Natural Gas First Responder Training Course Offered In Century
December 15, 2022
The Town of Century is opening a natural gas first responder training course to area first responders and other interested individuals.
Century will host Florida Gas Transmission’s First Responder Training on Tuesday, December 20 at 10 a.m. at town hall.
The training is open to fire, EMS, law enforcement and other first responders; public works departments; public officials; and other interested parties. The course is a presentation, not hands-on.
There is no charge to attend, and light refreshments will be provided.
Molino Man Claims $1 Million Scratch-off Lottery Prize
December 15, 2022
A Molino man has claimed a $1 million scratch off lottery prize.
Scottie Grant, 58, claimed his million at the Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.00.
Grant purchased his winning ticket from Lucky Penny, located at 2900 West Jackson Street in Pensacola. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game, 500X THE CASH, features a top prize of $25 million.
Escambia County Extends Deadline For Children’s Services Council Applicants
December 15, 2022
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has extended the deadline for applications from county residents to serve on the Children’s Services Council (CSC).
The new deadline to apply is December 29, 2022, by 5 p.m.
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children Services Council to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust of Escambia County will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The CSC is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The CSC, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.
Applications are available online at MyEscambia.com or in person at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, located at 221 Palafox Place, 4th floor. The application consists of several parts: an Escambia County CSC application, a questionnaire for Gubernatorial Appointments and an optional resume. Both applications must be completed and submitted together to be considered for an appointment.
Resumes and both applications may also be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or by mail to:
Jose Gochez, Program Coordinator
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 1591
Pensacola, FL 3250
To be considered for the CSC, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24-month period and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the county’s population.
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate six applicants to be submitted to the Governor for review and potential appointment. Following the Board’s selection, the County Administrator will then send a letter to the Governor and the Governor’s Appointments Office with the list of six nominees to be considered for appointment to the CSC. All of candidates will be notified of their nomination. In accordance with Florida Statutes, the Governor then has 45 days to make a selection or request a new list of candidates.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug Charges After Reportedly Passing Out In His Truck At Thrift Store
December 14, 2022
A Cantonment man was arrested on drug charges after deputies received a report that he was passed out in his vehicle at a thrift store.
Jeremiah Lee Hunter, 35, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine), and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Teen Challenge Super Thrift Store on Nine Mile Road just before midnight Monday after receiving a report of a male passed out behind the wheel of a white pickup truck. Deputies looked inside the truck and saw a large cloud of smoke and pipe.
Hunter woke up when a deputy knocked on the truck’s passenger window, according to an arrest report. The deputy noted in his report that there was a strong odor or marijuana when Hunter opened the driver’s door.
Inside the truck, the ECSO said they found 18 grams of marijuana and a white crystal-like substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Hunter claimed to have a current medical marijuana card, but the card in his possession expired in August 2021, the report states.
Hunter remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $7,000.
Tri-City Children’s Choir Christmas Concert Is Thursday Night
December 14, 2022
The Tri-City Children’s Choir will hold their Christmas concert this Thursday night.
The free concert will be at 6:30 p.m. at The Sanctuary on North Century Boulevard (next to Bondurants). Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.
Pictured: The Tri-City Children’s Choir performed several songs at the Century tree lighting on December 2. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Lieutenant Recognized As Florida Professional Firefighter Of The Year
December 14, 2022
Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis has recognized Lt. Nick Gradia of Escambia County Fire Rescue as Florida Professional Firefighter of the Year. Gradia is a 2003 graduate of Northview High School. Pictured: Sen. Doug Broxson, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, and Rep. Michelle Salzman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Names Top 5 Teacher Of The Year Finalists
December 14, 2022
The Escambia County School District has named their top five finalists for Teacher of the Year.
In alphabetical order, they are:
- Anna Harageones — A.K. Suter Elementary
- Gary Horne — Washington High School
- Melanie Johnson — Kingsfield Elementary School
- Angela McFarland — West Florida High School
- Allison Roberts — Success Academy
“Our teachers persevere in their instructional efforts against incredible odds. They prepare each student for the future – as they are the future. The district is fortunate to have extremely hard-working and dedicated instructors in every school throughout the county,” Superintendent Tim Smith said. “These top five educators exemplify the very best in the district. We hope you will join us in congratulating these outstanding educators.”
The winner will be announced in late January.
FHP Donates Food To Ronald McDonald House After ‘Stuff The Charger’
December 14, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol made a donation of about 250 pounds of nonperishable food items to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida on Tuesday. The food was collected during FHP’s annual “Stuff the Charger” campaign. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Child ID Kits Going To All Escambia County Kindergarten Students
December 14, 2022
Free child ID kits will be distributed to every kindergarten student in the Escambia County Public Schools.
