West Florida High Students Collect Diapers, Wipes, Formula For Hurricane Ida Victims
September 22, 2021
The National Honor Society Chapter at West Florida High School collecting diapers, wipes and baby formula for the littlest victims of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.
The supplies were delivered to Pensacola law firm Lorium Law for transportation to Louisiana.
WFHS club sponsor Teressa Doman and her National Honor Society students collected over 1,500 diapers. numerous baby wipes, and baby formula.
“The kids have really come together and gotten behind this initiative,” said Doman. “We are just happy to be able to lend a little bit of relief to our neighbors in Louisiana.”
“It is our privilege to be able to gather and deliver tens of thousands of dollars worth of desperately needed donations and supplies directly to the people of Louisiana who were hardest hit by Ida,” said Garrett P. LaBorde, Pensacola managing attorney for the law firm.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Central Defeats Northview Volleyball (With Photo Gallery)
September 22, 2021
The Central Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-0 Tuesday evening in Bratt.
Central won 25-7, 25-19, 27-25.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals Thursday. Junior varsity action begins at 4 p.m. Northview’s Senior Night will take place at 5 p.m. to be immediately followed by the varsity.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wednesday Is An Early School Release Day In Escambia County; Dismissal Times Have Changed
September 21, 2021
Parents of Escambia County School District students take note….Wednesday, an early release day and dismissal times have changed since last school year.
Early release days offer teachers and staff the opportunity for professional development, according to the district.
On all early release dates, schools will serve lunch and regular transportation will be provided.
In addition to September 22, there will also be early release days on November 3 and January 26. Early release times for each school are below.
Searchers Return To Bratt Looking For Body Of Murdered Pensacola Woman
September 21, 2021
Authorities were back in Bratt Tuesday morning, searching an area less than two miles from Northview High School for the body of a murdered Pensacola woman.
Giles Curt Jones, 38, was charged with first degree murder for the death of 40-year old Latonya Antionette Baxter. She was reported missing by her daughter on September 12, the day after his vehicle was confirmed to be in Century.
Acting on a tip from the public, officers from the Pensacola Police Department, assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, were on 4-wheelers and on foot Monday afternoon searching areas along Highway 168 east of Pine Barren Road. Nothing was found.
The search continued Tuesday morning with the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, KlaasKIDS, and a drone from the Flomaton Police Department.
For a photo gallery from Tuesday’s search, click or tap here.
The drone located one area of interest north of Highway 168, but when searchers reached the area on foot they found rocks and dirt that were not suspicious. Nothing else was found, and the search was called off for the day.
A picture of an obviously deceased Baxter was found on Jones’ phone, according to Pensacola Police. The photo was taken at 1:54 on Saturday, September 11. About noon that day, Jones’ gray 2009 Nissan Maxima with Florida tag #45BAFU was captured on camera northbound on Highway 29 in Century. The vehicle headed back south on Highway 29 through Century about 3 p.m.
Pensacola Police spokesman Mike Wood said the department is asking anyone with trail or game cameras in the North Escambia area to check them for anything suspicious, especially during the day on September 11.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
For additional details about the murder and photos from Monday, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Release School Grades, But Not For Escambia County. We Have The Grades Here.
September 21, 2021
The Florida Department of Education on Monday released school grades, but don’t expect to find grades for school in Escambia County on the list. The only place you will find them is on a list released last month on NorthEscambia.com, and reprinted below.
Escambia County A-F school grades were not released this year because the district did not request them. In fact, only 11 of Florida’s 67 counties requested and received their school grades.
Checking the school grades — officially called the Florida School Accountability Reports — on the Florida Department of Education website, Escambia County’s 2021 grades are blank.
But in late August, in a NorthEscambia.com exclusive, Escambia County school grades were posted. The letter grades were calculated by Rep. Michelle Salzman using test scores that were released by the state and the precise formula that would have been used by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).
“I received a lot of inquiries about school grades from constituents, community leaders and media outlet,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com at the time. “I am extremely proud of our teachers, and these grades are a direct indication to the importance of having your children in school. Now that we know where we are, we can navigate together.”
A.K. Suter Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Pensacola Beach Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, West Florida High, and Escambia Virtual Academy were all A schools under Salzman’s calculations.
On the other end of the scale 11 schools received an F — Bellview Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Lincoln Park Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, Bellview Middle, and Workman Middle
Escambia County opted not to have the state calculate the school grades under a pandemic-related FDOE emergency order issued in April that gave that choice to school districts, just as 55 other counties did.
Escambia County school grades, as calculated by Salzman, were as follows for the 2020-2021 school year:
Escambia Fire Rescue Takes Part In Annual Volunteer Firefighter Weekend
September 21, 2021
Three Escambia Fire Rescue volunteer firefighters took part in the 16th Annual Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend.
The volunteer firefighter training event featured hands-on training opportunities including vehicle extrication, wild land operations, USAR, medical training, and more. There were also workshops, seminars and live burn training at the event at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
Cheyann Smith from the Beulah Fire Station, along with Nathan Thomas and William Tharp from the Ferry Pass Station, took part in the training event on their way to becoming certified volunteer firefighters.
“It’s imperative for volunteer firefighters to train and become certified,” said Michael Aaron, Escambia Fire Rescue assistant volunteer fire chief. “This allows them to become functional on the fire ground and help the overall mission of the organization. This training also gives the taxpayers the best service possible as a combination fire department.”
Eglin Air Force Base career firefighter Reed Moss, also a volunteer firefighter at Station 2-Beulah.
Beulah volunteer Reed Moss also took part in the weekend. In addition to being an Escambia volunteer, he works a career firefighter for Eglin Air Force Base.
Pictured top: Volunteer firefighters (from left) Cheyann Smith, Beulah; Nathan Thomas and William Tharp, Ferry Pass; and Eglin AFB career firefighter Reed Moss, who is also volunteer from Beulah. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall Below 200 For First Time Since July
September 21, 2021
On Monday, Escambia COVID-19 hospitalization fell below 200 for the first time since July 30.
There were 184 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Monday, three of those under age 18.
Two weeks ago, there were 344 hospitalizations. There were 284 one week ago, and 330 the week before that. The hospitalizations aggregate date reported by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, West Florida Hospital and Baptist Hospital.
Fall Arriving Soon: Strong Cold Front Will Move Through Wednesday
September 21, 2021
The first day of fall on the calendar is Wednesday, and a strong cold front will bring more fall-like temperatures. Lows will dip in the 50s, even the lower 50s in the more northern part of Escambia County.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Century Approves Leases For Non-Profit, Church At $1 Per Month; Town Will Repair A/C
September 21, 2021
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to repair or replace heating and cooling units and move forward with $1 per month leases for a church and a nonprofit at what is known as the Century Business Center on Pond Street.
Leases were prepared for approval for an building (pictured below) at for Northwest Florida Community Outreach (NWFCO) and for a room (pictured above) at the center for Wesley Chapel CME Church.
Under the terms of both leases, HVAC and other maintenance would be the responsibly of the tenant, not the town, due to the low rent. Ratifying the leases was postponed earlier this month after the potential tenants notified the council that the HVAC systems did not work properly.
A tentative evaluation found that some of the units may need to be replaced if repairs are not feasible considering the age of the equipment. If reasonable repairs can be made, the town will use their general fund. If more expensive replacements are required, they will use local option sales tax funds.
Monday night, the Century Council voted 3-0 to approve a five year lease for the Northwest Florida Community Outreach and a two-year lease for Wesley Chapel. Both will pay for any future upkeep and their monthly utility bills.
NWFCO is a nonprofit that has held several food giveaways and other public benefit events over the last year in Century.
Wesley Chapel CME Church has held church services at the Business Center for several years, but without a lease. The church’s Jefferson Street location was heavily damaged — shifted off its foundation — by the February 2016 tornado that ripped through Century. The remains of the building were reduced to rubble after an arsonist set fire to it in October 2016.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Runners Association Donates $5,458 To Northview High Track
September 21, 2021
The Northview High School track team has received a large donation from the Pensacola Runners Association.
The $5,458 donation will be used to purchase a new high jump pit that has been needed for years, according to coach Douglas Godwin.
“I would like to say thank you, on behalf of our track program and Northview High School, to the Pensacola Runners Association because it is programs like theirs that help out high school athletic teams when there is a need,” Godwin said. “We would not have been able to purchase a brand new high jump pit without their help.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.