Cantonment Company Honored For Employing Veterans
July 14, 2023
The Florida Department of the American Legion has presented their annual Employer of Veterans award to ESA South (ESA), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Cantonment.
The award recognizes companies that have shown a demonstrated commitment to employ veterans.
According to ESA, nearly one-third of their employees are veterans, and nearly 40% of their hires this year have served in the armed forces.
“This company is maintaining its growth momentum by actively hiring and retaining a cadre of military veterans and in doing so maintains its cutting-edge competitiveness.” said retired Navy commander Brian K. Harris, PE, ESA’s director of contract compliance,. “In addition to the company’s active employment of veterans and its VA project support, ESA enjoys giving back to the community by generously supporting charitable organizations such the Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Health and Hope Clinic, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Pace Center for Girls, Habitat for Humanity, Wreaths Across America, The American Legion, and the Society of American Military Engineers.”
Founded in 1999, ESA has a nationwide workforce and offices in California, Washington, Missouri, Texas, and Florida. Primarily focused on vertical construction, disaster response and recovery, and demolition and abatement of hazardous materials-ESA has worked extensively throughout the country completing numerous with a contract value up to $50 million dollars for various federal agencies and private sector clients.
ESA is located on Success Drive in the Central Commerce Park.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
“It’s The Little Details” – Century Amends Council Meeting Notices
July 14, 2023
Update: The Town of Century amended their amended council meeting notice following the publication of this story to include a large “2023″ above the list.
It’s the little details — the Town of Century on Thursday emailed an updated public notice for this year’s town council meetings, eight days after a meeting has halted due to an improper public notice.
NorthEscambia.com questioned the meeting public notice or the July 5 meeting posted by the town because it lacked a meeting time. We had documented that meeting times had not been noticed for six months. Florida’s attorney general says every meeting, each and every one, must be noticed with date, time and place.
The meeting schedule public notice email Thursday by Town Clerk Leslie Howington noted the meeting month and day and added times. One detail, the year, was removed from the new notice.
A quote below Howington’s email signature from UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden stated, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
Pictured: A public notice outside the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambiac.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Free Dog And Cat Adoptions At The Escambia Animal Shelter
July 14, 2023
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation “Empty the Shelters” event through July 31.
Adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be free. Puppies will be available for $50 and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents.
“We are proud to participate with Bissell for the first time for their ‘Empty the Shelters’ event,” said John Robinson, Director for the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. “This will provide opportunities for all of our great dogs and cats to find their new families this summer. Adopting a pet not only gives our homeless animals a second chance, but also creates space that will allow our organization to help many other animals in need of temporary housing. We have a large number of animals available for adoption that will make a great addition to your family.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m
Northview Chiefs Hosting Youth Football Camp Next Week
July 14, 2023
The Northview Chiefs will hold a Youth Football camp July 20-21 at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
Attendees will learn proper techniques, formations and plays, blocking and safe tackling techniques and more from Northview players and coaching staff. The camp is for children ages 6-14 and will take place from 5-7 p.m.
Pre-registration is $50 using the NHS Quarterback Club Venmo (put “youth camp” as the reason when paying). Day of registration is $60 day with cash or check payable to Northview High School. Registration includes a t-shirt.
For more information, email head coach Wes Summerford at wsummerford@ecsdfl.us.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Planning Board Denies Sector Opt-Outs, Rezoning Requests Withdrawn For Huge Molino Development
July 13, 2023
The developer of a huge planned mixed-use community in Molino withdrew all of their rezoning requests Thursday after the Escambia County Planning Board denied all of their sector plan opt-out requests.
The Woodland Park development, once completed, would have had thousands of homes and nearly 100 acres of commercial development in a 1,500 acre area to the south and west of Highway 196 and Highway 29.
Dozens of residents packed the six-plus hour meeting to speak out against the development and their belief that was absolutely incompatible with the surrounding rural community as it would have tripled the Molino area’s population.
The planning board’s denial of Escambia County Sector Plan opt-outs is not final; it’s just a recommendation that will go to the Escambia County Commission at an upcoming meeting.
Since the rezoning requests were withdrawn from the planning board, the county commission will not consider them.
Exit 3 Investments, LLC will be able to return to the planning board, if they so choose, with future rezoning requests on the parcels.
NorthEscambia.com will have continuing coverage in additional upcoming stories.
Pictured: A packed Escambia County Planning Board meeting Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com image.
