PNS Transforms Into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport
February 11, 2024
Pensacola International Airport has partnered with Pensacon for its annual transformation into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport, assuming the temporary name and stellar decor to commemorate the 2024 Pensacon convention scheduled for Feb. 23-25.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the temporary change renaming the airport Pensacola Intergalactic Airport. The signage throughout the terminal highlights iconic comic and science fiction characters and welcome messages.
“Our relationship with the Pensacola Intergalactic Airport has been such a wonderful way to not only promote Pensacon, but also show travelers how great our city is in supporting events like ours. Each year, our celebrity guests are impressed when they come off the plane and feel like they are already immersed in Pensacon,” Pensacon CEO Mike Ensley said.
Pensacon attracts tens of thousands of fans to downtown Pensacola each year. Pensacon had a more than $3.8 million in economic impact in 2023. Now entering its 11th year, Pensacon has had a cumulative economic impact of more than $28 million since its first convention in 2014. Economic impact numbers are provided by Visit Pensacola research.
Failed Urban Development Center YouthFirst Program Reports Another Payment Toward Unsecured Loan From Century
February 10, 2024
The CEO of the Urban Development Center says she had made another payment toward what started as an unsecured $61,925 loan for the YouthFirst Century program that suffered a complete funding cut by the Escambia County Children’s Trust (ECT).
This week, Jessca Griffen told the Century Town Council by phone that she had made a $20,000 payment to the town. Our public records request to the town for any proof of the payment (such as a copy of the check or deposit slip) remained ignored after two days.
Last year, Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) awarded a contract to the Pensacola non-profit Urban Development Center for “YouthFirst Century” to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period at a total cost of $1.2 million. In reality, they only reached 30 children in their targeted ages of 11-18. They requested to lower their target age group to just 5-years old, but that was also denied by ECT.
The Town of Century fronted an unsecured $61,925 loan to UDC to purchase items like computers and workbooks. Previously, Griffen stated another $20,000 was previously repaid to the town, according to audio from a council meeting. However, public records requests by both NorthEscambia.com and Rick’s Blog to the town produced no documentation of the payment.
Griffen had proposed that the remaining $41,295 be repaid by December 31, 2023, but that deadline was missed. She requested an extension to March 31, 2024.
UDC has been reimbursed $164,903.50 by ECT through October, according to records from the taxpayer funded Escambia Children’s Trust, but those funds were not used to fully repay the Town of Century.
UDC has requested a $189,256.70 reimbursement for their first year of operation, despite reaching just 56 children, with less than 30 of those in the target age range. That equals $6,308 per targeted child in the 11-18 age group.
“I look forward to our continued relationship we have with the Town of Century,” Griffen said this week.
“I do want to emphasize that we appreciate you and everything you do,” Town council President Dynette Lewis told Griffen.
Pictured: The Urban Development League’s Dr. Jessica Griffen introduces YouthFirst Century to a group at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century in February 2023. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Showers Through Sunday
February 10, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
10,000 Vote-By-Mail Ballots On The Way To Escambia County Voters
February 10, 2024
Friday, the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections delivered nearly 10,000 vote-by-mail ballots to the U.S. Postal Service for Escambia County voters who have requested them for the March Presidential Preference Primary. Voters should begin receiving their ballot packages next week.
Detailed instructions are included in each packet. After completing the ballot, the voter must sign and date the return envelope. Return it by mail, deliver it to the Supervisor of Elections office, or drop it off at an early voting site. Ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail their ballots at least one week before the due date.
The Supervisor of Elections office will process new vote-by mail requests on a daily basis. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the Presidential Preference Primary Election is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. To request a vote-by-mail ballot or track the status of your ballot, visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click “Vote by Mail”, or contact the Supervisor of Elections office at (850) 595-3900.
The Presidential Preference Primary is only available to voters registered in the Republican party. Florida is a closed primary state, which means voters can only vote in the party in which they are registered for primary elections.
The deadline to register to vote and/or change party affiliation is Tuesday, February 20. Any eligible Floridian who is not a registered voter in Florida and wishes to vote in the upcoming election must register or their registration must be postmarked no later than February 20. There are multiple ways to register to vote, including the online registration portal at EscambiaVotes.gov.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
February 10, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their January Students of the Month. They are (L-R) Charina Godwin, Jessie McElhaney and Makinzi Roley. They are pictured with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger. Photo for NorthEscambambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Correctonal Inmate Bit Officer, FDC Says
February 10, 2024
A Century Correctional Institution inmate assaulted a correctional officer recently, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Alexander D. Howard assaulted multiple correctional officers by biting one officer’s arm and grabbing the other officer’s fingers. The incident was captured on camera, according to FDC.
