Century Council Moves Back To Town Hall After COVID-19 Decline
July 7, 2021
Now that COVID-19 cases have decline, the Century Town Council has moved their meeting s from a large community center venue back to their relatively small council chambers.
After holding meetings via Zoom for much of 2020 due to COVID-19, the council returned to in-person meetings at the Century Community Center back in January to allow room for more social distancing.
Monday night, the council was back at the table in their chambers at town hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Century’s next step in returning to a post-pandemic normal is a workshop at 5:30 p.m. on July 22 to discuss rental agreements for town community centers and the splash pad.
Pictured above: Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting back in council chambers at town hall. Pictured below: A panoramic view of a recent Century Town Council meeting at the Century Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ESCO Deputy Treated For Smoke Inhalation After Rescuing Burglary Suspect From Burning Shed
July 7, 2021
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was treated for smoke inhalation after rescuing a burglary suspect from a burning shed.
The incident happened late Monday night on Toni Street at Lanier Drive after the sheriff’s office responded to a call about the burglary of an unoccupied shed.
After they arrived, the suspect lit the shed on fire and was pulled out by the deputy, according to ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard.
Both the deputy and the suspect were treated for smoke inhalation.
At last report, the suspect remained in the hospital and had not been formally charged with any crime, His name has not been released.
The fire was quickly extinguished by Escambia Fire Rescue.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mayor Wants To End Century’s Joint Fireworks Show With Flomaton, Go Bigger With Their Own Show
July 7, 2021
The Town of Century may have their own fireworks show for the Fourth of July 2022, ending a decade long agreement for a joint show with neighboring Flomaton.
Century, Flomaton, the Century Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Flomaton Chamber of Commerce joined forces in 2011 to split the cost of a $2,500 fireworks show at an even $625 each. Over the years, the chambers of commerce dropped out, and the towns evenly divided the cost of what became a $5,000 show.
Fireworks were canceled due to the pandemic in 2020, and in 2021 the show was canceled after it was not scheduled with the fireworks company in time.
Monday night, Mayor Ben Boutwell made a proposal to the town council for a Century-only show from now on. Boutwell said he already has the show tentatively scheduled with the vendor, and he wants the council to bump its annual fireworks budget to $10,000. The council will consider the request during upcoming budget workshops.
Pictured: Monday night, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell told the town council he wants to up Century’s commitment to a year Fourth of July fireworks show. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Both Lanes Of Nine Mile Road Eastbound Open Between Beulah Road And I-10, But Lane Closures This Week
July 7, 2021
All four lanes are now open on Nine Mile Road between Beulah Road and I-10. However, drivers can expect intermittent lane closures this week on the eastbound roadway as crews place the final layer of asphalt. The work is dependent on weather. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EREC Sends Storm Team To Assist In Big Bend In Advance Of Tropical Storm Elsa
July 7, 2021
EREC has sent a storm recovery team to Tri County Electric Cooperative in Madison, Florida, in advance of Tropical Storm Elsa.
EREC’s line crewmen will be staged and ready to assist with any damage caused by the storm to the cooperative’s service area. Tri-County EC serves more than 13,000 members in the Big Bend region of Florida, about 45 miles east of Tallahassee.
“Tropical systems can cause severe damage to an electric utility and leave thousands of cooperative members without power,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “We’ve seen firsthand how great it is to be part of a network of cooperatives that we can rely on when we need them the most.”
Crew members are Tony Moody, Tyler Prescott, Stephen Jones, Jake Moye and Jeremiah Daugett.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
M-Braves Take Series Opener, Tied With Wahoos For First Place
July 7, 2021
The M-Braves surged past the Wahoos late in Tuesday’s series opener and defeated the Wahoos 8-1 at Trustmark Park.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Mississippi scored twice off Tyler Stevens courtesy of back-to-back homers from Jalen Miller and Greyson Jenista to put the M-Braves up 5-1. Any hopes for a comeback bid were erased after the hosts scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of three walks and two hits allowed by the Pensacola bullpen.
