District 5 Commissioner Barry Elected Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization Chairman
May 18, 2020
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Board of Directors has elected Escambia County Commission Chairman Steven Barry as the new chairman of the board effective July 1. He will succeed Santa Rosa Commissioner Sam Parker.
Barry, who represents District 5, became a member of the FL-AL TPO Board when he was elected in 2012.
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization is the regional, intergovernmental transportation policy board for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and Orange Beach and the community of Lillian in Alabama. The board is comprised of local government officials who make decisions regarding transportation at a regional level.
Top Of The Class Of 2020 From Each High School In Escambia County Honored
May 18, 2020
The top students from the Class of 2020 at each Escambia County high school have been named.
The Senior Academic Awards recognize outstanding academic achievement, represented by the top five students from each school with the highest GPAs at the end of the first semester of their senior year and the top student from each of the six academic disciplines.
The annual program was not held this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but students still received their award, a personalized medallion and a Congressional certificate.
Honorees are listed below.
Escambia High School
Sophia Bonanno – Top Five
Juliette Bonnlander – Top Five
Emily Geiger – Top Five
Omar Mejia – Top Five
Brandon Mitra – Top Five
Maggie Kidder – CTE
Marena Garcia Vidal – English
Brianna Amos – Science
Rhapeepan Antrim – Foreign Language
Jacob Faulkner – Mathematics
Sophia Bonanno – Social Studies
Northview High School
Will Beach – Top Five
Keaton Brown – Top Five
Kayla McKillion – Top Five
Charleigh Parham – Top Five
Marissa Rothrock – Top Five
Sophia Cotita – English
Hailie Anderson – Science
Kinzie Rackard – Career & Technical
Colby Morris – Mathematics
Elana Ward – Social Studies
Pensacola High School
Jackson Allen – Top Five
Jordyn Ewing – Top Five
Oliver Norris – Top Five
Madison Payne – Top Five
Pearson Stack – Top Five
Aydin Lasure – Science
Patrick Imhof – English
Jackson Ruggles – Mathematics
Zaniah Heath – Career & Technical
Elliot Adler – Social Studies
Gregory Posey – Foreign Language
Pensacola IB Program
Sami Humeda – Top Five
Mehul Kapur – Top Five
Rachel Lee – Top Five
Lillian Petsinger – Top Five
Nicholas Skoufis – Top Five
Jett Zhang – Top Five and National Merit
Anna Huynh – National Merit
Katherine McCrackin – National Merit
Jane Chakraborty – National Merit
Jason Dela Cruz – Foreign Language
Samuel Duong – Science
Tanner Struck – Mathematics
Ella Griffith – Career & Technical
Chiara Kyn Estrada – English
Kyla Homewood – Social Studies
Pine Forest High School
Rhett Hardy – Top Five
Chloe Huffman – Top Five
Kayla Le – Top Five
Brandon Rode – Top Five
Journee Stevenson – Top Five
Joseph Hawkins – Science
Kameron Sasser – Foreign Language
Annessa Williams – Career & Technical
Brian Jones, Jr. – English
Miles Gibson – Mathematics
John Pinette – Social Studies
Tate High School
Catherine Alderman – Top Five
Nasim Boussarhane – Top Five
Melanie Letourneau – Top Five
Camille Macks – Top Five
Gabriel Pfeuffer-Ferguson – Top Five
Kade Boyd – English
Alexander Hicks – Foreign Language
Chase Jenkins – Social Studies
Samuel Shinnick – Science
Braden Boutwell – Mathematics
Tra’lon Gillis – Career & Technical
Washington High School
Lily Drasutis – Top Five
Katherine Grissett – Top Five
Emma Hill – Top Five
Lindsay Lurate – Top Five
Sierra Werdann – Top Five
Samantha Thompson – English
Darryl Brundidge, Jr. – Foreign Language
Tobias Johnson – Mathematics
Mary Lipham – Social Studies
Ansley Gill – Career & Technical
Liberty Tillman – Science
West Florida High School
Phillip Gindl – Top Five
Anna Hoang – Top Five
Katelyn McCaffrey – Top Five
Zander Preston – Top Five
Jayden Spiess – Top Five
Courtney Crosby – Science
Luke Whitwell – Social Studies
Haley Israelson – English
Tristan Cravatt – Career & Technical
Marcus Ingram – Mathematics
Luis Moya Marrero – Foreign Language
Central Water Works Boil Water Notice Rescinded, Including For Century Prison
May 17, 2020
Sunday afternoon, Central Water Works rescinded a boil water notice issued May 14 due to the detection of E. coli. This includes all Central Water Works customers and the Century Correctional Institution.
According to the utility, bacteriological sampling show the water is safe to drink. Water samples were taken daily May 14-16, all with clear results.
