Jay Second, Northview Third In District Girls Weightlifting Meet
January 26, 2021
Here are results from the District 1-1A weightlifting meet.
- Baker
- Jay
- Northview
- South Walton
- West Florida
- Freeport
The following Northview and Jay athletes qualified for the regional meet:
101 Pound Class
- Holley Gilley, Northview
- Chloe Criswell, Northview
- Heather Flowers, Jay
119 Pound Class
- Alex Pabo, Jay
- Lily Land, Jay
129 Pound Class
- Kaitlyn Fretwell, Jay
- Brianna Dunsford, Jay
139 Pound Class
- Christa Sanders, Jay
- Bentley Glover, Jay
154 Pound Class
- Landry Cato, Jay
- Aaliyah Goolsby, Jay
- Taylor McMinn, Northview
169 Pound Class
- Carlyn Watson, Jay
- Naudia Carach, Northview
- Audrey Geotter, Northview
- Brianna Hart, Jay
183 Pound Class
- Jada Lawry, Jay
- Leah Woods, Northview
- Madison Mathis, Jay
199 Pound Class
- Kelson Cook, Jay
Unlimited Pound Class
- Maggie Amerson, Northview
- Joselynn Helton, Northview
Pictured: Athletes that placed in the 1A District Weightlifting meeting. Pictured next to bottom: Northview High School team members. Pictured bottom: Jay High School team members. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Finalists Named For Escambia County Fire Chief As Selection Nears
January 25, 2021
Four finalists to be the next Escambia County Fire Rescue chief will take part in one-on-one meetings with county officials this week.
The four will meet individually with Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley and the department directors in Public Safety.
“If there is a candidate that really stands out, hopefully it will be a March start date for that person,” county spokesperson Laura Coale said. She said Gilley will make the final decision on a new fire chief, and it will not require the approval of the Escambia County Commission.
Christopher Hatch is the only local candidate on the final four list.
The finalists for Escambia Fire Rescue chief are, in alphabetical order:
- William Beaty, Jr. has served as the fire chief at the Garden City Fire Department in Kansas since December 2019. He previously worked as the program coordinator at Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, Illinois) from 2007 to 2019. He also worked with the Springfield (Illinois) Fire Department from 1996, to 2019, leaving as a captain.
- Roger Burton served in the Ohio Air National Guard from 2010 until 2020, retiring as installation fire chief.
- Clinton Cooke served with the South Monroe County Fire Department in Conroe, Texas, from 2009 to 2020 when he departed as Assistant Fire Chief. On his application he stated he reason for leaving as “agreement between the fire chief and I. Will discuss further in interview”.
- Christopher Hatch has worked with the NAS Pensacola Fire Department since 1986. He was a supervisory firefighter from 1986 to 2005 and has served as assistant fire chief of operations since 2005. He has also volunteered for Escambia Fire Rescue since 1982, serving in positions ranging from volunteer firefighter to assistant district chief and district chief. He is currently district chief of the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and serves as president of the Escambia County Volunteer Firefighters Association.
There were 60 people that applied to be the next fire chief.
The job has been open for well over a year. The county’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and submitted his resignation about a year later.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Westbound Traffic Shifting To New Roadway East Of I-10
January 25, 2021
Nine Mile Road westbound between Klondike Road (near I-10) and Surrey Drive will be shifted to the newly construct westbound roadway this week.
The traffic shift will allow crews to construct the new inside travel lanes, median, and turn lanes, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The work is part of a $46 million effort to widen and improve Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to Highway 29. An estimated 19,000 drivers travel the roadway daily.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
ECAT Returns To Charging Regular Fares As Of Today
January 25, 2021
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) has resumed regular fares as of today and is continuing to require face masks.
Regular fares have been suspended since March 23.
Free face masks have been provided to ECAT riders since June 1 and will continue to be available. Face have been required on ECAT buses since Monday, December 21. If a passenger meets one of the Florida Department of Health requirements that prevents mask wearing, the passenger can notify the bus operator. Social distancing will still be encouraged on all ECAT vehicles.
Century Correctional Institution Officer Assaulted By Inmate
January 25, 2021
A correctional officer in Century was recently assaulted by an inmate.
