Here Are The Candidates That Qualified On Monday To Run In 2024
June 11, 2024
Candidate qualifying began at noon on Monday.
Candidates were able to bring the required paperwork to the Supervisor of Elections Office in the last two weeks, prior to the start of qualifying.
The following local candidates had qualified for the 2024 ballot in Escambia County as of close of business Monday:
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections – (Partisan)
- Robert Bender (REP)
Escambia County Tax Collector – (Partisan)
- Scott Lunsford (REP)
Escambia County Clerk of Court – (Partisan)
- Pam Childers (REP)
Escambia County Sheriff – (Partisan)
- Chip W. Simmons (REP)
Escambia County Commissioner – (Partisan)
- District 1 – Steven Stroberger (REP)
- District 1 – Jeff Bergosh (REP)
- District 4 – Ashlee Hofberger (REP)
- District 4 – Ron Helms (DEM)
- District 4 – Buck Mitchell (REP)
- District 5 – Steven Barry (REP)
Emerald Coast Utility Authority – (Partisan)
- District 1 – Vicki Campbell (REP)
- District 1 – Jim Faxlanger (REP)
- District 3 – Chase “Andy” Romagnano (DEM)
- District 3 – Larry Williams (DEM)
Escambia County School Board – (Nonpartisan)
- District 4 – Carissa Bergosh
- District 4 – Brian Ranelli
- District 5 – Thomas Harrell
- District 5 – Joshua Luther
- District 5 – Jim “Andy” Taylor
Pensacola City Council – (Nonpartisan)
- District 1 – Jennifer M. Brahier
- District 1 – Edward “Phil” Nickinson IV
- District 3 – Casey Jones
- District 7 – Delarian Wiggins
Florida Is Giving Playing Cards To Inmates To Solve Crimes. Here’s How.
June 11, 2024
Florida is launching Cold Case Cards to be distributed to prisoners across the state.
Each playing card features a photograph and information about an unsolved homicide or missing-person case. More than 5,000 decks will be distributed to Florida jails and prisons to generate new leads and insights from inmates to help solve longstanding criminal investigations.
The announcement was made Monday by Attorney General Ashley Moody, with the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Department of Corrections, at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
More than 5,000 decks of cards will be printed and distributed to more than 60 county jails overseen by Florida Sheriffs’ offices, and 145 sites overseen by FDOC. Each of the cards will tell the story of a missing person or an unsolved homicide case, as well as information about how to report an anonymous tip through **TIPS (8477). Digital versions of the cards will also be available to view online.
Other states have seen success through similar programs. In Connecticut, similar decks have helped the state solve 20 cold cases, and in South Carolina, at least eight cases were solved.
Tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a cash reward of up to $9,500. Tipsters will remain anonymous.
In February, Attorney General Moody announced the new Florida Cold Case Investigations Unit, housed within the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. The unit is already producing results, helping investigate and prosecute the suspect of the 2010 murder of a 16-year-old Alachua County boy.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Mayor, Two Council Seats Up For Election In 2024. Here’s How To Run.
June 10, 2024
Mayor and two council seats in Century will be on the ballot this year, and this is qualifying week.
The office of mayor, currently held by Luis Gomez, Jr.; council seat one, currently held by Dynette Lewis; and council seat two, currently held by Henry Cunningham are all up for election in 2024.
Salary, Qualifying Fee
The salary for mayor is $10,131.96 annually. The qualifying fee is a 1% Election Assessment of $101.32 plus a $25.00 filing fee for a total of $126.32. To qualify, a candidate must be a registered voter in the Town of Century (Predict 22.1). A mayoral candidate must have also resided in the town for at least six months prior to the date on which he qualified to run for the office of mayor.
For a council seat, a candidate must be a registered voter in the Town of Century (Precinct 22.1). The annual salary is $3,714.96. The qualifying fee is a 1% Election Assessment or $37.15 plus a $12.85 filing fee for a total of $50.
