Early Voting Continues
October 27, 2018
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford reminds voters that early voting will remain open through this weekend and throughout the following week. Almost 15,000 voters took advantage of the first 5 days of early voting. A total of nine sites will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. county-wide:
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Mobile Hwy/Pine Forest Rd Early Voting Center, 6675 Pine Forest Road
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
- University of West Florida, Building 90, Campus Lane
Early voting will continue through Saturday, November 3. Early voters cast paper ballots through our digital scanners and may choose any one of the nine sites. A ballot marking device is available for persons with disabilities.
Another option for voters is to cast a vote-by-mail ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com), phone (850) 595-3900, mail, or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, October 31. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. The Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Vote-by-mail participants may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
The third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls and are encouraged to visit EscambiaVotes.com for complete votinginformation or contact the Elections Office by phone or
e-mail with any questions.
Northview Blanks Snook 56-0
October 27, 2018
The Northview Chiefs earned a big 56-0 senior night win over the Eagles of Snook Christian Academy.
“It was a good game by our guys,” Northview football coach Derek Marshman said. “I thought for the first time we came out with a lot of urgency. We played good football for, really for four quarters.”
Northview held a commanding 20-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and the Chiefs were up 49-0 at the half before going on to a 56-0 win in Bratt.
“Right there at the end we had a bunch of young guys in. They let some emotions get to them; some penalties kind of hurt us,” he said.
The Chiefs (5-4) will wrap up their regular season next Friday night on the road against the Freeport Bulldogs (3-6). Freeport is coming off a 30-26 loss to Jay Friday night.
“If we can with that one, it should secure us a home playoff spot. So it’s going to big for us to go over there and get a victory,” Marshman said.
For photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hazmat Team Stationed In Cantonment, Ensley Gets New Response Vehicle
October 27, 2018
Escambia County’s Hazmat team, which is stationed between the Ensley and Cantonment fire stations, has a new response unit.
The vehicle was donated by the Okaloosa County via the Ocean City Wright Fire Department. The new apparatus allows the Hazmat team to transport up to six Hazardous Materials Technicians and a wide variety of equipment for detection and mitigation to an incident all in one vehicle, which greatly reduces response time.
The 2000 model Pierce hazardous material response unit is equipped with a command and research area, power generator, scene lighting and compressed air for responders. Previously, the HAZMAT team used multiple utility pick-up trucks and trailers to respond with similar equipment. By decreasing the time needed to arrive on scene and being equipped with a more capable response unit, the county will be able to reduce the exposure and impact to citizens and the environment during a hazardous materials incident.
““We are ecstatic about this acquisition. Our Special Operations Teams will now be more effective than ever, as we continue to make Escambia County one of the safest places to live, work, and visit. Escambia County Fire Rescue is very grateful to both the Okaloosa and Escambia County Commissions for making this possible for our team and region,” Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Rusty Nail said.
Strategically located between the interstate, railways and many industrial companies, Escambia County’s Hazmat team is housed at the Ensley and Cantonment Stations. With at least eight hazardous materials technicians on duty 24 hours a day, Escambia County has the capability and equipment to decontaminate, treat and transport victims of chemical or biological exposure. The team can respond to a wide variety of calls from household propane gas leaks, rail or transportation accidents involving chemicals, industrial leaks of materials like acid, gasoline, or chlorine; spills caused by a natural disaster like a hurricane, to an act of terrorism like dangerous biological materials found in the mail. When not responding to or training for hazardous materials emergencies, team members respond to day-to-day fire and medical emergencies.
Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Hazmat team is a state regional asset and is one of only 20 in Florida qualified to respond to Type 1 and Type 2 hazardous materials incidents. This means they are appropriately equipped and trained to handle all industrial chemical and weapons of mass destruction hazards in any form such as liquid, aerosol, powder, solids and vapor or gas.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
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Bratt Elementary Holds Field And Fine Arts Day (With Gallery)
October 27, 2018
Bratt Elementary School held their first ever Field and Fine Arts Day Friday.
Students enjoyed a dance demonstration, storytelling from a pirate, a photography lesson, hands-on drumming and a pottery demonstration in addition to traditional outdoor field day events.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest Beats Tate
October 27, 2018
The Pine Forest Eagles defeated the Tate Aggies 35-20 Friday night. Pine Forest (6-3, 3-0) clinched the district title with the win.
