Escambia County Recognizes National Public Works Week
May 20, 2024
Escambia County is recognizing National Public Works Week May 19-24, celebrating the hardworking men and women who make up Escambia County’s Public Works Department.
Monday, the county commissioners adopted a proclamation for the week, recognizing staff for their contributions to Escambia County.
National Public Works Week is celebrated each year on the third full week of May. This year’s theme is “Advancing Quality of Life for All,” emphasizing Public Works’ role in maintaining and improving infrastructure and services that are vitally important in providing a high quality of life for Escambia County residents.
The Escambia County Public Works team works diligently every day to maintain the county’s network of roads and stormwater drainage systems, including right of way mowing, road resurfacing, street sweeping, holding pond mowing and maintenance, sidewalk maintenance, dirt road grading, tree trimming and removal, pothole patching, ditch cleaning, sign maintenance, and the repair and construction of drainage infrastructure. Public Works often responds to calls after hours and on weekends, including natural disaster events such as hurricanes and our recent severe weather.
In addition, Escambia County Public Works includes the Pensacola Beach Public Works and Fleet Maintenance Divisions. Pensacola Beach Public Works maintains the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and supports the many events that take place on the beach, such as Bands on the Beach and the Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, working countless hours to clean the beach and ensure it is free of trash and debris. The Fleet Maintenance Division assists county departments in vehicle and equipment acquisition, manages the GPS monitoring program for all departments, oversees fuel distribution for county vehicles, and is also responsible for the county’s surplus vehicle and equipment program.
“I’m excited to take this week to recognize our department,” said Public Works Director James Higdon. “Our Public Works team is a great group of folks who work hard to maintain and improve Escambia County’s infrastructure. They dedicate each day to bettering the lives of our residents, from patching potholes and trimming trees to keeping Pensacola Beach clean. We’re grateful to the board and County Administration for the recognition and support in our mission.”
Bratt Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty For Horses That Allegedly Had No Food Or Water
May 20, 2024
A Bratt woman is facing animal cruelty charges for the alleged mistreatment of horses, one of which was euthanized last year.
Lois Adams Hall, 63, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals and felony causing cruel death, pain or suffering of animals. She was released on a $15,000 bond after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail.
On September 26, 2023, Escambia County Animal Control spoke to the property owner who stated that his ex-daughter-in-law owned two of the horses and his granddaughter owned the third, according to investigative reports. The horses were being kept in a fenced yard on the back side of the property.
“The field that they’re being kept in has no grass,” the Animal Control sergeant wrote in her report. “It is nothing but dirt. Water trough is empty.”
“I expressed my concern about these horses being in the Fence line in the back of this property with no grazable land. No shelter for the animals to get under. Fence is tore up and animals have been loose recently.”
“This family was asked several times to take these horses to the Veterinarian to be checked out. They avoided doing anything to help the animals. Horse known as Ajax was euthanized on October 23, 2023 at 9:06am. Ajax was so emaciated that when he went down he could not pick his body back up. We did not want him to suffer any more so we ordered to have him Euthanized,” the report states.
On October 2, Animal Control returned to Still Road where they contacted the owner’s daughter, who was very argumentative, according to the report. The daughter claimed one horse was 40 years old, not 30.
“I don’t think the horse is near 40. I asked for the horse to be taken care of by a veterinarian. She stated that she’s told her mom to do this multiple times and her mom hasn’t done it, I explained to her that it needs to be done by this Friday or animal control will step in and remove the horse,” the sergeant wrote.
On October 10, a neighbor told Animal Control that they had been feeding and watering the horses. The sergeant called Hall, who thanked her for removing the horses. Hall’s other comments were redacted from the report.
As she awaits trial, Judge Simon has ordered that Hall cannot own, care for, or be in the custody of any animals.
Northview High Names 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
May 20, 2024
Northview has named their Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian.
They are valedictorian: Sarah Bailey (pictured left) and salutatorian Maggie Godwin.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Virginia Snyder Named County Math Teacher Of The Year
May 20, 2024
Virginia Snyder from Tate High School was named the High School Math Teacher of the Year by the Escambia County Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joint Beulah Master Plan, Frank Reeder Road Improvements Meeting Is Thursday
May 20, 2024
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and Escambia County staff will host a joint meeting to discuss the Beulah Master Plan and Frank Reeder Road improvements on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Beulah Middle School, 6001 West Nine Mile Road.
This joint meeting will showcase the Frank Reeder Road design improvements and findings from previous Beulah Master Plan public outreach efforts. Sigma Consulting Group will also present the first draft of the Beulah Master Plan. Representatives from Consor Engineers and Sigma Consulting Group will hold a question-and-answer session following the presentations, and county staff will be in attendance to answer any additional questions from residents.
