The Applications Are In: Five Apply To Be Century’s Town Manager
November 14, 2019
Five people have applied for the town manager position in Century, including the person currently working as the town’s gas supervisor.
The town started taking applications for the job back in mid-September, describing the ideal candidate as “qualified and highly motivated” and requiring a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related field, plus five years of experience in local government administration of a senior management position.
Interim City Manager Buz Eddy, who did not apply, has expressed a belief that the town did not have more applicants because the city manager position is not specifically established by the town charter. Intead, the town used a provision that allows the council to create or establish departments as deemed necessary and the mayor to hire employees with the council’s approval.
Vernon Prather of Molino was one of the applicants. He began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a package deal when now Eddy came on board in July.
The town has not yet taken action to hire a permanent city manager.
The applicants for Century Town Manager, in alphabetical order, are:
Timothy Day
Cape Coral, Florida
- Day Properties, property management 2017-present
- Town manager in Melbourne Beach 2015-2017
- Town manager in Greenville, FL, 2016
- Community Manager, Fort Myers 201
- Director, South West Florida Public Service Academy, Fort Myers 2002-2012
- Former or current property manager, community association manager
- BA degree Rhode Island College, AS degree in administration from Roger William University, certified police officer Rhode Island and Florida
Elmon Lee Garner
Chattahoochee, Florida
- Interim city manager, Palatka, FL, July 2019 to present
- City manager, Chattahoochee, FL, June 1997 to September 2018
- AA management, Georgia Military College
- BS management, Limestone College (SC)
- MPA public administration, Brenau University (GA)
Steve Neratko
East Dover, Vermont
- Director of community and economic development, Town of Dover, Vermont 2017-current
- Director City of Allentown (PA) planning and zoning, chief planner City of Allentown, 2015-2017
- City of Dunkirk (NY) director of planning and economic development 2012-2015
- Cayuga County planner Auburn, NY 2008-2011
- AS math and science, Jamestown (NY) Community College, BA political science SUNY Fredonia (NY).
Vernon Prather
Molino, Florida
- Assistant city manager, City of Gulf Breeze, FL 2017-2019
- Director of public services, City of Gulf Breeze, FL 2017
- Operations consultant, City Gulf Breeze 2016-2017
- Director of public services, City of Gulf Breeze 2006-2017
- Holds water and wastewater treatment plant operator certifications
- Appointed board member Santa Rosa Island Authority 2004-20012
- Operations of water, wastewater treatment plant certificates, Pensacola Junior College and California State University
- Certificate of Drafting Pensacola Junior College
- Molino Utilities board of director 2000-present
Tracie Watson
Brewton, Alabama
- GED instructor, Pensacola State College, August 2019-present
- Substitute teacher on-call, Brewton City Schools 2018-2019
- Staff Associate to director Office of Institutional Research 2017-2018
- Academic coordinator to department head, Florida A&M University, 2015-2016
- Administrative assistant, Leon County (FL) School Board, 2013-2015
- Volunteer, CERT trainer AmeriCorps VISTA 2012-2013
- Event manager, Global Trace Enterprises 2009-2012
- Administrative Assistant, Leon County (FL) School board, 2013-2015
- BS human resources management Faulkner University, Montgomery, AL
- Masters education personnel administrative University of West Florida
Editor’s note: Information for each candidate is a brief summary of experience and education taken from more complete resumes/applications. Work experience greater than 10 years ago was not highlighted.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Cat Country Receives Station Of The Year Award During CMA Show
November 14, 2019
Cat Country 98.7 received the Country Music Association’s Small Market Station of the Year Award during the annual CMA Awards in Nashville Wednesday.
Stations are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and format leadership.
Cat Country 98.7 was named CMA Station Of The Year once before in 2017. The station is locally owned by ADX Communications.
Pictured (center) Cat Country morning hosts Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton and (outside) ADX Communications owners Dave and Mary Hoxeng. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Driver Found After Molino Wreck
November 14, 2019
A driver was nowhere to be found when first responders arrived at a rollover accident in Molino Wednesday night.
Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to a Toyota Corolla discovered in a ditch on McKinnonville Road between Molino and Brickyard road about 9:30 p.m. They discovered the vehicle was only slightly warm had been there for some period of time. The vehicle was reportedly in park, and the keys were missing.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FFA Smoked Turkey, Boston Butt Sale Underway
November 14, 2019
The annual Northview High School FFA Alumni Smoked Turkey and Boston Butt Sale is now underway, just in time for Thanksgiving.
In the annual fundraiser, you can choose either a seven to nine 7-9 pound smoked Boston butt or a 10-12 pound smoked turkey for $30 each.
Boston butts will be available for pickup on Monday, November 25, and the the smoked turkeys will be available for pickup on Tuesday, November 26 at either Highland Baptist Church in Molino or the Northview Ag Department (complete pickup details are on the order form).
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Northview High School FFA Scholarship Fund. The sale is sponsored by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse in Molino. For a printable order form, click here. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, November 19.
Jim Allen Elementary Names October Students Of The Month
November 14, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School has named Students of the Month for October. They are JaDora Linzy (pictured left) and Ella Sherbrook. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Heavily Damages Home In Century
November 13, 2019
Fire heavily damaged a home in Century Wednesday night, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The home on Gilford Avenue at the intersection of Bonwell Street was fully involved when first responders arrived on scene.
The fire also damaged at least two vehicles and melted the vinyl siding on a nearby residence.
There were no injuries reported in the 6:20 p.m. blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Jay Fire Department and Escambia County EMS responded to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Extreme North Santa Rosa County
November 13, 2019
A small plane made an emergency landing in a field in extreme north Santa Rosa County Wednesday. The plane came down in a field along Munson Highway on the Florida-Alabama state line in McLellan community. Officials said there were no injuries. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Hero’s Farewell: Last Call Sounds For Fallen District Fire Chief Bradshaw (With Photo Gallery)
November 13, 2019
Funeral services will held Tuesday for Escambia Fire Rescue District Chief Dwain Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, 41, lost his life last week in the line of duty on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge. He was a volunteer district chief at the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, volunteer assistant district chief for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, and lived a life of public service.
“Dwain Bradshaw. Dwain had a servant’s heart and a concern for others,” Beulah District Chief Steve McNair said during the funeral service at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Bradshaw was set to take over as Beulah chief after McNair’s retirement. “His heart was in training. He wanted everyone to be the best at what they did.”
“He was the Statue of Liberty who held a beacon of light to help others find their way. He loved his country; he served his country, and he fought for his country for our freedom,” the Beulah chief continued. “He loved Escambia County Fire Rescue and strived to make it better.”
“Dwain would tell you never leave home to start your shift without telling your family that you love them, and giving them a kiss.Because none of us ever know that when we leave if we will be able to do that again. Try to make yourself and your fellow brothers and sisters better,” McNair told the firefighters in attendance. “Just remember family first, service always.”
“I first met Dwain when he was about 10 or 11 years old when his father Dwain, Sr. joined the fire department,” Escambia Fire Chief Paul Williams said as he reminisced about watching him grow up into a man dedicated to service. “He was a man who devoted his entire adult life to serving not only his country, but serving his community. Also not only a man who gave in life, but continued to give in his death as an organ donor. That’s a legacy that Dwain will leave.”
“Dwain and I started in the fire services as junior fighters at Ensley,” an emotional Ferry Pass District Chief Mike Aaron said. “Dwain was there for me from the beginning to the end…Dwain would be proud today…He loved the fire service. He loves all of you. Y’all make what today is going to be, special for him. All I ask is let’s do it right. Let’s show him the honor, and let’s show him the respect, and thank you.”
Bradshaw was also a Department of Defense firefighter at Naval Air Station Pensacola, an U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Mississippi Air National Guard and a former police officer in Bay Minette.
A lengthy funeral procession with dozens of emergency vehicles from departments across the Gulf Coast traveled from Hillcrest Baptist along Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads to his final resting place at Pensacola Memorial Gardens. Bradshaw’s flag-draped coffin was carried open-air in the back of an antique fire engine. Along the way, people line the roadway, many holding flags blowing in a frigid north wind. Some stood with their hands over their hearts.
