Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Return To Their Towers
March 2, 2023
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have returned to their towers on Pensacola Beach.
Initially, one to three towers at Casino Beach will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, shifting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Sunday, March 12. As summer approaches, staffing will increase to provide coverage at up to 10 towers, including the towers at Gulf Islands National Seashore, which begin staffing Memorial Day weekend.
In preparation for the 2023 season, Pensacola Beach hired 14 new lifeguards and welcomed 36 returning lifeguards with over 60 hours of open water training, emergency medical training and more.
Last season, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards performed 98 rescues from drowning and 115 assists to swimmers experiencing moderate distress. They also attended to 54 major medical incidents and assisted 30 patients for EMS transport.
“Our lifesaving team is prepared to prevent and respond to all unknown events that may occur in this amazing and wonderful part of our world,” said Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood.
Annual Rotarians Against Hunger Event Provides 40,500 Meals For Manna
March 2, 2023
Rotary Clubs of Northwest Florida joined Manna Food Bank in the fight against hunger for the 11th Annual Rotarians Against Hunger event.
Rotarians recently packed approximately 40,500 lentil casserole meals for neighbors in need served through Manna’s pantry and food security programs.
The Rotarians Against Hunger project provides much-needed food during the winter and early spring months when giving has decreased and need has increased,” said Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker. “Last year, Manna provided food assistance to 69,095 people – a 122% increase over the year prior. Many are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family due to rising food, utility, and housing costs. Thanks to our Rotary friends, thousands of our neighbors in need will be given the gift of nutritious food.”
More than 170 Rotarians representing all 12 clubs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties participated, donating more than 340 hours of service.
“This was the 11th year that Rotary teamed up with Manna packing meals that will be distributed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to help families in need,” said Mike Stahl, Rotarians Against Hunger Project Chair. “Through this project, local Rotarians are striving to exemplify the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, and support our local community.”
Rotarians Against Hunger is a service project of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) that launched in 2012, and since then, more than 771,900 meals have been assembled for distribution to the hungry.
Enjoy A ‘Night Of Nature’ Friday Night At The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
March 2, 2023
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center’s annual “Night of Nature” will be Friday night from 5:30 until 8:30.
The event is free and open to the public. It will be a fun filled night for the entire family. Visitors can meet owls with the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, peer through telescopes into the beautiful night sky with the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association, observe aquatic animals in their different aquatic habitats, learn about exotic creatures, visit with the resident reptiles in the Reptile Room, stroll through the butterfly house, and more.
There will be food trucks on site (not free).
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment For more information, call (850) 937-2117.
Donations will be accepted. Some suggested items are:
Food for animals:
- Wild bird seed
- Black oil sunflower seed
- Turtle pellets
- Greens (kale and collard)
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Frozen shrimp
Miscellaneous Items:
- Hand sanitizer
- Bleach
- Lysol/Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Paper Towels
- Copy paper
- Batteries (AA, AAA, D, and CR2032)
- Nectar and host plants for butterflies
- Ticonderoga pencils #2
- Compost
- Sprinklers
- Garden hoses
- Window cleaner (for tanks)
Gift cards to pet stores, hardware stores, other major retailers are also needed. The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is part of the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To Robertsdale
March 2, 2023
Robertsdale defeated the Tate Aggies 6-2 Wednesday night in Robertsdale.
Kate Balagbagan went three and a third innings for Tate, allowing four hits, four runs, one walk and striking out two. Jordan Smith pitched one and a third innings, striking out two and walking one. Peyton Womack went for one and a third innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and walking one.
Olivea Latner had a homer for the Aggies in the seventh inning, Charli Vinson, Karea Wine and Womack also added a hit each for Tate.
After a weekend tournament, Tate will host Pace on Tuesday.
Tate Tennis Boys And Girls Defeat Milton
March 2, 2023
Tate High School Tennis boys and girls defeated Milton 7-0 on Wednesday. The boys team is 3-3 overall while the girls improved to 5-1. Up next, Tate will host East Hill Christian School on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nelson ‘Bubba’ Kenneth Martin
March 2, 2023
Nelson “Bubba” Kenneth Martin, 61 years of age, passed Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at his home in Poarch, Alabama.
Nelson Martin was born on January 30, 1962 to Otha and Doris (McGhee) Martin. He is a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. He attended Escambia County High School where he played football. Nelson began his work career shortly after high school but his career ended quickly after a work-related injury. Nelson did not let this injury hinder him from living life to the fullest.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Otha and Doris Martin; his brother Paul Martin.
Nelson leaves behind his son Joshua (Brittany) Martin of Atmore,
AL; his son Nelson Bradley (Brittany) Martin of Tuscaloosa, AL; daughter Magan (Justin) Taylor of Waxahachie, TX; daughter Hollie (Brandon) Towe of Tuscaloosa, AL.; a brother Otha Lamar (Charlotte) Martin of Pensacola, FL; a sister Pauline (Lamar) of Atmore, AL; a brother James Nathan (Susan) Martin of Atmore, AL. He has 10 grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very special aunts and uncles. A very special Thank You to Mary Poindexter and Robin Godwin for their special care and love towards Nelson.
He dearly loved to spend time with his grandkids as well as his nieces and nephews, playing solitaire on the computer, fishing with his boys, watching Alabama football, and playing the lotto.
The Martin family would like to extend their gratitude to the Poarch community for always caring, supporting, and loving Nelson.
If Nelson could tell us his last words it would be know I’m okay, I love you, but most of all ROLL TIDE!
