Tate High Students Take Part In See You At The Pole
September 27, 2024
Tate High School was among the area schools where students gathered together this week for the See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government, and the nation.
The national verse this year was “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” [1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT).]
At Tate High, junior Nick Kontek welcomed everyone and prayed for students all over the world who have little to no religious freedom. Senior Blakely Campbell prayed for the administration and teachers and for God’s blessing and wisdom over those who lead. Sophomore Addie Manning prayed for all Tate students and family. In between each student-led prayer all students were given the opportunity to pray individually. Students and faculty also divided into smaller groups and prayed for one another.
At Tate High School See You at the Pole was sponsored by First Priority.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Semi Crash Near Atmore Claims One Life
September 27, 2024
One person was killed in a single vehicle semi truck crash Thursday near Atmore. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the crash claimed the life of an Eight Mile man.
David W. Odell, 63, was fatally injured when the 2024 Freightliner dump truck he was driving left the roadway and overturned. Odell was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred on Atmosphere Road near Poarch Road, about six miles north of Atmore, in Escambia County.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate.
Bonus Gallery: Tate Aggies Cheerleaders, Showband And More
September 27, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies are off to their best start in over 20 years, winning their fifth straight game with a convincing 42-7 victory over the West Florida Jaguars last week.
Friday night, the 5-0 Aggies will host the Navarre Raider at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Moore Rejects Century Town Clerk Job, Will Remain Flomaton Clerk
September 26, 2024
Just a week after being appointed as the town of Century’s clerk, Carrie Moore has reversed her decision and will remain in her current position as the town clerk for Flomaton.
On September 17, the Century Town Council voted unanimously to approve a recommendation from Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. to hire Carrie Moore as Century town clerk. The position has been vacant since Leslie Howington took a leave of absence in mid-April before resigning in May for medical reasons.
“We have been weighing our options for a few months now,” Gomez said before the affirmative vote. “We had several applications in which I thoroughly vetted them along with my team, and we had one standout. Her name is Carrie Moore.”
At the time, Gomez stated that Moore would start in three weeks.
But now Moore has changed her mind and decided that she will remain town clerk in Flomaton.
“I’m happy she is staying,” Flomaton Mayor Jim Johnson said Wednesday night. “I’m glad to have her as we work hard to promote Flomaton and move Flomaton forward.”
Moore has served as town clerk in Flomaton for the last three years. She previously worked with the City of Evergreen beginning in 2017 until her hiring in Flomaton in 2021.
There’s no word yet on how Century will move forward with the search for another town clerk. As salary range set back in May of $71,000 to $91,000.
Pictured: Carrie Moore, hired as Century’s new town clerk, has decided to remain as the town clerk in Flomaton. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Gather For ‘See You At The Pole’
September 26, 2024
Students across the area took part in the annual See You at the Pole event Wednesday morning.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government, and the nation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Deploying Resources Ahead of Hurricane Helene
September 26, 2024
Escambia County is mobilizing and deploying resources to assist areas of the state expected to be impacted by Hurricane Helene, standing ready to help neighboring counties and the state with storm preparation and recovery.
Escambia County Emergency Management is deploying Friday, Sept. 27 to Liberty County along with the county’s mobile command unit, THOR, to support response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office contingency will be deploying with Escambia County Emergency Management, along with Santa Rosa County Emergency Management. The deployed teams will be assisting Liberty County and surrounding counties, depending on the impact of the storm.
Escambia County Emergency Management will also be hosting the Florida Department of Emergency Management at the county’s Emergency Operations Center, allowing the state to continue operations and planning before, during, and after the storm. The State Emergency Operations Center is located in Tallahassee, which is expected to receive a direct hit from Hurricane Helene based on the current forecast track.
The Pensacola Bay Center is hosting multiple Urban Search and Rescue teams from the State of Colorado, along with swift water rescue teams. These teams plan to deploy after the storm to start search and rescue operations in the Tallahassee area.
Additionally, the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is preparing resources and providing assistance, currently serving as a staging location for the ASPCA ahead of the storm. Escambia County’s Animal Search and Rescue, or ASAR, team is also standing by for deployment. The ASAR team has members from Animal Welfare and Escambia County Fire Rescue who are trained to respond to disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes or other large-scale animal rescue incidents. Escambia County Animal Welfare is also partnering with national organizations to provide staging areas for pet food and supplies that will be distributed to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The Escambia County Equestrian Center is accepting horse evacuations for those leaving areas in the hurricane’s path. Interested horse owners may call the Equestrian Center office at 850-941-6042 or the facility manager at 850-554-1155 for information.
Escambia County EMS and Escambia County Fire Rescue are also standing by and are ready to deploy if requested by the state.
“Escambia County is always ready and willing to help our neighbors during difficult times like this, and we will continue to provide any resources we can to assist those who are impacted by Hurricane Helene,” Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said. “We are thinking of everyone in the path of this storm, praying for their safety, and hoping for the best possible outcome for those who are impacted. It is an honor and a privilege for Escambia County to be able to serve our sister counties and the State of Florida at this difficult time.”