The Beulah Master Plan is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the RESTORE Act program.
Three Tate Aggies Track And Field Athletes Place At State
May 20, 2024
Three Tate High School track and field athletes placed in the FHSAA 4A state championships Saturday in Jacksonville.
In women’s shot put junior Tina Lett placed third in Florida with a distance of 12.30 meters.
In men’s javelin, senior Ward O’Brien placed third in the state with 55.76 meters.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, senior Lattrell Dukes placed 10th in the state with a time of 55:58.
Pictured top: Tate High School held a send-off for Lett, O’Brien, and Dukes on Friday. Photo by Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Inch Lower Ahead Of Memorial Day Travel
May 20, 2024
Florida gas prices increased six cents early last week, but those gains were quickly erased by the weekend. Sunday’s state average of $3.45 per gallon is the same as a week ago.
“Pump prices are drifting lower as a record-setting 2.5 million Floridians prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, public relations manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, ongoing geopolitical tensions could prevent pump prices from falling below year-ago levels, during the holiday weekend.”
Florida gas prices averaged $3.41 per gallon on Memorial Day 2023. This year, nearly 2.3 million Floridians are forecast to take a road trip for Memorial Day weekend. That’s a new all-time record and nearly 106,000 more Floridians on the road than last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was at $3.25. A low of $2.93 could be found Sunday at a station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low of $3.08 was available at a station on South Highway 29 in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Campbell’s Gem Lifts Blue Wahoos To Series Finale Victory
May 20, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ended their second series of the year versus the Montgomery Biscuits with a 2-0 victory on Sunday. Despite an overall series loss for Pensacola, Sunday’s win assures that the Wahoos (22-17) begin next week with a share of first place in the Southern League’s South Division.
In a game dominated by pitching, early Pensacola offense ultimately proved to be the difference. Three straight singles by the Wahoos began the top of the second versus Montgomery starter Cole Wilcox (L, 2-2), including an RBI single from third baseman Bennett Hostetler that scored second baseman Cody Morissette.
Blue Wahoos starter Paul Campbell (W, 5-1) made the lone run stand up over the course of a dominant outing. The righthander’s fourth quality start of the year (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) stymied the Biscuits all afternoon. In the fifth inning, the Wahoos tacked on another run of support for Campbell when designated hitter Joe Mack doubled to right-center to score center fielder Jakob Marsee.
The Wahoos’ bullpen held its 2-0 lead the rest of the way thanks to work from Angel Macuare and Austin Roberts (S, 8), who entered the game to strand runners at the corners in the ninth inning. The shutout win marked the fourth time the Wahoos have blanked an opponent so far this year.
Cantonment Woman Tased After Leading Troopers On Highway 29 Chase
May 19, 2024
A chase on Highway 29 in Cantonment ended with a woman tased in the Lakes of Carrington neighborhood in Cantonment.
Sharvonta Nashia Alston, 34, was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding, felony resisting with violence, and misdemeanor offenses of DUI and driving with a suspended license. She was also cited for an open container and unlawful speed.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper noticed a four-door sedan traveling north on Highway 29, recklessly weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. Once the trooper activated his emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop, the Nissan fled, continuing northbound on Highway 29, turned on Quintette Road and then Carrington Lakes Boulevard. She pulled into a parking space in the 8500 block of Carrington Lakes.
Alston was apprehended and placed under arrest. After she was arrested, troopers said she was able to move her handcuffs to the front and become combative.
FHP said Alston began to fight with a trooper on the ground and charged toward the trooper in an aggressive manner.
Knowing the suspect driver was willing to fight plus knowing the cuffs could be used as a weapon, the trooper was forced to deploy his Taser to gain compliance,” FHP Lt. Jason King said. “Once a second trooper arrived on scene and with the suspect driver being placed in the back of a patrol car, she became combative once again, at one point aggressively placing her hands around another trooper’s neck attempting to choke them.”
Once troopers gained control, Alston was medically cleared by Escambia County EMS before being transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Alston remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Two Northview Shot Putters Place At State
May 19, 2024
Two Northview High Chiefs senior shot putters recently placed at the state level in Class 1A competition in Jacksonville.
In men’ shot put, Jacob Spence placed 13th in the state with 13.99 meters.
In women’s shot put, Amber Irby placed 11th in the state with 10.71 meters.
Pictured: (L-R) Amber Irby, coach Wanca Gafford, coach Doug Godwin and Jacob Spence. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.