🌱 Patch AM: What Tonya Byrd’s promotion means for Pensacola’s $21M park upgrades

Good morning Pensacola! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What Tonya Byrd’s promotion means for Pensacola’s $21M park upgrades
• Do you recognize the woman tied to West Pensacola burglaries?
• How a stopped truck on Pensacola Bay Bridge led to prison time

Also on today's calendar: The 52 World is Hosting A Food + Toy Drive Now until Dec. 31st and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and warm, with a high of 74 and low of 53 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and warm, temps: high: 73, low: 56.
• Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 73 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pensacola names new Parks and Rec director amid $21M park overhaul (pnj.com) — Pensacola is promoting longtime parks leader Tonya Byrd to Parks and Recreation director as the city pushes ahead with its $21.7 million Direction ’25 overhaul of more than 90 parks. Byrd, a city staffer since 2014, will take over after City Council confirmation in January, while the city also brings on new communications officer Shannon Nickinson.
   

2. Deputies: Woman wanted for pickup truck burglary at West Pensacola Circle K (weartv.com) — Escambia County deputies are searching for a 31-year-old woman wanted in three cases, including a pickup truck burglary at the Circle K on Fairfield Drive and Highway 98 in West Pensacola. Investigators say she’s linked to multiple burglaries on Pensacola’s west side, and anyone who recognizes her or knows where she is is urged to contact ECSO or Crime Stoppers.
   

3. Mexican man sentenced for firearm possession in Pensacola (wkrg.com) — A man from Mexico has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after officers responding to a stopped truck on the Pensacola Bay Bridge found a pistol near the driver’s seat. Gulf Breeze Police, federal agencies, and prosecutors in the Northern District of Florida handled the case as part of Operation Take Back America targeting gun and drug crime.
   

4. Pensacola man honors late brother with Christmas lights display (wkrg.com) — A longtime Jaysen Court resident in Pensacola is lighting up his home with more than 10,000 Christmas lights tonight, keeping a tradition that honors his late brother. Dorian Ard started setting up in August and plans to leave the lights on all Christmas Eve, hoping to spread joy, celebrate his faith, and give neighbors a bright spot to visit.
   

📸 Around Pensacola

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Pensacola

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 28

• Ongoing Senior Programs for ages 50+
  Bayview Senior Center :

Wednesday December 31

• The 52 World is Hosting A Food + Toy Drive Now until Dec. 31st
  8511 Myslak Way
  9:00 am

Thursday January 1

• Pensacola Dermatology by Amy Watson MD
  4850 Grande Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504
  9:00 am

Friday January 2

• KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Pensacola
  6596 North W Street , Pensacola
  12:00 pm

📣 Pensacola Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 27

• Olivet Baptist Church Food Pantry
  Santa Rosa County, FL Calendar , 5240 Dogwood Drive , Milton
  9:00 am
• Movie Night (Milton)
  Milton Library -
  2:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Intro to A Slight Shift in Thinking
  Fairy Dust Crystals and Such , SE , 11781 US-441 , Belleview
  10:30 am

Wednesday December 31

• SoundCheck Music Bingo at Pedro's Taco & Tequilla Bar-Gulf Breeze
  Pedro's Tacos & Tequila Bar (Gulf Breeze) , 3095 Gulf Breeze Pkwy , Gulf Breeze
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• First Baptist Church of Milton
  Santa Rosa County, FL Calendar , 6797 Caroline St. , Milton
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Found a mix breed doggo by E Oak Field Road and Lucy St here in Pensacola.
  In search of her owner or anyone who could foster her as all animal shelters are full and we will have to bring her back to where we found her as per… (Nextdoor Corry Village)
• I am looking for a Virginia Purnell.
  You were in front of me at the ATM this evening at the Navy Federal on Navy boulevard you left your debit card inside the ATM I tried to reach out to… (Nextdoor Brownsville)

• Miller's Ale House Restaurant & Sports Bar posted a job opening for Expeditor in Pensacola. Apply here.
• Walgreen Company posted a job opening for Shift Lead in Pensacola. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pensacola here.

Ok Pensacola! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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