Ray’s Chapel Youth Thank First Responders In Century
February 28, 2019
Escambia Fire Rescue firefighters in Century received “care packages” and thank you cards from the youth at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid.
“Every month or two, we like to have our students come up with an idea for some sort of outreach. Something that allows them to encourage or support others while sharing their faith,” said Nikki Kelly, who teaches a high school Sunday School class at Ray’s Chapel along with her husband Daniel Kelley. “We started with Century volunteers, but hope to branch out to others as well in the future. It was completely the kids’ idea.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Science Honor Society Students Prep Roy Hyatt Greenhouse To Become Butterfly House
February 28, 2019
About 50 members of the Tate High School Science Honor Society volunteered Wednesday to clean out the inside of a greenhouse at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center (RHEC) as a service project. The greenhouse will be transformed into a butterfly house.
The project is funded by a $100,300 grant awarded by Impact 100. An existing building is being designed into an undersea classroom.
The students ended the day with a hike through some of the trail at RHEC. They saw a red shouldered hawk, white topped pitcher plants, pink sundew, lots of woodland birds, Cherokee rose vine in bloom, Carolina jessamine in bloom, mud armadillo digs, deer tracks, evidence of coyotes and more.
The facility is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
(The snake was not inside the greenhouse; it was part of a planned demonstration.)
Bratt Elementary School Names February Students Of The Month
February 28, 2019
Bratt Elementary School has named Students of the Month for February. They are:
Pre-K
Zyla Rothschild
Ta’kia Bush
Kindergarten
Nyla Rolin
Marshall Nall
Ka’Myiah Russell
Eliljah Peebles
First Grade
Gabriel Key
Mary Summerall
Brylee Peters
Riverly Heathcock
Joanh Carter
Second Grade
Jepp Godwin
Eric Anthony
Kyndal Hadley
Jaxon Byrd
Third Grade
Zachary Flowers
Camden Jacobson
Billy Zhang
Reese Jones
Shane Alexander
Fourth Grade
Presley Amos
Hallie Emmons
Hunter Griffis
Fifth Grade
Landon Watson
Jackson Simmons
Jackson Bridges
Zakehl Clemmons
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All-Star High School Soccer Game Rosters Announced
February 28, 2019
Pensacola Sports has announced the tentative rosters for the 11th Annual Subway High School All-Star Soccer game to be held Thursday at Ashton Brosnaham Park beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are $8 at the gate or $6 with a canned good or a student ID. Pensacola Sports is teaming with Manna Food Bank for a canned good drive and encouraging everyone to help families by bringing a canned good item.
WEST BOYS ROSTER
-Kenny Skinner of Escambia High School
Catholic – Nelson Libbert – MF/Striker
Catholic – William Hamrick – GK
Catholic – Quinton Endacot – CB
Catholic – John Kizziah – Def LB, CB
Catholic – John Carlson – Striker
Escambia – Breshon Bradford – GK
Escambia – Rachuan Coleman – Fullback
Escambia – Matthew Garza – Wing
Escambia – Liam Koebel – CB/Holding Mid
Pensacola – Jacob Ferris – MID/FWD
Pensacola – Kojo Dahn – FWD/CAM
Pine Forest – Marco Galvez – Def/Mid
Tate – Jake Estes – CB
Tate – Austin Johnson – Def
Washington – Logan Smith – F/CB
Washington – Jordan Roberts – CB
Washington – Dawson Kuba – MF
Washington – Jonathan Silva – LB/CDM
West Fl Tech – Mason Tampary – GK
West Fl Tech – Danny Ramos – MF/Striker
West Fl Tech – Justin Wamsley – Wing Def/ wing MF
West Fl Tech – Greg Hardy – Wing Def/ wing MF
EAST BOYS ROSTER
-Emidio DaGraca of Milton High School
Baker – Bryan Holley – D/MF/Holding
Choctaw – Tim Kiehu – GK
Choctaw – Frank Dalpine – CB
Crestview – Trevor Dahlgren – MF/Def
Crestview – Luke Lindenberger – Defender
Crestview – Reese Gomez – MF/Def
FWB – Garrett Ellis – GK
FWB – Andrew Mai – Def Mid
FWB – Daniel De Souza – LW
FWB – David Clark – Attck Mid
Gulf Breeze – Caleb Passmore – LW
Gulf Breeze – Christian McEwan – LB
Gulf Breeze – Colby Copeland – RW
Milton – Michael Oliveria – Mid/Striker
Navarre – Ethan Green – CB/RB
Navarre – Kenny Morillo – DM/CM/LB/LW
Navarre – Maison Fralick – DM/CM
Niceville – Anthony Morales – GK
Niceville – Caleb Stalnaker – CM
Niceville – Luke Brockington – F
Pace – Caleb Confusione – Any
Pace – Isaac Kelly – Any
Rocky Bayou – Cade Eason – LB
WEST GIRLS ROSTER
-Head Coach, Mike Cantin of Escambia High School
Catholic – Caroline Buer – Def/Fw
Catholic – Victoria Toellner – CM
