Veronica Lynn Harris
February 26, 2025
Mrs. Veronica Lynn Harris, who was 52 years old, passed away on February 26, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. A native of Pensacola, she spent the last 17 years living in Century. Veronica faced her battle with cancer for eight long years, always displaying incredible strength and never complaining about her situation. She will be remembered for her courage and the love she shared with those around her.
She was a vibrant person with a joyful spirit who loved every moment of life. The beach was her happy place, where she felt free and relaxed. She had a passion for adventure, often taking her four-wheeler out to explore new trails. In her workshop, she turned pieces of wood into beautiful crafts, and she found joy in visiting local craft shows to share and discover new ideas. Her family and friends were very important to her; she cherished the time spent laughing and creating memories together. She also loved watching cooking shows, always eager to try out new recipes in her kitchen. Gardening brought her peace, as she nurtured plants and watched them bloom, adding color to her life.
She is preceded in death by her father, Warren Eugene Austin.
Mrs. Harris is survived by her loving husband of twenty years, Wade Harris of Century, Florida; daughters, Analeigh Harris of Century, Florida, and Synda Harris of Century, Florida; mother, Johanna Austin of Century, Florida; grandson, Onyx Davis of Century, Florida; sister, Kathy (Fred) Kelley of Alpharetta, Georgia; niece and nephew, Logan and Kristen.
Funeral service will be held Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements.
Two Injured In Crash Involving Van, ECUA Truck In Cantonment
February 25, 2025
Two people were injured in a Tuesday afternoon crash involving a van and a sanitation truck in Cantonment.
The crash happened on South Highway 97 near Sawyers Ridge Road about 1 p.m.
A van operated by a mobile pet grooming business overturned after the collision with an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority truck. The van came to rest on its side on Highway 97, while the ECUA driver moved the truck to Sawyers Ridge Road.
Two occupants of the van, an adult female and a juvenile, were transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered severe.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released the cause of the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Continuing Community Center, Bridge Projects In Century
February 25, 2025
Escambia County is continuing to move forward with implementing millions of dollars in state grant projects on behalf of the Town of Century that will fund a community center and bridge improvements.
In August 2024, the state terminated millions in grants with Century.
The state terminated $12.8 million in grants with the town for two bridges and a hurricane shelter that will double as a community center and multi-purpose building. However, the state funds were awarded to Escambia County and the projects will continue.
Escambia County has received the $12,877,137 grant for the community center/shelter and for Jefferson Avenue and the Alger Road bridges. According to Escambia County, the status of those projects is as follows:
- Community Center: This project is currently in the early stages and is being managed by our facilities department. The land on Hecker Road was transferred from Pensacola State College to Escambia County at no cost to the county, under the conditions that it must remain a community center/shelter. Phase I will include an environmental study. From there, they will bid for design and move forward with the process. Approximately $10 million was awarded for this project. The environmental review has been advertised and a consultant has been selected. Negotiations are ongoing.
- Jefferson Avenue/Alger Road Bridge: This project will be a rehabilitation of a pipe culvert along Jefferson Avenue and a bridge replacement on Alger Road. Freedom Road was initially included in the scope, but it was later revised out as Century had secured separate funding (see below) to replace that structure. The environmental review has been advertised, a consultant has been selected, and negotiations are ongoing. The deadline was last week for design solicitations. The project is funded by $2,862,137 in grant funds.
A $3.255 million grant for a community center on Jefferson Avenue is essentially gone. The town council approved an amendment making the original grant just a simple planning grant, removing all construction and cutting funding from $3.255 million to $514,650. The just over a half million dollars awarded will pay for the work completed by an engineer, architect, and the grant administrator. Under the agreement with FloridaCommere accepted by the council, there is no money whatsoever for construction of the community center on Jefferson Avenue. The funds were taken back by the state and no part of the money awarded to Escambia County.
FloridaCommerce cuts the state grants due to “due to financial and fiscal solvency issues the Town is facing”, opting to have Escambia County continue the Jefferson Avenue/Alger Road bridge project and the community/shelter project.
A legislative appropriation to the town for replacement of a failed bridge on Freedom Road remains in place.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
92 Acre Borrow Pit Proposed For Highway 97 In Molino
February 25, 2025
A new sand and dirt borrow pit is being proposed from Highway 97 in Molino.
The 92.9 acre site on the east side of Highway 97 between Gibson Road and Sunshine Hill Road. is owned by Southern States Land Co. The principles of the company are the same as those of Molino Dirt and Sand, which will operate the pit, according to an application filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC).
The pit will be excavated to a depth of 40 feet. The applicant said they drilled to 45 feet and did not reach the water table.
The applicant said there are not residences within 500 feet of the proposed pit. The company proposed that reclamation of the pit “involves the use of clean land clearing debris with approperate (sic) cover in accordance with all regulations.”
The proposal has not yet been set for formal DRC review.
