Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Is Saturday
May 12, 2023
Residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties can help feed hungry neighbors in need by donating to the Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday.
This is the 31st year for the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive – the largest, national, single-day effort to put food on the table for millions of Americans.
Food collected in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties stays local, helping to feed those who are struggling with food insecurity in the community.
Residents are encouraged to leave a bag of healthy, non-perishable food items, such as canned chicken, canned tuna, canned fruit in 100% juice, dry breakfast items (oatmeal, whole-grain cereal), canned vegetables, peanut butter, and/or dry beans next to their mailbox prior to regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 14. Residents should not donate items in glass containers or items that have been opened or homemade.
“It’s the easiest way to donate,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Pantries. “Simply place your food donations at your mailbox, and your letter carrier will do the rest.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers will collect food donations that will benefit individuals and families served by Manna Food Pantries, Feeding the Gulf Coast, ACTS Ministries, We Care Ministries, and Warrington Emergency Aid Center.
Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Northview, ECHS, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian
May 12, 2023
The Atmore Rotary Club has named 159 area high school students as Academic All-Stars.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian School, or Escambia County High School. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year.
The Rotary Club presented nearly $40,000 in scholarships this year to 44 seniors, including 19 four-year Academic All-Stars. The program excludes Northview students that are full-time dual enrolled.
Those honored as Atmore Rotary Club Academic All Stars were:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with asterisks.)
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Freshmen
Ellie Sophia Adkins
Claire Marie Amerson
Desiray Makayla Bagwell
Wade Allen Bailey
Cameron Kristan Bourgeois
Jackson Baker Bridges
Tyler Benjamin Carach
Luke Davison Chavers
Addison Alaina Classen
Stevi Nicole Cofield
Elizabeth Faith Coleman
Talaysha Sherry Curry
Aakira Nichelle Davis
Kylie Ranae Davis
Mary-Clayton Lee Dawson
Allison Danielle Flowers
Brayden Michael Gindl
Savannah Jean Hudson
Keeli Victoria Knighten
Kinley Michelle Knowles
Anna Kunkel
Macy McKayla Miller
Samantha Minchew
Mary Elizabeth Oliver
Braylan Hope Shelly
Jackson Cade Simmons
Liam Patrick Simonson
Maggie Suzanne Stewart
Grecia Viera
Kayleigh Abigail Young
Sophomores
Ashton Connor Covan
Colton Ray Criswell
Payton Kathleen Daw
Maddie Mae Elle Driskell
Jamison Abigail Gilman
Noah Webster Goslee
Matthew Daniel Hunter
Madison Ann Levins
Kaitlin Rena Lloyd
Brooke Cay Lytton
Evin Alexander Matlock
Colby Alexander Pugh
Brianna Grace Reynolds
Ally Bama Richardson
Lacey Marie Sapp
Maggie Elizabeth Scott
Lilly Grace Smallwood
Kate Ashley Stinson
Lauren Ashley Stinson
Jayden Kenneth White
Brian James Yoder
Juniors
Rabekah Danielle Abbott
Raegan Michelle Abbott
Sarah Elaine Bailey
Doria Beach
Chloe Faith Criswell
Riley Elizabeth Dawson
Carsyn Laine Dortch
Emma Lynn Doyle
Mayson Claire Edwards
Raleigh Sienna Gibson
Kaylie Brooke Glick
Maggie Rose Godwin
Makayla Jane Golson
Ava Kate Gurganus
Berklee Savannah Hall
Leah Kathryn Hetrick
Ja’Niya I’Yonna Hooks
Allyson Breanna Jones
Kallista Grace Kennedy
Darrin Thomas Leatherberry
Leila Ann Mason
Caden Thomas Mills
Austin Minchew
Jaquez Keyshaun Moorer
Heath Samuel Parker
Jackson Johnny Mac Parker
Chloe Adele Ragsdale
Daniel Tyler Riggs
Wyatt Alexander Scruggs
Dequan Rashad Shabazz
Skyler Marie Williams
Seniors
Leah Kalyn Anderson *****
Terrell Luke Bridges *****
Cason Terry Burkett
Michael Bo Cody
Ethan Scott Collier *****
Drake Allen Driskell *****
Logan Taylor Faith *****
Emma Sage Gilmore *****
William Cross Goslee *****
Gabriel Kohle Harigel
Cayla Jocelyn Houston *****
Meredith Makenzie Johnston
Shelby Lynn Kent *****
Trent Austin Knighten *****
Sarah Kennedy Long *****
Bayllon David Matson
Megan T McGhee *****
Jaidyn Gaia Nordman
David Kaden Odom *****
Chase Randal Pugh *****
Madison Lee Rowinsky
McKenna Rae Simmons *****
Aubrey Michelle Stuckey *****
Blake Richard Yoder *****
ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