Escambia – Brianna Pope – Fw
Pensacola – Lillian Wiggins – CB
Pensacola – Mimi Sherrill – Holding MF/Back
Pine Forest – Karla Salazar – GK
Tate – Makenna Stafford – CM
Tate – Abbie McCammon – MF/D/GK
Tate – Kara Killam – F/Mid
Tate – McKenna Royer – Def
Tate – Jazmine Endress – F
Tate – Emma Williams – F/Mid
Washington – Carlisle Gaston – Back
Washington – Jenna Stevens – Mid
Washington – Simone Fletcher – FW
Washington – Sara Paulsen – FW
West FL Tech – Jasmine Paynter – GK
West FL Tech – Brooke Carr – M,D
West FL Tech – Haleigh Carter – D
West FL Tech – Ginger Huggins – M,D
West FL Tech – Deandra Lowe – D,M
EAST GIRLS ROSTER
-Head Coach, Rob Simon of Navarre High School
Choctaw – Cassie Cole – DMF
Choctaw – Carolyn Castelin – MF/FW
Crestview – Melea Stokes – Def
Gulf Breeze – Katie Player – CM
Gulf Breeze – Nicole Manderson – GK
Gulf Breeze – Sydney Wood – Def
Milton – Niaya Wells – CB
Milton – MC Mina – Cent Mid
Navarre – Rosie Martino – GK
Navarre – Anaka Madril – MF
Navarre – Jennifer Seward – FW/MF
Navarre – Jessika Seward – GK
Navarre – Jocelyn Fernandez – MF
Niceville – Avery Hanson – Center Back
Niceville – Brayden Thomas – Center mid/Cb
Niceville – Kayla Fernandez – center mid
Niceville – Liliana Fernandez – center mid
Niceville – Yazmyne Valencia – OB/ Outside Mid
Pace – Destiny Kornegay – Outside Def
Pace – Valerie Goodwin – CM
Rocky Bayou – Alicyn Grete – Striker/Mid
Rocky Bayou – Kara Lawson – Center Mid
Eastbound Bike Lane Closed On Nine Mile Road
February 28, 2019
The dedicated, eastbound bike lane on Nine Mile Road between Surrey Drive and Highway 29 in Escambia County has been closed to accommodate widening activities. Bicyclists and motorists will share the eastbound travel way until the completion of the project.
The area closed is about three miles, from the Walmart entrance west of Pine Forest Road and east to Highway 29.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to obey the 35-mph speed limit and to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone. Motorists should also watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Alabama Governor Proposes 10-Cent Gas Tax Increase For Roads
February 28, 2019
Alabama’s governor is proposing a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase.
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced her Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan at a press conference, alongside a host of legislators, stakeholder groups and other state and local officials.
The Rebuild Alabama plan proposes a 10-cent increase in Alabama’s fuel tax with an index designed to coincide with the rising costs of building roads. The state currently imposes a flat excise tax of 18 cents-per-gallon on gas and 19 cents-per-gallon on diesel, without adjusting for inflation and other construction and maintenance costs.
This combined fuel tax revenue generates 80 percent of Alabama’s transportation funding. The plan’s 10-cent increase will be phased in over the next three years.
New revenue generated by the increase will be dispersed between state, county, and municipal governments in Alabama. These funds are to be used for transportation infrastructure improvement, preservation and maintenance projects. A separate portion of the revenues will go to pay a bond to be issued to finance improvements to the ship channel providing access to the facilities of the Alabama State Docks.
“My Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan is a comprehensive approach to a glaring issue affecting citizens in every corner of the state,” Governor Ivey said. “After 27 years of stagnation, adequate funding is imperative to fixing our many roads and bridges in dire need of repair. By increasing our investment in infrastructure, we are also making a direct investment in public safety, economic development, and the prosperity of our state.”
A 2019 report by the University of Alabama’s Alabama Transportation Institute and Alabama Transportation Policy Research Center found that cars and trucks are putting approximately 69 billion miles on Alabama’s roadways annually, a 17 percent increase over the past 15 years.
With more travelers on the road, areas of congestion and public safety are a major concern. One-third of all traffic fatalities are estimated to be a direct result of a deficient roadway feature, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
State Representative Bill Poole has been instrumental in the crafting of this plan and will sponsor the Rebuild Alabama bill during the 2019 Regular Legislative Session.
