440 Lot Development Planned For Highway 29 Near Cedar Tree Lane
June 30, 2024
A new residential development is planned for Highway 29 between Cedar Tree Lane and Neal Road, west of Highway 29 in Cantonment.
A development proposal submitted by a Pensacola engineering firm with a total of 440 lots on 131 acres to be constructed in three phases.
If approved, plans call for construction to begin in the fall of 2024 on the first phase with 130 lots on 40.5 acres, a second phase to begin the spring of 2025 with 96 lots on 40.2 acres and a third phase started in the summer of 2025 with 214 lots of 50.4 acres. Each phase is estimated to take about one year for completion of construction.
The final application went before the Escambia County Development Review committee last week. The master plan was tabled for the county to meet with the engineers to discuss a few remaining issues, according to the county.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Rep. Salzman To Host Constituent Services Day July 9 With Multiple Officials, Agencies
June 30, 2024
The office of Florida House Representative Michelle Salzman, in partnership with local, state, and federal officials will host in-person mobile office hours on July 9 to assist constituents with casework issues. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of the district offices a more convenient way to receive county, state, and federal casework assistance.
In addition to elected offices, the event will include representatives from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Pensacola Vet center, and VA services from the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System.
“I am excited to host this upcoming community outreach event. It gives elected officials the opportunity to reach out to our constituents and help with their government related issues,” Salzman said.
The Constituent Services Day event will take place July 9 from 2-4 p.m. at “The Table” located at 275 West Airport Blvd, Unit B in Pensacola.
Pictured: Rep. Michelle Salzman hosted a Constituent Services Day last June at Beulah Freewill Baptist Church. File photos.
Heat Advisory For Sunday, More Scattered Showers Likely
June 30, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 10am and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Independence Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Uber Driver Killed, Two Navy Sailors Seriously Injured In Escambia County Crash
June 30, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 60-year-old Uber driver died and two U.S. Navy sailors were seriously injured in a crash Saturday morning in Escambia Count.
FHP said the Uber driver was in a Subaru sedan with two sailors as passengers — a 28-year-old New York man, and a 22-year-old Iowa man — just after 4 a.m.
Troopers said as the Uber was traveling south on Navy Boulevard, a Hyundai driven by a 19-year-old Pensacola woman on Gulf Beach Highway failed to stop at a red light.
“According to multiple witnesses, this driver had a steady red traffic signal which the driver failed to obey,’ FHP Said.
The front of the Hyundai collided with the right side of the Subaru.
The driver of the Subaru was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passengers were both transported by ground ambulance as trauma patients. The driver of the Hyundai was also transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
U.S. Navy command from Pensacola NAS were notified about the sailors.
FHP Traffic Homicide Investigators are continuing their investigation.
File photo.
Hurricane Beryl Is Now A Category 4 Storm
June 30, 2024
Hurricane Beryl has strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm as it barreled toward the southeast Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Beryl strengthened into a category 4 Sunday afternoon and is expected to continue to strengthening as it travels west across the Atlantic.
Its center is expected to move across the Windward Islands early Monday, bringing destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge.
It is too early to predict what, if any, impacts Beryl may have on the northern Gulf Coast and the North Escambia area.
The latest information on Beryl is in the graphics from the National Hurricane Center on this page.
UWF Earns Highest Marks In University History In Key Board of Governors’ Metrics
June 30, 2024
The University of West Florida displayed a strong performance in metrics measuring retention, median wages upon graduation and high-impact practices in the Florida Board of Governors’ 2023-24 performance-based funding model. The results, announced at a Board of Governors meeting today, showed UWF earned some of its highest marks in University history and landed in the top three in three metrics among all Florida State University System metric-participating institutions.
“The University of West Florida has distinguished itself as an institution where students can earn a high-quality education in a state that is ranked No.1 in the country for higher education and land a competitive job upon graduation,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders.“We have worked hard to advance student success and our efforts are paying off.”
UWF achieved its highest academic progress rate in University history. Metric 5 measures the second-year retention rate with a GPA above 2.0. UWF’s progress rate improved by 3.3 percentage points, totaling 86.8%. The University has put a laser-focus on supporting students in their first year of college, not only through academic support but also helping them develop a sense of belonging through welcome events such as Argo Arrival. One of the most popular events, put on by the Office of Student Engagement, is “Beach Bash” on Pensacola Beach. Many other areas within the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs, including Housing and Residence Life, International Affairs, and The Kugelman Honors Program, offer special orientation events and social activities for new and returning students. These events help improve student retention by connecting them with their peers, faculty, and student support staff.
