Northview High FFA Chapter, Alumni Earn Numerous Awards And Honors At FFA State Convention

June 16, 2024

The Northview High School FFA chapter and alumni brought home numerous awards and honors from the 96th Annual Florida FFA State Convention & Expo in Orlando

The accolades included:

  • 1st Place Outstanding Alumni Chapter Award
  • Top 3 Finalist for Outstanding Young Alumni Member – Stephanie Solari
  • Recognition for 2023 National Outstanding Alumni Chapter Award
  • 2nd Place Chapter Advocacy Award
  • Named one of Florida’s Finest Chapters
  • Premier Chapter
  • Five State Degree Recipients – Jayden Franklin, Judson Lee, Cody Pugh, Tyler Riggs, and Skylar Williams
  • One American Degree Candidate – James Gruenwald
  • 3rd Place Horse Evaluation Team
  • Convention Talent Performer – Hunter Manning
  • Area 1 State Vice Presidential Candidate – Tyler Riggs
  • Sponsor Brandon Korichak’s graduation from the FDACS Agricultural Educators Leadership Program

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia Schools Pre-K, Kindergarten, New Student Registration Underway

June 16, 2024

Escambia County Public Schools began pre-K, kindergarten and new student registration for the 2024-2025 school year on April 1, 2024, with a preferred registration deadline of June 30th, 2024.

All families are encouraged to register early for the upcoming school year. Students currently attending one of the public schools in Escambia County and those that participated in Controlled Open Enrollment do not need to register, as they are currently assigned a school for the 2024-2025 school year.

Families wishing to register at their residentially-zoned school can go directly to that school for registration. Families wishing to take advantage of School Choice should go to the Office of Enrollment Services at the J.E. Hall Center on Texar Drive for approval before registering.

For additional information, please visit the district website, call the Enrollment Services Office at (850) 469-5580, or reach out directly to your neighborhood school.

NWE 8U All-Stars Win District Tournament

June 16, 2024

The Northwest Escambia 8U All-Stars won the District 7 tournament on Saturday for the second straight year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Showers And Thunderstorms Possible Monday

June 16, 2024

Here is your official North Escambia forecast:

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 1pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. East wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Juneteenth: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

FHP Seeks Leads In Fatal 2023 Hit And Run

June 16, 2024

Just over a year after a fatal hit and run crash in Escambia County, the Florida Highway Patrol is still looking for the responsible driver.

The hit and run was about 2:45 a.m. June 10, 2023,  on Sorrento Road approaching Blue Angel in Escambia County. The victim was riding his bicycle eastbound on the road edge when an unknown vehicle struck the rear of the bicycle. FHP said physical evidence on scene indicated an SUV hit the bicycle and the windshield was damaged. Paint transfer on the bicycle indicated a white or silver vehicle.

Troopers said the vehicle would have been heading eastbound on Sorrento Road.

Family has identified the victim as retired Navy Master Chief Jeff Nichols, 61.

Anyone who may have received windshield replacement or damaged repair around that timeframe last year or if you suspect someone randomly parks and hides their vehicle by covering with tarps or stashing away in a wooded area, please let us know.” FHP Corporal Constance Knowles said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

Blue Wahoos, Barons Rained Out In Birmingham

June 16, 2024

Saturday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Birmingham Barons at Regions Field was postponed due to rain.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, June 16. The first pitch of game one will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT, with another game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both contests will be seven innings.

The Blue Wahoos return home Tuesday for a six-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts, Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

Gomez, Cunningham, Lewis Elected By Default, No One Else Qualifies For Century Mayor, Council

June 15, 2024

Century’s mayor and two council members will keep their seats for another four years after no one else qualified to run for the offices.

Luis Gomez, Jr. will remain mayor, while Dynette Lewis (seat 1) and Henry Cunningham (seat 2) were the only candidates to qualify for the offices by Friday’s deadline. With no other candidates, they were elected by default, and the races will not appear on the 2024 ballot.

The salary for mayor is $10,131.96 annually, and the annual salary is $3,714.96 for the council seats.

The four-year terms for the mayor and both council seats will begin on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Gomez was appointed interim mayor after the resignation of Ben Boutwell, and Cunningham was appointed on an interim basis to the council seat vacated by Gomez. Both won the seats by default in 2023 when no one else ran in 2023. Lewis, who currently serves as council president, was elected in 2020 after defeating Ann Brooks.

Pictured top: Luis Gomez, Jr. (left) and Henry Cunningham. Pictured inset: Dynette Lewis. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Escambia Man Gets Second Life Sentence After Second Murder Conviction

June 15, 2024

A 25-year old Escambia County man already serving a life sentence for murder received another life sentence this week after being convicted of a second murder.

A jury convicted Ellis Miguel Clark of first degree murder for the shooting death of Andrew Howard in 2020. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

The new life sentence will be served consecutively to another life sentence for the June 2023 murder of 20-year-old Marcus Atienza on Rawls Avenue in Ensley.

About 11 p.m. on December 27, Clark attempted to rob Howard, 24, at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Northwoods Apartments off 9th Avenue. Howard fought with Clark, sustaining numerous non-fatal injuries.

When Howard managed to break free Clark and began to run away toward his nearby apartment, Clark fired two shots at him with a handgun. One shot grazed Howard’s left hip. The other shot struck Andrew Howard in his back, causing a perforating wound which passed through his heart. Howard passed away on the outside patio of his apartment.

