Century Town Hall Is Closed Again After Staff Member Tests Positive For COVID-19
December 28, 2020
The Century Town Hall is once again closed for a few days after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
“In order to avoid exposure to other individuals, we will have the facility cleaned and closed until Wednesday,” interim Town Manager Vernon Prather said Sunday evening.
Century Town Hall was also closed for several days in both July and early December after employees tested positive for the virus.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Holiday Gas Prices In Florida The Lowest In Five Years
December 28, 2020
Drivers in Florida are finding the lowest gas prices for the year-end holidays in five years.
The average price for gasoline in Florida was about $2.20 per gallon. That’s 26 cents less than this time last year, and the lowest average price for this time of year since 2015.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.19, 24 cents than last year.
The lowest price to be found Sunday night in Cantonment was $2.09 at a convenience store on Highway 29, while a couple of Pensacola stations were at $2.05.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here’s How To Dispose Of Your Real Christmas Tree
December 28, 2020
Need to dispose of your Christmas tree? Here are options:
ECUA Christmas Tree Collections
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
“When it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations, place your real tree or natural wreaths out by the curb on your usual collection day for pick-up as part of your ECUA regular yard waste collection,” ECUA spokesperson Jim Roberts said.
Natural trees should be free of decoration and tinsel, and the tree stand should be removed. Trees should not be placed in he street.
The trees will be composted with other yard waste at the ECUA Biosolids Composting Facility.
The Florida Forest Service offers the following tips if you chose to burn your Christmas tree:
- Check local ordinances for requirements for outdoor burning.
- Burn only if significant rainfall has occurred in the last three or four days.
- Never burn on dry or windy days.
- Select a burn location that is at least 25 feet from natural areas, 25 feet from your home, 150 feet from other occupied buildings and 50 feet from any paved public roadway.
- Remove all decorations from the tree before you burn.
- Cut the tree into manageable sections, as necessary.
- Clear the burn area free of other flammable materials, such as leaf litter and pine straw.
- Keep a shovel and water hose handy in case the fire starts to escape containment.
- Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is out before leaving.
- Never burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove.
No Road Closures On State Projects This Week
December 28, 2020
There’s a little extra gift from the Florida Department of Transportation for local drivers this week.
There will be no lane closures on state roads until Monday, January 4 due to the holidays. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Two Counts of Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon
December 27, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with allegedly pointing a rifle at a woman and attempting to run over a man.
James Lee Fields, 29, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $30,000.
A witness told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Fields grabbed a rifle from his vehicle and pointed it at a woman during an armed disturbance on Muscogee Road. The woman told deputies that Fields was angry over a missing marijuana blunt.
Another witness told deputies that as Fields was driving away from the area, he began doing burnouts drove toward him at one point.
New Educational Born Learning Trail For Kids Is Now Open In Century
December 27, 2020
A new interactive Born Learning Trail for kids at Showalter Park in Century is now open.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, is a series of 10 signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at a park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century is the second of five that will be in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The first opened in Jay during the summer, and three more will be announced.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
To visit the Born Learning Trail in Century, head to Showalter Park off East Hecker Road. Drive north around the baseball and softball fields and follow the road past the cemetery. The trail begins in portion of the paved trail that is under the trees. For a Google map, click here. The park is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mobile Home Blaze Was The Ninth Residential Fire Of December In Escambia County
December 27, 2020
A Christmas Eve fire added an additional red bulb to the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath in Escambia County.
That make nine red bulbs, representing nine residential structure fires in December 2020.
The fire occurred in the 900 block of Lookout Drive at 10 p.m.. Escambia County Fire Rescue was on scene within three minutes, but the mobile home is no longer habitable.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There was no one home at the time of the fire and no injuries reported. There were no smoke alarms in the home.
If your home does not have a smoke alarm, you can have one installed for free by calling Escambia Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376).
Photos ECFR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Donates $134,500 To Support Non-Profits
December 27, 2020
Gulf Power donated $134,500 to area organizations in December – to aid with everything from COVID-19 impacts to area Councils on Aging for ‘Meals on Wheels’ to STEM educational efforts.
“Our mission has always been to support our communities, where our employees live and work – particularly during difficult and uncertain times like 2020 has presented,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “We are honored to provide assistance in focused areas to help our local community organizations continue to help and support those who need it most while also investing in our region’s future by supporting educational efforts for area youth.”
The contributions are being spread throughout the Gulf Power service area in Northwest Florida.
