One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
February 20, 2023
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Monday morning near Molino.
The driver of a small Toyota car lost control on Highway 29 at the Victory Assembly of God Church, just south of Barrineau Park Road. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned, coming to rest upright.
Escambia County EMS transported the injured person to a Pensacola hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad, UWF Student Maggie Brown To Compete On Jeopardy! For Second Time
February 20, 2023
A Tate High School graduate and current University of West Florida junior Maggie Brown will compete on Jeopardy! for a chance to win $100,000.
The Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament will air February 20 to March 9, with Brown appearing on the March 2 episode.
While she was a 14-year old sophomore at Tate, Brown reached the quarterfinals in the 2018 “Jeopardy! Teen Tournament”. Today, those bright young minds are older, wiser, and ready to return to the stage for a first-of-its kind twist on the traditional College Championship format. Now 27 former teen contestants, now current undergraduates or recent college graduates, will reunite to face off in a 14-day special event with a $100,000 grand prize and a spot in the Tournament of Champions on the line.
“We didn’t want to lose that sort of college energy (this season),” said Jeopardy! Executive Producer Michael Davies. “We knew we had these 27 players who are all of college age who come from our existing Jeopardy! community, so this was a great opportunity to bring them back.”
Brown’s Jeopardy! episode airs at 6 p.m. on March 2 on WALA Fox 10.
Brown was the Tate High School Class of 2021’s co-salutatorian, graduating with a GPA of 5.55. She was on the 2020 Senior Homecoming Court, was appointed to the 2021 Senior Hall of Fame, and volunteered as assistant coach of Ransom Middle School’s Academic Team.
At UWF, she is Honors Council service chair, secretary of the senate in the Student Government Association, continues to work at Ransom Middle School’s assistant academic team coach, is an intern at the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council, and works at the UWF library.
Maggie Brown’s older sister, Samantha Brown, was the Tate High Class of 2017 valedictorian. Samantha Brown appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in 2018.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commits $30K For Fiber Expansion In Century Industrial Park
February 20, 2023
Escambia County has committed up to $30,000 in economic development funds to provide fiber internet for a new town industrial park tenant.
The Town of Century has approved a “conceptual” lease with a foreign-owned company to establish their first domestic manufacturing and warehouse distribution facility serving the oil and gas industry in what is commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building.
Escambia County will pay Uniti Fiber to connect the town-owned building to Uniti’s existing fiber access point on Industrial Boulevard near the Escambia County EMS post. The 96-county fiber optic cable will be buried to the building and terminated inside. The new industry will be responsible for monthly service costs.
The $30,000 will come from Escambia County funds already budgeted for Century economic development. In the future, the fiber could serve any additional companies that locate in the industrial park.
The company has agreed to pay the appraised rental value of the building to the Town of Century — $7.833.33 a month or $94,000 annually. The lease will continue for five years with a 3% annual increase beginning in the third year. The company will accept the building “as-is” and pay all utilities, maintenance, insurance and taxes.
The conceptual lease, drafted by the town’s lawyer, will return to the town council for a final town approval as early as Tuesday. The company hopes to begin warehouse operations by the end of February with a forthcoming expansion into manufacturing serving the oil and gas industry.
According to FloridaWest, 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.
Pictured: The Century Industrial Park sign on West Highway 4. Pictured inset: Century is set to lease this town-owned building in the industrial park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Building Services Workshop To Be Held Tuesday At Molino Library
February 20, 2023
Escambia County Building Services will host a workshop Tuesday night at the Molino Library.
The workshop is open to the public and will cover several topics to help citizens make informed decisions when deciding to hire a contractor or handle a project themselves.
During the workshop, attendees will learn about contractor requirements, verification of licensure, how to file a complaint against a contractor and more. Tim Tolbert, Escambia County Director of Building Services, will also give a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
The workshop will take place from 6-8 p.m.
