Century Sets Special Meeting, Cancels Regular Council Meeting
October 27, 2024
The Century Town Council has set a special meeting and a CRA meeting for this week, and canceled their first meeting of November.
A special meeting is set for Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m. In a public notice, no reason for the meeting was specified. That meeting will be followed by a CRA Board meeting at 6:45 p.m.
The council sits as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board. The CRA area is 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King. Click here for a detailed map (pdf).
The town previously declared a portion of Century as “blighted” as part of the process to form the CRA.
A town council meeting that was set for Monday, November 4 has been canceled.
The council normally meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month.
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. The meeting was first rescheduled for November 6, but council members voted recently to move it to November 4, which is now canceled and not yet rescheduled.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
All West Florida Library Book Drops Closed Until After The Election
October 27, 2024
All West Florida Libraries book drops are closing until after the November 5 general election
Materials can be returned to the service desk at any WFPL library.
All WFPL book drops will reopen on November 6, according to the library system.
The Pensacola, Southwest and Bellview libraries will be early voting locations August 10-17. The main Pensacola and Bellview libraries are both early voting and election day polling locations; however, Southwest is not a regular polling place. (There is also early voting near the Molino Library in the Molino Community Center, but not in the actual library.)
Pictured: The book drop outside the Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Fall 5-2 To Birmingham Bulls (With Gallery)
October 27, 2024
The Pensacola Ice Flyers’ early season struggles continued Saturday night with the team falling to the visiting Birmingham Bulls with a 5-2 final in front of a crowd of 4,602 at the Pensacola Bay Center on Small Dog Race Night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Here’s a quick recap of how the game unfolded:
1st Period
Cameron Cook started the scoring for the Ice Flyers with an assist by Matt Wiesner at with 9:25 on the clock.
The Bulls quickly answered with a goal from Kyler Mathews, assisted by Drake Glover and Carson Rose, with 7:37 left in the 1st.
2nd Period
Carson Rose took the lead for the Bulls early in the second period with an unassisted goal with 16:59 on the clock.
Rose found the back of the net again with an assist from Nikita Koyzrev shortly after extending the Bulls lead to 3-1.
MacGregor Sinclair brought the Bulls’ lead to 4-1 with an assist from Arkhip Ledziankou with 3:03 left in the period.
3rd Period
Matt Wiesner added a boost to the Ice Flyers with a goal assisted by Tim Faulkner and Shane Bull four minutes into the period bringing the score to 2-4.
Kolten Olynek hit on an empty net with :41 seconds left in the game securing the Bulls 5-2 win.
What’s Next?
- Next Game: Friday, November 1 at Roanoke
- Next Home Game: Friday, November 8.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Military Dad Surprises Son At Beulah Academy After Long Deployment
October 26, 2024
For Luke Wilkins at the Beulah Academy of Science, it started as just another walking into class on just another Friday.
But little did he know about the surprise standing just around the corner.
Luke followed his classmates into the room and gasped when he saw his dad Jeffery Wilkins. He ran into dad’s arms for an emotional embrace.
Dad Jeffery had been deployed with the U.S. Army since January.
Pictured: Dad Jeffery Wilkins, mom Bridgett Wilkins and Luke Wilkins Friday at Beulah Academy of Science. Photos and video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Joins Escambia Sheriff Chip Simmons To Speak Against Amendment 3 (Marijuana Legalization)
October 26, 2024
In Pensacola Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke out against Amendment 3 — the Marijuana Legalization Initiative.
Desantis was joined at the press conference at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office by Sheriff Chip Simmons, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladap and other leaders to encourage voters to vote against Amendment 3.
“This deceptive amendment, written and sponsored by a handful of corporations that seek to profit by rewriting the Florida constitution, has nothing to do with freedom and everything to do with greed,” DeSantis said. “One single weed company has spent more than $100 million to pass Amendment 3.”
