Century Will Appoint Two New Council Members In New Year’s Holiday Meeting
January 1, 2023
The Town of Century will begin the new year with a holiday meeting to appoint two new members to the town council.
The council will meeting Monday night — on January 2, both a federal and state holiday.
Because no one sought election, two council seats are open, so a months-long process of permanently filling them begins.
When the council convenes Monday night, Sandra McMurray Jackson will be sworn in for another term after running unopposed. Then, the council will appoint two members to serve until a special election for the seats, which will most likely take place in March 2023.
At least five citizens have formally expressed their interest in a temporary appointment, according to a town document. They are Shelisa Abraham, Michelle Dixon, Edward (Eddie) Hammond, Alicia Johnson and Corenda Phifer. Johnson has told town officials that she does not intend to run for the council during the special election, while the other four said they will likely seek election.
During his final council meeting of 2022, James Smith, Jr. said he won’t rule out placing his name on the special election ballot. He chose not to run for reelection in 2022, as did Leonard White who resigned last September.
Tuesday, January 2 is also a holiday for Century; the town hall will be closed for regular business. The council meeting will be held on the holiday because the town charter specifies that council members will be sworn in on the first Monday of January. There is no provision in the charter to hold the swearing-in ceremony if it falls on a holiday.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here Are Escambia County’s Teachers Of The Year
January 1, 2023
Escambia County’s Teachers of the Year have been named to represent their respective schools.
One of them will named the Escambia County overall Teacher of the year in late January from a list of five finalist. Those finalists are highlighted in bold below.
Elementary Schools
- Jim Allen Elementary — Kristi Mims
- Bellview Elementary — Erin Bartush
- Beulah Elementary — Sara Smith
- Blue Angels Elementary — Mary Crisson
- Bratt Elementary — Pamela Trice
- Brentwood Elementary — Audrey Brown
- Hellen Caro Elementary — Andrea McGinnis
- N. B. Cook Elementary — Dawn Jackson
- Cordova Park Elementary — Jessica Stallings
- Ensley Elementary — Lashandra Dean
- Ferry Pass Elementary — Lisa Moss
- Global Learning Academy — Carmen Dones
- Holm Elementary — Michelle Davison
- Kingsfield Elementary School — Melanie Johnson
- Lincoln Park Elementary — Jamila Richardson
- Lipscomb Elementary — Holly Griffin
- Longleaf Elementary — Susan Watkins
- McArthur Elementary — Dawn Bechtol
- Molino Park Elementary — Christin Love
- Montclair Elementary — Kathryn Lovely
- Myrtle Grove Elementary — Mershun Deas
- Navy Point Elementary — Kayla Murray-Galloway
- Oakcrest Elementary — George Grace
- Pine Meadow Elementary — David Vaughn
- Pleasant Grove Elementary — Jacqueline Hogan
- Scenic Heights Elementary — Heather Gagnet
- O.J. Semmes Elementary — Krystin Johnson
- Sherwood Elementary — Nina Bryant
- A. K. Suter Elementary — Anna Harageones
- Warrington Elementary — Jennifer Godwin
- C. A. Weis Elementary — Sierra Yingst
- West Pensacola Elementary — Debbie Jewell
Middle Schools
- Bailey Middle School — Rachel Bryans
- Bellview Middle — Leslie Schottgen
- Beulah Middle — Danielle O’Connor
- Brown Barge Middle — Lauren Meiss
- Ernest Ward Middle — Michelle Thomas
- Ferry Pass Middle — Rebecca Duben
- Ransom Middle — Christopher Norris
- Warrington Middle — Sharde Wiggins
- Workman Middle — Tyrese Person
High Schools
- Escambia High School — Kylee Tullos
- Northview High School — Donna McMillan
- Pensacola High School — Lisette Guttery
- Pine Forest High School — Dr. Tonita Goldston
- Tate High School — Nikki Gill
- Washington High School — Gary Horne
- West Florida High School — Angela McFarland
Other Schools and Centers
- Escambia Westgate — Jimitre McMillan
- Achieve Academy — Angela Griffith
- Alternative Education — Karen Hutchinson
- Beulah Academy of Science — DeEdra Wesemann
- Capstone Academy — Angelique Smith
- Escambia Virtual — Linda Patti
- Hope Horizon — Elizabeth (Beth) Howard
- Success Academy — Allison Roberts
IT Network Coordinator Tutten Is Escambia County Employee Of The Year
January 1, 2023
Mark “Andrew” Tutten is Escambia County’s Employee of the Year for 2022.
He was previously selected as the August Employee of the Month.
He serves as network coordinator in the Information Technology department.
He began his career with Escambia County on February 25, 2020, and has been continually recognized for his hard work and dedication to the department and Escambia County.
In his role as network coordinator, he is responsible for designing, installing and troubleshooting network systems to meet the functional objectives of the Escambia BCC. This includes monitoring all network routers, switches, firewalls and wireless access points that securely connect employees to their files and applications to the internet.
Tutten led a project to update the BCC’s data network infrastructure, requiring him to re-engineer each county-operated facility. As part of the project, Andrew and his team installed public Wi-Fi in 40 county parks and community centers, including the addition of a firewall management platform Panorama. These changes allow IT to manage over 50 firewalls across Escambia County.
Tutten will be formally recognized as Employee of the Year with a proclamation during a BOCC meeting on January 5.
$2.4 Million Chemstrand Road Pedestrian Safety Project Is Now Complete
January 1, 2023
A two year project to enhance pedestrian safety on Chemstrand Road has been completed.
The Chemstrand Road Pedestrian Improvement Project spanned 617 days between Nine Mile Road and Ten Mile Road.
