Escambia Fire Regional Training Facility In Gonzalez Gets $1 Million In Legislative Funding
May 8, 2023
The Florida Legislature has approved $1 million toward the Escambia County Regional Fire Regional Training Facility in Gonzalez.
The funds are the state’s 2023-24 budget, which has not yet been signed by the governor.
The facility will be located at the former Escambia Charter School at 319 90 & 9 Ranch Road, just behind Gonzalez Utilities on Old Chemstrand Road.
The project will include the construction of a live fire training building and remodeling of an existing building with classrooms at a kitchen.
“Activities will vary from classroom leadership settings to hands on practical exercises including live fire training, roof ventilation, search and victim removal, forcible entry, rope operations, and shoring. Additional training on the site will be driving, water supply, land navigation, and more. Partnerships with local and regional law enforcement departments would allow for building clearing, classroom classes, rope training, or any need that the design of the building would support; this would also be applicable for EMS in patient removal and emergency management in local disaster exercises,” according to a legislative funding request.
The county said implementing a fire training facility for ECFR will be instrumental in the success of the department and improving training needs. ECFR will be able to train career and volunteer firefighters faster and specifically to the standard operating guidelines and expectations.
The Escambia Charter School closed after 22 years at the end of the 2017-2018 school year due to declining enrollment.
Photos/map for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$4.7 Million Highway 29 Project In Century Remains At A Standstill Over A Water Pipe
May 7, 2023
Work on a $4.7 million Highway 29 construction in Century remains at a standstill weeks discovery of an unmapped water pipe that must be relocated.
Early this year, two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane were closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street with traffic shifted into just two lanes. It was that a normal traffic pattern would return by the end of April, but that was put on hold until about the end of May.
What the Florida Department of Transportation termed an “unknown Town of Century water main” was discovered under the roadway during excavation. Two and a half weeks ago, FDOT told us that it should be relocated in about two weeks.
Construction on the resurfacing project will continue after the water main is relocated.
Century’s engineer said the problem pipe is a 2-inch water main, and there are no service disruptions anticipated during the work.
Pictured: Highway 29 traffic in Century remains at two lanes during a construction zone as seen Saturday afternoon, May 6. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
District 5 School Board Member Slayton To Hold Town Hall Monday
May 7, 2023
Escambia County School Board District 5 member Bill Slayton and Superintendent Tim Smith will hold a town hall meeting Monday evening.
The town hall will take place at 6 p.m. in the Tate High School cafeteria and is open to the public.
The other four school members previously held town hall meetings over the past several weeks.
Lexi Nelson Named Tate FFA Rodeo Queen
May 7, 2023
Lexi Nelson was named queen of the 32nd Annual Tate High School FFA Alumni Association Rodeo that took place Friday and Saturday nights. Kyrie King was first runner-up.
She is the daughter of Edwin and Lisa Nelson and a big sister to Bradley and Charlie. She is a junior at Tate High School. She is a member of Tate’s FFA, agriculture sales team, and National Technical Honor Society.
Lexi got her first horse at 9-months old and was riding competitively by age 4. She rides and trains her own horses daily. Lexi has multiple horses but rode her favorite horse “Foxy” in the rodeo.
Eight cowgirls competed for the rodeo queen title. Each girl had to write an essay, be interviewed by judges, perform a riding pattern and queen’s salute on their horse, and demonstrate how to tack up a horse correctly.
RELATED: Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Photo Galleries
NorthEscambia.com photo (above) and photos for NorthEscambia.com (below), click to enlarge.
Beginning Quilting Lessons Offered At The Molino And Bellview Libraries
May 7, 2023
Beginning quilting lessons are available at the the Molino and Bellview branches of the West Florida Public Libraries.
During May, the Pensacola Quilter’s Guild schedule is 10 a.m. Tuesdays at the Molino Library and 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Bellview Library.
Seating is limited. Call the Molino Library at (850) 435-1760 or the Bellview Library at (850) 471-6360 to reserve a spot.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cox Recognizes Inspirational Student Heroes
May 7, 2023
At the annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards this week, Cox Communications recognized 54 students who have overcome extreme hardships in their lives.
