Fiery I-10 Crash Claims Life Of Cantonment Man
November 5, 2024
A fiery crash on I-10 in Santa Rosa County claimed in life of a Cantonment man early Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 62-year-old was eastbound in his SUV on I-10 about 3:50 a.m. when his SUV left the roadway and struck several trees. After impact, the vehicle burst into flames.
Troopers said the man succumbed to the fire. His name has not been released.
New Convenience Store Planned For Highway 29 At Highway 97 In Molino
November 5, 2024
Plans are in the works once again for a new convenience store at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Fikes Wholesale of Texas submitted the plans to the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a Casey’s Convenience Store.
“This is associated with Casey’s, the third largest convenience store and fifth largest pizza chain in the US,” Casey’s Director of Communications Katie Petru told Northescambia.com. She said a timetable for opening is not yet known since the project is in the very early stages.
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.
The Development Review Committee will hold a pre-application meeting on the project on Wednesday, November 6.
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.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Century Cancels Council Meetings Due To General Election
November 5, 2024
The Century Town council has canceled their meetings for the first week of November due to council chambers being used as a general election voting precinct today.
The town had their first meeting for November set for November 5, but that is election day, and they won’t have access to use their council chambers since town hall is a precinct. The meeting was first rescheduled for November 6, but council members voted to move it to November 4. The council then canceled the November 4 meeting because the room will be closed after the delivery of voting equipment.
The council normally meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Their next regular meeting is set for November 19.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Bratt Elementary Students Learn About Fire Safety
November 5, 2024
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS recently spent a morning teaching Bratt Elementary School students about fire safety.
During the event, Bratt Elementary students wear able to see a fire truck, ambulance and other tools used by first responders.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate, Jim Allen, Ernest Ward, Century Inviting Veterans To Ceremonies
November 5, 2024
Several schools and organizations are inviting veterans and community members to ceremonies over the next week.
Tate High School – Nov. 5
Tate High School will hold two ceremonies on Tuesday, November 5 to honor veterans. The ceremonies will be held in the Fryman Gym at 12:45 p.m. and 1:40 p.m.
Jim Allen Elementary School – Nov 5
Jim Allen Elementary School is inviting veterans to join the school for a parade through the halls and a special presentation in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 5 at 8:15 a.m.
Ernest Ward Middle School – Nov. 7
Ernest Ward Middle School invites veterans, parents, and community members to attend a special Veterans Day assembly in the school’s gymnasium on Thursday, November 7, at 10:30 a.m. Parking for attendees will be available in front of the gym, and a reception will follow the assembly in the gym lobby.
Century Area Chamber of Commerce – Nov. 11
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Veterans Day Celebration Cookout on Monday, November 11 from 2-5 p.m. at Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard at Bradley Street.
Veterans Memorial Park – Nov. 11
The Veterans Memorial Park Foundation invites active duty military personnel, veterans, families, and all community members to attend a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 200 S. 10th Avenue in Pensacola.
SEC Soccer Quarterfinals Are Today At Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park
November 5, 2024
The SEC Soccer Tournament continues today with quarterfinal action at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park off 10 Mile Road.
Today’s games are:
- No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Georgia, 11:30 a.m.
- No. 3 Texas vs. No. 11 LSU, 2 p.m.
- No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, 4:30 p.m.
- No. 4 South Carolina vs. No. 12 Alabama 7 p.m.
Winner advance to the semifinals Thursday at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are now one sale at pensacolasports.org. All-tournament passes are $45. Individual session tickets for the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $12 for adults and $7 for students/military. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 10, are $17 for adults and $12 for students/military. Taxes and service fees are included in the listed ticket prices. Kids 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult on Sunday, Nov. 3 and on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event. Admission is free for children 5 and under at all games.
For a photo gallery LSU vs. Auburn, click here.
Pictured: The LSA Tigers defeated Auburn 2-1 Sunday afternoon in the SEC Soccer Tournament. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Deputies Seek Five Points Carjacking Victim; Suspect Arrested
November 5, 2024
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to identify the victim of an attempted carjacking Monday night at the Five Points intersection in Pace.
The incident happened about 8:40 p.m. at the Circle K located at 5661 Quintette Road. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a reported two-vehicle collision with injuries. Dispatchers learned that one of the occupants has exited their vehicle and was walking around armed with a tire iron. Deputies arrived and advised suspect to drop the object, but he ignored them and fled on foot to the Circle K.
Deputies said the suspect, later identified as 50-year-old Brian Joseph Stacken, tried and failed to enter an unoccupied car before he tried to jump through the passenger window of a moving vehicle.