The four-year terms for the mayor and both council seats will begin on Monday, January 6, 2025.
How And When To Qualify
Candidates must qualify with the Escambia County Supervisor of elections between noon on Monday, June 10 and noon on Friday, June 14. Qualification will be at the Supervisor of Elections Office a 221 Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola. The office is open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
A SOE staff member will be in council chambers at Century Town Hall on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Election Dates
For contests with three or more candidates, there will be a primary election on August 20, 2024. The runoff, if necessary, and contests with only two candidates, will be in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Free Lunch Available All Summer For Youth At Libraries In Escambia County
June 10, 2024
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Free summer lunches for youth are back this year at West Florida Public Libraries locations.
They will be serving free lunch for youth 18 years of age and younger at all library locations Monday through Friday from noon until 1 p.m. through a partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast. Disabled individuals are 19 and older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year are also eligible to receive meals.
A special rural grab-and-go version of the program will be available at the Century and Molino library locations.
Cafeteria style lunch will be hosted at the Pensacola, Tryon, Westside, Southwest and Bellview libraries. Food at these locations must be consumed on-site.
The program will continue through Friday, August 2.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Aggies To Host Three-Day Baseball Camp
June 10, 2024
The Tate High Aggies will host a Baseball Summer Camp June 26-28.
The camp for ages 7-14 will take place each day from 8 a.m. until noon at the Tate Baseball Complex.
The camp will cover all of the fundamentals of baseball including throwing, hitting, fielding and base running. Team fundamentals will also be covered, including bunt defenses, pop up priority, cuts and relays.
Incoming ninth graders do not qualify.
The cost is $100 per child by cash or check payable to the Tate Baseball Booster Club. The Sign up form (click here) and payments are due the morning of June 26.
Driver’s License, Tag, Tax Collector Services Available Tuesday In Walnut Hill
June 10, 2024
Driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Walnut Hill on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Produce Walkoff Magic To Win Series Against M-Braves, Close Gap In Division Race
June 10, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos’ last walk-off win happened on May 9.
Sunday, of course, was June 9. A little numerology worked perfectly in their favor.
After having a 3-run lead evaporate in the eighth inning, then trailing 7-6 in the 10th, the Blue Wahoos got a pair of run-scoring singles, highlighted by Cody Morissette’s two-out, liner through the right side gap to produce a crowd-roaring 8-7 win against the Mississippi Braves, thus taking the series on four consecutive victories.
This one, however, was the biggest. It delighted a crowd of 4,444 on Military Family Sunday that featured a festive scene afterward with players and their families on the field, joined by children from the stands running the bases as part of the day’s promotion.
With the Montgomery Biscuits losing Sunday to the Biloxi Shuckers, the Blue Wahoos are now a half-game back in the first half Southern League divisional race with two weeks remaining. The Blue Wahoos will begin a road trip Tuesday against the Birmingham Barons.
“We just got to keep battling,” said Morissette, following the win and the ice bath dousing by teammates during an infield celebration. “We’re excited to try and win this first half, that’s the biggest part.”
In addition to his game-deciding hit heroics, Morissette also played a big role in the Blue Wahoos’ five-run rally in the sixth inning that changed the game.
The M-Braves led 3-1 after their starting pitcher, David Fletcher, a reinvented knuckleball thrower from his former Major League Baseball career as an infielder, kept frustrating the Blue Wahoos with his array of darting knucklers.
But after Bennett Hostetler led off that inning with a home run off a Fletcher floater, Zach Zubia followed one out later with a blast of his own to make it a tie game. Jake Thompson then doubled and Fletcher was lifted for a reliever.
With one out, Morissette’s hustle beat out a double-play that would have ended the inning. That effort was huge.
Harrison Spohn then followed with a two-run triple. Tanner Allen padded the lead with a RBI single.
Leading 6-3 with two outs in the top of the eighth, the Blue Wahoos appeared set to close out a win, just as they have in 25 of 26 previous games when leading in the eighth.
