Escambia County Public Schools Awarded $1.5 Million Esports Gaming Grant by U.S. Department of Defense
October 18, 2023
Students at seven schools– Bailey, Beulah, Brown-Barge, and Ransom Middle Schools; Escambia, Tate, and West Florida High Schools. will benefit from a $1.5 million, 5-year project designed to promote Esports Escambia County Public Schools (ECPS).
Esports: E is for Everyone provides military connected students from all walks of life an opportunity to be part of a team at seven military-connected schools within the Escambia County Public Schools (FL). The DoDEA-funded 5-year project seeks to build a sustainable competitive gaming ecosystem that is welcoming and inclusive of everyone. Bridges will be built between military-connected students and communities who engage in Esports, making student learning transitions seamless. The benefits of Esports will reach far beyond the four walls of the classroom and expose military-connected students to technology, teamwork, competition, and diversity, while preparing them for successful college and career paths.
“Esports: E is for Everyone is an innovative approach to engage students in social-emotional learning and hands-on problem solving that will motivate, inspire, and foster grit within our students,” said Monica Willis, ECPS Grants Specialist and author of the grant. This marks the 11th competitive grant that the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has awarded the school district since 2010.
Access to coaches, equipment, resources and competitions will afford rich experiences for all students at four ECPS middle schools and three ECPS high schools. New extra-curricular Esports teams will pique interest, increase attendance, spark ingenuity, and remove physical and social barriers to ultimately close achievement gaps.
Military-connected students will have the opportunity to make meaningful connections while honing their skills and exploring scholarship opportunities at hundreds of colleges. The characteristics and skills utilized by successful Esports team members directly correlate to the skills needed for students to become college and career ready citizens.
International Paper To Permanently Cease Operation On One Local Production Machine
October 18, 2023
International Paper will permanently cease operation of one of their production machines in Pensacola, the company said Wednesday.
IP announced a series of actions to further strengthen and optimize its manufacturing system to meet customers’ needs. The company will permanently close its containerboard mill in Orange, Texas, and will permanently cease production on two of its pulp machines – the #20 machine in Riegelwood, N.C., and the #4 machine in Pensacola
Locally, about 100 jobs are expected to be impacted.
“Decisions like these are extremely difficult, because of the impact on our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate,” said Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton. “We are grateful to our employees in Orange, Riegelwood and Pensacola for their significant contributions to the company over the years. We are committed to providing severance benefits, outplacement assistance and more to help employees during this time.”
In total, approximately 900 positions will be impacted. Wherever possible, the company said their goal is to minimize the impact on employees by using current vacancies, retirements, normal attrition and other roles at International Paper.
he actions in Pensacola and Riegelwood will reduce IP’s pulp capacity by approximately 500,000 tons (300,000 tons fluff pulp and 200,000 tons southern bleached softwood). The company’s remaining pulp mill system will include eight mills with an annual production capability of 2.7MM tons.
he actions in Pensacola and Riegelwood will reduce IP’s pulp capacity by approximately 500,000 tons (300,000 tons fluff pulp and 200,000 tons southern bleached softwood). The company’s remaining pulp mill system will include eight mills with an annual production capability of 2.7MM tons.
The #4 machine in Pensacola is currently idled and will not resume production.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cool, Crisp Mornings Continue
October 18, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Cantonment Mourns Passing of Dave Jasso, Ace Hardware owner
October 17, 2023
The Cantonment community is mourning the passing of Dave Jasso, owner of the Cantonment Ace Hardware.
Jassso loved nothing more than his Cantonment Ace Hardware store that was part of a dream after he retired from the Navy. he had been battling cancer quietly for some time now. He lost his battle on October 13.
The 8,00 square foot store next to Winn Dixie opened in 2019.
Employees are asking customers to stop by and share their stories and memories about Dave as they shop.
RESTORE MYIP Amendment 3 Public Comment Period Open Now
October 17, 2023
RESTORE MYIP Amendment 3 Public Comment Period Open Now
Escambia County has released its RESTORE Act Draft Multi-Year Implementation Plan Amendment 3 for a 45-day public comment period beginning Oct. 16, 2023 until Dec. 1, 2023. Visit MyEscambia.com/MYIP to view MYIP Amendment 3.
Public comments will be accepted via the following ways:
Emailing restore@myescambia.com
By mail – Attention: Terri Berry, Natural Resources Department, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola FL 32502.
MYIP Amendment 3 proposes alterations of two projects and the addition of eight new projects. The two alteration projects include the Escambia County Workforce Development program and Little Sabine Bay Restoration program. The eight new projects include:
Perdido Key Public Beach Access – Property Acquisition and Construction
Pensacola Bob Sikes Fishing Pier – Rehabilitation
Cantonment Community Center – Construction
Palafox Complete Street – Construction
South Navy Boulevard Improvements
Bayou Grande Watershed Management Plan
O.C. Phillips Bridge Replacement
Carpenter Creek Headwaters – Carpenter Creek Watershed Management Plan Site 16
Background
In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, killing 11 workers and leading to the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. As a result, the RESTORE Act was signed into law in 2012, directing 80% of administrative and civil penalties back to the impacted areas of the Gulf Coast through the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.