Cracked Foundation At Century Sewage Plant Springs Leaks
September 26, 2024
Wednesday, the Town of Century was dealing with two leaks from the foundation of their wastewater treatment plant.
According to reports submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the town applied lime to the affected area and washed it down as the cleanup was ongoing.
Century’s wastewater system was dedicated in June, 1990.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia And Santa Rosa Schools Closed On Thursday
September 25, 2024
Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools will be closed on Thursday, both districts announced Wednesday afternoon.
Escambia County
Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard has announced that schools and district offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26, 2024 due to possible inclement weather associated with Hurricane Helene.
The National Weather Service forecasts inclement weather moving through the area on Thursday, with the possibility of high winds which could endanger school bus travel and heavy rains. In an abundance of caution, all schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Thursday, September 26, 2024.
“We anticipate normal district operations will resume on Friday, September 27,” stated Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Of course, we’ll continue to work closely with local emergency operations officials to determine what is safest for our families and staff. We will always err on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of our students and employees”
Santa Rosa County
At 4:00pm we received additional information from the National Weather Service of Mobile including updated wind advisories. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to close schools for Thursday, September 26. We fully anticipate school operations to resume as usual on Friday, September 27. However, please stay updated to social media outlets and our district website for any updates.
Escambia Commission Delays Action On Pending OLF-8 Offers For Now
September 25, 2024
The Escambia County Commission on Tuesday discussed two pending offers for portion of the county-owned OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road, but didn’t not make any final decisions for now.
Commissioners authorized county staff to continue to talk regarding two offers on the table. They also said that there may be a third offer forthcoming.
Several members of the public said they would like to see the commission postpone any decisions until after the November election.
The county has two unrelated letters of intent for different parcels from two unnamed companies. Both are on the agenda for the Escambia County Commission to discuss at their Tuesday morning meeting.
Unnamed Companies? Why the Mystery?
The companies making offers for the OLF-8 parcels remain “secret”. Most details about the new companies and their plans remain confidential during discussions, as is allowed under state law. It’s standard in economic development across Florida.
Project Dynamo
Another letter of intent with the codename “Project Dynamo” was submitted August 23 with an expiration just six days later on August 29. The offer was submitted by KBC Advisors, a nationwide real estate advisory firm.
The offer is for 24.79 acres for $2.479 million with $25,000 in refundable earnest money with a 210-day contingency period. During that period, the purchaser would determine at their “sole discretion whether the Property is suitable for Purchaser’s intended use”.
“At any time prior to the expiration of the Contingency Period, Purchaser may, in its sole discretion, terminate the Agreement for any reason and receive back the Earnest Money,” the offer states.
While the exact project remains secret, there are some clues that have become public.
According to minutes from a June 25 Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission (PEDC) meeting, then-FloridaWest CEO Brian Hilson explained this project will be a distribution center occupying an industrial building of 100,000 square feet.
“Mr. Hilson shared insights about a prospective OLF8 candidate that requires 20 acres of land. The company’s timing requires construction and occupancy by the fall of 2025 with employment up to 125 workers. Revisions to the OLF8 master plan and installation of water, sewer and road infrastructure must be expanded,” the PEDC minutes sate.
Project Meridiem
The latest offer is under the codename “Project Meridiem”. The letter of intent is for about 12 aces located along Frank Reeder Road at $100,000 per net useable acre, or about $1.2 million.
The company is offering a $25,000 refundable deposit applicable to the purchase price with a 90-day due diligence period that could be extended if an environmental study is required for development. The sale would close within 30 days of the end of the due diligence period.
The company is asking the county to provide some infrastructure for the project: “Seller shall be responsible for providing any required access roads up to the boundaries of the Property as well as providing all utilities to the site including but not limited to water/sewer, power, and high-speed network infrastructure. The Seller shall also be responsible for installing appropriate drainage infrastructure surrounding the Property as well as providing regional detention that will satisfy all requirements for the subject Property.”
The letter was submitted on behalf of the unnamed company from JLL, is a worldwide commercial real estate and investment company. The offered terms expire September 27, 2024.
What’s next for the two offers?
Both letters of intent are on the agenda for discussion at the Escambia County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 24 at 9 a.m. The commission could decide to take action to accept or reject either letter of intent, continue negotiations, table action or simply do nothing.
What about the rest of OLF-8?
There are two outstanding offers outstanding. One is from Tri W Development for $36 million for the entire property, and one is from Beulah Town Center for 290 acres at $25 million.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ReImagine Cantonment Returns In October At New Location With Free Food, Clothing And More
September 25, 2024
The annual ReImagine Cantonment outreach will return next month at a new location.
The event will be held Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Florida Children’s Home at 1000 Chemstrand Road.
The faith-based event will include a 20,000 pound food giveaway, lunch, fishing lessons with free fishing rods, free tablets, baby diapers, HIV testing, clothing, free laundry detergent and more. Absolutely everything is free. There will also be free children’s activities, including train rides, inflatables, face painting, games, popcorn, and a coloring contest with three participants winning a new bicycle.
ReImagine Cantonment is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and is sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations, including NorthEscambia.com. Previously, it was held at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Pictured: A previous ReImagine Cantonment event at Carver Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