During the graveside service, Bradshaw was honored with a 21-gun salute and a flyover by LifeFlight.
A fireman’s bell tolled in his honor, and an Escambia County Fire dispatcher conducted a “last call” over the county’s fire radio system to his radio number “101″.
“Escambia to 101,” the dispatcher called with no response.
“Escambia to Chief Dwain Bradshaw,” the dispatcher said, her voice resounding across the handheld radios at the service.
The radio silence was broken again, this time by tones used to alert firefighters to important information, followed by:
“There is no response from Chief Drain Bradshaw. Chief Dwain Bradshaw has answered his last call. The members of Escambia Fire Rescue thank Chief Dwain Bradshaw for his years of service to the citizens of Escambia County. Although you are gone sir, you will never be forgotten.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds/NorthEscambia.com, Kristi Barbour/NorthEscambia.com, Meg Burke/Milestones Studios, and Damien Roberts/Milestones Studios, click to enlarge.
Median Closure: Quintette Road Access To/From Highway 29 To Be Greatly Limited
November 13, 2019
Access to and from Quintette Road at Highway 29 will be greatly limited beginning Thursday.
The Highway 29 median at Quintette Road will be closed Thursday and remain closed for about a month, according to Ian Satter, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation.
Southbound Highway 29 traffic will no longer be able to turn left onto Quintette Road, and Quintette Road traffic will no longer be able to turn left (southbound) onto Highway 29 as a result of the closure.
The median closure will allow the construction of new turn lanes in both directions of Highway 29 at Quintette Road. The project does not include a traffic signal.
Pictured: The intersection of Highway 29 and Quintette Road on Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Former ECUA Recycling Manager Charged With Stealing Over Half Million
November 13, 2019
A former recycling manager at the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) has been charged with stealing over a half million dollars worth of recyclables through a shell company he owned.
Jarrell Lamar Reynolds, age 42 of Pensacola, was charged with grand theft and fraud. He was later released from jail on a $100,0000 bond.
In September of 2018, Reynolds was hired by ECUA to manage the recycling operation at the Perdido Landfill.
“He was hired, according to ECUA management, because of his experience in the industry and his personal contacts with potential new vendors and customers,” an arrest report states. “ECUA believed that hiring Reynolds would increase the efficiency of the the recycling operation and increase their revenues through the introduction of new customers for their recyclable material.”
On December 5, 2018, Reynolds chartered a company called JAT Recycling in Georgia, and he was lone officer of the company. It was through this company investigators said he received funds from three legitimate ECUA customers and converted the proceeds for his personal use, including a $16,000 down payment on a Porsche Panamera.
The three companies — ASM Recycling, Wise Recycling and Cellmark — are all legitimate companies that purchase recyclables in bulk for processing or transport them to other companies where they are turned into viable, sellable products.
Investigators said it appeared management at Cellmark and ASM were led to believe that Reynolds’ JAT was acting as a broker between ECUA and their companies.
“This is not an unusual step, where a broker plays matchmaker between seller and buyer and takes a small percentage of the sale in commission. In this instance, however, JAT has so far kept all the proceeds and refused to have any additional contact with ECUA,” the arrest report states.
ECUA left his position suddenly and without notice near the end of January 2019, shortly after an ECUA auditor began to ask questions. There continued to be email correspondence for a short time between ECUA and Reynolds where JAT promised to make payment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said JAT and Reynolds received $510,000 in a Suntrust bank account from Cellmark, ASM and Wise Recycling for material taken from ECUA’s recycling facility. Bank records also show Reynolds withdrew $482,330 in cash and checks from the account.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office made repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact Reynolds, but calls were all unreturned. Email contact attempts were also unsuccessful.
When the ECUA director of finance sent an invoice to JAT Recycling in March 2019, they received this response: “Payments are pending due to the criminal investigation of Jarrell Reynolds. All commodities were legally sold to JAT Recycling and we take full accountability of funds due. Please cease and desist all criminal actions against Jarrell Reynolds so we can move forward with getting this paid.”
There was been no additional contact from JAT to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or ECUA.
Pictured top: The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). File photo.