New Construction Career Academy Opening At Jay High School
June 26, 2018
Jay High School will open a Building Construction Academy this fall to meet the increased demand in the the construction trades.
It’s one of three new academies that will open in Santa Rosa County Schools.
Gulf Breeze High School seeks to meet local workforce demand in hospitality careers with its new Hospitality & Tourism Academy. And Milton High School students will have the opportunity to learn about starting their own business in the new Business & Entrepreneurship Academy.
For more information visit SantaRosaCareerPathways.com.
County Makes Offer To Purchase Beulah Fire Station
June 26, 2018
Escambia County is making a $300,000 offer to purchase the fire station property at 6400 West Nine Mile Road from the non-profit Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.. The property is about six acres with a 6,000 square foot fire station building. The purchase price was the average of two appraisals.
A portion of the property has a reverter clause that would return that portion to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, but ECUA has agreed to release that claim.
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he wants to see the facility modernized and building an addition with a kitchen, bunks and showers.
“It’s woefully inadequate for what’s out there,” Bergosh said of the current fire station. He said the county should also consider the addition of a paid daytime fire crew to supplement, but not replace, the response of volunteers.
“I support volunteer firefighters…I am never going to run them out,” he said.
The purchase will be funded from the Local Option Sales Tax.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lane Closures Wednesday On Highway 4 At Canoe Creek Bridges
June 26, 2018
Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures on West Highway 4 at the Canoe Creek bridges on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m for maintenance activities. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Attorney General Pam Bondi Endorses Hill For Florida House
June 26, 2018
Florida Attorney Pam Bondi has endorsed Florida House of Representatives District 1 candidate Mike Hill.
“I have worked with Mike Hill on many legislative issues, and he has always proven himself to be a champion of conservative principles. I know he believes in defending the Constitution and will be a true voice in Tallahassee for his constituents. That is why I am proud to endorse Mike Hill to be the next Florida State House Representative for District 1,” Bondi said.
Wahoos Beat Jackson 11-6
June 26, 2018
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored 10 runs over the first four innings on their way to an 11-6 win over the Jackson Generals on Monday night at The Ballpark at Jackson. Brian O’Grady helped pace the offense with a three-hit game and three RBI. Taylor Sparks also collected three hits in the win. The Wahoos third baseman is 7-for-15 (.467) with five extra base hits since the all-star break.
The Blue Wahoos started hot and scored three runs when Aristides Aquino cleared the bases with a triple in the top of the first. Jose Siri hit his third home run in as many games with a man on in the second. Later in the inning, Brian O’Grady tripled home two, giving the Wahoos a 7-0 lead. Pensacola stretched it to 9-0 when starting pitcher Keury Mella doubled home two more in the third inning.
The Generals scored their six runs over two innings. Their first rally was in the bottom of the third against Mella. He walked three batters in the game, but two were in that inning. The Generals also used a pair of singles do put a dent in the Blue Wahoos lead.
Outside of the one inning, Mella was outstanding. He was charged with three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in his third straight win. He got it done at the plate also with a 2-for-4 game. He scored a run and drove in two others. The starter was one of five Wahoos hitters with a multi-hit game.
The Wahoos early attack knocked Jackson starter Ryan Atkinson from the game after 2+ innings. He was charged with a season-high nine runs (seven earned) in the loss. The Generals hung three more runs (one earned) against Wahoos reliever Jesus Reyes in the seventh inning. Rafael De Paula came in and struck out two of the last three batters to leave the bases loaded and end the threat.
Pensacola will go for the series win on Tuesday afternoon. Pensacola will start LHP Victor Payano (0-1, 3.51) against Generals RHP Justin Donatella (3-3, 3.30).
Wrong-Way Driver Sentenced For DUI Crash In Molino
June 25, 2018
A Pensacola woman has been sentenced after a wrong-way DUI crash on Highway 29 in Molino.
Linda Vires Brown was sentenced to 12 months probation after being convicted of driving under the influence and failing to submit to a DUI test. She was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay fines, costs and restitution to the victim. Her driver’s license was revoked for 12 months, and she was ordered to wear an electronic continuous alcohol monitor.
In March, Brown was southbound in the outer northbound lane of Highway 29 past Highway 95A when she stuck a Ford F150 pickup driven by Edward Carnley of Century. Carnley swerved in an attempt to avoid the collision, but his pickup was struck in the side rear. The F150 then traveled off the roadway into the median at an angle, rotated and overturned once during the late night wreck.
Carnley and his teen daughter were wearing their set belts and were uninjured. Brown was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries before being released and placed under arrest.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Lausen Graduates From Basic Training
June 25, 2018
U.S. Air Force Airman Matthew Lausen graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, TX.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is a 2016 graduate of Tate High School in Cantonment.
Airman Killed During World War II To Be Buried This Week In Pensacola
June 25, 2018
Funeral services will be held this week in Pensacola for an Alabama man killed during World War II.
The remains of Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Percy C. Mathews, 25, of Andalusia, Alabama, were just recently identified. He will be buried Thursday in Pensacola.
On May 29, 1943, Mathews was a member of the 422nd Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bombardment Group, 8th U.S. Air Force, participating in a strike against the German submarine base at Saint-Nazaire, France.
The B-17 Mathews was aboard was hit by enemy fire as it left the target area. Mathews did not make it out of the bomber before it crashed. Survivors believed the aircraft crashed about 95 miles from Saint-Nazaire, near the French village of Quintin. German reports indicated one casualty was recovered from the wreckage of the plane, though no burial information was provided.
Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) searched for and disinterred the remains of U.S. servicemen in Europe as part of the global effort to identify and return fallen servicemen. Remains that could not be identified were designated as unknowns and interred in U.S. overseas cemeteries. Beginning in 2010, DPAA and its predecessors digitized and began to analyze more than 8,000 files for Unknowns from WWII.
One set of unidentified remains, designated X-205 St. James, were disinterred from a cemetery in St. Brieuc, France, prior to September 16, 1944. The remains could not be identified and were interred in the American cemetery at St. James, present day Brittany American Cemetery.
The remains were later positively identified using mitochondrial (mtDNA), anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,906 service members (approximately 26,000 assessed as possibly-recoverable) still unaccounted for from World War II. Although interred as an “unknown” Mathews’ grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Mathews’ name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in the United Kingdom, an American Battle Monuments Commission site. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
June 25, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week.
Monday, June 25
FloridaWest EDA Board of Directors – 10:30 a.m., CO:LAB Building, Conference Room 307, 418 W. Garden St.
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority – Noon, 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., 5740 N. Ninth Ave.
Tuesday, June 26
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104 (Agenda)
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
Wednesday, June 27
Coffee with Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, District 1 – 6:30 a.m., Denny’s Restaurant, 4625 Mobile Highway
DSM Professional Advisory Committee – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee – 5 p.m., 1 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Budget Workshop – 5:05 p.m., 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Special Board Meeting – 5:10 p.m., 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach (Agenda)
Thursday, June 28
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 10 a.m., CO:LAB, 418 W. Garden St.
Do You Know The Difference Between Heat Exhaustion And Heat Stroke?
June 25, 2018
During extremely hot and humid weather, your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged according to the National Weather Service.
When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperature rises and you or someone you care about may experience a heat-related illness. It is important to know the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and the appropriate responses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness, and recommended first aid steps. Some of these symptoms and steps are listed below. Click on the infographic below for a full size version.
Source. National Weather Service