“Every year, these students remind us how difficult life can be, but our response to those adversity is what really matters,” said Cox Gulf Coast market vice president David Deliman. “These students have faced these hardships while still inspiring others around them on a daily basis. They are true heroes and deserve their time in the spotlight.”
“We are, as usual, honored to work with Cox Communications in honoring these deserving students,” said Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith. “Their stories are truly inspiring, and we are proud to call each and every one of them members of our ECPS family.”
The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a positive attitude and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
During the event, Cox presented the students with a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor. The students were also presented with certificates of achievement from Congressman Matt Gaetz, State Senator Doug Broxson and State Representatives Michelle Salzman and Alex Andrade. They also received congratulatory letters from United States Senator Rick Scott, United States Senator Marco Rubio, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender presented a proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners, celebrating the students for their achievements overcoming obstacles.
Escambia County’s Cox Inspirational Student Heroes for 2023 are:
- AK Suter Elementary School – Audric Page
- Bellview Elementary School – Aiden Wetter
- Bellview Middle School – Harmoni Ford
- Beulah Academy of Science – Kailee Miller
- Beulah Elementary School – Lane Day
- Beulah Middle School – William McShane
- Blue Angels Elementary School – Thomas Gutierrez
- Bratt Elementary School – Calee Satterwhite
- Brentwood Elementary School – Jace Beam
- Brown Barge Middle School – Paarth Vaidya
- Byrneville Elementary School – Jayden Carter
- CA Weis Elementary School – Tre’asure Rigsby
- Cordova Park Elementary School – Maddy Bevzyuk
- Ensley Elementary School – Cindy Le
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Cade Carnley
- Escambia High School – Logan Ming
- Escambia Westgate Center – Troy Tanner
- Ferry Pass Elementary School – Dukayla Palmer
- Ferry Pass Middle School – Brooks Sun
- Global Learning Academy – Junior Lopez
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – Jordan Edmerson
- Holm Elementary School – Tia Grant
- Hope Horizon – Elementary – Jaxson Rosales
- Hope Horizon – Secondary – January Calligan
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Zariah Bradley
- Jim Bailey Middle School – Miranda Gibson
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Danielle Reisnour
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Gia-Paige Dorah
- Lipscomb Elementary School – Shamir Smith
- Longleaf Elementary School – Zoey Allen
- McArthur Elementary School – Ada Virtue
- Molino Park Elementary – Prestyn Harvell
- Montclair Elementary School – Johnnie Graphenreid
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Lakota Little
- N.B. Cook Elementary School – Kiyan Gregory
- Navy Point Elementary School – Samiaya Edwards
- Northview High School – Jamie Gruenwald
- Oakcrest Elementary School – Aida Mexicano Mora
- OJ Semmes Elementary School – Varian Major
- Pensacola High School – Madeleine Ritz
- Pine Forest High School – Joseph Hernandez
- Pine Meadow Elementary School – Annie Mathis
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Jaceyon Pittman
- Ransom Middle School – Elizabeth Burdeaux
- Scenic Heights Elementary School – Evie Woodruff
- Sherwood Elementary School – Quinntyn Goodson
- Success Academy – Billy Landreth
- Tate High School – Brianna Lynn White
- Warrington Elementary School – Nate Barker-Richter
- Warrington Middle School – April Bessent
- Washington High School – Nic Hrabak
- West Florida High School – Jansen Hosman
- West Pensacola Elementary School – Hunter Linebaugh
- Workman Middle School – Carson Kirton
The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program began 30 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program has spread to other Cox markets in the Southeast Region. To date, Cox has recognized nearly 4,700 students from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Macon, Georgia.
Man Killed When Driver Runs Light On Highway 87, Troopers Say
May 7, 2023
One person died in a two vehicle crash in Santa Rosa County Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 62-year old man driving a pickup truck failed to stop for a red traffic signal on Highway 87 at Hickory Hammock Road. His track crashed into the side of a car driven by a 54-year old Milton man.
