92 Acre Borrow Pit Proposed For Highway 97 In Molino
February 25, 2025
A new sand and dirt borrow pit is being proposed from Highway 97 in Molino.
The 92.9 acre site on the east side of Highway 97 between Gibson Road and Sunshine Hill Road. is owned by Southern States Land Co. The principles of the company are the same as those of Molino Dirt and Sand, which will operate the pit, according to an application filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC).
The pit will be excavated to a depth of 40 feet. The applicant said they drilled to 45 feet and did not reach the water table.
The applicant said there are not residences within 500 feet of the proposed pit. The company proposed that reclamation of the pit “involves the use of clean land clearing debris with approperate (sic) cover in accordance with all regulations.”
The proposal has not yet been set for formal DRC review.
Escambia Fire Rescue Presents Annual Awards (With Photo Gallery)
February 25, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue hosted their annual awards ceremony last Saturday. The ceremony served as a celebration of all achievements accomplished in 2024 and marking 25 years of service to the community.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Career Awards
- Career Fire Officer of the Year: Lt. Daniel Mills
- Career Firefighter of the Year: FF Allen Harrison
- Lieutenant Terrell Jackson Award: Lt. Jason Crabbe
- District Chief Dwain Bradshaw Award: FF Josh Bazinet
Medal of Courage
- For heroic actions during a residential structure fire with entrapment (Deauville Way, Pensacola):
- Lt. Charles McGuffey
- FF Anthony Stafford
- For exceptional bravery during a residential structure fire (Highway 95A):
- Lt. Jeff Rohrer
- FF David Neydlin
Distinguished Service Medal
- Capt. Joel Richardson (Safety 2): Leadership in the first-ever Escambia County Fire Academy
- Capt. Dan Kunz (Ladder 13): Dedication as a leader, instructor, and mentor
- Lt. Nick Gradia (Safety 4): 17 years of service and unwavering support of fellow firefighters
ECFR Honor Guard Service Recognition
- For 15 years of dedicated service:
- Capt. Joel Richardson
- Capt. Scott Averill
- Lt. Nick Gradia
- Lt. Adam Edwards
- Lt. Dale Dirks
Company Citations
01/31/2024: Residential Structure Fire with Entrapment (Highway 95A)
- Engine 6: Lt. Jeff Rohrer, FF Matt Callahan, FF David Neydlin, FF Mackenzie Church
02/09/2024: Cardiac Arrest Call (Pinebrook Circle)
- Engine 219: Lt. Tom Schwarz, FF Anthony Stafford, FF Niall Reid
- Engine 4: Lt. Chase Webb, FF Anthony Pizzo, FF Channon O’Connor, FF Bennet Silveira
- Safety 3: Capt. Alex Torres
04/04/2024: Large Brush Fire (Somerville Court)
- Chiefs: Adam Harrison, Paul Williams, Curt Isakson, Wes Barnett, Yoshimi Core, Jim Pokrandt
- Lieutenants: Jim Allen, Jacob Meligan, Scott Hunsucker, Peter Welch, Jeff Rohrer, Lynn Garrett, Jason Menda, Keith Chapman, Dale Dirks, Kyle Sexton
- Firefighters: Chris Knezienski, Joe Thrower, Travis Litchfield, John Quinn, Kenny Fehl, Jake Hoskins, Nick Pearson, Brian Kraatz, Jordan Ewing, Garic Fatheree, Paul Guy, Kyle Pickard, David Carballosa, Channin O’Connor, Ethan Muldoon, Jacob Darr, Shawn Hill, Victor Govyadov, Zach Aceto, Nathaniel Beuschel, Michael Iglesias, Kyle Muldoon, Tyler Jackson, Jim Nagim, Jeff Howard, Josh Reaves
04/04/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (Secretariat Way)
- Engine 219: Lt. Tom Schwarz, FF Chris French, FF Niall Reid
- Logistics 1: Chief Jim Pokrandt
04/09/2024: Vehicle vs. Building Crash (Patton Drive)
- Engine 16: Lt. Adam Edwards, FF Marcus Fairley, FF Hunter Burklow, FF Robert Mandel
- Squad 14: Lt. JP Owens, FF Jason Rocco, FF Ryan Read, FF Nathaniel Beuschel
04/25/2024: Emergency Medical Response
- Engine 7: Acting Lt. Kenny Fehl, FF Clay Brown
- Safety 4: Lt. Nick Gradia
05/30/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (N. 69th Avenue)
- Engine 11: Lt. James Shaw, FF Gordon Wilson, FF Anthony Williams
07/13/2024: Rollover Crash with Entrapment (Blue Angel Parkway)
- Engine 1: Lt. Chris Snipes, FF Bruce Durden, FF Neils Frage
- Engine 11: Lt. Sean King, FF David Carballosa, FF Ander Sienra
- Ladder 12: Lt. Jason Crabbe, FF Scott Walther, FF Connley Rogers
- Squad 3: Lt. Jim Beagle, FF James Southern, FF Jacob Darr
- Safety 4: Lt. Daniel Akerman
- Battalion 3: Chief Jon Hollingsworth
- Battalion 2: Chief Dan Brask
07/28/2024: Mass Shooting (Wedgewood Community Center)
- Squad 3: Lt. Charles McGuffey, FF Jacob Darr, FF Shawn Hill
- Safety 4: Lt. Nick Gradia
08/10/2024: Baby Delivery (Mapleleaf Drive)
- Engine 6: Lt. Jeff Rohrer, FF Matt Callahan, FF Kenny Fehl, FF Zach Aceto
08/12/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (New Warrington Road)
- Engine 16: Lt. Keith Chapman, FF Marcus Fairley, FF Robert Mandel
08/18/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save
- Engine 1: Lt. Dimitri Jansen, FF Justin King, FF Matthius Ross, FF Allan Beasley
09/09/2024: Cardiac Arrest Save (W. Gadsden Street)
- Engine 17: Lt. Keith Chapman, FF David Carballosa, FF Channin O’Connor
Civilian Awards
- Sherman Hopkins & Melissa Douglas: Performed CPR and used an AED to successfully rescue a cardiac arrest patient.
