ATV Crash Claims Life Of 12-Year Old Flomaton Elementary Student
May 24, 2021
An all-terrain vehicle crash claimed the life of a 12-year old boy in Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
Flomaton Elementary Principal George Brown told our news partners at WEAR 3 that the victim is Logan Mitchell, a sixth grade student at the school.
The ATV crash occurred about 5 p.m. on private property in the area of Upper Creek Road west of the Rock Cemetery, about a half mile from Highway 31. He was airlifted by ShandsCair 6 medical helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced deceased.
“At this time the Flomaton Police Department is conducting a lengthy investigation into the total circumstances surrounding the crash,” Thompson said. The Flomaton Police Department and Escambia County Department of Human Resources are investigating. Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said the case will be presented to the Escambia County District Attorney’s Office for review, but at this time no criminal charges have been filed.
“On behalf of the Flomaton Police Department, we send out high respects to the families of both underaged victims in the crash. Our community lost a previous soul, and we together as one are grieving,” the police chief said.
Mitchell was the third Flomaton Elementary School student death in the past year. An ATV accident on May 28, 2020, claimed the life of 6-year old Trayton Adams, and 11-year old Jaden James, was killed in an October 3, 2020, vehicle crash in Walnut Hill.
Pictured: Logan Mitchell. Photo provided by Flomaton Elementary Principal George Brown via WEAR 3. Click to enlarge.
Florida Ending $300 Weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Payments
May 24, 2021
Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday announced that the state will withdraw from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program effective June 26, ending extra $300 per week payments.
The DEO said there are more than 460,000 online jobs posted online that are available throughout the state for job seekers.
“Florida’s employers are also seeing employment growth, as more Floridians, including some who completely left the workforce, are now eagerly reentering the workforce. Transitioning away from this benefit will help meet the demands of small and large businesses who are ready to hire and expand their workforce,” said Dane Eagle, secretary of the Florida DEO.
Florida businesses and employers are hiring across the state and need unemployed Floridians to return to the workforce, according to Florida DEO.
For the week beginning June 27, 2021, eligible reemployment assistance claimants will no longer receive the supplemental $300 weekly FPUC payment.
Century Charter Review Committee Begins Work To Rewrite Future Of Town Government
May 24, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee is back at work to shape the future of government in the town.
The committee was first appointed in August 2019 to explore the town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The charter has not been updated in 40 years, and that often creates problems in the operation of the town.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed regular meetings for the charter committee and any chance of moving forward in 2020, preventing any charter change from making the ballot.
Former interim town manager Buz Eddy, acting as a consultant, met with the committee last week and discussed the forms of government that Century could choose, including the possibility of shifting many responsibilities to a town manager.
Committee chairperson Mary Bourgeois said she wants the committee to being work in earnest next month and explore the current charter “line by line.”
There were 11 members on the original committee, but over half resigned. The town council recently appointed three new members, making the new committee of eight. Returning charter review committee members are Bourgeois, Shelisa Abraham, Michelle Cunningham, Evelyn Hammond and Helen Mincy. The three new members are Leslie Howington, Brenda Spencer and Kathryn Fleming.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee chairperson Mary Bourgeois address the committee at a recent meeting. Pictured below: Consultant Buz Eddy explains the forms of government available for municipalities in Florida. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Animal Shelter Cuts Hours Due To Staffing Shortage, Seeks To Hire Help
May 24, 2021
The Escambia County animal shelter has cut hours due to staffing issues, and they are looking to hire additional help.
Beginning Monday, May 24, the animal shelter will be open to the public as follows:
- Monday — Friday: 1 — 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. — 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
“Animal Welfare is operating at 50 percent of staffing levels due to the nationwide manpower crisis; therefore, hours will be adjusted to opening one hour later for the public,” said County Administrator Janice Gilley. “This manpower shortage is severely impacting Escambia County services and our current employees. This was the best solution to allow our staff time to provide proper care and cleaning for the animals.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare Department is currently hiring. To learn more, click or tap here.
Klondike, Mobile Highway Crash Claims Life Of Man FHP Says Ran Stop Sign
May 24, 2021
A wreck Sunday morning at Mobile Highway and Klondike Road claimed the life of a 30-year old man.
The Florida Highway Patrol said he was headed south on Klondike Road in a Corvette about 10:15 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign and traveled into Mobile Highway. His vehicle was hit by a Dodge Ram driven westbound by a 37-year old Pensacola man.
The driver of the Corvette was airlifted to Baptist Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The pickup truck driver was not injured.
Florida Gas Prices Decline Slightly; Escambia Averages A Dime Higher
May 24, 2021
Florida gas prices are declining slightly in advance of the Memorial Day weekend.
Floridians are currently paying an average price of $2.87 per gallon. That’s 2 cents less than a week ago and 4 cents less than the highest price so far this year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was a dime higher at $2.97. In Cantonment, gas was at a low of $2.89 at stations, while the lowest in Pensacola was $2.80 at two warehouse clubs.