The 54-year old Milton man was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 9-year old boy in the vehicle received minor injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck also received minor injuries. Troopers said charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.
File photo.
Conine Goes Deep, Reynolds Saves In Magical Night For Blue Wahoos
May 7, 2023
Sean Reynolds turned toward teammates and pounded his chest with exhilaration.
It became the perfect ending for the Blue Wahoos’ 3-2 victory against the Mississippi Braves on a Fireworks Saturday night, featuring one of the team’s all-time crowd experiences in Blue Wahoos Stadium history.
An overflow crowd of 5,000-plus, which completely filled the outfield berm and all of the party decks, watched Reynolds close out the final two innings with flawless relief. He struck out the side in the ninth with the final batter Drew Lugbauer – the most prolific home-run hitter in M-Braves history – whiffing on a 99-mile fastball for the final strike.
Reynolds earned his fourth save this season, second of the week, as he’s moved into the top closer role.
The traditional fireworks show then lit the sky with many of the Blue Wahoos players, attired in specialty Marvel “Defenders of the Diamond” uniforms worn this night, staying on the field with families and friends to take it in.
This all capped a game that began one hour and 14 minutes late due to weather concerns.
Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton made the most from the wait, producing his best outing of the season. He allowed just one hit, struck out six and yielded four walks in a five-inning performance.
The pivotal inning was his final one when the first two M-Braves batters reached on a single and walk, but Fulton then made huge pitches to strike out the next two batters and coaxed a groundout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Will Banfield hit a pop fly double that fell between the shortstop and left fielder. Griffin Conine followed by rifling a pitch into the right-field berm for a two-run homer.
The M-Braves Jesse Franklin led off the sixth with a homer off Cristian Charle. The Blue Wahoos answered with Banfield’s RBI single that produced the eventual winning run. Banfield and Conine both collected two hits in the game.
Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos honored Pensacola native and former M-Braves pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn, whose Escambia High class was celebrating its 50-year reunion at the ballpark.
The group was among more than two dozen big groups in attendance that enveloped all of the party decks.
After the fifth inning, Pensacola High head football coach Cantrell Tyson, who suffered a stroke in a mid-September 2022 game while on the sidelines, was provided a “Home Run For Life” celebration by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital. Tyson circled the bases, high-fiving members of each team before hugging his doctors in an emotional scene at home plate.
The Blue Wahoos win was their fourth this week, sealing a series win. It was the team’s ninth win in the last 10 games.
The teams will close out their week-long series on Sunday. Top organization prospect Eury Pérez (2-1, 2.52) will make his second start this week for the Blue Wahoos.
written by Bill Vilona, photo Blue Wahoos
Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Photo Galleries
May 6, 2023
The 32nd Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo was held Friday and Saturday nights at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway in Beulah.
For action photos from Friday night’s rodeo, click here.
For the rodeo parade and opening photos, click here.
Related: Lexi Nelson Named Tate FFA Rodeo Queen
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Student Arrested For School Shooting Threat That Circulated Statewide
May 6, 2023
A student has been arrested following a social media post threatening a school shooting that would “make history as the top school slaughter”.
The Coral Springs Police Department said 18-year old Catrina Petit, a student at Taravella High School in that city, was charged with multiple felonies for threatening to commit a school shooting. Coral Springs is a city in southern Florida northwest of Fort Lauderdale.
“Petit sent the threat out fraudulently using another student’s name and computer access,” Coral Springs Police said in a statement. “The threat was later posted on social media causing concern in several counties throughout the state.”
The message made a threat to “shoot up the school” Friday morning at 7:40 as the bell rings or during the school day and “everyone must DIE”. The message suggested the presence of a bomb at the school. However, the message did not indicate any school or location; it only contains generalities.
The photo was further altered on social media questioning if the message might be related to Northview High School or other local schools in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Public Schools said Friday that it had been determined that the threat was not credible.
“District administration and law enforcement have worked together to make sure this was not a credible threat to our schools, students, and staff,” Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith said in a call-out to parents Friday morning. “In communication, with the Florida State Department of Education, we were also made aware that this same social media threat was made in several districts across the State of Florida.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.