Freshman
Ronta Watson
Sophomores
Cade Leachman
Eli McElhaney
Reiley Morgan
Ana Chesley Robinson
Juniors
Ta’Shanda Baldwin
Luke Bell
Patrick Byrd
Eli Covington
Timmy Doerr
Molly Gandy
Hannah Johnson
Charlie Reid Sasser
Tava Johnson
Seniors
Cameron Ball
Arial Curry
Tiffany Gookin
ATMORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Freshmen
Tyson Kennell
Eli Norton
Isaiah Smoker
Sophomore
Daniel Overton
Junior
Elizabeth Terry
Seniors
Elliott Classen
Claire Girby
Abigail Weber
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Freshmen
Tyson Durant
Kindle James
Amarion Lemon
Imari Lemon
Essence Martin
Demyia Munlyn
Robert Smith
Sophomores
Chloe Dawson
Ashley Parra
Juniors
Evereona Jackson
Sasha Kidd
Paul Martin
Shontia Martin
Ava Penner
NaAsia Reynolds
Seniors
Akyrah Bradley
Jayla Bullard
Hasten Dean III
Donnie Fails
Breona Gaines
Mason Huggins
Tykeria Lambert
Danica McCullam
Isabella McGee
Darron Nichols Jr
Lexi Peavy
Shamirica Rankins
Summayah Tolbert
Carmelo Turner
Photo: Atmore Rotary Club Four-Year Academic All-Stars. Photo by Andrew Garner/ Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Choking His Girlfriend
May 12, 2023
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly choking his girlfriend during an argument.
Kenneth Cobb Mason, 28, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery.
Mason grabbed his girlfriend of two years around the neck, causing her breathing to become obstructed, according to an arrest report. He also allegedly grabbed the front of her shirt by the collar, causing it to tear.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she refused to let Mason use her vehicle and an argument ensued, the report states.
Mason was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
More Scattered Storms Possible Through The Weekend
May 12, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Northview Beats Holmes County 17-6 To Advance To Regional Finals
May 12, 2023
With a 10-run final inning and two home runs, the Northview blasted by Holmes County 17-6 in the 1A regional semifinals Thursday night in Bonifay.
Chloe Ragsdale and Emma Gilmore both homered for the Chiefs.
Jamison Gilman led off for the Chiefs, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out two in four innings. Aubrey Stuckey pitched three innings, allowing two nits, no runs and striking out two.
Stuckey led Northview at the plate, going 4-4. Gilmore was 3-5, A Flowers went 2-3, Ragsdale and M Golson were 2-5. K Alvare, R Brooks and Mary-Clayton Dawson eached added a hit.
Next Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Jay Royals (15-11) will host Northview (15-12) in the regional finals. The winner advances to the final four.
Escambia County Accounting Specialist Evelyn Rancifer Retires After 49 Years
May 12, 2023
Escambia County Accounting Specialist Evelyn Rancifer Retires has retired after 49 years of service. She last worked in the county’s engineering department.
Rancifer’s employment with Escambia County began on August 6, 1973, as a clerk typist in record indexing at the Escambia County Comptroller’s Office. She was quickly promoted to recording, then to accounts payable. She transferred to the engineering department in 1998 and served for over 20 years with various job duties. In the same time frame, she also worked at the Pensacola Bay Center (then the Pensacola Civic Center) as an usher, a ticket-taker and a supervisor.
This was actually the second time Rancifer retired from the county. She retired for the first time in August 2008 after 35 years, but returned for nearly another 15 years. Her second and final retirement was on her 73rd birthday, May 9, 2023.
As an engineering accounting specialist, she supported the day-to-day operations of engineering and other departments at the Central Office Complex by overseeing accounts payable. By focusing her attention on the details of invoices before sending them for payment, she has caught errors and saved the county significant sums of money over the years.
Over her tenure with the county, Rancifer has received multiple Employee of the Month awards and was named Employee of the Year in 2001.
“What an honor to celebrate a woman I have looked up to my entire life,” said Escambia County District 3 Commissioner and Chairman Lumon May. “Evelyn’s impact on my life and the life of others will never be forgotten. Evelyn is the true epitome of a public servant, and Escambia County was blessed to have her for so many years. Evelyn, we wish you the best in your retirement and thank you for your dedicated service to our community.”
