Demolition Of Old Beulah Fire Station Underway
January 6, 2025
Demolition is underway of the former Beulah Fire Rescue Station 2 on West Nine Mile Road.
The former station was constructed after fire destroyed the original Beulah Fire Station in 1977. It was replaced by a new $8.5 million state-of-the-art Bradshaw-McNair Beulah Fire Station that opened in July.
The new Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station pays tribute to two individuals who greatly contributed to fire service in the Beulah area. The late Escambia County Fire Rescue District Chief Dwain Bradshaw, 42, lost his life in the line of duty during the early morning hours of November 6, 2019, while on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge. He was a volunteer district chief at the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, volunteer assistant district chief for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and lived a life of public service. Retired ECFR District Chief Steve McNair served the Beulah community as a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years. He also help construct the old fire station in 1977.
Submitted photo (above) and NorthEscambia.com photos (below), click to enlarge.
Marine Ryan Sconiers, Northview Graduate, Stands Guard Over Jimmy Carter’s Casket
January 6, 2025
Marine Ryan Sconiers, a 2019 graduate of Northview High School, had the solemn and prestigious duty Sunday morning as part of the military Guard of Honor standing watch over the casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
The Honor Guard, representing the pinnacle of military professionalism, comprises members from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Sconiers, represented the Marine Corps, exemplifies the discipline and dedication that earned him this role.
Before joining the Marines in 2019, Sconiers was a member of Northview High School’s NJROTC program, where he honed the leadership and values that prepared him for his military career.
Carter, the nation’s 39th president, will lie in repose for mourners to come and pay their respects from through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. . Throughout public repose, the military will maintain a guard of honor.
Gladys Kimmons Brown Smith
January 6, 2025
Gladys Kimmons Brown Smith, age 83, a long-time resident of Seminole, AL passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Mrs. Smith was a member of Seminole Baptist Church. She enjoyed gardening and doing things for others. She had a special place in her heart for her 1967 Mustang Coupe that she owned for a long time.
Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Elizabeth Kimmons; husband, Doyle Smith; children, Kelly Lynn Brown and Michael Brown; and her siblings, Mary Garrett, Edward Kimmons, Talbert Kimmons, Katie Lou Lee, and Annie Ruth Hall.
She is survived by her son, Rodney “Shorty” Brown (Patsy); step daughter, Laura Winkles (Kevin); brother, Ramond Kimmons; granddaughter, Kyle Lynn Neese (Zach); two great grandchildren, Leland Neese and Nolan Neese; three step grandchildren, Jordan Winkles, Crystal Harbin, and Ashley Kee; and very special friends, Wayne and Carla Givens; Wesley and Samantha Givens and the “little people”; and Ashley and Dane Ellison.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Seminole Baptist Church with Pastor Wesley Givens officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 9-10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Little Pine Barren Cemetery in Molino, FL. Flowers may be sent to the church for the funeral or memorials may be made to St. Jude.
Northview Chiefs Family Mourns Passing Of Their Beloved Toby Weaver
January 5, 2025
The Northview Chiefs and local community are mourning the loss of Toby Weaver, a permanent fixture on the sidelines of football games for many years.
Thomas William “Toby” Weaver passed away Friday evening at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was 49.
He was the son of former Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver and her late husband Tommy Weaver, an assistant coach who was honored with the dedication of Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in 2014.
Toby was big part of the Northview family, an avid fan always there for games, always cheering (or sometimes offering coaching critiques when needed).
When Northview won their first, and only, state football championship in 2012, Toby was there to celebrate the win with his team and bring the trophy back to the school in Bratt. He held the trophy practically the entire trip from Orlando, napping with it in the back of the car and keeping it overnight in his room.
“Many of my favorite memories include him on the sideline of every football game,” Northview 2012 championship team senior player Chad Smith said Saturday. “He cheered hard and loved harder. Rest in peace, old friend.”
He was also an avid fan of the Auburn Tigers, taking each loss personally. He loved his Atlanta Braves, being their biggest fan each year. He loved watching almost any type of movie, and he loved listening to almost any type of music, singing along for his own entertainment. His hobby was putting puzzles together. He loved to travel, even spending thirty days each on two trips to France.
“Toby has always been the love of our lives,” Gayle Weaver said on behalf of her and the late Tommy Weaver. “He gave so much more than he took.”
