The Top 15 North Escambia Stories Of 2015

January 3, 2016

Here our picks for the Top 15 North Escambia Stories of 2015. The list was compiled to include those stories that were “big news”, had a great influence on the North Escambia area or had the community talking most during 2015.

15. Ernest Ward Middle School Grand Opening

An official grand opening and ribbon cutting was held  in October  for the newly rebuilt Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.

The modern $20 million facility, funded by the half-cent sales tax,  replaced a a campus that was among the oldest in the district. The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.

Students moved into the Ernest Ward  in January so classes continue while the old school was demolished.

14. Langley Bell 4-H Center, New 4-H Barns

A dedication ceremony and open house were held in May the new Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment.

Back in 1943 Minnie and Langley Bell donated 400 acres on Nine Mile Road for the county’s original 4-H Center. The property was given to Escambia County 4-H in a trust, with the Escambia County Commission serving as trustees. When the property was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union in 2012 for expansion, a new 4-H Center was planned on the Escambia County Extension Service property on Stefani Road.

Funds from the sale were also used to purchase 108 acres in Molino where a new 4-H Animal Science and Outdoor Center was developed, including new barns.

13. Iconic Molino Restaurant Closes

The iconic Fran’s Country Grill in Molino closed for good in October after a farewell and retirement party for owner Fran Hampton.

The restaurant reopened as the new location for Jimmy’s Grill a few weeks later.

12. Giant Generator Passes By

In October, a giant generator passed through the North Escambia area along Highway 29 at a snail’s  pace. The equipment was transported from the Port of Pensacola to the Georgia Pacific Mill in Brewton.

The generator turbine was on a trailer that is 18-feet wide, almost 25-feet tall and 173.5-feet long.  Along the way, utility crews were forced to lift, pull or remove and estimated 400 obstructions such as power and phone lines. Some residents were without power for an hour or two overnight due to the transport, but most the of the power lines were moved “live” without service interruptions.

11. Cantonment Dedicated Park Improvements, Resource Center

A ribbon cutting was held in May for improvements at Carver Park in Cantonment.

Improvements to Carver Park include a renovated community resource center, enlarged parking lot, volleyball court and re-striped basketball court. The improvements began in 2014 and were funded to Local Option Sale Tax dollars.

Much of the work at Carver Park has been spearheaded by the Cantonment Improvement Association, a group working, as their name implies, to improve the quality of life for all law-abiding citizens of Cantonment, with an emphasis on making sure children and safe and well-prepared.

10. Lillian Kings Passes, Museum Carries Her Name

The Molino community mourned the passing of Lillian King in February before celebrating her accomplishments in May.

The Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum in Molino was officially dedicated as the “Lillian F. King Museum”. The museum was renamed in the honor of Lil King, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Molino Community Complex — housing the museum, the Molino Branch of the West Florida Public Library, multiple meeting rooms, and an auditorium — in the former Molino Elementary School.

9. New Health Start Program

The Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition opened their newest location in Century in June.

The new location offered a free immunization clinic, WIC  and other services aimed at improving the health of children and pregnant women and their unborn babies.

8. Reimagine Century Brings Hope

Reimagine Century’s goal was to breathe new life into Century, where the faithful reached out to touch the hearts and lives of area residents in need in May.

The event included a wide variety of activities, including a 15,000 pound food giveaway, health screenings, AIDS testing, diabetes information, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’, free manicures, information from community agencies, a clothing giveaway, free lunch, and more for the needy in the Century area.

7. Announcement of the Bluffs

In November, plans were announced for “The Bluffs”, a new economic development site that could eventually be home to as many as 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies and more than 15,000 jobs.

The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south

6. $80 Million In National Attention For Davisville


Davisville received national attention in April, and local residents waited to see who it would be after it was announced that someone who purchased a Powerball ticket in North Escambia  for an April drawing and became the country’s newest mega-millionaire.

Alice Dawson, 60, of Frisco City, AL, chose to receive the winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $53,440,213.76. The State Line Gift Shop received a bonus of $40,000 for selling the winning ticket.

5. Volunteer Fire Department Woes

After much debate, Escambia County made changes related to volunteer firefighters, hoping to streamline the process of recruiting more volunteers rather than raising taxes or dipping into financial reserves to hire a large number of career firefighters.

Additional fire stations south of Nine Mile Road were staffed, while the need to maintain a strong volunteer base in North Escambia was highlighted.

4. $25,000 Century Business Challenge

The winners of the $25,000 Century Business Challenge were named in June at the Century Business Center. But in the end, it appears the contest may foster more winners by sparking a spirit of entrepreneurship and friendship in Century. Judges decided to split the $25,000 prize — with $20,000 going to East Hill Academy to be used toward a special needs school in Century and $5,000 to the Abundant Life Children of Hope Center childcare center.

East Hill announced plans to open their school by the fall of 2016, while the childcare center was already up and running at the time of the award announcement.

3. Northview’s Anna Barry Named Teacher of the Year

Northview High School teacher Anna Barry was named the Escambia County Teacher of the Year in February. The world history teacher was honored several times during the year, including a Shine Award from Gov. Rick Scott, the opportunity to toss the first pitch at a Blue Wahoos game, and a flight with the Blue Angels.

“I knew it was going to be a once in a lifetime experience, but it exceeded my highest expectations,” Barry said shortly after the Blue Angels flight. “I don’t even have the right words to describe it…it was really awesome.”

2. Tate Softball State Championship

The Tate High School Lady Aggies beat Sarasota 8-1 in May in Vero Beach to claim the FHSAA Class 7A state championship. Tori Perkins slammed an infield homer in the top of the seventh to help seal the win, brining home Casey McCrakin and Rachel Wright.

Later in the year, the team was honored by the Escambia County School Board and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Tori Perkins was named the state 7A pitcher of the year, and Tate coach Melinda Wyatt was named the state 7A coach of the year. Rachel Wright, Hayden Lindsay and Lauren Brennan were named to the state second team.

1. Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Signal

A new traffic signal at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino became operational in mid- June after years of planning and debate. For the remainder of the year, there were no major injury accidents at the intersection.

In December 2013, a Florida Department of Transportation study concluded that a traffic signal was needed at the intersection. A couple of months earlier in 2013, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay over a quarter of a million dollars for the red light, while numerous state and local officials called for the installation of the light to curb a stream of major accidents.

NorthEscambia.com photos.

Comments

One Response to “The Top 15 North Escambia Stories Of 2015”

  1. Melodies4us on January 3rd, 2016 5:35 pm

    Lots of wonderful improvements have been made in 2015 ! Our community has a lot to be thankful for.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News