Edward Cabrera’s fourth start with the Wahoos got off to a slow start as each of the first three hitters for Mississippi rattled off base hits. Justin Dean and Trey Harris each singled before an RBI single from Drew Lugbauer put the M-Braves up 1-0.
After that Cabrera looked like his usual self, striking out Atlanta’s top catching prospect Shea Langeliers before inducing a double-play ground ball from Braden Shewmake.
Pensacola tied the game in the top of the third thanks to back-to-back hits of their own. Riley Mahan floated a single into right field before Jhon Nunez poked a double into the right-field corner that scored Mahan from first.
Unfortunately for Pensacola, the offense would end there as Pensacola was held to a total of five hits while the club struck out 17 times. Mississippi retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a leadoff walk to Lugbauer and consecutive singles from Langeliers and Shewmake.
With the loss the Wahoos and M-Braves are now 32-22 and have the best records in the Double-A South. The series continues tomorrow afternoon as LHP Jake Eder (3-2, 1.03) is expected to make the start for the Wahoos. He will be opposed by LHP Hayden Deal (1-2, 3.83).
ECSO Seizes Vehicle Used In Ladarius Clardy Homicide; Reward Increased To $10,000
July 6, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has seized the vehicle used in the Ladarius Clardy homicide last week, and the reward for information leading to an arrest has been increased to $10,000.
The ECSO said the pictured black 2014 Ford Fusion was used in the homicide on July 1 at the intersection of West Fairfield Drive and Hollywood Avenue. Investigators are seeking information about who was inside the vehicle and where it was before the homicide.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers along with the assistance of the Florida Sheriffs Association Criminal Apprehension Assistance Program has increased the reward to $10,000 for information leading to the identity of the person or persons responsible for the murder.
“We are glad to announce the additional funds for anyone providing information as to who conducted this senseless act,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said Tuesday.
Clardy was found shot to death at the scene of a traffic crash early the morning of July 1 at Hollywood Avenue and Fairfield Drive. There were over 50 bullet holes in the vehicle, most in the driver’s door.
If you have any information leading to the arrest of a suspect or suspects you could be eligible for a cash reward up to $10,000 by remaining anonymous and calling Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
ECSO Still Seeking Clues After Man Found Beaten June 19 Outside Century Bar Dies
July 6, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to seek clues as to exactly what happened to a man found beaten last month outside a Century bar. He later died.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Odom’s Bar on North Century Boulevard about 10 p.m. on June 19 to find 60-year old Greg Hunter beaten and down in the parking lot.
Witnesses told deputies that Hunter was seen involved in a “shoving match” in the parking lot, but he did not appeared injured. The witnesses went inside the bar, and when they went back outside, they found Hunter unconscious and bleeding, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A family member told NorthEscambia.com that Hunter remained in a coma and never regained consciousness before he passed away.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on the incident to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Hold Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp (With Photo Gallery)
July 6, 2021
The Tate High School Aggie cheerleaders held their Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp over three days last week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Make Your Plans: Schedule Announced For Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Show
July 6, 2021
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) will once again host the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels celebrating their 75th anniversary this season and headlining, on Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10. In addition to the Blue Angels, there will be a host of world-class military, aerobatic and stunt plane performers, as well as interactive exhibits, military recruitment stations and all types of vendors on the ground.
“We look forward to once again hosting this world-class air show along the shores of this world-class beach,” said Leigh Davis, executive director of the SRIA. “It’s an awe-inspiring tradition that locals and tourists alike get to enjoy every summer bearing witness to the breathtaking display by the United States Navy’s finest.”
To pursue ways to alleviate traffic congestion onto Pensacola Beach for the air show, the SRIA will be increasing free public transportation hours along the island on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, the SRIA’s three, free open-air trolleys, operated by ECAT, will begin transporting people at 7 a.m. and will run their regular route until midnight.
