Photos: Flomaton Safe Night Trick Or Treating
October 30, 2024
Families from across the area attended Safe Night of Fun with Downtown Trick or Treat in Flomaton Tuesday evening.
For a photo gallery, click here.
There were plenty of games, fun, a pumpkin carving contest, train rides, trick or treating, and, of course lots of candy in downtown Flomaton.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Hall Of Fame Members
October 30, 2024
Tate High School has announced their 2024-25 Hall of Fame.
The 20 students are:
- Brooke Alvare
- Kaylenia Bailey
- Kaydon Biggs
- Shacora Caldwell
- Katie-John Crow
- Natalie George
- Hayden Graybill
- Madalyn Jarman
- Jayce Latzer
- Hailey Locke
- Aiden Maher
- Nicholas Maum
- Lily McArthur
- Liam Montgomery
- Christian Neptune
- Kaleb Posta
- Courtney Reichard
- Calum Sarfert
- Gabriella Smart
- Kara Wine
Annual Walnut Hill VFD Fish Fry Is November 9
October 30, 2024
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its 55th Annual Fish Fry on Saturday, November 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire department. The community event promises delicious food, family fun, and the chance to support a great cause.
The fish fry has traditionally been held the first Saturday of November but was moved to November 9 this year.
For just $12 per plate, attendees can enjoy a meal featuring grilled or fried catfish, grilled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, homemade bread, and a selection of homemade desserts. Door prize drawings will be held throughout the day.
In addition to the food and festivities, a blood drive will be held in partnership with the One Blood Big Red Bus to encourage attendees to “Save Lives, Donate Blood.”
The Walnut Hill Fire Station is at 7760 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview’s Anna Kunke Win 1A District Title; Northview Team Qualifies For Regionals
October 30, 2024
Northview High School’s Anna Kunkel won the 1A district championship shooting a 69 at the Eagle Spring Golf Course in DeFuniak Springs.
Pensacola Catholic claimed victory in the competition, finishing with a score of 343 Walton took second place with a score of 413, followed by Baker in third at 418.
Northview placed fifth in the tournament and qualified for regionals, with a score of 441. Jay came in sixth, close behind with a score of 450.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
After Veterans Work To Clean Up Wall of Honor, Century Crews Power Wash Monument
October 30, 2024
Tuesday, Century workers power washed the town’s Veterans Wall of Honor.
The work started just a few hours after NorthEscambia.com published a story about two veterans that worked to clean up the monument after learning of its neglected condition.
Previous story:
Two North Escambia veterans worked to clean up the Veterans Wall of Honor in Century Monday after seeing how the Town of Century had neglected upkeep.
Sunday morning, NorthEscambia.com published a story about a veterans’ motorcycle club that held a small ceremony Saturday morning in Century to honor those missing in action and that have given their lives for this county.
Viet Nam & Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club member Kris Fleming, who spoke at the Saturday event, returned Monday morning to trim the grass and edge around the wall. Craig Stephens, a retired Marine Corp officer went by and washed the wall.
The “before” picture is above, and the “after” is below.
“Still not the greatest, but better than before,” Stephens wrote on our Facebook page Monday afternoon. ”Best I could do without a water source at the park. If anyone knows of a portable pressure washer who would volunteer some time to clean the rest of the brick and the concrete floor.”
Both veterans said they would follow up with the town about the poor state of the wall, and work to replace name plaques that are broken and missing (pictured below).
The veterans wall of honor was dedicated by the Town of Century on July 2, 2008, at the then Roadside Park, now known as Nadine McCaw Park, on North Century Boulevard at Hecker Road. The town’s latest budget (pictured bottom) does not show any money allocation to maintain the monument.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Navy Reserve Officer From Pensacola Sentenced For Afghan VISA Bribery Scheme
October 30, 2024
A U.S. Navy Reserve Commander from Pensacola was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, accepted bribe payments from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and verifying fraudulent letters of recommendation for Afghan nationals who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Since 2009, Congress has authorized the State Department to offer a limited number of SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals who were employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. Pittmann signed over 20 letters in which he fraudulently represented that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In truth, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange for the fraudulent letters, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service.
On July 12, Pittmann was convicted by a jury in the District of New Hampshire after a four-day trial of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, making a materially false writing, and conspiring to commit money laundering.
By protecting Afghan nationals who risk their personal safety to help the U.S. government, the SIV program is essential for the security of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Jeromy Pittmann, however, used his position of authority over the program to benefit foreign nationals who paid him bribes, falsely asserting that they had served the United States. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who place their self-interest ahead of our national security.”
“This case shows how someone betrayed his sacred oath of office to commit crimes for personal gain, with no regard for how his actions could threaten U.S. homeland security and harm Afghans, who risked their lives to help the United States,” said Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). “It also shows how a U.S. Government investigation — from initial tip to prosecution to conviction — can hold individuals accountable for their crimes. I’m proud of SIGAR special agents and our investigative partners who brought Pittmann to justice, and I hope their hard work will deter others from pursuing similar acts.”
“Pittmann’s participation in this bribery scheme not only jeopardized the integrity of the SIV program, which protects our allies, but also introduced significant security risks to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government processes for personal gain, ensuring that the safety of the public and our warfighters is preserved.”