Escambia Fire Rescue Presents Annual Awards (With Photo Gallery)
February 25, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue hosted their annual awards ceremony last Saturday. The ceremony served as a celebration of all achievements accomplished in 2024 and marking 25 years of service to the community.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Career Awards
- Career Fire Officer of the Year: Lt. Daniel Mills
- Career Firefighter of the Year: FF Allen Harrison
- Lieutenant Terrell Jackson Award: Lt. Jason Crabbe
- District Chief Dwain Bradshaw Award: FF Josh Bazinet
Medal of Courage
- For heroic actions during a residential structure fire with entrapment (Deauville Way, Pensacola):
- Lt. Charles McGuffey
- FF Anthony Stafford
- For exceptional bravery during a residential structure fire (Highway 95A):
- Lt. Jeff Rohrer
- FF David Neydlin
Distinguished Service Medal
- Capt. Joel Richardson (Safety 2): Leadership in the first-ever Escambia County Fire Academy
- Capt. Dan Kunz (Ladder 13): Dedication as a leader, instructor, and mentor
- Lt. Nick Gradia (Safety 4): 17 years of service and unwavering support of fellow firefighters
ECFR Honor Guard Service Recognition
- For 15 years of dedicated service:
- Capt. Joel Richardson
- Capt. Scott Averill
- Lt. Nick Gradia
- Lt. Adam Edwards
- Lt. Dale Dirks
Company Citations
01/31/2024: Residential Structure Fire with Entrapment (Highway 95A)
- Engine 6: Lt. Jeff Rohrer, FF Matt Callahan, FF David Neydlin, FF Mackenzie Church
02/09/2024: Cardiac Arrest Call (Pinebrook Circle)
- Engine 219: Lt. Tom Schwarz, FF Anthony Stafford, FF Niall Reid
- Engine 4: Lt. Chase Webb, FF Anthony Pizzo, FF Channon O’Connor, FF Bennet Silveira
- Safety 3: Capt. Alex Torres
04/04/2024: Large Brush Fire (Somerville Court)
- Chiefs: Adam Harrison, Paul Williams, Curt Isakson, Wes Barnett, Yoshimi Core, Jim Pokrandt
- Lieutenants: Jim Allen, Jacob Meligan, Scott Hunsucker, Peter Welch, Jeff Rohrer, Lynn Garrett, Jason Menda, Keith Chapman, Dale Dirks, Kyle Sexton
- Firefighters: Chris Knezienski, Joe Thrower, Travis Litchfield, John Quinn, Kenny Fehl, Jake Hoskins, Nick Pearson, Brian Kraatz, Jordan Ewing, Garic Fatheree, Paul Guy, Kyle Pickard, David Carballosa, Channin O’Connor, Ethan Muldoon, Jacob Darr, Shawn Hill, Victor Govyadov, Zach Aceto, Nathaniel Beuschel, Michael Iglesias, Kyle Muldoon, Tyler Jackson, Jim Nagim, Jeff Howard, Josh Reaves
04/04/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (Secretariat Way)
- Engine 219: Lt. Tom Schwarz, FF Chris French, FF Niall Reid
- Logistics 1: Chief Jim Pokrandt
04/09/2024: Vehicle vs. Building Crash (Patton Drive)
- Engine 16: Lt. Adam Edwards, FF Marcus Fairley, FF Hunter Burklow, FF Robert Mandel
- Squad 14: Lt. JP Owens, FF Jason Rocco, FF Ryan Read, FF Nathaniel Beuschel
04/25/2024: Emergency Medical Response
- Engine 7: Acting Lt. Kenny Fehl, FF Clay Brown
- Safety 4: Lt. Nick Gradia
05/30/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (N. 69th Avenue)
- Engine 11: Lt. James Shaw, FF Gordon Wilson, FF Anthony Williams
07/13/2024: Rollover Crash with Entrapment (Blue Angel Parkway)
- Engine 1: Lt. Chris Snipes, FF Bruce Durden, FF Neils Frage
- Engine 11: Lt. Sean King, FF David Carballosa, FF Ander Sienra
- Ladder 12: Lt. Jason Crabbe, FF Scott Walther, FF Connley Rogers
- Squad 3: Lt. Jim Beagle, FF James Southern, FF Jacob Darr
- Safety 4: Lt. Daniel Akerman
- Battalion 3: Chief Jon Hollingsworth
- Battalion 2: Chief Dan Brask
07/28/2024: Mass Shooting (Wedgewood Community Center)
- Squad 3: Lt. Charles McGuffey, FF Jacob Darr, FF Shawn Hill
- Safety 4: Lt. Nick Gradia
08/10/2024: Baby Delivery (Mapleleaf Drive)
- Engine 6: Lt. Jeff Rohrer, FF Matt Callahan, FF Kenny Fehl, FF Zach Aceto
08/12/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (New Warrington Road)
- Engine 16: Lt. Keith Chapman, FF Marcus Fairley, FF Robert Mandel
08/18/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save
- Engine 1: Lt. Dimitri Jansen, FF Justin King, FF Matthius Ross, FF Allan Beasley
09/09/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (W. Gadsden Street)
- Engine 17: Lt. Keith Chapman, FF David Carballosa, FF Channin O’Connor
Civilian Awards
- Sherman Hopkins & Melissa Douglas: Performed CPR and used an AED to successfully rescue a cardiac arrest patient.
