Escambia Purchasing Four New Fire Engines For Molino, Ensley And Two Other Stations
May 17, 2019
The Escambia County Commission voted unanimously Thursday to purchase four new fire engines to replace four aging trucks that have in excess of 100,000 miles.
A new rescue engine will replace the 2003 model year front line engine assigned to the Molino Fire Station.. A second rescue engine will replace a 2011 model front line engine assigned to the Ensley Fire Station.
A standard engine will replace the current 2004 model rescue engine at the Myrtle Grove Fire Station, and a squad engine will replace the current 2002 rescue engine at the Pleasant Grove Fire Station.
The four 2019 Pierce engines will be purchased with Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds under national purchasing through NPPGov, a national competitively solicited purchasing cooperative, from Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc., for $2,036,267.10. There are no local businesses able to sell new fire trucks.
In addition to providing dependable, state-of-the-art equipment, having new engines under warranty will also decrease repair and maintenance costs which have increased significantly due to the aging fleet, according to the county.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview High Names 2019 Honors Graduates
May 17, 2019
Northview High School named their honors graduates during Thursday night’s 2019 Senior Awards Night.
Valedictorian of the Class of 2019 is Sara Delaney Reynolds, and salutatorian is Seth Hammac Killam.
The Northview High School Class of 2019 graduates at 4 p.m. Saturday in the school gym.
(article continues below photo)
Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA and above) are, in alphabetical order:
Lexxi Olivia Baggett
Jacob Wolf Borelli
Ashtyn Brooke Carnley
Logan Wade Chavers
Justin Alan Cruce
Rebecca Nicole Dunn
Dalton Dewayne Hamilton
Ashlan Kaile Harigel
Seth Hammac Killam (Salutatorian)
Tanner Brett Levins
Olivia Grace Porter
Sara Delaney Reynolds (Valedictorian)
Valen Taylor Shelly
Aaliyah Raquel Tucker
Magna Cum Laude graduates (3.85 or higher) are, in alphabetical order:
Austin Joshua Adams
Marissa Skye Bullington
Rebecca Lynn Diamond
Brooke Emory Doolittle
Mikayla Payton Jeneske
Gabrielle Faith Nichole Kline
Aubree Grace Love
Alexander Jesse McMinn
Lance Taylor McLaughlin
Gabbrielle Elizabeth Peebles
Lydia Grace Smith
Cum Laude (3.5 and above) graduates are, in alphabetical order:
Rebekah Mae Amerson
Dalton Lamar Brown
Kendall Madison Enfinger
Tyler Malik Jackson
Kherstin Simone Johnson
Keegun Patrick Johnston
Margaret Alexandra Lane
Jessie Hayden McCall
Andria Zy’Kia Odom
Brandon Lee Santos
Pictured top: Northview High School Class of 2019 Salutatorian Seth Killam and Valedictorian Delaney Reynolds. Pictured middle of story: Summa Cum Laude graduates. Pictured below: Northview Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude graduates. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Arrested After Wild Police Chase; Woman Hit By His Truck
May 17, 2019
A wild police chase in which a woman was run over landed an Atmore man in jail.
The chase started about 1:00 a.m. Thursday after a Robertsdale traffic stop. Police say Dalton Ryan Walker, age 21 of Madison Lane in Atmore, fled at speeds over 100 mph. In Daphne, a female passenger jumped or otherwise exited from Walker’s truck and was run over. Police called off the chase at the point to render aid to the injured woman, who was airlifted to an area hospital.
Loxley Police picked up the chase, catching up with Walker in Rosinton. Loxley Police said he attempted to run over an officer before being taken into custody.
Walker is a facing multiple charges, including first degree felony attempted aggravated assault, attempting to elude, criminal mischief, reckless driving, driving with revoked license, reckless endangerment and running a stop sign. He was also wanted on outstanding felony warrants out of Escambia County, Al, and that’s why police believe he fled the original traffic stop.
Walker remained in in the Baldwin County Jail Friday morning where he was being held without bond.
Escambia County Ratifies Employment Contract For New Administrator Janice Gilley
May 17, 2019
The Escambia County Commission on Thursday ratified an employment contact with incoming County Administrator Janice Gilley of Molino.
Gilley will be paid $185,000 per year, plus benefits and a $500 car allowance per month. She will begin work July 1.
She is the permanent replacement for Jack Brown, who let last year to be with his wife as she battles a health problem. When Brown was hired in 2014, his starting salary was set at $150,000.