When the Escambia County School Board voted to name the Northview football stadium in honor of Toby’s father Tommy Weaver, affectionately known as “Papa Weave” to students, Toby had just one word to say about his dad.
“Proud,” Toby Weaver leaned into the microphone and said of his beloved dad.
Toby Weaver is survived by his mother, Gayle Weaver of Walnut Hill, his sister Tara Nikki “Sissy” Walden, and numerous other family members.
Funeral services for Thomas William “Toby” Weaver will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 6 at Petty-Eastside Chapel in Atmore. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow at Old Town Cemetery in Evergreen, Alabama.
For the complete obituary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Need To Get Rid Of A Christmas Tree? You Can Still Recycle It For Free
January 5, 2025
You can still recycle your natural natural Christmas tree in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
In Escambia County:
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
Customers are asked to remove all decorations from their trees and cut the trees so that no portion is longer than six feet. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash, and should not be placed in the regular garbage container or recycling cans.
For more information, call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
In Santa Rosa County:
Santa Rosa County Public Works offers an environmentally friendly option for disposal. Residents who would like to “treecycle” their tree for mulch may drop off their clean Christmas trees in the designated areas listed below by Jan. 20
- Jay Transfer Station – Transfer Station Road, Jay
- Central Landfill – Household Hazardous Waste facility, 6337 Da Lisa Road, Milton
- Pace Fire Rescue District – 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd., Pace
- Navarre Beach Boat Ramp Parking Lot Recycle Area – Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach
- Tiger Point Recreation Area – Gulf Breeze, east of Walmart
Residents who wish to drop off their live tree will need to remove any tinsel, lights, and ornaments from the tree before dropping it off.
Salzman Hosts Blanket Drive for Community
January 5, 2025
Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman has organized a blanket drive for the community through January 10.
“As the cold weather sets in, many in our community, especially the elderly and families facing hardship, are struggling to stay warm. Some can’t afford heat, and others don’t even have power,” Salzman said. “To help make sure no one is left out in the cold, I’m organizing a blanket drive to provide warmth to those in need.”
Residents can help by donating:
via PayPal: MICHELLE@SYSCTL.NET
via Venmo: @MICHELLE-SALZMAN-
New blankets of all sizes can be donated at 3212 South Hwy 95A in Cantonment. Coordinate the drop-off by texting or calling (850) 207-5024.
Anyone that knows of someone that needs blankets can email michelle@sysctl.net using the subject “HELP NEEDED” and supply the contact information & who needs the blankets..
Congressional Special Primary Early Voting Opens in Under Two Weeks
January 5, 2025
Early voting begins in just under two weeks for the special Republican primary election for the Florida 1st Congressional District seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
One week early voting will open on fSaturday, January 18.
The January 28 primary will be open only to Republicans – the complete field includes 10 Republicans, a Democrat, one candidate without party affiliation and four write-in candidates. With one candidate and no challenger, the primary will not be open to Democratic voters.
The Century, UWF and Brownsville early voting sites will not be open this January. The three sites had the lowest turnout last March with a combined total of 318 early voters for this year’s presidential preference primary at a cost of $17,000.
Early voting will be January 18-25 at the following locations in Escambia County:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
All vote-by-mail requests will expire at the end of the year. Anyone wishing to vote-by-mail must submit a new request.
The general election will be April 1.
Rain Overnight, Dropping Temperatures
January 5, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 39. South wind around 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 36 by 5pm. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Escambia Sheriff, Property Appraiser To Take Oaths Of Office This Week
January 5, 2025
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons and Property Appraiser Gary “Bubba” Peters will both be sworn into office next week. Both men won election last year without opposition.
For Simmons, it is his second term. It will be the first term for Peters, who previously served as deputy property appraiser.
Simmons’ oath of office ceremony and state of the agency address will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church at 6205 W Street. Doors will open at 5:00.
The swearing in and investiture ceremony for Peters will be held at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in Board Chambers at 221 Palafox Street. Doors open at 9 a.m. Parking will be on the fifth floor only from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building Parking Garage.
Both events are open to the public.
Ice Flyers Beat Birmingham 5-2
January 5, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers earned a 5-2 win over the Bulls Saturday night at Birmingham.
The game was tied at 1-1 after one before a sold-out crowd. After two, the Ice Flyers held a 3-2 lead on the way to the road win.
File photo for NorthEscambia.com.