Eight Additional ‘Purple Star Schools’ Designated In Escambia County
December 18, 2024
Eight additional schools in Escambia County have been added as Purple Star Schools of Distinction by the Florida Department of Education for their support of children of military families for the 2024-25 school year through the 2026-27 school year.
“We encourage every school in the state to strive to better serve military families and earn the designation,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday afternoon. “I am proud to recognize these schools and school districts for their efforts to support our military families and earn the Purple Star designation.”
The most recent schools to achieve this honor are:
- Beulah Middle School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
- George Stone Technical College
- Kingsfield Elementary School
- Navy Point Elementary School
- Pensacola High School
- Ransom Middle School
- Redeemer Lutheran School (Private)
There are now 28 total schools in Escambia County recognized as a Purple Star School of Distinction.
Those previously designated were:
- Bailey Middle
- Beulah Academy of Science
- Beulah Elementary School
- Bellview Elementary School
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Booker T. Washington High School
- Brown-Barge Middle School
- Ernest Ward Middle School
- Escambia High School
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
- J. H. Workman Middle School
- J. M. Tate High School
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- N.B. Cook Elementary
- Pine Forest High School
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- West Florida High School
The entire Santa Rosa County School District was named a Purple Star School District of Distinction Designation for the 2024-25 school year through the 2026-27 school year.
To earn the Florida Purple Star School of Distinction designation, schools are required to maintain the following:
- A military point-of-contact to serve as a liaison for military families;
- A school webpage for military students and families that includes specifically-focused resources like academic planning, transition planning, and educational opportunities;
- A student-led transition program to assist military students coming into the school;
- Professional development training for staff to identify and respond to the needs of military families;
- 5% open-enrollment seats for military students and families; and
- Three elective opportunities to further support military families, such as participating in a service project to connect the school with the military community, hosting an annual military recognition event, or offering a JROTC program, among others.
Two Escambia County Fires Add Red Bulbs To Fire Safety Wreath
December 18, 2024
Escambia County Fire Rescue has added two more red bulbs for a total of seven red bulbs during “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
The bulbs were added for a Monday night fire in the 100 block of Eden Lane in Cottage Hill that claimed the life of a dog and a Monday afternoon residential structure fire in the 200 block of Airport Boulevard.
Eden Lane Fire
Firefighters rescued two dogs from an attic fire that damaged a Cottage Hill home Monday night.
There was reportedly no one home at the time of the 8:19 p.m. fire in the 100 block of Eden Lane, just off Highway 95A.
At least two dogs found inside the home received care and oxygen using special pet masks by Escambia County Fire Rescue. One dog was transported to an emergency veterinarian, but it did not survive.
For additional photos, click here.
The Bureau of Fire and Arson is investigating the cause of the fire. ECFR said the home can be re-occupied once significant repairs are made.
Airport Boulevard Fire
Heavy flames were visible from the carport of the single-story wood-framed home when firefighters arrived just after 2 p.m. There were no injuries or fatalities. ECFR conducted the investigation and determined an electrical issue stemming from the laundry room caused the fire.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign. Five-foot wreaths are on display at locations that included 21 county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial structure fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential and commercial buildings.
Pictured: A Monday night fire on Eden Lane in Cottage Hill. NorhtEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour; submitted photos courtesy Judith Fehl.
Century, UWF, Brownsville Cut From Early Voting Sites For Congressional Special Primary
December 18, 2024
The number of early voting sites in Escambia County has been cut from 10 to seven for the special primary election for the Florida 1st Congressional District seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender said Tuesday that there will be no early voting sites at Century, the University of West Florida, or Brownsville for the primary Those early voting sites will return for the special election.
He said Century, UWF and Brownsville had the lowest turnout in March with a combined total of 318 early voters for this year’s presidential preference primary at a cost of $17,000.
Of the 5,875 early votes cast countywide in the March 2024 Presidential Preference Primary:
- Century – 58 early voters
- Brownsville – 93 early voters
- UWF – 167 early voters
Voters who used one of the three sites to vote early back in March will receive a letter in the mail soon from the SOE.
The January 28 primary will be open only to Republicans – the complete field includes 10 Republicans, a Democrat, one candidate without party affiliation and four write-in candidates. With one candidate and no challenger, the primary will not be open to Democratic voters.
