Escambia Volunteer Firefighter Named Florida’s Mother Of The Year
January 30, 2023
An Escambia County volunteer firefighter has been named the Florida Mother of the Year by the American Mothers organization.
Cheyann Smith, a mother of two, has served with the Beulah Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue since March 2018.
She joined the Air Force in 2012, where she took note of a mental health crisis in the military. She went back to school in hopes of aiding her fellow airmen. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s and is currently working on a doctorate of psychology.
“This is a monumental honor because those two little girls are my world,” said Smith. “Everything I do, I do for them. I hope they understand from the example I’ve set that as long as they work hard, stay committed, have self-discipline, and have good time management skills, they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. My ultimate goal in life is to raise strong, independent, kind human beings and be a mom that my children can be proud to call their own.”
She led several humanitarian drives before starting her own nonprofit Beacon — Be the One to Light the Way. The organization is dedicated to providing relief to individuals with food and housing insecurities.
Smith will be recognized during the American Mothers National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, this April.
Escambia Expanding Perdido Landfill With Another 4.75 Years Of Space
January 30, 2023
Escambia County is expanding the Perdido Landfill.
Waste Services is constructing a 20-acre engineered cell that is expected to provide an additional 4.75 years of landfill life. The first loads of waste are expected to be placed in the new cell by early April 2023.
The design was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“Our mission at the Waste Services Department is to handle the county’s residential and commercial waste in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Escambia County Waste Services Director Don Seitz. “Most residents don’t think about where their waste goes after they take it to the curb. Waste Services is here to make sure that it continues to be disposed of properly for years to come with this new cell and the most modern landfill design.”
After using approved soil and compaction techniques, a double synthetic liner system was installed. FDEP will provide final approval and permitting.
Pictured: Aerial views of the land cell during different phases of construction.
Tate High To Present Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ February 2-4
January 30, 2023
Mark your calendars…Tate High School’s Drama Department will present Disney’s The Little Mermaid February 2-4.
Performances will be at 7:00 nightly, and tickets will be $10 at the door.
Chance Of Showers, Other Mostly Cloudy For Monday
January 30, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind around 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Jay Woman Wanted On Animal Cruelty Charges
January 30, 2023
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A Jay woman is wanted on animal cruelty charges, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Haley Nicole Lynne Williams, 30,is wanted on five counts of felony conservation animals – impound or confine an animal without sufficient food or water.
She is described as a white female, 5-feet 1-inch tall, 95 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP. Crime Stoppers callers could earn a reward up to $3,000.
Williams is pictured from a 2020 arrest.
Florida Gas Prices Up 17 Cents Over The Past Week
January 30, 2023
Florida gas prices rose 17 cents per gallon last week, reaching a two month high of $3.58 per gallon on Thursday. That state average then took a minor step back, declining almost 2 cents through the weekend at $3.56.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was one of the lowest in the state at $3.40. The low price Sunday night in North Escambia was $3.35 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, and $3.19 in Pensacola.
“Florida gas prices surged 32 cents per gallon during the past two weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, Public Relations Manager, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It’s unusual to see big gains like this in January, but global fundamentals have kept upward pressure on prices at the pump. Oil investors are bullish that global fuel demand will rise now that China, the world’s largest oil importer, is reopening its economy.”
Driver Strikes And Kills Pedestrian On I-10
January 30, 2023
A 50-year old Virginia woman was struck and killed early Sunday on I-10 near Beulah.
The woman was walking on the shoulder near the edge of the roadway on I-10 westbound about two miles from the state line at 3:17 a.m.
An 18-year old female from Gulf Shores was traveling westbound in the outside lane. She “failed to maintain her lane of travel and left the roadway to the right” and her sedan hit the woman, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.
The 18-year old and her 19-year old female passenger were not injured.
Further details were not provided.
Deadline Is Tuesday For Discount On Real Estate, Tangible Property Taxes
January 29, 2023
A 2% discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Tuesday, January 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
To receive the 2% discount, payments must be:
- mailed with a January postmark;
- left by midnight, January 31 in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
- made online by midnight, January 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services. There is no additional fee to pay current taxes by eCheck. Customers who decide to visit tax collector offices can drop off their payment in the drive thru or in a drop box.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit the payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector Office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Isolated Severe Storms, Localized Flood Possible Tonight
January 29, 2023
Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon and evening. Heavy rainfall may also lead to flash flooding.
A dense fog advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 3am, then a slight chance of showers after 3am. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Update: ECSO Locates Missing, Endangered Woman Last Seen In Barth Area
January 29, 2023
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Brandi Gayle Harrell has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered adult missing from the Barth area since last Tuesday.
Brandi Gayle Howard, 31, was last seen about 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24 wearing a pink and blue shirt, with white and gray camouflage leggings, and a hat. She was driving a white golf cart in the area of Barth Road and Brickyard Road.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.