Escambia County May Spend $34 Million For Four New Fire Stations, One Expansion
May 2, 2025
The Escambia County Commission may use $34 million in unallocated Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds to build or expand five fire stations to enhance fire protection in the county.
The plan was presented on Thursday by Commissioner Ashley Hofberger. Her proposal includes addition of a second fire station in Cantonment and the addition of living quarters to an existing station in Dogwood Park.
“I would like to ask the board to consider spending that on making sure that everyone in our community receives the fire services that they need and that the people who have been impacted in our community with higher homeowners insurance because of stations moving or closing, that we can help alleviate some of that,” she said.
The plan aims to make the following improvements:
1. 7209 Lillian Hwy-Replacement, $8.5 million
2. New Fire Station 24, Highway 97 and Kingsfield Road in Cantonment, $6.5 million
3. New Fire Station in Paradise Beach, $6.5 million on a site to be determined
4. Replacement station at 9350 Gulf Beach Highway, $8.5 million
5. Molino Station 21/Dogwood Park, 4307 White Ash Road, add living quarters, $4 million
Hofberger identified the locations with the assistance of Escambia County Fire Chiefs Adam Harrison. Her proposed timeline includes issuing a request for proposals by June 1, proposal evaluation by August 1, and groundbreakings by March 1, 2026.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry expressed his support for the proposal.
“I’m very familiar with the two areas (Dogwood Park and Cantonment) that are highlighted in the constituency that I have,” he said, adding that he thought a proposed timeline was “very aggressive.” He added, “if the gist of it is you’re looking for general levels of support and the opportunity to move the ideas or combined ideas forward, I’m good with that.”
“I believe public safety is probably our premier job, our first priority other than EMS and the sheriff’s department as well,” Commissioner Chairman Mike Kohler said.
During discussion with the commissioner, Harrison shared his desire for a comprehensive training facility for county firefighters to be located in the Brownsville area. An additional “satellite” facility could be located in the Molino area to train firefighters from the North Escambia area.
The main training multi-story training building would include high-rise operations training, hazardous materials training, collapse, and confined space rescue training and more.
The county commission was in a workshop during Thursday’s the discussions, and any plans must be approved at a future regular board meeting.
Pictured: Escambia County Fire Station 21 on Whish Ash Road in Dogwood Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls 3-2 To Top Ranked Buchholz In 6A Baseball Regional Quarterfinals
May 2, 2025
It came down to the wire in game two of the 6A Region 1 semifinals on Thursday night as the Tate Aggies fell to Buchholz 3-2 in Gainesville. Tate lost to the top ranked Bobcats in game one Wednesday night.
Thursday night’s game was tied at two in the bottom of the seventh when Buchholzs scored one run on a single.
Nathan Connors (pictured above) allowed eight hits and three runs in six and one-third innings, striking out five and walking three.
Nathan Ozuna went 1-2 for the Aggies at bat with one run batted in. Cal Foxworth went 2-3, Hunter Clayton was 1-3 and Griffin Cook was 1-2.
Buckholz will face No. 2 Pace in the regional finals with game one of three next Wednesday. The winner will advance to the 6A state semifinals in Fort Myers.
Tate’s season ended at 16-14.
Photos by C.J. Gish – Mainstreet Daily News for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walks Give Wahoos Wild 6-5, 11-Inning Win Over Barons
May 2, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Fresh off their best April in team history, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos began the month of May with a wild 6-5, 11-inning win over the Birmingham Barons on Thursday night.
Two bases-loaded walks in the top of the 11th forced in the eventual game-winning runs as the Blue Wahoos (17-7) outlasted the Barons (12-11) in their longest game of the season.
Pensacola jumped ahead 1-0 in the first against Barons starter Riley Gowens, loading the bases with two singles and an error before Nathan Martorella brought in a run with a double-play grounder.
The Barons became the first opponent this season to score a first-inning run against the Blue Wahoos, ambushing starter Evan Fitterer with a two-run single from Ryan Galanie to take a 2-1 lead. The Blue Wahoos had outscored opponents 16-0 in the first inning through their first 23 games.
Rikuu Nishida added to the Birmingham lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. With severe weather surrounding Regions Field on all sides, light rain in the fifth inning almost caused a rain delay just as the game became official.