Gilley has held the position of vice president of External Affairs at the University of West Florida for 10 years. She served one year as the national policy director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, one year as deputy chief of staff for the Florida House of Representatives and served as policy director and deputy policy director for year in the Executive Office of the Governor in Florida. She served as an Escambia County commissioner from 2002-2004.
Pictured: Janice Gilley of Molino addresses the Escambia County Commission in late April. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Century Mural Welcomes Travelers To Florida
May 17, 2019
A new mural in Century is welcoming Highway 29 travelers to Century and Florida.
The “Welcome to Century, Florida” mural is on a 34-foot wall of a building owned by Century Town Council member Luis Gomez at the corner of Highway 29 and Ranch Road, just south of the Century Branch Library. It features a colorful “Florida” with an orange and even the Blue Angels.
“I want to change the image of Century; I wanted to liven it up a little bit,” he said. “I wanted to add a little life to Century.”
Gomez is planning to open a new business called Florida 1st Stop in the coming months; it’s planned to be a gift shop selling t-shirts, cap, souvenir items and more.
“When you come into Florida, it’s a danger because they stop up there by Food Century and try to take a picture by that sign,” Gomez said about the current official “Welcome to Florida” highway sign. “I wanted to make a safe place to take pictures and let them know they are in Florida.”
The mural was painted by up-and-coming artist Carter Gaston of Pensacola.
Gaston will be drawing at the 9th Annual Century Community Block Party on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the McMurray Ballpark on Pond Street. The event will also include other vendors, free food and giveaways, a car and bike show and other free family fun.
IP Celebrating Reading With Book Donations To First Graders At 11 Schools
May 17, 2019
Thanks to a donation from International Paper, every first grader at Jim Allen, Beulah, Bratt, Ensley, Kingsfield, Lincoln Park, Lipscomb, Longleaf, McArthur, Molino Park, and Pine Meadow elementary schools will take home three books of their own for the summer.
The children will also celebrate reading by participating in a variety of engaging and inspiring reading activities in each school. Students from Lipscomb Elementary School participated in a Big Book Breakfast on Monday. During the event, first grade teacher Betsy Eggart read “If You Give a Dog a Donut,” by Laura Numeroff. The book was one of the three books the children took home to keep. International Paper also supplied the students with doughnuts and apple juice to correlate with the dog’s adventures in “If you Give a Dog a Donut.” To complete the breakfast theme, they also took home “If You Give A Moose A Muffin,” and “If You Give A Pig A Pancake.” All three books are fun and are a great way to learn about sequence and cause and effect.
By providing children with choice and access to books and literacy resources, International Paper hopes to create a culture of literacy in the communities in which its employees live and work.
This book distribution event is part of Reading Is Fundamental’s Books for Ownership flagship reading program which enables children to select new, age-appropriate books to take home and own.
“We can’t express our gratitude enough for programs such as RIF, and local business partners, like International Paper. When they become involved in reading they help us achieve one of our main goals – encouraging children to read outside of school,” explained Kim Gunn with the English and Language Arts Department of Escambia County School District who attended the Big Book Breakfast. “When we see children get excited to explore a new book that they get to own, well, their reactions were priceless.”
“Reading Is Fundamental is committed to creating a culture of literacy in communities nationwide and ensure every child has the fundamental building blocks needed to achieve their highest potential. Reading is the necessary foundation for all children that puts them on the pathway for success,” says Reading is Fundamental President and CEO, Alicia Levi. “For over 50 years, Reading Is Fundamental has supported communities with the resources they need to impact children in their communities and we are excited to partner with International Paper to bring this program to Escambia County.
“We’re proud to team up with Reading Is Fundamental to support the children of Escambia County,” said Whitney Fike, communications manager, International Paper. “At International Paper, we believe that the future of our communities depends on children, and supporting strategic programs in our community that help children succeed in education is critical.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Several Pine Meadow Elementary Students Transported To Hospital Following Assembly
May 16, 2019
Several Pine Meadow Elementary School students were transported to the hospital due to heat illness Thursday morning.
Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said an assembly was being held, and fourth grade students were wearing costumes for a living wax museum history program. He said the air conditioning was working properly but the costumes caused them to overheat.
“Some of the costumes created a situation where the students got too hot; think of a sports mascot at a ballgame in enclosed costume,” Thomas said. “The big factor here was the costumes. The A/C was functioning properly.”
First responders were called, and six students were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital, according to an Escambia County spokesperson.
None of the students were critical and were transported with parental permission as precaution, Thomas said. “They are all going to be OK, and that’s what is important.”
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com.
