$9 Million Donated For New UWF Football Stadium
April 12, 2024
The University of West Florida has received a $9 million donation to kickstart the construction of a 7,500 seat football stadium in the area of the current football field.
The announcement cam Thursday night as the college launched the public phase of the “Here for Good capital campaign,” the largest campaign in University history. President Martha D. Saunders announced the campaign at a gala held at the Field House on UWF’s Pensacola campus.
“The Here for Good campaign is a proclamation — a promise to expand the passion of our people and unleash the best of UWF,” Saunders said. “We are telling our community and our world that UWF is here today and here to stay.”
UWF enters the campaign already having raised $65 million and has a fundraising goal of $90 million. At the gala, Saunders announced a transformative gift of more than $9 million from Darrell and Debbie Gooden to break ground on the Darrell Gooden Stadium. This represents the largest gift from a living donor in the history of the University. The gift will help fund the construction of a football stadium. Darrell Gooden, a Pensacola native, studied accounting at UWF and said he attributes much of his professional success to his college education.
“I am thrilled and honored to be able to give this donation on the ‘Capital Campaign Launch’ and towards the new football stadium to be built on campus,” Gooden said. “Today is a fun and great time to be an Argo with the new football program and now our very own stadium. It is an honor to have the new stadium and field named after me, and I also would like to thank all the numerous people that have worked so hard in getting football to this point! Again, I am very blessed today to be able to give this gift to the University to give back what they have given me. Thank you and Go Argos!”
Guests heard remarks from Howard Reddy, vice president for the Division of University Advancement; James Hosman, UWF Foundation Board Chair; and Gail Dorsey, former UWF Foundation Board Chair. Inspiring videos played during the event and showcased how far UWF has come since 1967 while promoting its future success.
Key focus areas of the campaign include people, programs, place and community. UWF leadership shared how meeting the fundraising goal would impact each area of the campaign:
- People – Every undergraduate student at the University of West Florida would have access to a scholarship.
- Programs – UWF would bolster or create more high-impact programs for students and continue to earn national recognition for academic achievements, athletic accomplishments and groundbreaking research.
- Place – UWF would enhance its physical environment through named facilities and new technology.
- Community – UWF would make an even greater impact on Northwest Florida. With a successful campaign, UWF would have the opportunity to grow a larger footprint in the area such as expanding the UWF Historic Trust offerings, making more archaeological discoveries along the Gulf Coast and expanding the reach and resources of WUWF.
To make a gift, or for more information, visit uwf.edu/hereforgood.
Highway 29 Crash Slows Morning Commute Traffic
April 11, 2024
A Highway 29 crash slowed morning commute traffic Thursday.
The crash involving a car and pickup truck happened on Highway 29 near between Roberts Road and 10 Mile Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Woman Crashes Into Pensacola Home
April 11, 2024
A Flomaton woman was not injured when she crashed her car into a home Wednesday night in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 22-year-old was traveling west on Lake Joanne Drive approaching 72 Avenue. She told troopers that she was unable to stop at a stop sign.
She crashed into a home on South 72nd Avenue.
The woman’s name was not released.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With Felony Child Abuse
April 11, 2024
A Molino woman was recently arrested on an outstanding warrant from a 2023 child abuse case.
Frances Maegan Thompson, now 32, was charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm.
Thompson allegedly slapped the victim in the face three times, leaving red marks on the left side of his face. The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he and other children were playing on a ramp outside the home when a small child pulled up one of the broken boards on the ramp. A short time later, Thompson came over to him yelling and cursing at him before slapping him in the face three times, an arrest report states.
The age of the child was redacted from an arrest report from the State Attorney’s Office.
Thompson was release from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Free North Escambia Baby Shower Is Saturday In Century
April 11, 2024
The 2024 North Escambia Baby Shower will be held Saturday in Century.
Healthy Start and the Florida Department of Health will host the free community baby shower from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Century Community Center, also known as the Ag Building at the corner of Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard.
The event is for families who are pregnant and or have just given birth within the last year. There will be multiple community organizations present including various programs from the Florida Department of Health, Baptist Hospital and much more. Essential baby gear and supplies will be distributed while supplies last, and prizes will be awarded.
Expert support and resources. will be available for questions about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, fatherhood and more.
Editor’s note: The North Escambia Baby Shower is not affiliated with, or sponsored by, NorthEscambia.com.
Photo Gallery: Storm Damage In Escambia County
April 11, 2024
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has determined the damage was caused by an EF-1 torndao.
Wind damage was reported Wednesday afternoon in Escambia County. Multiple trees and utility line were reported down in the area of Pine Forest High School, closing the intersection. A tree fell on a mobile home at the nearby Pine Forest Mobile Home Park.
That tree by the light fell right as I was turning,” Tee Randolph said. “It was super scary.”
For a reader-submitted photo gallery of Escambia County damage, click here.
Power outages were reported across in the area. There were no injuries reported.
A tornado warning was in effect at the time of the damage. The National Weather Service will work to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado or just strong winds.
Escambia County Schools were closed Wednesday, so there were no issues at nearby Pine Forest High School, Longleaf Elementary and George Stone Technical College.
Pictured top: Trees and debris in the roadway at Community and Longleaf Drives. School buses can be seen in the background at Pine Forest High School. The school was closed on Wednesday. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: Damage at Hillcrest and Green Bay avenues, near PFHS (courtesy Harmony Malone).
NorthEscambia Publisher Named One Of Escambia County’s Most Influential People
April 11, 2024
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2024 Inweekly Power List — their ranking of the most powerful and influential people in Escambia County.
Only one person that works primarily in the North Escambia area was named to the list — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds for the 12th consecutive year.
University of West Florida President Martha Saunders tops this year’s list.
To view this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Pictured: Martha Saunders was at the top of the 2024 Inweekly Power List. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wine, Wilson Homer As Tate Varsity And JV Beat Navarre
April 11, 2024
Tate 10, Navarre 5 (Varsity)
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Navarre 10-5 Tuesday in Navarre.
Kate Balagbagan earned the win for Tate, giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out three and walking two. Jordan Smith pitched two innings in relief, surrendering two hits and one run while striking out two and walking one.
Kara Wine had a solo home run in the top of the third for the Aggies as she drove in three runs on the night, as did Kaylie Mitchell. Lacy Wilson was 3-5. Amburleigh Laird and Peyton Womack each had multiple hits.
Wines ’s bomb was the sixth for her this season.
The Lady Aggies will be at Crestview Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Tate 11, Navarre 0 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Tate shut out Navarre 11-0 Tuesday night. Peryton Wilson assisted in the win with her first homerun.
On April 16, the JV Lady Aggies will be at West Florida High.
Pictured top: Peyton Wilson had her first homerun against Navarre. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Rained Out in Montgomery; Ice Flyers Playoff Postponed
April 11, 2024
Blue Wahoos
Wednesday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a 7-inning doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CT. Game two will start approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery against the Biscuits on Thursday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35.
Ice Flyers
The Pensacola Ice Flyers round one SPHL playoff game against the Peoria Rivermen Wednesday was postponed due to weather until 7 p.m. Thursday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
April 10, 2024
One person was injured in a crash that slowed Wednesday morning commute traffic on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. on Highway 29 near Cedar Tree Lane. Escambia County EMS transported one person to an area hospital.
The crash closed northbound Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
