Monday Night Is Deadline To Pay Property Taxes Before Tax Certificate Sale
May 30, 2021
Monday night is the deadline to pay 2020 delinquent real estate taxes in Escambia County.
In order to prevent a tax certificate from being issued, property owners with delinquent taxes must make payment online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com by 8 p.m Monday, May 31 at EscambiaTaxCollector.com
According to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford, the tax certificate sale is an annual online auction where bidders can purchase a delinquent taxpayer’s debt in exchange for an annual interest rate, ensuring the majority of unpaid taxes are collected and distributed to taxing authorities. Last year, more than 7,400 certificates were sold for a total of over $9.7 million, recovering 97.5 percent of delinquent taxes.
Registration for the sale is open at Lienhub.com/Escambia and will continue until the sale ends June 1. The sale is a reverse auction, with interest rates on individual certificates starting at 18 percent. Bidders compete for the lowest rate, and certificates are awarded to those with the lowest bid. All unsold certificates will be issued to Escambia County at 18 percent annual interest.
Encarnacion Homers, But Blue Wahoos Fall 8-3
May 30, 2021
Nick Bennett (W, 1-0) impressed in his Double-A debut, puzzling Pensacola’s bats as the Wahoos lost 8-3 to the Shuckers, Saturday night at MGM Park.
The Shuckers got off to a quick start in the penultimate game of this six-game series, and never looked back. Will Stewart (L, 0-2) surrendered three runs in the bottom of the first inning after David Fry hit a three-run homer, his fourth round-tripper of the year. In the second, Ryan Aguilar and Brice Turang both tallied RBI singles, which brought the deficit up to five for the Wahoos.
It looked like the Wahoos might make it game when they hit a pair of home runs themselves. Devin Hairston uncorked his first home run of the season in the third inning against Bennett before Jerar Encarnacion launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning to make it a 5-3 game. For Encarnacion, it was his first home run since May 12 against the Barons.
Any hope for a Pensacola comeback ended in the bottom of the sixth when Brice Turang hit a three-run home run off Dylan Brice to put Biloxi back up 8-3. For the Brewers top prospect, it was his first homer of the season.
Pensacola still has a shot to clinch a series win tomorrow afternoon when the Wahoos send Marlins top pitching prospect, Max Meyer (2-1, 2.29) to the mound. He will be opposed by Matt Hardy (1-1, 3.46), who is making his eighth appearance of the year, and his first start.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
Suspended Tate High Yearbook Editor Will Be Allowed To Walk At Graduation
May 29, 2021
Tate High School yearbook editor Samantha Guerrier will be allowed to walk at graduation on June 7.
Guerrier was suspended for the way a photo in the yearbook was altered, and that was going to prevent her from taking part in graduation.
The photo (below) shows the face of expelled student Emily Grover covered with clipart of a horse that resembles the school’s mascot. The horse’s rear-end was used to cover Grover’s face, and that led to the yearbooks being recalled. Grover and her mother were accused by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with hacking hundreds of student accounts to fraudulently cast homecoming queen votes.
Guerrier said she was instructed by her teacher to edit the photo, and the yearbook sponsor and principal were ultimately responsible for reviewing the yearbook pages before publication and distribution.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank God for taking control of this entire situation and keeping my head up for the last week and a half,” Guerrier posted on social media Friday night. “I would like to thank my parents and family for being relentless and doing everything in their power to bring awareness to my story. They worked around the clock, morning and night, doing everything they could to right this wrong. I would also like to thank all of those who signed, supported, shared, and advocated on my behalf. I could not be more grateful for all of the unconditional support that my community has shown for me.”
With a GPA over 5.0 Guerrier is an honors graduate, ranked number 18 in the Tate High Class of 2021.
An online petition “Let Samantha graduate” had over 6,200 signatures as of early Saturday morning
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Community Mourns Passing Of Ransom Middle Band Director Janie Walker
May 29, 2021
The community is mourning the loss of Ransom Middle School Band Director Janie Suzanne Walker who passed away Wednesday, May 26 at the age of 47 after complications from a recent surgery.
Walker started her teaching career in the fall of 1997 when she became the band director at UMS Wright Preparatory School in Mobile. While living in Mobile, she played in the Mobile Pops Orchestra.
In the fall of 1999, Walker moved back to Pensacola and became the band director at Ransom Middle School. During her time at Ransom, her symphonic and jazz bands received consistent superior ratings at District Music Performance Assessments, and she had 18 students selected for participation in Florida all state bands. She also served as guest conductor for Middle School Honor Bands in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. She was selected as the Ransom Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year.