Central is currently supplying the Century prison with water through an emergency fire hose connection after the failure of the Century water well that normally supplies the prison. At last report, prison inmates were not consuming the water from Central but were being provided with bottled water.
On the date of the sample that showed E. Coli — April 8 — Central was not supplying water to the prison.
Body Of Missing Man Found Near Flora-Bama
May 17, 2020
The body of a man reported missing Friday was found in Escambia County near the Flora-Bama Lounge early Sunday morning.
David Brandon Trammell, 43, was last seen near the water behind the lounge about 4 p.m. Friday. Early Sunday morning, his body was located in the water by Escambia Search and Rescue volunteers.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said it appeared Trammel drowned. His family has been notified.
Cantonment Man Charged With Opening Fire At Pine Forest Road Gas Station
May 17, 2020
A Cantonment man wanted for allegedly opening fire at gas station on Pine Forest Road last week is now behind bars.
William David Nicholson II, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday night on charges of aggravated battery, firing a weapon in public, deadly missiles, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal mischief. An unrelated warrant for for dealing in stolen property was also served . He remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday without bond as a fugitive from justice on additional charges from Alabama.
Last Wednesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call at a gas station located in the 8600 block of Pine Forest Road at I-10. Nicholson was identified as the man that fired two shots at the victim after he allegedly cut Nicholson off in traffic.
The ECSO said Nicholson fired one shot into the victim’s driver’s side window and fired the other shot into the structure surrounding the gas pumps. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury to the head and was taken to a local hospital.
Area In Moderate To Severe Drought
May 17, 2020
A moderate to severe drought exists across much of the North Escambia area, according to the latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
All but the extreme northern part of Escambia County is in the severe drought category.
Winning Fantasy 5 Tickets Sold In Jay And Milton; Each Worth Over $40,000
May 17, 2020
Two people are over $40,000 richer after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 tickets in Jay and Milton
The tickets sold at the Farmer’s Country Market on Highway 4 and the Milton Exxon on Caroline Street are two of five winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing and is worth $40,351.08. Other winning tickets were sold in The Villages, Naples and Hileah.
The 385 tickets matching four numbers won $94.50 each. Another 11,062 tickets matching three numbers are worth $8 each, and 96,696 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Friday’s winning numbers were 5-9-11-26-29.
75 Percent Of Escambia County COVID-19 Deaths Have Been In These Four Long-Term Care Facilities
May 17, 2020
Of the 20 COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County, 15 have been long-term care facility or staff members.
Five residents of Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center have died. There have been five deaths associate with Southern Oaks Care Center – four residents and one staff member.
Four residents of the Brookdale Pensacola assisted living facility and one resident at Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center have also died.
The Florida Department of Health releases their report on long term facility deaths once per week.
Tropical Storm Arthur Forms Off Florida, An Early Start To Hurricane Season
May 17, 2020
Tropical Storm Arthur formed off the southeast coast of Florida Saturday night, over two weeks before the official start to the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
It is no threat to the North Escambia area.
Arthur is expected to track offshore of the southeastern United States, perhaps skirting the North Carolina Outer Banks by Monday. Forecasters expect that the strongest winds will remain to the eastern side of the storm – out in the open Atlantic.
The latest on Tropical Storm Arthur is in the graphics on this page, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Submits Plan To Reopen Short-Term Vacation Rentals
May 17, 2020
UPDATE: This plan was approved Tuesday, May 19. Click or tap here for an update.
Friday night, Escambia County submitted a short-term vacation rental reopening plan to the state for possible implementation as early as Monday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that counties could submit their own plans to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for approval. In March, DeSantis suspending short-term vacation rental bookings.
The ban was extended indefinitely under his first phase reopening plan. But he left the door open for individual counties.
“What we’re doing is telling counties, if you want short-term rentals, you request it to be authorized through the state and provide your safety plan,” he said in Jacksonville Friday as he announced his “Full Phase One” reopening plan.
“We are thankful Governor DeSantis recognized the importance of short-term vacation rentals to our community yesterday during his press conference,” said County Administrator Janice Gilley said Saturday. “This short-term vacation rental plan was created with input from county commissioners and members of ESF-18 such as the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Visit Pensacola and the DMO. We hope for approval by Sunday for implementation on Monday, May 18.”
Under Escambia County’s plan, reservations and stays will be allowed from U.S. states with a COVID-19 case rate less than 700 cases per 100,000 residents as of May 15. Reservations from COVID-19 hotpots identified by the governor, such as New York, New Jersey and New Orleans, will be avoided for the next 30-45 days, and no reservations from international travelers will be allowed.
To read Escambia County’s complete plan, click here.