Crews have worked to create 5,464 linear feet of sidewalk, repaved approximately 3,986 feet of asphalt, and installed reinforced concrete drainage pipes along the northbound and southbound directions of Chemstrand Road.
The total cost of the project was $2,446,577.21.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Want To Be A Firefighter? The Physical Abilities Test Is January 7
January 1, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue will hold a physical abilities test Saturday, January 7.
The test will take place at Pensacola Fire Department Station 4, at 1 North “Q” Street at 8 a.m. and is open to anyone interested in joining Escambia County Fire Rescue.
Certified firefighters with a certificate of completion must sign up for the certified test. Those without any fire certifications must sign up for the cadet test. The certified test is also open to volunteer firefighters needing a physical abilities test.
Click here to register for the certified test.
Click here to register for the cadet test.
In order to become an Escambia County Firefighter, participants must pass the test. Interviews for those who pass the test will take place the following day.
The certified test consists of:
- 1 3/4″ charged hose pull in 27 seconds
- Keiser sled in 60 seconds
- Tower evolution in six minutes
The cadet test consists of:
- 25 push-ups in two minutes
- 40 sit-ups in two minutes
- Run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes
- 1 3/4″ charged hose pull in 27 seconds
- Keiser sled in 60 seconds
- Tower evolution in six minutes
Certified Escambia County Firefighters receive a starting pay of $41,698 and numerous benefits including a $2,000 sign-on bonus, competitive pay and health benefits, a 48/96 schedule, 14 paid holidays, special teams’ incentive pay, and more.
New 2023 Florida Toll Relief Program Begins Today
January 1, 2023
Beginning today, there is a new toll relief program in Florida, providing credits to frequent commuters using toll roads across the state.
The program will automatically give Floridians with 35 or more toll transactions per month a 50 percent credit to their account. This program, proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and enacted by the Florida Legislature, will run through December 31, 2023. In Northwest Florida, the program includes the Bob Sikes Toll Bridge to Pensacola Beach, Garcon Point Bridge, and the Mid-Bay Bridge.
Under the Toll Relief Program, drivers of two-axle vehicles who use toll transponders, such as SunPass or other Florida-based transponders, and have accounts in good standing with 35 or more qualifying toll transactions per month will receive a 50 percent credit to their account. There is no need to apply for the toll relief as credits will be applied automatically to each qualifying account.
13-Time Convicted Felon From Cantonment Charged With Drugs, Weapons Offense
December 31, 2022
A 13-time convicted felon from Cantonment is facing drugs and weapons charges.
Martin Joseph Shaughnessy, 38, was charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Old Chemstrand Road in reference to a court order. According to an arrest report, Shaughnessy was in possession of a single round of .243 rifle ammunition and a bag containing methamphetamine in his pockets.
According to court records, Shaughnessy has 13 prior felony convictions, the most recent of which was in February 2020.
FPL Donates $45,000 To Council On Aging
December 31, 2022
Florida Power & Light Company recently donated $45,000 to the Council on Aging of West Florida to support seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The donation will help fund programs for the roughly 2,200 vulnerable elders served by the agency.
The Council on Aging is a nonprofit organization that provides home and community-based services like Meals on Wheels, congregate dining sites, case management, and caregiver respite for older adults. The services aim to keep seniors living safely and independently in their homes where they are most comfortable.
“This generous donation is unrestricted, which means we can use it to draw down matched federal funds, and every dollar we raise in the community allows us to access another nine dollars from that funding,” says Josh Newby, president/CEO of the Council on Aging. “That means this donation will have an impact of almost half a million dollars for our area seniors.”
The agency also focuses on seasonal community needs by collecting air conditioners and fans in the summer and heaters in the cooler months. Currently, Council on Aging is collecting and distributing heater donations to keep area seniors warm and comfortable through the winter.
“We are honored to continue to support the Council on Aging of West Florida and the important work that they do to help protect some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said J.T. Young, vice president and general manager for Northwest Florida for FPL. “We are happy our donation will go to the areas of greatest need, especially as we enter the holiday and winter season. At FPL, we’re committed to making the communities that we serve even better places to live.”
Fireworks Are Legal For New Year’s In Florida; Escambia Fire Rescue Urging Caution
December 31, 2022
Fireworks are legal in Florida for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and Escambia County Fire Rescue is reminding residents to be safe.
Between 2017 and 2021, Escambia County experienced six residential structure fires caused by fireworks. Four of those fires were caused by fireworks that were improperly disposed of after their use.
“ECFR experiences several fires related to fireworks each year,” said ECFR Fire and Life Specialist Ray Melton. “The causes are mainly due to throwing used fireworks in plastic trash containers, resulting in trash fires and house fires if the cans are near the home. We recommend that fireworks be placed in a bucket of water to complete remove of any smoldering. We also recommend that juveniles be supervised by an adult when using any type of fireworks, and do not hold sparklers near clothing or skin as the temperature of a lit sparkler can reach 1,500 degrees and cause severe burns. Do not use fireworks in or near a home, and airborne firework should never be shot off in the direction of any structure or person.”
In April 2020, Florida legalized consumer fireworks on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Independence Day. Sparklers, noisemakers and the like are legal all year. On the three holidays, people are able to shoot real fireworks legally — the kind that explode or shoot into the sky.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Portion Of Fowler Avenue Closed Next Week
December 31, 2022
A portion of Fowler Avenue will be closed beginning Tuesday.
Fowler will be closed between 9 1/2 Mile Road and McKinnon Lane for construction of two storm drain crossings. Work is expected to be completed by Friday, January 6. Traffic can detour on Highway 29 or Cove Avenue.
File photo.