Bellview VFD Elves Help Santa Make Special Early Delivery
December 24, 2015
Members of Escambia County Fire Rescue Station 1 in Bellview helped Santa Claus make a special early delivery this week. Bellview members picked up Santa and gave him a fire truck ride to the home of two boys, ages 4 and 8, where a special visit from Santa and presents were needed. The 8-year old is home bound after just having heart surgery, and is facing additional heart surgeries.
Both of the young men were happy to see Santa and his firefighter elves with presents….and his special Escambia Fire Rescue firetruck sleigh.
The firefighters delivered the toys and took the time to sit and talk and play with the children for a little bit. The firefighters at Bellview Volunteer Fire Department believe that this kind of generosity, support and caring for a young child that is going through this type of situation is what the Spirit of Giving and what Christmas is all about,” said Bellview District Chief Troy Johnson.
(And, as a footnote, one of the firefighters noticed a dead smoke detector battery in the home and installed a new one to help keep the family safe.)
Christmas In Jail For Convicted Cantonment Insurance Agent
December 24, 2015
A Cantonment insurance agent sentenced to state prison for racketeering and money laundering will spend Christmas in jail despite his efforts to be released.
In May, Randall Petersen, 49, received eight years in state prison to be followed by seven years probation, and was ordered to pay over a half million dollars in restitution. He was back in court Wednesday asking that he be set free while he appeals the sentenced. Judge Ross Goodman took the motion under advisement — meaning that he will issue decision later, and, for now, Petersen will remain behind bars.
In April, Petersen was convicted of conducting a fraudulent insurance scheme that involved the theft of several hundred thousand dollars of commissions and bonuses from American National Insurance Company and Liberty National Insurance Company.
In the scheme, Petersen advertised job opportunities on the internet for College Consultants of the Gulf Coast, and induced hundreds of applicants to provide information for life insurance that he and his associates described as free job benefits.
The prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Russ Edgar, showed that College Consultants was not a real company and Petersen merely used the information from the job applicants to complete life insurance applications that he submitted to the insurance companies. The companies paid Petersen advance commissions, which were as much as 130% of the first year premiums, and bonuses.
Before the companies realized the insureds were not employees, Petersen had obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars of commissions and bonuses and let the policies lapse for nonpayment.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Christmas Closures
December 24, 2015
The following closures are planned due to the Christmas holiday:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Below is a listing of the offices and departments closing Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holidays. Normal operations resume on Monday, Dec. 28.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- West Florida Public Library System
Exceptions
- Escambia County 911 Dispatch, EMS and Fire Rescue services will remain operational.
- Escambia County Tax Collector will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- Perdido Landfill will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Thursday Dec. 31.
Escambia County Area Transit:
- Administrative office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Saturday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- No bus service and administrative office will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
- UWF Trolley and express shuttle service will be suspended on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
- UWF Trolley Express Shuttle service will resume Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, and regular UWF Trolley service will resume Monday, Jan. 4.
- Details for specific routes are listed on www.goecat.com
ECUA
ECUA offices will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and on Friday, January 1, 2016, in observance of the New Year’s holiday.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ONLY:
Residential Customers: Garbage, Yard Trash & Recycling Services
• Friday pick-ups will be on Saturday
Commercial Customers: Dumpster Services
• Friday pick-ups will be on Saturday
SANTA ROSA COUNTY (NORTH-END) ONLY:
Residential Garbage, Yard Trash & Recycling Services
• No garbage, yard trash or recycling collection on Dec. 24 & 25, & Jan. 1.
• Garbage and yard trash will be collected on the next normally scheduled collection day for those routes (Monday or Tuesday).
• Please place real wreaths and Christmas trees, free of stands and decorations, at the curb for pick-up with regular yard waste collection.
• Recycling collections scheduled for Dec. 24 & 25 will be collected on Saturday, December 26, and Recycling collections scheduled for Jan. 1 will be collected on Saturday, Jan. 2.
All other holiday week collections will remain on normal schedule. Customers may call ECUA Customer Service at 476-0480, if they require further information.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
The following offices and departments are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas. Regular hours of operation resume Monday, Dec. 28.
· Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, including the library system and animal shelter
o The Central Landfill located on 6337 Da Lisa Road will be open from 7 a.m. – noon Thursday, Dec. 24.
· Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court
· Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
· Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
· Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
Let The Tate Band Help With Your Gift Wrapping Today
December 24, 2015
The Tate High School Showband of the South will be wrapping Christmas presents today the Walmart on Highway 29 in Ensley from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the band’s trip to Hawaii next December to play at the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Need A Last Minute Gift? Try A Locally Owned Business
December 24, 2015
It’s Christmas Eve, and the clock is ticking if you need to purchase those last minute Christmas gifts. And there’s no better place to find a last minute gift or stocking stuffer than a locally-owned business, according to several business owners. Plus there none of the mega-box store lines, with local businesses usually offering superior customer service and unique items. And many offer gift certificates if you just can’t make up your mind.
