Schools Locked Down Due To Law Enforcement Chase; Suspect In Custody
October 20, 2016
Multiple North Escambia schools were placed on lockdown for a brief period late Thursday morning as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office chased a wanted Century man’s vehicle north through the county.
The suspect, Roosevelt Lamont Dixon, is in custody in Baldwin County. Outstanding charges against Dixon include grand theft, kidnapping, carjacking and grand theft auto. He will also be charged with fleeing and eluding for Thursday’s chase. He may face additional charges in Baldwin County, where he is awaiting extradition back to Escambia County.
According to Amber Southard, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began following a white Dodge Charger in the Pensacola area after a deputy recognized Dixon as someone wanted by the agency on multiple violent felony warrants.
Dixon crossed into Baldwin County on Barrineau Park Road. We are told law enforcement in Baldwin County later stopped the vehicle near the Foley Beach Express and I-10.
Schools ordered into lockdown included Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Bratt Elementary, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary, according to Norm Ross, associate superintendent. The precautionary lockdown period was very brief, lasting just a few minutes.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured top: This Dodge Charger was stopped in Baldwin County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Dealing In Stolen Property
October 20, 2016
A Century man is facing a felony charge for dealing in stolen property.
James David Boles, allegedly sold and possessed items that were taken during burglaries in Flomaton and Santa Rosa County.
Boles sold a stolen Stihl chain saw for $200, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The saw was later recovered and return to its owner.
Deputies also reported finding stolen items that included a Craftsman air compressor, a 6,600 watt generator, a two-ton shop hoist and a Schwinn Sting Ray bicycle. The items were recovered from Boles’ home in the 7000 block of Archie Street in Century.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Century Mayor To Receive Annual ‘God In Government’ Award
October 20, 2016
Century Mayor Freddie McCall will receive the 2017 God in Government Award early next year at the 41st Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast. McCall was notified of the upcoming honor this week.
Recent honorees include Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Federal Judge Roger Vinson, Judge Terry Terrell, Sheriff David Morgan and Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
“I owe it all to my Lord and my Savior,” McCall said.
The purpose of prayer breakfast, which transcends denominational and political affiliation, is to encourage moral and spiritual values in government. The breakfast was started by a group of ministers from the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance is today led by a diverse committee that believes in preserving the original mission of encouraging moral and spiritual values in government.
The prayer breakfast will be held on Saturday, 28, 2017, at New World Landing.
McCall is currently seeking his third term as Century’s mayor.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sample Ballots In The Mail
October 20, 2016
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford announced today that sample ballots for the November 8 General Election are being mailed to Escambia County voters this week. The sample ballot includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on the three ways to vote: early, vote-by-mail, and on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com.
Voters have three different ways to cast their ballot:
By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using a vote-by-mail ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, November 2. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. Vote-by-mail voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
Early Voting: Early voting will be available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Monday, October 24 through Saturday, November 5 at seven different locations. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners.
Early voting will be held at the following locations and times:
o Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
o Main Library, 239 Spring Street
o Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
o Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
o Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
o Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 916 W. Michigan Avenue
o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, November 8. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Cold Front Bringing Cooler Air Tonight
October 20, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Bluff Springs Road To Close For 130 Days
October 20, 2016
Bluff Springs Road will be closed beginning Tuesday, November 1 due to a bridge replacement required by the Florida Department of Transportation. Roadway closures are expected to remain in effect for 130 days, with the project expected to be completed around March 2017.
The scope of work includes clearing, grading, drainage, paving, signage and bridge construction approximately 300 feet east and west of the intersection of Pritchett Mill Creek and Bluff Springs Road.
There are no permanent residences located beyond the road closure, but Escambia River and camp access via Bluff Springs Road will be cut off.
