Happy Independence Day Weekend
July 4, 2019
Happy Independence Day weekend from NorthEscambia.com! These are the Boy Scouts of Troop 430 in Molino. They placed the flags alongside Highway 29 in front of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Beach Tolls Of Any Kind During Holiday Weekend
July 4, 2019
All tolls to Pensacola Beach will be waived this Fourth of July holiday weekend…that means no $1 cash toll, no Toll-by-Plate and no Sunpass needed to cross the Bob Sikes Bridge.
Commissioner Robert Bender will use about $65,000 from discretionary District 4 funds to make up the lost tolls through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. All lanes will be open for all drivers with no need to stop at the toll booth. Sunpass holders will not be charged during this period for using the Bob Sikes Bridge.
“The past two weekends have showed us that not stopping to pay cash via the Toll-by-Plate system dramatically helped to reduce travel time to the beach. We had very positive feedback on the greatly improved drive time during high volume periods when only electronic payment was in use, but I also understand that there was confusion on when cash payments were accepted. By District 4 paying the tolls this weekend, it allows us to move traffic faster and lets everyone enjoy the beach without worrying about the payment process,” Bender said. “This is not a a permanent solution, but gets us all through this busy weekend with one less worry as we work on a more long-term fix.”
Above and below: A live look at Pensacola Beach traffic at the toll plaza.
Vehicles And Guns Stolen, Other Vehicles Burglarized In Cantonment
July 3, 2019
Two vehicles were stolen and eight others were burglarized in the same Cantonment neighborhood. All were unlocked.
The crimes were discovered Tuesday on Harlington and Joshua streets.
Two guns were also taken from vehicles, according to Maj. Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“Always make sure your vehicle is locked,” Hobbs said. “We all get in a hurry when we are getting out of our vehicles, but it just takes a second to make sure it is locked.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Doughnut Strike For Manna Collects Over 20,000 Pounds Of Food
July 3, 2019
The final numbers are in from last week’s first responder Doughnut Strike for Manna. The event collected 21,314 pounds of food, enough for nearly 16,000 meals.
The most popular items donated were: 3,018 pounds of peanut butter, 771 pounds of oatmeal, and 515 cereal items.
First responders from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue, Pensacola Police Department and the Pensacola Fire Department had vowed not to eat a single doughnut until 20,000 pounds of food was collected. Most of the collections occurred at local grocery stories last Wednesday to Friday.
Who Has The Best Local Fireworks Show? How Will Locals Spend The Fourth?
July 3, 2019
How will local residents celebrate the Fourth of July, and which town has the best local fireworks show?
NorthEscambia.com conducted a survey with four questions for the Fourth. We found the majority of respondents will have a cookout, enjoy family time and attend a public fireworks show. And most won’t be going to the beach or traveling very far from home.
Celebration Plans
- Cookout (47%)
- Family time (43%)
- Public fireworks show (34%)
- Fireworks at home (23%)
- Fly American flag (22%)
- Nothing special (19%)
- Bing watch TV (6%)
- Beach (6%)
- Travel (4%)
Spending Amount
A majority, 60%, said they’ll be spending under $50 on their celebrations, while 21 percent said $50-$99 and 15% responded $100-$249. Only 8% plan to spend over $250.
How Far To Travel
Most, 67%, don’t plan on any extra travel, 27% will travel under 100 miles, and 5% will travel 100 to 499 miles. About 2% said they will travel over 500 miles during the holiday period.
Best Local Fireworks Show
Survey participants said the best local fireworks show is:
- Pensacola (Sertoma) 35%
- Pensacola Beach 25%
- Jay 12%
- Atmore (Wind Creek) 12%
- Century/Flomaton 7%
- Milton 7%
(For a fireworks show schedule, click here.)
This was an informal, non-scientific survey with 3,314 respondents. Percentages in this story may not equal exactly to 100 due to rounding and exclusion of minor answers (less than 3%).
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Considers Travel Per Diem, Promotes Burkett To Water Superintendent
July 3, 2019
This week’s Century Town Council meeting was a night of ordinary business. The council:
- Discussed implementing a per diem rate for meals and incidentals for employees traveling for the town.
- Officially promoted Heath Burkett to the water superintendent position. He will also get back pay for about three months that he has worked in the position after the departure of the previous superintendent. Burkett was the only applicant for the job.