“Unless pump prices suddenly rise this week, holiday travelers will find gas prices that are slightly below what they paid on Memorial Day 2018,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “While expectations of strong holiday fuel demand can carry the potential for causing higher pump prices, wholesale gasoline prices dropped 5 cents last week. That means gas prices could drift lower as the weekend approaches, but things can change quickly in the fuel market.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Warm And Dry Weather Pattern Continues
May 24, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Memorial Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Steve Kenney Named Escambia County Employee Of The Month
May 24, 2021
Sgt. Steve Kenney was named Escambia County’s Employee of the Month for May. He is an environmental enforcement officer in the Natural Resources/Environmental Enforcement Department. He has worked with the county since January 2014.\
Kenny’s main duties and responsibilities, besides working his own cases and managing several other officers, are conducting field investigations, communicating with citizens and conditional use permit holders, gathering pertinent information, preparing written reports and analyzing and interpreting the applicable codes and land use decision conditions.
Gene Douglas
May 24, 2021
On Saturday May 22, 2021 our loving husband, father, brother, and Pawpaw, Gene Douglas, went home to be with our Lord and Savior. Gene was born on July 31, 1940 in Pensacola Florida to the late Earl and Amanda Douglas. Gene served our country in the United States Army from 1964-1966, in which time he proudly served in the Vietnam War. Gene went on to retire from International Pape after 21 years. He continued to work for several years, and especially enjoyed his time as “the produce man” at Grocery Advantage in Cantonment.
Gene enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, camping, fishing, and simply just getting in the car and going!
Gene was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Earl Jr., Johnny, and Buddy. He is survived by his wife Ellen, whom he loved dearly, they were married for 53 years. He is also survived by his children Ronnie Douglas (Teri), Jason Douglas (Tammy), Mike Douglas (Lorrie), Geno Douglas, and Cyndi Orrill. His grandchildren Taylor Pody (Ben), Cortney Douglas, Maddy Douglas, Jackson Douglas, Josh Douglas. His brother Carl Douglas, sisters Florence Guthrey, Dale Foshee, Elaine Kleinschmidt, Glenda Thompson, and Joyce Melvin, as well as a host of relatives and friends who loved him very much. Funeral Services will be held at Faith Chapel North. Visitation will be Wednesday May 26 from 6-8. Services will be Thursday May 27 at 2:00. Pastor Keith Mott will be officiating.
Pallbearers will be Sam Daniel, Jerry Daniel, Johnny Daniel, Jackson Douglas, and Josh Douglas.
In Lieu of flowers contributions can be made in his honor to Covenant Care Hospice. You can donate at choosecovenant.org/donate-now
Burdick Stays Hot In Wahoos Series Finale Win Over The Trash Pandas
May 24, 2021
This season had gotten off to rough start at the plate for Peyton Burdick, so the Blue Wahoos outfielder returned to a past approach.
“Just getting back to doing what I normally do as a hitter and staying the other way with it,” he said. “Seeing the ball and reacting to it.
“And there is no better feeling than putting the ball on the barrel. I think once you start feeling that more often, then your body naturally syncs up with your swing.”
Burdick was back in harmony Sunday, capping a big week and helping the Blue Wahoos to a 7-4 victory against the Rocket City Trash Pandas in a series finale that put the exclamation on Pensacola’s six-game performance at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A capacity crowd (5,038) was entertained with another fast start, then stellar relief pitching in the final innings.
“Our bullpen, are starters have been absolutely shoving,” said Burdick, the Miami Marlins’ No. 12-rated prospect by MLB Pipeline.com, who went 2-for-5 with a triple, double and RBI. “They always give us a good start and give us a good chance to win. It was nice to see the bats come through.
“We have been sort of spotty in the lineup, and today we started syncing up one hit at a time and taking what the game was giving up.”
The Blue Wahoos (11-7) took five of the six games against Rocket City (8-10) putting a gap in a first-place, divisional lead among a twin set of four teams in the Double-A South.
Burdick was one of three players with multiple hits. Right fielder Lorenzo Hampton, the son of the former Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins running back, went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Devin Hairston went 2-for-4.
Connor Justus drove in three runs with a home run and a sacrifice.
The Blue Wahoos followed Saturday’s early-inning production with an even better offense Sunday.
They loaded the bases in the first inning on a leadoff triple by Burdick, followed by a walk to JJ Bleday and Nick Fortes reaching when hit by a pitch.
With one out, Tristan Pompey coaxed a bases-loaded walk for the first run.
Hampton followed by lacing a two-run single to right. Justus’ sacrifice fly scored Pompey and gave the Blue Wahoos a 4-0 lead.
In the second inning, after Hairston led off with a single, he scored on a Burdick’s double into the left field corner. In the series, Burdick also hit three home runs.
“I think what started clicking for me was our last game of our series at home,” he said. “I think I had a couple lineouts the other way and that’s when I felt my body and my swing started to sync up a little bit and just being able to drive the ball the other way. It just opens everything.”
The bats were matched by a solid start from Jose Mesa Jr., who worked the first three innings, struck out three, walked none and the only run was a home run.
Brian McKenna earned his second win by pitching scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. Colton Hock earned his third save in the ninth.
The game ended a two-week, 12-game homestand for the Blue Wahoos. They went 2-4 against the Birmingham Barons a week ago.
The Blue Wahoos have Monday off, then will travel to Biloxi, Miss. for a six-game series starting Tuesday against the Biloxi Shuckers, the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate.
Just like Friday and Saturday, the Sunday crowd created a special atmosphere. And the fifth-inning “Roach Run” that Burdick gets to witness as a left fielder was filled with hundreds of kids.
“It just reminded me of when I was a little kid,” Burdick said. “You just want to get out there and see what the other guys see. All those little kids, you see their smiles when they are running. It’s just great seeing the energy from the fans. They create a lot of energy in the game. It’s a great environment to play in.”
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