“We are so excited and honored that Gulf Power chose the Baptist Health Care Foundation to support,” said Maegan Leonard with Baptist Health Care Foundation, one of more than 40 local organizations receiving funding in December. “It certainly has been a tough year for everyone, and this donation will make a huge impact on those in need that we help through our Helping Hands program.”
The December contributions were distributed in five main focus areas to local non-profit organizations throughout Northwest Florida:
- Community Outreach – COVID-19 support: $71,500
- HOOPS Program
- Men In Action
- UNCF
- Montclair Elementary
- Rhodes Elementary
- Epps Christian Center
- Emmaus Outreach
- Milk & Honey
- Health and Hope Clinic
- African American Heritage Society
- Kukua Institute
- SYSA
- Carver
- ACTS-SO
- Youth Village
- Food for Thought
- Conexion – United For A Good Cause
- Eleanor Johnson Youth Center
- Matrix Community Outreach Center
- ASAP
- Girls Inc
- Bay NAACP
- Lead Coalition of Bay County
- TJ Roulhac Enrichment & Activity Center
- Wiregrass Omega Lamplighters
- STEM support: $10,000
- Kukua Institute
- Community holiday support: $17,500
- Communities Caring at Christmas
- Fresh Start for Children and Families
- Salvage Santa
- Meal support for elderly: $11,500
- Council on Aging of West Florida
- Elder Services of Okaloosa County
- Walton Council on Aging
- Bay County Council on Aging
- Washington County Council on Aging
- Calhoun County Senior Citizens Council
- Jackson Senior Citizens Organization
- Holmes County Council on Aging
- Utility assistance programs: $24,000
- Samaritan Hands
- We Care Ministries
- Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Opening Doors NWFL
- Sharing and Caring of Niceville
- Baptist Health Care Foundation
“We are always floored by the generosity of Gulf Power, and all that you do for our great community,” said Matthew F. Knee, executive director for the Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.
Northview High NJROTC Orienteering Team Earns Bid To National Championship
December 27, 2020
The Northview High School NJROTC Orienteering Team has earned a repeat trip to the NJROTC National Orienteering Championship.
Cadet Commanding Officer David Lamb, the three-time defending Area 8 varsity champion, was unable to attend the event. The other Northview team members stepped up to the plate and ran hard for their missing teammate, according to Chief Jeffrey Simpkins.
Orienteering involves navigation with a map and compass with a goal of getting from point to point in the fastest time possible.
TEAM AWARDS
- Third place Overall Varsity course:
- John Bashore
- Jonathan McCarthy
- Skylar Wise
- Antoni Weaver
- Ethan Kilburn
- Third place Overall Junior Varsity course:
- Michael Cody
- Dallon Rackard
- Erich Amerson
- Garret Bodiker
- Drake Driskell
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- John Bashore 3rd place Varsity course
- Michael Cody 4th place Junior Varsity course
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
“He Dedicated His Life To Serving And Protecting Others” – Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
December 26, 2020
Brother. Friend. Father. Grandfather. A heart of gold. Servant.
Those were just some of the words being used Saturday to describe Gary Diamond who was murdered at his home in Molino early Saturday morning.
“He was more than just a man. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting others,” Diamond’s son Joseph Diamond said.
Diamond was a longtime firefighter, serving during his career as the volunteer chief in Molino, a captain at Navarre Beach and fire service instructor at Pensacola State College.
Related Story: Former Fire Chief Murdered Saturday Morning In Molino; Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to Molino. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He was currently volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“I was saddened and heartbroken to hear the news about Gary this morning,” Interim Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Paul Williams said. “He was not only a longtime part of Escambia Fire Rescue, but a longtime friend as well.”
“He was very nice with a very laid back kind of attitude. He was obviously willing to give and volunteer his time, and willing to serve the community,” Williams added.
Diamond was a captain at Navarre Beach Fire Rescue for a decade, retiring to take care of a family member. He recently returned to Navarre Beach Fire, pulling extra shifts as a fill-in captain.
“He worked his way up through the ranks until he retired as captain of C Shift,” Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Chief Danny Fureigh said. “He was an extremely well educated, well seasoned firefighter known throughout the area.”
Fureigh said that Diamond was always there for the department – always around cooking and volunteering at department events.
“He was always there. He and his family were a big part of us,” the Navarre Beach fire chief said. “He never met a stranger, would give you the shirt off his back. He was legitimately a good guy…this is a horrific event.”