FHP: School Bus Driver Backed Into Pickup Truck
August 25, 2020
There were no injuries when a school bus driver backed into a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon in Cottage Hill.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 62-year old driver of Escambia County School District bus 13-14 missed a designated bus stop on William Ditch Road near Glenna Lane.
“The driver of the bus then placed the bus in reverse in traveled backwards and collided into a pickup truck that had stopped directly behind the bus,” according to a FHP report.
There were 11 Tate High School students on the bus at the time of the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Plastic Alternatives Manufacturer Seeks To Buy Century Building, Property For $879K, Employ 30; Cotton Plan On Hold
August 25, 2020
A company described as using an agricultural product to manufacture plastic alternatives has made a preliminary $879,000 offer for a Century industrial building and adjacent property with a promise of employing 30 or more people within a couple of years. Meanwhile, a cotton gin’s lease proposal for the property is on hold.
Through the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, Pensacola real estate company Beck Partners presented “Project Fusion” on behalf of their client to the Town of Century late Monday afternoon.
Project Fusion was described by Beck as an “agricultural related manufacturing operation” that seeks to purchase the 40,390 square foot town-owned building commonly known as the Helicopter Technology building for $550,000 plus $329,000 for an adjacent 30.37 acres in the Century Industrial Park for a total of $879,000.
In the Monday proposal, Beck Vice President Debbie Anlin said her client was willing to submit a contract and earnest money as early as Tuesday, August 25.
“The warehouse and any additional buildings added on the lots will be used for processing and manufacturing of new agricultural products that we would look to be grown by local famers (sic) as much as possible. This will also increase the number of employees hired,” Anglin wrote.
Century’s attorney, Matt Dannheisser, told the Century Town Council Monday night that had already received the proposed contract a little over an hour before the meeting but had not read it due to time constraints. He did offer a little more insight in to the company’s plans.
“The products that are to be manufactured, it was explained to me, that the products are intended to be environmental alternatives to certain types of plastic products using an agricultural product,” Dannheisser said. He noted the name of the company and specifics would be kept confidential for now “because of the sensitive nature of the discussions and the offer”, as is allowed under Florida law.
Dannheisser said the company wanted to meet individually in the coming days with each council member, the mayor and city manager to describe more about who they are and exactly what they propose to manufacture.
Century has a pending lease proposal for the building, but not the adjoining acreage, from West Florida Gin in Walnut Hill. The cotton company proposed a lease of $6,000 per month for five years with an option to renew the contract for an additional five years. They want to occupy the building by October 1 and estimated that six employees would be associated with the warehousing and distribution of cotton bales.
The gin company was the only company to respond after the town advertised for several weeks seeking lease proposals. It was the second time they had made an offer; the first was rejected.
Dannheisser said Monday night that if the town should reject the West Florida Gin lease proposal, they would not be legally obligated to re-advertise and could strike a deal for Project Fusion. He did suggest the town get a current appraisal and make any deal contingent upon the purchase price being at least equal. The last appraisal on the building-only was $550,000 in 2017 or a fair market rent of $80,000 per year.
Council member James Smith made a motion seconded by council member Luis Gomez to immediately deny the West Florida Gin lease proposal. After a suggestion from Dannheisser to table action on the gin lease and wait to learn more about Project Fusion, Smith withdrew his motion.
Smith made a new motion to table action for a week, and the motion was seconded by Sandra McMurray-Jackson. It passed 5-0, including a vote by Gomez by stating “I guess yes”. The council will hold another special meeting next week to discuss the gin lease proposal and Project Fusion.
Citing a phone conversation with cotton gin management, Interim City Manager Vernon Prather noted that West Florida Gin is on a timetable due to the cotton harvest and may need to withdraw their lease offer and seek another property.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Food Distribution Canceled; Free Produce Available Wednesday In Molino
August 25, 2020
A Cantonment food distribution has been canceled due to weather, but another in Molino will go on this week.
Hundreds of people have received food each Tuesday for months at Carver Park in Cantonment thanks to the efforts of the Cantonment Improvement Committee. Due to forecasted rain, the food distribution will not take place this week.
