Century Utility Customers Can Now View, Pay Bills Online
April 11, 2018
Town of Century water and gas customers can now view and pay their bills online. Emailed invoiced are also available, along with alerts via email, text or phone call.
There’s also a change coming to bills — Town of Century utility bills that are mailed will now be on two postcards — one for water, sewer and garbage, and one for gas.
Utility customers that do not choose a new delivery method will continue to receive their bills by regular mail.
For a more information and a signup form, click here.
Broxson Gears Up For 2020 Re-election Bid
April 11, 2018
Though he will not be on the ballot this year, Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, has started piling up money for a 2020 reelection bid, according to newly filed finance reports. Broxson raised $47,000 in March, bringing his overall total to $88,778 as he plans to seek another term in Senate District 1, which is made up of Escambia, Santa Rosa and part of Okaloosa counties.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Byrneville Elementary Releases Honor Roll
April 11, 2018
Byrneville Elementary School named the following students to their honor roll for the third nine weeks of the school year:
Mrs.Barberree-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
- Tyrus Bradley
- Trusten Brown
- Lainey Dunsford
- Maggy Dunsford
- Madelyn Faulk
- Russell LeMesurier
- Hailey Levins
- Keaten Odom
- Sawyer Odom
- Cam’Ron Reed
Mrs. Seales-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
- Tyree Baker
- Zacharie Barrow
- Jayden Carter
- Kyle Lowery
- Alydia Sutton
- Nevaeh Tidd
- Natalia White
- Caesar Whorff
- Madyson Wiggins
- Zane Therrell
Mrs. Slade-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
- Madison Brazwell
- Rilee Campbell
- Eli Evans
- Douglas Maxwell
- Kinsley McKinnon
- Bentley Sanders
- Maryann Tedder
- Jakiyrah Thomas
Ms. Brown-1st Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Ethan Carter
- Allison Grant
- Brooklyn Miller
- Bryce Miller
- Finley Miller
- Kaden Smith
- Ember Claire Waters
- Bryce Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll
- McKenzie Griffis
- Ty Jackson
- Emily Jones
Mrs. Kitchin- 1st Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Anastacia Cooley
- A/zariyah Elliott
- Olivia Levins
- Natalie Rogers
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Bryce Giger
- Ashanti Manuel
- SaRai McKee
- Tyson Milliken
- Brody Rigby
Mrs. Linton-2nd Grade
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Jaxon Anderson
- Blaine Buckhault
- Madelyn Calloway
- Callie Campbell
- Elizabeth Gilley
- Emma Godwin
- Brylen Hadley
- Meeyah Lassitter
- Katelyn Levins
- Lola Weldon
Mrs. Moorhead-2nd Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Briley Beers
- Lyla Calloway
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Sydney Little
- Nicholas Long
- Mason McKinnon
- Darien Smith
- Olivia Thomas
- Audrina Woods
- Zane Weaver
Mrs. Dunsford-3rd Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Aleah Livingston
- Jase Portwook
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Valeria Franco
- Warner Maxwell
- Isaiah Phifer
- Trenton Wright
Mrs. Weaver-3rd Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Lexi Bingham
- Cannon Whorff
- Allison Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Michael Brazwell
- Taylor Curtis
- Kayden Harvell
- Gabrielle Hawsey
- Preston Hudson
- Layla Jordan
- Caleb Levins
- Crest Waters
Mrs. Marshman-4th Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Elizabeth Coleman
- Luke Godwin
- Savannah Hudson
- Christian Velazquez
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Tyler Carach
- Easten Odom
- Mary-Clayton Dawson
- Ryder Lee
- Makenzie Levins
- Bree Robertson
- Evelyn Smith
Mrs. Thornton-4th Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Braxton Wagner
“A/B” Honor Roll
- London Brooks
- Jaycee Harvell
- Andrew Plant
- Charlee Weaver
Mrs. Johnston-5th Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Zack Herndon
- Brian Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Gavin Beasley
- Logan Bevins
- Luke Diamond
- Raegan Kimmons
- Mia Kornegay
- Evin Matlock
- Allie Odom
- Mia Turner-White
Ms. Singleton-5th Grade
“A” Honor Roll
- Kerissa Dortch
- Maddie Mae Driskell
- Madison Levins
- Riley Long
- Addisen Miller
“A/B” Honor Roll
- Tripp Curtis
- Braden Glick
- Jade Howell
- Jaci Jackson
- Kelan Jurey
- Blake Shaw
- Mallory Smith
Jays Tops Northview In 11
April 11, 2018
Jay 8, Northview 3 (11 in.)