She was born March 26, 1974, in Pensacola and attended Cordova Park Elementary, Workman Middle School, and Washington High School. Walker and her family were active members of First Baptist Church in Pensacola where she was baptized and married and she served as a Children’s Camp Counselor. She also played the trumpet in the church orchestra.
Following graduation from high school in 1992 with honors, she attended the University of Alabama where she received a Bachelor of Music Education in 1997. While at Alabama she was a member of the Million Dollar Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Quota Brass Quintet and Mu Phi Epsilon. Walker and her future husband, Chris Walker, met at Alabama and they were both members of the Million Dollar Band.
“Janie had a tremendous impact on music education in Escambia County,” according to her obituary. “She cared deeply for her students and wanted her students to reach their potential. She served as a mentor to other band directors in our area and she was always appreciative of the directors who guided her in her teaching career. Former students of Janie are serving in teaching positions at various middle school and high school band programs in the Florida panhandle and various former students are professional musicians.”
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday until a noon funeral service begins at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Burial will be held at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions may made to the Ransom Middle School Band Boosters, Inc., 1000 W. Kingsfield Road, Cantonment, FL 32533-4621.
For the complete obituary, click or tap here.
Woman Pleads No Contest In Hot Vehicle Death Of Her 2-Year Old Child
May 29, 2021
The mother of a two-year old has entered a plea to the death of her child left inside a hot vehicle.
Jessica Monell, 38, entered a plea of no contest to aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect. She previously entered no contest pleas to aggravated child neglect and multiples charges involving possession of controlled substances.
On April 10, 2019, Monell’s two-year old child was found deceased in Monell’s van parked outside the home. The subsequent investigation revealed that Monell had ingested methamphetamine and forgot to remove her child from the van. The child was strapped in her car seat for about nine hours.
The medical examiner determined that the child’s cause of death was hyperthermia. At the scene, Monell consented to a blood draw and methamphetamine was found in her blood. A search warrant was executed on the home and various drugs and paraphernalia were found. The child’s autopsy report revealed that the child also had a trace amount of methamphetamine in her system.
Monell will be sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Lee Robinson on July 15, 2021. She faces a maximum of 50 years in state prison.
Burdick’s Slam Propels Wahoos To Thrilling 5-4 Win
May 29, 2021
Peyton Burdick blasted a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth against Braden Webb (L, 1-1) to give the Blue Wahoos an improbable 5-4 win against the Shuckers on Friday night.
Pensacola entered the top of ninth trailing 3-1. Webb, who was one of six pitchers used by the Shuckers on Friday, was making his third in appearance in four nights. He opened the ninth by walking Lazaro Alonso before striking out Lorenzo Hampton.
After the strikeout, Bubba Hollins and Devin Hairston delivered back-to-back singles with two strikes to load the bases. That brought up Burdick, who fell behind 0-2, crushed a 2-2 changeup over the left-field netting to put the Wahoos up 5-3.
With the sudden lead, the Wahoos quickly got Colton Hock (S, 5) up and into the game in the bottom of the ninth. Chad Spanberger and Tyler Friis led off the inning with singles, setting the Shuckers up with the winning run at the plate and nobody out.
However, Hock escaped peril by striking out Ryan Aguilar before Tristen Lutz grounded into am RBI fielder’s choice. With the Shuckers down 5-4 and the tying run on, Brice Turang popped out to third to end the game.
Earlier in the night, there was serious doubt as to whether these two teams would even finish Friday’s contest.
In the bottom of the second with the game tied at 1-1, heavy rain made its way through the area and forced the game into 1 hour, 28-minute delay. After a lengthy discussion between the managers, the umpires, and member of the Shuckers’ Front Office, the decision was made to resume the game at 8:30.
Jeff Lindgren was Pensacola’s starter on Friday, and despite having to wait almost an hour and a half between innings, the right hander remained in the game after the delay. Lindgren pitched 3.2 innings for the Wahoos, but gave them much needed length, which helped saved the bullpen for later in the game.
Biloxi starter Noah Zavolas pitched two innings for Biloxi but made way for Peter Strzelecki after the rain delay.
With the Wahoos trailing 3-1, Zach Wolf, Sean Guenther and Zack Leban pitched a combined 4.1 innings of scoreless ball. Those relievers only allowed a total of one hit, one walk while striking out eight. That set the stage for Hock to collect his league-best fifth save of the season.
Burdick has now homered in five of his last 10 games for the Wahoos and has 10 RBI during that stretch, while JJ Bleday snapped an eight-game hitless streak by going 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.
