Cantonment Rotary Honors Mary Holley-Lewis For ‘Service Above Self’
October 28, 2021
Thursday, the Cantonment Rotary Club honored Mary Holley-Lewis with the “Service Above Self Award”.
The Jim Allen Elementary School third grade teacher not only selflessly gives of her time to the school, but also volunteers with the Cantonment Improvement Committee and other organizations.
She was a driving force behind CIC food distributions that began early in the COVID-19 pandemic during March 2020 and continue each Tuesday at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
October 28, 2021
Byrneville Elementary School has named Students of the Month for September.
They are:
- Kindergarten-Chris James and BJ Cooley
- 1st-Parker Jones and Makayla Wise
- 2nd-Ryan Hoomes and Gracelynn Grant
- 3rd-Wy’Naejah Thomas and Paisley Rogers
- 4th-Ember Henry and Kyle Lowery
- 5th-Natalie Rogers and Bryce Miller
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Sought For ECUA Citizens’ Advisory Committee
October 28, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is seeking candidates interested in an at-large appointment to the ECUA Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC).
Any resident of Escambia County who desires to be appointed as a citizen member may submit an application to ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody outlining their relevant experience, education and qualifications. The CAC serves in an advisory capacity, formulating and presenting recommendations to the ECUA Board.
All CAC members serve a one year term of office and attend one meeting per month, which is usually held on the third Tuesday of the month. The CAC meets at 3 p.m. in the ECUA Boardroom located in the Ellyson Industrial Park. No travel is involved unless the committee members decide to visit an existing or proposed ECUA site for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the ECUA’s CAC, beginning December 2021, are asked to submit a resumé and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on November 8, 2021. Letters and resumés should be submitted to Shakeva Simmons, 9255 Sturdevant Street, Pensacola, FL 32514; or emailed to Shakeva.simmons@ecua.fl.gov.
Escambia (AL) School Mask Mandate Is Expiring
October 28, 2021
The school mask mandate in Escambia County, Alabama, is expiring and won’t be reinstated for now.
The Escambia County (AL) Board of Education implemented a mask mandate in August requiring masks for all students, visitors and staff. The mandate expires at the end of the school day Friday. Masks will be recommended, but not required, beginning Monday, November 1.
Masks will remain a requirement on school buses in the county due to federal transportation regulations.
Woman Killed In Hit And Run Crash, FHP Searching For Driver
October 28, 2021
A pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit and run Wednesday evening in Escambia County.
At 6:35 p.m., an unknown vehicle struck a 34-year old Escambia County woman as she was crossing Pace Boulevard south of West Lee Street. While she was lying in the roadway, she was hit again by a sedan driven by a 51-year old Pensacola man. He was not injured.
The woman was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital where she passed away a short time later.
The Florida Highway said the vehicle that fled may have been a gray Dodge Caravan with damage to the front of the vehicle and the front windshield.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Corporal Whipple at (850) 294-6804, Trooper Van Pelt at (850) 245-1402, or *FHP.
Farmers Work To Beat The Rain
October 28, 2021
Farmers across the North Escambia area worked Wednesday afternoon to harvest crops before overnight rain. Pictured: Peanut harvest in Bratt Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Killed In Highway 29, Quintette Road Crash With Semi Truck
October 27, 2021
A 48-year old Cantonment woman was killed in wreck with a semi truck Wednesday morning on Highway 29 at Quintette Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the woman was traveling west on Quintette Road and failed to stop, entering the path of a semi truck and trailer driven by a 71-year old Mississippi man about 9:15 a.m. Troopers said the semi driver attempted to avoid the collision and swerved.
The SUV was pushed along Highway 29 and began to overturn, partially ejecting the woman who was not wearing a seat belt, according to FHP.
The SUV came to rest on its roof partially on Highway 29 northbound following the 9:15 a.m. crash. The female was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS. The semi drier was not injured.
Highway 29 northbound was closed and traffic diverted onto Quintette Road following the crash.
FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Seeks Volunteer for Planning Board Appointment
October 27, 2021
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in January are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Wednesday, November. 10. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Rachel Whitmire; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, FL 32505; or emailed to rwhitmire@myescambia.com.