Howard is serving a three year, six month sentence out of Escambia County for grand theft, burglary and fleeing .
Police: Man Caught Burglarizing Ministry
February 10, 2024
An Atmore man is facing charges are police caught him allegedly stealing from a local ministry Friday afternoon.
Atmore Police Department officers responded to the Agape Outreach Ministry located at 1000 East Nashville Avenue about 3 p.m. to find a suspect inside and removing items from the thirft stor ebusiness.
The man was later identified as 32-year old Blaine Montgomery. He was a charged with third degree burglary and first degree theft of property.
Montgomery was transported to the Escambia County, AL Detention Center.
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Eugene McNeil
February 10, 2024
Sgt. Maj. Timothy McNeil (Tim), a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend who was a dedicated servant to his family, country, and community went to his heavenly home on February 5, 2024.
Tim proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, embodying honor, courage, and commitment throughout his distinguished military career. After retiring from the Marines, he continued his unwavering dedication to public service as a Deputy Sheriff with Escambia County safeguarding the lives and well-being of his fellow citizens with the same passion and integrity he exhibited in the military. His legacy of love, selflessness, leadership, and sacrifice will forever be remembered by his family, friends, and all the lives he touched.
Semper Fi Marine. Your final watch is over. Rest easy and may your legacy and spirit continue to inspire us to serve others with the same duty and honor.
A family celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
SgtMaj Timothy McNeil will be laid to rest at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements
Escambia Votes To Begin Negotiations With Beulah Town Center For $20 Million OLF-8 Sale
February 9, 2024
The Escambia County Commission voted 4-0 Thursday night to begin negotiations with Beulah Town Center (BTC) LLC and partner Fred Hemmer on a contract to develop the county-owned OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road.
Beulah Town Center and Hemmer have told commissioners that they will follow the Master plan and no contruct any single family homes.
Beulah Town Center’s latest offer, revised Thursday afternoon, is $20 million cash for 290 acres, with the county retaining about acreage for economic development (shown in yellow in the graphic above). Under the latest proposal, BTC will not retain a purchase option on the additional property.
BTC and Hemmer (pictured) also revised their offer at the request of Commissioner Jeff Bergosh to set aside sufficient property to allow the county to construct four tennis courts adjacent to the new Navy Federal Recreation Park.
BTC also raised their due diligence period to seven months.
With the commission’s vote, County Attorney Alison Rogers and Administrator West Moreno will negotiate with BTC with a goal of returning a contract for commission consideration by the end of March.
A second offer from Precision Capital was also on the table, but for 537 acres, a majority of the property, with the development of some 900 single family homes.
“I can’t even consider the other offer,” Bergosh said Thursday morning.. “It’s completely 100% out of step with the master plan. It loads up the field with a bunch of single family residences, houses, no area for job growth.”
Mayor Responds To Salzman’s Plan To Request State Review Of Century’s Operations
February 9, 2024
Hours after publication of a NorthEscambia.com story reporting that Rep. Michelle Salzman will be asking the Chief Inspector General to take a look at the operations of the Town of Century, Century’s mayor emailed a letter to Salzman
“As Mayor, it is my priority to ensure transparency and accountability in our municipality’s operations,” Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. wrote. “I understand that you intend to request a state agency to audit the Town, and I believe it is essential to provide you with insight into the proactive measures we are taking to address any concerns and improve our community.”
Gomez then explained that an interim town manager had been hired.
“At our last Town Council meeting on January 16, 2024, we were presented with an action plan that outlines key objectives and timelines for addressing various challenges facing our town,” Gomez said in the February 8 letter to Salzman. The council’s last meeting was not January 16 as Gomez stated; it was actually February 6. In January, Brown discussed work on an action plan, including the need to hire a “procurement specialist”, but no action plan was approved by the council.
Gomez wrote that the town hired U.S. Water to address environmental deficiencies in the town’s water and wastewater operations. On February 6, the town approved spending up to $33,630 for U.S. Water to address FDEP water warning letters from 2023.
“I believe that by sharing this overview of our action plan, you will have a better understanding of the proactive steps we are taking to address concerns within our community,” Gomez wrote in his letter to Salzman. “I am confident that with your support and collaboration, we can work towards a brighter future for the residents of Century.
The mayor also requested a 30 minute meeting to discuss the situation further.
“This is literally the first official communication I’ve received from Century since former Mayor (Ben) Boutwell was ran off,” Salzman said in her emailed response late Thursday afternoon, saying that should be happy to hold a Zoom meeting since she is in Tallahassee for the Legislative session. “I have one more meeting with state agencies here before I know what my next steps are for your community.”