“Due to the suspect being armed, the victim was instructed to drive away to prevent the suspect from entering,” SRSO Public Information Officer Christi Cole said. “Due to the suspect resisting arrest Deputies deployed non-lethal use of force and took him into custody.” Stacken was transported to Santa Rosa Media Center for evaluation before being booked into the Santa Rosa County Detention Center without bond.
Stacken (pictured) was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on specified personnel, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed burglary and resisting arrest with violence.
Santa Rosa deputies are seeking to locate the carjacking victim to assist in the investigation for further potential felony charges against Stacken.
The victim’s vehicle was described as a black or dark blue 2015-16 Volkswagen Jetta with a light colored or white graphic on the rear right passenger window and a similar graphic around the fuel door.
Most CSX Crossings In Escambia County To Close Sometime During The Coming Weeks
November 4, 2024
Most CSX railroad crossings throughout Escambia County will be closed at some point over the coming weeks while crews perform maintenance. The closures are set to begin today.
Each railroad crossing will be closed for approximately 24-72 hours depending on the required work. Maintenance is expected to be completed in December 2024.
Roads will be temporarily closed at different times throughout the closure period depending on the maintenance schedule. Traffic will be detoured during this time. A schedule has not been released.
(Article continues below maps, click to enlarge.)
North Escambia County railroad crossing closures include: Cotton Lake Road; Private crossing north of Cotton Lake Road; East Bogia Road; Mystic Springs Road; Private crossing north of Mystic Springs Road; Courtney Road; Bluff Springs Road; Private crossing north of Bluff Springs Road; Salters Lake Road; Jefferson Avenue; East Pond Street; Front Street; Hecker Street; East Highway 4; McCurdy Street; and East Cottage Street.
South Escambia County railroad crossing closures include: East Cross Street; St. John Street; Airport Boulevard; Hancock Lane; East Oakfield Road; East Olive Road; Johnson Avenue; East Ensley Street; East Nine Mile Road; East Ten Mile Road; East Roberts Road; East Kingsfield Road; Old Chemstrand Road; Archer Road; El Camino Drive; Countri Lane; Woodbury Circle; Becks Lane Road; and Eden Lane.
Pictured top and bottom: The railroad crossing was closed on North Barth Road in February 202. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
What’s That Mystery Molino Crop With The Yellow Flowers?
November 4, 2024
We received a lot of emails over the past few days asking about the unique yellow-flowering crop planted at Highway 29 and Highway 97 behind the Tom Thumb in Molino.
The plant is called Sunn Hemp (that’s Crotalaria juncea L for the scientific types).
It is a semi-tropical plant that is grown as a cover crop in the southeast. It’s a legume, growing in a variety of locations and returning nitrogen to the soil. It can also be used as a biomass to produce biofuels.
According to the USDA, sunn hemp can produce over 5,000 pounds of biomass and 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre. It can produce this amount within 60 to 90 days, so it has the potential to build organic matter levels and sequester carbon in the soil. It is known to suppress nematodes.
Pictured: Sun hemp Sunday afternoon at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
Century’s Mayor Asking Voters To Approve Charter Changes
November 4, 2024
Voters in the town limits of Century are considering three amendments to the town charter when they vote in the general election, and the mayor is asking residents to vote for each of them.
“I’m asking all residents and voters to support the three questions on the ballot,” Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said recently. “This is about securing a strong future for Century, and every vote counts in shaping what is next for our town.”
What’s a charter?
The Century town charter is the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers, and spells out how it should operate. The charter has not been updated in over 40 years, and that often creates problems in the operation of the town. (Pictured left: The first portion of the original 1979 Century town charter, which created the Town of Century, Florida from the Town of South Flomaton, Florida. Click to enlarge.)
One of the big problems for the town has been a spending limit for the mayor of under $200 without council approval. And over recent years, there has been a lot of tension and even a stalemate between the mayor and council over hiring employees. The mayor can’t hire employees without council approval, even down the lowest level employee.
Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., by his own admission, violated the town charter last month by exceeding his spending limit by $161,590. And he says it saved the town a nearly $200,000. Gomez informed the council after-the-fact- that he approved an insurance proposal for $161,790 without council approval to avoid a $134.883 increase in premiums and choosing a cheaper policy to save $190,173. The town has yet to completely fulfill a public records request related to the insurance issue to verify the mayor’s claims.
The charter has other issues with outdated provisions not following changes in current state law.
How did the recommended changes come about?
In recent years, the town sat a charter review committee to create a new draft charter, and the town council set about reviewing those changes. There were several snafus along the way, from the pandemic to wrong documents, which delayed the process.
