Check Your Drivers License; Make Sure You Are Real ID Compliant
October 10, 2019
Check your Florida drivers license or ID card…you should see a gold star indicating that you are Real ID compliant.
Beginning Tuesday, October 1, 2020, every traveler must present a Real ID-compliant driver license or identification card, or another acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States. As of October 1, 2020, individuals who are unable to produce a Real ID-compliant credential or other acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport, federal government PIV card or US military ID, will not be permitted to enter a TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly.
The Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 establishes the minimum-security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and identification cards for certain official purposes, including boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft, entering secure federal buildings and visiting military installations. Although Florida is a compliant state, if a citizen has a non-compliant driver license or identification card, he or she will be required to show a second form of identification to board a plane or access these federal facilities.
It is simple to check your compliance. If your driver license or identification card has a gold star in the upper right corner, you are Real ID compliant. If your credential does not have the gold star and expires within the next 18 months, visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com to make an appointment to renew.
In Escambia County, 87 percent of driver licenses and 97 percent of identification cards are Real ID compliant, leaving almost 33,000 Escambia County records that were not Real ID compliant as of last report.
McDavid Man Charged With Stealing His Father’s Lawnmower
August 1, 2019
A McDavid man is facing a felony charge for stealing and pawning his father’s lawnmower.
William Christopher Brown, 21, was charged with felony grand theft. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Brown allegedly stole a zero-turn Cub Cadet lawn mower from his father’s home on Rockaway Creek Road and pawned it for $1,700. He told his father he needed the money and intended to pay him back, an arrest report states.
The mower was not longer at the pawn shop when the father checked.
The father told deputies that his son had developed a problem with narcotics and displaying erratic behavior, according to the arrest report.
Work Continuing Tonight To Replace Metal Joint On Quintette Bridge
July 31, 2019
Work will continue a second night to repair an expansion joint on the Quintette Road Bridge over the Escambia River.
The bridge will experience traffic shifts from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday as crews make repairs to a damaged expansion joint on the bridge.
The traffic speed has been reduced to 5 mph on the bridge, and bridge traffic will be shifted to one lane during the repairs.
On Monday, an expansion — the piece of metal between concrete sections of the bridge – joint protruded up from the bridge into a travel lane and was struck by vehicles.
Maintenance of the bridge is Escambia County’s responsibility, according to Escambia County Public Works Director and Engineer Joy Jones. Ian Satter, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said Monday that the bridge remains structurally sound and the incident will not prompt a bridge inspection.
Repair efforts on the joint began Tuesday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century’s Splash Pad Now Back To Extended Summer Hours
July 2, 2019
Century’s splash pad is back in business with extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.
Late last month, the town cut the splash pad hours due to programming error with a timer valve that allows the water to flow.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said it has now been reprogrammed. He noted that the mistake was made by a vendor, not town personnel.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged After Drug Raid
June 1, 2019
An Atmore man was arrested on multiple drug charges after state and local authorities executed a search warrant on Point Escambia Circle.
Gregory Nix was charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Agents with the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force and Atmore Police found numerous plastic containers of marijuana, THC candy and lip balm and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes inside Nix’s apartment, according to police. Scales were also seized use to weight the marijuana.
The marijuana seized from Nix weighed over 2.2 pounds.
Billy Ray Campbell
April 24, 2019
Billy Ray Campbell of Molino, FL, passed away on April 23, 2019. at the age of 56. He was born in Pensacole, FL on August 30, 1962 to CR “Billy” and Faye Campbell.
After high school Billy Ray went to work for the family business where he worked until his passing. Billy Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and working on the family property. His family was his most important asset to him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Faye Campbell and his brothers, Cleve Campbell and John Mark Campbell.
Billy Ray is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kay Campbell; his daughters, Crystal Ramos and Ciara Campbell; grandson, Elijah Ramos; his father, CR (Billy) Campbell and his wife, Joyce; sister, Trudy Campbell; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Philip Dean officiating. Burial will follow in McCurdy Cemetery in Century. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. prior to services.