Early voting will be January 18-25 at the following locations in Escambia County:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
All vote-by-mail requests will expire at the end of the year. Anyone wishing to vote-by-mail must submit a new request.
Pictured: The Century early voting location and the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. NorthEscambia.com, photos, click to enlarge.
Salzman, Andrade Named To Florida House Leadership Positions
December 18, 2024
Two members of the Escambia County legislative delegation have been named to leadership positions by Florida House Speaker Danny Perez. The committee announcements were released Tuesday.
Distract 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman was named chair of the Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee.
Salzman was also named to the:
- Commerce Committee
- Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
- Judiciary Committee
- Rules & Ethics Committee
- Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
District 2 Rep. Alex Andrade was named chair of the Health Care Budget Subcommittee.
Andrade was also named to the:
- Budget Committee
- Health & Human Services Committee
- Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
- Joint Legislative Budget Commission
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students, Employee Of The Month
December 18, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named Students of the Month and their Employee of the month.
The are:
- 8th grade- Greyson Maughon
- 7th grade- Carrie Emmons
- 6th grade- Antonia Hayes
- Employee: Lauren Hicks.
Pictured (L-R): Ernest Ward Middle Principal Tyvanna Boulanger with Students of the Month Greyson Maughon, Carrie Emmons, and Antonia Hayes; and Employee of the Month Lauren Hicks. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Eglin Air Force Base Said To Be Source Of Boom, SpaceX Splashes Down
December 17, 2024
Residents across the area felt or heard a big boom early Tuesday afternoon,
Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said Santa Rosa County was notified by Eglin said the base was the source of the boom. Eglin officials did not specify exactly what caused the boom, but we’ve learned a SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico south of Panama City at 12:39 p.m,.
“At 1:39 p.m. EST, the unpiloted SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida, marking the return of the company’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for NASA,” NASA said. “The spacecraft carried back to Earth thousands of pounds of supplies and scientific experiments designed to take advantage of the space station’s microgravity environment after undocking at 11:05 a.m. Dec. 16, from the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module.”
Local emergency officials in Escambia County were not notified in advance of a potential sonic boom.
NorthEscambia.com was flooded with people saying they heard or felt an explosion that rattled their homes and businesses.
Dogs Rescued From Fire That Damaged Cottage Hill Home
December 17, 2024
Firefighters rescued several dogs from an attic fire that damaged a Cottage Hill home Monday night.
There was reportedly no one home at the time of the 8:19 p.m. fire in the 100 block of Eden Lane, just off Highway 95A.
At least two dogs found inside the home received care and oxygen using special pet masks by Escambia County Fire Rescue. One dog was transported to an emergency veterinarian, but we are told it did not survive.
For additional photos, click here.
The Bureau of Fire and Arson is investigating the cause of the fire.
The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley, Beulah, and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorhtEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour; submitted photos courtesy Judith Fehl.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 17, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School recently announced their November Students of the Month. They are third graders Grace Donald and Logan Pelletier. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Picking Up A Little Extra Money By Mowing Library Lawn, Installing Christmas Lights
December 17, 2024
The Town of Century will pick up a little extra money over the next year for mowing and outside Christmas decorating the Century Branch Library.
It’s the renewal of a contract first executed in December 2023.
The town will mow and provide lawn maintenance at the county-owned library building, which is adjacent to the Century Town Hall. The town is responsible for inspecting the library grounds every two weeks and providing upkeep, including mowing, blowing, trimming, edging the debris pick up. The county will pay the town $300 per month.
In addition, the town will install Christmas lights around the eaves of the library to match those at town hall, with the county providing up to a $150 reimbursement.
The Escambia County Commissioner approved the agreement renewal at their meeting last Thursday, ratifying a contract approved the town back in late November.
Pictured: Christmas lights at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Down Northview (With Photo Gallery)
December 17, 2024
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 70-23 Monday night during Ugly Sweater Night at Tate’s Fryman Gym.
Sam Williams led the Aggies on the court with 23 points. Brelynn Morris added 18 for Tate, while Taylor Malone had 10 points and Sarah Mitchell contributed eight. Other Aggie scorers were Amerie McGee with five, Kahri Davis with four and Kaylie Mitchell with two. Northview stats were not reported.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Tate Lady Aggies will host Navarre on Wednesday in their final game until the new year. Northview will enjoy a long winter break until a January 9, 2025, game against Pensacola Catholic.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
