Steve Stroberger Wins District 1 Commission Seat, Ousting Jeff Bergosh
August 21, 2024
Steve Stroberger has won the Escambia County Commission District 1 seat, ousting incumbent Jeff Bergosh.
In a three-way race, Stroberger received 4,793 votes (54%). Bergosh had 3,260 votes (37%), while Jesse Casey received 795 (9%).
“This wasn’t the result I expected, nor is it the one I anticipated, but the District 1 voters have spoken and they have elected new leadership to take this district in a new direction, Bergosh said. “I will work with the new commissioner elect over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition in November. I’ll be taking tonight with my family and will have no more comment on this election this evening. I’ve already called and have spoken personally to Mr. Stroberger to congratulate him on his victory.”
Stroberger is a retired Navy office and marine. He worked in the private sector primarily in the aerospace and defense industries.
Bergosh has served on the Escambia County Commission since 2016, following 10 years on the Escambia County School Board.
Gaetz Easily Beats McCarthy-Backed Challenger Dimmock
August 21, 2024
Congressman Matt Gaetz was reelected Tuesday to represent Florida’s First Congressional District.
Gaetz received about 73% of the vote to challenger Aaron Dimmock’s 27%. Dimmock, a retired Navy officer, was backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“It’s traditional in moments like these with margins of victory like this that you hear from your opponents,” Gaetz told supporters in a video posted to social media about 8:30 Tuesday night. “I have not yet heard from Aaron Dimmock, or Kevin McCarthy this evening. Kevin McCarthy spent $3 million in this race, not attacking my votes or my work on your behalf but simply trying to attack my character. Three million dollars. Three years ago, I got 70% of the vote, and tonight it looks like we’re getting 73% of the vote. So Kevin, if you are watching, spend a little more next time and we’ll get to 80.”
“It goes without saying that this was not the result we had hoped for,” Dimmock said in a social media post. “Running as a first time candidate against a powerful career politician is never easy, but I was honored to have the opportunity to be that alternative.”
Gaetz will now face Democrat Gay Valimont in November in a district that typically leans heavily Republican.
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz during an appearance in Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ashlee Hofberger Wins Republican Primary For District 4 Escambia Commission
August 21, 2024
Ashlee Hofberger is the winner of the Republican Primary for the District 4 Seat on the Escambia County Commission.
The District 4 seat has been vacant since Robert Bender was appointed Supervisor of Elections in January. Gov. Ron DeSantis had the power to appoint a replacement but chose not to do so.
“I am so excited, beyond grateful to everyone that volunteered, and contributed, and everyone that got out and voted today.” she said after the win. “Thank you.”
“I believe our government’s top priority is to keep us safe,” she added. “And when you pick up the phone to call 911, the person who responds should have the tools and the skills to fix whatever emergency you are in. And I want to make sure that our firefighters and our EMTs and our law enforcement have the resources so they can do that.”
Hofberger is owner of The Wash Room laundromat and Bogeys Golf Suites. In 2012, she opened the emergency restoration firm Complete DKI and later sold it to the national company First Onsite in 2021.
She received 3,143 votes, or 38%. Walker Wilson had 2,735 (33%), and Buck Mitchell garnered 2,483 (30%).
Hofberger will still face Democratic candidate Ron Helms in November.
Complete Escambia County Election Results
August 21, 2024
Here are the complete, but unofficial, local election results from Escambia County.
All precincts are reported in the numbers below.
Click the image to enlarge.
Wahoos Walked Off by Smokies in 2-1 Defeat
August 21, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
In a rematch of the past two Southern League Championship Series, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Tennessee Smokies played another close ballgame on Tuesday night. In the end, a safety squeeze bunt from Fabian Pertuz in the bottom of the ninth gave the Smokies a 2-1 walk-off win
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The Blue Wahoos have now dropped 6 of 7 games this season to the defending league champions, though their past five losses dating back to May have all been by only one run.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos missed out on a change to apply pressure to the first-place Biloxi Shuckers as the second half playoff race heats up. The Blue Wahoos now trail the Shuckers by 1.5 games with 23 to play, pending the results of Biloxi’s game in Birmingham.
Patrick Monteverde was outstanding in his start for the Blue Wahoos, scattering two hits over 6.0 innings of one-run ball. After taking a no-hitter into the fifth, he allowed singles to Pablo Aliendo and Casey Opitz to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.