Parents of kindergarten students will receive a call out from their child’s school, informing them of the date the kit will be distributed. Parents who do not want a kit may contact their student’s teacher or the school administration to make that request.
“Child ID kits are a great, low-tech tool that helps parents record and safely store important identification information about their children. Parents keep total control of the kits and, should an emergency arise, they can quickly present it to law enforcement,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “As a mother, I truly hope no parent ever needs to utilize the kit—but should a child go missing, it could prove vital in helping law enforcement and the public in their search.”
Child ID kits make it easier for parents to collect identifying information by easily recording the physical characteristics, photographs, fingerprints and DNA of their children on identification cards that are kept at home by the parent or guardian if ever needed, the school district said.
The kits are being distributed by the ECPS in cooperation with Attorney General Ashley Moody, the National Child ID Program, Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, the Florida Sheriffs Association, and representatives from the Department of Education, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and Florida Association of School Resource Officers.
First Ever UWF QB Kaleb Nobles Named New Argos Head Coach
December 14, 2022
The University of West Florida has named Kaleb Nobles as the second head football coach in program history, as announced by University President Dr. Martha Saunders and Athletics Director Dave Scott.
“We are super excited to announce Kaleb Nobles as our head coach and welcome him and his wife Katy back to Pensacola and the UWF family,” Scott said. “He spent four seasons as a player and member of the coaching staff under Pete Shinnick and understands the culture and values that helped create the foundation the program.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to be the next head football coach at the University of West Florida,” Nobles said. “My wife and I are true Argos as we are both UWF graduates, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of Building Champions For Life.”
Nobles has spent the past two seasons at Clemson University where he had the role of offensive player development under head coach Dabo Swinney. He assisted with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, all game preparation and planning, along with various game day duties. In 2021, Clemson went 10-3 with a Cheez-It Bowl victory and compiled an 11-2 record in 2022, winning the ACC Championship while earning a berth in the upcoming Orange Bowl against Tennessee.
“I am so happy for Kaleb Nobles. He was born to be a football coach and equipped to be a head coach,” Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney said. “One of the main reasons I went and hired him from West Florida is I knew he would come in and really make us better. He has a high aptitude for the game, he’s passionate about it and is a great communicator. Having the opportunity to work with him these past two years has been really fun to see him up close to see how knowledgeable he is, how detailed he is, how good he is with people and what a great communicator he is. His knowledge of West Florida and his understanding of the scope of that job is exciting. I’m really happy for him and proud of him, and I don’t have any doubt that he will continue the great success and great tradition at the University of West Florida.”
Nobles spent three seasons on Pete Shinnick’s staff from 2017-20 as the quarterbacks coach for the Argonauts and was named the co-offensive coordinator in May of 2020. He also served as the director of Football Operations for two-plus years.
Nobles mentored some of the best signal callers in UWF history. In 2019, Austin Reed was named the National Freshman of the Year after he threw for 4,089 yards and 272.6 yards per game to rank 13th nationally. He also completed 57 percent of his passes and tossed 40 touchdowns while rushing for six more.
The 2019 quarterback group established program records with a 56.8 completion percentage, a 148.6 pass efficiency rating, 14.6 yards per completion and 411.9 yards of total offense per game.
In 2018, the Argonauts completed 55.2 percent of their pass attempts, tying the school record at the time. The group averaged 229 yards passing and had 23 touchdowns.
Nobles worked daily with a quartet of QBs during the historic 2017 season that culminated with a run to the national championship game. Mike Beaudry finished with 3,215 yards through the air and 29 touchdowns while being named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year.
As a student-athlete, Nobles spent four seasons at Valdosta State from 2012-15, appearing in 23 games with six starts as a freshman and sophomore. He threw for 2,009 yards and 19 touchdowns as a Blazer.
In 2016, he transferred to UWF and helped provide immediate leadership and focus to the upstart program. He led the Argonauts to a 5-6 overall record and threw for 3,058 yards with 28 touchdowns. He also established a school record that still stands with 277.3 passing yards per game.
He had six games with at least 300 yards passing, including a 503-yard, 6-TD performance in the win over Missouri S&T in the inaugural home game on Sept. 10, 2016. That passing mark ranks tenth all-time in GSC single-game history. He was also a GSC All-Academic selection that season.
Nobles has coaching in his blood, following in the footsteps of his late father, Buddy. The elder Nobles spent more than 30 years as a high school coach in Florida and Georgia. His Irwin County (Ga.) High School team won the Georgia Class A title in 2019, nine days before the Argos won the national championship.
Nobles, who was born in Jacksonville, Florida and attended high school in Fitzgerald, Georgia, earned his bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Valdosta State in December, 2015 and added a master’s in Health Leisure and Sport Science from UWF in December, 2017.
He and his wife, Katy – a former UWF women’s volleyball student-athlete and Argo alumnus – were married in June, 2021.