- Melissa Grannum & Earline Heno: Provided CPR to a cardiac arrest patient during a social function, increasing survival chances.
Hurricane Helene Deployment
- BC Steve Boothe, Lt. Keith Chapman, Lt. Darin Snipes, FF Michael Maddrey, FF Bobby Held, FF Haley Crabb, FF Shannon Halfacre, FF Kenny Fehl
Final Alarm Recipients
- FF Wayne Kercher – Final Alarm: April 7, 2024
- FF Clay Brown – Final Alarm: June 22, 2024
- Chief Mark Clark – Final Alarm: September 1, 2024
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
February 25, 2025
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for January. They are Ryan Phillips and Mary-Clayton Dawson, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Health Fair To Offer Free Services In Jay On March 8
February 25, 2025
The Northwest Florida Rural Health Network is hosting a Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at Jay First Baptist Church Family Life Center, located at 14113 Alabama Street in Jay.
This free event will feature vendor health booths, door prizes, and giveaways aimed at promoting community wellness. Residents will have the opportunity to connect with health professionals, learn about available resources, and receive valuable health information.
For more information, contact the Northwest Florida Rural Health Network at (850) 675-4787 or email keithstrickling@nwfrhn.org.
Parkrun At UWF Celebrating 250th Event, Six Years
February 25, 2025
Pensacola’s Rec Plex North parkrun will mark two significant milestones on Saturday, March 1, celebrating its 250th event and six years of bringing the community together through its FREE weekly timed 5k (3.1 miles) run/walk. Since its inception in February 2019 as the first parkrun on the campus of an American university, the weekly event has drawn more than 2,600 participants who have collectively completed over 20,000 runs covering 99,825 kilometers (62,028 miles) on the University of West Florida’s (UWF) scenic wooded trail.
The event, which routinely draws around 100 participants, has become known in the community for its friendly crowd that welcomes newcomers of all ages and abilities. “At every one of our events there are runners, joggers and walkers – parkrun is for everyone,” said Rob Gryskiewicz, who has volunteered at more than 175 parkruns and is now the co-event director with Caleb Carmichael, UWF’s cross country coach. “We’d love to have a big turnout for our 250th event and celebrate what makes this community so special.”
The free, volunteer-organized 5K has become a tourist attraction, drawing participants from across the United States and countries including Ireland, Germany, Poland, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the UK. These “parkrun tourists” have generated over 425 hotel room nights for the Pensacola area during their quest to visit new parkrun courses.
Each weekly parkrun is made possible by a thriving group of volunteers. “It’s a joy to see how the community has engaged and supported this event,” said Robin Foley, who co-founded the event in 2019. “We’re going strong after six great years thanks to hundreds of volunteers and the support of UWF, who allowed the use of their field and trails to make our parkrun possible.”
The partnership has benefited both organizations. Since parkrun volunteers revitalized the overgrown trail for the launch of their event in 2019, the site has once again become home to major cross country events like the ESCAROSA High School Championships and the Argonaut Invitational.
“Community engagement is a hallmark of our mission,” said Howard Reddy, UWF Vice President for University Advancement. “Mutually beneficial collaborations have been a key driver of our effort to become a community destination, so we’re proud to host parkrun and contribute to the immense health and wellness benefits it brings to our community.”
The success of the Pensacola event mirrors the global parkrun movement, which began in 2004 with just 13 runners in London’s Bushy Park. Today, about 400,000 people participate each Saturday at more than 2,500 free events across 23 countries.
New participants can register for free at ParkRun.us to receive a barcode for tracking their performance.
● What: 250th Rec Plex North parkrun
● When: Saturday, March 1, 7:30 a.m.