The evidence at trial established that Clark had conspired with co-defendant Nicholas Wells to rob Howard of a substantial amount of cash. Additionally, the evidence proved that after the homicide, Clark burned his vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence. He also reported to law enforcement that his vehicle had been stolen. The burned vehicle was located by a county worker the day after the homicide.

FHP Releases Details: Teen Charged After Highway 196, Highway 29 Crash

June 15, 2024

The Florida Highway Patrol has released their results of their investigation into a traffic crash Tuesday evening near Molino.

Friday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol released details of the crash near the intersection of Highway 196 and Highway 29.

FHP said in a 17-year-old male in a 2002 Honda sedan was traveling east on Highway 196 at a high rate of speed when he failed to stop at a stop sign at Highway 29. His car continued across Highway 29 a struck a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by a 50-year-old man on Highway 196 that was waiting to make a left turn into a Dollar General parking lot.

The Honda sedan came to a stop after striking a street sign at the corner of Highway 196 and Country Squire Drive. The pickup overturned and came to rest on its side just off the roadway.

Family members tell us the driver of the pickup and his 33-year-old female passenger are recovering and appear to be fine. An update on the teen’s condition was not available.

The 17-year-old was charged with reckless driving and cited for running a stop sign.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

The 2024 Ballot Is Set. Here’s Who Is Running, and Who Has Already Won.

June 15, 2024

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons was reelected Friday after no challenger qualified to oppose him.

Escambia County Property Appraiser Chris Jones chose not to run again. Deputy Property Appraiser Gary “Bubba” Peters, a Republican, earned the seat as the candidate to qualify by Friday.

No one qualified to run against incumbent Republican Pam Childers for Clerk of the Court. Republican Tax Collector Scott Luncsford has not challengers and was automatically reelected.

Republican Robert Bender, running for the first time after being appointed Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, will face Republican challenger Bruce Childers.

Ashlee Hofberger, Buck Mitchell and Walker Wilson qualified as Republicans to seek the District 4 Escambia County Commission seat that has been vacant since Bender’s appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the elections post. The Republican winner will face Democrat Ron Helms in November.

Republican District 1 Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will face Republican challengers Jesse Casey and Steven Stroberger. Tyler Aulger and Justin Smith qualified as write-in candidates.

In Escambia Commission District 5, incumbent Republican Steven Barry drew one challenger — NPS candidate Joshua Roberson. Three other candidates that pre-qualified did not finalize their qualifications — James HIlburn, Rafael Lopez and John Taylor, jr.

Longtime incumbent District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton did not seek reelection. Thomas Harrell, Joshua Matthew Luther and Jim “Andy” Taylor all qualified to run.

Here is the complete list of Escambia County candidates:

Florida 1st Congressional District

  • Matt Gaetz – Republican
  • Aaron Dimmock – Republican
  • Gay Valimont – Democrat

Florida Senate District 1

  • Don Gaetz – Republican
  • Lisa Newell – Democrat

Florida House District 1

  • Michelle Salzman – Republican
  • Franscine Mathis – Democrat

Florida House District 2

  1. Alex Andrade – Republican
  2. Kim Kline – No Party Affiliation
  3. Haley Morrissette – Democrat

Escambia County Sheriff

  • Chip Simmons – Republican

Escambia County Clerk of the Court

  • Pam Childers – Republican

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections

  • Robert Bender – Republican
  • Bruce Childers – Republican

Escambia County Tax Collector

  • Scott Lunsford – Republican

Escambia County Property Appraiser

  • Gary “Bubba” Peters – Republican

Escambia County Commission District 1

  • Tyler Aulger – Write in
  • Jeff Bergosh – Republican
  • Jesse Casey – Republican
  • Justin Smith – Write in
  • Steven Stroberger – Republican

Escambia County Commission District 3

  • Lumon May – Democrat

Escambia County Commission District 4

  • Ron Helms – Democrat
  • Ashlee Hofberger – Republican
  • Charles B. Mitchell – Republican
  • Walker Wilson – Republican

Escambia County Commission District 5

  • Steven Barry – Republican
  • Joshua Roberson – No Party Affiliation

ECUA District 1

  • Vicki Campbell – Republican
  • James Faxlanger – Republican

ECUA District 3

  • Chase Anderson “Andy” Romagnano – Democrat
  • Larry D. Williams – Democrat

ECUA District 5

  • Kevin Stephens – Republican

Escambia County School Board District 4 (Non-partisan)

  • Carissa Bergosh
  • Richard Anthony Holzknecht
  • Earle McAuley
  • Brian Ranelli

Escambia County School Board District 5 (Non-Partisan)

  • Thomas Harrell
  • Joshua Matthew Luther
  • Jim “Andy” Taylor

Pensacola City Council District 1 (Non-Partisan)

  • Jennifer Brahier
  • Edward “Phil” Nickinson IV

Pensacola City Council District 3 (Non-Partisan)

  • Casey Jones

Pensacola City Council District 5

  • Toni Broughton
  • Jenori Burroughs

Pensacola City Council District 7

  • Delarian Wiggins

Century Mayor

  • Luis Gomez Jr.

Century Town Council Seat 1

  • Dynette Lewis

Century Town Council Seat 2

  • Henry L. Cunningham

Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2

  • Johnnie Odom

Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 4

  • Norman Jeffrey DeWeese
  • Travis Tharp

County Court Judge, Group 4

  • Kristina Lightel

County Court Judge, Group 5

  • Kerra Smith

Santa Rosa Island Authority

  • Thomas Campanella
  • Jeremy Johnson

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