$9.5 Million In Upgrades Underway At Beulah Elementary, Including New Cafeteria
September 7, 2021
Nearly $9.5 million in upgrades are underway at Beulah Elementary School.
Construction is now underway on a new $4.5 million cafeteria. The old cafeteria will be converted to a classrooms at a cost of about $2 million.
A completed covered play P.E. building had a price tag of $1.4 million, and about $1.5 million was earmarked for construction sitework including stormwater retention, sidewalks and other improvements.
The Beulah Elementary School upgrades are being funded with half cent sales tax.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
September 7, 2021
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in March. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The locations and times of the remaining online completion courses this month are listed below. The range portion for all classes below will be held on September 25 from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Escambia County
September 15, 6 -10 p.m.
Molino Community Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
September 22, 6 -10 p.m.
Langley Bell 4-H Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
Santa Rosa County
September 8, 6 to 10 p.m.
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
March 25, 6-10 p.m.
Santa Rosa County Extension Services
6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
Bonus Photos: Tate High Cheerleaders, Band And Student Section
September 7, 2021
Here is a bonus photo gallery of the Tate High School cheerleaders, band, student section and more from last Friday night.
For the photo gallery, click or tap here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Florida Labor Day Gas Prices Were Highest In Seven Year; Hurricane Ida Partially To Blame
September 7, 2021
Holiday travelers in Florida found the most expensive Labor Day gas prices in seven years, according to AAA. Prices at the pump are now averaging $3.02 per gallon — 83 cents more than last year’s holiday, and 58 cents more than what drivers paid during the 2019 holiday weekend.
Florida’s gas price average increased eight cents last week, after Hurricane Ida’s impact on the Gulf Coast left nine crude oil refineries offline. This resulted in an outage of about 13% of total U.S. refining capacity.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, four of the nine refineries have begun the process of restarting. Three of those are located in Baton Rouge, the other is near New Orleans. The DOE says it could take several days for those refineries to produce at full rates.
Meanwhile, five refineries near New Orleans remain shut due to issues including power outages. These plants account for 6% of total U.S. refining capacity.
“News that refineries are working to restore operations is a positive sign for motorists,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “As refineries get back up and running, prices should begin to slide lower; especially now that the summer driving season has come to a close.”
A low of $2.85 could be found Monday night at three stations in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices bottomed out a $2.83 at the warehouse clubs.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
$1,000 Bonus Stipend Approved For Escambia County Volunteer Firefighters
September 6, 2021
Escambia County’s volunteer firefighters will receive a $1,000 stipend payment.
The Escambia County Commission unanimously approved the payment for volunteers who completed 96 hours of training and ran at least 25% of their station’s calls.
Rep. Michelle Salzman said she was contacted and asked why volunteer firefighters did not receive the same $1,000 the state provided about 200,000 first responders, including 35,000 firefighters, under Gov Ron DeSantis’s Florida’s Heroes Initiative as approved by the Florida Legislature.
“We had to draw a line somewhere in the budget, and that was one of the lines where it was drawn,” Salzman said. “And so, unfortunately, a lot of folks missed out on that.”
Salzman went to Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry with the issue.
The county approved the $1,000 checks to be paid from the $62 million the county received through the American Rescue Plan. Escambia volunteer firefighters that have already received the $1,000 through another job will not receive the volunteer payout.
It is estimated that up to 60 volunteer firefighters in Escambia County will be eligible for the bonus stipend.
10-Year Old Gets Birthday Wish From Escambia Fire Rescue
September 6, 2021
All Makai Williams wanted for his 10th birthday was to see a fire truck. To his family, this was no surprise. After all, his love of fire service began at a very early age.
“Ever since he was one, he always loved fire trucks,” said Makai’s mother, Katisha Williams.
To make her son’s wish come true, Williams reached out to Escambia Fire Rescue to arrange a visit. But station visits are currently suspended due to COVID-19.
“It’s been tough for the past two years now,” said ECFR Chief Jason Catrambone. “Two years without being in schools, we’re missing that contact. We’re used to being in the schools, seeing those younger kids, and giving them that first impression of fire service and teaching them fire safety.”
Fire and Life Safety Specialist Ray Melton had an idea — take the fire truck to Makai for a birthday surprise.
Last Saturday, the day before Makai’s birthday, he looked out to see a fire truck from the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire REscue.
“As I pulled up to his home, Makai came out of the house walking slowly and smiling from ear to ear,” Melton said. “He could not believe the fire truck was there for him!”
“I was really amazed,” said the younger Williams.
Along with a tour of the fire truck, Makai was given stickers, bracelets, a helmet and fire safety information. And he received a special job assignment from his motherl
“Every month, I have to check the smoke alarms to see if they work incase a fire comes,” said Makai.
Because Escambia schools were closed Monday due to Hurricane Ida, Makai had to wait an extra day to share the news of his special birthday.
“My friends were like, ‘Whoa!’,” said Makai when discussing his friends’ reactions.