● Where: UWF Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary entrance (behind Lot Z at Rec Plex North)
● Cost: Free
Alabama Woman Gets 13 Years for Fleeing Fatal Escambia County Crash Scene
February 25, 2025
A Lillian, Alabama, woman was sentenced to 13 years in state prison following a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a cyclist and injured another in Escambia County.
On October 19, 2022, Rachelle Johnson was driving a 2005 Toyota Highlander westbound on State Road 292 (Sorrento Road) when her vehicle veered off the road and struck two cyclists from Pensacola, who were riding on the road’s shoulder, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was hospitalized with injuries.
Johnson fled but was later found at her home in Lillian. During the investigation, videos from Walmart at Blue Angel and Sorrento show the Toyota driven by Johnson pulling into the grocery pickup area with significant damage to the front end. Witnesses followed Johnson and assisted in identifying the vehicle involved.
She pleaded guilty and received the maximum 13-year sentence for the leaving the scene of an accident involving death charge and four years, to be served concurrently, for leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury.
New Escambia EMS Strategy Aims to Enhance North Escambia Response Times
February 24, 2025
Currently, North Escambia EMS crews report to work at the Walnut Hill Fire Station or EMS “Post 50″ on Industrial Boulevard in Century. But that will soon change.
“The intent is not taking ambulances from up there,” Escambia EMS Director Chris Watts said. “The only change is going to be where they’re physically deployed out of…there’s some limitations with having the crews report directly to Century and Walnut Hill to start their day.”
Under the new plan, EMS crews that will work in the northern part of Escambia County will report to work at the main EMS headquarters on W Street and then drive an ambulance north to either Century or Walnut Hill.
“Some of the issues that we’ve run into is when you have people call out sick or can’t get to work,” Watts said, citing January’s ice and snow as an example. There are also situations, he said, when a crew could currently arrive to work Century or Walnut Hill to find that there’s no ambulance because it’s on a transport to Pensacola. If that same crew had reported to Post 10, they would have had an ambulance to take north.
Expansion of EMS Services in North Escambia
Upcoming changes also include plans for a third North Escambia ambulance that will station in McDavid or Molino. “Probably Molino just, so it’s a little bit further south, which provides a little bit better coverage for the North End of the county, especially where we’re starting to get more and more development as we, you know, move north of Cantonment.”
Watts is quick to admit that a crew destined for Walnut Hill, Century or Molino might come on duty at W Street and then get dispatched to an urgent call elsewhere in Pensacola.
“If that is the case, the intent is that the night shift hasn’t gone home yet and they’re still in the north end,” Watts said, explaining that start times for northern crews will be staggered. “So, you are still not eliminating coverage. It’s not like we are going to abandon (the north end) and bring everybody back to Post 10 off W Street and then deploy resources….After they get up there, then we can bring the night crews down.”
New Partnership with Newman’s Ambulance Service
In addition, Escambia County has a new agreement in place with Newman’s Ambulance Services, the oldest privately owned ambulance company in Alabama and the second oldest privately owned service in the United States.
Newmans’ Ambulances units are now staging at the Flomaton Fire Station, just across the line from Century. Watts said they have agreed to accept Florida calls when a Century or Walnut Hill unit is unavailable.
Watts said he is confident that EMS response will improve in North Escambia. He said the new plan and schedule will be evaluated once it goes into effect in March, and he will make adjustments, if needed, to address any problems that arise.
Pictured: Escambia County EMS ambulance on scene at calls in North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students, Employee Of The Month
February 24, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their January Students of the Month and their January Employee of the Month.
The are:
- 6th grade–Siana Bonville
- 7th grade–Harleigh Grace Parsons
- 8th grade–Kaden Smith
- Employee–Phyllis Malone
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle Principal Tyvanna Boulanger with Students of the Month (L-R) Kaden Smith, Harleigh Grace Parsons, and Siana Bonville. Below: Boulanger with Employee of the Month Phyllis Malone. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Give Back to Escambia Animal Shelter
February 24, 2025
Bratt Elementary School students are making a difference for animals in need. As part of their School Service Learning Project, students organized a supply drive recently to support the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare.
The school collected 208 donations, including cleaning supplies and blankets, to help shelter animals stay comfortable while they wait for their forever homes.
To show their appreciation, Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson and Animal Welfare Coordinator Gaby Negrete visited Bratt Elementary yesterday. They personally thanked the students for their generosity and shared ways the community can continue supporting local animals.
RV Park Proposed For Walnut Hill
February 24, 2025
An RV Park is being proposed for Walnut Hill.
Matthew Coverdale of Pensacola is proposing the C&E Destinations RV Park between Cypress Street and Pine Forest Road, just north of Arthur Brown Road.
A written narrative provided to the Escambia County Development Review Committee states that the RV park would initially contain ten 25×35 concrete pads connected by concrete drive 200 feet in length from Pine Forest Road with a cul-de-sac. It states that the 20-acre parcel is being split out from a parcel at 24 North Cypress Street, and the applicant is seeking advance confirmation that the RV park would be allowed.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
