Community Remembers Beau Rodrique, Former Beulah Fire Deputy Chief
January 12, 2025
A funeral service will be held Tuesday for Beau Rodrique, former Beulah Volunteer Fire Department deputy chief. Beau lost his battle with cancer on January 5. He was 42.
Beau knew from a young age he wanted to follow his dad, Greg Rodrique, into fire service. He joined the Beulah fire department in 1998 as a junior firefighter and when he turned 18. In 2000, he completed his training to become a certified firefighter. His father Greg, after serving over 30 years with Beulah, retired from the deputy chief position in 2006.
Beau continued to serve the community of Beulah, and moved through the ranks at the firehouse until he reached the position of deputy chief in 2015. One of Beau’s final calls was in 2019 when Beulah Assistant Chief Dwain Bradshaw lost his life in the line of duty. Beau’s time with the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department ended in 2020 when he moved with his family to Walnut Hill.
Beau’s commitment to service extended to his career choice, where he worked for 15 years at Pensacola Naval Air Station before transitioning to Otis Elevator company. He thrived there for the past seven years and was recently promoted to the role of general manager, further demonstrating his strong work ethic and leadership.
Beau was known as the “Gentle Giant” because his kind and loving nature touched everyone he met.
He is survived by his wife Kirstie, daughters Kaylee Rodrique and Audrey Rodrique, son Wyatt Rodrique, and numerous other relatives and a large circle of friends.
The viewing and funeral service for Beau Rodrique will be Tuesday January 14t at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church, 6205 North W Street in Pensacola. Viewing will be 10 a.m. until known with the service immediately following. His final resting place will be Pensacola Memorial Gardens on Pine Forest Road.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Rustic Rooster: Deli And Market Planned For Highway 97 In Davisville
January 12, 2025
The owners of a planned deli, market and shop in Davisville have filed plans with the Escambia County Development Review Committee for their business.
The Rustic Rooster will be located at 10251 Highway 97, near the Davisville Community Center. The building was previously used for retail and as a restaurant.
According to a handwritten letter filed with the application, owners Dave and Carla Carlson, “Rustic Rooster will opening as a deli and small market and antique store”.
“We are rebranding what the previous use was and to bring back life to the beautiful building in the community,” the letter states. “We have cleaned and updated the interior and exterior to beautify the property.”
The 4,243 square foot building is located on 1.83 acres. Application materials show parking in the front and rear of the building.
The application is set for a January 15 pre-application meeting with the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
Pictured: The Rustic Rooster in Walnut Hill as seen Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
January 12, 2025
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for December. They are Asher Creighton and Evelyn Fernandez-Esparza, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registrations Continue For Spring Season At Molino, NWE, Century, NEP
January 12, 2025
Registration is continuing for the spring seasons at the Century, NWE, Molino and NEP ballparks. As teams fill, the leagues are creating waiting lists for additional teams.
Molino Ballpark
Registration from the spring 2025 season will continue through January 25 for the Molino Ballpark. Register early — once a division is filled, prospective players will be placed on a waitlist.
Register at molinoballpark.com.
Draft will be January 27 – January 31, 2025. Practice being February 3, and opening day will be Saturday, March 8.
Northwest Escambia
Registration is underway for all new and returning players ages 4-16 through January 18 for Northwest Escambia in Walnut Hill. Cost is $100 for the first child, $75 for each additional child. $23 is due at registration with the remainder due on January 18. Opening day is March 29. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. The maximum number for an age group is reached, there will be waitlists for additional teams.
NWE offers:
- T-ball for ages 4-6
- Baseball for ages 7-16
- Softball for ages 7-16
Register at nwebaseball.com.
Century Baseball
The Century Baseball Association will be sanctioned with USSSA Alabama for the 2025 Spring season, allowing boys to have mid-season tournament as does softball. It also adds a 14U division. Softball will remain with GCGSA.
The registration fee is $95 and $75 for each additional player. Wee ball registration is $45. Uniforms not included.
Register at their website. Registration ends February 3.
NEP Baseball and Softball
Registration is underway for NEP baseball and softball at the park on Nine Mile Road through February 2 with late registration February 3-5. Baseball draft is February 8, and softball draft is February 9. Opening day will be March 8.