Father And Son Both Charged With Multiple Child Porn Counts
July 13, 2023
A father and son have been arrested in Escambia County on child porn charges.
Christopher Curtis Luckie, 56, and Ethan Christopher Luckie, 23, were each charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography.
The Pensacola Police Department said a search warrant was executed Wednesday at 6450 Guilford Drive following a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
A USB thumb located in Christopher Luckie’s room and a laptop belonging to Ethan Christopher Luckie were seized and each contained 30 videos or images of child porn, according to a police report. Authorities said the files depicted child porn, sexual battery involving a child, sadomasochistic abuse of a child, and victims under the age of five.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $450,000 each.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted Pensacola Police with the investigation.
Century Awarded $12.8 Million In Grants For Shelter And Multi-Purpose Building, Bridges Repair
July 13, 2023
Just over $12.8 million in grants were awarded to Century on Wednesday for a shelter and to repair three bridges through the Florida Department of Commerce’s Rebuild Florida program for Hurricane Sally impacts.
The $12,877,137 in grant funds will be used to demolish the old Century High School gym on Hecker Road and build a shelter that can also be used as a multi-purpose facility and to make drainage and road improvements at Jefferson Avenue, Freedom Road Bridge and Alger Road Bridge, which were damaged during Hurricane Sally.
There is no timetable yet as to when work will begin.
Gym/Hurricane Shelter
A $10 million grant to turn the old Century High School gym property into a multipurpose facility that could also serve as a hurricane or other disaster shelter. The town does not own the old gym, which was constructed in 1960; it belongs to Pensacola State College.
Town consultant Robin Phillips, who is managing the grant submissions, said the gym is laden with asbestos and lead. It has been essentially abandoned for years, and is in poor condition. For those reasons, Phillips said an architect recommended that the building be demolished and rebuilt.
The town plans to accept the state funds only if PSC will transfer ownership to the town.
Bridge Repairs
A separate $2,862,137 grant to replace a failed bridge on Freedom Road that has been closed for three years, and make drainage improvements to bridges on Jefferson Avenue and Alger Road that suffered embankment erosion during Hurricane Sally.
The state budget recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis already included an additional $1.257 million for the Freedom Road bridge.
The bridge and drainage grant will not be impacted if the town does not move forward with the gym project.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Multiple Thefts From Nine Mile Lowe’s
July 13, 2023
An Atmore man is facing felony charges after allegedly being caught on video stealing from the Lowe’s on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
Jared Thomas Dean, 32, was charged with two felony counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petit theft.
The alleged thefts occurred on three occasions in May and June with merchandise valued at $5,525.20 reported stolen.
An organized retail crime investigator for Lowe’s contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and alleged Dean was responsible for a “large number” for retailed thefts from several stores, with three of the thefts in Escambia County, Florida, a report states.
Lowe’s alleged that an individual, later identified by authorities as Dean, would simply walk out of stores with merchandise including power tools, batteries, pipe and other items, the ECSO said. Lowes provided photographs and video to ECSO investigators.
A local Lowe’s loss prevention officer selected Dean a from a photo lineup, deputies said.
Dean remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $9,000.
Mark Your Calendars For Upcoming School Orientations
July 13, 2023
Mark your calendars; here is the schedule of upcoming orientations for public schools in Escambia County.
July 28 — 9 a.m. — Washington High 9th Grade
August 3 — 9 a.m. — Pensacola High 9th Grade
August 4 — 9 a.m. — Escambia High 9th Grade
August 4 — 9 a.m. — Tate High 9th Grade
August 5 — 9:30 a.m. — Pine Forest High 9th Grade
August 5 — 9:30 a.m. — West Florida High 9th Grade
August 7 — 9-11 a.m. – All Elementary Schools
August 7 — 1 pm — Bailey Middle, Brown Barge Middle, Workman Middle
August 8 — 9:30 a.m. — Beulah Middle, Ernest Ward Middle
August 8 — 1 pm — Ransom Middle
August 3 — 1 pm — Ferry Pass Middle
August 8 — 1:30 pm — Northview High
August 9 — 1 pm — Bellview Middle
Tate Aggies Holding Youth Football Camp July 26-27
July 13, 2023
The Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp will be held July 26-27.
The camp is for incoming first through eighth grades and will be held from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $50 per player, including a t-shirt.
To register, complete this form and bring payment on the first day of camp.