Developers Make $16 Million Unsolicited Offer For OLF-8 Property
January 27, 2021
Developers have once again made an unsolicited offer for the county-owned property on Nine Mile Road in Beulah known as OLF-8.
Hemmer Consulting of Pensacola, and 68 Ventures of Spanish Fort, made the $16 million offer Tuesday to purchase about 400 acres for $40,000 cash per acre. Escambia County would retain about 130 of the 530 total acres for roads, government buildings, parks, schools and a dedicated commerce or business park.
The developers will, according to their proposal, follow design aspects guidelines set forth in a master plan once it is approved by the Escambia County Commission. DPZ Codesign has developed four master plan concepts for OLF-8 (click or tap here to see the plans in detail). The county commission has finalized a master plan.
If the sale were to take place, the Hemmer and 68 Ventures will construct a main boulevard from Nine Mile Road to the property retained by the county, and the county would be required to continue the roadway to Frank Reeder Road.
Hemmer Consulting and 68 Ventures also made an $18 million unsolicited offer for the full 530 acres in early 2019. At that time, County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners that they would be legally obligated to declare the property surplus and sell it to the highest bidder, rather than accepting an unsolicited offer.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 helicopter field in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County at a total cost of about $18 million. A portion of the property was previously sold to Navy Federal to expand their campus.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Launching After-School Tutoring Program (With Free Snacks)
January 27, 2021
Ernest Ward Middle School is launching a new after-school tutoring program for students that comes with free snacks.
The middle school in Walnut Hill is offering the program to 80 selected students per week on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. The selected students have received a letter indicating the day or days of the week and subject area or areas (math, science, language arts or civics) in which they are eligible for tutoring.
“Ernest Ward Middle School students have been presented with an awesome opportunity,” said Principal Nancy Perry. “Our district is funding a tutoring program at EWMS beginning next week through March 26.”
Parents or guardians must provide transportation home; bus transportation will not be available.
The tutoring sessions will not be for regular homework. They will be true tutoring sessions delivered by teachers based upon student need as indicated by their assessment data, according to the district.
Nutritious snacks will be provided through a USDA program at no charge to students taking part in the tutoring sessions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Places In District Girls Weightlifting Meet; Six Headed To Regionals
January 27, 2021
The Tate High School Girls Weightlifting Team placed fourth in the recent District 1-3A meet.
The following Tate athletes qualified for the regional meet:
DISTRICT 1-3A
129 Pound Class
- Melanie Brown
139 Pound Class
- Haleigh Sluder
169 Pound Class
- Aaliyah Jordan
183 Pound Class
- Riley Williamson
199 Pound Class
- Morgan Warrington
Unlimited Pound Class
- Kayla Bennett
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Heather Knowles Signs Softball Scholarship With Coastal Alabama
January 27, 2021
Northview High School senior Heather Knowles has signed a full softball scholarship with Coastal Alabama Community College in Brewton. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Council Moving Meetings To Larger Facility
January 27, 2021
Century Town Council meetings for the remainder of 2021 have been moved from the town hall to a community center for more social distancing space and to allow for more public participation.
“Because of COVID, the meetings have been moved from town hall, a smaller venue, to the community center to allow more elbow room,” Mayor Ben Boutwell said. “People don’t have to feel as anxious; they can feel more at peace if they come to our meetings.”
The council meetings will be held at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4, rather than in the small council chambers at town hall. Meetings are generally held on the first and third Mondays, but there are adjustments for Independence Day and Labor Day. The schedule was not adjusted for Presidents Day on February 15. Only one meeting is traditionally held in December.
A bill list review will be held at 6:45 p.m. to be followed by a regular council meeting at 7 p.m. on the following dates:
- February 1 and 15
- March 1 and 15
- April 5 and 19
- May 3 and 17
- June 7 and 21
- July 6 and 19
- August 2 and 16
- September 7 and 20
- October 4 and 18
- November 1 and 15
- December 20
Pictured: The Century Town Council’s first meeting of January was held at the community center on West Highway 4. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Four Teens Charged In Fatal Shooting Described As ‘Drug Rip Off’
January 26, 2021
Four teenagers — ages 14, 15 and two 17-year olds have been charged for the Friday night murder of a 61-year old Escambia County man in what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office described as a “drug rip off ending in homicide.”
Those charged are:
- Javarius Cordell Henderson, 14, capital murder
- Jesse L’Amos Snowden, 15, capital murder and attempted homicide
- Cedric Antonio Young Jr., 17, capital murder, attempted homicide, escape and resisting without violence
- Calvin Barnard Williams, 17, homicide
The shooting occurred Friday night in the 900-block of Massachusetts Avenue.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found a truck that had crashed into a power pole. Samuel Thomley was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound inside the truck. A second gunshot victim was located and was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Based on their preliminary investigation, ECSO Major Crime Unit investigators believe this incident was drug related.