Register at their website.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Hunting And Fishing Violations
January 12, 2025
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing was conducting a fisheries inspection on a recreational vessel near Bayou Texar. Upon inspection one individual was found to be over the bag limit of blue crabs and many of the crabs were taken by gigging, which is a prohibited method. Appropriate law enforcement action was taken.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer R. Corbin observed two individuals return from duck hunting and proceeded to conduct a resource inspection. The subjects had harvested one bufflehead. Neither individual had a valid federal duck stamp and it was discovered one subject was using a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds. Both individuals were issued citations for hunting without a federal duck stamp and for the unplugged shotgun.
Officer R. Corbin observed a vehicle parked on a closed road with a dog off leash at Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. After instructing the subject to leash the dog and informing him about the closed road, the subject refused to identify himself. After instructing the subject several times to identify himself the officer attempted to handcuff the subject, and the subject evaded the officer and resisted without violence. The officer then arrested and charged the subject for resisting without violence and obstructing or interfering with an FWC officer. The subject was also issued citations for driving on a closed road and having a dog off leash in the WMA. The subject was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officer Land observed a camouflaged boat with three individuals dressed in camo and wearing chest waders approaching the boat ramp. Officer Land conducted a resource inspection on the vessel, which contained duck decoys and shotguns. The subjects said they had not shot anything. Officer Land asked to inspect the subjects’ shotguns and the vessel operator admitted his gun was not plugged. Officer Land inspected the firearm and found it was capable of holding more than three shells, which is not legal when hunting migratory birds. Officer Land found the subject had been previously cited for the same offense and issued the subject a notice to appear for the violation.
Officer Brown was on patrol conducting resource and license inspections at local fishing spots when he observed an individual fishing. The subject stated he did not have any fish. Officer Brown located an undersized red drum in the subject’s cooler. The subject was cited accordingly.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector Sworn In Last Week
January 12, 2025
Three Escambia County elected officials took their oaths of office last week.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Property Appraiser Gary “Bubba” Peters, and Tax Collector Scott Lunsford were sworn in during separate ceremonies.
Peters ran for election, and Lunsford and Simmons ran for reelection without opposition.
Swearing in ceremonies were also held last week in Century.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Now Has New Interim Mayor; Town Seeks New Interim Council Member
January 11, 2025
Century now officially has an interim mayor in office, and they are seeking resident that want to fill a now vacant seat on the town council.
Last Tuesday, Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned as mayor for medical reasons effective Friday, January 10, just as his new four-term was beginning. After volunteering for the position, Seat 4 town council member Alicia John was appointed interim mayor. She will serve until a special election is held. and she has indicated that she will run for the seat.
Johnson’s interim move into the mayor’s office opened her seat on the town council. The town is accepting applications from citizens looking for an interim appointment to the town council to serve until a special election is held. Applications are due to noon, Friday, January 17.
The town announced Friday, January 10, that applications should be hand submitted or mailed to the Town Clerk’s Office, 7995 North Century Boulevard, Century, FL 32535; or hand-delivered between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the same address. Applications can also be emailed to mwalker@centuryflorida.us.
The town said Friday, January 10 that the “Application for Interim Town Council Appointment” is available on the town website. The town said applications are also available from town hall or by emailing mwalker@centuryflorida.us.
The town council is expected to review the applications and make a decision on an interim member on January 21.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pine Meadow Elementary Students Enjoy Week of Roy Hyatt Science Adventures
January 11, 2025
Students at Pine Meadow Elementary School had a week of science adventures with the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.
Fifth graders participated in the Infinitely “Big! Infinitely Small! Program!” after starting their day crawling into the planetarium and taking off into the infinitely big solar system. While in space they explored the moon, planets, constellations, the sun, and much more. After landing back on Earth the young scientists headed to the microscope room where they studied the flow of energy through an aquatic habitat. They used microscopes to see infinitely small microorganisms eating other microorganisms – a food chain occurring in a drop of water right in front of them. Finally these adventurers had the opportunity to meet Slither, one of the center’s Florida kingsnake animal ambassadors up close and personal.
