Century Reschedules American Rescue Plan Budget Meeting Due To Weather
March 23, 2022
The Century Town Council has rescheduled a workshop meeting to discuss how to spend American Rescue Plan funds.
The workshop was planned for Tuesday night but was rescheduled due to the threat of severe weather.
The workshop will now be held on Tuesday, March 29.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Welcomes New Horticulture Agent
March 23, 2022
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (US/IFAS) Santa Rosa Extension has hired Joshua Criss as a new residential horticulture agent.
Criss earned a degree in plant science from the University of Florida and worked at the West Florida Research and Education Center. He previously had a career in the Air Force. Familial ties to farming drove his interest in plant growth and production where he maintains a desire to serve his community by helping others succeed. Currently, Criss and his family live in Santa Rosa County. His role is to lead a team of master gardeners who provide expertise in horticulture and Florida friendly landscaping.
The UF/IFAS Santa Rosa Extension provides residents of Santa Rosa County with research-backed education and expertise in specific areas. The extension office offers clinics that provide plant diagnostics and help gardeners maximize production in the local environment, including lawn, edible and ornamental gardening. These clinics are available five days a week at the Milton office, 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton, and Tuesdays in the Gulf Breeze tax office, 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
Truck Snags Wires, Bringing Down Utility Poles And Closing North Century Boulevard
March 22, 2022
A semi truck snagged wires and snapped two utility poles in Century Tuesday afternoon.
It happened about 4:55 p.m. on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) just south of the Florida-Alabama state line when the truck attempted to turn into the Food Giant parking lot.
The downed lines closed all lanes of the roadway for about 35 minutes. By 5:30 p.m., two lanes were reopened — one northbound and one southbound. At 6 p.m., the roadway was completely reopened to traffic.
At 7:33 FPL was reporting 130 customers without power as they work to make repairs. That includes the grocery store and other businesses in the area.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
After School Activities, Sports Canceled In Escambia And Santa Rosa (With Area Cancellation List)
March 22, 2022
The school districts in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have canceled all after school activities today due to the threat of severe weather.
Escambia County has canceled all practices, games, and extracurricular activities after 5 p.m. Santa Rosa has canceled all evening practices, games, and extracurricular activities after 6 p.m.
School is still scheduled for Wednesday in both districts.
Here are some specific North Escambia area cancellations that were announced prior to the blanket countywide cancelations:
- Jay at Tate softball, rescheduled for 3/31 at 5 & 7pm
- Central at Northview softball
- Tate Freshmen baseball at Pace, rescheduled Wed 4pm
- Tate JV baseball at Pace
- Jay baseball at Flomaton
- Pine Forest softball vs. Catholic
- Century Baseball, all games canceled
- Molino Ballpark, all games canceled
- Century Council Workshop, rescheduled for 3/29
American Idol: Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Is Going To Hollywood
March 22, 2022
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez is going to Hollywood.
Torrez is on the 20th season of American Idol, and he received three yes votes from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
“I love y’all so much and thank you everyone who has supported me this far,” Torrez said in making the announcement Tuesday afternoon.
Unfortunately for local fans, Torrez said his audition will not air, but stay tuned for Hollywood Week on American Idol.
Torrez is a 2019 graduate of Tate High School.
Update: Bomb Threat Cleared At Pine Forest High School
March 22, 2022
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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has cleared a bomb threat at Pine Forest High School.
Pine Forest was placed on a “Code Red” lockdown Tuesday morning during the bomb threat.
By about 10 a.m., the bomb threat had been determined to be unfounded, according to the ECSO.
Nearby Longleaf Elementary, George Stone, and Success Academy were also placed on alert during the incident.
No further details were released.
Pictured: the scene outside Pine Forest High School Tuesday morning. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Transportation, Development Issues Dominate District 5 Town Hall Meeting
March 22, 2022
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held ann open forum town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment, with most of the comments or questions centered around transportation or development.
Residents complained about commercial truck traffic on East Kingsfield Road, which is designated with no-truck signs. Barry said he would reach out to Ascend Performance Materials and other area companies to ask them to remind haulers about the posted no-truck zone on Kingsfield.
Another resident sarcastically asked Barry if he’s heard about Escambia County’s newest drag strip — the residential Cricket Ridge Drive off East Kingsfield. Barry said a petition is in progress for speed bumps on the road.
A Century resident nudged Barry to request a traffic light on Highway 29 in Century, either at the intersection with West Highway 4 or Pond Street. Another asked for a traffic light at Nine Mile and Stefani Road. Barry said that’s not likely to happen, but he feels the Florida Department of Transportation will consider a traffic light at Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue.
A Barrineau Park resident expressed concern about a rezoning proposal for property on Gibson Road in Molino. The rezoning proposal is still in the Planning Board process; Barry said he would address it publicly once it reaches the county commission.
Pictured. Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall open forum meeting Monday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: ECSO Locates Missing, Endangered Century Man Last Seen Nearly A Week Ago
March 22, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday morning that this missing and endangered man has been safely located.
Previous story:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing and endangered man last seen nearly a week ago near Century.
Kenny Wayne Gordon, 71, was last seen on Wednesday, March 16 in the area of Poplar Dell Road and Highway 4A west of Century, the ECSO said Monday night.
He is five-foot, seven-inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. There was no available clothing description.
Gordon may be driving a gold in color Chevrolet Equinox with damage to the right side.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 29, Kingsfield Crash
March 22, 2022
There were no serious injuries reported in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon at Highway 29 and Kingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Man Accused Of Domestic Violence Battery, Child Neglect
March 22, 2022
A Century man is accused of the domestic violence battery of a female and child neglect.
Kyle Jordan Burkhart, 35, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, battery and child neglect.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Burkhart became upset with the adult female victim , grabbed her, choked her until she was unable to breathe, threw her to the ground and kicked her in the head. All of this happened with a child nearby, according to an arrest report.
The victim told deputies that she had dropped Buckhart off at Atmore Community Hospital because he had injured his hand punching a wall.
Buckhart was released from the Escambia County Jail late Monday night on a $5,000 bond.
The relationship between Buckhart, the victim and the child was redacted from the arrest report.