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. with Rev. Josh long, Coach Melvin Middleton, and Pastor: Cornelius Phillips.
Burial will follow at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM at Poarch Community Church.
Pallbearers: Matthew Martin, Phillip Martin, Keith Martin, Jerry Faircloth, Tristan Daughtry, and Rodney McGhee.
Honorary Pallbearers: Lathaniel McGhee, Jerry “Buck” Sells, Daniel “Boone” McGhee, Stephen “Mario” McGhee, Deno Rolin, and Douglas “Spat” Daughtry.
Suspect Robbed Convenience Store, Fled On Scooter, ECSO Says
March 1, 2023
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says this suspect has been identified. No further details were provided.
The suspect robbed the Circle K at Nine Mile and University Parkway on February 20, the ECSO said Wednesday. The suspect fled on a red and silver scooter.
“The suspect may be responsible for other thefts at the location and is believed to reside in the area of University Parkway and Nine Mile Road,” according to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Rep. Michelle Salzman Calls For Resignation Of School Superintendent Tim Smith
March 1, 2023
Rep. Michelle Salzman is calling for the resignation of appointed Escambia County School Superintendent Tim Smith in a letter sent Wednesday to Smith and the school board.
Salzman said she has concerns that include “Warrington Middle School grades, military student access to magnet schools, student discipline, Escambia Children’s Trust, workforce development and mental health/wellbeing of the children”.
“On several occasions I offered every resource available to create pathways to success for our students in this community,” she said, including Triumph dollars, workforce development partnerships guaranteeing jobs for graduates, a Mental Health Taskforce, magnet schools for military families and more.
“The list goes on and on, where the community leaders alongside me have literally begged in some cases for our superintendent to take action and he has failed,” Salzman said. “This failure is one that the community must own. Dr. Smith’s inability to be effective is not solely on him.”
Salzman’s call comes as the school district is set to discuss a referendum that would put an elected, versus appointed, superintendent back on the ballot.
“I always promised my community I would be the first to admit my mistake if the appointed model did not work. Having said that, we have only had one appointment. Before I will support changing the appointed model back to elected, the school board needs to hire a leader who can make progress in the district that will bring trust back into the process, empower our parents and our teachers, as well as provide true community collaboration in our schools. Every day that we prolong this transition to new leadership there is a child who is bullied, a child who drops out, a child who attempts suicide, a child who loses hope. We cannot stall any longer. For the sake of our children’s future in Escambia County, we must have a true leader. If our school board as a majority cannot make this choice for our children, I am asking Dr. Smith to make it for them. Save the taxpayers the time and effort, but most importantly, save our children.”
Salzman said the call for Smith’s resignation should come as no surprise to Smith because she has held “dozens of meetings” with him and other stakeholders and members of the community.
In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36 voting yes and 49.64 percent voting now. This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county; all of the other attempts failed.
The term of then superintendent Malcolm Thomas ended in 2020, and Dr. Tim Smith was appointed as the new school district boss.
District 1 member Kevin Adams intends to present a resolution to the school board on March 21 that, if approved, will officially request a referendum to switch superintendent back to an elected job. The Escambia County Commission would then have to pass a resolution asking the legislature to place the question on the ballot during the presidential preference primary on March 19, 2024.
Two Women Charged With Working Together On Multiple Retail Thefts
March 1, 2023
More felony charges have been filed in a retail theft case we first told you about last week.
Madonna Faith Barnhill, 57, and Carolyn Faye Harris, 42, were both charged with second degree felony retail theft act in concert with another person and more than one location within a 30 day period.
Barnhill (pictured, above left) was charged with felony petit theft with two or more prior convictions and felony possession of an anti-shoplifting device after she was accused of placing $606.46 worth of merchandise inside an empty microwave box and walking past all points of sale at the Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard. The merchandise was recovered by Walmart’s loss prevention, and the incident was captured on camera, according to an arrest report.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Harris eluded capture in that incident but was observed on video stealing items, and Walmart chose not to prosecute Harris.
When Barnhill’s vehicle was searched, “an excessive amount of brand new property” was inside, an arrest report states. The vehicle contained brand new power tools, four brand new purses, multiple pieces of clothing and several boxes of jewelry. The clothes and jewelry were from Belk.
Also in the vehicle was a wallet with multiple credit cards belonging to Harris, along with her driver’s license. The report notes the driver’s license confirmed that it was Harris on the Walmart security video.
A loss prevention employee at Belk was able to locate video of both Barnhill and Harris stealing the items from the Pensacola store on February 21. The items were valued at $1,565.71. The Belk employee told deputies that Barnhill had previously stolen from Belk in Mobile and was trespassed warned from all Belk properties.
Barnhill has an “extensive criminal history spanning literally decades and consisting of numerous thefts, faud, false names, forgery” the arrest report states.
Barnhill was released on a $20,000 bond, while Harris was released on a $2,000 bond. Barnhill also had an $8,000 in connection with the Walmart case.
Catholic Church Plans New Community Center On Highway 29 In Cantonment
March 1, 2023
Plans have been filed with Escambia County Building Services for a new 23,000 square foot community center and possibly a future church on Highway 29.
The St. Jude and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Community Center would be located on 12.25 acres on Highway 29 at Pinoak Lane. A site plan shows 40 asphalt parking spaces and grass overflow parking, both with access from PinOak Lane. It also shows future plans for a church building and 46 additional parking spaces to complete a circular access to Cedar Tree Lane.
The site is not currently developed.
The plans must first go to the Escambia County Development Review Committee before reaching the building permit stage.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.