Ms. Molly and Roy Hyatt’s Eastern screech owl ambassador June Bug visited first graders at Pine Meadow. June Bug taught them all about the characteristics of birds, why birds need feathers, all about camouflage, vertebrates, carnivores, predators, and more. June Bug then introduced the young scientists to raptors, birds of prey, and how they differ from other birds. Finally, June Bug taught these explorers about owls, including their huge eyes that stare straight ahead and give them great night vision, that they can turn their head almost all the way around (270 degrees), also that they have asymmetrical ears helping them have super hearing. June Bug ended her visit by going around and saying hello to each of the students.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Casey’s Seeks Variance For New Molino Convenience Store At Highway 29, Highway 97
January 11, 2025
Developers of a new Casey’s Convenience Store at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino are seeking a code variance for additional signage.
We first reported the new Casey’s store plans for Molino back in November. According to an application recently filed with the Escambia County Board of Adjustment Casey’s is seeing a variance request for two pylon signs with a height of almost 33 feet and wall signs.
In their application, Casey’s noted that the existing Tom Thumb across the road has a freestanding sign that exceeds the code allowance of 10 feet.
After evaluation, county staff is recommending that the variance be approved.
“Granting of the variance will be consistent with the general intent and purpose of the Land Development Code and will not be injurious to the area or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare,” the staff wrote, finding that the signage would be reasonable when compared to similar convenience stores in the county.
Casey’s, the third largest convenience store and fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S. Casey’s Director of Communications Katie Petru told Northescambia.com. She said the timetable for opening is not yet known since the project moves forward.
Casey’s is a Fortune 500 company operating over 2,600 convenience stores. According to a July press release, Casey’s announced the acquisition of Files Wholesale, owner of CEFCO Convenience Stores, in an all-cash transaction for $1.145 billion for 198 stores.
Plans show the Casey’s in Molino to be 4,360 square feet with parking lot access from both Highway 29 southbound and Highway 97 north of the Crabtree Church Road intersection. The plans, which contain just one small low-quality image, appear to show six pumps in front of the store.
Plans were filed for a convenience store in the same location back in 2017 and 2019 by an Atmore company, but those projects were never finalized. The new store will be across Highway 97 from an existing Cumberland Farms store that is still operating under Tom Thumb branding.
The Escambia County Board of Adjustment will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex.
NorthEscambia.com photo and graphics, click to enlarge.
FWC Aims To Make Florida Boating Safer With Free DECKEE App
January 11, 2025
For years, waterway users in Florida have had to juggle multiple sources of information to plan, prepare and navigate safely to enjoy their time on the water. Understanding weather forecasts, finding local boat facilities, official warnings and notices, waterway zones, and safety equipment requirements often required using several apps, websites and publications, leading to uncertainty about where and when to go, what to do and how to fully enjoy a range of water activities safely.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced a new initiative in collaboration with the National Safe Boating Council to pilot interactive safety content through a free mobile app called DECKEE. The app is designed to keep boaters safe and informed. FWC says the DECKEE app unifies everything Florida’s water enthusiasts need for their next day on the water.
Over 1 million boat owners in Florida now have access to the following benefits and safety features in the free DECKEE app:
Plan your next adventure on the water with detailed maps, facility information, official warnings, aids to navigation and community insights.
Access personalized equipment checklists, boating forecasts, regulations and resources from the FWC to ensure you are always ready for the ideal weather window.
Automatically log your activities while on the water and share your live location to give friends and family peace of mind.
The FWC and the National Safe Boating Council will collaborate on the pilot program to seamlessly integrate safety content into the DECKEE app. This will help boaters plan, prepare and enjoy their activities on the water, and gain insight into how the campaigns are influencing overall boater behavior.
The pilot program will introduce a personalized boating forecast targeted to the user’s watercraft and plans, which will give meaning to the information and help users make sense of it.
“Our goal is to create a safer boating environment for everyone in Florida,” said Brian Rewinkel, FWC Boating Safety Education Coordinator. “This pilot program will measure the effectiveness of delivering safety information directly to boaters in an engaging and accessible manner. This initiative represents a significant step forward in our commitment to protecting our waterways and those who enjoy them.”
FWC encourages Florida boaters to explore the new safety capabilities in the free DECKEE app, available from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store