Murder Suspects Surrenders
November 13, 2016
A Brewton man that was wanted in connection with a shooting death last week has surrendered to authorities.
Joseph Ryan Carter, 30, is now in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton after turning himself in Saturday night. He is awaiting transfer to the Mobile County Metro Jail.
Carter is accused of a November 10 shoot death.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Creola Police Department to assist in the investigation of a murder. MCSO was contacted approximately 2:19 am and responded to I-65 North just south of the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge (commonly known as the “Dolly Parton Bridge”. When deputies arrived they found Joe Nathan Thomas, Jr. with gunshot wound to the back of his head.
A female witness on the scene stated that she had been in the vehicle with Thomas and Carter earlier that evening. She also stated that she and Thomas were outside the vehicle when she heard a gun shot and saw Thomas fall to the ground. The female witness fled into nearby woods and contacted authorities. At this time, the female witness is not being charged.
Legal Services Of Northwest Florida Offering Legal Help In Cantonment
November 13, 2016
Legal Services of Northwest Florida is offering free legal advice to eligible residents in Cantonment.
Legal Services will be at the Carver Park Resource Center at 208 Webb Street each Friday (except 11/25) from noon until 4 p.m. They can help with property issues, past due income taxes, and other civil legal issues (not criminal).
For more information or to receive an application, call (850) 432-8222.
Poor Cellular Service Delays Century Vote Totals
November 13, 2016
Update 9 a.m. Monday: The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said Monday morning that the voting machine modems actually use Sprint.
Update 6 p.m. Sunday: The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said late Sunday afternoon that the voting machine modems use Verizon.
When the polls closed Tuesday in Escambia County, the votes totals from nearly 80 precincts were available quickly from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website — except Century due to poor cellular service.
The voting machines use cellular modem to transmit encrypted information back to the Supervisor of Elections Office. But with poor cellular coverage at the Century, it was a no go getting a cellular connection inside the Century Town Hall. Elections officials even rolled the machine into the parking lot, trying different spots to get a quality cellular connection. But their efforts failed.
The machines store vote totals on an encrypted “data stick” (think USB thumb drive). The data stick was, under the guard of a Sheriff’s deputy, driven to the Molino precinct with better cellular coverage for transmission.
Finals tallies were also printed from the Century machine. The ballots themselves remained locked and sealed inside the machine.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, speaking through a public information officer, declined to identity which cellular company’s service the voting machines use.
Pictured top: Elections officials attempting to find a spot with good cellular service in the Century Town Hall parking lot. Pictured inset: The Century precinct voting machine is rolled outside Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Argoes Drop Season Finale To West Georgia
November 13, 2016
The UWF football team saw its inaugural season come to an end with a 69-0 loss to 2-time defending Super Region 2 champion West Georgia before 6,088 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
UWF (5-6, 3-5 Gulf South Conference) finished with five victories in 2016, tying the most by a first-year Division 2 program over the last 10 years. Florida Tech and New Haven each won five games in their first seasons.
The Argonauts completed the ultra-competitive GSC season tied for sixth place after being tabbed eighth in the preseason coaches poll.
UWF had three sellouts at Blue Wahoos Stadium and drew more than 31,000 fans to the downtown venue over five home dates. The 6,328 average attendance currently puts the program at 19th in the country. Each home game drew more than 6,000 with a football capacity of 6,288.
On Saturday, UWF finished with 138 yards of total offense. Graduate quarterback Kaleb Nobles surpassed the 3,000-yard mark with 72 yards on 11-of-23 passing. Freshman running back Chris Schwarz was the team’s leading rusher with 44 yards on nine carries.
UWG (7-4, 4-4) showed why it was the preseason pick to win the GSC, collecting 336 yards on the ground and 225 through the air. The Wolves scored 31 points off six Nobles interceptions and were 9-of-9 inside the red zone.
UWG scored on 11 of 14 possessions, including its first eight. The Wolves registered 21 points in the first quarter and 27 in the second for a 48-0 lead at the half.
UWF honored four seniors prior to the game and could return 20 starters and more than 70 other student-athletes when spring practice begins in March 2017.
End Of An Era: Escambia County’s Last Wooden Bridge Being Replaced
November 12, 2016
It’s the end of an era was as work is underway to replace the very last all-wooden bridge owned by Escambia County. The bridge has been deemed structurally deficient.
The bridge, over Pritchett Mill Creek on Bluff Springs Road, was constructed in 1956. Bluff Springs Road is closed until about March 2017 for the bridge replacement. There are no permanent residences located beyond the road closure, but Escambia River, camp access and the Escambia River Wildlife Area are cut off.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Great Fall Weekend
November 12, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 49.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Bondi Named To Trump Transition Team
November 12, 2016
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, an early supporter of newly elected President Donald Trump, was named Friday to a position on Trump’s transition team. Bondi was one of 16 people appointed to the Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee, according to a news release. Trump also made a series of other transition-related appointments, with incoming Vice President Mike Pence serving as chairman of the presidential transition team.
Tate Advances In 6A Playoffs With Win Over Gulf Breeze
November 12, 2016
The Tate Aggies beat Gulf Breeze 42-38 in the final seconds of the Region 1-6A Quarterfinals Friday night in Gulf Breeze.
“We have a special group. They (Gulf Breeze) are a heck of a football team. They didn’t quit either. We expected it to be a dog fight and it was,” Tate Head Coach Jay Lindsey said.
Tate took an early 7-0 lead that was quickly answered by Gulf Breeze to make it 7-7.
The Aggies came back on a quarterback keeper by Jake Henry to go up 14-7. Then, with the score now 14-14, the Aggies were headed back on top with a Sharmari Jones touchdown, 21-14. The Dolphins tied up 21-21 with a 76-yard touchdown run before taking a 28-21 lead.
Tate score again on a Henry to Corey Young touchdown pass and another quarterback keeper from Henry, 35-35.
Jones plunged in across the goal line with just 6.8 seconds on the clock for the game winning touchdown, 42-38.
“Kids don’t quit,” Lindsey said. “You’re down 14 third quarter, six minutes left keep playing football.
The Tate Aggies (9-2) will host the Navarre Raiders next Friday night in round two of the playoffs.
Look for additional photos later on NorthEscambia.com
Photo courtesy Jennifer Nagim for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1A Playoffs: Northview Falls Short At Graceville
November 12, 2016
The Northview Chiefs were knocked out of the first round of the 1A playoffs on the road Friday night by the Graceville Tigers 43-14.
The Chiefs have not earned a playoff win since 2013.
Graceville took a 9-0 lead in the first with a safety and a touchdown. The Chiefs answered with a Luke Ward to Neikel Robinson 20-yard touchdown pass. With a good two point conversion, the Chiefs closed within one with 3:09 on the clock in the first quarter.
Ward found Robinson for another touchdown to take a 14-9 lead. But Graceville added three touchdowns for a 30-14 Tiger lead at the half. The Tigers went on to add additional touchdowns in the third and fourth — a total of 34 unanswered points for the win.
The Northview Chiefs ended their season at 6-5.
Pictured: Northview at Graceville. NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Playoff Finals
November 12, 2016
Graceville 43, Northview 14
Tate 42, Gulf Breeze 38
West Florida 21, Wakulla 14
Navarre 40, Escambia 35
Baker 56, Cottondale 6
Escambia Academy 54, Clarke Prep 24