Here are a few North Escambia area locally-owned businesses that are open today:
Kountry Girl Boutique on Highway 29 in Cantonment will open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. today. All Kountry Girl items will be buy one, get one half off, mix and match, including clothing, gifts, decor, Mud Pie and jewelry. A few handmade ornaments remain at $2.
A-1 Accessories on Highway 29 in Cantonment will be open until noon. A popular last minute gift are theNEBO LEDD lights. starting at $9.95, make fantastic stocking stuffers.
(scroll below photo to read more)
At the Molino Thrift Store, 6507 Highway 95A North, there will be a gift for everyone in the family at any budget. They will be open until 5 p.m. with all used clothing 99 cents or less, purses for 99 cents and Christmas jewelry for 50 cents. The store, which benefits a local Christian ministry, sells numerous new items as well. Toys are priced from under $1 to $5, new jewelry box priced at $8 selling for $1, collegiate watches $15 to $20, collegiate ball caps for $3, collegiate winter hats for $3, hair bows five for $5 and much more.
“Shopping locally stimulates the local economy, creates local jobs,” said Tracy Miller of Jus Because on Highway 31 in downtown Atmore. “You can find such unique items at local businesses and receive much better customer service. Miller’s Jus Because will be open until 2 p.m. today for last minute shoppers. Jus Because offers a variety of items that include clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. And, like many local businesses, she offers gift certificates.
If you own a locally-owned business that is open today with last minute gifts in stock that sell for less than $100, you may add the details in the comment section below. Please no service-oriented businesses that only offer gift certificates for a future service (such as a photography business) — we are looking to physical, tangible, wrappable gifts available today for under the tree.
Flooding Closes Barrineau Park Road At The Perdido River
December 24, 2015
Barrineau Park Road at the Perdido River has been closed due to flooded bridge approaches.
Standing water creates a serious road hazard, even when only a portion of the roadway is flooded, according to Escambia County. Motorists should always avoid crossing flooded streets and should never attempt to cross flooded bridges.
This is the only weather related road closure in Escambia County. Any additional road closures will be announced as they occur.
Pictured: The Perdido River crosses Barrineau Park Road late Thursday afternoon. Photo by Rhonda Corley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Cited After Three-Vehicle Highway 95A Crash
December 24, 2015
An elderly driver was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol following a three vehicle crash Wednesday night in Cantonment.
According to the FHP, 73-year old Joann Elliot Reeves of Cantonment was traveling north on Highway 95A at Old Chemstrand Road about 5:30 p.m. when she failed to stop her Toyota Avalon at a stop sign and rear-ended a Chevrolet driven by 24-year old Mercedes Kay Byrd of Pensacola. The Impala then collided with a 2005 Toyota Tacoma drive by 34-year old Christy Lee Davis.
Reeves, Byrd, and a four-year old passenger in Byrd’s vehicle were all transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Davis and an eight-year old passenger in her vehicle were not injuries.
Reeves was cited for careless driving, expired registration and no proof of insurance, according to a FHP report.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Escambia River Bridge Crash
December 23, 2015
Two people were injured in a single vehicle wreck Tuesday night in Century.
A driver eastbound on Highway 4 lost control and hit a guardrail on the approach to the Escambia River Bridge about 10 p.m. The vehicle’s passenger was ejected in the crash. Both were transported by ambulance to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and emergency crews from Santa Rosa County also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter In Death Of Atmore Woman
December 23, 2015
A Cantonment woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with the Friday night traffic death of a retired teacher from Atmore.
Debra Marlene Ahearn, 52, was booked into the Escambia County Jail today on charges brought by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to court documents, Ahearn’s initial blood alcohol level was .291 — over three and half times the legal limit.
According to the FHP, Ahearn was traveling southbound in a 2006 Town and Country van on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road when she made a turn directly into the path of a northbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 56-year old John Edward Ryland of Atmore. The Tahoe was then struck by a northbound Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 21-year old Dontavious Rashwn Anderson of Cantonment.
A passenger in the Tahoe, 61-year old Barbara M. Ryland of Atmore, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she was pronounced deceased shortly after the 6:11 pm. crash. The driver of the Tahoe, John Ryland, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
Ahearn was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she treated and later released., while Anderson was taken to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
Barbara Ryland was not wearing a seat belt, according to a FHP report; everyone else involved in the crash was properly restrained.
Barbara Ryland was a retired teacher with 30 years of service to the Escambia County (FL) School District. She continued as a substitute teacher following her retirement.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Tuesday Murder Under Investigation; Man Sought For Questioning
December 23, 2015
The murder of a 36-year old man in Escambia County Tuesday is under investigation.
Raymond Stokes was found by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with multiple gunshot wounds in the 4000 block of West Jackson Street about 1 a.m. Tuesday. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The case is being worked by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as a homicide.
Wednesday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they are looking for 24-year old Marcus Dewayne Collins (pictured) for questioning only in the murder.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.