Update: Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Resigns From Congress After AG Nomination
November 13, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Northwest Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general. Gaetz then resigned from Congress.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Gaetz submitted his resignation. He said that will give Gov Ron DeSantis “about an eight-week period” to fill the vacancy, or early as January 3.
Meanwhile, Trump praised Gaetz as his AG selection.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.
“Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice. Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump wrote on social media platform X. “On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law.”
“It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General,” Gaetz responded on X.
New ‘Wind Phone’ In Cantonment ‘Connects’ Grieving Families With Deceased Loved Ones
November 13, 2024
Phones have always been the way for grieving to connect with loved ones that they have lost.
Near the back of the demonstration garden at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road now sits an old rotary phone in a wooden box. It’s in a quiet space, with a bench under the trees. Just the sounds of nature and a few nearby wind chimes.
It’s known as a wind phone. It will never ring. No wires, no service, no cell signal, no Wi-Fi. It’s a rotary phone, that’s connected to nothing, except the wind.
“It is connected by love to everywhere and nowhere,” the sign inside the wooden box with an old rotary phone says. “Let the wind carry your words to them.”
Jennifer Bartok carefully dialed a number Tuesday morning, as a light misty rain fell, and occasional big drops fell from the surrounding trees. When she finishes dialing, she steps back and pauses, holding the phone cord.
“Hello Alana,” she said. She sits down on a nearby bench, next to an azalea, with a variety name that’s perhaps appropriate — Autumn Angel. There’s also an angel statue nearby.
“I miss you, and please watch over everybody that comes and uses this wind phone to connect with their loved ones,” Jennifer says to Alana, “that didn’t have a chance to say goodbye like me.”
Jennifer never had that chance to say goodbye to her 17-year-old daughter Alana. On April 10, 2022, Alana passed away in a car crash that was no fault of her own when another driver ran a redlight. Jennifer never had that chance to tell Alana goodbye.
Wind phones came to be in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that suddenly claimed nearly 20,000 people…people that loved ones were not able to tell goodbye. With a wind phone, which lost loved one is somehow there, on the other end of the line. It’s the only wind phone within hours of Pensacola. That prompted Jennifer to find a location for Cantonment’s very own wind phone.
“I could not find one within a five-hour drive,” she said. “You get to say goodbye, and the wind will carry your message to the people you never got to say goodbye to. That’s why this is being donated in my daughter’s Alana Grace’s Galloping Foundation in her honor, and hopefully it helps some people say goodbye.”
“I miss you,” Jennifer said before ending her wind phone conversation with Alana, taking a deep breath as her voice started to quiver. “Keep looking over your grandpa Ron and give him a kiss for me. darling.”
Somehow the longest of long-distance calls provides a bit of inexplicable solace. There’s no sense to call from a phone connected to nothing. But as people speak grief to the wind offers a connection that heals.
I’ll be honest; it was a little awkward for this first time using it this morning with people around, ” she said. “But I do think if I came here by myself and sat down, I’d probably be emotional, and I would feel a sense of peace and connection.”
That’s the point of whispers in the wind. If you listen, you’ll hear more than just the rustling of the trees.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Couple Wins State Agriculture Competition, $45,000 Prize
November 13, 2024
Brandt and Samantha Hendricks of Jay were recently named the state winners of the Florida Farm Bureau’s coveted Achievement in Agriculture award. The couple will advance to the national competition at the American Farm Bureau’s national convention early next year.
Brandt and Samantha are third generation farmers of Hendricks & Son Farms. They grow cotton, peanuts and hay and raise direct-to-consumer beef cattle.
“To be able to represent our fellow young farmers and ranchers is a responsibility we don’t take lightly, and we know we are truly blessed to have an opportunity to make a living from the land we care about so much,” said Brandt. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of Florida Farm Bureau and the platform they have given producers in this state. We also wouldn’t be here without the foundations previous generations have established and because of that, we would like to thank our family for their dedication to farming and giving us the opportunity to continue the legacy they have created.”
The couple will receive a $45,000 cash prize, a $500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to compete for the national title at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas in January of 2025.
The Achievement in Agriculture Award recognizes members of Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their agricultural operation’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau.