PSC Approves New Rates For Gulf Power Customers – An Increase Now, Decrease Later
October 27, 2021
The Florida Public Service Commission has approved a four-year rate settlement for Florida Power & Light (FPL) that will mean a near term rate increase for Gulf Power customers in the Panhandle, but a reduction in the long term..
The rate plan will directly support the largest solar buildout in the United States, including 16 million solar panels across more than 50 new sites. The company said that is enough to power one million homes.
FPL’s parent company NextEra purchased Gulf Power in 2019, and the companies legally merged on January 1, 2021. FPL now serves 5.6 million customer accounts from Miami to Pensacola across more than half of Florida.
Based on the approved rate settlement agreement and FPL’s September filing for fuel and other clauses, the standard 1,000-kWh typical monthly residential bill benchmark for Gulf Power in Northwest Florida would be:
- 2021 – $129.24
- 2022 – $137.49
- 2023 – $134.44
- 2024 – $130.25
- 2025 – $126.47
Gulf Power customers will pay more than FPL customers on that average 1,000 kWh usage — $23.64 more in 2022, declining to $9.45 more in 2025. By 2027, customers will pay the same across the board. The settlement does mean that by 2025, Gulf Power customers will be paying less on average that in 2021.
The bill estimates do not include taxes, fees or hurricane surcharges.
Typical business customer bills in Northwest Florida are expected to grow at an average annual rate of up to 1.7%, depending on the rate class, and remain below the national average.
Pictured: A sign on 10 Mile Road at Pate Street for the Gulf Clean Energy Center, formerly known as Gulf Power’s Plant Crist. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Seeks $3.2 Million To Renovate Two Community Centers, Including One They Don’t Actually Own
October 27, 2021
The Town of Century is applying for a grant worth more than $3 million to renovate two community centers, one of which the town does not actually own.
The application is for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant — Coronavirus that totals $3,255,000. According to consultant Robin Phillips (pictured left), the fund would be spent below, if awarded.
– $50,000 of the total grant would be used for administrative costs, and engineering will cost $300,000.
– $850,000 would go for the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard to bring it up to current building code, renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, install a new HVAC and air purification system, install outside lighting and pave the parking lot. The metal building, constructed in 1992 is about 5,000 square feet.
– $1,985,000 would be used for the Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue to bring it up to code, renovate the kitchen and bathroom, install HVAC and air purification systems, install a new roof, pave the parking lot and for other building renovations. [Photo gallery...]
There’s no guarantee that the town will receive the state grant.
Carver Community Center Questions
A title search is underway by the Escambia County School District to determine exactly who owns the Carver Community Center. According to Escambia Property Appraiser Records, the 6,828 square foot building was constructed in 1945 and belongs to the school district.
For a photo gallery tour of the inside and outside of the old school, click here.
Several people have claimed the building was actually deeded to the Carver Community Center Association, Inc, a Florida not-for-profit corporation that is not listed by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization. Public records indicate that the school board did deed and six-tenths of an acre parcel adjacent to the community center to the county. The county then deeded the property, which currently has a basketball court, to the community center association. But property appraiser records do not indicate the building was ever transferred away from the school district.
But longtime Century resident Helen Mincy (pictured left) said the building was actually given to the “black community” by the school board.
“It was given to the black community of Century, the Carver Community Center was given to the black community of Century’s,” Mincy told the Century Town Council during a special meeting this week and at previous meetings. She has mentioned the possible existence of documentation to that effect, but so far no one has produced any records.
Town officials have said if the building belongs to the school board, they intend to ask for ownership to be transferred to the town, perhaps for a nominal fee.
Regardless of ownership, officials agree the wood frame building, located in the town’s historic district, needs to be preserved.
“Do nothing and it’s just going to fall to the ground,” council president Luis Gomez said.
“I think it’s vital for the community that we keep this building,” Mayor Ben Boutwell remarked. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful building. That history means the world to this community…I want to see it done right”.
Pictured above and below: The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Pictured top inset: Consultant Robin Phillips. Pictured bottom: A special town council meeting on the grant application. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
