Firefighters Responded To Cotton Picker Fire
November 18, 2020
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a cotton picker fire in field in Bratt near the Florida/Alabama state line early Wednesday evening.
The smoldering cotton picker was located about a half mile off Morton Road in a field south of State Line Road. There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Nice Days, Clear Cool Nights In The 40s
November 18, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 73. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Newly Reelected Escambia Commissioners Sworn In For New Terms
November 18, 2020
Three Escambia County commissioners were sworn in Tuesday for four year terms after being reelected, and the gavel passed to a new commission chairman.
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh took the oath to begin his second term on the Escambia County Commission, while District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry and District 3 Commissioner Lumon May were sworn in for their third terms.
The chairman gavel was passed from Barry to District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender, and Bergosh became vice chairman for the next year. The board chair rotates on a set annual basis.
All three men spoke, sometimes emotionally, about their families.
Jeff Bergosh, District 1
“I want to thank God. Nothing’s more important…,” said Jeff Bergosh, who was sworn in by his brother, Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh. “Nothing happens without Him, so I thank God for all His blessings on me, this community and our wonderful country.”
Bergosh took a moment to thank his wife Sally for her sacrifices.
“This woman, without her, I don’t know where I’d be. She’s followed me on every adventure,” he said. “Mother of my children, I just don’t know where I’d be without you.” He also thanked his children.
“Things will get better. We will get past this virus,” Jeff Bergosh remarked. “We will move forward. Our economy will recover and right here in Escambia County, as a kid that grew up here, our best days are ahead of us, ahead of us. And I look forward to all the great things that this board is going to do for the citizens.”
“I look forward to the great things that we are going to do. We will bring District 1’s first public library; that’s coming. It’s funded. We will bring tremendous infrastructure to District 1; it’s coming. We are going to bring a brand new fire station to Beulah. It’s desperately needed; it’s coming.”
Lumon May, District 3
“First I give honor to God for allowing me to have the ability to serve this community,” May said before thanking his family.
“When you decide to run for office, it’s not just you running. It’s your entire family. It’s the good, the bad, the horrific things said, the painful things that you bear…you don’t bare it alone. You bare it with your family.”
Steven Barry, District 5
As Barry made his remarks, he looked up from the field at Blue Wahoos Stadium into the stands and saw his wife Ellen with their young son Jack.
“I see Ellen has walked off in the hallway with Jack,” he said, pausing.
“These are very stressful positions on your family,” Barry said. “Sometimes we feel that people are talking bad about us or saying things about us. But at least we always have an opportunity to have a forum to respond. … Our spouses, our children, they don’t have the opportunity to do that.”
His voice cracked with emotion as he continued.
“They are left to us to defend not just ourselves but them….I’m also very thankful to have my mom here today….It was very difficult.”
“Mom was able to be here last time,” he said, pausing again with emotion. “She was able to be here again today.
Thursday Is Deadline For Public Input On Potential I-10, Beulah Road Interchange
November 18, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation is conducting a study to consider the addition of a new I-10 interchange along I-10 in the vicinity of Beulah Road, and the deadline to submit public comments for consideration is Thursday, November 19.
The project includes the widening of Beulah Road from West Nine Mile Road to Isaacs Lane, the realignment from Isaacs Lane to West Kingsfield Road, a new interchange at I-10 and the widening of I-10 from the Florida/Alabama line to the Pensacola weigh station.
The project encompasses an area that will see a significant amount of a future development.
As a result of planned growth, there is a need to provide connectivity from new areas of development to the surrounding regional transportation system, according to FDOT. Additionally, there is a need to provide an alternative route that will reduce travel times and congestion within the study area.
For a project update, virtual tour, interactive map and an interactive comment form, click or tap here.
Newly Appointed Escambia School Superintendent, Two Board Members Sworn In
November 18, 2020
Escambia County’s new superintendent and two board members were sworn in Tuesday night.
Superintendent Dr. Timothy Smith was appointed by the board. In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent. Malcolm Thomas, who was an elected superintendent, has now retired.
Smith was an executive area director of high schools in Orange County, Florida, which has 212,000 students. His direct responsibility was for 10 high schools with a combined student population of 30,000 students. There are about 40,000 students in the entire Escambia County district. He has also served as a principal at the middle and high school levels.
District 4 school board member Patty Hightower and District 5 member Bill Slayton were sworn in for another four years on the board. Both were reelected with no opposition.
Pictured: The oaths of office were given Tuesday night to Escambia County School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy Smith (top), District 5 board member Bill Slayton (below) and District 4 member Patty Hightower (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teachers Of The Year Named At Each Escambia County School
November 18, 2020
The Escambia County School District has named Teachers of the Year from each school in the county.
An overall Teacher of the Year for the school district will be named later.