“Today’s announcement is a major step in the right direction to improving Alabama’s infrastructure. I appreciate Governor Ivey for leading the charge and allowing me to help develop this plan,” Rep. Poole said. “A number of studies have concluded that Alabama’s aging infrastructure cannot continue to operate in its current state without severe consequences; these are simply facts we can’t ignore.”
According to TRIP, a national transportation research group, 30 percent of major roads and highways in Alabama are in poor or mediocre condition because of inadequate state and local funding. In 2015, Alabama’s roads received a D+ grade in a report card released by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ideally, county road resurfacing should operate on a 15-year schedule; yet, county governments are currently operating on a 56-year schedule. Additionally, a striking 1,200 bridges are classified as structurally deficient in Alabama, ranking the state as 17th in the nation. Even worse, counties should be operating on a 50-year bridge replacement schedule, but they are actually operating at a rate of 186 years.
State Senator Clyde Chambliss, who represents parts of rural Alabama, will carry the bill in the Senate.
“With one of the South’s biggest ports and the state’s growing economic development success, improving our poor infrastructure system allows us to remain competitive nationally and globally,” Sen. Chambliss said. “As a civil engineer, I applaud Governor Ivey’s efforts to address this pressing issue and look forward to working with stakeholders, from all levels of government, to ensure her infrastructure bill is successful.”
State government currently provides 40 percent of Alabama’s total transportation funding, while the rest comes from the federal government. However, increasing uncertainty about federal infrastructure funding has created a sense of urgency for states to have reliable funding sources.
Pictured: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday proposed a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Train Hits Vehicle In Brewton
February 27, 2019
There were no injuries reported when a vehicle was hit by a train about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday in Brewton (pictured above). Traffic was still being diverted around the stopped train at 6:30 p.m. (pictured below). Further details have not been released. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested
February 27, 2019
An Escambia County attempted murder suspect was arrested Wednesday in Dallas, TX.
Jeremy Alexander Bedgood is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and violation of a domestic violence injunction.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lincoln Drive about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, February 24 for a report of shots fired. Deputies located a female victim with a gunshot wound and one who appeared to have been severely beaten.
ECUA’s Executive Director Retiring, Board Attorney Departing
February 27, 2019
The Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s executive director and attorney are both leaving in apparently unrelated moves.
Executive Director Steve Sorrell announced his plans to retire at the utility’s regular meeting on Tuesday.
“After 17 years, it’s time for me to take some personal time, be with my family and enjoy our RV, which has been in storage for the last year. It’s been a privilege and pleasure to work for and with the ECUA Board and staff. Together we have achieved great things,” Sorrell said.
Bradley Odom, ECUA’s attorney, told the board that he will not renew his contract with the utility when it comes due on March 31.
Odom has not provided a explicit reason for his departure, but Sorrell told NewsRadio 1620 Odom is leaving in relation to ongoing lengthy litigation related to an eminent domain case involving the Lewis Bear Company.
Sorrell said his departure is absolutely unrelated to Odom or a grand jury report.
In July 2018, a grand jury issued a report on an investigation into complaints and allegations involving the ECUA. That report was sealed by the court and has not been released.
Sorrell’s Retirement
Sorrell joined the ECUA in October 2002, and was a driving force behind several significant projects. These include the construction of the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment to replace the aging Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, the development of the Biosolids Composting Facility, the Materials Recycling Facility, and hundreds of water and sewer infrastructure projects.
At the ECUA board’s request, Sorrell has agreed to remain in his position for an as yet undetermined period to assist in the search for his replacement and the conclusion of key projects. A final departure date has not been set.
Prior to joining ECUA, Sorrell spent over 30 years in public service involving various positions in engineering, law enforcement, finance, city management and utility services.
Sorrell and his wife, Linda, have been married for more than 44 years and have two children and sxi grandchildren who all reside out of state.
Pictured: ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrell at the opening of the Materials Recycling Facility in August 2016. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Molesting Girl Under 12 Years Old
February 27, 2019
A Cantonment man is facing multiple felony child sexual abuse charges.
Daniel Aric McIntosh, 39, was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, video voyeurism and showing obscene material to a minor.
On Monday, McIntosh allegedly cast a pornographic video to his living room television where a female less than 12-years old was eating breakfast. She told investigators that he left the video on the television screen while she got ready for school.
McIntosh showed investigators nude video recordings he had of the child he recorded through a crack in a her bedrom door as the child dressed, according to an arrest report. He also allegedly asked the girl to touch him inappropriately instead of receiving a spanking or other punishment.
The female told investigators that McIntosh had touched her inappropriately at least twice, including one time she woke up in her bed and McIntosh was standing over her touching her, the report states.
McIntosh is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $375,000. If convicted of the lewd and lascivious molestation charge, he faces up to life in prison.