The M-Braves tied the game with a pair of home runs, the latter a two-run shot by Javier Valdes, their No. 9 hitter.
Blue Wahoos closer Austin Roberts was summoned to begin the ninth and he struck out the side. In the 10th, placement runner Keyshawn Ogans moved from second to third on a ground out. He scored on a sacrifice fly to give the M-Braves the lead.
With fans tossing a “Rally Fish” in the stands, the mojo worked on this day.
Joe Mack scored Hostetler, the placement runner, from second base with his single. Zubia walked. M-Braves reliever Rolddy Muñoz then struck out the next two batters.
But on a 2-0 pitch, Morissette made perfect contact to win the game.
“I was trying to put the ball in play,” said Morissette, in the post-game interview with Blue Wahoos broadcaster Carter Bainbridge. “Muñoz is a good pitcher. We battled all day. I was just trying to put the ball in play. It found a hole and we ended up scoring.”
Roberts (3-1) earned the win for his relief role and had a save earlier in the series. The Blue Wahoos used five pitchers, beginning with Chandler Jozwiak, who pitched two hitless innings. Jake Thompson went 3-for-5 as part of the Blue Wahoos’ 12-hit attack.
GAME NOTABLES
— After dropping the first two games of the series, the Blue Wahoos followed with four straight wins, three of those by one run, the other a 3-1 win Friday.
— The Blue Wahoos will end the first half of their schedule at home against the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Cincinnati Reds affiliate, in a series June 18-23.
— There were five different youth baseball teams from across the Northwest Florida and Baldwin County, Alabama, participating in on-field recognition and having the players run out with Blue Wahoos players during pregame introductions.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Birmingham Barons
WHERE: Regions Field, Birmingham. Alabama.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Are The Lowest Since February
June 10, 2024
Florida gas prices on average are now the lowest since February, according to AAA. The state average has steadily declined the past 17 consecutive day – dropping a total of 25 cents, during that time.
At first, gas prices gradually declined about 1-cent per day for about a week. Then discounts accelerated, dropping 19 cents in the past nine days.
Sunday’s state average was $3.30 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since February 28th.
The average in Escambia County was $3.11. In North Escambia, a low price below $3 a gallon at multiple stations in the Cantonment area. Pensacola metro prices bottomed out at $2.82 on East Nine Mile Road.
Florida’s average gas price is now 15 cents less than a week ago, 22 cents less than a month ago, and 9 cents less than this time last year.
“Floridians and summer visitors will be pleasantly surprised when they go to fill up the gas tank this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices are the lowest in several months because of weakness in the oil and gasoline futures markets.”
Century Man Arrested On Deadly Missiles Charge For Throwing Cinder Block Through Windshield
June 9, 2024
A Century man was charged after allegedly throwing a cinder block through the windshield of an occupied car.
Antonio Marcello Lett, 39 was charged with felony deadly missiles and misdemeanor criminal mischief with property damage.
During a dispute, Lett threw a cinder block through the windshield of a 2008 Dodge Avenger with someone in the front seat while it parked in front of a residence on Ivey Street, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The incident happened after the victim went to see Lett’s mother about her daughter living with them, the report continues.
Deputies did not note any injuries in their report.
The incident happened on April, and Lett was recently arrested on a warrant that was issued. He was released on a $2,000 bond.
ATV Rider Killed After Crashing Into Tree On Wallace Lake Road
June 9, 2024
A Santa Rosa County man was killed after his ATV crashed into a tree early Saturday morning.
The crash happened at about 12:30 a.m. on Wallace Lake Road near Big Sky Drive. The Florida Highway Patrol said the 45-year-old man was traveling east on Wallace Lake Road on an ATV when he veered off the road and a hit a tree. The Milton man was pronounced deceased on scene by Lifeguard EMS paramedics.
FHP is still investigating the crash.