UWF also earned high marks in Metric 10 which measures the percentage of baccalaureate graduates completing two or more types of high-impact practices, such as internships or undergraduate research. The University increased to 60.6%, which is well above the 51% benchmark for excellence. UWF provides students with various HIPs inside and outside of the classroom that build early professional experience and encourage networking. 28% of undergraduate students are engaged in faculty research.
“Our excellence in Metric 10 is a reflection of our world-class faculty and their dedication to engaging our students with research and high-impact practice opportunities, setting them up for success when they graduate,” said Dr. Jaromy Kuhl, UWF provost and senior vice president.
Results of the performance-based funding metrics showed UWF graduates earned a median wage of $53,000 in 2021-22 which sets a new record for the University and is an increase of $4,200 since last year’s metrics. Metric 2 measures median wages of bachelor‘s degree-earning graduates employed full-time one year after graduation. UWF graduates’ median salary is higher than almost all metric-participating SUS institutions, trailing only to Florida Polytechnic University and University of Florida.
More than 79% of bachelor’s graduates are employed or furthering their education one year after graduation. This is a five percentage point increase from last year and landed UWF at No. 2 in the Florida State University System for Metric 1.
UWF earned a total of 84 points out of 100 on the Board’s performance-based funding model results, two points higher than the institution’s score last year.
Under the performance-based funding model, the Board of Governors scores each of Florida’s 12 public universities based on 10 metrics designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement. These metrics establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues such as graduation and retention rates.
Tate Aggies Host Baseball Camp
June 30, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies held their baseball camp last week with over 70 participants.
The camp for ages 7-14 was held at the Tate Baseball Complex.
The camp covered the fundamentals of baseball including throwing, hitting, fielding and base running. Team fundamentals were also covered, including bunt defenses, pop up priority, cuts and relays.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berry’s Dramatic Homer Lifts Wahoos to 4-2 Win Over Biloxi
June 30, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Jacob Berry hit a go-ahead three run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, sending the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a 4-2 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night.
Berry’s third homer of the year, and first since late April, turned a 2-1 deficit into one of the most memorable wins of the season for the Blue Wahoos. It caps a resurgent month for the club’s top prospect, who is now batting .299 in June with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBI.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning with an opposite-field home run from Joe Mack against Shuckers starter Shane Smith. It was Mack’s 13th Double-A homer, putting him just one shy of a tie for the Southern League lead.
In his Blue Wahoos debut, Pensacola starter Tristan Stevens turned in a quality start. The righty went 6.0 solid innings, allowing two runs in the fourth on an RBI triple to Carlos Rodriguez and RBI single to Ernesto Martinez as the Shuckers took a 2-1 lead.
The Pensacola bullpen kept the game within reach, holding Biloxi hitless after the fifth inning. Raffi Vizcaíno (W, 3-1) worked a spotless eighth, and the Blue Wahoos turned a Bennett Hostetler walk and Dalvy Rosario single into a last-gasp threat against Shuckers closer Justin Yeager (L, 2-5).
The Blue Wahoos had gone 0-for-9 with men in scoring position on the night, but Berry lifted a Yeager offering over the left-center wall for the biggest hit of his season. It was the second two-out, three-run homer Yeager had allowed to Pensacola in the series after Harrison Spohn took him deep on Tuesday.
Austin Roberts (S, 13) breezed through the ninth to earn his league-leading 13th save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Shuckers on Sunday. First pitch from Keesler Federal Park is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Judge Denies Bruce Childers’ Claim To Be On The Ballot for Supervisor of Elections
June 29, 2024
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to place attorney Bruce Childers on the ballot for Escambia County supervisor of elections.
Incumbent Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender disqualified would-be GOP candidate Bruce Childers for not providing a copy of his required full and public financial disclosure Form 6 by the close of qualifying.
Childers was seeking an emergency declaration to put him back on the ballot as a qualified candidate for supervisor of elections.
Childers said he never received a call about any issues, which is something he claims should have been done, according to the Florida statute that states a qualifying officer shall make every reasonable effort to notify the candidate of missing or incomplete items.