“For me, it’s like planting a seed and watching it grow,” Melton said. “When a child has such a strong desire to grow up and become a fireman or any profession, we need to embrace that and encourage that.”
As for his future, Makai said he already has plans to become a firefighter.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders And Band
September 6, 2021
Here are bonus photos of the cheerleaders and band from Friday night’s Lighthouse at Northview game.
For the photo gallery, click here.
For action photos and a game recap, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Series With Biscuits; Pensacola Moves Into Second Place
September 6, 2021
The Blue Wahoos used a pair of home runs from Demetrius Sims and Griffin Conine to edge past the Biscuits 3-1 on Sunday at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
With the win, Pensacola at 53-49 sits .001 percentage point ahead of Montgomery for the second and final Double-A South postseason spot with 12 games remaining in the season.
The game was tied at 1-1 going into the ninth inning. With one out, Riley Mahan hit an opposite field double off the top of the outfield wall. The next batter, Sims, belted a two-run homer to right-field, giving the Wahoos a 3-1 lead. For Sims, it was his first home run in his last 39 games (June 29th).
On the mound, Antonio Velez got the start for the Wahoos in the finale, and just like his debut against Biloxi, the left-hander finished the night with a quality start. He allowed one unearned run in six innings while striking out six. Over his past seven outings between High-A Beloit and Pensacola, Velez holds a 0.80 ERA and has tossed six quality starts.
Velez exited after six with the game tied 1-1. Zack Leban and Andrew McInvale combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief for Pensacola, with McInvale earning the win in relief.
Following Sims’ home run, the Wahoos brought in Dylan Bice to close, and the right-hander picked up his second career Double-A save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Throughout the six-game series in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos bullpen tossed 25.0 strong innings, striking out 38 batters and holding a 2.52 ERA while registering three wins and three saves.
Over the weekend, Pensacola’s pitching held the Biscuits to a total of two runs over the final 29 innings of the series. With a slim lead on the second playoff spot, the Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday for a six-game series against the last-place Biloxi Shuckers.
RHP Kyle Nicolas (3-1, 1.76 ERA) projects to start in the series-opener for Pensacola against Biloxi’s Jesus Castillo (0-0, 6.75 ERA).
Heroes: Escambia Firefighters Honored For Going Above And Beyond
September 5, 2021
Members of Escambia Fire Rescue were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty during an awards ceremony Saturday.
Fighters were honored for their heroism during events like the NAS Pensacola terrorist attack in December 2019 and Hurricane Sally. The were also recognized for saving citizens from fires, traffic accident and other perils.
The family of fallen District Chief Dwain Bradshaw was recognized. Bradshaw, 41, lost his life in November 2019 in the line of duty on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge.
Awards and recognition were presented as follows:
Medal of Gallantry
- Lt. Jim Beagle
- FF Dale Coulter
- Josh Hunter
- FF Justin King
- FF/Paramedic Bill Halfacre
- FF Robert Stivers
- Lt. John Van Matre
- FF Kyle Saxton
Medal of Courage
- FF Charles Bailey
- Lt. Keith Chapman
- Lt. Matt Scallan
- FF Allen Harrison
- FF Daniel Keating
- Asst. District Chief Brandon Stevens
- FF Nicholas Speer
- Lt. Daniel Mills
- FF Jeff Fangman
- Lt. Wesley Barnett
- FF Isaac Herring
- Lt. Daniel Akerman
- Lt. Jeff Rohrer
- FF Peter Welch
- FF Rodney Pittman
Distinguished Service Medal
- Lt. Dan Kunz
- FF Victor Govyadov
- FF Geric Fatheree
- Lt. James Shaw
- Lt./EMT Conner Wood
- FF Geoffrey Carmichael
- FF Jacob Hoskins
Final Alarm Medal
- District Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw
Career Firefighter of the Year Medal
- FF John Longsworth
Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Medal
- FF Zach McMillan
Career Fire Officer of the Year Medal
- Lt. Dimitri Jansen
Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year
- Lt. Alex Torres
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Taps New Environmental Secretary; Century Hopes His Local Connection Is A Plus
September 5, 2021
A man with deep Northwest Florida ties has been appointed secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Century officials hope that’s a plus for the small town.
Shawn Hamilton served as director of the Northwest District of FDEP from January 2011 until February 2020 before serving as interim secretary and deputy secretary of Lands and Recreation.
In September 2019, Hamilton was among a group of state and local officials that met at Century’s sewage plant to brainstorm how to fix a facility suffering from neglect in its old age.
In some small way, Century’s interim town manager, Vernon Prather, hopes Century will be remembered with Hamilton at the head of FDEP.
“I think it’s a fortunate that someone who as actually been to Century and seen Century is at the cabinet level,” Prather said. “They know that Century is not just a dot on a map.”
“I am pleased to appoint Shawn Hamilton as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection,” DeSantis said. “Secretary Hamilton brings a strong, proven record of environmental stewardship and management of award-winning state parks and conservation lands. I am confident in his ability to continue leading DEP and building on the foundations laid before him in our mission to protect and restore Florida’s environment and natural resources.”