Pensacola answered back against Smokies starter Sam Armstrong in the sixth, turning a Jakob Marsee leadoff walk and Joe Mack single into the game-tying run on a Jared Serna RBI groundout. Mack was left at third to end the inning, spoiling the Blue Wahoos’ best chance at scoring another run.
After Blake Weiman (W, 3-0) pitched perfect relief for the Smokies in the eighth and ninth, Aliendo got aboard against Pensacola’s Matt Pushard (L, 3-3) with a bloop double in the bottom of the ninth. An infield single from Luis Verdugo followed, and Pertuz ended the game with a safety squeeze bunt to score pinch runner Parker Chavers from third base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Wednesday. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT,
Reminder: Cantonment, Farm Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Day Is Wednesday
August 20, 2024
Residents of a portion of Cantonment and Farm Hill can dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge during a District 5 Neighborhood Cleanup on Wednesday, August 21.
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy: Residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of residences in the area by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Tires and paint cans should be separate from all other debris. Debris piles should not be placed under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. All items, including containers, will be collected.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive cleanup effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 6,915 tons (13,830,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Walnut Hill Woman Arrested On Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
August 20, 2024
An early morning traffic stop on North Main Street led to the arrest of a Walnut Hill Woman on drug charges early Sunday Morning.
According to the Atmore Police Department, an officer pulled over a vehicle with a malfunctioning headlight around 1:15 a.m. on August 18th. The driver, identified as 36-year-old Victoria Lynn Burkett, was subsequently detained for further investigation.
Police said a search of the vehicle uncovered a syringe containing methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. Burkett was taken into custody and charged with possession of a Controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is currently being held at the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
Florida Demands Answers From Temu
August 20, 2024
Both U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Attorney General Ashley Moody are raising concerns about Temu, including their allegedly nefarious production practices.
“A congressional investigation uncovered that Temu may be illegally selling products made with forced labor in an area of China in which the Chinese Communist Party is committing genocide,” Moody said.
“Additionally, there are reports that Temu is gathering U.S. consumer information and passing it along to the CCP. These reports are alarming — not only on a consumer protection front but in regards to national security as well.”+
In a letter sent recently to the president of Temu and the CEO of PPD Holdings Inc., Temu’s parent company, the attorneys general outline concerns with the company’s business practices following reports that the company may not be following federal law or the states’ consumer protection laws.
“The rapid rise of Temu represents a new challenge in our ongoing efforts to ensure fair trade and protect American consumers and businesses,” Scott contended, asking for a meeting with the Joe Biden Cabinet official to discuss these and related issues further.
Last year, the United States House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party revealed disturbing information about Temu’s failure to comply with American laws prohibiting the use of forced labor by Uyghurs. The company admitted that “it does not have a policy in place to prohibit the sale of goods from Xinjiang – the location of the CCP’s ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs.” Temu took it a step further and claimed it is not subject to the UFLPA.
The same house select committee also found that Temu does not apply a real compliance system and concluded “that shipments from Temu containing products made with forced labor are entering the United States on a regular basis, in violation of the UFLPA.”
Moody is joined by the attorneys general of the following states in demanding answers from Temu: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Pictured: Photograph of the Temu homepage on August 20, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area’s Jobless Rate Increases Slightly
August 20, 2024
The Escambia County unemployment rate fell last month, according to newly released data from FloridaCommerce.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 3.9% in July, up from 3.7% in June. That represented 5,999 people out of work out of a county workforce of 155,201. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 3.5%, or 5,057 people.
The Pensacola metro area private sector employment increased by 1.7% (+3,000 jobs) over the year in July 2024. The industry sector gaining the most jobs over the year was education and health services, increasing by 1,100 jobs.
Florida’s unemployment rate continues to remain lower than the nation, with a rate of 3.3% in July 2024, a full percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.3%. Florida’s private sector employment has grown by 201,500 jobs (+2.3%) over the year since July 2023, faster than the national rate of 1.5 percent over the same time period.
New LED Northview High Sign Replaces Original Model Toppled By High Winds
August 20, 2024
Just over three months after the original was destroyed by high winds, Northview High School has a news sign.
Winds hit 89 mph during the early morning hours of May 10 at the weather station on the Northview campus. The wind toppled the sign that had stood since the school opened 20 years ago, downed trees and caused other mostly minor damage around the campus.
Monday, a news digital sign was installed by Plastic Arts Signs.
Picture above: Northview High’s new digital sign was installed Monday. Pictured below: The original sign was toppled during high winds on May 10 that also caused other damage around the campus. Courtesy photos (NHS) above, NorthEscambia.com photos below, click to enlarge.
