Northview, Tate, Escambia High Softball Fields To Get New Lighting
January 11, 2023
The Escambia County District is planning to upgrade the softball field lighting at Northview, Tate and Escambia high schools.
The school district is accepting sealed bids through January 26, and interested contractors are required to attend a pre-bid conference on January 17 at Tate High School.
The winning bid and total cost will be approved by the school board at a later date.
Pictured: Lights shine above the Northview High School softball field as the sun sets on March 10, 2022. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Partly Sunny And Warm Today; Rain Likely On Thursday
January 11, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 73. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
M.L.King Day: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Get Free Reblended Paint From Escambia County On Thursdays
January 11, 2023
Escambia County offers free reblended paint in five gallon buckets.
The paint is available every Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Perdido Landfill. It is offered to the public for free in exchange for a new five gallon bucket with a lid (available at local hardware stores). Available colors may include beige, black, blue, brown, green, gray, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow and white.
Citizens can also dispose of up to 20 gallons of latex and oil-based paint at a time at the landfill at no charge. Latex paint is screened twice, reblended and put into new five-gallon buckets.
Call (850) 937-2160 for additional information and color availability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School’s Teacher Of The Year Is Chris Norris
January 11, 2023
Chris Norris was named the Ransom Middle School Teacher of the Year. He teaches science.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Emond Passes Away At 104
January 10, 2023
Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond of Cantonment has passed away at age 104.
Last May, Emond broke his own world record when he led the Pensacola Civic Band in the seventh annual Pensacola Memorial Day Concert at the Community Maritime Park amphitheater.
He held the Guinness World Record as “World’s Oldest Conductor” for leading the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note in Glenn Miller’s iconic “In the Mood” at the American Veteran Center’s “America Valor: A Salute to our Heroes”. He set the previous record at age 103 last November in Washington, D.C.
“I’m so happy that I’m still able to do this. It was my life’s work conducting, so once or twice a year when I get a chance, it’s always good,” Emond said. “I’m real happy I still have the physical strength to do this.”
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Emond, CWO4 USN (RET.), spent his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes”.
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
He remained a music man; sometimes leading the music at Gonzalez Methodist and performing with the Pensacola Civic Band.
Escambia Fire Rescue Lieutenant Terrell Jackson, 38, Passes Away
January 10, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue is mourning the passing of Lt. Terrell Jackson. He passed away after experiencing a medical emergency on Monday. He was 38-years old.
Lt. Jackson began his career with ECFR as a volunteer firefighter in 2007 with the Ferry Pass Volunteer Fire Department. On July 18, 2013, Jackson became a fulltime firefighter. As a career firefighter, he demonstrated a dedicated work ethic and compassion that led to his promotion to lieutenant on October 2, 2021.
As a lieutenant, Jackson continued to show his dedication and passion for the job as he mentored firefighters and worked as the company officer on several different assignments. He has been described as a “firefighter’s firefighter” and has always led through his actions.
“Lt. Jackson has been a long-time member of the ECFR family and not only served his community but also served his country,” said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams. “I pray that his family, friends, and brother and sister firefighters can find peace in knowing his legacy and memory will live on.”
“Lt. Jackson was the truest definition of a public servant as a Navy veteran and a firefighter,” said Fire Chief Jason Catrambone. “His life was one of a servant to all around him. He will be remembered and missed.”
Escambia County Fire Rescue is asking everyone to keep his family and the fire department family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
No Serious Injuries When Highway 97 Driver Crashes Head-on Into Tree
January 10, 2023
There were no serious injuries in a rollover crash Monday afternoon on Highway 97 near Davisville.
The driver was northbound on Highway 97 when she lost control about 3:30 p.m. near Highway 4. Her vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree head-on, and overturned onto its side.
She was transported by Atmore Ambulance to West Florida Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Updated: Man Wanted After Allegedly Fleeing From High Speed Chase
January 10, 2023
Authorities are looking for a local man following a high speed chase Sunday afternoon.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said 34-year old George Logan Tollison led their deputies on a high speed pursuit from Alabama into Escambia County, Florida, on Sunday, but he managed to get away.
“During the pursuit, Tollison had no regard for the safety of the public nor the deputies,” BCSO said.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office later received a tip that Tollison was driving a red Ford F150 pickup truck, and that he had outstanding warrants from Baldwin County, Alabama. According to ECSO, deputies located Tollison outside the truck on Schaag Road. He jumped into the truck and fled, with deputies giving chase toward Highway 196.
“He was driving at an extremely high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic,” ECSO spokesperson Morgan Lewis said. Deputies called off the chase in the interest of public safety.
Lewis said an arrest warrant for fleeing and eluding has been issued for Tollison in Escambia County, and he is wanted on a probation violation and grand theft. Baldwin County has warrants for Tollison on attempting to elude charges.
BCSO said Tollison is known to frequent Molino, Clear Springs in Baldwin County and the Peterman area in Monroe County, Alabama.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 937-0202, or their local law enforcement agency.
Suspect George Logan Tollison is pictured in a late 2020 mugshot.
Pamela Trice Named Bratt Elementary School’s Teacher Of The Year
January 10, 2023
Pamela Trice was named the Bratt Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches first grade.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Established Foreign Manufacturing Company Set To Visit Century This Week To Discuss Building Lease
January 10, 2023
A 50-year old foreign company with established American customers is expected to visit Century this week in advance of negotiating a lease on a town-owned building in the industrial park.
We first reported last week about the company that is looking to set up their first domestic manufacturing and warehouse distribution facility serving the oil and gas industry.
Company officials will be in Century this week to meet individually with each town council member and look at any potential upgrades to the 40,000 square foot building. The town re-acquired the industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology company. The building has sat empty since then.
According to the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the company plans to hire five people initially, with a goal of 10 employees by the end of the year with an average salary of $46,570 — the average wage in the Pensacola area. The company hopes to begin warehouse operations by the end of February with a forthcoming expansion into manufacturing.
Last week, the town council voted 3-1 to allow the mayor to negotiate a lease, subject to final council approval. The company is offering a lease amount equal to a recent appraisal — $94,000 annually or $7,833 monthly — with the company paying for insurance, taxes and maintenance with a minimum five-year term.
Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. voted and spoke out against the idea, saying the number of jobs was “nothing for the town of Century”, saying the town should not negotiate with “somebody who comes in here under the cover of night” and “under the cover of a backroom deal negotiated by somebody else”.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the economic development organization for Escambia County. Most details about the new company and their plans remain confidential during discussions, as is allowed and is standard in economic development in Florida.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.