The Peanut Butter Challenge Is Underway. Here’s How You Can Help.
October 2, 2021
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is officially underway in Escambia County help families in need, and along the way promote peanuts.
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia held its inaugural Peanut Butter Challenge kickoff event Friday. Extension faculty and staff joined to cheer on this year’s Peanut Butter Challenge Ambassador, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, as his daughter deposited the challenge’s first jar of peanut butter.
The Peanut Butter Challenge, UF/IFAS Extension’s annual jar collection for local food pantries, first launched in the Florida Panhandle in 2012. It has since launched statewide, giving counties the chance to compete for most jars of peanut butter donated. The challenge serves a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays and also promotes peanuts grown in Florida.
Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated at the following locations through November 24:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 7979 North Ninth Avenue
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Pensacola City Hall, 222 West Main Street,
- Holy Spirit Catholic, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway
- Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13360 Innerarity Point Road,
- Pensacola Beach Visitors Information, 7 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach
It’s an honor to be a part of this inaugural event,” said Barry. “I’m proud to be a part of a community that comes together to help those in need before the holidays. Additionally, it’s a great opportunity to highlight the importance of the peanut in the state of Florida. Not many people know that the peanut contributed $119 million to the state’s economy in 2019. In fact, it’s a major crop grown here in Northwest Florida. And, in turn, food insecurity affected around one in 10 Floridians last year. It’s very inspiring to see our residents help fight hunger right here in our community.”
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
In the 2020 Peanut Butter Challenge, the first year the event was conducted statewide, participating UF/IFAS Extension county offices received over 27,000 total pounds of peanut butter.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nevaeh Brown Named Northview High School Homecoming Queen (With Photo Gallery)
October 2, 2021
Nevaeh Brown was named Northview High School’s 2021 homecoming queen Friday night.
Pictured below are Sophomore Maid Ty’Deasia McKenzie, First Runner-up Anna Adams, Queen Nevaeh Brown, Second Runner-up Kaitlin Gafford, Junior Maid Emma Gilmore, and Freshman Maid Payton Daw. Pictured above is Queen Nevaeh Brown being crowned by 2020 Homecoming Queen Heather Knowles.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Gets 54-13 Homecoming Win Over Jay; Jefferson And Bridges With Seven Touchdowns (With Photo Gallery)
October 2, 2021
The Northview Chiefs celebrated Homecoming 2021 with a big 54-13 win over the Jay Royals Friday night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
On the second play of the game, quarterback Kaden Odom found Jamarkus Jefferson for a 62-yard touchdown run, his first of four for the night. On the next possession a misguided toss from Jay quarterback Cason Burkett was intercepted by sophomore Luke Bridges, who had three total touchdowns Friday night.
About 3.5 minutes in the game, and the Chiefs were on top 13-0.
Northview linebacker Jaquez Moorer returned a Jay fumble for another touchdown, and Odom found Bridges for a 12-yard score. Northview was up 27-0 by the end of the first quarter before going on to score another 27 in the second quarter.
Grayson Shehan had two TDs for the Royals, one in the second and one as time expired.
The Northview Chiefs are off next week, while Jay will travel to Baker.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: Escambia Reports 570 New COVID-19 Cases
October 2, 2021
There were 570 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals reported a combined 119 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 52,736 (+570)
Positivity rate last week: 11.9%
Current total hospitalizations: 117
Over age 18 and over hospitalizations: 115
Under age 18 hospitalized: 2
Total deaths reported last 7 days: 85 (CDC data)
Escambia County Vaccinations
People vaccinated: 149,880 (+747)
Total Population of Escambia County Partially Vaccinated: 53.9%
Total Population of Escambia County Fully Vaccinated: 45.%
*These numbers are the percent of total Escambia County population vaccinated. Not the percentage of hospitalized individuals.
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 31,805 (+360)
Positivity rate last week: 10.9%
People vaccinated: 87,369 (+436)
Partial vaccination rate (age 12+): 54%
Total deaths last 7 days: 22 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,5576,571 (+37,772)
Case positivity rate: 6.5%
Deaths: 55,299 (+233)
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate The number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities is no longer provided by FDOH.
Good Grilling: Escambia 4-H Members Place At State Tailgating Contest
October 2, 2021
Five Escambia County 4-H members placed at the state 4-H tailgating contest at the University of Florida.
