Northview High Names Students Of The Month
November 17, 2021
Northview High School has named Gracie Godwin and Derrick Nicholson as Students of the Month for October. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Posthumously Honors Firefighter Gary Diamond Of Molino
November 17, 2021
The Escambia County Commission on Tuesday issued a proclamation in honor of Gary Diamond, who was recently recognized posthumously as Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year in a ceremony in the Senate Chamber of the Florida Capitol.
Diamond was murdered at his Molino home on December 26, 2020.
“Gary was a dedicated servant to the citizens of Escambia County,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “While we are saddened he is no longer with us, we will continue to honor Gary’s legacy within Escambia County Fire Rescue. It’s a privilege to present this proclamation to the Diamond family.”
Accepting the county proclamation on behalf of Gary Diamond was his wife, Cindy.
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to the Molino Volunteer Firefighter. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He left Escambia in County 2006 to pursue his career calling as a firefighter and EMT at Navarre Beach where he retired as a captain to return home to take care of a family member. At the time of his death, he was volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“Gary was known for his influence on others with the experience and passion to build a strong fire service community,” Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. said during a ceremony in September, “dedicating his time to train younger generations of firefighters.”
“Gary suffered a tragic death in December 2020 doing what he has been know to do his entire career, which was selflessly protecting others at the expense of his own life,” stated a proclamation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, CFO and Fire Marshal Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.
Bergosh New Commission Chair, Underhill Vice Chair
November 16, 2021
The Escambia County Commission has new leadership after their annual reorganizational meeting Tuesday morning.
For the next year, District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will serve as the new chairman and District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill as the vice chairman. A scheduled rotation takes place each year.
“I want to keep the positive momentum of the last six months moving forward, continue to foster better working relationships with our employees, bargaining groups and community partners, and work toward streamlining our budgeting process for 2022 and beyond,” Bergosh said. “Additionally, I look forward to working with my peers on the board to provide our constituents, the taxpayers of Escambia County, maximum transparency and efficiency in all of our county operations as we work toward recruiting, training and deploying a dynamic and talented workforce to take our county into the future with competence and confidence.”
District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender previously served as the chairman. Bergosh was vice chair prior to his appointment as chair.
“I want to thank the commissioners for allowing me the opportunity to lead the board this past year. We continued to recover from Hurricane Sally, navigate through COVID-19, created and finalized a plan for OLF-8 and made great strides in Public Safety with pay increases and ordering new equipment. I look forward to a great year of leadership as Commissioner Bergosh takes control of the gavel, and I am able to continue to represent the citizens of District 4 and Escambia County.”
Bergosh added, “I applaud the accomplishments and achievements of the last year that the board and staff of the county were able to realize under Chairman Bender’s steady leadership. From hurricane rebuilding to the difficulties of COVID-19 on our community, to beach traffic reduction to profound economic development victories at OLF 8 and the Pensacola Airport with ST Engineering—it was a challenging yet still productive year for Escambia County.”
Century Hiring Town Manager, Town Clerk And Three Other Positions
November 16, 2021
The Town of Century is accepting applications for multiple positions, including a town manager and a town clerk.
Under the town’s charter, the mayor must recommend new hires to the council, which makes the final hiring decisions. Monday was the last scheduled council meeting until December 20, prompting Council President Luis Gomez to call a special meeting for November 30 to speed the hiring process.
“We’re not going into 2022 juggling employees or applicants to try to fill these jobs. When January 1 rolls in I want a great team in place,” Gomez said Monday night.
For the open job postings, click or tap here (pdf).
Applications close November 18 for a town clerk and an administrative clerk.
Applications close November 24 for multiple positions:
- Town manager with a salary negotiable based upon experience. As of Monday, 10 people had applied for the town manager job.
- Service worker with salary based upon experience
- Wastewater or water operator or trainee with a starting salary of $15 per hour for licensed operators or $13 per hour for trainees.
Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather has notified Century that he is leaving when his contract ends December 1, saying that he has decided to fully retire. Town Clerk Kim Godwin is no longer full time, notifying the mayor that she is now going to nursing school. She cut her hours to at least 25 per week, the minimum number needed to keep her benefits. And Assistant Town Clerk Emily Easterling recently resigned.
Pictured: Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Playoffs: Community Pep Rally Thursday For Northview Chiefs, NWE Chiefs
November 16, 2021
A community Chiefs pep rally will be held Thursday for the Northview Chiefs and the Northwest Escambia Chiefs.
It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The pep rally is for the Northview Chiefs as they travel to Baker Friday night for the regional semifinals and the NWE Chiefs as they work to bring home an Escambia River Conference league championship in all four age divisions. The NWE cheerleaders will also be recognized as they prepare to compete in the ERC cheer championships.
This event is not sponsored or sanctioned by Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
UWF Earns #3 Seed in NCAA Playoffs, Awarded First-Ever Home Playoff Game
November 16, 2021
The UWF football team was awarded the No. 3 seed in Super Region 2 of the 2021 NCAA Division 2 Football Championship.
