News : NorthEscambia.com (2024)

June 12, 2024

The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO was in Walnut Hill Tuesday

MILO — the Mobile Identification and Licensing Unit — was at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97.

The event offered driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations and titles, and property tax payments.

Up next, MILO is scheduled to be at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century on June 20.

Pictured: MILO at the Walnut Hill Community Center Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

June 12, 2024

The Tate Aggies B team split a summer baseball double header with the Pace Patriots Tuesday afternoon at Tate.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pace 9, Tate 3

In game one, Pace topped Tate 9-3.

Mason Williams started for the Aggies. He surrendered two hits and two runs while striking out two and walking one.

Beau Bryant, Kannon Ham, Cade McNair, and Elijah Willbanks each had one hit for Tate. Bryant, McNair and Willbanks each had one run for the Aggies.

Tate 4, Pace 1

In game two, the Aggies claimed the win 4-1 over the Patriots.

Cade Mcnair stated on the mound for the Aggies, giving up no hits and no runs in two innings, striking out one and walking one. In relief, Ethan Priest, Eliah Willbanks and Bryson Addams each tossed shutout innings for the Aggies.

Kannon Ham went 1-2 at the plate for the Aggies, and Cooper Halfacre added a hit.

Up next, te Tate Aggies A and B summer teams will host West Florida on Wednesday.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

June 12, 2024

The Tate Lady Aggies took on Navarre Tuesday afternoon in summer softball action.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Career Fire Officer of the Year

Lt. Keith Chapman

Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year

Lt. Doug Sprissler

Career Firefighter of the Year

FF Travis Litchfield

Volunteer Firefighter of the Year

FF Christianne Barry

Lieutenant Terrell Jackson Award

Lt. Peter Welch

District Chief Dwain Bradshaw Award

Chief Brandon Stevens

Medal of Courage

FF Tyler Jackson

Promotions

The following individual was promoted to Fire Chief:

Chief Adam Harrison

The following individual was promoted to Recruitment and Retention Chief:

Chief Yoshimi Core

The following individual was promoted to the position of Battalion Chief:

Battalion Chief Wesley Barnett

The following individuals were promoted to the position of Captain:

Capt. Alex Torres
Capt. Brian Diamond

The following individuals were promoted to the position of Lieutenant:

Lt. Jason Crabbe
Lt. Reiner Crabtree
Lt. Dale Dirks
Lt. Guy Meredith
Lt. Baylen Payne
Lt. JP Owens
Lt. Chase Webb
Lt. Peter Welch

The following individuals were promoted from cadet to firefighter:

FF Joseph Thrower
FF Allan Beasley
FF Kenneth Devaughn
FF Ty Morgan
FF Chase Boydstun
FF Benet Silveira

Distinguished Service Medal

Lt. Jacob Meligan (Station 4)
- Performed lifesaving aid to a gunshot wound victim on Sept. 19, 2023
Lt. Tad Bush, Lt. Charles Bailey, FF Michael Maddrey and FF Nick Pearson (Engine 6)
- Going above-and-beyond to provide food, comfort and compassion during a call on Nov. 1, 2023
Lt. Keith Chapman (Station 17)
- Providing cancer education and assistance
Ray Melton (Fire Prevention)
- For his years of service to fire and life safety education

Service Recognition Medal

Shannon Hoffman (Station 11 Support)
- ECFR photographer
Chief Jim Pokrandt (Logistics 1)
- Provides small engine repairs, maintains the storage warehouse and provides support during calls
Scott Jillson
- Provides warehouse and supply support
Chief Adam Harrison
- Assumed the role of Fire Chief
Deputy Chief Paul Williams
- His dedication to ECFR both on and off-duty
Chief Greg Campanella
- Providing over 15 years of service to ECFR; led change in his division leading to growth for ECFR; for his leadership on new projects; his push for advanced technology within the service
Battalion Chief Curt Isakson
- For his love and passion for the fire service; his dedication to teaching fire service education and offering free admission to ECFR personnel to County Fire Tactics conferences
Captain Matt “On-Call” Rus
- For over 15 years of service; assistance with Firefighter 1 class and interviews of new ECFR members
Lt. Tom Schwartz
- For 15 years of service; his involvement in the ECFR Awards Committee, Peer Support teams and CIT; pilot of ECFR’s first drone
FF Chris French
- For over 15 years of service; his love of teaching and sharing his expertise; his motivation of others
Lt. John VanMatre
- For over 15 years of service; his decision to come out of retirement to help with Fleet Management; his work to organize the Fleet program and keep vehicles maintained; his work to keep ECFR moving forward
David Coulter
- For over 15 years of service to the Fleet program; working with Chief Williams and Lt. VanMatre getting vehicles serviced and repaired
Lt. Jim Allen
- For over 15 years of service; one of first three Training Lieutenants for ECFR; leader of the Peer Support team; his deep passion for his job, training, mental health support and his family
Lt. Lynn Garrett
- For over 15 years of service; ECFR Bugler and his commitment to playing for any agency that requests his services

