Melanie Nichols, president of the North Hill Preservation Association has been selected Civilian of the Quarter for the Chief of Naval Training. She shared the honor on Facebook:
Today was a great day at work…..my boss called me and asked me if I could join him and my supervisor in his office {to which I almost fainted because the last time I was called in there like that was on July 5th last year to hear that City Hall was trying to have me fired}. Luckily, this time, it was to inform me that I was selected as Civilian of the Quarter for the Chief of Naval Training. It was a very happy Anniversary present…..maybe I’ll send the Mayor and Eric Olson a copy of the citation and the award :) Thank you again to all my friends who saw me through that trying time last year and stood by me to find the truth. You are the greatest friends that a person could ever wish for and I love you!
Nichols was targeted last year by City Administrator Eric Olson, Mayor Ashton Hayward and his supporters after she began to question the construction of a radio tower in the Long Hollow Conservation District.
Olson had contacted Nichol’s boss at NAS Pensacola and claimed her occasional use of her federal email account intimidated city employees. Hayward’s supporters even pushed for the Defense Department to open an investigation into Nichols.
A year later Nichols receives this award. It’s the second award Nichols has received this year. In May, The League of Women Voters honored Nichols with its inaugural Making Democracy Work Award.
Here are a few articles to refresh your memory on the bullying of city hall:
Olson says he called boss because Nichols violated federal regs
PNJ editorial blisters Olson for bullying, Hayward for his silence
Olson and the email trail that indicates Nichols was targeted
Nichols had clearance from her boss and legal department
What did Melanie Nichols say in her emails to city staff? No smoking gun, routine stuff
What have we learned about Eric Olson incident? More questions than answers
New version on Olson incident still off, continues to miss the point