The two teams played on, and the Blue Wahoos reclaimed the lead in the sixth with a Kemp Alderman RBI groundout and Martorella two-run double. Their 4-3 edge would be short-lived, however, as Birmingham’s Jacob Burke hit a RBI single off Pensacola reliever Zach McCambley in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game 4-4.
Nigel Belgrave contributed 3.0 hitless innings of relief to help send the game to extras, and Josh Ekness (W, 2-0) came up big in the bottom of the tenth after the Blue Wahoos had left the bases loaded in the top half of the inning. Ekness needed only 10 pitches to get three outs and strand the potential winning run at third base, extending the drama to the 11th inning.
The Blue Wahoos didn’t manage any hits against Gil Luna (L, 0-3) in the top of the 11th, but drew four walks to force in two runs. Mark Coley II pushed across the first run with a two-out free pass, and Jared Serna followed suit with the RBI that would prove to be the difference. Ekness allowed an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but struck out Burke to finish off a 6-5 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series on Friday against the Barons.
Eight Years Later, Mother’s Plea Continue For Clues In Molino Murder
May 1, 2025
Thursday marked eight years since Anna Louise Brown was murdered while jogging on Gibson Road in Molino.
On Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017, Brown, 38, was found face down on the side of the road near the Alligator Creek bridge. She had been shot multiple times.
The search for her killer continues.
“My one hope for the case is that there be an arrest made, and the person who is responsible for Anna’s death be incarcerated for the rest of their life,” Anna’s mom Sue Brown told NorthEscambia.com on Thursday afternoon. “That person has had eight free years.”
“I would advocate for the person responsible to do the right thing and turn themselves in,” she added.
Brown pleaded for anyone that knows anything about the case to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured below: Anna Louise Brown was found murdered near this bridge on Gibson Road on April 30, 2017. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weather Cancellation: Sawmill Day In Century Rescheduled For June
May 1, 2025
UPDATE: SAWMILL DAY AS BEEN CANCELED FOR SATURDAY, MAY 3 AND IS RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 7.
The Alger Sullivan Historical Society is set to host its 35th Anniversary Sawmill Festival on Saturday, promising a full day of fun, community, and nostalgia in Century’s Historic District.
Running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the festival will feature a classic car and bike show, with awards presented at 3:00 p.m. Attendees can look forward to live entertainment, including performances by the Southern Revival Band and Nashville recording artist Ricky Crook.
Beyond the music, visitors can enjoy local food, crafts, and a variety of vendors. There will also be contests, raffles, museum tours, and exhibits that highlight the rich history of the area.
Vendor spaces are available for $20. Those interested can contact Christina at (850) 377-6752. Vehicle enthusiasts can register bikes for $15 and classic cars for $25.
The free event will be held in the historic district at the corner of 4th Street and Jefferson Avenue.
For a photo gallery from the 2024 Sawmill Day, click here..
Pictured: Sawmill Day in 2024. NorthEscambia.comp photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Drop Game 1 In Regional Quarterfinals To Buchholz
May 1, 2025
The Tate Aggies slipped 3-2 to the Buchholz Bobcats on Wednesday night in Gainesville in the first meeting of a beat-of-three series 6A Baseball regional quarterfinals.
Buchholz (29-1) will host Tate (16-13) at 7:00 CT tonight in game two. A third game, if necessary, will move back to Tate Saturday night.
Zane Warrington struck out 10 for Tate in six innings Wednesday night, allowing three hits and three runs and walking two.
Brayden Beck went 1-for-3 at bat for the Aggies with one RBI. Griffin Cook, Hunter Clayton, Taite Davis and Kaden Posta each had one hit.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Santa Rosa Woman Wins $1 Million In Lottery Scratch-off Game
May 1, 2025
A Santa Rosa County woman has claimed a $1 million scratch-off lottery prize.
Pamela Mashburn, 66, of Milton, claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X the Cash game at FLorida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. he chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.
Mashburn purchased her winning ticket from Circle K, located at 5819 Dogwood Drive in Milton. The retailer received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.
The $50 500X the Cash game features a top prize of $25 million.
Schultz Quiets Wahoos In 4-2 Loss To Barons
May 1, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
In a Wednesday morning matinee, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos offense was slow to wake up in a 4-2 loss to the Birmingham Barons.