A free produce distribution will take place rain or shine Wednesday afternoon at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. It will take place from 5-6 p.m., or while supplies last at the church, 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. It is limited to one box per vehicle. The produce is being provided in conjunction with the USDA and Gulf Coast Produce.
Burglars Strike School Bus Garage In Walnut Hill, Taking Tools And Equipment
August 25, 2020
A burglary of the school bus garage in Walnut Hill was discovered Monday as school buses were hitting the road on the first day of school.
The Escambia County School District’s Walnut Hill Bus Garage at 7780 Highway 97 was burglarized sometime between Friday afternoon and when employees arrived before 5:30 a.m. Monday. The burglars took tools and equipment, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The bus garage is located on Highway 97 on the north side of the Walnut Hill Fire Station.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620. Callers to Crime Stoppers are not required to give their name and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Pictured: The Escambia County School District bus garage in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Developer’s Plans For New Dollar General At West Kingsfield, Hwy. 297A Going Before Two Escambia Boards
August 25, 2020
UPDATE: Dollar General At West Kingsfield, Hwy. 297A Gets Zoning Approval, With A Design Condition
Plans for a new Dollar General on West Kingsfield Road at Highway 297A will go before two Escambia County boards on Wednesday.
Teramore Development, LLC, of Thomasville, Georgia, will go before the Escambia County Board of Adjustment at 8:30 a.m. seeking a conditional use to build an 8,960 square foot Dollar General Store.
The current low density mixed-use (LDMU) zoning is intended to provide for a mix or residential uses with neighborhood scaled retail sales and services with a retail limit of 6,000 square feet. A conditional use in the zoning category allows for retail sales up to 35,000 square feet.
County staff is recommending the approval of the conditional use, finding that the proposed use can be compatible with the surrounding area because it is located at the intersection of two collector roads.
The Escambia County Land Development Code will require screening on the south and east property boundaries because the adjoining properties are residential, and the developer intends to install additional landscaping.
An initial application for the Dollar General, which will be east of Ransom Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary, will go before the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) at 1 p.m. Wednesday. It’s the first of several required stops at the DRC before required approval can be granted to apply for a building permit.
The proposed development is on a 1.37 acre parcel on the southeast corner of the West Kingsfield Road and Highway 297A. The freestanding Dollar General will have 32 parking spots in a lot that will connect to West Kingsfield.
The property was previously developed as a single family residence that has since been removed.
The retailer intends to sell beer and wine the location.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thomas: All Things Considered, Monday Was A Good First Day Of School In Escambia County
August 24, 2020
Monday was probably the most unique first day of school ever in Escambia County. But all things considered, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said it was a good day, from masks and social distancing to distance learning from home.
“It was a pretty good day,” Thomas told NorthEscambia.com Monday afternoon. “The weather held off at the right points.”
And he said the district’s numbers on students choosing in-person, remote learning and virtual school were about on par with projections.
“Attendance in-person was about what we expected; most of those came back that said they were coming back,” he said. “There was some shifting, but that was expected.”
The new normal of face masks and social distancing went well on the first day students were back in an Escambia County classroom since before Spring Break.
“I visited nine schools Monday. Most of the students wore masks when they were getting off the bus or when they could not social distance,” he said. “I thought it went rather well and according to plans. There were no kids that showed up sick. Parents have to help us this year and not send their kids to school with they have a fever or a cough; with parents’ help we will do well.”
Some students that chose one of the at home options had a few internet connectivity problems on Monday, Thomas said, but those problems were outside the district’s control.
“If you have four kids all trying to learn online at the same time, that can become a little bit of problem with slower broadband speeds,” Thomas said, noting that the Florida Virtual School did have downtime Monday, but that’s not operated by the district.
Pictured above: The first day of school at Kingsfield Elementary School. Pictured below: The first day of school for a distance learner in Escambia County. Parent submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just Over Half Of Escambia Students Returning To Traditional School; Others Are Remote, Virtual
August 24, 2020
Just over half of the the students in Escambia County are returning to a traditional brick and mortar school on this first day of classes.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents were presented with three options for their child’s education — traditional, remote learning or virtual school (in-depth explanations of each are at the end of this story).