UWF will face Newberry at Blue Wahoos Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.
UWF is 9-1 on the year and shared the Gulf South Conference championship at 6-1 following Saturday’s 61-42 win over Valdosta State. The Argos have one of the top offenses in the country, ranking fourth with 497.4 yards of total offense and seventh in passing offense at 331.2 yards per game. Their 45.9 points per game are second nationally.
The Argonauts are making their third appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and have a 9-1 all-time record, making them the winningest team in D2 history at .900.
Newberry went 9-2 this year and won the South Atlantic Conference title with a 7-1 record. UWF has never faced the Wolves but is 3-0 in postseason play against SAC schools, defeating Wingate twice in first round games and Lenoir-Rhyne in the 2019 region final.
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices are $25 for Argo Club and Priority 1 seating, $20 for Priority 2 seating and $15 for Priority 3 in the sideline bleachers.
Tickets will go on sale Monday morning. UWF season ticket holders will have until Wednesday at Noon CST to purchase their existing seat(s) before they are released to the public. Contact the UWF Ticket Office at (850) 474-ARGO (2746) for more information.
Blue Wahoos Stadium gates will open at Noon and parking lots will open at 9 a.m.
PARKING INFORMATION
Fans can use their Valdosta State (Game 5) Parking Pass for all 2021 NCAA Playoff Games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Lots 4 & 5 across the street from Community Maritime Park will still be $10 per vehicle at home games similar to the regular-season. Recreational vehicles can park in Lot 5 for $30. Handicapped parking is available in Lot 3 for $10.
Photo: Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay High’s Alayna Lowery Has Signed With UWF Softball
November 16, 2021
Jay High School’s Alayna Lowery has signed a softball scholarship with The University of West Florida Argos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Delta Adds Nonstop Flight From Pensacola To New York
November 16, 2021
Delta Air Lines has announced it will begin daily, nonstop service from Pensacola International Airport to LaGuardia Airport on December 18.
The Atlanta-based carrier says the service is scheduled to run through May 4, 2022.
LaGuardia Airport, located in the Queens Borough of New York City, is the third busiest airport in New York, offering connections to Richmond, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and many other destinations.
Delta’s daily flight will be operated by Republic Airways on the ERJ 175. The flight will arrive in Pensacola at 11:30 a.m. CST and depart for New York at 12:30 p.m. CST. Typical flight time is 2.5 hours.
ECUA Sewer Averaging Begins Today. Here’s What That Means For Your Bill.
November 15, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s sewer averaging period begins today.
If you are an ECUA mainland residential wastewater customer, your annual sewer charges are based on the average number of gallons of water used in your household during the period.
ECUA’s sewer averaging period begins with each residential customer’s first meter reading on or after November 15 (including ECUA sewer customers whose water service is received from another water provider). The length of the sewer averaging period is 90 day. If you have a separate irrigation meter, the water used through the irrigation meter is not included in the sewer averaging calculation.
“Since your actual water consumption during this period will determine your sewer charge for the next twelve months, it is important to check all indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures for leaks. Water wasted due to leaks will affect your monthly water and sewer charges. Most leaks are easy to identify but sometimes, it takes a little creativity to track them down,” ECUA said.
Here are some quick tips to reduce water usage now, and save all year on ECUA sewer charges:
- You need to lubricate, adjust or replace the flush handle if you have to jiggle it to stop the water from running after you flush. The “stuck” handle may be causing the stopper to stay open, allowing water to flow into the bowl.
- Confirm a suspected leak in your toilet’s plumbing by putting several drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes, and if the colored water shows up in the bowl, there is a leak in the tank. Check the toilet’s stopper ball for wear by removing the toilet lid, flushing the toilet, and rubbing the bottom of the stopper with your finger. If the rubber rubs off or crumbles, it is time to replace the stopper.
- Water the lawn and garden only when necessary. ECUA recommends that our customers irrigate between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., an optimum off-peak time.
- Make sure that outside spigots are not forgotten in the “on” position.
- Cut down on the frequency of at-home car washing, or use a commercial car wash.
- Make sure you have a full load before running the washer or dishwasher.
- Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth or shave.
A Tribute To Veterans Held At Cantonment’s Carver Park (With Photo Gallery)
November 15, 2021
The Cantonment Improvement Committee and the Ascend Cares Foundation presented “A Tribute to Veterans” Sunday afternoon at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The event featured reflections on military service from Rev. Timothy Chandler, USMC, retired, from Bush Street Church; Terry Thomas, U.S. Navy, retired, a Bronze Star recipient; Evangelist Sharon Herrins, U.S. Air Force, retired, from Providence Baptist Church; and author David Trombly, USMC, retired. The event also included the presentation of colors by Tate High School AJROTC, prayers, patriotic music, a memorial tribute to deceased service members, and more.
Nearly 100 people attended the event, the first veterans program held by the CIC at Carver Park.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