Following a lengthy hearing Friday afternoon, Circuit Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz sided with Bender, leaving Childers, a local attorney, off the ballot.
“I do not find any basis in law for taking such a bold step as to overrule the supervisor of elections,” Frydrychowicz said as she issued a verbal order.
The judge said testimony from Deputy Supervisor of Elections Sonya Daniel and assistant Keelie Sekerka led her to decide the SOE meet the requirements of election laws.
Bender is automatically elected as the only qualified candidate for Supervisor of Elections.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Held For Firefighter Clay Brown
June 29, 2024
Funeral services were held Friday in for firefighter Clay Brown, Jr., 27, who passed away in an early Saturday morning, June 22 single vehicle crash on Highway 87 north of Jay.
He was a career firefighter for Escambia County Fire-Rescue and a volunteer for the Jay Volunteer Fire Department.
Funeral services took play Friday at the True Worship Assembly of God in Jay with burial following at Full Gospel Community Church in Brewon.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Brown was born in Pensacola on Sept. 18, 1996, to James “Moo” and Jeanne Brown. He graduated from Jay High School in 2015 where he was a proud Jay Royal on the football and weightlifting teams. There, he made many lasting bonds of friendship on the field, in the weight room and the classroom.
While in high school, Brown discovered his calling to the fire service and, at age 16, joined the Jay Volunteer Fire Department as a junior volunteer firefighter.
Following his desire for service, Brown enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 1, 2016. He was stationed in Bremerton, Wash., and spent time in Everett, Wash. and San Diego, Calif. for the four years he served.
Brown was assigned to the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Nimitz. He had one deployment during his enlistment for seven months to the Persian Gulf, which placed his ship in position to conduct anti-ISIS strikes in Syria and Iraq. Following his time on the U.S.S Nimitz, Brown served as an Aviation Support Equipment Technician (AS3) as an F4 for the remainder of this service.
Upon returning to his hometown of Jay, Brown enrolled in the Fire Academy to once again serve his community. He attended Northwest Florida State College for Firefighter I/II training, where he formed many bonds of friendship with soon-to-be firefighters.
Once his training was completed, Brown was hired on at Pace Fire Rescue District. From there, he moved to the Holley-Navarre Fire District – Station #41, and then found his permanent home with Escambia County Fire Rescue, serving at Station #1 in Bellview and finally at Station #7 in Ferry Pass.
Brown was an avid outdoorsman. He hunted and fished as often as possible. He was a usual participant during the Duck, Deer and Turkey seasons. Brown was a proud member of the Travis Road Hunting Club, where he enjoyed time at the “Hunting Camp” with his father and many of his father’s lifelong friends and their sons and daughters. Along with hunting, Brown also enjoyed hiking, spending much time in Idaho, which he considered his second home. His love of the outdoors extended to farming as he always looked forward to the planting and harvest seasons, always lending a helping hand to his farming friends.
Brown will always be remembered by his family, friends, and fellow firefighters as a happy and big personality who brought love and light into every room he entered. He was a member of the Full Gospel Community Church in Dixonville, Ala. where he accepted Jesus into his heart and his life, and received love and guidance from a special lifelong friend and pastor, Brother Bill Thompson.
lay Brown is survived by his mother and father, Moo and Jeanne Brown, of Jay, his sister, Kasey Yalch, special nephews, Jayce Clay Stokes and Jameson Haveard, and niece, Sawyer Haveard. He is also survived by Uncles John “Cliff” Cory Brown of Jay, Don McNabb of Levittown, Penn., Michael McNabb of Waveland, Miss., and Rick Sexton of Winchester, Calif.; Aunts, Vicki Dixon of Pace, Jeannie Johnson of Urbana, Iowa; Great Uncles Harry Hawthorne, Ray Daugette and Bruce Daugette of Milton, and numerous cousins on both sides of his family.
He is predeceased by his grandparents, Claude and Mary Nan Brown and William and Bertha (Boots) Sexton, all of Jay. Clay is also predeceased by his uncles, William Sexton, Jr. of St. Augustine, Fla., Mickey McNabb of Jemison, Ala., Wendell (Mac) McNabb of Jefferson, La., and Susan McNabb of Marianna, Fla.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
