Escambia Commission Considers Search Firm To Find Next Permanent County Administrator
January 17, 2022
The Escambia County Commission in is expected to move forward this week with hiring a search firm to find the county’s next administrator.
After the commission terminated Janice Gilley from the position in June 2021, deputy administrator Wes Moreno was named interim and had remained in the position. Commissioners decided in July 2021 not to hurry in finding a permanent replacement.
The county has now advertised for a search firm to assist with the recruitment of a permanent county administrator, and five proposals were received. One of those proposals was tossed because it was addressed to a county other than Escambia.
A committee reviewed the remaining four proposals and recommended Gov HR USA to be the most responsive.
On Tuesday, the commission will vote on their $22,500 proposal, along with an extra $10,000 for the search firm, consultant travel, additional advertisements and other related costs.
The Illinois company, according to their proposal, has conducted over 250 top manager level recruitments such as county administrators and city managers. The firm offered a timeline recommendation that has a new Escambia County administrator named within 14 weeks.
If Escambia County hires the GovHR recommended candidate and that person leaves within the first 12 months, Gov HR will conduct another recruitment at cost.
EREC Crews Help Restore Power After Carolinas Winter Storm
January 17, 2022
Crews from Escambia River Electric Cooperative headed to the snowy Carolinas over the weekend to help restore power following a winter storm.
With up to about 5-inches of snow of the ground Sunday, they worked to restore power to Broad River Electric Cooperative members. On Monday, they were set to assist members of Newberry Electric Cooperative in Newberry, South Carolina.
Photos courtesy EREC for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Murderer Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Century Correctional Officers
January 17, 2022
An inmate at Century Correctional Institution has been accused of assaulting corrections officers during two different incident.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, inmate Kunta Porter assaulted officers by striking them in the face. About a month later, FDC says Porter assaulted an officer by throwing a book which struck them in the face, and he also spat on them.
In both incidents, the FDC said staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued.
Porter, 44, is serving six life sentences for murder, robbery and kidnapping in a Pinellas County case.
This Was Our Favorite Florida Sunday Snow Picture
January 17, 2022
Lots of readers shared snow pictures with NorthEscambia.com on Sunday, but this was our favorite.
In the photo, the chilly early skies are blue after a passing snow shower left a white dusting in the pines and the ground at a barn west of Walnut Hill. Much of northern half of Escambia County had snow Sunday morning, but this was one of the few areas where there was any accumulation on the ground.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Developer Seeks Zoning Change For 376 Acres In Molino For Residential ‘Estates’
January 16, 2022
A developer is proposing a large scale zoning change for 376 acres in Molino for the potential development of residential “estates”.
The acreage, all currently wooded and undeveloped, is on five parcels along or near either Gibson Road or Crabtree Church Road in Molino. The parcels are owned by Thomas Henry of Thomas Homes in Cantonment.
“The current growth in the area suggests that an additional area of low-density residential development would be in the general direction of development of the surroundings,” the application states. “The infrastructure is in place to support such a pattern of development. The approval of the proposed future land use will expand the residential area and will provide necessary dwellings to accommodate the future projected population.”
The current agricultural zoning on the property is agriculture, which allows for a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit on each 20 acres. Henry is proposing a future land use change to agricultural residential, which would allow a maximum of one residence per four acres.
The application states that site design is ongoing, but Henry envisions a “sprawling rural residential development comprised of large multi-acre single-family detached estates”. Application documents state there is sufficient infrastructure in place, including road capacity and utilities, to support the residences.
Some of the property is wetlands, which may limit development. Documents state that a majority of the property is not “prime soil” for agriculture, as defined by the USDA.
Before any future development, site plan reviews will be required for all proposals to ensure compatibility with the surrounding area.
The Escambia County Planning Board will hold a hearing on the zoning and future land use changes on Tuesday, February 1 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Street.
Pictured top: Zoning changes are being proposed for the parcels in red. Pictured below: Public notice signs. NorthEscambia.com graphic/photo. Click to enlarge.
Fire Burns Inside ECUA Recycling Center; Facility Not Damaged
January 16, 2022
Fire burned inside ECUA’s recycling facility at the Perdido Landfill Saturday night, but it won’t impact recycling operations.