Pine Forest cruised to a 21-0 lead before Tate’s first score of the game on a quarterback keeper from Hunter Riggan.
Tate (2-7, 1-2) will host Elba, AL (7-1, 4-1) next Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Tate FFA Horse Judging Team Named 5th Best In The Nation
October 27, 2018
The Tate High School FFA Horse Judging Team was named fifth in the nation Friday.
Victoria Kelson was also named as the high individual overall, and Kaelin Brinker was named as 10th high individual. Other team members are Raven Hollis and Molly Graham. Advisors are Erin Lawall, Melissa Gibbs and Austin Courson.
The event was held in conjunction with the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The top 10 individuals and the national winning team members received cash prizes to recognize their success in the event.
The National FFA Horse Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that tests students’ ability to select and evaluate horses. Event components include eight selection classes consisting of four halter classes and four performance classes. Students also give four sets of oral reasons with two sets coming from each evaluation class. Teams also work together to complete practical activities and a team presentation. Each team competed at local and state levels for the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
he event, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, is one of many educational activities at the national convention in which FFA members apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.
strong>Pictured: The Tate High School FFA Horse Judging Team Frida in Indianapolis. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Church Pumpkin Patch Open In Cantonment
October 27, 2018
Looking for a pumpkin? The Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch has sold hundreds of pumpkins so far this year, and they have a selection remaining at the corner of Highway 29 and Neal Road in Cantonment. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as 50 cents.
The Allen Memorial United Methodist Men have sponsored the Pumpkin Patch since 1995.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Finals
October 26, 2018
Here are tonight’s North Escambia area high school football finals:
FLORIDA
- Pine Forest 35, Tate 20
- Northview 56, Snook Christian 0
- Jay 30, Freeport 26
- West Florida 21, Pensacola 0
- Escambia 35, Washington 12
- Pace 21, Milton 14
- Navarre 40, Gulf Breeze 12
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 48, Fort Dale 13
- Flomaton 20, T.R. Miller 13
- UMS-Wright 29, W.S. Neal 0
- Flomaton 20, T.R. Miller 13
- Williamson 7, Escambia County 2 (Thurs pm)
With $674 In The Bank, Century’s Gas Dept. Scrambles To Pay $33.6K In Past Due Bills
October 26, 2018
With just $674 in the bank, the Century Gas Department was scrambling for a way to pay $33,602 in mostly past due bills.
At an emergency town council meeting Thursday afternoon, the council voted to zero out a $11,030 reserve account and transfer $25,000 from a special revenue account in order to make payments that include health insurance premiums for workers and the actual natural gas sold to consumers.
The past due bills include $7,816 from BP Energy for natural gas, $1,200 to City Services and $912 to Florida Gas Utility due about 45 days ago. Another $10,638 is also 15 days past due to those companies. A $1,250 payment to the town’s financial auditor, Warren Averett, is 46 days past due, and $504 to Consolidated Pipe & Supply is at 50 days. Health insurance premiums of $2,567 to United Healthcare for gas department employees is 28 days past due.
Other “emergency” bills are less than a week past due – $236 to Verizon Wireless, $615 to Purchase Power, $30 to Louverne Starkie. One bill for $85.44 to Century Auto Parts was not past due as of Thursday; it has a Saturday due date.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said the emergency meeting was called for Thursday afternoon because “our bills would have been late”, and the town did not know if any service might be suspended before the next regular council meeting in two weeks.
“I called an emergency meeting; we got to get these checks out,” the mayor said. When asked if the town has every paid bills late before, he said, “we are breaking that habit”.
“We have lost our health insurance before. We ain’t going to do that again,” Hawkins said.
Council member Ann Brooks was out of town and did not attend Thursday’s meeting, and Louis Gomez was absent due to an appointment.
NorthEscambia.com will look at some of the other issues faced by the Century Gas Department in future stories.
Pictured: Accountant Robert Hudson (left) explains the Century Gas Department financial situation to town council members Sandra McMurray-Jackson, Ben Boutwell and Gary Riley Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Blalock Named Florida Social Studies Teacher Of The Year
October 26, 2018
Tate High School teacher Robin Blalock has been name the Florida Council for the Social Studies 2018 Florida Teacher of the Year. Blalock was named one of Escambia County’s Social Studies Teachers of the Year earlier this year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.