Inmate Danny Tucker assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution by head-butting them, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Medical staff examined the officer and noted injuries.
Tucker, 32, is serving a three-year sentence out of Hillsborough County for aggravated assault with a weapon.
Florida Gas Prices Up About A Dime In The Past Week
January 25, 2021
Florida gas prices jumped another dime last week, reaching an average price of $2.40 per gallon. Sunday’s state average is up 20 cents from the start of the year, and the highest daily average price since February 2020. Despite the recent hike, Florida drivers are paying seven cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon was $2.34 in Escambia County, with lows of $2.29 in Cantonment Sunday night. In Pensacola, a low price of $2.22 was available.
“Gas prices have been dragged higher by crude oil prices which remain at 11-month highs,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “The gas price hike has likely hit its ceiling for now, as oil prices seemed to plateau last week. Despite optimism for the Covid-19 vaccine, crude prices slipped last week due to rising cases of coronavirus in two of the largest fuel consumers in the world: the United States and China.”
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Molino Precinct To Reopen Next Month
January 24, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will reopen their Molino Precinct next month.
The public will be invited to the opening with Sheriff Chip Simmons on Saturday, February 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served.
Following his swearing in on January 5, Simmons told NorthEscambia.com that he would reopen the precincts in Molino and Perdido.
The reopening ceremony for the Perdido Precinct has been set for Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with Simmons. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be served.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Discount Available Through January 31 On Escambia County Real Estate, Tangible Taxes
January 24, 2021
An available two percent discount on the payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Sunday, January 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford
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To receive the two percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight, February 1, 2021, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a January postmark; or
- left in a drop box available at all locations by close of business, February 1, 2021.
Since all offices are closed on January 31, customers who make their payment in person at any tax collector office on Monday, February 1, 2021. will receive the two percent discount.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit our virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Our online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services.
Customers who decide to visit one of our four convenient offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com and manage their time their way. Citizens select an office location and type of service, receive a message with approximate service time and then continue their regular activities until the service time approaches.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit our payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola MESS Hall Distributing Science Kits To Schools Thanks To IP Foundation, Ascend Cares
January 24, 2021
The Pensacola MESS Hall is distributing free Kits for Classrooms to provide elementary teachers with engaging, hands on science lessons for their students, thanks to help from two local organizations.
Two different kits, one focused on the science of light and the other focused on the science of water, target learners in 3rd and 4th grade. Both kits will be provided for free to twenty-five local high need schools thanks to generous support from Ascend Cares Community Impact Grant and International Paper Foundation.
Each kit contains the instructions and materials for fifty or more students to explore and discover. The kits are designed to be used for many years to come.
In a typical year, thousands of young learners would visit the MESS Hall on school field trips, including many who might never have the chance to visit the MESS Hall otherwise. With the loss of field trips from the pandemic, the MESS Hall is eager to inspire curiosity about science by delivering these kits to teachers. As teachers have had to adjust their lessons to accommodate social distancing, providing materials for all students becomes even more important.
Schools interested in receiving one of the limited sponsored kits or purchasing one for their students should contact the MESS Hall at info@pensacolamesshall.org or by calling 877-YES-MESS (937-6377).
Pictured: Volunteers sort materials for Pensacola MESS Hall Kits for Classrooms. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Voters Approved The Escambia Children’s Trust. Member Volunteers Are Needed Now.
January 24, 2021
Escambia County is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Children’s Services Council (CSC).
In November, voters approved the creation of the Children Services Council to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust of Escambia County will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
Once members are appointed to the CSC, the newly formed government body is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs which must then be submitted to the Escambia County Commission. The CSC, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the board as required by Florida law.
To be considered for the CSC, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24-month period and are willing to submit an annual statement of financial interests form. Florida law also requests that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the county’s population.
After the application deadline of Jan. 30 has past, the eligible applications will be compiled for the BOCC’s consideration during the Feb. 18 meeting. In order to narrow down the pool of applicants to the 15 nominations that will be submitted to the governor, each commissioner will nominate two applicants and the full board nominates five additional applicants.
The governor will have 45 days to make a selection or request a new list of candidates.
Resumes and both applications may also be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or by mail to:
Shamara Jernigan, Program Coordinator
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 1591
Pensacola, FL 32502