The volunteer charter review committee spent about three years creating a draft of a completely new charter from beginning to end. The town attorney submitted another draft build around a town manager and no mayor, but the council later shelved that version.
Now, the town has scrapped the full charter review committee recommendations made by the local citizens’ committee, instead opting for three changes of their own, but not a complete re-write.
Early this year, the town placed the three charter amendments on the ballot, without ever formally approving them. That caused the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office to become involved and force the town to give final approval before the SOE finalized ballots. (Pictured left: The original signature page from the 1979 Century town charter.)
The town council voted to approve the three questions for the ballot at their July 2 meeting; the approval came as three ordinances. That was step one, but ordinances require a second reading and a final vote to become official.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Robert Bender said the town had been given a deadline of the week of the August 20 primary to submit the ballot items for the November election.
The town had a regular meeting scheduled for August 20, but they rescheduled the meeting and two workshops because the council chambers were being used for primary voting under an agreement with Bender’s office. The meeting was rescheduled for the following day, August 21. The charter ballot ordinances were on the agenda for that night, but the vote was deliberately delayed until September 17 –after the SOE deadline — at the request of Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr.
“Madame president, I would like to have those three items tabled until September 17,” Gomes said at the meeting with no explanation. He did not tell the council about the deadline imposed by Bender’s office, nor did he disclose to the council that the charter changes had been submitted for the ballot two days prior.
Without any discussion, the town council unanimously approved the mayor’s request with no further explanation about the ballot items.
This week, the town did not respond to a NorthEscambia.com request for more information on the charter ballot questions, or interviews.
What are the items on the ballot?
Here are the items appearing on the ballot for voters that live inside the Century town limits. The exact wording is available in the sample ballot pictured left (click to enlarge).
Question 1:
TOWN CHARTER AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR TOWN PURCHASING TO BE GOVERNED BY COUNCIL-APPROVED PURCHASING POLICIES
Amending the Town of Century Charter to remove specific bidding, contracting, purchasing, and expenditure requirements and procedures from the Charter, and provide that Town bidding, contracting, purchasing, and expenditures will be governed by Town ordinances, policies, and procedures adopted by the Town Council. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted? [Click for pdf.]
The first amendment to the town charter would allow town purchasing to be governed by purchasing policies approved by the council.
Currently, the charter requires the town to receive bids and award contracts for expenditures of $500 or more. The mayor can also approve expenditures of up to $200. The mayor has a limit of $500 in an emergency situation, and most notify the town council president immediately. There is no current charter provision that allows the mayor to spend more than $500 under any circumstances without council approval.
If the amendment is approved, the current requirement to receive bids and the mayor’s spending limit will be removed from the charter. Instead, the town council will be able to set purchasing guidelines and limits, making whatever changes at any point they see fit.
Question 2:
TOWN CHARTER AMENDMENT CONCERNING MAYOR’S EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY
Amending the Town of Century Charter to expand the Mayor’s powers to select, appoint, suspend, and remove town employees and appointive administrative officers, by limiting the requirement for Council approval of such actions solely to the selection, appointment, suspension, or removal of the Town Clerk, Town Attorney, and Town Manager. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted? [Click for pdf.]
The second amendment to the town charter would allow the mayor to hire, and fire, employees at will. The mayor would only need the council’s approval to hire, or fire, a town clerk, town attorney, and town manager.
Currently, the charter requires the mayor to recommend and seek the town council’s approval to appoint or remove any town employee. Without council approval, the mayor cannot hire, terminate, or suspend any employee.
Question 3:
TOWN CHARTER CLEANUP AMENDMENT
Amending the Town of Century Charter to correct scriveners and codification errors, and to conform charter provisions to the requirements of the Florida Election Code. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted? [Click for pdf.]
The third proposed amendment will amend the charter “to correct scrivener and codification errors” and confirm charter provisions to Florida Election Code.
Scrivener’s errors, by common definitions, are typographical errors, misspellings, omitted words or other common errors–essentially typos.
While the mayor and council members are currently elected for four year terms, charted language that states two years terms would be changed to reflect four years terms of office. Language requiring that voters register and qualify with the town clerk would also be removed, as voter registration is now handled by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections. A requirement that voters reside in town limits “on election day” would be removed, as would requirements that the town clerk keep registration books.
A current provision as outline for allowing charter changes by voters would be replaced to conform to wording in Florida Statutes.
Otherwise, the town has not specified what would be changed in the charter as “scrivener and codification errors”, nor have they specified who will have the authority to make changes, if any, in the future.
NorthEscambia.com photo and images, click to enlarge.