“They are giving themselves, the weed companies, total immunity from any civil liability,” DeSantis said during local press conference. “What does that mean? If they sell you defective weed and you have a seizure or something, can you sue them? No, there’s no exception to this.”
“You may not be interested in weed, but it’s going to be interested in you,” DeSantis added. “This will impact your life because of how this amendment is written and how it’s going to be rampantly used in public.”
Following the press conference, DeSantis provided a list of key points of “why Amendment 3 is the wrong plan for Florida”:
- No time and place restrictions on smoking marijuana—even in places like parks and beaches—where children are present. Amendment 3 would degrade our quality of life, hurt our tourism industry, and put Floridians’ health at risk.
- No way to hold Big Weed corporations accountable. The corporations that have poured $100 million into Amendment 3 made sure to include a carve-out for themselves, so they will enjoy immunity from liability if their products end up harming Floridians.
- Provides for a big weed cartel—Floridians would not be permitted to grow their own marijuana.
- And there’s no way for legislators to fix the problems that Amendment 3 would create. A constitutional amendment is not the same as legislation. Lawmakers can change and update state laws as needed, but changing the constitution is permanent. Other states that have passed similar amendments have come to regret it over time. Florida does not have to make the same mistakes as Colorado or California.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
SpaceX Crew Splashes Down Off Pensacola, Astronauts Released From Hospital
October 26, 2024
UPDATE: After an overnight stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida, the NASA astronaut was released and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Saturday. NASA said the crew member is in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 splashed down off the coast of Pensacola early Friday morning, and one remains hospitalized in Pensacola as a precaution.
After safely splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico about 2:29 a.m. a NASA astronaut experienced a medical issue. NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin were flown together to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, according to NASA.
After medical evaluation at the hospital, three of the crew members departed Pensacola and have arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The one astronaut who remains at Ascension is in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure. To protect the crew member’s medical privacy, NASA said specific details on the individual’s condition or identity will not be shared.
During its return to Earth, the SpaceX Dragon executed a normal entry and splashdown. Recovery of the crew and the spacecraft was without incident. During routine medical assessments on the recovery ship, the additional evaluation of the crew members was requested out of an abundance of caution.
‘We’re grateful to Ascension Sacred Heart for its support during this time, and we are proud of our team for its quick action to ensure the safety of our crew members,” NASA said in a statement
The Crew-8 crew members splashed down aboard their Dragon spacecraft near Pensacola to complete a 235-day mission, 232 days of which were spent aboard the International Space Station conducting scientific research.
Photos courtesy NASA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Crestview 54-30 (With Photo Gallery)
October 26, 2024
The Tate Aggies beat the Crestview Bulldogs 54-30 Friday night on Carl Madison Field in Pete Gindl Stadium.
Win the win, the Aggies improve to 7-2, matching wins for their best season since 2007 when they went 7-4. But more importantly, Friday night was a battle to keep that last spot in the playoffs for the Aggies, ranked No. 8 in the region.
For a photo gallery, click here. Look for band, cheerleaders and other bonus photos soon on NorthEscambia.com.
The Aggies scored with two touchdowns from Elijah West, two from Laquarius Bradford, one from Carson Secchiari, and two from from Christian Neptune, who is back from injury status. Quarterback Taite Davis also scored on a keeper.
“It’s a great looking scoreboard,” head coach Rhett Summerford said following the win. “Hats off to our defense. The offense kind of clicked also.”
“It was nice to get No 1. (Neptune) back so that we have both sides of the offense that we can throw to and still a strong running game,” he said about the pivotal district win.
“Tonight before the game, I simply said, hey 1-0, that’s all we’ve got to do, and they responded tonight,” the head coach said.
Summer the Aggies will do it again next week against Escambia. The Gators are riding a five-game winning streak at 7-2.
“It’s exciting to see Tate be in the district picture. I know Pace is probably number one, but, hey, we are getting there, and I’m proud of our guys.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
During Friday night’s game, an injured Crestview player was transported off the field by Escambia County EMS. An update on his condition was not available.