Company Citations

04/06/2023: Water Rescue with Multiple Patients in Cardiac Arrest
- Ladder 19 – Lt. Vowell, FF Clark, FF Williams
- Engine 8 – Lt. Bosso, FF Wilson, FF Stafford, FF/PM Fike
- Squad 14- Lt. Webb, FF Coulter, FF McGuffey
- Battalion Chief 2 – BC Boothe
04/16/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – 90 block of Moreno Court
- Engine 16 – Lt. Schwartz, FF King, FF Lemmon
- Battalion Chief 2 – Acting Battalion Chief Chapman
04/28/2023: Water Rescue – Pensacola Beach Walkover 25C
- Engine 13 – Lt. Meredith, FF Mauro, FF Huber
- Ladder 13 – Captain Barnett, FF Stivers, FF Chapman
- Battalion Chief 3 – BC Harrison
- Engine 17 – Lt. Chapman, FF Carballosa, FF Aceto
06/08/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – 16000 block of Perdido Key Drive
- Ladder 19 – Lt. Sumner, FF Pittman, FF Frage, FF Jobb
- Engine 8 – Lt. Marcum, FF McCleary, FF Stevenson, FF Reeves
- Civilian – Dr. Damon Darsey, Medical Director of the State of Mississippi Public Safety
06/16/2023: Flooding Conditions – Forest Creek Apartments
- Chief Williams
- Chief Campanella
- FF Beasley
- FF Rosa
- Squad 14 – Lt. Saxton, FF Govyadov, FF Aceto, FF Dray
08/12/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – 7100 block of Peninsula Drive
- Engine 11 – Lt. King, Lt. Rogers, FF Held
10/15/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – 3300 block of Marion Oaks Way
- Engine 16 – Lt. King, FF King, FF Jackson
10/31/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – Victory Assembly of God
- Engine 18 – Dan Floyd and Nick Walsh
- Engine 4 – Lt. Meligan, FF Fehl, FF Pizzo
11/13/2023: Motor Vehicle Crash with Extrication – Chemstrand Road
- Battalion Chief 3 – BC Barnett
- Engine 6 – Lt. Mills, FF Maddrey, FF Callahan, FF Fajardo
- Engine 7 – Lt. Hunsucker, FF Johnson, FF Muldoon, FF Boudreaux
- Engine 4 – Lt. Meligan, FF Fehl, FF Quina, FF Opielowski
- Squad 3 – Lt. Cloer, FF Hill, FF Darr, FF Neydlin
- Safety 4 – Lt. Allen
11/28/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – Along Blue Angel Parkway
- Squad 14 – Lt. Longsworth, FF Werner, FF Haymer
- Engine 8 – Lt. Marcum, FF Brandt, FF Stevenson, FF Kenny
12/11/2023: Cardiac Arrest Save – 7900 block of Kipling Street
- Engine 7 – Lt. Gradia, Lt. Payne, FF Vera, FF Brown

Civilian Awards

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Hawthorne
- For locating a patient stuck in the mud for six days along the Perdido River; used their boat to rescue the patient.
Dr. Damon Darsey
- Assisted ECFR with a cardiac arrest patient in Perdido Key. Dr. Darsey is the Medical Director of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

Hurricane Idalia Deployment

The following individuals deployed to Madison County following Hurricane Idalia as part of the Tactical Response Team – 104:
- BC Boothe
- Lt. Mills
- Lt. Gradia
- Lt. Crabbe
- Lt. Crabtree
- FF Carmichael
- FF Darr
- FF Walther

Final Alarm Recepients

Chief Gregory Rodrique – Volunteer Firefighter Station 2
Lt. Phyllis Kurcher – Volunteer Firefighter Station 2

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

June 11, 2024

The ribbon will be cut next week on Escambia County’s first large public access to Perdido Bay.

The new 40-acre Perdido Bay Boat Ramp facility is located on Heron Bayou and includes a two-lane boat ramp, 62 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers, 22 parking spaces for vehicles without trailers, and a stormwater treatment facility. In addition, a new channel measuring at 2,260 feet long by 40 feet wide and a depth of 5 feet has been dredged from the launching facility to Perdido Bay. Additional passive recreational opportunities include a landing area along the Perdido paddling trail with two campsites and 11 acres of wetlands placed into conservation.

“I am excited for all the citizens on Escambia’s west side to have such a fantastic community amenity,” Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said. “We have all worked very hard for a long time to bring this project to fruition, and I can’t wait to cut the ribbon on this and open it up next week for the boaters of our county.”