State Investigation Underway Into Inmate Injury At Century Prison
February 20, 2023
A state investigation is underway after an inmate was seriously injured last week at the Century Correctional Institution.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, “staff observed an inmate with injuries”. The nature of the injuries was not disclosed.
The inmate was flown to an area hospital by medical helicopter, according to Escambia County.
The FDC’s Office of Inspector General is the lead investigative agency.
“Due to the open and active investigation, we are unable to provide names or any additional information at this time,” FDC Press Secretary Paul W. Walker told NorthEscambia.com.
“The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is committed to providing for the safety and wellbeing of all inmates in custody,” Walker said. “Inmates who cause harm to others are held accountable for their actions. This includes administrative sanctions, placement in restrictive housing and criminal charges if applicable. This is done for the safety of staff and other inmates.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Delayed Until February 28 In Cantonment
February 20, 2023
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway February 28 at Carver Park on Webb Street. That is one week later than the normal schedule.
The Feeding the Gulf Coast food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
The food distribution is normally held on the third Tuesday of the month, but Feeding the Gulf Coast is closed on February 21 for Mardi Gras.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Escambia Offices Closed; ECUA Collections Normal; Century Open For President’s Day
February 20, 2023
Escambia County offices will be closed Monday, February 20 for Presidents Day, while ECUA sanitation collections will continue and Town of Century offices will be open.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
In observance of Presidents Day, the following Escambia County offices will be closed Monday, February 20:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - all departments including:
- West Florida Public Libraries ( all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Waste Services Administration
- ECAT administrative offices
ESCAMBIA COUNTY EXCEPTIONS
- The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours Monday, Feb. 20.
- ECAT buses will run a modified holiday service Monday, Feb. 20. Modified service runs every two hours. UWF trolleys will run regular weekday service.
- The Clerk’s Official Records, Finance, Treasury and Clerk to the Board offices, located at 221 Palafox Place, will be closed. All other Clerk’s offices located at the MC Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Building, Public records Center and the Century Courthouse will be open.
TOWN OF CENTURY
Town of Century offices will be open on Monday, February 20.
ECUA
ECUA business offices will be closed on Monday, February 20, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. However, residential and commercial sanitation collections will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual.
Sunny And 70s Today; Warming Into The 80s Later This Week
February 20, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Washington’s Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Windy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Florida Gas Prices Down Average Of 28 Cents Since January
February 20, 2023
Florida gas prices shrugged off upward pressure and sank another nine cents per gallon last week. The state average has now declined for three consecutive weeks, falling a total of 28 cents per gallon since late January.
On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.31 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since mid-January. It’s a nickel more than this year’s low of $3.24 per gallon, and well below the 2023 high of $3.58.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.23. A North Escambia low of $3.01 could be found on Highway 29 in Cantonment, and several Pensacola stations were also at $3.01.
“The fuel market is on a downward trend due to a combination of rising global oil supplies and renewed concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will pass another interest rate hike in effort to curb inflation,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This has already been a volatile year for prices at the pump, and that’s likely to continue in the coming months. Gas prices normally increase in the spring as Americans take road trips, which drives up fuel demand. At the same time, refineries conduct springtime maintenance and begin making summer gasoline, which is more expensive to produce.”
Molino Man Facing Drugs, Weapons Charges
February 19, 2023
A Molino man is facing drug and weapons charges after allegedly running from a deputy at a fast food restaurant.
Hughlett Ray Mumaw was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with a prescription (methamphetamines) and possession of a concealed firearm.
When Mumaw saw a deputy in a marked patrol unit approaching the Checkers on Pace Boulevard, Mumaw ran behind the business, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
According to deputies, Mumaw had 3.4 grams of cocaine and a small purple bag that contained methamphetamines, a loaded 9mm handgun, scales, plastic baggies and his wallet with his Florida identification.
Mumaw was booked into the Escambia County Jail where he was being held without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Deputies noted in their report that Mumaw is not a convicted felon.