sam Williams each had eight points, while Sarah Mitchell recorded two points.
High School Students Named To Escambia Superintendent’s Student Council
January 30, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard recently named 13 high school students to the 2024-2025 Superintendent’s Student Council, comprised of student leaders from each high school in the district.
- Natalie George – Tate High
- Aiden Bramblett – Tate High
- Braden Glick – Northview High
- Maddie Driskill – Northview High
- Randelaysia Grier – West Florida High
- Chrissie Fuller – West Florida High
- Delaria Pogu – Pine Forest High
- Westin Rhymer – Washington High
- Da’Rieon Gilbert – Washington High
- Grace Guerrier – Pensacola High
- Alex Kinney – Pensacola High
- Payten Sim – Escambia High
- Xandria Smith – Escambia High
The group will meet with the superintendent several times throughout the school year in order to help keep district leadership in tune with the students’ perspectives, priorities, and issues.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Will Make Up One Snow Day On February 17
January 29, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools have announced that students will make up one snow day that was missed last week.
Monday, February 17 will now be a full instructional day for students.
Initially, February 17 was scheduled as a professional development day for teachers and staff. The school day said it will be necessary to use this day to ensure ECPS remains in compliance with Florida Department of Education instructional time parameters.
“No one could have predicted four days off for ice and snow in Escambia County,” said Leonard. “In order to be sure our students are receiving optimal instructional time, we will use February 17th as a make-up day.”
All schools and offices will operate on normal schedules, to include transportation and food services for students.
Pictured. Snow falls the afternoon of January 21 at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jimmy Patronis Easily Wins Republican Congressional Primary To Replace Matt Gaetz
January 29, 2025
Jimmy Patronis easily won the Republican special primary Tuesday in the race to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress.
Patronis, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, defeated nine other Republican candidates with a commanding 66% of the vote. Joel Rudman received just under 10% of the vote; Aaron Dimmock, Gaetz’s primary opponent last cycle, received about 7%. Former Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino received 6% of the vote. Other candidates in the race included Michael Dylan Thompson (5%), Greg Merk (2%), Jeff Peacock (1%), Kevin Gaffney (1%), John Mills (1%) and Jeff Macey (under 0.4%).
“You know, I am humbled beyond words,” Patronis told our news partners WEAR 3 at his victory celebration. “This was probably the biggest race I feel like I’ve personally had. I’ve won two statewide races, but this is different. This is a very large county congressional race. You have four counties you had to win over. It was much more of a personal campaign. I had to earn the trust of the voters, and it was much more than running TV ads. You had to get out and touch them, you had to let them know who you were. And I’m just humbled by the show of support today.”
Patronis will face Democratic candidate Gay Valimont independent Stephen Brody, plus a few write-in candidates in an April 1 special election. She ran against Gaetz in 2024 and lost by a 2-1 margin.
Win or lose, Patronis had to resign his Cabinet position as Florida chief financial officer. His last day as CFO will be March 31, the day before the special election. His replacement will be appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The First Congressional District became vacant when Gaetz resigned after being nominated by Trump as attorney general. He later withdrew from the nomination.
Pictured top: Jimmy Patronis speaks at his victory party Tuesday night. Courtesy image from WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