The U.S. Department of Treasury serves as the administrator of the RESTORE Act Direct Component, one of five funding streams through the RESTORE Act. In Florida, RESTORE Direct Component projects are selected and implemented by the 23 Gulf Coast counties, contingent on compliance with the RESTORE Act and acceptance by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
To ensure projects are consistent with the RESTORE Act and obtain broad-based participation in the project selection process, Treasury requires submittal and acceptance of a Multi-Year Implementation Plan. The U.S. Department of Treasury approved Escambia County’s Initial MYIP on Oct. 20, 2017, which included 10 projects selected by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
The first amendment to the MYIP was approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury on June 16, 2020, which included modification to three projects included in the Initial MYIP and the addition of eight new projects. The second amendment to the MYIP was approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury on Aug. 16, 2021, which proposed the addition of funds to one existing project and the addition of a new project.
The RESTORE Act and the U.S. Department of Treasury require the county to complete a 45-day public comment period to obtain broad-based participation from the public prior to the submittal and approval of MYIP Amendment 3. Escambia County will take all public comments under advisement and reflect those comments in the public comment section of this document following the public comment period closure.
For questions or more information, email. restore@myescambia.com.
Century’s Permanent Water System Interconnect To Century Prison Getting More expensive
October 17, 2023
The Tow of Century’s plan to provide a dependable backup source water for the Century prison is about get more expensive if and when it is used.
The permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system was completed in May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. At one point in 2020, the prison was receiving water through an emergency fire hose connection across Tedder Road after the failure of a Century water well.
Central Water Works is raising the cost of water provided to Century from $2.50 per 1,000 gallons of water to $3.00 per 1,000 gallons– Central’s ordinary bulk rate for other customers.
The interconnect is not currently providing water to the prison.
Earlier in May 2020 , the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison failed.
Interim Mayor Luis Gomez. Jr. said the town needs to complete infrastructure projects into order to reduce the need for the interconnect as a Plan B
An emergency interconnect using two, two-inch fire hoses was made from Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road in 2020.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Teen Charged with Shooting Two people in Atmore
October 17, 2023
A Century teen has been charged in connection with shooting and wounding of two people in Atmore.
on Fridayay , October 6, the Atmore police Department responded to a report of a shooting victim seeking treatment at at Atmore Community Hospital, according to police, They arrived to find that one person had been shot in the feet.
“While speaking with the victim, a
second victim arrived at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to one of their hands,” Sgt. Darryl McMann said. Officers determined the shooting happened in the 100 block of Patterson street
Scorott was developed as the suspect and was charged with two counts of attempted murder, one count of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied dwellingand three cound of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle.
Scott was taken into custody Monday inside a local restaurant and booked into the Escambia County (AL Detention Center in Brewton.
10,000 pound food Giveaway Tuesday In Cantonment
October 16, 2023
<a href=”http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CIC-food-3204.jp
Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a la10,000 pound drive-thru food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, October 17at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.>
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<a href=”http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CIC-food-3204.jpg”><img title=”CIC-food-3204″ src=”http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CIC-food-3204-540×618.jpg” alt=”" width=”540″ height=”618″ /></a>
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a large drive-thru giveaway Tuesday afternoon, September 19 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
<strong>NorthEscambia.com file photos.</strong>
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Chilly fall week ahead Lows Falling Into the 40s
October 16, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Ribbon cutting Set For This Week For Multipurpose Building recently Completed At Ashton Brosnaham Park
October 16, 2023
A reibbon cutting is ser for this week on a new $2.7 million multiuse locker room facility at Ashton Brosnaham Park at 11 a.m. Wednesday
The two story facility will serve as additional locker room space for the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament and other sporting events. Features at the facility include restrooms and showers for team sports use, an open space with sliding walls on the first floor, and meeting and office spaces on the second floor. The open space on the first floor will be available for rent and can be used for meetings, birthday parties and other events.
“We have an incredible team in our Parks department who understand the value recreation brings to our quality of life in Escambia County,” said Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes. “Contractors and our staff have worked hard to finish this new building in time for the 2023 SEC tournament, and I am incredibly proud we could meet this timeline. Additionally, we have made improvements to our soccer turf that will not only fit the needs of the elite athletes in the Southeastern Conference but will also benefit the local soccer players along with our local colleges.”
The Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex will serve as the location for the Southeastern Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament for the second year in a row, October 29 through November 5. The 2022 event saw record-breaking attendance numbers and generated $2.5 million in local economic impact.
“I’m thrilled with the work our Parks department has done at Ashton Brosnaham over the last year,” said District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. “I want to thank Michael Rhodes and his team for their diligent work to make Ashton Brosnaham one of the best parks in Escambia County. I also want to thank Ray Palmer and Pensacola Sports for their strong partnership and advocacy in bringing high-level sports to our county. District 5 looks forward to welcoming the SEC again in the coming weeks.”
“We are thankful to Escambia County and Pensacola Sports for providing a tremendous venue to conduct our SEC Soccer Championship,” said SEC Associate Commissioner/SWA Tiffany Daniels. “Their proven commitment to this event with the addition of this building promises to provide lasting memories for our student-athletes and an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region.”