The Jay Royals topped the Northview Chiefs 8-3 in 11 innings Tuesday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs took an early three-run advantage after one, while the Royals added two in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 3-3 tie headed into extra innings. The Royals took the win in the 11th after a go head squeeze bunt in the eleventh from Dutch Burkhead.
Blayne Miller allowed one hit while striking out two in 4.1 innings to earn the win for Jay, while Josh Majors went 6.2 innings allowing four hits, three runs and striking out 10.
Northview junior Seth Killam went 6.1 innings, striking out 12, allowing two hits and three runs. Trevor Singleton pitched four innings with four hits, four runs, four strikeouts while walking four.
Jay (8-4, 6-0) will host Chipley (4-10, 1-4) on Friday. Northview (12-6, 2-4) will travel to Freeport (11-4, 4-2) Friday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest Of Molino Man On Meth Trafficking Charge
April 10, 2018
A bad brake light led to a traffic stop and a drug trafficking charge against a Molino man.
John Homer Docherty, 36, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and two counts of possession a controlled substance without a prescription, all felonies.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with a passenger brake light out on W Street in Pensacola. Docherty was a passenger in the car, and a K-9 alerted on the vehicle. Deputies recovered a total of 27.1 grams of meth from under the passenger seat and glove box, according to an arrest report. They also reported finding 1.5 tables of Xanax and two Oxycodone tablets. All items were within Docherty’s control, according to the report.
Docherty remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $130,000.
The driver was issued a citation for no seat belt.
Tate FFA Wins State Horse Judging Title, Northview FFA Places Best Ever
April 10, 2018
The Tate and Northview high school horse judging teams brought home big wins from Gainesville, including a state championship for the Tate FFA.
The Tate High School team (pictured above) placed first in the state. This was the first time in over 20 years for a Tate team to win state in the event. Members of the Tate FFA Horse Judging Team are Kaelin Brinker, Molly Graham, Raven Hollis and Victoria Kelson. Kelson led Tate’s team coming in as the highest scoring individual in the state. Team members Graham, Hollis and Brinker all finished in the top 25 in the state.
The Tate team was coached by advisor Erin Lawall, a former Texas A&M Horse Judging team member and 2010 National NRHA Futurity winner.
The Tate team members practiced non-stop since August to prepare for this competition. They will travel to Indianapolis, IN, in October to compete at the national level.
The Northview High School team (pictured below), placed seventh in the state. This was the first time a Northview Horse Judging team has made it to the state finals. Members of the NHS FFA Horse Judging Team are Autumn Williams, Brooke Doolittle, Destiny Cleckler, Olivia Porter and Coach Stephanie Solari. Individually, Porter place 13th in the state, and Williams placed 14th.
In the Horse Evaluation Career Development Event, students evaluate and rank horses based on breed characteristics, conformation and performance then proceed to write and memorize oral reasons and present them to judges.
Pictured top: The Tate High School FFA Horse Judging team. Pictured below: The Northview High School FFA Horse Judging team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Blasts Washington As He Begins U.S. Senate Campaign
April 10, 2018
Beginning what is likely to be a costly, negative campaign, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday opened his challenge to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson by slamming “career politicians” and calling Washington, D.C., a “disaster.”
Clad in a blue, long-sleeved shirt and wearing his signature Navy baseball cap, Scott made his long-anticipated announcement at an Orlando construction company.
Scott, a two-term Republican governor, never mentioned Nelson, a three-term Democratic senator, by name. But he repeatedly criticized “career politicians” and said he would push for term limits for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
“We have to all acknowledge that Washington is a disaster. It’s dysfunctional. There is a lot of old, tired thinking up there,” Scott said. “This concept of career politicians has got to stop. We have to have term limits on Congress.”
Nelson, 75, who is the only Florida Democrat holding statewide office, said he is ready to face Scott, 65.
“I’ve always run every race like there’s no tomorrow — regardless of my opponent,” Nelson said in a statement. “While it’s clear that Rick Scott will say or do anything to get elected, I’ve always believed that if you just do the right thing, the politics will take care of itself.”
Scott, a wealthy businessman from Naples who never held a political office before he was elected governor in 2010, struck an “outsider” theme Monday that was similar to his first gubernatorial campaign, when he ran against the Tallahassee “insiders.” Scott’s Senate announcement came on the eighth anniversary of starting his initial bid for governor.
Scott said his agenda as governor, which focused on job creation, lower taxes and fewer regulations, met resistance from the Tallahassee establishment.
“They (said) governor you just don’t fit into Tallahassee. You know, I think that’s true,” Scott said. “I never intended to fit into Tallahassee. And guess what? I’m not going to fit into Washington either.”
Scott also recounted Florida’s recovery from the recession under his leadership, pointing to job creation, tax cuts, a reduction in state debt and a record numbers in tourism.