According to the latest data from the Escambia County School District provided by Superintendent Malcolm Thomas late Friday afternoon, 54.6% of students chose traditional school, 38.8% chose remote learning and 6.6% picked virtual school.
Here are the choices made by school:
The three options, in more detail, are:
Traditional -
This model represents a return to the school campus and the classroom where students will interact directly with their teacher(s) and classmates. If an option is not selected in FOCUS for a student, then this will be the default selection. The school day will follow the standard bell times and standard schedule that includes all the core classes and other subject areas. In short, it represents a return to the traditional school environment – with several significant changes involving enhanced health and safety precautions.
Remote Learning -
The remote learning model is designed for families who would like to maintain their connection to their enrolled school, but don’t yet feel comfortable sending their student(s) back to school in August. Students will attend school remotely, following the standard school schedule and bell times. The lessons, assignments and grading will be similar to traditional school.
Virtual School -
The virtual model is ideal for students who wish to have more control over their learning path and pace, and for whom a flexible daily schedule is important. In this learning model, students often work on assignments in a virtual environment during non-traditional hours and maintain contact with their teacher and classmates using web-based class sessions, email, text messages and telephone calls.
Young Marines Honor Memory Of Fallen Marine LCpl. Travis Nelson
August 24, 2020
The Young Marines of Pensacola honored a hero over the weekend in Bratt.
LCpl. Travis Nelson was killed in action on August 18, 2011, while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Nelson, a former member of the Young Marines, had turned 19 just 13 days before his death and had been in Afghanistan for about a month.
The Young Marines of Pensacola is dedicated to ensuring that he is is never forgotten.
Nelson attended Bratt Elementary School from the first through fifth grades and Ernest Ward Middle School through the seventh grade. His family then moved to Pace, where he attended Pace High School.
The ceremony was held at the Travis Nelson Park in Bratt, which features a memorial and is dedicated to Nelson.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Prison Inmate Murdered By Another Inmate
August 24, 2020
The death of a Century Correctional Institution inmate is being investigated as murder.
On August 17, inmate Nelson J. Sanderson was pronounced deceased on August 17 as the result of an apparent inmate on inmate assault at CCI, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) said.
The FDC confirmed Friday afternoon to NorthEscambia.com that an active homicide investigation is underway by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FDC Office of Inspector General.
“The safe and secure operation of Florida’s correctional institutions is the Department of Corrections’ top priority. Every inmate death is thoroughly investigated by law enforcement and the Department’s Office of Inspector General to ensure independent oversight and absolute accountability at all levels,” FDC said in an email.
“The Florida Department of Corrections is committed to providing for the safety and wellbeing of all inmates in custody. Inmates who cause harm to others are held accountable for their actions. This includes administrative sanctions, placement in restrictive housing and criminal charges if applicable. This is done for the safety of staff and other inmates,” FDC concluded.
In 2016, Sanderson was serving two life sentences out of Lee County for the lewd and lascivious molestation of a child less than 12-years old.
Former Escambia County Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom Has Passed Away
August 24, 2020
Former Escambia County Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom passed away Sunday afternoon. He was 56.
Newsom was serving as city manager in Flagler Beach.
“This is a profound loss for our family here in Flagler Beach. Our saddened hearts are with Lisa during this most trying of times and our community will miss Larry’s dedication to our City” stated Jane Mealy, Chairperson of the Flagler Beach City Commission.
Newsom resigned from Escambia County in late 2014.
During his tenure at Escambia County, Newsom served as interim county administrator in 2010 after the non-renewal of Bob McLaughlin’s contract, after the firing of Administrator Randy Oliver in 2012, and beginning in December 2013 until the resignation and then passing of George Touart. He served until Jack Brown was hired as adminstratorin April 2014.
When not serving in an administrator position, Newsom worked as the manager of the Escambia County Transportation and Traffic Division.
Newsom began his tenure with the City of Flagler Beach in January 2016 and his leadership help guide the city through hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Dorian.
Pictured top: Larry Newsom (left) speaks during a Molino public forum in 2014 as District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry (right) listens. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.