Smoke was reported from the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) about 7:25 p.m. Escambia Fire Rescue discovered the fire in a roll off compactor located at the end of the processing line inside the facility. The compactor was partially extinguished and moved outside the 53,000 square foot facility before the fire was out.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there were no injuries.
“There was no damage to the facility and no impact to recycling collections. All remain on their normal schedule,” Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said.
In July 2021, the ECUA recycling facility was damaged by fire and water, requiring significant cleanup and repairs. For about three months, the facility remained closed. During the downtime, ECUA collected residential recycling materials, but most everything was sent to the landfill.
Pictured: A compactor smokes after being moved outside the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility Saturday night at the Perdido Landfill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Trahan And Repine Compete In All America Classic In Orlando
January 16, 2022
Tate High School seniors Noah Trahan and Zane Repine played in the 2022 All America Classic game Saturday in Orlando.
The annual game, played at Camping World Stadium, showcases top high school players from across the county to college scouts while honoring those that have served in the armed forces or as first responders.
Trahan and Repine were members of the American team, which defeated the National team 28-27.
Pictured: Tate High School’s Zane Repine #52 and Noa Trahan #55 took part in the All America Classic game Saturday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Says Missing, Endangered Man Has Been Found Alive
January 16, 2022
UPDATE: Family members tell NorthEscambia.com that a missing, endangered man last see over a week ago was found alive Sunday morning.
Further details are not yet known.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 48-year Damon Douglas Gill is considered missing and endangered. He was last seen leaving the 7800 block of Lakeside Oaks Drive (near Beulah Road) on Friday, January 7.
His vehicle, a black 2021 Toyota Highlander, was later recovered on Northpointe Boulevard, but there was no sign off Gill.
Family members had planned a community search for 9 a.m. Sunday, but instead are rejoicing that he was located.
Details: Former Tate Homecoming Queen Gets Community Service, But She Won’t Have To Say She’s Sorry
January 15, 2022
A former Tate High School homecoming queen will have to stay out of trouble and log community service house, but she won’t have to say she’s sorry under the terms of a pre-trial diversion program.
Emily Rose Grover was a 17-year old juvenile at the time of her arrest in April 2021 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Prosecutors said she used her mother’s credentials to access the Escambia County School District’s FOCUS system to access the confidential information of hundreds of students at Tate High School. They say she then used the personal identification information of other students to fraudulently cast votes for Tate homecoming queen.
Grover, now 18, entered a plea of no contest this week and moved into a pretrial intervention (PTI) program administered by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Upon successful completion of the program, the state will allow Grover to withdraw the plea, and all charges against her with be dismissed. If she fails to complete the PTI program, the case will go directly to sentencing where she will face up to 16 years in state prison.
Under the agreement, she will be required to perform 100 hours of community service with no option of a buyout. She was ordered to pay court costs of $518, prosecution costs of $150 and $53 per month cost of supervision.
There are also a dozen standard terms, including employment or school, stay off and away from drugs and alcohol, no weapons, “follow all household rules”, “live with and obey parent or guardian”, and “show no disrespect to anyone”.
The original agreement, as obtained by NorthEscambia.com, also required Grover to write a “letter of apology to all other participants in the Tate High School Homecoming Court, Tate School and the Escambia County School District”, but that condition was removed before it was finalized.
Grover and her mother Laura Carroll, former assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, were charged by FDLE with one count each of felony offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, felony criminal use of personally identifiable information, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
Carroll previously pleaded not guilty and is due on court next week.
Grover won Tate homecoming queen in the fall of 2020, but she was expelled and was stripped of the crown.
Latest Numbers: Escambia Had 5,010 New COVID-19 Cases Last Week
January 15, 2022
There were 5,010 new COVID-19 cases reported last week in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health report.
Here is the latest data from FDOH and the CDC:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 65,835 (+5,010)
Positivity rate last week: 47.2%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,572
People vaccinated: 167,104 (+1,021)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 55.9%
New hospital admissions: 192
Current hospitalizations (as of Friday): 179
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 38,814 (+2,862)
Positivity rate last week: 37.59%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,554
People vaccinated: 97,106 (+572)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 55%
New hospital admissions: 29
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 4,992,265 (+430,297)
Case positivity rate: 29.3%
Case Rate per 100k: 1,958
Deaths: 63,158 (+111)