Pictured: Pictured left to right: Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith, Brandt and Samantha Hendricks, and Florida Farm Bureau Insurance President and CEO Scott Martin. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Paying $500 COVID-19 Stipend To Some Employees
November 13, 2024
The Century Town Council recently approved and a $500 stipend for some r some employees.
The council voted to approve one-time $500 stipend payments to eligible employees “in recognition of their contributions during the Town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The council authorized an expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the bonus for employees that were employed prior to May 11, 2023. Like other municipalities, Century has until the end of the year to obligate their ARPA funds and until December 31, 2026, to fully expand the funds.
Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said the employees deserved to be recognized for their efforts during COVID. He said a total 11 employees will receive the stipend payments.
NorhtEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Creating Law Enforcement Memorial Plaza
November 13, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation, is has announced the development of a Law Enforcement Memorial Plaza. This project will honor deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice and serve as a place of remembrance, healing, and connection for the community.
“Our current memorial has served us well as a solemn site of reflection,” said Sheriff Chip W. Simmons, “but we dream of something more—a memorial that doesn’t just sit apart from us, but welcomes us in. A space that invites families and neighbors to gather, to grieve, and to find peace together. The new Memorial Plaza will be open, inviting, and woven into the fabric of our community. It will stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of the deputies who protected us and the community that stands behind them.”
The memorial plaza will become a focal point in front of the main Sheriff’s Office on Leonard Street, reinforcing its symbolic importance. The ECSO said the newly designed space will offer a place where memories are shared, where grief is met with support, and where citizens can all come together–united in appreciation for those who sacrificed their lives for our safety
The partnership with the Sheriff Foundation will provide the funding and no tax dollars will be used in the construction. The Escambia County Sheriff Foundation is soliciting donations of any size, with recognition opportunities available at various levels. “The Foundation Board is deeply honored to support the creation of this Memorial Plaza,” said Foundation President Whitney C. Lucas. “This project embodies our commitment to honoring the brave heroes of the Sheriff’s Office. We believe this plaza will be a welcoming space of remembrance that invites citizens to connect with their Sheriff’s Office while focusing on the shared values that keep our community strong.”
A public groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for January 2025 with the project’s final completion slated for April of that year.
Photos and images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Details Emerge In Fatal DUI Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Cantonment Boy; Driver Released On Bond
November 13, 2024
An Alabama man charged with the DUI death of a 14-year-old Cantonment boy was released on bond Tuesday night.
Shawn Reynolds Wilber, 49, was arrested for DUI with serious bodily injury after the November 6 crash on I-10 in Escambia County that injured five other Cantonment residents. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on bond. He was arrested again Sunday and charged with both DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
After bond was set during a court hearing Tuesday, Wilber was released from the Escambia County Jail at 6:30 p.m. on a $101,500 bond. He is due back in court later this month.
A newly obtained arrest report reveals more details about the crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Wilber was driving a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup. He told troopers that he lost control of his pickup truck due to a wet roadway when he changed lanes at about 65 mph. Both vehicles rolled and came to a stop of their driver’s sides following a collision.
An investigating trooper noted the odor of alcohol on Wilber’s breath and roadside sobriety exercise were performed, indicating impairment, according to the arrest report. He was transported to West Florida Hospital for a blood sample, but the results of the test were not included in the report.
Cantonment Rotary Donates To Hurricane Relief
November 13, 2024
The Cantonment Rotary Club recently made a large hurricane relief donation to Rotary District 6940, which includes Florida to the Big Bend area.
After another hurricane caused significant damage in North Carolina, Cantonment Rotary made an additional $1,000 donation to the American Red Cross to help those in need in western North Carolina. Throughout the year, Cantonment Rotary provides contributions to various organizations that need help.
Pictured: Terri Jenkins of American Red Cross; Chris Aycock, recent board member for American Red Cross; and Bill Farinas, president of Cantonment Rotary. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Business Alliance Calls For Escambia County To Deed Part of OLF-8 For Light Industrial Use
November 12, 2024
The Business Alliance of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties is calling for Escambia County to follow the master plan for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road and deed a portion on of the property to another public entity for light industrial use.
