Impact 100 Announces Nearly $1.2 Million In Grants To Be Available
March 22, 2023
Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area has announced 1,192 members for 2023. In October, the women’s philanthropic organization will award a total of $1,192,000 as 11 project grants of $108,364 each to nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“What a joy it is to live in a wonderful, giving community! The spirit of philanthropy is alive and well among us as demonstrated by the 1,192 women who have chosen to be a part of Impact 100. Through our collective giving, we have contributed over $16 Million to the Pensacola Bay Area. Together, we can make a bigger difference,” said Kristin Longley, president of Impact 100 “The women of Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area continue to help our nonprofit organizations launch truly transformative projects that benefit thousands of people, young and old, in our communities.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity, JV Beat PCA By Combined 31-3; Tate Beats Fort Walton 12-4
March 22, 2023
The Northview Chiefs varsity and junior varsity beat Pensacola Christian by a combined 31-3 Tuesday, while Tate downed Fort Walton 12-4.
Northview 20, Pensacola Christian 0
Three Northview Chiefs pitchers combined for a 20-0 shutout win over Pensacola Christian in four innings Tuesday night in Pensacola.
Kaden Odom, Jamarcus Jefferson and Cason Burkett gave up no hits, no runs and no errors while tallying eight total strikeouts.
Ethan Collier led Northview at bat, going 2-4, Odom, Burkett, Trenton Knighten, Rustin Pope, Josh Landis, and G Sheffield had one hit each.
Northview 11, Pensacola Christian 3 (JV)
The Northview Chiefs junior varsity beat Pensacola Christian 11-3 in a no hitter.
B. Rhodes went two innings on the hill for Northview, allowing no hits and one run while striking out five. T. Gilmore, J. White and B. Mason closed in relief.
C. Pugh went 2-2 for the Chiefs. Rhodes, Mason and J. Bridges each added a hit for Northview
For more JV photos, click or tap here.
Tate 12, Fort Walton 4
With a seven-run sixth inning, the Tate Aggies defeated Fort Walton Beach on the road 12-4 Tuesday night.
Ethan McAnally earned the win for the Aggies, giving up one run on six hits and striking out one in three and third innings. Aiden Byrd, Colton Swiers, Rilee Lowery and Tristin Lynn entered in relief.
Tops at the plate for the Aggies was Javin Floyd at 2-3. McAnally, Frank Randall, Clifton Quiggins, Brayden Touchstone, Drew Reaves, and James Davis each added one hit for Tate.
Pictured: The junior varsity Northview Chiefs defeated Pensacola Christian 11-3 Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ashley Rhodes, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Catholic Tops Northview; Pace Outscores Tate
March 22, 2023
Pensacola Catholic 9, Northview 4
Pensacola Catholic defeated Northview 9-4 Tuesday night.
Emma Gilmore went two and two thirds innings, giving up six runs on six hits and striking out five. Aubrey Stuckey entered the circle in relief for three and a third innings, giving up six hits and three runs while sitting down five.
Rylee Brooks led at the Plate for Northview, going 2-4. Gilmore, Keeli Knighten, Jamison Gilman, and Mary-Clayton Dawson each added a hit.
Pace 9, Tate 1
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 9-1 Tuesday night in Pace.
Jordan Smith went six innings for the Lady Aggies, allowing 13 hits and nine runs while recording three strikeouts.
Lacy Wilson, Kara Wine and Charli Vinson each had a hit for Tate.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Warming Weather For The Remainder Of The Week
March 22, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tate High Tennis Defeats Escambia
March 22, 2023
The Tate High School Aggies tennis boys and girls teams earned wins over Escambia High School Tuesday night. The Aggies boys won 5-2, and Tate’s girls won 7-0. The season record for the boys is now 5-4 while the girls have improved to 9-1. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Rescue Responds To Brush Fire In Cottage Hill
March 21, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue responde a brush fire in Cottage Hill Tuesday afternoon.
The fire was reported off McKenzie Road west of Chavers Road about 3:40 p.m. Reports indicated the fire was less than an acre in size and was quickly extinguished.
There were no structures damaged and no word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FHP: School Bus Driver Turned Into Path Of Car; 60 Students Uninjured
March 21, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol said a school bus driver turned into the path of a car Tuesday afternoon in Cantonment, causing a crash.
The crash happened about 3:22 p.m. on Highway 29 at Archer Road. FHP said the 62-year old male bus driver turned from Archer Road onto northbound Highway 29 and into the path of a car driven at a high rate of speed by a 19-year old male.
“The school bus failed to yield to oncoming traffic while turning left as a result both vehicles collided,” FHP said.
There were no injuries on Escambia County bus 28-17, which was transporting 60 Tate High School students at the time.
Students on the bus were transported off the highway to the nearby parking lot of Faith Chapel Funeral Home to be released to their parents or transported home.