The winners from Escambia County 4-H were:
- Aubrie Dillon — first place, shrimp
- Taylor Anderson — third place, pork
- Kailee Dunlap — first place, pork
- Madelyn Goss — second place, beef
- Tucker Padgett — first place, beef
The top two individuals in each protein category earned college scholarship money — $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place. Each participant from Escambia County placed in the competition, earning a total of $5,500 in college scholarships.
Participants created table displays to show off their recipes and were judged on their grilling abilities. In addition, their knowledge was put to the test with questions from judges on food and fire safety as well as meat selections.
“4-H helps our youth gain the knowledge and skills they need for their future,” said UF/IFAS Extension Escambia Director Nick Simmons. “Whether they are interested in science, technology, food or public speaking, we have projects that will benefit everyone and help them give back to their community. The tailgating contest allowed them to think outside the box, but also taught them important food and fire safety rules. All Escambia County participants have learned so much from this competition and have taken home new skills to share with their families.”
Photos: Northview High School Homecoming Parade
October 2, 2021
A large crowd line Highway 4 Friday afternoon in Bratt for the annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade.
For a photo gallery, click to tap here. (Make sure to share and tag!)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
October 2, 2021
FLORIDA
- Northview 54, Jay 13 [Details, photo gallery]
- Pace 37, Tate 0
- West Florida 47, Godby 28
- Washington 25, Milton 22
- Pensacola High 35, Arnold 21
- Pensacola Catholic 10, Mobile Christian 8
- Gulf Breeze (bye week)
- Navarre (bye week)
- Pine Forest 22, Escambia 20 (Thursday)
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 22, Chipley (FL) 7
- Vigor 46, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- Bayside Academy 28, Flomaton 21
- T.R. Miller 39, Excel 0
- St. Michael Catholic 42, W.S. Neal 6
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Dies After Crashing Into Roundabout Just Off Nine Mile Road
October 1, 2021
An Escambia County man died after he crashed into a roundabout just south of Nine Mile Road Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 39-year old man was traveling south on Bowman Avenue about 8:30 p.m. and failed to navigate around a small raised roundabout in the center of the roadway at Kayzan Street. His white pickup truck collided with a tree located in the roundabout.
The man was transported to Sacred Heart ER on Nine Mile Road where he was pronounced deceased. FHP said he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Arrested, One Still Wanted For Ladarius Clardy Murder
October 1, 2021
Two people have been arrested and a second person is wanted for the murder of football standout Ladarius Clardy, and Sheriff Chip Simmons says he was not the intended target.
Amos Dehontiguan Snowden Jr. and his brother Da’Quavion Snowden, Jr. are both charged with first degree principal to murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Authorities are still searching for Kobie Lashun Jenkins, Jr. on charges including first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
“I will tell you that it appears they thought they were attacking, cowardly attacking, someone else,” Simmons said. The sheriff said it is very likely that there will be more arrests in the case at the investigation continues.
“This was an intentional attack, an intentional attempt to kill,” he said. “The only way I can truly describe them is that they are killers…the motive is they through they were shooting someone else. It’s as simple as that.”
Clardy, a former standout Pine Forest High School quarterback, was shot and found dead in a vehicle crash. His vehicle was found with over 50 bullet holes in a ravine at Hollywood Avenue and Fairfield Drive about 1 a.m. on July 1.
Anyone with information on Jenkins’ whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, or 911.
The arrests were announce during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office press conference Thursday night.
Century Losing Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather
October 1, 2021
Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather has notified Century that he is leaving when his contract ends December 1.
“I will not be requesting a renewal or extension to the contract, as I have decided to fully retire,” Prather wrote in an email to the council and mayor. “It has been a privilege to serve with the Mayor and Council, these last two (2) years, and I wish continued success for the Town.”
Prather is paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week ($62,400 yearly). He has complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he is not be paid overtime but is allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He also receives a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but does not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
When his contract was extended for a year in December 2020, the council did so with the stipulation that they review his performance at least every quarter. With three quarters already passed this year, the council has not held a single review.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Buz Eddy came on board in July 2019 following a scathing grand jury report on previous town operations.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job. Prather holds wastewater and water certifications in addition his on the job experience.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.