Termite Damage And Rot May Force Century To Replace Historic Community Center
May 18, 2023
Just over a year ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3.255 million to the Town of Century to renovate two community centers.
Now, it appears one could be razed and replaced with a new building.
Just under $2 million was designated to renovate the historic Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue. The former school building was constructed in 1945.
But time and termites have taken an obvious toll on the wood building, which sat empty, neglected and unmaintained for years by the Escambia County School District. The school district just recently transferred the title to the Town of Century.
Ben Townes of Ben Townes of Townes + Architects said two engineering firms recently inspected the building. They found no asbestos, but that was the only good news. What they found was lead paint and plenty of structural damage from termites and water.
“In essence, the entire building is covered in lead-based paint,” Townes said. “It adds a lot of cost to a project to have to deal with lead-based paints. It’s very hazardous and especially with children.”
He said the bottom plates of the building — essentially the bottom section of walls where studs are attached — are 70% missing or have termite damage, and there is extensive rot or termite damage to the remainder of the building. Townes said all total, the damage would exceed over 50% of the value of the building. In addition, the structure will not support the capacity required by code.
His cost estimate for just the repairs was at over $2.4 million plus $853,000 to mitigate hazards such has lead. At over $3.2 million, that exceeds the $2 million in grant money.
But for about $2 million a new structure, he said, could “pay homage to the existing building for a little less cost and at the end of the day have a really adequate facility for your use”. It could look almost identical to the old structure.
“If it gets torn down, I want some guaranteed, rock-solid evidence that it is going to be put back,” Council President Luis Gomez, Jr., said. “I want to make sure it gets put back.”
“You can rebuild it,” project consultant Robin Phillips said. “We wouldn’t actually use grant money to go in and demolish it and not rebuild it, because what’s the benefit in that?”
One local resident said he does not want to see a new building; he wants the old one repaired.
“To me, as a student of that school at one time, we just need to find more money to cover the cost to bring it back to that original state,” Anthony Robinson said. “That’s what I want, and I think that’s what most of the people of the town of Century want. If we don’t have the money right now, let’s hold off until we get it.”
Phillips noted there is a deadline to spend the grant money, but a year extension from the state might be possible.
Gomez said public comments will be heard at an upcoming public meeting. The meeting has not yet been scheduled.
The remained of the grant awarded by DeSantis, about $850,000, was designated for improvements at the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Is Now Open To The Public Seven Days. Here’s What You Need To Know.
May 18, 2023
Wednesday, Naval Air Station Pensacola reopened to the public seven days a week for the first time in over three years.
While on the base, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center at the main gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.
Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the west gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID or passport.
“We cannot express how excited and grateful we are to welcome everyone back to their museum,” said Ret. Adm. Kyle Cozad, President and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “We’d like to take this opportunity to remind all visitors of these simple ‘Know Before You Go’ tips to help make their experience that much smoother.”
Real ID Required
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID-compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card. If you do not have a Real ID compliant identification, you must present an original or certified true copy of a birth certificate bearing a raised seal, social security card, and driver’s license issued by a state, territory, possession or District of Columbia that is not Real ID-compliant. All three documents must bear the same name, or a former name as documented on acceptable name change documentation such as a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Access Depends On Parking
Air station access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
There Are Restrictions
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- No visitors with boats and boat trailers
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
Foreign National Access
Foreign nationals are authorized access but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen in the same vehicle. The U.S. citizen will have a background check conducted upon arrival. Foreign national visitors who have not been processed through the Foreign Visits System Confirmation Module (FVSCM) must be in possession and present a permanent resident card, alien registration receipt card (Form 1-551) or a foreign passport which contains a temporary 1-551 stamp or a temporary 1-551 printed notification on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV).
McDavid Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Woman In Atmore
May 18, 2023
A McDavid man has been charged with the attempted murder of a woman Wednesday in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to the Southland Motel on East Louisville Avenue about 11:45. They found a female suffering from gunshot wounds on the floor of a motel room. She was airlifted to the trauma center at an area hospital.
Luis Trevizo Becerra, 39, was charged with attempted murder and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
Once police developed Becerra as a suspect, a statewide alert was issued. Becerra was apprehended by Alabama Law Enforcement Agencies troopers along I-65 near Evergreen.
An update on the victim’s condition was not available.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Felonies For Bad Check From Closed Company
May 18, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of fraudulently representing a fictitious company that went out of business years ago and writing a check on a closed account.
Bradley Parker Henderson, 41 was charged with felony criminal use of a fictitious person identification, felony uttering a false banknote, and misdemeanor petty theft.
