Slayton Discusses His Political Future, Superintendent’s Future, Sales Tax At Town Hall
May 9, 2023
Escambia County School Board District 5 member Bill Slayton and Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith held a town hall Monday night at Tate High School.
Slayton discussed his political future, the future of the superintendent, sales tax and enrollment capacity during the meeting.
Slayton said since 2008, the district has spent about $90 million in half cent monies in District 5 for improvements and new construction, including the current Ernest Ward Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary.
“That school is running approximately 900 elementary students, so the question is what are we going to do next,” he said about Kingsfield Elementary. “We are looking; we are talking. We are seeing what we have to do.”
“Tate High School is closed for students to transfer into. They began the year at almost 2,200,” he said. The only pending upgrade for Tate he mentioned was covers for an outdoor eating space by the cafeteria to increase student use.
An audience member questioned if Slayton, who was first elected in 2008, will seek another term in 2024.
“That’s a question that my wife and I have discussed. I can’t give you the concrete answer tonight. Hang on until it’s election time,” he said. “I’ll let you know.”
He was a bit more decisive when asked about his continued support to retain Smith.
“I believe that you have to give people time to do the job. Nobody can walk in and do it, and turn everything around immediately,” he said. “You have to learn as you go, and you are learning on the job. There’s no other way to learn as a superintendent except become a superintendent…As long as I am in office, my intentions are to keep supporting the superintendent because that is what the team ought to be doing and that’s what the school board voted to do. ”
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FHP: Jay Woman Drives Her Mini Cooper Into UPS Store
May 9, 2023
A 60-year old woman from Jay drove her Mini Cooper through the front of the UPS Store in Pace, injuring a woman inside, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP said a 35-year old Pace woman inside the store suffered minor injuries from glass and debris.
Prior to this crash, FHP said the Mini Cooper driver and a 37-year-old woman driving a van backed into each other in the parking lot. The driver of the Mini Cooper put her vehicle in gear and pressed on the accelerator causing it to travel over the parking curb into the front of the UPS Store.
Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
May 9, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled Thursday’s planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
The meeting has been canceled for the last several months.
A Few Showers Around Tonight; We Do It All Again Wednesday
May 9, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Mc David FL
30.87°N 87.48°W (Elev. 269 ft)
Visit your local NWS office at: https://www.weather.gov/mob
Molino Tax Collector Office In Running For Donate Life Display Contest Award
May 9, 2023
The Escambia County Tax Collector Molino Office is in the running in the Donate Life Florida Make a Splash Display – Small Offices contest.
The staff worked to spread awareness and raise funds for organ donor education throughout the month of April.
Driver license offices across Florida participated in the National Donate Life Month campaign, “Make A Splash For Donation!”
As a part of the campaign, offices across the state created wall displays inspired by the frog and lily Donate Life Month Theme in an effort to increase awareness for Donate Life, while also fundraising for organ and tissue donation education.
The winning offices will be announced later this month.
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Northview’s Rustin Pope Signs To Play Baseball At Coastal Alabama East
May 9, 2023
Northview High School senior Rustin Pope signed Monday to play baseball for the Coastal Alabama East.
For more photos, click or tap here.
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Regional Playoff Games Set For Northview And Tate Baseball, Northview Softball
May 9, 2023
The 2023 Florida high school tournament brackets have been released, and all opening round matchups are set for North Escambia teams beginning Wednesday for baseball and Thursday for softball.
1A Baseball
On Wednesday, No. 1 Northview (17-6) will host No. 4 Holmes County (9-18) at 7 p.m. Chiefs fans are encouraged to wear black and and “black out the blue devils”. Also Wednesday, No. 3 Jay (16-11) will travel to No. 2 Paxton (12-8). The winners will meet for the regional championship Saturday night at 7:00.
6A Baseball
On Wednesday, No.4 Tate (18-7) will travel to Tallahassee to face No. 5 Leon (20-7) at 7 p.m. And. No. 1 Pace (24-2) will host. No. 8 Winter Springs (16-9-1) at 7 p.m. (EDT).
1A Softball
On Thursday, No. 1 Jay (14-11) will host No. 4 Freeport (15-10) at 7 p.m. And, the No. 3 Northview Chiefs will travel to No. 2 Holmes County (16-7) at 7 p.m.
