DeSantis Appoints Four To Pensacola State College Board Of Trustees
February 15, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed four people on Friday to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees. They are Dr. Joel Rudman, Edward Fleming, Andrew Hobbs, and Zachary Smith.
Dr. Joel Rudman
Dr. Rudman is the Family Practice Physician at Dr. Joel D. Rudman, M.D. Active in his community, he was previously elected to the Florida House of Representatives representing District 3 and was the Staff Physician for NASCAR at the Daytona International Speedway. Rudman earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Mississippi.
Edward Fleming
Fleming is the Founding Partner of McDonald Fleming Attorneys At Law. Active in his community, he is a Commissioner on the First District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission. He has been named as one of Pensacola’s 100 Most Influential residents by a local newspaper. Fleming earned his juris doctor from the University of Georgia.
Andrew Hobbs
Hobbs is the Chief Deputy of Administration for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Active in his community, he is a Board member for Manna Food Pantries, Mr. Robbins’ Neighborhood, and the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation. Hobbs earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.
Zachary Smith
Smith is a Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at the Heritage Foundation. Active in his community, he is a Commissioner on the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and previously served as the Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science, his master’s degree in political science, and his juris doctor from the University of Florida.
Escambia Schools In Session Monday As Snow Make Up Day
February 15, 2025
Escambia County Schools will be in session on Monday as a make up for one of the snow days that was missed in January.
Initially, teachers and and staff were scheduled to work February 17 as a professional development day, and students were scheduled to to be out of school. Now Monday, February 17 will now be a full instructional day for students.
“No one could have predicted four days off for ice and snow in Escambia County,” said Superintendent Keith Leonard. “In order to be sure our students are receiving optimal instructional time, we will use February 17th as a make-up day.”
All schools and offices will operate on normal schedules, to include transportation and food services for students.
Pictured: Snow covers the Tate High School campus in Cantonment on January 21. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen On Electric Bike Critically Injured In Highway 29 Crash
February 14, 2025
A 17-year-old on an electric motorized bicycle was critically injured in a crash on Highway 29 Friday afternoon.
The teen male was southbound on a Highway 29 within the northbound bicycle lane about 1:35 p.m. near East Roberts Road when as a Lincoln sedan was exiting a private driveway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
“The driver stopped at the edge of the travel lane, not seeing the electric bicycle traveling against the flow of traffic,” FHP said the bicyclist collided with the front corner of the sedan.
The teen was airlifted to an area hospital as a trauma alert by LifeFlight . The 52-year-old female driver of the Lincoln was not injured.
Escambia Voters May Again Be Asked If The School Superintendent Should Be Elected Or Appointed
February 14, 2025
Voters in Escambia County could once against be asked to decide if the school superintendent should be elected or appointed.
In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36 voting yes and 49.64 percent voting now. This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county; all of the other attempts failed.
Now. District 5 school board member Tom Harrell wants to put the issue back on the ballot in 2028.
Harrell proposed a resolution for next week’s board meeting to place it on the ballot in 2026, later changing that to 2028 during a Thursday school board workshop.
Harrell said she as he was campaigning for office last year, he heard an overwhelming majority of people in the district wanted a return to an elected superintendent. He said that was no reflection on current Superintendent Keith Leonard, noting that Leonard has done an outstanding job and will hopefully be in office for some time to come.
“I feel very strongly about this,” Harrell, who campaigned on a return to an elected superintendent, said. “The county, I think, feels very strongly. There’s never anything wrong with letting the people decide. When you have a democracy, it’s all about people making decisions.”
“Deep down in my heart, having been here in this district for 60 years, that’s what the people of this district want,” Harrell added. “It’s the right time; it’s the right thing to do.”
Leonard said he would run the district the same whether elected or appointed.
“Would I change how I do business if I were appointed or elected? No,” Leonard said. “I would do business exactly the same way.”
District 3 school board member David Williams said he will not support the referendum because the district is currently doing well with an appointed superintendent, a sentiment echoed by District 4 member Carissa Bergosh.
District 2 member Paul Fetsko said he would support the referendum if it coincided with the 2028 Presidential Primary with an anticipated higher turnout that midterms will bring in 2026. And District 1 member David Adams also voiced his support; Adams made a similar proposal in 2023, but it was rejected by the board 3-2.
“We can’t have it both. Either we are happy with the appointed, and everybody’s up here praising the appointed right now,” Williams said after the discussion. “But yet we are voting to go elected. I just don’t understand that.”
The school board attorney will work on the resolution to return to the school board in April. If the school board approves the referendum proposal to allow voters to again choose between and elected or appointed school superintendent, it will be sent to the Escambia County Commission to be placed on the ballot.
Ag Officers Seize $264,000 Worth Of Cocaine In Escambia County Traffic Stop
February 14, 2025
State law enforcement seized over 29 pounds of cocaine worth over a quarter million dollars during an Escambia County traffic stop.
Officers with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) seized over 29 pounds of cocaine after stopping a white cargo van that bypassed an agricultural interdiction station in Escambia County. The street value of the seizure is $24,000 per bundle, with a total street value of $264,000.
“Florida’s Agricultural Law Enforcement officers serve as a first line of defense against criminal activity and threats to our state,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “This significant drug seizure is a testament to the critical role our Agricultural Law Enforcement officers play in keeping Florida safe. I’m proud of the work our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement – and the men and women who put their lives on the line every day – to intercept criminals and illicit contraband that endanger our communities.”
A large cargo van was observed bypassing an FDACS agricultural interdiction station, prompting officers to initiate a traffic stop. Upon inspection, officers discovered a crate holding a large plastic box filled with spray foam that had not yet solidified. Upon further investigation, officers found 11 bricks of cocaine – with a total weight of 29.2 pounds – concealed beneath the foam. The crate had been picked up from a storage unit in El Paso, Texas, and was destined for a location in South Florida.