A highly-publicized battle of two left-handed pitching prospects saw Birmingham’s Noah Schultz (W, 1-1) pitch a career-high 6.0 innings of two-run ball, helping the Barons (12-10) even up the series one game apiece.
Blue Wahoos starter Robby Snelling (L, 2-1) surrendered the game’s first run in the second inning, as Ryan Galanie and Caden Connor each doubled for a 1-0 Barons lead. The Blue Wahoos (16-7) tied things up in the third on a Shane Sasaki double and Jake Thompson RBI fielder’s choice, and took a brief 2-1 lead in the fourth on Jared Serna’s two-out RBI single.
The Barons took advantage of a Pensacola mistake in the bottom of the fourth, as Mario Camilletti reached on a catchable fly ball lost in the afternoon sun between Sasaki in center field and Kemp Alderman in right field. Connor tied the game 2-2 with an RBI single, and scored the go-ahead run on a two-out William Bergolla RBI single.
Lane Ramsey worked effective relief, escaping an inherited bases-loaded jam in the fourth and contributing 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, but Schultz protected his 3-2 lead for the Barons. The lefty, ranked the top prospect in the White Sox organization, got stronger as the afternoon went along and finished with a flourish by retiring his final seven batters and completing 6.0 innings for the first time in his career.
Birmingham added an insurance run in the seventh with doubles from Bergolla and Galanie, and got 3.0 scoreless innings of relief from Andrew Dalquist and Peyton Pallette (S, 3) to close out the 4-2 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series on Thursday against the Barons. First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Century Identifies Grant Application Projects: Community Center, Street Design And Housing Repair
April 30, 2025
The Century Town Council on Tuesday night identified several projects for potential grant funding.
Three members of the public (pictured above) and council member elect John Bass attended Tuesday night’s public hearing and offered input on potential projects.
The town will apply for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Florida Commerce, focusing on three requests:
- design for potential resurfacing of Barnwell Lane, East and West Cottage streets, and Cedar Street.
- construction of the Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue
- minor home repair program
The street portion of the request would be design only in anticipation of potential paving at a later date for Barnwell Lane, Cedar Street, and both East and West Cottage streets.
The minor home repair program would provide home repairs to address structural code enforcement issues and access issues such as ramps that would allow low or moderate income individuals to remain in their homes for a longer period of time. The town will determine later if roofing repairs or upgrades might be included.
If awarded, grant funds would construct a new Carver Community Center (design pictured below) on Jefferson Avenue. The town previously received a $3.255 million state grant for a community center on Jefferson Avenue, but most of the funds were clawed back by the state. The town was able to use $514,650 to pay for the engineering, architectural and grant administer expenses that left the town with no building but a complete set of shovel-ready drawings.
The town will finalize their CDBG grant application following a final public hearing at 5:45 p.m. on May 6. Applications are due by May 16. The potential dollar figures for the grants is not yet known.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia’s Dunn Recognized As Emergency Communications Supervisor Of The Year
April 30, 2025
Escambia County Emergency Communications Supervisor Shenae Dunn has been named the 2025 Florida Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Supervisor of the Year.
Dunn recently celebrated 20 years with Emergency Communications. Her calling to serve runs in the family, as her father served as a local fire chief, and her mother served as an Emergency Communications supervisor for Escambia County. Her sister, Christy, also serves as an Emergency Communications Supervisor and recently celebrated 20 years of service with Emergency Communications.
“Shenae comes from a proud family tradition of public safety service and carries that legacy forward with dedication and heart,” said Emergency Communications Chief Andrew Hamilton. “For her, this work is more than just a job, it’s a true calling. We are incredibly proud of her and honored to see her receive this award in recognition of her outstanding commitment and service.”
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be selected as APCO’s Supervisor of the Year,” said Dunn. “Public Safety has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a fire station watching my dad lead as a fire chief and listening to my mom’s calm and steady voice on the radio as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. It wasn’t just their jobs, it was their calling, and it became mine, too.”
With the influence of her family shaping her career in public service, Dunn says there’s another group of people who have contributed to her success. “To my team, you mean the world to me. This recognition isn’t just mine, but a reflection of the amazing people I work beside every day.”