Picture top: Carson Secchiari scores a touchdown for the Tate Aggies Friday night against Crestview. Inset: Back from an injury, Christian Neptune goes up to catch a pass. Below: Elijah West with a catch in the endzone for a touchdown. Second below: Taite Davis on a quarterback keeper. Third below: Christian Neptune with a touchdown reception. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night High School Scoreboard
October 26, 2024
FLORIDA
- Tate 54, Crestview 30 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 41, Wewahitchka 0
- Pensacola High 28, West Florida 21
- Escambia 14, Pine Forest 13
- Pensacola Catholic 55, South Walton 6
- Washington 49, Destin 8
- Pace 35, Navarre 7
- Niceville 43, Milton 3
- Mosley 48, Gulf Breeze 7
- Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 30, Central 22
- Bye: Northview
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 21, Cottage Hill 0
- T.R. Miller 43, Bayside Academy 0
- W.S. Neal 33, Mobile Christian 12
- Hillcrest (Evergreen) 45, Escambia County (Atmore) 22
- Bessemer 2, Escambia Academy 0*
*Escambia Academy has forfeited all remaining games due to injuries.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Crestview 54-30 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
LifeFlight Makes Precautionary Landing in Cantonment After Warning Light
October 26, 2024
A warning light led to an unplanned precautionary landing in Cantonment for LifeFlight 1 on Friday.
The medical helicopter landed in the area of Neal Road and Pine Top Lane without further incident.
“Our Life Flight helicopter was responding to a transport request when the pilot observed a caution light while in flight. A precautionary landing was completed without any further incident,” Dianne Daniels, corporate communications specialist for AirMethods told NorthEscambia.com by email. AirMethods operates LifeFlight 1, which is based in Pensacola.
“A maintenance team was dispatched to inspect the aircraft and safely return it to service,” Daniels said.
Pictured: A maintenance worker with LifeFlight 1 on the ground in Cantonment Friday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
William Brown Family Of Walnut Hill Wins Escambia County Farm Family Award
October 25, 2024
The William C. Brown Family has been name the Escambia County Farm Bureau’s Farm Family Award.
Farming is the in blood of William and Jean Norris Brown, owners of a 740 acre Walnut Hill tree farm. The timber on Narrow Gap Tree Farm is primarily longleaf pines with some stands of hardwoods scattered and along the natural spring-fed branches that run through the property.
The crops produced include long range timber production, annual pine straw harvesting, and pine seed harvested during the bumper cone crop cycles. Bill developed a freezer system for storing pine seeds for up to 20 years while maintaining their viability.
Bill is always creating some remarkable invention to improve his farming equipment and processes. He intensively farms the longleaf pines by fertilization, mowing, pesticide application, pruning, and controlled burning. His farmed five-year-old longleaf pines reach heights of 15 feet compared to unfarmed five-year-old longleaf pines that not appear to be much more than grass.
Bill and Jean both graduated from Ernest Ward High School, where Bill was a football player and president of Future Farmers of America. Jean was a cheerleader, which became a vital role she has played in every aspect of their life together. Bill received a bachelor of science degree in business administration, with a minor in Economics, from the Universityof Southern Mississippi. Jean received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Florida State University.
They were married in 1963 and moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where Bill was stationed in the Navy. After Bill got out of the military, they moved to Pensacola where Bill worked for Gulf Power and Jean taught high school English. They have two children, Jennifer and Billy, and four grandsons ranging in age from sixth grade through college junior.
In 1977, Bill and Jean founded Air Design Systems, an HVAC and mechanical contracting company in Pensacola.
Bill always wanted to own some property, and in 1984 they got the opportunity to purchase their original 530 acres of timber land, known as Narrow Gap, just three miles from his parent’s homestead where he grew up.
Pictured: Escambia County Farm Bureau board member Jack Livingston presents the Farm Family Award to Bill and Jean Brown. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.