Susan Ann “SueAnn” Presley
April 21, 2019
Susan Ann “SueAnn” Presley, 57, of Cantonment, FL passed away on Friday, April 12, 2019.
SueAnn was born August 6, 1961 in Oakland, California. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church in Molino, FL where she assisted numerous committees. SueAnn loved her church family and enjoyed participating.
She was preceded in death by her son, Sean Johnson.
SueAnn is survived by her beloved husband, Gary Presley; her parents, Carl and Jimmie Smith; her two brothers, Jesse Smith, Scott Smith and his wife, Mary Ellen; her stepson, Lance Presley; her granddaughter, Shelby Lynn Presley; her mother-in-law, Hazel Presley; her sister-in-law, Lisa Free and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of SueAnn’s life will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at Highland Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 4:30 P.M. until service time at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donates to Highland Baptist Church ‘In memory of Sue Ann Presley’.
Powerball Jackpot At $625 Million, Fourth Largest In History
March 22, 2019
The jackpot for this Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $625 million, the fourth largest in history. The winner can choose a cash payout option of $380.6 million.
Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and roll until there is a winner. Players win by matching the five white ball numbers (1-69) and the red Powerball (1-26). The jackpot has rolled 24 times since the December 29.
airline tickets
January 23, 2019
- American Airlines $501.40 October, paid 12/03
- Delta Air Lines $366.90 – October, paid 12/03
- Expedia $560.92 – October, paid 12/03
- Frontier Airlines $214.90 – October, paid 12/03
EMESGY, a consulting company in Torrance, CA, presented written proposals for potential cost saving energy upgrades from ADC Energy of California to the electrical systems at the Century Town Hall, the “Ag Building” community center on West Highway 4 and the former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park. The industrial park building is currently unoccupied.
On October 29, Hawkins emailed the general Escambia County District 5 address inviting Barry to attend a presentation from Mark Endo of EMESGY. The presentation was set for the following afternoon.
On November 27, Hawkins forwarded a copy of the proposals to Barry. The proposals were emailed to Hawkins on November 9.
“I’m hoping to get your approval on using economic money to do these. If we can do either City Hall or the Community Center would be great,” Hawkins wrote.
Barry said he did not respond to either email.
The Proposals
“ADC Energy is patented technology that allows transmission of low-voltage DC to travel long distance using existing wiring. It is now possible for you to battery power your entire facility with ADC Energy,” the company states on its website.
The proposals were in three phases. In the first phase, lighting in each building would be upgraded to “24V Battery powered facility lighting”. The second phase would add solar panels, and third phase would be a solar-powered HVAC system.
The total cost of the equipment, design and installation totaled $197,642 for just the first phase, itemized as follows:
- Town Hall: $34,593
- Community Center: $43,368
- Industrial Park Building: $119,681
Endo proposed the project would be a “renewable energy showcase…to secure massive visibility in local, national, and international media viewed by domestic and international audiences” in an email to Hawkins.
The email also stated, “Century and EMESGY will invite Miami International University (MIU) who is the 4th largest R&D University in the US to work with Century to establish an offsite joint R&D initiative with MIU funding, new jobs, and technology development”.
According to their website, the Miami International University of Art & Design “is one of The Art Institutes, a system of schools throughout North America”, and MIU offers degrees in design, fashion and media arts.
Endo suggests in his email that notification be sent to governors, senators, local to international media, educational institutions to alert them of Century’s renewable energy initiatives and make Century a showcase.
Hawkins has not presented the proposals to the Century Town Council.
Molino Park Elementary Students Raise $1,303 To Help Hurricane Victims
November 13, 2018
Molino Park Elementary School’s enrichment class recently headed a fundraiser to support the Escambia County Schools District’s Operation: Helping Our Neighbors’ Schools. Molino Park students raised $1,303.31 to help students at schools impacted by Hurricane Michael. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.