“Sadly, this is another example of the type of drug related violence we battle here in Escambia County. These four arrests were made thanks to the hard work and dedication of the ECSO Investigators, who have spent tireless hours on this case,” said Sheriff Chip Simmons.
Quintette Road Railroad Crossing To Be Closed Wednesday; Pauline And Chemstrand On Monday
January 26, 2021
The railroad crossing on Quintette Road will be closed beginning Wednesday, and the crossings on Chemstrand Road and on Pauline Street will close next week, according to Escambia County officials.
With no quick detour, the Quintette Road closure will impact a large number of people in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The closest detour route is using Highway 90 across the Escambia River, about 30 miles from one side of the crossing to the other. Detouring across the river on the Highway 4 bridge through Century is some 60 miles.
CSX is conducting a crosstie replacement, and each crossing will be closed from two to three days. Work may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Traffic Shifted On Nine Mile Road At Highway 29 Overpass
January 26, 2021
There is a new traffic configuration on Nine Mile Road on both sides of the Highway 29 overpass.
The Nine Mile Road east and westbound lanes have been shifted to the inside of the roadway between Untreiner Avenue and North Palafox Street. That provides room to construct the new lanes on the outside of the roadway.
This new traffic configuration is expected to remain in place through the spring.
The work is part of the $49 million construction project to widen Highway 29 from four to six travel lanes and improve the Highway 29 and Nine Mile Road interchange. Work on Highway 29 is slated for completion this summer.
Pictured: The new traffic patterns on Nine Mile Road to the east of the Highway 29 overpass (above) and to the west (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF To Distribute $10 Million In Funding To Businesses Creating Jobs In Northwest Florida
January 26, 2021
The University of West Florida is accepting applications for the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund, a regional economic development program with the goal to distribute $10 million in funding to businesses seeking to create jobs in Northwest Florida.
“UWF is honored to manage this program and the distribution of State of Florida economic development funds to companies that are investing in the region’s continuing financial growth,” said Dr. Matthew Schwartz, assistant vice president of research administration. “The IRDF program highlights the University’s continuing role in the region’s economic development and recovery from both natural disasters and financial hardships tied to the COVID pandemic.”
In the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the State Legislature established the $30 million program, formerly named the Industry Recruitment, Retention & Expansion Fund Grant Program. Approximately $10 million in funding remains for the program, which focuses on research and development, commercialization of research, economic diversification and job creation. Eligible industries include green technology, life sciences, information technology, aviation and aerospace, homeland security, financial and professional services, defense and manufacturing.
UWF Research Administration and Engagement is coordinating and overseeing the program by working with regional economic development offices. The eligible counties for funding include Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton. Businesses that commit to creating jobs in one or more of the eight counties are eligible for the funds. The project cap per award is $2 million. Other requirements for recipients include a commitment to capital investment, minimum creation of 10 new jobs and a return on investment of at least $1.50 for every dollar funded.
“There are definitely companies out there interested in pivoting and doing what they haven’t done before to create jobs, diversify the regional economy and make the regional economy more resilient,” said Dr. Donovan Chau, director of research engagement. “Sometimes when there is a crisis or some kind of tragedy, there’s an opportunity for growth, and more than ever what our regional community needs is funds for economic development.”
Previous funding helped companies expand or relocate to Northwest Florida. Those recipients included Navy Federal Credit Union for the creation of 9,144 jobs by 2030 and spurring over $700 million in new capital construction, ST Aerospace for 500 jobs and partial funding for a hangar facility at Pensacola International Airport, and International Paper for the addition of 436 jobs.
For more information about the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund, visit uwf.edu/irdf.
Pensacon Rescheduled For Late May, Face Masks Required
January 26, 2021
Pensacon has rescheduled its 2021 pop culture convention for May 21-23.
Attendees will be required to wear face coverings while on all Pensacon grounds and within all Pensacon venues, outside of designated, distanced eating spaces. Among other precautions, hand-sanitizing stations will be set up throughout the convention, and social distancing policies, including seating/capacity limitations at some venues, will be employed.
For those who have already purchased tickets for the original February dates, tickets have already rolled over to the new dates, and no further action is needed. For those who are unable to attend in May, unused tickets will be rolled over to Pensacon 2022, which is expected to return to the convention’s usual February time frame.
Tickets are available at pensacon.com. Weekend passes, which include admission for all three days of the convention, are $80. Single-day tickets are available at a cost of $35 for Friday, May 21; $45 for Saturday, May 22; and $40 for Sunday, May 23. VIP Experience weekend passes are $155, and include early admission to the Pensacola Bay Center, preferred seating at panel venues, front-of-line privileges for celebrity autographs and photo ops, and exclusive T-shirt, space-available parking and other perks. Additional taxes and fees apply to all tickets.
Pictured: “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” star Jason David Frank (left), one of the featured celebrity guests for this year’s Pensacon, and CEO Mike Ensley announced the new dates for the pop culture convention. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.