The Business Alliance, a group of local business owners, wants the Escambia County Commission to deed light industrial acreages to the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission (PEDC), which was established by the Florida Legislature in 1989 to actively seek new industry for the area, and expansion of existing industries.
Membership of the alliance approved the following positions:
- From the beginning, the OLF-8 land swap was intended to protect a valuable community asset by preserving and supporting the operations of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, specifically its activities related to OLF-8.
- Another benefit of the land swap, from its inception, was the potential for OLF-8 to serve as an asset for economic development and growth, particularly in terms of job creation.
- Escambia County has limited land resources zoned adequately to support ongoing efforts to attract new companies (and jobs) to the area, as well as retain growing industries that require expansion space.
- To remain competitive with neighboring regions, such as Alabama and Mississippi, it is imperative that Escambia County retain public ownership over its industrial-zoned real estate inventory and further develop it to a shovel ready condition.
- Transferring the “commerce park” portion of the DPZ Master Plan to the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission (PEDC) will ensure public ownership and provide the local economic development organization with the inventory needed to achieve its objectives of recruiting and retaining businesses, thereby promoting job and economic growth for the citizens of Escambia County.
- Additionally, ownership of the “commerce park” by PEDC will lead to a more financially stable economic development effort, allowing the organization to retain tangible assets and generate future revenue from leasing various parcels throughout the park.
- While the Business Alliance supports the commissioners’ efforts to address the needs of residents near OLF-8 through the Master Development Plan—particularly the mixed-use aspects of the property—the Business Alliance believes that an independent appraiser’s current market valuation is necessary to adequately market and negotiate the sale of the mixed-use portion to private developers.
Members of the Business Alliance of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties are:
- Achieve Escambia
- Another Broken Egg
- Ascension Sacred Heart
- Baptist Health Care
- Baskerville Donovan
- Cat Country/ADX Communications
- Clear Title
- Cox Communications
- Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon
- Escambia Co. Schools Foundation
- Florida Blue
- Florida Power & Light
- Florida West EDA
- Florida’s Great Northwest
- FSU Credit Union
- Gibson & Associates
- Gilmore
- Grace Hebert Curtis Architects
- Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
- Greika Realty
- Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce
- Gulf Coast Kids House
- Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce
- Hancock Whitney
- HCA Florida West Hospital
- Institute for Human & Machine Cognition
- LandrumHR
- LIfeView Group
- MidSouth Bank
- Moorhead Law Group
- Nemours
- NW Florida Defense Coalition
- PenAir Credit Union
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
- Pensacola State College
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce
- Saltmarsh, Cleveland, & Gund, CPA
- ServisFirst Bank
- The Lewis Bear Company
- University of West Florida
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Tax Collector Marcus Pointe Office Moving To New Location; Driving Test Location Changing
November 12, 2024
The Escambia County Tax Collector Marcus Pointe Office on W Street is closing permanently at noon on November 14.
A new Brentwood office will open its doors at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19 at 5045 North Palafox Street. Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said the Brentwood office will provide the same services as the Marcus Pointe office, with significant enhancements and modernized facilities designed to improve efficiency and customer experience.
During the transition, driving skills tests will be offered at the Warrington office at 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A, from Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15 to Escambia County residents by appointment only. Driving tests will resume at the new Brentwood office on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:30 a.m. and will be available by appointment only through Wednesday, November 20. Driving tests will be offered on a walk-in basis only beginning Thursday, November 21, 2024
Appointments for this transition period may be made by visiting EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Pictured: The new Escambia County Tax Collector Brentwood office that will open on November 19. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New 332 Lot Subdivision Planned For Devine Farm Road In Cantonment
November 12, 2024
A new 332 lot subdivision is proposed for Devine Farm Road in Cantonment.
According to an application filed by Hammond Engineering, The Colonies is a proposed 332 lot single family subdivision bordered by Devin Farms Road to the north, I-10 to the south and Bristol Creek to the east. The total project area is 87 acres with density of 3.82 lots per acre.
Plans indicate the entire project would be constructed in a single phase.
The project has not yet been set for formal review by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.