Gwendolyn Kearley
May 9, 2023
Gwendolyn Kearley, age 89, of Gonzalez, FL, passed away May 8, 2023. She was born in Brownsville, AL, on April 13, 1934, to Roy and Evelyn Holcombe. Gwen was married to Leslie Kearley for 44 years. Gwen worked for Gonzalez United Methodist Church for 31 years, as church secretary. She was a member of Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Evelyn Holcombe; sister, Edith Hughes; sister, Betty Jean Holcombe; and spouse, Leslie L. Kearley.
Gwen is survived by her daughter, Robyn (Jeff) Byrd; daughter, Beth (Mike) Herndon; daughter, Cindy (Mike) McNay; grandsons, Kyle Paulk and Tim (Brittany) Herndon; granddaughters, Hillary (Keldon) Simkins and Laura (Jesse) Edgin; one great granddaughter and one great grandson.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Services will be Friday, May 12, 2023, at 2:00 PM, at Gonzalez Methodist Church. Reverend Andy Perry will be officiating. Interment will be in Gonzalez Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mike Herndon, Jeff Byrd, Mike McNay, Tim Herndon, Keldon Simkins and Jesse Edgin.
This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots Are…
May 9, 2023
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (College Boulevard) Pensacola Grand Fiesta Parade 2023 – Drivers will encounter road closures from Cervantes Street eastbound to North 12th Avenue Saturday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the Grand Fiesta Parade.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- · Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and intermittent turn lane closures Sunday, May 8 through Thursday, May 11 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place thermoplastic pavement markings on the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from North of U.S. 98 to East of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers will encounter shoulder and lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder construction.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter alternating nightly lane closures, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12. Crews will be milling and resurfacing the roadway.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century - Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through May. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road - Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures, between Innerarity Point Road and Bauer Road, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Thursday, May 11. Crews will be placing sod along the roadway, as well as performing signal work at the Bauer Road Intersection.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of select areas from Abercrombie Road to Calle De Palencia Street - Drivers on U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway), between S.R. 87 and Calle De Palencia Street, may encounter intermittent nightly lane closures from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Widening of the westbound bridge over Simpson River has been completed. The westbound structure now supports two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes, and dedicated bike lanes. Drivers may encounter temporary and intermittent lane closures on the bridge for crews to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- I-10 Resurfacing from S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists will encounter nighttime east and westbound lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 for paving operations.
- S.R. 196 (Bayfront Parkway) Routine Maintenance near 9th Avenue – Motorists will encounter westbound outside lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for landscape maintenance and debris removal.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
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Update: Suspect Attempting To Flee With Hostage At Knifepoint Shot, Killed By Deputy
May 8, 2023
A man with 58 prior felony convictions has been identified as the suspect shot and killed by a deputy Sunday night in Escambia County.
Sheriff Chip Simmons said 53-year old Ronnie Kenneth Clark was wanted on a failure to appear warrant on a meth-related charge and a violation of probation warrant. He had warrants in both Florida and Alabama.
A bail bondsman from Bay Minette and deputies believed Clark had a gun, which was later determined to be two objects taped together to resemble a firearm (pictured below inset), Simmons said. He also texted two people saying that he had a gun and was going to “shoot it out” with deputies, according to the sheriff.
About 5 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4700-block of Helton Lane off Klondike Road for the warrant service, where Clark reportedly threatened both the deputies and the bondsman.
For hours, he held a woman hostage inside a tent on the property before attempting to leave. Simons said Clark was holding a knife to the woman’s throat, got into a a vehicle and attempted to leave. That’s when he was shot and killed by a SWAT officer.
Simmons said the woman is being treated at a local hospital for injuries. He said she was struck when the bullet either traveled through the suspect or fragmented. An update on her condition was not available.
“It’s obvious to us that we spent five hours trying to end this peacefully, and we cannot let them leave,” Simmons said during a Monday morning press conference. “In situations like this, we care about human life. We care more about a hostage than we do the hostage taker, and the deputy had an opportunity to end this…Our criminal escalated these events, and it cost him his life.”
“He threatened our deputies; he threatened the bondsman. He held a knife to the throat of a hostage, and he tried to get away. If you try to do these things, you are not long for this world, quite honestly. You play this type of stupid game, and you get what you get.”
The knife was recovered at the scene (pictured first below), the sheriff noted.
As is standard procedure, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer involved shooting, and the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
