‘There’s So Much Good’ — Beulah Middle FFA Provides Summer Food For Students In Need
June 11, 2021
The Beulah Middle School FFA worked to make sure students in need would have food this summer.
For a little over a year, The Beulah FFA has held food drives before every extended break, including Christmas, spring and fall breaks. This year, they decided to give summer break a shot.
People donated food, money and backpacks. In the past, they used grocery bags to distribute the food, but it was decided that backpacks would be much more discrete.
The last week of school, 53 backpacks full of food were distributed. Each one contain a laminated card with a QR code; students can simply scan to send an alert that they need more food.
“Yes, there is no shortage of negativity and downright awfulness if we choose to see it. But, if we choose to turn our sights to the positive, the positivity is also endless,” Beulah FFA sponsor Leanne Jenkins said. “This picture was snapped by one of the guidance counselors. She sent me the picture the last day of school and told me stories about families who cried as they picked up their food.”
“There is so much good,” Jenkins said. “Let’s choose to see it. Let’s choose to be it.”
Century Charter Review Discusses Duties Of Mayor, Gender Neutral Pronouns And More
June 11, 2021
With just four of eight members present, the Century Charter Review Committee dove headfirst into a section by section review of the town’s charter Thursday evening. The committee is tasked with updating the charter — the document that legally establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate.
During their review, committee members discussed how council members could be removed from office, and how they might be penalized for missing too many meetings, including the possible forfeiture of some portion of their salary.
Member Kathryn Fleming suggested that the document be updated to use gender neutral pronouns; it currently contains numerous male pronouns.
The charter review committee briefly discussed the duties of the town’s mayor and the possibility of moving most of them to a city manager.
The Century Charter Review Committee will continue their work on July 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard.
Committee members Brenda Spencer, Shelisa Abraham, Leslie Howington and Helen Mincy were absent from the meeting Thursday.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee members (L-R) Michelle Cunningham, Kathryn Fleming and Evelyn Hammond listen to discussion Thursday night. Pictured below: Committee Chair Mary Bourgeois and consultant Buz Eddy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Nine Mile, I-10 Traffic Light Going To Flash Mode Next Week, Active June 22
June 11, 2021
The new traffic signal at Nine Mile Road and I-10 will be placed in flash mode on Tuesday, June 15.
Drivers exiting I-10 eastbound to Nine Mile Road will encounter a flashing red light indicating they are to stop, then proceed once traffic is clear. Drivers on Nine Mile Road, east and westbound, will encounter a yellow flashing signal, meaning they should slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution.
On Tuesday, June 22 the traffic signal will be fully activated with standard red, yellow and green lights.
Spirit Airlines Brings Nonstop Flights To Seven Destinations From Pensacola
June 11, 2021
Spirit Airlines has officially landed at the Pensacola International Airport with nonstop flights to seven destinations.
The new flights are:
Pictured: The first Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth arrived Thursday at the Pensacola International Airport. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Drowns At Pensacola Beach Thursday Afternoon
June 10, 2021
An adult male drowned at Pensacola Beach Thursday afternoon, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was pulled from the water by lifeguards around 1:20 p.m. in the 500 block of Ft. Pickens Road, near the White Sands Condominiums about a mile west of the fishing pier. Officials said he was pronounced deceased.
His name has not been released.
Yellow flags were flying at Pensacola Beach at the time of the incident. Under a yellow flag, swimmers can expect moderate surf or currents and can enter the water using extra caution.
Expect Nightly Lane Closures On The Pensacola Bay Bridge
June 10, 2021
Nightly lane restrictions will be in place on the Pensacola Bay Bridge as work continues to restore four lanes of traffic for the length of the structure.
From Thursday, June 10 until Friday, June 18, drivers will encounter lane closures and lane shifts each night from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Drivers should anticipate congestion during the time work is underway.
Construction crews are working to complete repairs on the bridge. The Pensacola Bay Bridge reopened Friday, May 28 to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction), with the exception of an an approximately one-half-mile segment of two travel lanes (one lane in each direction) on the Pensacola side of the bridge arch.
No date has been announced for completing repairs and restoring all four lanes of traffic, though the Florida Department of Transportation said indications are it could be within “weeks as opposed to months” Also not determined at this time is an estimate for completing repairs to the bridge’s multiuse path that accommodates bicyclists and pedestrians.
The speed limit on the Pensacola Bay Bridge is 35 mph, and law enforcement personnel are patrolling the structure around the clock to enforce the limit. Tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge remain suspended through Tuesday, July 6.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Crashing Into A Turkey In Walnut Hill
June 10, 2021
A motorcyclist was seriously injured after crashing into a turkey Wednesday evening in Walnut Hill.
The adult male was headed east on Rockaway Creek Road about a mile from Pine Forest Road when he collided with the wild turkey about 6:50 p.m. He lost control of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and slid about 150 feet along the pavement with the bike.