OALE investigators are working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on this ongoing investigation.
The state did not provide any arrest information.
Century Man Charged With Reported Bratt Home Invasion
February 14, 2025
An 18-year-old Century man has been charged with a reported home invasion last weekend in Bratt.
John Matthew Malachi Bolen, Jr., was charged with armed burglary, criminal mischief with property damage and using or displaying a firearm during commission of a felony, all felonies.
About 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, a resident of Morgan Road reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that his daughter’s boyfriend kicked the door in on his home and shot his car as he was leaving. Bolen also “based” in a bedroom door where his girlfriend was sleeping and took her phone, according to an arrest report.
A total of $1,750 in damage was reported — $500 to a carport door, $250 to a bedroom door and $1,000 to the vehicle. The phone was not located.
Bolen remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $40,000.
Most Government Offices Closed Monday (But Not Century)
February 14, 2025
Most government offices will be closed Monday for Presidents Day, except those in Century.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
- Escambia County Administration offices
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Waste Services Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administration
Escambia County Exceptions:
- ECAT and the UWF trolleys will run regular weekday service Feb. 17. ECAT customer service will also be open.
- The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours Feb. 17.
- The Clerk’s Official Records, Finance, Treasury, and Clerk to the Board offices located at 221 Palafox Place will be closed Feb. 17. All other Clerk offices located at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Building, Public Records Center, and the Century Courthouse will be open.
ECUA
- ECUA business offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday. However, residential and commercial sanitation collections will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual.
TOWN OF CENTURY
- Town of Century Offices will be OPEN on Monday, February 17.
Jace Gandy Named New Flomaton Hurricanes Head Football Coach
February 14, 2025
The Flomaton Hurricane have hired Jacy Gandy as their new head coach.
Last season, he was a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Spanish Fort Toros after working as defensive coordinator for the Northview Chiefs. He also served as a defensive coordinator for the Tate Aggies.
Longtime Flomaton High School head football coach Doug Vickery announced his retirement in December after 19 years with the Hurricanes. uring those 19 years, Vickery led the Hurricanes to their first-ever state championship in 2018, and there have been five quarterfinal appearances. Three of his boys played football for Flomaton during his tenure.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County HERricane Camp Applications Open For Girls Grades 7-9
February 14, 2025
Escambia County Emergency Management is invited girls entering the 7th,, 8th, and 9th grades to apply for the HERricane: Escambia 2025 Program.
The four-day-long camp will be held June 10-13 at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.
HERricane is a girls’ summer camp to help rethink and improve outreach and engagement around emergency preparedness. The HERricane program was launched in Arlington, Va. in 2017 and has expanded throughout the United States since then. HERricane empowers women to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management through a week-long “camp,” and includes long-term professional development opportunities. Its mission is to develop and elevate women as leaders in emergency management and related careers while expanding the image of these professions as a positive force for improving public safety and government.
For an application, click here.
The HERricane Escambia Advisory Board will select up to 20 girls to participate in the 2025 program. The camp is FREE for students to participate. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 28. HERricane may be rescheduled or canceled in the event of severe weather, natural disasters or real-life emergencies.
This program is open to young girls living in Escambia County who will be entering grades 7-9 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Applications for HERricane must be filled out by hand using a blue or black ink pen and should not be completed by a parent/guardian. To submit your application, please mail or drop off applications at the Escambia County Public Safety building, located at 6575 N. “W” St., Pensacola, FL 32505. Office hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Applicants may also scan the completed application and email it to HERricane@MyEscambia.com.
Tate Aggies Easily Beat Washington; Northview Falls To Milton
February 14, 2025
The Tate Aggies varsity and junior varsity made quick work of the Washington Wildcats Thursday, while the Northview Chiefs varsity and junior varsity slipped to the Milton Panthers.
Tate 24, Washington 1
After scoring 16 in the first inning, the Tate Aggies beat the Washington Wildcats 24-1 Thursday night.
Nathan Ozuna had a second inning solo homer to left field as he went 3-3 for the night. Griffen Cook was also 3-3. Cal Foxworth was 2-3 with five RBIs. Hunter Clayton had four RBIs, while most of the team had at least one RBI in the big win.
Taite Davis earned the win for Tate, giving up four hits and one unearned run in four innings, walking one and striking out three.
Tate 18, Washington 0 (JV)
The junior varsity Tate Aggies shut out Washington 18-0 Thursday.
Lance Brady, Aydan Nigam, and Chandler St.Amant had three RBIs each for Tate. Brady had four hits in five at bats.
Milton 11, Northview 5
The Northview Chiefs fell to the Milton Panthers 11-5 Thursday in Bratt.
Braynt Mason surrendered two hits and three runs in four innings on the mound for the Chiefs while striking out six and walking three. Jase Portwood pitched two, allowing five hits and six runs while walking two and striking out three.
Jayden White went 2-3 to lead Northview at the plate. Cole Davis, Kelan Jury, and Jayden White each had one RBI for the Chiefs.
Northview will host Walton at 6:30 on Friday.
Milton 11, Northview 8 (JV)
Milton’s junior varsity defeated Northview 11-8 Thursday.
Kobi Fiorenti had three RBIs for the JV Chiefs, while Caleb Levins had two. Will Strawbridge was 2-2 at bat.
Christian Roberts went three and a third innings for Northview, allowing six hits and nine runs while striking out six and walking five. Tyler McAnally was on the mound for one and two-third innings, allowing eight hits and 11 runs while striking out eight.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.