- Melissa Grannum & Earline Heno: Provided CPR to a cardiac arrest patient during a social function, increasing survival chances.
Hurricane Helene Deployment
- BC Steve Boothe, Lt. Keith Chapman, Lt. Darin Snipes, FF Michael Maddrey, FF Bobby Held, FF Haley Crabb, FF Shannon Halfacre, FF Kenny Fehl
Final Alarm Recipients
- FF Wayne Kercher – Final Alarm: April 7, 2024
- FF Clay Brown – Final Alarm: June 22, 2024
- Chief Mark Clark – Final Alarm: September 1, 2024
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
February 25, 2025
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for January. They are Ryan Phillips and Mary-Clayton Dawson, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Patchy Fog Tonight, Low In The Mid 40s
February 25, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 51. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Community Health Fair To Offer Free Services In Jay On March 8
February 25, 2025
The Northwest Florida Rural Health Network is hosting a Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at Jay First Baptist Church Family Life Center, located at 14113 Alabama Street in Jay.
This free event will feature vendor health booths, door prizes, and giveaways aimed at promoting community wellness. Residents will have the opportunity to connect with health professionals, learn about available resources, and receive valuable health information.
For more information, contact the Northwest Florida Rural Health Network at (850) 675-4787 or email keithstrickling@nwfrhn.org.
Parkrun At UWF Celebrating 250th Event, Six Years
February 25, 2025
Pensacola’s Rec Plex North parkrun will mark two significant milestones on Saturday, March 1, celebrating its 250th event and six years of bringing the community together through its FREE weekly timed 5k (3.1 miles) run/walk. Since its inception in February 2019 as the first parkrun on the campus of an American university, the weekly event has drawn more than 2,600 participants who have collectively completed over 20,000 runs covering 99,825 kilometers (62,028 miles) on the University of West Florida’s (UWF) scenic wooded trail.
The event, which routinely draws around 100 participants, has become known in the community for its friendly crowd that welcomes newcomers of all ages and abilities. “At every one of our events there are runners, joggers and walkers – parkrun is for everyone,” said Rob Gryskiewicz, who has volunteered at more than 175 parkruns and is now the co-event director with Caleb Carmichael, UWF’s cross country coach. “We’d love to have a big turnout for our 250th event and celebrate what makes this community so special.”
The free, volunteer-organized 5K has become a tourist attraction, drawing participants from across the United States and countries including Ireland, Germany, Poland, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the UK. These “parkrun tourists” have generated over 425 hotel room nights for the Pensacola area during their quest to visit new parkrun courses.
Each weekly parkrun is made possible by a thriving group of volunteers. “It’s a joy to see how the community has engaged and supported this event,” said Robin Foley, who co-founded the event in 2019. “We’re going strong after six great years thanks to hundreds of volunteers and the support of UWF, who allowed the use of their field and trails to make our parkrun possible.”
The partnership has benefited both organizations. Since parkrun volunteers revitalized the overgrown trail for the launch of their event in 2019, the site has once again become home to major cross country events like the ESCAROSA High School Championships and the Argonaut Invitational.
“Community engagement is a hallmark of our mission,” said Howard Reddy, UWF Vice President for University Advancement. “Mutually beneficial collaborations have been a key driver of our effort to become a community destination, so we’re proud to host parkrun and contribute to the immense health and wellness benefits it brings to our community.”
The success of the Pensacola event mirrors the global parkrun movement, which began in 2004 with just 13 runners in London’s Bushy Park. Today, about 400,000 people participate each Saturday at more than 2,500 free events across 23 countries.
New participants can register for free at ParkRun.us to receive a barcode for tracking their performance.
● What: 250th Rec Plex North parkrun
● When: Saturday, March 1, 7:30 a.m.
● Where: UWF Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary entrance (behind Lot Z at Rec Plex North)
● Cost: Free
Alabama Woman Gets 13 Years for Fleeing Fatal Escambia County Crash Scene
February 25, 2025
A Lillian, Alabama, woman was sentenced to 13 years in state prison following a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a cyclist and injured another in Escambia County.
On October 19, 2022, Rachelle Johnson was driving a 2005 Toyota Highlander westbound on State Road 292 (Sorrento Road) when her vehicle veered off the road and struck two cyclists from Pensacola, who were riding on the road’s shoulder, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was hospitalized with injuries.
Johnson fled but was later found at her home in Lillian. During the investigation, videos from Walmart at Blue Angel and Sorrento show the Toyota driven by Johnson pulling into the grocery pickup area with significant damage to the front end. Witnesses followed Johnson and assisted in identifying the vehicle involved.
She pleaded guilty and received the maximum 13-year sentence for the leaving the scene of an accident involving death charge and four years, to be served concurrently, for leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury.