Escambia County Asking State For Millions, Homeowners Insurance Fix And Return Of Passenger Rail Service
January 9, 2025
Escambia County presented their top six requests to the Escambia County Legislative Delegation Wednesday night.
The delegation consists of Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz. They heard from Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, Escambia County Public Schools, and other local organizations presented their funding requests and other wishes.
Escambia County asked for funding for projects costing several million dollars. The county is also asking the legislature to support the return of passenger rail service and to fix Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis.
1. Insurance Rates
Request: That the state prioritize insurance reform to provide relief to Florida homeowners.
Background: Like many Florida residents, Escambia County homeowners and property owners are continuing to face significant increases in their insurance rates. Insurance is becoming out of reach for many, with rates doubling or some companies even canceling policies altogether.
2. NAS Pensacola Main Gate
Request: Approximately $2-3 million to support project construction.
Background: Escambia County is working with FDOT, Naval Air Station Pensacola, and other community stakeholders on the South Navy Boulevard Corridor Management Plan, which aims to enhance the NAS Pensacola main gate and approaching corridor. The plan includes aesthetic improvements such as landscaping and lighting, new signage, and more. It also aims to provide additional public access by creating a new public interest area that can be accessed before entering the secure base area.
3. Pensacola Beach Gateway
Request: Approximately $5 million (estimated) for project construction.
Background: With hundreds of thousands of vehicles passing through the Pensacola Beach toll booth each year, Escambia County is planning significant improvements to give locals and visitors a warmer welcome to our beautiful
beaches. The project would include a brand new, more aesthetically pleasing gateway, with archways, cameras, new signage, and more.
4. Carpenter Creek Riparian Property Acquisition
Request: $2 million for property acquisition
Background: The Carpenter Creek/Bayou Texar Watershed is listed as an impaired system. A Watershed Management Plan has been completed, identifying water quality improvement projects and riparian stream restoration projects that will restore watershed functions and intrinsic values. Property acquisition is needed to utilize $6 million in RESTORE grant funding that has been awarded for construction.
5. Passenger Rail Connectivity Expansion
Request: That the State Legislature support reestablishing Amtrak passenger rail service from Mobile to Jacksonville.
Background: Escambia County supports the re-establishment of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, including Pensacola. Approximately 60 Florida commissioners have signed in support of expanding Amtrak passenger rail service from Mobile to Jacksonville. This would extend the passenger rail line being re-established between New Orleans and Mobile, tentatively set to begin in February 2025. FAC also supports the state joining the Southern Rail Commission, voting to make it one of its legislative priorities.
6. Housing Trust Fund
Request: That the state prioritize funding to increase affordable housing for residents.
Background: Affordable housing remains a challenge for many residents in Escambia County and throughout Florida, particularly low-income households. Escambia County continues to support housing stability to reduce and prevent homelessness. The county is seeking to increase the state’s Housing Trust Fund allocation, which would create additional opportunities to provide affordable housing assistance, including first-time homebuyers’ down payment assistance and rent, mortgage, or utility assistance through SHIP and other housing programs.
Pictured: An Amtrak inspection train rolls in Atmore (top) and Pensacola (below) in February 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Mayor Gomez Resigns For Medical Reasons; Town Appoints Interim Mayor
January 8, 2025
Citing health reasons, Century Mayor Luis Gomez. Jr. on Tuesday night submitted his resignation effective Friday, and the town council appointed an interim mayor to serve until a special election can be held.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as mayor of the Town of Century effective January 10, 2025,” Gomez said, reading from a letter to the town council. “This decision comes after much reflection and is based on a personal medical reasons that I now require all my full attention. Serving the Town of Century has been an honor and a privilege.”
“When the former mayor abruptly resigned in 2023, I stepped into the role of interim mayor by a 4-1 vote to provide leadership and stability. With the support and approval of the council, I took immediate action to address critical issues and set a foundation for Century’s future,” he said before citing specific accomplishments including insurance savings of nearly $200,000, hiring a professional management consulting firm, and outsourcing management of the wastewater treatment plant.
“These accomplishments reflect a shared commitment to the progress and fiscal responsibility, and I am proud that we were able to achieve it together in such a short time,” Gomez said. “I remain committed to supporting a smooth transition and full confidence that the foundation we built to sustain and propel the town forward. Thank you for your trust, collaboration and the opportunity to serve this incredible community.”
Gomez received a standing ovation for his service from the council (pictured inset above).
Johnson Appointed Interim Mayor
Following the mayor’s resignation announcement, seat four council member Alicia Johnson told the council that she would be willing to serve as interim mayor.
“I feel like I am well qualified for the position, and I’m able to do the hard work,” Johnson said. “I have the availability, and I have the management experience. ”
Council member Shelisa McCall also expressed interest in the position, but effectively withdrew herself from consideration as Johnson was named interim mayor on a unanimous vote.
What’ next?
The council will now seek residents through January 17 that are interested in the seat being vacated by Johnson as she moves into the interim mayor position. They will likely name an interim council member at their next regular meeting on January 21.
The council will also set a date for a special election, along with qualifying dates, for the mayor’s job and the vacant council seat. Under the town charter, the election must be completed within 90 days of the seats becoming vacant, which would be in early April. The town will explore if the election could be held on April 1, which is a special election date already on the books for the Congressional Seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
Gomez and Johnson’s history
Gomez was appointed interim mayor in August 2023 after the resignation of then-mayor Ben Boutwell. He was later elected to the position with no opposition in 2023 in a special election to finish Boutwell’s term and again with no opposition in 2024 for another four-year term that just started on January 1, 2025.
He was first elected to the town council in 2017.
Johnson was appointed as an interim town council member in January 2023 after no one ran for an open seat. She later ran and was elected to the council with 67% of the vote to 32% for challenger Eddie Hammond in March 2023. Johnson was Century’s water and wastewater superintendent until she resigned in March 2019 after several years with the town.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. reads his letter of resignation Tuesday night. Pictured below: Incoming interim Century mayor Alicia Johnson is congratulated by outgoing mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. Pictured bottom: Gomez (left) with interim town manager Howard Brown (center) and former mayor Henry Hawkins. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Dead In Crash After Fleeing From Pensacola Police
January 8, 2025
Two people were killed in a traffic crash after fleeing from Pensacola Police early Wednesday morning.
A Pensacola Police officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle near Pace Boulevard and Garden Street, PPD spokesperson Mike Wood said following the 12:23 a.m. incident.
“The vehicle immediately fled from the officer at a high rate of speed and crashed into a pole at Pace and Romana.,” he said. “One of the occupants of the vehicle died at the scene.” The second vehicle occupant was transported to a hospital and died a short time later.
The officer was not involved in the crash, Wood said.
“The officer observed the vehicle turning from a side street onto Pace. The driver saw the officer and began to accelerate at a high rate of speed. The officer made a U turn on Pace in an attempt to pace the speed of the car and to catch up to it. The vehicle crashed before the officer had a chance to initiate a traffic stop,” Wood said.
File photo.
Local FFA Members Shine At Sub District Contests
January 8, 2025
Local middle and high school FFA Chapters recently participated in the sub-district FFA contest and meetings.
The primary goal of career and leadership development events is to develop individual responsibilities, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement. The events included public speech, parliamentary procedure, and safe tractor operations.
Each student that placed first in their contest will compete at districts this month.
Middle School Parliamentary Procedure:
- 1st Place – Beulah Middle
- 2nd Place – Beulah Academy
Middle School Opening and Closing Ceremonies:
- 1st Place – Jay Middle
- 2nd Place – Beulah Middle
- 3rd Place – Central Middle
Middle School Extemporaneous Speech:
- 1st Place – Beulah Middle (Mia Wickham)
Middle School Prepared Public Speech:
- 1st Place – Beulah Middle (Caleb Pitts)
- 2nd Place – Central (Sydney Vinson)
Creed Speaking:
- 1st Place – Tate (Luke Graham)
- 2nd Place – Jay (Kenley Smith)
- 3rd Place – Beulah Middle (Briniyah Stallworth)
High School Parliamentary Procedure:
- 1st Place – Northview
- 2nd Place – Milton
Safe Tractor Operations:
- 1st Place – Northview (Braden Glick)
- 2nd Place – Jay (Tanner Wolfe)
- 3rd Place – Tate (Aiden Hollingsworth)
High School Prepared Public Speech:
- 1st Place – West Florida (Bella Trivison)
- 2nd Place – Tate (Maegan Coleman)
- 3rd Place – Florida Virtual (Izzy Jenkins)
High School Extemporaneous Public Speech:
- 1st Place – West Florida (Suzie Baker)
- 2nd Place – Tate (Blakely Campbell)
- 3rd Place – Northview (Olivia Hall)
Newly elected Sub-district 1 Officers:
- Chair: Olivia Hall (Northview)
- Co-Chair: Bella Trivison (West Florida)
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cottage Hill Residents Concerned By New 404 Home Development Proposed For McKenzie Road
January 8, 2025
Local residents gathered in a church sanctuary Tuesday night to discuss a 404-home subdivision proposed by a developer for their neighborhood.
The Cottage Hill Neighborhood Watch group hosted the meeting at the First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill to discuss D.R. Horton’s proposal for McKenzie Estates on the east side of Highway 95A in the 800 block of McKenzie Road. The development, as proposed, would be 404 single family homes on three parcels totaling 197.2 acres. The site is currently vacant and wooded with a stream and an estimated 43 acres of wetlands.
Residents of Cottage Hill and surrounding communities expressed concerns about lack of infrastructure including schools, road, traffic and draining; impacts on wetlands and wildlife; and utilities. Residents have questioned if Cottage Hill Water Works can serve the new residents properly and if existing residents might be required to pay a tap fee and forced to connect to sewer from ECUA. They also questioned if their current property values might be impacted.
The proposal has been filed with the county; however, no public meetings or votes have been scheduled to date.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and NorthEscambia graphic (bottom), click to enlarge.
Century Once Again Hires Town Clerk Away From Flomaton, Hires Billing Clerk
January 8, 2025
The Town of Century has once again hired a town clerk away from nearby Flomaton, and they have hired a new utility billing clerk.
The council voted to hire Carrie Moore as town clerk and Courtney Benson as the utility billing clerk.
Town Clerk
The town council voted 5-0 to approve a recommendation from Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. to hire Carrie Moore (pictured top) as Century town clerk. The position has been vacant since Leslie Howington took a leave of absence in mid-April before resigning in May for medical reasons.
The annual starting salary for the position is $76,000.
Tuesday was the second time the council has voted to hire Moore; they approved her as town clerk in September 2024. She later turned down the job and remained in Flomaton.
Moore has served as town clerk in Flomaton for the last three years. She previously worked with the City of Evergreen from 2015 until going to work in Flomaton in April 2021. She is a Certified Municipal Clerk and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Troy University and is working on her MBA from Troy.
Utility Billing Clerk
The council also voted to hire Courtney Benson as utility billing clerk, filling a position that became vacant with an employee resignation several months ago.
The starting salary for the position is $16 per hour.
Benson (pictured left) has been employed as a data entry specialist at United Bank in Atmore since 2022. She previously worked as referral specialist at Community Health Northwest Florida in Century for about five years after about 12 years as an administrative assistant at Corizon in Atmore. A Northview High School graduate, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Walden University and an associate degree from Pensacola Junior College.
Background information on the new hires is according to their resumes and/or applications filed with the Town of Century.
Submitted (top) and NorthEscmbia.com photo (bottom), click to enlarge.
Century Mayor, Two Council Members Sworn In; Council Leaders Elected
January 8, 2025
Century’s mayor and two council members were sworn in Tuesday night for new terms.
Luis Gomez, Jr., who was reelected without opposition last year, took the oath of office as mayor. His tenure will be short; Gomez submitted his resignation effective Friday earlier in the same meeting.
Dynette Lewis (seat 1) and Henry Cunningham (seat 2) ran unopposed and were sworn into their seats for four-year terms.
The oaths, which are purely ceremonial, were administered somewhat hastily at the end of a council meeting, with the council pausing for a member retrieving a Bible from her car.
The council reelected Lewis as president and selected Cunningham as vice president for the upcoming year.
Pictured top: Luis Gomez, Jr. takes the oath of office as mayor as his wife holds a Bible. Pictured first below: Henry Cunningham takes his oath as a council member as the Bible is held by his daughter Michelle Cunningham. Pictured second below: Dynette Lewis sworn in as a council member. Pictured bottom: Gomez hugs his wife after being sworn in as mayor albeit for a few days. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Delta To Resume Nonstop Flights Between Pensacola And Detroit
January 8, 2025
Delta Air Lines will resume weekly Saturday nonstop service from Pensacola (PNS) to Detroit (DTW). Flights will operate from June 14 through Sept. 6, utilizing Boeing 717-200 aircraft with 110 seats, including 12 First Class, 20 Delta Comfort and 78 Main Cabin seats.
- Delta flight 1319 from Detroit to Pensacola: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Delta flight 1319 from Pensacola to Detroit: 12:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
“We’re very pleased that Delta is adding direct service from Pensacola to Detroit in addition to their service to Atlanta (ATL) and New York LaGuardia (LGA),” Pensacola International Airport Executive Director Matt Coughlin said. “Detroit is one of Pensacola’s largest unserved markets and offers a large Delta hub with worldwide connections.”
“New service is always a tangible indicator of the prosperity, growth and potential that major carriers see in our area,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. “Detroit is the major Midwestern hub for Delta, so that means our residents will have many more options for flying in that region and quick connections.”
Pictured: The Pensacola International Airport. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Extreme Freezing Weather — Protecting Pets, Plants, Pipes And Other Tips
January 8, 2025
With freezing weather, it is time to take necessary precautions to protect pipes, pets and plants, and check on elderly friends and neighbors.
Here are ways to stay safe during cold temperatures, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia — confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
- Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes — run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
And here are a few extra details and tips from ECUA on protecting pipes against the freeze:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This action guards against the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Cantonment Highway 29 Crash Claims Life Of Teen
January 7, 2025
A Monday night crash claimed the life of a teen in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 10:50 p.m. on Highway 29 just south of Tate Road, near Anytime Fitness.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 17-year-old female from Cantonment was headed south on Highway 29 when she ran off the road to the right before crossing the media and the northbound lanes and hitting a ditch. Her SUV came to rest in a parking lot.
Troopers said she was not wearing a seat belt.
Escambia County EMS, the Cantonment Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
File photo.