UWF Requests Elimination Of Public Feedback On $24.5K Century Market Analysis
May 16, 2019
UPDATE: The Escambia County Commission is dropping a contract amendment eliminating public feedback on a market analysis for Century and adding 60 days to the contract term to allow the University of West Florida to complete all aspects of the original contract.
Original Story:
The University of West Florida is asking to eliminate public feedback as part of a market analysis for the Town of Century.
The $24,500 market study is being funded by Escambia County.
The market analysis will assess the feasibility of mixed use commercial and residential development in reference to various parcels and buildings within the town, according to the proposal. “The analysis will help define community needs, a profile of customers, potential for profitability and growth, as well as consider both competition and barriers to development onto the market,” it states.
The original agreement executed last year between the county and the University of West Florida Haas Center called for a draft report to be delivered by March 1, followed by public feedback on the draft report by April 30 and a final report delivered by June 30.
The university contacted the county in mid-March to provide direction “whether or not focus groups could still be an effective method of feedback” for the report. Thursday, the Escambia County Commission will consider an amendment to the purchase order to remove community feedback. The price of the study will not change.
The funds will come from a $95,000 county funding pool that includes $55,000 from last fiscal year that was never spent, plus $50,000 from the current fiscal year. The Haas Center had proposed four additional projects that would have used the full $95,000 balance.
The four Haas Center proposals that were not funded were:
- Market analysis to assess the feasibility of mixed/use/commercial and/or residential development in reference to various vacant parcels and buildings within the town. – $24,500.
- Market study of the Century Industrial Park to examine the historical trends in relation to industrial demand, assess current available industrial land sites and buildings and consider trends and availability to comparable communities – $25,000.
- Strategic plan metrics and dashboard to collect public data across various metrics and to present them in an on line dashboard format in order to determine progress toward the achievement of the identified economic objectives as defined in the town’s economic development strategic plan – $15,000.
- Health Assessment and needs study to assess Century residents’ health behavior and to gauge how investment into the Community Health Northwest Florida’s expansion has increased access to resources and overall health needs of the community – $15,500.
- CRA project mapping tool that allows users to view and interact with the spatial data (parcels, CRA boundaries, waterways, walkways, etc.) associated with the Century CRA implementation – $15,000.
The market analysis was ranked by the Century Town Council as the most important of the projects after Escambia County Commissioner Steven asked for a priority ranking.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ombudsman Delivers Written Report On Escambia Public Safety Department
May 16, 2019
An ombudsman has delivered a final written report into Escambia County Public Safety, and it essentially mirrored a verbal presentation she gave to the county commission last week.
Janice Kilgore began work on the report on April 17 and interviewed over 50 people including public safety employees, county administration and volunteer fire chiefs.
Her findings dealt mostly with issues like funding and staffing and did not include the state investigation into possible wrongdoings with Escambia EMS since that inquiry has not concluded. As we previously reported, the report did indicate there is an EMS coverage issue in North Escambia [read earlier story...].
Kilgore said 8 to 10-year old policies and a lack of funding are major talking points that need to be addressed.
Her report said the county needs to improve coordination between fire and EMS divisions, use the workforce more effectively and improve training. There has been no medical training since October 2018, a public safety fire training facility is needed and training needs to be more skills based and hands on.
Kilgore’s report also found a multi-year vehicle replacement program is needed, EMS coverage in North Escambia needs to be improved and the department’s public image needs addressing.
Commissioners said many of the issues will need to be addressed during the preparation of the county’s next budget.
Interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy appointed Kilgore as an ombudsman after Weaver’s resignation. She worked for the county for 36 years, moving from a clerk for the Santa Rosa Island Authority to county Emergency Preparedness head. She was named Public Safety director when the position was created in 1997.
To read the complete 37-page report, click here.
Hurricane And School Supplies Tax Holidays Signed Into Law
May 16, 2019
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed off on a sales tax holidays for hurricane and back to school supplies.
The Hurricane Supplies Sale Tax Holiday will begin on May 31 and continue through June 6 on the following items:
- Flashlights, torches and other self-powered portable light sources selling for under $20
- Portable radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios selling for $50 or less
- Tarps or other waterproof sheeting, and tie-down kits for $50 or less
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks for $25 or less
- Batteries selling for $30 or less
- Food coolers (nonelectric) for $30 or less
- Power generators selling for $750 or less
Hurricane Season begins June 1 and runs through November 30.
The Back-to-School sales tax holiday will begin August 2 and continue through August 6. It exempts sales taxes from clothes, bags, shoes selling for $60 or less, school supplies for $15 or less, and personal computer and accessories sold for $1,000 or less.