He was airlifted by MedStar Air Care 2 to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. The turkey did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
May, Barry Don’t Want Retirement Plan Back Pay, But They Will Seek Resolution For Other Employees
June 10, 2021
Escambia County commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May say they don’t want any back payments from a 401(a) annuity retirement plan settlement, but they will continue to work to help other senior level county employees that were not told about the program.
Barry told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon that the overall issue is bigger than just the board.
“There is a bigger issue,” he said. “The bigger issue is how this information (about the 401(a)) is being distributed.”
The 401(a) annuity program is available under state law and is offered only to senior management service employees and commissioners that opt out of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It’s available statewide, not just in Escambia County.
Many employees, along with current and past commissioners, have said they were never informed of the annuity plan’s existence, and they lost significant retirement revenue as a result.
Barry asked the state ethics commission if the county commission could vote on a settlement plan that would allow payments to him, other commissioners and other county employees that were not told about the annuity plan by the county’s human resources department. The ethics commission agreed that the county commission could vote on paying lost earnings from the 401(a) plan to impacted commissioners and county employees.
At the county commission’s last meeting, May seconded a motion by Barry to move forward with discussion to discuss the program, and May also seconded an ameded motion to seek a legal opinion on the matter first.
“Quite frankly, in my opinion, this action, it’s not about county commissioners,” May said during the BOCC meeting. “It’s about those employees who have served in the dark without knowledge of this program and that they should have the opportunity to exercise any retirement benefits, not for themselves, but the sacrifice that they made for their children and those they may leave upon their death and their retirement.”
The payout could total as much as $1.9 million, including just over $225,000 each for Barry and May. But both commissioners now say they will not seek the money for themselves.
“Personally, I’m not going to seek any back payments, but I am extremely supportive of continuing to seek a legal opinion about a fair and equitable resolution for our senior management employees, many of whom were never informed of even the existence of the 401(a) plan, much less the details of the plan,” Barry said in a text message to NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon.
“We have a responsibility to advocate for the fair treatment of all our eligible employees, not only a select few,” Barry continued.
For an earlier story and more background, click or tap here.
New Signal At Highway 29, Molino Road Will Become Operational Next Tuesday
June 10, 2021
A new traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road will become fully operational about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15..
The signal is currently in flash mode to acquaint motorists with the new location. The Florida Department of Transpiration said drivers are urged to use caution when approaching the intersection.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mira Awards Honor Escambia’s Most Creative High School Seniors
June 10, 2021
Each year the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation celebrates the unique gifts and creative talents of students from the Escambia County School District’s seven high schools with the presentation of the Mira Creative Arts Awards.
Students received a custom medallion during their school’s senior awards to wear with their cap and gown at graduation.
The awards presented last month were as follows:
Escambia High School
Band: Aubrey Crooks, Lily Strickland, Jonathan Trillo
Chorus: Keith Franco, Ashlee Radcliff, Mary Rouse
Drama: James Smith
Instrumental – Piano: Nicholas Grimes
Orchestra: Jacob Barrow
Yearbook: Shea Robards
Northview High School
Band: Alexia Jeneske
Drama: Josiah Carter
Graphic Arts: William Wilson
Graphic Design: Savannah Doremus
Visual Arts: Alexis Fleming
Visual Design: Libby Pugh
Yearbook: Hannah Hughes
Pensacola High School
Band: Alyssa Pasco, Mikael Patriarca
Drama: Owen Ides, Graybill Partington, Gabrielle Vines
Orchestra: Jenalynn Fernandez
Photography: Tavi Parker
Visual Arts: Khuyen Tran, Calla Endacott, Morgan Green
Pine Forest High School
Band: Yasmin Blount, Keith Jackson
Chorus: Bennez Kornegay
Culinary Arts: Dillon Southerland
Orchestra: Saudia Davis
TV Production: Natalia Eddy
Visual Arts: Christian Missal, Ayshia Williams
Yearbook: Mary Prokosch
Tate High School
Band: Michael Dixon, Mia Morehouse
Drama: Grey Benauer, Brody Kuehn
Orchestra: Reeve Roberts, Jade Ronca
Photography: Maggie Williams
Theater/Chorus: Adalynn Joiner, Liliana Watson
Visual Arts: Natalee Stuart
Booker T. Washington High School
Band: Joshua A. Mullikin, Rick Washington
Chorus: Kindell Nathaniel Harris, Jonathan West
Orchestra: Zachary Ford, Alyson Maybin
Theater: Nathaniel Holzknecht, Anna E. Miley
Visual Arts: Scarlett Mariana Coffey, Jordyn Johnson
West Florida High School
Band: Autumn Clayton, Selalina Hakaumotu
Drama: Grace Stanley
Graphic Arts: Marie Jansen, Abe Pasion
Journalism: Parker Hassebrock, Myles Powers
Orchestra: Olivia Enkey
Visual Arts: Skai Estares, Liberty Isbell