Fire Destroys Large Shed At Funeral Home In Century
October 4, 2023
Fire destroyed a large shed behind a Century funeral home late Wednesday morning.
The fully involved fire behind the Jackson-McMurray Funeral Home on West Hecker Road was reported just before 11:30 a.m. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the structure fire and a small brush fire.
There were no injuries reported.
The 24×24 shed fire was reportedly sparked by a small outside fire that spread to the building. The main funeral home building was not involved.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and the Jay Fire Department were among those initially dispatched to the fire. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com show the blaze before firefighters arrived on scene, click to enlarge.
Century Inks $1.257 Million Grant Agreement To Replace Freedom Road Bridge
October 4, 2023
We now have a timetable for the replacement of the failed Freedom Road Bridge in Century that has been closed for nearly four years.
And it may be nearly another three years before the first traffic crosses the bridge.
The 2023-24 Florida budget included $1,257,000 Legislative appropriation to replace a town-owned bridge on Freedom Road. Tuesday night, the Century Town Council voted to execute the funding agreement with the state.
A timetable calls for 30% of the design plans to be done by mid-January 2024 with the design mostly complete and ready for bids by May 2024. There are 273 days allocated for permitting. As of now, it’s expected construction will begin by May 2025.
The anticipated completion date is currently in June 2026.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured left and below).
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
According to the Legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.
It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying with no matching funds required from the town.
Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gilmores Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
October 4, 2023
The Gilmore family has been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the Year.
The award was presented to Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore along with Jacob and Carla Gilmore at the recent Escambia County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Molino Park Elementary School.
Debbie gifted Ronnie with their first heifer in 1992 and has grown to about 120 momma cows in the herd since then. They have served on various boards from Florida Cattlemen’s Association to Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association. They have both retired from the family business and now enjoy traveling with their twin granddaughters and their horses to shows.
Jacob has been involved in the family cattle operation since it began in 1992. Jacob was very active in both 4-H and FFA. Along the way, he met Carla, and they married in 2005. That began their journey into agriculture.
Together they represented Escambia County through the Young Farmers and Ranchers leadership program with Florida Farm Bureau. Carla has served on the 4-H Foundation board and numerous other committees. Jacob is currently serving as vice president of purchasing and finance for Gilmores and is currently on the board of directors for Farm Credit. He is active with the 4-H Foundation.
Jacob and Carla are the proud parents of twin girls Ella and Sydney. The twins are both active in 4-H and are very involved with horse shows and work on the farm.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ESCO: Sex Offender Failed To Register For Five Years
October 4, 2023
An Escambia County sex offender was arrested after failing to register in the last five years.
Lonnie Paul Rowland, 68, was charged with seven felony sex offender violations for failing to register as required and with a probation violation in a 2017 failure to register case. .
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Rowland was required to register twice per year with the Florida Sex Offender Database, but the last time he did was in November 2018. Deputies said he missed seven required registration dates.
Rowland was convicted of sexual battery in Indiana in 2013 and first registered in Florida in December 2017.
Northview Chiefs Sweep The Hoboes On Senior Night (With Photo Gallery)
October 4, 2023
Northview High School volleyball honored their seniors Tuesday night and swept three straight from the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes.
The Chiefs defeated Laurel Hill 25-16, 25-16, 25-23.
Before the match, the Lady Chiefs recognized seniors Bailee Wiley, Kendal Beasley and Kayleigh Jay, along with manager Ja`Niya Hooks.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for extra senior night photos at the end of the gallery.)
The Northview Chiefs (11-4, 2-3) will finish the regular season on the road in a district game at Central (6-11, 4-1) next Thursday at 5 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Oct. 13 Northview Homecoming Parade
October 4, 2023
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will take place Friday, October 13.
For free entry to participate in the parade, click here for an entry form and release (pdf). Registrations are due by Friday, October 6.
The parade will line up at noon and roll at 12:30 p.m. from Northview High School. It will travel east on Highway 4 before turning on Bratt Road by the Travis Nelson Park, around the park to Ashcraft Road to Highway 99, travel north past Bratt Elementary School, turn back onto Highway 4 and end at Northview. (Note that Ashcraft Road has a very narrow shoulder with no place to park.)
Some changes to this years parade schedule:
- Only parade participants will be allowed to enter Northview’s campus
- Students will return to 7th Period Following the parade festivities.
- Parents picking up parade participants from NWE, Ernest Ward, or other youth organizations outside of Northview may park behind the baseball field to retrieve the child.
- No one but parade floats should be entering through the bus loop at the end of the parade.
- Parade floats that park on campus will not be allowed to leave till after the buses leave.
Pictured: The 2022 Northview High School homecoming parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
$810K FEMA Drainage Project Planned For McElhaney Road in Bratt
October 3, 2023
Escambia County is set to soon begin a Hurricane Sally FEMA project to improve drainage structures on McElhaney Road just south of the state line in Bratt.
The $810,715.45 project will replace the drainage structures at 7200 and 8000 McElhaney Road. FEMA will fund $770,179.68 (95%) of the cost, while Escambia County will be responsible for $40,535.77 (5%).
The work includes clearing of all hurricane debris, removing damaged existing culvert pipes and riprap, installing a new pipe/box culvert, restabilizing and reconstructing the roadway pavement, and replacing riprap within the ditch bottom. Minor ditch regrading, resetting existing fence, and installing concrete ditch pavement will be required.
The project is anticipated to start in October and take about 180 days to complete.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
October 3, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School has named their September Students of the Month.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Haven Lambeth and Jani’la Durant
- 1st Grade: Ava Culliver and Emma Cash
- 2nd Grade: Kipton Little and Sieanna Lambeth
- 3rd Grade: Evin Levins and Jonah Levins
- 4th Grade: Jonah Coleman and Connor Levins
- 5th Grade: Kallie Ikner and Kinsley McKinnon
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Sweep FWB On Senior Night (With Photo Gallery)
October 3, 2023
Tate High School volleyball honored their seniors Monday night and swept three straight from the visiting Fort Walton Beach Vikings.
The Lady Aggies easily defeated FWB 25-7, 25-2, 25-12.
Before the match, the Lady Aggies recognized seniors Chloe Biggs, Lauren Durham, Payton Garrett, Alyssa Moodie, Riley Robbins and manager Caroline Armstrong.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for extra senior night photos at the end of the gallery.)
On Tuesday, the Lady Aggies (15-6) will visit Pensacola Catholic (4-16) at 6:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
IT ‘Security Event’ Impacting Circuit Courts For ‘Extended Period’
October 3, 2023
An “information technology security event” has impacted courts in the First Judicial Circuit.
Trial Court Administrator Kasey Watson said the “event will significantly affect court operations across the Circuit, impacting courts in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties, for an extended period”. In addition, email and phone service may be disrupted.
The court system is prioritizing and conducting essential court proceedings but may cancel and reschedule other proceedings and pause related operations for several days. Judges in the four countie will contact litigants and attorneys regarding any hearings scheduled to be held this week.
All court facilities remained open.
The incident is under investigation.