- Voted to pay employees on Wednesday, July 3 rather than on their regular Friday payday due to the bank used by the town being closed July 4-5 for the holiday.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia County 4-H Wins State 4-H Horticulture Contest
July 3, 2019
The junior and senior Escambia County 4-H Horticulture teams placed first and two intermediate 4-H teams placed second and third at the 2019 Florida 4-H Horticulture ID and Judging Contest held recently in Marion County. Several individuals also placed.
The contest provided an opportunity for 4-H members to acquire knowledge and skills in identification and selection of horticulture products such as vegetables, fruits, flowers and ornamentals, and then apply these basic skills to consumer decision making.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Independence Day Closures, Trash Pickup Changes
July 3, 2019
Escambia County: All departments will be closed Thursday, including West Florida Public Libraries, Escambia, Escambia County Property Appraiser, Escambia County Tax Collector, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Perdido Key Landfill. Exceptions: ECAT will operate Route 59X, 64 Beach Jumper and the Pensacola Beach Trolley.
Century: All offices and departments will be closed Thursday.
ECUA: Business offices will be closed on Thursday. Residential collections: Thursday collections will be made on Friday and Friday collections will be made on Saturday. Commercial collections: Thursday collections will be made one day earlier on Wednesday. Santa Rosa County collections will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual.
Driver Nowhere To Be Found After Morning Crash
July 2, 2019
A driver was nowhere to be found following a Tuesday morning crash.
A Kia Forte left Highway 95A near Gateway Lane, struck a culvert and became airborne before coming to rest against a utility pole. The driver was not on scene when first responders arrived.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
New County Admin Gilley Rolls Out 100 Day Plan, Says The County Is Not In A ‘Hot Mess’
July 2, 2019
New Escambia County Administrator Janet Gilley began her first day on the job bright at early Monday with a 6 a.m. tour of the Escambia County road camp and time with employees.
By 9 a.m. she was downtown appearing before her five bosses – the elected members of the Escambia County Commission — unveiling her 100 day plan and
The plan will focus attention on the people, policy, process and plan for Escambia County. She said that plan that may not include significant changes in county government during those 100 days she works on a complete and through analysis of the county and the culture of the county, Gilley said she is there to “to listen, learn and lead as we move forward”.
Gilley began her time in front of commissioners Monday morning by telling them why she wanted the job, and her reaction to the many that have asked her why should we step into Escambia County government at this time. And she discussed the state of Escambia County is truly a “hot mess”.
“There appears to be a perception that Escambia County is an absolute hot mess,” Gilley said. “What I would say is this. I live on a small farm in Molino ,and a couple of weeks ago I was walking to my mailbox and my neighbor comes to the fence. And he says ‘you know, I wake up every morning thankful that I live in this particular community; I love it.’ And I said yeah, I love it too. I love this community; I love this place. This is my place.”
“So I felt like my best contribution would to be take a position like this, and to give back to my community. And what I would say is I am selfishly taking this job for me and other people that absolutely love this town.”
“I am not completely convinced that it is as much of a hot mess as everybody thinks it is,” Gilley said.
She comes to Escambia County in the wake of multiple high level resignations, and allegations and investigations into Escambia County EMS.
Gilley vowed to give her best to each day to serve the citizens of Escambia County, while remaining open, transparent, and working to mentor and build talent.
She said there will be no gossip or drama in Escambia County.
“I will not tolerate bullying and will try to foster an environment that is free of fear,” she said. “I will be taking responsibility for my work and my actions, including the times that I make those mistakes.”
“If we truly want to make a difference, we must not listen to the critics; we must move forward,” Gilley said.
Gilley will be paid $185,000 per year, plus benefits and a $500 car allowance per month. She is the permanent replacement for Jack Brown, who left last year to be with his wife as she battles a health problem. When Brown was hired in 2014, his starting salary was set at $150,000
Gilley has held the position of vice president of External Affairs at the University of West Florida for 10 years. She served one year as the national policy director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, one year as deputy chief of staff for the Florida House of Representatives and served as policy director and deputy policy director for year in the Executive Office of the Governor in Florida. She served as an Escambia County commissioner from 2002-2004.