“Now we’ve got to take that same mission to D.C.,” Scott said.
Scott also talked about his early life in a family that “struggled for money” and lived in public housing. He credited his late mother and the opportunities provided by living in the United States for his rise as a lawyer who founded the Columbia/HCA health conglomerate.
“It seems to be fashionable now to attack and badmouth this country. I’m sick of it,” Scott said. “There is no place like America. And we need to thank God every day for this country and our opportunity to be here.”
Scott made no mention of President Donald Trump, although Scott has been a consistent supporter of the president. He also did not mention the Republican majority that controls the U.S. House and Senate.
Scott, however, made several references to his “let’s get to work” slogan, which he has used since his first bid for governor in 2010.
“We must change Washington. We will change Washington. Together let’s get Washington to work,” he said.
When he ran in 2010, Scott initially was known for his public awkwardness, stumbling through speeches and insisting on a buffer between himself and crowds.
There was no evidence of that Scott on Monday, though. Scott confidently delivered a speech, warmly smiling at supporters who cheered him on, including state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, at least a dozen state lawmakers, Associated Industries of Florida President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Feeney and prominent insurance lobbyist Fred Karlinsky.
When the speech was finished, Scott’s wife, Ann, placed her hands on his waist, guiding him through the crowd, helping negotiate an exit and avoiding reporters.
Scott was introduced at the event at ODC Construction company by the lieutenant governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Rivera-Marin, who said the island would be “forever grateful” for Scott’s help in recovering from a series of damaging hurricanes.
Scott also made a few concluding remarks in Spanish.
The negative tone of the campaign is already well underway, with Republicans launching a nomorenelson.org website, which calls the incumbent a “career politician,” and the Democrats having a selfservingscott.com website, which criticizes the governor’s economic record.
Scott won his two gubernatorial campaigns in expensive, highly negative races where he edged out Democratic opponents. In 2010, he beat Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, capturing 48.9 percent of the vote to her 47.7 percent.
In 2014, Scott beat former Gov. Charlie Crist by a margin of 48.1 percent to 47.1 percent.
However, heading into the Senate race, Scott’s popularity numbers are his best since he emerged on the Florida political scene.
In a February poll from Quinnipiac University, Scott had a 49-40 percent approval rating from voters, the highest since Quinnipiac began tracking him in 2011. Nelson had a 48-34 percent approval rating in the same poll.
In recent years, Florida governors have had mixed success in making U.S. Senate bids.
Crist, a former Republican governor who is now a Democratic member of Congress, lost a 2010 Senate race while running as an independent. Gov. Bob Graham, a two-term Democratic incumbent, beat U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins, a Republican, in the 1986 Senate race.
Four Scott opponents stood outside Monday’s event, with motorists occasionally tooting horns or giving thumbs up as they drove past.
“Our street poll is great,” said 40-year-old Wes Hodge of Winter Park.
A two-time cancer survivor whose Hodgkin lymphoma has been in remission for five years, Hodge held a sign that read “healthcare is not a luxury.”
“If not for the Affordable Care Act I would not have access to quality health care,” he said, adding, “we are not unaware that health care is hanging.”
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 30 Years For Threatening Judge, FDLE Employee
April 10, 2018
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for threatening a judge, a state law enforcement employee and others.
Tomorryow Hughley was sentenced by Judge Wade Mercer to 30 years in state prison.
An Escambia County jury convicted Hughley of two counts of making written threats to kill or do bodily injury to multiple persons, and their families, including an Escambia County Circuit judge, and an expert witness formerly employed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
At the sentencing hearing, Assistant State Attorney Edgar asked the Court to give Hughley an enhanced sentence because Hughley was a habitual felony offender, and becauseHughley made threats to kill or do bodily injury to a sitting judge and a witness.
FHP Seeks Witnesses, Others On Scene Of Crash That Killed Worker On Highway 29
April 10, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol issued an appeal Monday afternoon for information in a traffic crash last Friday that claimed the life if a highway worker.
The FHP said 60-year old Sharon Odom of Century was southbound on Highway 29 when her 2006 Ford Mustang traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with worker Maceo A. Perkins, 41, of Pensacola and an unoccupied Dodge Ram truck that was off the roadway.
Odom was trapped in her vehicle and was extricated by firefighters before being airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. Perkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The FHP is asking for any witnesses or anyone that helped at the scene of the crash to contact Corporal David Todd at (850) 544-5990.
ll charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Announce 2018 Football Schedule
April 10, 2018
The Tate High School Aggies have released their 2018 football schedule (reprinted below). The Tate Crimson and Grey game is set for May 11, and the spring game will be at Pine Forest on May 17.
