Pedestrian Struck And Killed
June 2, 2019
An Escambia County pedestrian was struck and killed late Friday night on Scenic Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol say 56-year old Glenn Burnett of Pensacola was traveling north in the southbound lane of Scenic hear Barranca Lora when he was struck by a Toyota Tundra driven by 42-year old Leonora Gomes of Gulf Breeze. Troopers said Gomes tried to avoid the collision.
Burnett was pronounced deceased on the scene.
No charges were filed.
Sunny Sunday, Chance Of Scattered Showers Returns Monday
June 2, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council Election Results Announced
June 2, 2019
Results of the 2019 Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council election held Saturday have been announced.
Charlotte Meckel won the secretary position with 703 vote to 688 for Candace Fayard.
For treasurer, a runoff will be held August 1 between Amy Bryan, who received 575 votes, and Sandy Fretwell Hollinger who had 507 votes Saturday. Eddie Leon Tullis received 317 votes and was eliminated from the running.
In a field of seven candidates, Dewitt Carter received 494 votes to be elected to an at-large tribal council seat. The next two top vote getters were Megan Young with 319 and John O’Barr with 243.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview 4-H Volunteers At Panhandle Equine Rescue
June 2, 2019
The Northview 4-H Club recently volunteered at Panhandle Equine Rescue. Nine students and four adults did various barn chores around the equire rescue as a community service project. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Employees Could See Higher Minimum Wage By Fall
June 1, 2019
An Escambia County administrator has proposed increasing the minimum starting wage to $13 per hour this year with a goal of topping $15 per hour in 2024.
The proposal was made Interim Assistant County Administrator Chips Kirschenfeld after recent budget meetings with department directors.
“It became very apparent that most directors are having trouble recruiting new employees and retaining current employees at our lowest hourly salaries. Many private businesses, local governments and states are phasing in a $15 per hour minimum ‘livable’ wage ($31,200) over several years,” Kirschenfeld said.
He suggested a starting minimum pay for full time of $13 an hour. With the county’s traditional 3 percent cost of living raises for all employees, the minimum hourly pay would reach $15.06 per hour in 2024.
There are 177 full time county employees that earn less than $13 per hour now. The are mostly custodial workers, equipment operators, emergency medical specialists, maintenance workers, detention assistants, animal control officers, library clerks, and office support assistants.
The cost to implement the $13 per hour salary this fiscal year is estimated to $378,258.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Mike Sherrill Named New Northview High School Principal
June 1, 2019
Mike Sherrill has been named the next principal of Northview High School.
Sherrill served as Northview’s assistant principal from 2004-2010 before spending a year as assistant principal at Pine Forest High School. He was principal of Escambia High School from 2011-2015, and has worked as the assistant principal at George Stone Technical College from 2015 until the present.
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said he is happy to see Sherrill return to Northview. His first official day on the job will be July 1, but he will spend time at the school during June.
Sherrill replaces Gayle Weaver, who retired in January 2019. Weaver was named principal of the new Northview High School in 1994, and she was the only person to serve as principal since the school opened in 1995.
Gerry Pippins will remain the assistant principal at Northview.
Fire Burns Hay Baler, Hay Field Near Jay
June 1, 2019
The Jay and Berrydale volunteer departments battled a farm equipment and field fire Friday on Pinhook Road northeast of Jay.
A hay baler, hayfield and numerous bales of hay burned.
There were no injuries and no structure damage reported.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hot Weekend, Temps In The Middle 90s
June 1, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Atmore Man Charged After Drug Raid
June 1, 2019
An Atmore man was arrested on multiple drug charges after state and local authorities executed a search warrant on Point Escambia Circle.
Gregory Nix was charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Agents with the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force and Atmore Police found numerous plastic containers of marijuana, THC candy and lip balm and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes inside Nix’s apartment, according to police. Scales were also seized use to weight the marijuana.
The marijuana seized from Nix weighed over 2.2 pounds.
ECSD Names School Age Child Care Director of the Year From McArthur Elementary
June 1, 2019
Angela James, McArthur Elementary School’s school age child care director has been recognized as Escambia School District’s Outstanding Child Care Director of the Year.
“This was my first year that I had some of my kindergartners go into the fifth grade and leave,” James (pictured above in blue) explained. “Getting down to the last couple of weeks, I said, ‘Wow, you were with me when I first came here and now you are getting ready to leave me,’ and it was very emotional because I have watched them go from kindergarten to fifth grade. It’s hard to see them go.”
Last year, James started a summer program on McArthur’s campus because she listened to the parents and heard a need. “I scouted out this area for affordable childcare, and there wasn’t a program.” So, she took her proposal to Aisha Adkison, ECSD Workforce Education’s School-Age Child Care Administrator.
James praises the ECSD Workforce Department for allowing them to start the summer program, and her staff for their integral part in the success of the program. “They love the kids just like I do and all I can say is, I have been blessed with a staff that will go above and beyond with me.”
Summer participant, McKynleigh Montano will tell you that all of the staff members are, “really nice. We go outside a lot and we go outside on Fridays for water days, and that’s really fun.” When asked about the award presented to James, Montano said, “I am really happy for her and I’m shocked because she does the best!. And I never knew that this day would come. She is nice to all of us and I am just so happy to have her.”
A bonus staff member is Jason Lewis. Jason attended McArthur Elementary School and he was one of James’ after-school kids. Now, he is about to start high school and this summer he is back helping the staff in a variety of ways. When asked what he is learning from this experience, he explained that he is “learning how to take care of things, to be like them (indicating the staff), and leadership.”
The staff plans indoor and outdoor activities including crafts. This year they are adding field trips to go bowling, skating, to a bounce house and the park.
And, James did her homework. She found out that if she and her staff completed annual training with Feeding the Gulf Coast, her students could get lunch and an afternoon snack.
“It is awesome that we can provide this here,” said James. The program operates Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. She currently has room for ten more students. During the summer, they are not restricted to McArthur students the way they are during the school year.
“James works with her principal, district staff, PTA and community organizations to achieve this feat,” explained Adkison. “Angela and her staff members go above and beyond to ensure her children at McArthur experience a high-quality child care program during the school year, as well as this summer program.”
Additional attributes that her supervisors praise James for are, her outstanding record keeping, inspirational leadership abilities, and for following all process requirements.
“Even better than all of that is that she can do all of that and also be so loved by the students and their parents,” Adkison added.