Pictured: Navy Reserve officer Cmdr. Jeromy Pittmann, then a lieutenant commander in Afghanistan in 2014. (Photo: Patrick Bordon/Navy)
Over 50,000 Vote Early In Escambia County (With Photo Gallery)
October 29, 2024
Candidates and supporters wave at potential voters as they turn into at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road, what has proven to be the busiest of 10 early voting sites in the county.
And as 7 p.m. closing time approaches, they also wave at the mosquitoes. It is Florida, after all. It’s one of the things that the two men at the center the only local county race in District 5 agree on — the mosquitos can be tough, as are the issues.
NPA candidate Joshua Roberson and District 5 incumbent commissioner Steven Barry also agree that early voting turnout has been nothing short of phenomenal over the last week. In fact, when we stopped by late Saturday afternoon, Roberson and Barry were togethering looking at two phones side by side, comparing the high early voting turnout for this election versus a previous election cycle.
For a photo gallery click here.
The Extension Office has been the most popular with early voters, with 9,283 so far.
“It’s been amazing turnout,” Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender said. “We’ve had 60-70 in line at a time at Stefani, and we’re sometimes processing 100 per hour.”
“We’ve doubled the number of check-in stations,” he said. “I’ve even gone out and worked the line myself at times. But I think it’s going really well, and I want to thank the poll workers and the votes for having patience.”
As on Monday, nearly 35% of registered voters in Escambia County had already cast their ballots for the general election, including over 50,000 that voted early.
Monday marked one week since early voting began in Escambia County, with 50,087 early voters utilizing one of 10 early voting sites in the county. There were also 24,541 vote-by-mail ballots received with a total of 74,684 ballots cast from 214,651 active eligible voters. That is a turnout of 34.79% so far.
BY THE NUMBERS
Early voting by location:
- County Extension Office – 9283
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury Church – 8856
- Bellview Branch Library – 8648
- Southwest Branch Library – 7315
- Downtown Main Library – 4856
- Molino Community Center – 3494
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts – 2945
- SOE Main Office – 2619
- Brownsville Community Center – 1603
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse – 524
Total ballots (early and by mail) by party:
Total ballots by part and type:
HOW TO VOTE EARLY
Voters may choose any one of the 10 locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device. Each location is open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day through Saturday, November 2.
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Century
- Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy, Bldg. 78, Room 136, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola
Pictured top: District 5 Escambia County Commission candidates Joshua Roberson (NPA, second from left) and incumbent Steven Barry (REP, standing on right) wave at voters late Saturday afternoon outside the early voting site at the Escambia County Extension Services Office on Stefani Road. Pictured top inset: Members of the Democratic Party at the Escambia Extension early voting site provide literature to voters. Also pictured: Around the Extension Services Office and the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcycle Crash Claims One Life North Of Atmore
October 29, 2024
A motorcycle crash north of Atmore claimed the life of an Alabama man.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division said 63-year-old Frankie E. Rodgers from Frisco City was fatally injured around 2:45 p.m. Sunday when his 2002 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle left the road near the 13-mile marker, approximately 13 miles north of Atmore.
After veering off the road, the motorcycle struck a ditch, collided with a fence, and eventually overturned, throwing Rodgers from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Alabama troopers are continuing their investigation.
Thunderbirds, Blue Angels To Perform Joint ‘Super Delta” Flyover Wednesday
October 29, 2024
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will team up for a rare joint flyover of Pensacola on Wednesday.
The “Super Delta” formation will take place beginning at 11:30 a.m. and should be visible along the Gulf Coast from as far west a Perdido Key through Oriole Beach, Florida.
Pensacola areas at which the Super Delta formation can be seen during the flyover include Johnson Beach, Pensacola Beach, Oriole Beach and Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola.
The Navy and Air Force flight demonstration squadrons, the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, debut the original Super Delta formation at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., March 2, 2021. Air Force Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Hobby Lobby, Books-A-Million Space Sold; But Real Estate Firm Says They Are Staying
October 29, 2024
A shopping center building with Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million has been sold to a church, but now the church’s real estate firm says the business are not going anywhere soon.
Rob Bell of the Pensacola commercial real estate firm Bellcore Commercial represented Destiny Worship Center in their purchase. He told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday morning that both Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million have leases in place with options to extend. He said the church plans to honor those leases.
Previously, commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield said they arranged the $7 million sad of the shopping center at 6253 North Davis Highway in Pensacola and that it would be converted into a church. The building was constructed by a subsidiary of Walmart in 1987 and later sold for $3.75 million in February 2002.
The Escambia County Property Appraiser’s website confirms the sale, and the deed (pictured below) also confirms the transaction.
Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million are tenants at the property, which was built in 1987 and comprises 103,485 square feet across two tenant spaces. Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million occupy 70,100 and 33,385 square feet at the center, respectively.
NorthEscambia.com reached out to Hobby Lobby Monday to find out if the store might be relocated, or if it will close. We had not received a response from Hobby Lobby by midday Tuesday.
The property was last valued at $6,965,998 by the property appraiser.
Destiny Worship Center, based in Destin, has a top priority of building families, according to their website.
The church has current locations in Destin, Freeport, Crestview, Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach, FL, Kenya, and Nicaragua. The church has not directly commented on the sale.
Courtesy photo, click to enlarge.