Henderson paid a local locksmith company to make a vehicle key for him using a check from a company that went out of business in 2015, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Henderson’s bond on the charges was set at $50,000, but he remained jailed without bond due to a failure to appear charge in a traffic court case.
North End Elite Wins 8U Tournament
May 18, 2023
The North End Elite won the recent USFA 8U Softball Tournament at Pace. The team includes players from the Molino Recreation Association and Northwest Escambia 8U softball. Pictured above: (front, L-R) Mailei Milner, Paycen Cutler, Madison Daniel, Issy Mills, Bryndle Moye, (middle L-R) Abby Weaver, Bayleigh Enfinger, June Kilgore, Hadley Cook, Peyton Roberts, Caroline Peters, Tatum Godwin. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get 10th Straight Win
May 18, 2023
The way Patrick Monteverde has produced superlatives in prior starts, it was fitting the team’s left-handed ace would deliver the Blue Wahoos a 10th consecutive win.
Monteverde, named the Southern League’s pitcher of April for his first four stellar outings, worked out of two innings Wednesday with baserunners, while upping his league-best record to 5-0 in the Blue Wahoos 7-4 victory against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,678, which included middle school bands from Shoal River and Davidson schools in Crestview combining to perform the National Anthem, watched the Blue Wahoos catch a break from weather and power their way to a record-extending win total.
It was Pensacola’s 18th win in 19 games, continuing the best stretch of success in the team’s 11-year history.
One common element of the first two months this season has been Monteverde’s dominance on the mound.
The 25-year-old Pittsburgh native, who entered the 2023 season as the Miami Marlins’ No. 30 rated prospect, has now allowed just six runs in seven starts. His earned run average has dropped to 1.29. He allowed just one run on two hits and struck out eight in five innings. He’s now had 57 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 42 innings.
His night Wednesday had two pivotal moments. After allowing a walk and double to start the second inning, he got a line-out double play on a spectacular catch from third baseman Cody Morissette. In the third inning, he again allowed a double and a walk, but retired the next three batters on a pair of strikeouts and flyout.
That all proved decisive.
After Victor Mesa Jr. manufactured a second-inning run with a walk, moving over on a ground out and scoring on a throwing error while stealing third, the Blue Wahoos slugged their way to the other six runs in the game.
The biggest smash was Morissette’s 2-run homer into the right field berm in the fourth inning. José Devers led off the inning with a double and scored on Will Banfield’s single.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on Griffin Conine’s RBI sacrifice fly and Troy Johnston’s two-out single to make it 7-1.
The Smokies scored three runs in the ninth off reliever Austin Roberts before he ended the game on a force out.
Eight of the Blue Wahoos lineup reached base. Banfield had the team’s multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The game was delayed 27 minutes to get the field ready, following the off-and-on light rain all day. The Blue Wahoos kept the field tarp on from Tuesday night to ensure the game could get played.
Remarkably, the heavier rain which hit other parts of Pensacola, never materialized at the ballpark.
The series now heads into Thursday with Blue Wahoos newcomer Jonathan Bermudez, a lefthander, making his pitching debut with a new organization. He was released during spring training from the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
He was signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26 and spent the past couple weeks with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Marlins, the rookie league team. Tennessee will throw right-hander Kohl Franklin (0-1, 13.50 ERA).
The game is part of “Mullet Thursday” with the Blue Wahoos wearing their Pensacola Mullets uniforms.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Escambia Schools Over Book Bans
May 17, 2023
Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, and PEN America, a “free expression organization”, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Escambia County School District over the removal of books from school libraries.
The lawsuit alleges Escambia County schools have violated the First Amendment by setting out to remove or restrict access to books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities, against the recommendations of the district review committee charged with evaluating book challenges.
“Books have the capacity to change lives for the better, and students in particular deserve equitable access to a wide range of perspectives. Censorship, in the form of book bans like those enacted by Escambia County, are a direct threat to democracy and our constitutional rights,” said Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House. “We stand by our authors, their books, and the teachers, librarians, and parents who champion free expression. We are proud to join forces with our longtime partner PEN America.”
PEN American and Penguin Random House are joined by several authors in the suit, including Ashley Hope Pérez. She is author of Out of Darkness, one of the books restricted by the school district after a challenge was filed by Northview High School language arts teacher Vicki Baggett. Baggett objected to the book due to “graphic depictions of abuse and sexual scenes”.
“Young readers in Escambia schools and across the nation deserve a complete and honest education, one that provides them with full access in libraries to a wide range of literature that reflects varied viewpoints and that explores the diversity of human experiences,” said Pérez. “As a former public high school English teacher, I know firsthand how important libraries are. For many young people, if a book isn’t in their school library, it might as well not exist.”
