David Preston Named Escambia Sheriff’s Office Employee Of The Month
November 12, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named Master Deputy David Preston, an investigator, as the November Employee of the Month. Preston (left) is pictured with Sheriff Chip Simmons. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida’s Bentley Van Pelt Competing In 2A State Golf Tourney
November 12, 2021
West Florida High School’s Bentley Van Pelt of Walnut Hill is competing in the state golf tournament this weekend.
Van Pelt qualified as an individual by finishing second in the Region 1-2A meet at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. The West Florida sophomore shot a 75, three shots behind Bishop Kenny’s Cody Tucker.
Pictured: Bentley Van Pelt and (below) Coach Justin Richardson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Offer COVID Vaccine To Kids 5 And Older Beginning Next Week
November 12, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) will begin offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines next Monday, November 15.
The health department is continuing to operate their COVID-19 vaccine clinic located at 1295 West Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. In keeping with CDC guidance, COVID-19 pediatric vaccines are recommended for children 5 to 11 years.
FDOH-Escambia offers the Pfizer vaccine for ages five and up, and Moderna and Johnson and Johnson for ages 18 and up.
Walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m.. – 3:30 p.m. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at (850) 595-6500, option 6.
Driver Flips Car Numerous Times After Trying To Avoid A Deer
November 11, 2021
A driver flipped his car Wednesday night in Nokomis after trying to avoid a deer.
The wreck happened about 6 p.m. on Nokomis Road near Jakes Road, about 3.5 miles west of Highway 97. The driver lost control and ran off the roadway. The vehicle then flipped end over end several times, coming to rest upright in a ditch.
The adult male was evaluated by Escambia County EMS but refused transport to the hospital.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lipscomb Elementary School Holds Veterans Day Parade
November 11, 2021
Lipscomb Elementary School honored veterans with a Veterans Day parade Wednesday morning.
The students waved American flags, made posters and created crafts for each participating veteran.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary School Honors Veterans With Program, Parade (With Photo Gallery)
November 11, 2021
Bratt Elementary School honored veterans Wednesday with a Veterans Day program and parade.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Guest speaker for the event was Commander George Trice, Jr., United States Navy, Retired. He retired in 2011 after 33 years of naval service. He began his career as an enlisted electronic tech in the submarine service. He earned his degree from the University of New Mexico and was commissioned an officer with naval surface warfare. The last years of his career were with Corry Station as the training director.
“I saw the young servicemen come right out of boot camp,” he said. “Seeing that the sparkle in their eye and the hope in there, and hope and dreams of what they intend to do with this country. This is the next generation coming up.”
“I thank you for what you what you’re doing,” Trice told Bratt Elementary’s third graders. “You listen to your teachers, and that you’re learning and going to become great Americans.”
“The hopes and dreams right here in front of us…this is what we feel, what we do for is to protect the next generation coming up behind us,” he said. “And give them and make sure that they have the opportunities that we have had and that they are privy to make the choices you’ve had. They all have dreams; they all have hopes.”
Following the third grade program, the veterans paraded through the Bratt hallways as enthusiastic cheered and waved American Flags.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Lanie Brown Signs With Limestone University’s Acrobatics And Tumbling Team
November 11, 2021
Tate High School senior Lanie Brown signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday afternoon to attend Limestone University.
Brown will be a member of the Limestone University Acrobatics and Tumbling Team. Acrobatics and tumbling is an emerging NCAA Division 1, 2, and 3 sport. It incorporates gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, and weightlifting into a sport of strength and precision.
She has been offered both athletic and academic scholarships at the Gaffney, South Caroline, university.
At Tate, Brown is a member of the varsity cheerleading team, varsity weightlifting team. She holds a 3.91 GPA, is senior class president and founded the Tate High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton’s Jalia Lassiter Signs With Ole Miss Softball
November 11, 2021
Flomaton High School three-sport athlete Jalia Lassiter signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday to play softball at the University of Mississippi.
“If she wanted to she could have just as easily signed to play basketball or volleyball, but she has chosen softball and is signing with an SEC school,” Flomaton Principal George Brown said.
FHS volleyball coach and former softball coach Jacqi Hammond, said, “I was there when you were born, I knew this would happen one day.”
Jalia’s mother Cassie was also a three-sport star for the Hurricanes and a member of the 2005 state championship softball team coached by Scott and Jacqi Hammond.
Pictured: : Flomaton High School’s Jalia Lassiter signs National Letter of Intent Wednesday to play soft ball at Old Miss. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District 5 Cottage Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Collects Over 28 Tons of Debris
November 11, 2021
Escambia County collected and disposed of approximately 28 tons of debris during the District 5 Cottage Hill Neighborhood Cleanup recently. The event allowed residents to leave items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by the county and partnering agencies.
The cleanup resulted in the collection of 21.25 tons of debris, 5.6 tons of yard waste, just over a ton of household hazardous waste, and 432 tires.
The county’s neighborhood cleanup program is hosted by the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. Local partners include Escambia County Waste Services, Environmental Code Enforcement, Public Works, Animal Services and Road Prison, along with the City of Pensacola Sanitation Department.
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Pictured: A Cottage Hill Cleanup. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Businessman Makes Push For Charter Government In Escambia County
November 10, 2021
A Pensacola businessman made a push before the Escambia County Commission Tuesday for charter government.
“A group of concerned citizens just got together and decided there may be a better way to structure government to be more effective,” downtown resident John Peacock told the commission during a Committee of the Whole meeting. He said the proposal is not an “indictment” of current county government, and is not a “covert attempt to consolidate” or an effort to have a strong county mayor. He said it would have no effect on the Town of Century, the City of Pensacola or constitutional officers.
“It’s no secret that I personally have felt that we should have consolidated years ago,” he said. “This group got together with the intention can we find a better way. We discussed all the different ideas, and several months ago we came to the conclusion that we would like to just pursue and see if a charter was a better option.”
Peacock did not identify the people in what he called “a group of very diverse individuals”.
Reading from a document emailed to individual commissioners last week, he listed Escambia County assets including the Blue Angels, a “historic city on the water”, colleges, airport, hospitals, interstate, large employers, and “plenty of rural land for economic development”.
Peacock requested that his outline be used to form a charter study commission, and if deemed appropriate draft a charter for approval by the commission, legislature and voters.
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he would support at-large districts, but never a strong mayor.
“Absolute power corrupts. That person would be the absolute most powerful person in Escambia County,” Bergosh said of a strong mayor form of government. “I don’t want a group of downtown insiders, who can raise a ton of money, to be able to anoint a person to come in here and tell me…we’ve got a different vision.”
“That’s exactly, precisely what would happen, and that’s why I don’t support a strong mayor,” Bergosh concluded.
“This is a process of looking at all of the different charter options and see if there’s a better way.” Peacock responded. “It has nothing to do with the strong mayor concept. That was my original idea; that is still my opinion, just like you have yours. But my opinion is irrelevant to this.
None of the other four commissioners had any comment. Commissioners took no action Tuesday on Peacock’s presentation; they are unable to vote or take formal action at a committee meeting.