“We will sorely miss Evelyn,” said Escambia County Director of Engineering and County Engineer Joy Blackmon, P.E. “She is our longest-tenured county employee of nearly 50 years! We are so grateful to have served alongside her. While her work ethic is beyond reproach and her ability is phenomenal, she brings a sparkle to every day with her sweet nature and playful sense of humor. We love you, Evelyn. Enjoy your retirement3″
Northview’s Cason Burkett Signs To Play Baseball At Coastal Alabama
May 12, 2023
Northview High School senior Cason Burkett signed Monday to play baseball for the Coastal Alabama East.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Up 6-0 As Game With Barons Suspended by Rain
May 12, 2023
Bennett Hostetler’s grand slam highlighted a six-run first inning for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday in a game that was suspended due to rain in the middle of the second inning.
The game will be picked up Friday at 4:30 with the Blue Wahoos leading the Birmingham Barons 6-0.
Friday’s regularly scheduled game will follow approximately 30 minutes after the completion of Thursday’s suspended game. The Friday contest will be shortened to seven innings.
The Blue Wahoos scored six unearned runs against Vince Vannelle in the first, capitalizing on an infield error to score the game’s first run before an RBI single from Joe Rizzo and Hostetler’s grand slam. M.D. Johnson worked a scoreless, hitless first inning in a brief start – the righty’s third in a row that was cut short by weather.
The Blue Wahoos will resume Thursday’s contest on Friday afternoon in Birmingham.
written and photo by Erik Bremer/Blue Wahoos
Flomaton Man Sentenced To Prison For Killing Century Man Using A Propane Tank
May 11, 2023
A Flomaton man has been sentenced 15 years in state prison for the negligent manslaughter of a Century man using a propane tank in July 2021.
Judge John Simon sentenced 35-year old Timothy Lavon Johnson on Thursday. He was convicted in March of the death of Christopher Lynn Hunter who passed away 10 days after he was hit in the head by Johnson with a propane tank.
According to court documents, Johnson struck Hunter in the head at least once with a steel propane take such as the type used on an outdoor grill. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
They arrived to find Hunter bloody and beaten, crawling around the ground, the report states. He was transported to the hospital, where he died on July 28, 2021. The autopsy revealed that his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head that caused severe hemorrhaging.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued that the Johnson’s decision to leave the victim alone with his injuries was inhumane.
Witnesses on the scene were interviewed, but initially provided very little information about what happened.
‘Big Day For Century’ – Brazilian Manufacturing Company Expanding To Century, Signs Lease
May 11, 2023
‘This is a big day for the Town of Century.”
“It’s a big day for the council and a big day for our new partners that are coming in. We are very excited about having you here.”
That’s how Mayor Ben Boutwell opened a meeting Thursday morning to officially announce a lease signing with a 50-year of foreign manufacturing company coming to Century.
AlgaPlast Corp. inked a lease for a town-owned industrial park building commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building. AlagaPlast is the new American subsidiary of Grupa GA230 of Arujá, Brazil.
“We are a Brazilian group; we have been in existence for the last 50 years,” Grupa GA230 and AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins told NorthEscambia.com. “We are dedicated to plastic injection products. Our core market is oil and gas products, and gas supply parts. We’ve come into the city of Century in order to increase our supply chain with a unit in the U.S. We are coming to think out of the box and reach different markets, different segments.”
“We have come in here looking for prosperity for us and to bring prosperity to the community,” Martins said.
The company expects their first pieces of large manufacturing equipment to arrive in Century in about August as they work to improve the electrical and other infrastructure in the building.. The hiring process for the first few staff members will follow, and they anticipate up to 25 employees within three to five with an average salary of $46,570 — the median in the Pensacola area.
For more photos, click or tap here.
AlgaPlast’s lease mirrors 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. The lease signed Thursday morning has an effective day of June 1. In a special meeting, the town council approved the lease 4-0. Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. did not attend the meeting; no reason for his absence was publically announced.
The town re-acquired the 40,000 square foot 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.
The Florida foreign direct investment economic development project was facilitated by the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the economic development organization for Escambia County.
“This will go a long way in helping to elevate opportunities for so many residents and also for the town. Economic development comes with a capital investment in the community,” FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews said.
Pictured top: Algaplast Corp. President and CEO Ed Carlos Curvelos (left) and Century Mayor Ben Boutwell sign a lease agreement Thursday morning. Pictured inset: AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