Escambia School Board Fires Superintendent Tim Smith
May 17, 2023
The Escambia County School Board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to terminate appointed Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith effective May 31 and named Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Keith Leonard as interim superintendent.
The motion to terminate Smith was made by board chair Paul Festsko (pictured left) and seconded by Kevin Adams. Board member David Williams was the third vote in favor, while member Patty Hightower and District 5 member Bill Slayton were opposed to the termination.
Festko said administrators in the district do not feel as if they were being led by Smith. “It’s uncomfortable. I can’t believe the number of principals that we have lost…I care about this school district.”
“I voted for the superintendent when he came in. I do not believe it is in our best interest with him in that position going forward,” Festsko said.
“It’s just remarkable that you would throw the district into this kind of turmoil at this particular time,” Slayton (pictured left) told Fetsko before a pause. “We have a lot of experts that act like they know how to run a school district. You participated in the hiring, you participated in the research, to pick one, but the people sitting out here who work for us, that’s where the turmoil is going to be….I’ve been through nine superintendents; nothing has ever been smooth. Everytime we change, we have turmoil in the district.”
Slayton continued, “This is no time to be doing this. I’m sorry, this is wrong. It’s a surprise at the last minute. I’m very disappointed. I almost want to say this has been a Sunshine Law violation. There’s got to have been a discussion on this.”
“Our district is hurting,”Williams (pictured left) said. “If you would interview a lot of the administrators, they are hurting. Teachers are hurting…We are losing administrators; we are losing teachers. We are losing students. Anybody would be in a tough situation right now being superintendent. If we really care as a board, we do what we think is best. ”
“If you are accusing me of a Sunshine Law (violation), I don’t speak to any of you outside of this (the board) room, and I don’t talk to any of you outside of being in this room. Not my part,” Williams added, looking toward Slayton.
Fetsko also denied any Sunshine Law violations. He said he had told Smith that he would move to terminate the contract. Fetsko said he withheld two pages of notes that he did not include in his written superintendent evaluation as to not disparage him, but did say Smith’s communication is poor.
Smith began his comments criticizing Festsko and Adams.
“There’s something bad that exists here. There’s something toxic that exists here. You all want to fire me; I think the answer would be for the two of you to resign from your positions. What’s the difference, is it you or me, right? I guess you outnumber me. If you care about kids, as you said, we need to do things right. But to constantly undermine and constantly seek to get me out,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of toxic stuff going on. How much poison has dripped on that podium over the past six months? It’s been extensive. It’s been ridiculous, actually. We are about kids.”
“I will hold my head up high because I have invested…my wife has been an amazing loyal individual and sacrificed, gave up her dream job in Orlando to do this.,” Smith said. “At least I can put my head on the pillow that I put everything I could into it. I fear for the future of this district. ”
Smith gathered his things during the discussion. After the volte, he walked out before the last few minutes of the meeting.
In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36 voting yes and 49.64 percent voting now. This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county; all of the other attempts failed.
The term of then superintendent Malcolm Thomas ended in 2020, and Dr. Tim Smith was appointed as the new school district boss.
NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
From This Day Forth: Tate Senior ‘Prank’ Was A Wedding?
May 17, 2023
From this day forth…the senior “prank” this year at Tate High School was a little bit different.
The Tate High School Senior Class of 2023 surprised the student body with a mock wedding in the school courtyard Tuesday.
Seniors, and student council members, Rilee Lowery and Adyson Illian took “vows” officiated by Principal Laura Touchstone.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The “vows” represented the beginning of a new chapter and signifying the bond of the members of the class of 2023. They even exchanged ring pops to symbolize the friendships made throughout the years.
Tyler Hurley objected to the marriage and went up for a battle. He lost the first round of rock, paper, scissors and gracefully surrendered.
The wedding party was:
Groom: Rilee Lowery
Bride: Adyson Illian
Bridesmaids:
McKenzie Alfred
Kaylen Brock
Ryleigh Maxwell
Paige McKinney
Groomsmen:
Drew Reeves
Frankie Randall
Cade Kelly
Landen George
Officiant: Principal Laura Touchstone
Honorary Guests: The senior class of 2023, faculty and staff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man’s Truck Catches Fire After Crashing Into Tree In Santa Rosa County
May 17, 2023
An Atmore man was seriously injured after suffering a medical emergency and crashing into a tree Tuesday afternoon in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 59-year old man was driving west on East Bay Boulevard just west of Grand Bay Circle in Navarre when he suffered a medical emergency. His pickup truck left the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man was rescued from the vehicle and transported to an area hospital, troopers said.