Four Nominated For Escambia County Court Judge
August 16, 2020
The First Judicial Nominating Committee has submitted four names to Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill a vacancy on the Escambia County Court.
The four nominees, in alphabetical order, submitted to the governor are: Barry E. Dickson, Kristina Lightel, Frederic Longmire, and Andrew McGraw.
The Escambia County Court vacancy was created when Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz was elevated to the Circuit Court.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
August 16, 2020
Here is a schedule of this week’s Escambia County public meetings:
Tuesday, August 18
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Wednesday, August 19
Inspection Fund Advisory Board Meeting – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Medical Examiners Search Committee – 2 p.m., M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government St.
Thursday, August 20
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Friday, August 21
Value Adjustment Board Organizational Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
FHSAA: Fall Sports Can Begin; Escambia County Schools To Announce Plan Next Week
August 15, 2020
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted Friday to allow fall sports to go ahead — with the caveat that districts can made their own, different decisions.
Escambia County’s decision won’t happen until next week.
The first allowable practice date will be August 24 for football, cross country, volleyball, swimming and bowling. The earliest date for regular season contests will be September 4. The option approved by FHSAA basically keeps fall schedules mostly intact. For football, it eliminates scheduled kick-off classics and week one for most schools.
The FHSAA board also voted to allow schools or districts to opt out of the state series in a sport by September 18. That will allow schools and districts to create their own fall sports calendar with the possibility of regional schedules under FHSAA guidance. It also allows schools to follow guidance from local governments and the health department.
“Today FHSAA made the right choice in giving school districts in Florida the option of beginning fall sports as early as August 24th,” Sen. Marco Rubio said. “Each district can now decide when & how they want to start. It should be a careful and phased approach.”
Under the plan, the first Friday night under the lights for high school football in Florida will be September 4.
The FHSAA board approved the plan on an 11-5 vote over plans that would have delayed the start of the season to October 23 or December 11.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Attacks On His Brother, Sister And Mother
August 15, 2020
A Molino man has been charged with attacking his mother, sister and brother.
Dawin Bryant Baxter II, 42, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of battery for the incident on Rosalyn Way.
Baxter, who provided a Brickyard Road address at the time of his arrest, allegedly began yelling at his sister because she was getting on to Baxter because he was not helping to clean the house. He then shoved his sister and mother, according to an arrest report.
When he went toward his sister again, Baxter’s brother placed him in a headlock, the report states. They both went outside where Baxter came at his brother with a knife. Baxter also allegedly bit his brother “extremely hard” on his left forearm, leaving deep bit marks, the ECSO said.
Deputies noted in their report that Baxter was intoxicated and agitated, and he claimed he was the one who was attacked.
Nearly 1,800 Gallons Of Sewage Spilled In Cantonment
August 15, 2020
ECUA reported a nearly 1,800 gallon sanitary sewer overflow Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
ECUA said contractor ran over a valve, causing 1,786 gallons of sewage to be spilled at Booker Street and Ransom Street about noon Friday. The sewage leak flowed for about five minutes and was contained on site, according to a notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protect.
The valve was repaired by ECUA and the area was cleaned with a biocide agent to eliminate any contamination concerns.
Only One Company Wants To Lease Century Industrial Building. The Town Told Them No Once Before.
August 14, 2020
Only one company responded to Century’s request for proposals to lease a 40,390 square foot building in the town’s industrial park, and Century has told them no once before. But this time, they are offering more money.
Known as the Helicopter Technology Building — named for the defunct company that was based there — it has been empty since 2008. The town is still footing the bill for utilities, insurance, maintenance and other costs for the vacant property, and they are looking to turn it into a positive cash flow and create jobs along the way.
The town accepted lease proposals for several weeks, with only the one response.
South Alabama Gin Company, doing business as West Florida Gin in Walnut Hill, 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 activity.
West Florida Gin will warehouse processed cotton bales and distribute them from the location.
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month). The office and warehouse space has full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and energy efficient lighting.
The town council will consider the proposal at an upcoming meeting.
Last Potential West Florida Gin Lease Was Rejected
A previous lease offer by the gin was rejected by the Century Town Council.
In May 2019, West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who were in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company offered an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the opportunity to buy the building for $100. The building would have been used primarily for cotton storage.
A motion by then council member Ben Boutwell to proceed with negotiations and work on an agreement failed on a 3-2 vote with council members James Smith, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez voting against. The dissenters expressed objections against the business because it would likely not create any jobs.
“I don’t see the benefit for us,” Smith said at the time. “Where’s the employment?”
Smith and Gomez expressed concerns at the May 2019 meeting that if the council were to lease the building below market value, the town would not have any available industrial space if another company wanted to located in Century with new jobs.
“Someday it could produce jobs, even it’s 10-15 jobs for Century,” Gomez said.
“Let’s talk about y’all’s track record and my track record,” Baxley said after pointing out that no company had seriously considered the building in the past decade but he had developed several similar properties. “For 46 years now, I’ve been making payroll.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High: Virtual Tour, Orientation And Important Dates Before Back To School
August 14, 2020
Tate High School has made a virtual orientation and tour available online and announced several important dates before the first day of school on August 24.
The orientation and virtual tour of the school videos are available at www.tatestudents.com. The website also contains other valuable information, including a link to a new bell schedule and updated maps of the campus and classrooms.
Schedules will be available via the Focus portal on Thursday, August 20. Instructions on how to access schedules and tips for reading will be posted.
Open campus hours for students to walk around the campus and find their classes will be:
- Friday, August 21 from noon until 3 p.m.
- Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. until noon
On August 24, the first day of school, students will first report to their homeroom.
Meet The Candidates: Escambia County Commission District 5 (With Videos)
August 14, 2020
NorthEscambia.com asked the three candidates for Escambia County Commission District 5 to answer a series of questions. The questions were emailed to each candidate with a deadline to submit their answers.
The candidates were required to answer one question in a video up to three minutes in length, and they were told the video was their “pitch time” to share their message. The video response question was “What’s your background, why are you seeking office, and what’s your plan?”
The remainder of the questions had written responses, which we did not edit. Many of the questions were submitted by NorthEscambia.com readers; the top three most submitted reader questions dealt with broadband internet, trains in Cantonment, and roads and bridges. And so you could learn more about the person, we asked a few light hearted questions about their favorite bingeable shows, music playlists, food and even a question about a secret at the very end.
In alphabetical order, here are candidates with a link to their video and written answers.
John Reading (did not respond)
Early voting continues through Saturday, and the polls will be open Tuesday, August 18 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
State To Offer COVID-19 Testing In Walnut Hill On August 28
August 14, 2020
The Florida Department of Health is bringing COVID-19 testing to Walnut Hill later this month.
The state-supported drive thru testing site will be at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Friday, August 28 from 3-7 p.m. It will be the first testing location made available in the Walnut Hill community.
“We want to make testing available for anyone that wants to be tested,” Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore told NorthEscambia.com.
Results from the Walnut Hill testing site will be available within 24 hours, according to FDOH.
The Walnut Hill Community Center is located at 7850 HIghway 97 in Walnut Hill, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the Walnut Hill Fire Station. It is also known as the Walnut Hill Ruritan Building.
Man Shot, Killed In Escambia County
August 14, 2020
A man was shot and killed in Escambia County Thursday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Gregory Bradley was shot just after 5 p.m. on Crescent Drive, adjacent to I-10 south of Texar Drive.
According to investigators. two mask men arrived at the home and robbed Bradley before shooting him. The ECSO believes Bradley knew the gunmen.
The suspects were described only as two black males.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620