Stead Appointed As Century Town Council Member

November 22, 2016

Kevin Stead has been named as the newest member of the Century Town Council as the temporary replacement for Annie Savage, who passed away in late October.

A special election will be held in February for a permanent replacement to fill Savage’s seat, which does not expire until 2021.

Four people expressed interest in the temporary seat — Stead, Mary Bourgeois, Patricia Ewing and Luis Gomez. Council members Ben Boutwell and Ann Brooks voted for Stead, while Riley voted for Bourgeois and Jackson voted for Gomez.

Stead, a resident of Pine Street for about a year and half, is a Marine Corp veteran, a married father of four and grandfather of three. He has served for six years as a firefighter and fire chaplain for the Jay Volunteer Fire Department, and serves as pianist and childrens pastor as Tabernacle Baptist Church in Century.

The 50-year old is an electrician and has been employed at CEREX Advanced Fabrics in Cantonment for the past four years.

“I have a high interest in the local economy and for the youth of the community,” Stead said in an email to current town council members.

A second seat on the council will also become empty on January 2. Council member  Boutwell was forced to resign his seat effective January 2 when he ran for mayor during the recent election. That bid was unsuccessful.

In January, the council will  appoint a temporary successor for Boutwell until a special election can be held. According to town officials, Boutwell could be appointed as his own successor, if the council so desired.

The special election for both council seats will be held February 14 with any necessary runoff election on February 28.

Pictured top: New Century Council member Kevin Stead is congratulated by mayor-elect Henry Hawkins. Pictured below: Stead listens to the council vote. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

From The Farm To The City: A Thanksgiving Bounty For The Needy (With Gallery)

November 22, 2016

About 200 students from schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay Monday to harvest vegetables and bag sweet potatoes that will feed hundreds of needy families later this week for Thanksgiving.

The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center was part of Farm-City Week, bringing the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy of the city.

The FFA students from Northview High School, Tate High School, Jay High School, along with other schools and boy scouts harvested collards and cabbages and sorted over a ton of donated sweet potatoes. The students also bagged freshly ground corn meal and grits.

Along the way, the students learned not only about teamwork, but also about the farming process at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm.

The greens, sweet potatoes and other food items will be delivered Tuesday with the help of more students to about 800 families that were pre-qualified based upon need at the Waterfront Rescue Mission in Pensacola and the Guy Thompson Community Center in Milton.

For more photos, click here.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey

November 22, 2016

Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on Wednesday, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.

Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.

Call (850) 426-6466 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited.

Missing Cantonment Teen Found Safe

November 22, 2016

UPDATE: This missing teen has been found safe.

Officials are searching for a missing Cantonment teen.

Trinity Sellers was last seen on South Highway 97 in Cantonment on Monday. The 13-year old was wearing white Adidas high top shoes and was carrying a black and white Aztec print backpack. She may be riding on an older baby blue boys bike-cruiser with a black leather cup holder and black rims.

Sellers is 5 feet, 2 inches, 150 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. She often wears her waist-length hair up in a bun.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Trinity Sellers is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or KlaasKIDS at (855) 733-5567.

Water Main Break Floods Roadway In Molino

November 22, 2016

A broken water main flooded a roadway in Molino Monday night.

The water main break was on Molino Road near the intersection of Highway 95A. Crews from Molino Utilities worked into the night to make repairs. There was no word from the utility if a boil water notice was issued as a result of the break.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Man Dies After Crashing Into Emergency Room Wall

November 22, 2016

An Escambia County man died Monday morning after crashing his vehicle into a wall outside the emergency room at West Florida Hospital.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 56-year old Michael F. Fountain was eastbound in the hospital’s parking lot when he crashed his Saturn Vue near the ER entrance about 5:01 a.m. He was admitted to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

It was not known if a medical condition may have led to the crash.

Deputies Bust Man Living In Stolen RV

November 22, 2016

Alabama authorities have recovered a stolen RV and arrested the man was living inside.

In early October, a Coachman Freelander 3150 RV was reported stolen from the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve northeast of Atmore. The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office received a report that the RV was in Conecuh County, AL. Sheriff’s deputies from both counties responded to the location and made contact with the man living in the RV, later identified as 33-year old Christopher Wesley Taylor of Brewton.

A warrant was obtained, and Taylor was located and arrested by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of theft of property first degree. He was transported to the Mobile Metro Jail to be transported back to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said more arrests are expected as their investigation continues.

Lonely, Homeless And Hungry Invited To Waterfront Thanksgiving Banquet

November 22, 2016

Hundreds of Escambia County’s homeless, hungry, or lonely community members will be served a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal Thursday from 11a.m.-1p.m. at the Waterfront Rescue Mission campus located at 348 West Herman Street.

Those less fortunate in Pensacola aren’t the only community members that benefit from Waterfront’s Thanksgiving Banquet. Becoming involved in the Thanksgiving Banquet is a way for community members and organizations to give back to those in need in their community. There are numerous ways that individuals, groups, or businesses can become involved:

  • Donate food: 104 oz. canned vegetables, desserts, non-perishable foods and gift cards are appreciated.
  • Make a financial donation- $2.23 provides 1 meal, $11.15 provides 5 meals and $22.30 provides 10 meals. Visit www.waterfrontmission.org to donate today!
  • Donate items to prepare for the cold months – coats, jeans, gloves, scarves, hats, blankets, backpacks, socks, sleeping bags, underwear, personal hygiene items, etc.
  • Volunteer, visit www.waterfrontmission.org

All item donations can be delivered to Waterfront Rescue Mission located at 348 West Herman Street, Pensacola, FL. To find out more about the Thanksgiving Banquet or to make a financial donation visit www.waterfrontmission.org or call (850) 478-4027.

Pictured: Last year’s Thanksgiving banquet at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge

Century Woman Arrested For Smuggling Drugs Into The County Jail

November 21, 2016

A Century woman arrested on a traffic charge is now facing felony drug charges are allegedly bringing drugs inside the county jail.

In August, 32-year old Kristin Sharee Redmon was arrested for resisting an officer and a felony charge for driving with a suspended license as a habitual offender. She told the arresting deputy that she did not have any illegal items on her person, according to an arrest report. She was advised by the deputy that taking illegal items into the jail would result in additional charges.

While being booked into the jail, a corrections officer reporting finding a clear plastic bag in Redmon’s rear pocket with a white powdery substance.

After Redmon was released from jail, lab results returned from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement identified the substance as methamphetamine, and additional warrants were issued for Redmon.

She was arrested last week on charges of felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony smuggling contraband into a detention facility. Redmon remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $17,500.

North Escambia County Baptist Community Thanksgiving Service Held In Bratt

November 21, 2016

The North Escambia County Baptist Community Thanksgiving Service was hosted Sunday night by Bratt First Baptist Church.

Carol Sears from the Florida Baptist Children’s Home was joined by multiple congregations and pastors Josh Long  from Unity Baptist, Delbert Redditt from Bratt First Baptist, Nathan Brown From Ray’s Chapel Baptist, Ted Bridges from Walnut Hill Baptist, Tim Hawsey from Bratt First Baptist,  Alan Thompson from Enon Baptist and Prison Chaplain Doug Sanders.

Photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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