The driver of the car was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
For additional photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Plans Up For Final Approval For Fourth North Escambia FPL Solar Farm South Of Bratt Road
March 21, 2023
A Florida Power & Light proposal for a fourth solar farm in North Escambia will go before the Escambia County Development Review Committee for final consideration on Wednesday.
The “Mitchell Creek Solar Energy Center” would be located on 1,282 acres between Camp and Cox Roads, just south of Bratt Road and the Escambia County Road Department North Camp, according to plans obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
The proposed location is just northwest of the First City Solar Energy Center, located along Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid. It went online February 1 with more than 223,000 photovoltaic panels and a planned output of 75 megawatts.
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on Bogia Road near McDavid have been in operation since early 2022 and were officially dedicated in March 2022. It produces. enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes.
The Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is fully permitted for 553 acres south of the end of Pilgrim Trail. According to FPL, over 200,000 solar panels will generate nearly 75 megawatts — enough energy to also power 15,000 homes.
If approved by the Development Review Committee, developers would next need to obtain building permits before starting construction on the new Mitchell Creek Solar Energy Center
Pictured top: Map of the proposed Mitchell Creek Solar Energy Center NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Florida Power and Light First City Solar Energy Center near McDavid went online February 1. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: Service Location Changed To Park West For Northview Senior Killed In Highway 29 Wreck
March 21, 2023
A location change has been announced for a Celebration of Life Service for Northview High School senior that passed away last week in a tragic head-on crash on Highway 29.
Kara Santorelli, 18, lost her life when her vehicle was struck by a wrong-way driver on Highway 29 near Quintette Road at 12:41 a.m. last Friday.
Due to another event, the service location has been moved from the Pensacola Beach Pier to Park West on Pensacola Beach.
The service will be held at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at Park West 1235, Fort Pickens Road (click for map). (Turn right at the light on Pensacola Beach, continue west 2.5 miles until you see the pavilions on the left. Parkin is across the street.) Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or beach towel. In the event of rain, the service will be held under the pavilions.
(For the complete obituary, click here.)
“Kara had the most beautiful smile and the sweetest soul. Everyone that knew her, loved her,” the GoFundMe reads. “She was looking forward to graduating in May and her future was bright! Kara loved spending time at the beach or on the boat and with friends and family. Kara worked at the local restaurant, Jimmy’s Grill, in Molino. She will be greatly missed.”
Family members have also established a GoFundMe help to help with final expenses. To donate, click or tap here to visit GoFundMe.
All proceeds will go directly to her family, according to a GoFundMe spokesperson.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
County Canvassing Board Will Judge Century Special Election, Not The Candidates
March 21, 2023
Two of the four candidates in next week’s special election for the Century Town Council won’t be tasked with judging the fairness of the election.
In a typical Florida election, a group composed of the county supervisor of elections, the chair of the county commission and a county court judge serve as what is called the “canvassing board”. And there are provisions to replace them with alternates if they are seeking, or they support someone seeking, election.
The Century charter — the document that establishes and governs the town — states, “The council shall be the judge of the election…”.
Century Attorney Matt Dannheisser rendered an opinion that the council was thus bound to serve as the de facto canvassing board and “judge” the election, as inadvisable as that might seem to be a conflict of interest.
Two candidates — Shelisa McCall and Alicia Johnson — are currently serving as appointed interim town council members. Each is facing opposition from another candidate. At a recent council meeting, all four candidates and the three other council members agreed that “judging” the election by two candidates would be wrong.
Now, Dannheisser has decided the town should follow the recommendation of the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office and use the county canvassing board.
In an email to the Escambia County Attorney’s Office, Dannheisser wrote:
“In the numerous communications that subsequently occurred, I have not seen any mention of a statute which mandates application of county canvasing board requirements to municipal elections. I remain hopeful that you can demonstrate the existence of such a statute as it would put this entire matter to rest.”
“The foregoing notwithstanding, you have stated your opinion that ‘It is our position Florida Statutes sec. 100.3605 tracking the same language as used in the Interlocal Agreement controls due to “the absence of an applicable special act, charter or ordinance provision“ regarding election conduct.’ From that statement I take it that the Supervisor’s position is that the County canvassing board is required to canvass the Town’s upcoming special election. In an effort to resolve the underlying concerns, the Town is prepared to rely on your position and have the election held on that basis,” Dannheisser concluded.
A county canvassing board has now been appointed. Their first official action will be logic and accuracy testing of the voting and tabulating equipment at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Supervisor of Elections Warehouse and Training Facility at 3201 West Navy Boulevard in Pensacola.
Canvassing board members are:
- County Judge Barry E. Dickson, Jr., Chair
- Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford
- County Commissioner Robert Bender
Alternate members are:
- County Judge Scott Ritchie
- Elizabeth Kissell (Escambia County grants and special projects manager)