The series continues Saturday evening where the Wahoos will look to close out their third series win of the year. LHP Will Stewart (0-1, 3.21) will make his fourth start of the year for the Wahoos. Biloxi has yet to announce their Saturday starter, after Zavolas (Biloxi’s original starter for Saturday) had to pitch tonight.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Memorial Day Programs Planned In Pensacola, Atmore
May 29, 2021
Memorial Day programs are planned at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola and the Veterans Monument in Atmore.
A Memorial Day Ceremony will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola.
Rear Admiral Peter Garvin, Commander, Naval Education and Training Command, will be the Keynote speaker. A Marine Corps Color Guard will present the colors and the Pensacola Opera Chorus will perform a patriotic medley of songs. In addition, the Gold Star and Surviving Families Connect group will make a special presentation of an Honor & Remember Flag.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have given their lives in the service of our great nation,” said Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola President, Paul Entrekin. “Memorial Day is set aside to honor and remember these men and women so that their service and their sacrifice is never forgotten.”
The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold their annual Memorial Day Program at 9 a.m. Monday at the Atmore Veterans Monument located in front of Atmore City Hall. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Is Now Open
May 28, 2021
The Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open for the first time since it was damaged by Skanska barges during Hurricane Sally, restoring the vital connection between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
The majority of the bridge is open to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction) except for a two-lane, half-mile segment just west of the bridge’s arch while work to complete final repairs continues. The speed limit is temporarily set at 35 mph and emergency refuge areas are available on the bridge.
To quickly clear travel lanes following vehicle incidents FDOT’s Road Ranger Service Patrol will be stationed on each end of the bridge from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. At other times, at least one unit will be on-call and available. Law enforcement will also be on-site 24-hours a day on both ends of the bridge to alert drivers about the temporary restrictions.
Consistent with the requirements within the construction contract, FDOT will continue to withhold payments of $35,000 per day until four lanes of traffic are restored to the entire southbound span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022.
At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, June 6, 2021. Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will soon discontinue service for the Route 61 detour across the Garcon Point Bridge. Normal schedules for Route 61 and Route 64 Beach Jumper will restart.
For a video animation exploring the traffic patterns on the bridge, click or tap here.
Pictured above: Traffic crosses the Pensacola Bay Bridge Friday morning. Pictured below: This 18-wheeler was among the first vehicles to cross the bridge Friday morning. Pictured bottom: The new flyover on the Pensacola end of the bridge. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Splash Pads Are Now Open For The Summer In Century And Atmore
May 28, 2021
Splash pads are now open in both Century and Atmore.
The Town of Century Splash Pad officially opens today (May 28). The splash pad is open daily from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. It is located in Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road.
The Atmore splash pad is open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. It is located near the intersection of West Craig Street and South Trammell Street. That’s at the back of Heritage Park on South Main Street.
Pictured: The splash pad in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Launches Edible Campus Program To Combat Food Insecurity
May 28, 2021
With 200 new trees and bushes on the University of West Florida’s Pensacola campus, the University is taking another step toward combating food insecurity with its Argos’ Edible Campus program. The program will provide access to fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables, free of charge to students. In March, Chasidy Hobbs, lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and her students, participated in the first planting event.
“Through this program, we’re creating sustainable environments by incorporating landscapes with plants that are both beautiful and edible,” Hobbs said. “Our goal is to have 1,000 fruiting trees or bushes by 2024.”
In addition to Argos’ Edible Campus program, the Argo Pantry and UWF Community Garden are a part of UWF’s response to food insecurity. One in 12 UWF students visit the Argo Pantry annually. The Argo Pantry is a campus resource that sustains currently enrolled UWF students with free, healthy food and basic personal care items, allowing students to focus on academic goals and progress toward degree completion and not worry about food insecurities. Hobbs hopes to remove the stigma of food insecurity by empowering students to get involved with growing their own food.
“We welcome anyone who would like to be involved,” Hobbs said. “Spend some time learning to grow your own food. If you do not have the time to come get dirty with us, but want to contribute to food production on campus, we suggest donating, if you can. Once the trees and bushes get established and start producing much more fruit we will have harvesting events, but that is likely a few years away. The next planting event will be held in Spring 2022.”
Since becoming involved, sophomore Monica Woodruff, who is majoring in Environmental Sciences, says her interest in food insecurity has now turned into a passion.
“I have learned a lot about my community and a lot about myself as an ally this semester,” Woodruff said. “Food insecurity is everywhere, it just hides in plain sight. I’ve realized I have a personal (and enjoyable) duty within myself to help those who are struggling with food insecurity around me by doing something I love – planting.”
For more information, visit the Argos’ Edible Campus website.