In 2013, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners funded the acquisition of the Perdido Boat Ramp property for $1.24 million through Local Option Sales Tax III. Project design was paid through a grant from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Vessel Registration Fees. Construction was funded through U.S. Treasury RESTORE Direct Component funds, American Rescue Plan Act funds and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Natural Resource Damage Assessment Coastal Protection Fund.

A ribbon cutting will be held Tuesday, June 18, at 11 a.m. at 10808 Lillian Highway.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

June 11, 2024

Candidate qualifying began at noon on Monday.

Candidates were able to bring the required paperwork to the Supervisor of Elections Office in the last two weeks, prior to the start of qualifying.

The following local candidates had qualified for the 2024 ballot in Escambia County as of close of business Monday:

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections – (Partisan)

Robert Bender (REP)

Escambia County Tax Collector – (Partisan)

Scott Lunsford (REP)

Escambia County Clerk of Court – (Partisan)

Pam Childers (REP)

Escambia County Sheriff – (Partisan)

Chip W. Simmons (REP)

Escambia County Commissioner – (Partisan)

District 1 – Steven Stroberger (REP)
District 1 – Jeff Bergosh (REP)
District 4 – Ashlee Hofberger (REP)
District 4 – Ron Helms (DEM)
District 4 – Buck Mitchell (REP)
District 5 – Steven Barry (REP)

Emerald Coast Utility Authority – (Partisan)

District 1 – Vicki Campbell (REP)
District 1 – Jim Faxlanger (REP)
District 3 – Chase “Andy” Romagnano (DEM)
District 3 – Larry Williams (DEM)

Escambia County School Board – (Nonpartisan)

District 4 – Carissa Bergosh
District 4 – Brian Ranelli
District 5 – Thomas Harrell
District 5 – Joshua Luther
District 5 – Jim “Andy” Taylor

Pensacola City Council – (Nonpartisan)

District 1 – Jennifer M. Brahier
District 1 – Edward “Phil” Nickinson IV
District 3 – Casey Jones
District 7 – Delarian Wiggins

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

June 11, 2024

Florida is launching ColdCaseCards to be distributed to prisoners across the state.

Each playingcardfeatures a photograph and information about an unsolved homicide or missing-personcase. More than 5,000 decks will be distributed to Florida jails and prisons to generate new leads and insights from inmates to help solve longstanding criminal investigations.

The announcement was made Monday by Attorney General Ashley Moody, with the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Department of Corrections, at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 5,000 decks of cards will be printed and distributed to more than 60 county jails overseen by Florida Sheriffs’ offices, and 145 sites overseen by FDOC. Each of the cards will tell the story of a missing person or an unsolved homicide case, as well as information about how to report an anonymous tip through **TIPS (8477). Digital versions of the cards will also be available to view online.

Other states have seen success through similar programs. In Connecticut, similar decks have helped the state solve 20 cold cases, and in South Carolina, at least eight cases were solved.

Tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a cash reward of up to $9,500. Tipsters will remain anonymous.

In February, Attorney General Moody announced the new Florida Cold Case Investigations Unit, housed within the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. The unit is already producing results, helping investigate and prosecute the suspect of the 2010 murder of a 16-year-old Alachua County boy.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

June 10, 2024

Mayor and two council seats in Century will be on the ballot this year, and this is qualifying week.

The office of mayor, currently held by Luis Gomez, Jr.; council seat one, currently held by Dynette Lewis; and council seat two, currently held by Henry Cunningham are all up for election in 2024.

Salary, Qualifying Fee

The salary for mayor is $10,131.96 annually. The qualifying fee is a 1% Election Assessment of $101.32 plus a $25.00 filing fee for a total of $126.32. To qualify, a candidate must be a registered voter in the Town of Century (Predict 22.1). A mayoral candidate must have also resided in the town for at least six months prior to the date on which he qualified to run for the office of mayor.

For a council seat, a candidate must be a registered voter in the Town of Century (Precinct 22.1). The annual salary is $3,714.96. The qualifying fee is a 1% Election Assessment or $37.15 plus a $12.85 filing fee for a total of $50.

The four-year terms for the mayor and both council seats will begin on Monday, January 6, 2025.

How And When To Qualify

Candidates must qualify with the Escambia County Supervisor of elections between noon on Monday, June 10 and noon on Friday, June 14. Qualification will be at the Supervisor of Elections Office a 221 Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola. The office is open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

A SOE staff member will be in council chambers at Century Town Hall on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Election Dates

For contests with three or more candidates, there will be a primary election on August 20, 2024. The runoff, if necessary, and contests with only two candidates, will be in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News