The 2020 Teachers of the Year are:
Jim Allen Elementary — Emily West
Bellview Elementary — Turkessa Dale
Beulah Elementary — Cathy Ciccone
Blue Angels Elementary — Jennifer Langford
Bratt Elementary — Frances Emmons
Brentwood Elementary — Vera Wiley
Byrneville Elementary — Tamesha Dunsford
Hellen Caro Elementary — Brittney Goldthwaite
N. B. Cook Elementary — Carla Joy McKinley Matthews
Cordova Park Elementary — Vicki Crawford
Ensley Elementary — Stephanie Norman
Ferry Pass Elementary — Ian Waldron
Global Learning Academy — Diana W. Isert
Reinhardt Holm Elementary — Etter Wright
Kingsfield Elementary School — Stephanie Harris
Lincoln Park Elementary — Charles Crosby
R. C. Lipscomb Elementary — Kristina Golloher
Longleaf Elementary — Tammy Pitman
L. D. McArthur Elementary — Deborah Keslar
Molino Park Elementary — Rachel Venable
Montclair Elementary School — Briana McCreary
Myrtle Grove Elementary — Aurora Paul
Navy Point Elementary — Brenda Parker
Oakcrest Elementary — Peggie Bosso
Pine Meadow Elementary — Kristen Whiddon
Pleasant Grove Elementary — Matt Blackburn
Scenic Heights Elementary — Ashlee Kinser
O. J. Semmes Elementary — Jennifer Willem
Sherwood Elementary — Kerrie Mills
A. K. Suter Elementary — Heather McWethy
Warrington Elementary — Paula Sides
C. A. Weis Elementary — Gabrielle Merritt
West Pensacola Elementary — Madeline Pisani
Escambia High — John Fuller
Northview High — Ashley Salter
Pensacola High — Suzanna Ryals
Pine Forest High — Veronica McCants
J. M. Tate High — Janice Courson
Booker T. Washington High — Stephanie Connors
West Florida High — Marjorie Stradley
George Stone Technical College — Derrick Beaird
Jim C. Bailey Middle — Jamie Harris
Bellview Middle — Delia Smith
Beulah Academy of Science — Chrystale Gilley
Beulah Middle School — James Seigle
Brown-Barge Middle — Rashena McWhite
Ferry Pass Middle — Maureen Humphrey
Ransom Middle — Janie Walker
Ernest Ward Middle — Ashley Long
Warrington Middle — Brenda Arlene Coleman
J. H. Workman Middle School — Rochelle Carmichael
Alternative Education — Mercedes Musto
Camelot Academy — Charles Allen
Escambia Westgate — Jennifer Holman
Exceptional Student Education — Kassandra Goble
Lakeview School — Sherry King
Traffic Shift Today I-10 Westbound To Nine Mile Road Exit For Traffic Signal Installation
November 18, 2020
Drivers can expect a new temporary traffic pattern Wednesday on the I-10 westbound off ramp to Nine Mile Road, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
From 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m., the exit lanes will be shift to the outside of the roadway allowing crews to install a near traffic signal.
Century Raises Garbage Rates
November 18, 2020
Century residents will see an increase on their garbage bill next month.
The town contracts with Republic Services to collect garbage within the town limits. Republic has a provision in their contract that allows them to increase the rates they charged the town each December to match the Consumer Price Index. The town annually passes the rate increase directly along to residents.
That increase will amount to 3.4%, or about 80 cents, per customer, according to Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather.
Residential sanitation customers in Century will pay a monthly fee of $23.63.
Century renewed a five year contract with Republic Services in July.
FloridaWest EDA Seeks Applications For Designated Director
November 18, 2020
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is seeking applications from individuals for appointment as designated director to the FloridaWest EDA Board of Directors.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance was created in October 2014 when economic development was separated and moved out from under the present-day Greater Pensacola Chamber. FloridaWest EDA operates as a publicly/privately-funded organization.
The mission of FloridaWest EDA is to promote industry and commerce, enhance the business climate and stimulate economic prosperity, support workforce development, promote community development and encourage political action. FloridaWest EDA strives to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people in Pensacola, Escambia County and Northwest Florida.
The deadline for applications is Monday, November 30, 2020. Please respond with a letter of interest to”
Melissa Stoker
mstoker@floridawesteda.com
FDOH Reports 108 New COVID-19 Cases, One Death In Escambia County
November 18, 2020
THIS IS ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 108 additional COVID-19 cases and one new death reported Tuesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 15,298 (+108)
Non-Florida residents: 1,616
Total deaths: 289 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths : 133 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 86 (-1)
Number of tests last day: 630
Percent positive last day: 8.8%
Percent positive last week: 9.3%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 11,153 (+79)
Cantonment: 1,136 (+16)
Century: 951 (+1)
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 176 (+2)
McDavid: 82 (+2)
Bellview: 23 (+2)
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 13
Gonzalez: 8
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 6,673 (+59)
Non-Florida residents: 82
Total deaths: 95 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths: 21 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 402*
Number of tests last day: 266
Percent positive last day: 18.2%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:Edit
Milton: 3,227 (+24)
Gulf Breeze: 989 (+7)
Navarre: 941 (+7)
Pace: 567 (+3)
Jay: 167 (+3)
Bagdad: 13
Florida cases:
Total cases: 897,323
Florida residents: 884,625
Deaths: 17,644
Hospitalizations: 52,329*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.