Starting Saturday at 6 a.m., the SRIA will have 10 buses in addition to the three open-air trolleys running along the island, and will extend their service area to Park East, located a mile east of Portofino Resort.
Buses and trolleys will service Park East to Park West, to transport people to Casino Beach throughout the day Saturday. Additional busing service to Park East ends at 6 p.m. Saturday and the three open-air trolleys will resume normal operations again until midnight.
Passengers who wish to get back to their vehicles as soon as the air show ends need to be on the first fleet of buses leaving Casino Beach post show, or should expect to wait as long as 90 minutes for the trolleys or buses to return due to gridlocked traffic immediately following the air show. Face masks will be required to ride on all public transportation.
The SRIA is requiring the public suspend all flights of unmanned aircraft, or drones, during the air show hours of the Pensacola Beach Air Show week. In addition, glass is always prohibited on the beach, and leashed dogs are only allowed at the two designated dog beaches on either side of the island.
Kicking off the air show week is “Breakfast with the Blues,” on Wednesday, July 7, around 7:30 a.m. when the Blue Angels arrive and circle overhead to mark the show’s coordinates and center points along Pensacola Beach.
On Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m., the Blue Angels hold a full practice show over Pensacola Beach.
Friday, July 9, is the Pensacola Beach Air Show dress rehearsal, with the aerobatic acts beginning just after 11 a.m. and the Blue Angels overhead at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 10, marks the official Pensacola Beach Air Show, and follows exactly Friday’s dress rehearsal schedule:
The Gulf Coast Magni Gyro team will lead off the civilian acts portion of the air show with a seven-man formation in their colorful, Magni M24 Orion Gyroplanes starting just after 11 a.m.
Next up, Julian MacQueen will take to the sky in his big, flying seaplane, a vintage 1943 Grumman Widgeon at about 11:20 a.m.
Following that the Veteran’s Flight team will be over the Gulf at approximately 11:35 a.m. Organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, about a dozen vintage Stearman bi-plane pilots from all over the Southeast will be flying World War II and Korean War veterans over Pensacola Beach on Friday and Saturday as a way to pay tribute to them, and give the tens of thousands of beach spectators a glimpse at aviation history.
At 11:43 a.m., a group of United States Navy T-6 planes and TH-57 helicopters from Training Air Wing Five in Milton, Fla., will fly by in multi-plane formations.
Starting about 11:50 a.m. pilots Ken Rieder and Adam Baker with Redline Aerobatic Team take to the skies, in their signature red and black stunt planes, to perform death-defying opposing stunts and inverted maneuvers and formations.
Next up, at 12:07 p.m., watch solo pilot Kevin Coleman push the limits of his bright yellow Extra 300 SHP stunt plane, his body and his mind, to create a visual spectacle like no other over Pensacola Beach.
Solo pilot Gary Ward will zip overhead in his green and purple MX2 aircraft, showcasing an aerobatic act packed with breathtaking maneuvers that range from zero-speed hovers to dives in excess of 250 mph, at about 12:25 p.m.
Stunt pilot Skip Stewart will close out the civilian acts with high-skill passes and jaw-dropping maneuvers in his famous red, white and black-checkered bi-plane, Prometheus, at approximately 12:40 p.m.
Following the civilian stunt pilot performances, there will be a 45-minute window for spectators to cool off and take a dip in the Gulf before lifeguards clear the water again in anticipation of the start of the Blue Angels show.
Then, at 2 p.m., look to the Gulf horizon as a famous C-130J aircraft, affectionately known as Fat Albert, followed by six signature blue and gold F-18 Super Hornets, make their way over Pensacola Beach. For the next 50 minutes, spectators will get a glimpse of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aeronautic maneuvers like the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur-de-Lis, the Opposing Knife-Edge pass, and the crowd-favorite Sneak Pass. These are just a few of the mind-blowing displays of choreographed precision flying the Navy’s flight demonstration team has perfected over the past 75 years.
Pictured : The Blue Angels in inverted formation over Buffalo, New York, during a June 2021 show. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.