Thousands Of Voters Register During Extra Week
October 20, 2016
Florida’s voter rolls may jump by more than 60,000 people due to a federal judge ordering an extra week for registration.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner issued a statement late Tuesday that said 36,823 applications submitted since Oct. 11 had been verified, and another 26,773 were in the verification process. The registration deadline was originally Oct. 11, but U.S. District Judge Mark Walker extended it a week because of Hurricane Matthew.
“All Floridians who submitted a complete voter registration application in person by 5 p.m. today (Tuesday), or postmarked by today (Tuesday), will be verified and registered to vote by the start of mandatory statewide early voting, which begins on October 29,” Detzner said in the statement.
“That means if you registered by today’s (Tuesday’s) deadline, are eligible, and your registration is verified, you will have all available options to exercise your right to vote, which include: vote-by-mail, early voting, and voting at the polls on Election Day.”
Detzner’s release didn’t break down the registration applications by party.
The Florida Democratic Party went to federal court to get the deadline extended after Hurricane Matthew forced evacuations of residents and closed government buildings in the days leading up to the original Oct. 11 deadline. The latest registration numbers came as elections officials reported that 758,420 Floridians had already cast vote-by-mail ballots for the Nov. 8 general election. Of those, Republicans accounted for the largest number of returned ballots, with 316,400. Democrats had gone slightly ahead earlier in the week, but the latest numbers showed 305,626 Democrats had returned vote-by-mail ballots. Also, ballots had been returned by 20,303 people registered with third parties and by 116,091 independents.
by The News Service of Florida
Motorcyclist Killed In Escambia Interstate Crash
October 20, 2016
An Escambia County man was killed in a motorcycle crash on an I-10 exit ramp to southbound I-110 Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 58-year old Scott Chepan lost control in a curve on the exit ramp, struck a guardrail multiple times and was ejected from his 1991 Harley motorcycle.
Chepan’s friend, who was traveling alongside hime, told the FHP that an unknown gray or silver SUV cut in front of Chepan, causing him to take evasive action.
With the silver or gray sport utility vehicle being in the proximity of the crash, it is being sought as a possible connection to the crash. Anybody with information on the crash or the SUV is asked to call Cpl. Fischer at (850) 484-5000.
Northview Chiefs Name Players Of The Week
October 20, 2016
The Northview Chiefs have named Players of the Week for their game last week against Jay.
OFFENSE
Neikel Robinson — 7 receptions, 204 yards, 2 TD (also had 2 INT on defense)
DEFENSE
Hunter Edwards — 12 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 forced fumble
SPECIAL TEAMS
Seth Killam — 4-5 PAT, 1 tackle on KO; 5 “SPECIAL FORCES POINTS”
Devin Stabler — 1 solo tackle, 1 sack, 1 FF on PAT; 5 “SPECIAL FORCES POINTS”
DOMINATOR
Alston Wiggins — Hit on running back in first quarter for no gain
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Linda Diann Byrd
October 20, 2016
Mrs. Linda Diann Byrd, 65, passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 in Foley, Alabama.
Mrs. Byrd was a native of Charleston, West Virginia, former resident of McDavid & Cantonment, FL and has resided in Foley, AL for the past 5 years. Mrs. Byrd volunteered at church for the food service, she loved to sing gospel music for the past 30 years and she was a member of the New Life In Christ Church of Foley. She is preceded in death by her Husband, Myles William Byrd.
She is survived by her Husband, Darryl Bruce Prince of Foley, AL; two Daughters, Donna Kay (Thomas) Carroll of Pollard, AL and Dianna Kay (Michael) Wolfe of Brewton, AL; two Brothers, Bobby Rice of Fresno, CA and Donnie Rice of Anniston, AL; two Sisters, Judy of Ohio and Peggy Davenport of Prattville, AL; four Grandchildren, Wendy (Jason) Covan, Tracy (Chris) McCurdy, Hunter Godwin and Dusty Carnley and two Great Grandchildren, Ryan Covan and Cheyanna Covan.
Graveside services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at10:00 AM at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery with Rev. John Lloyd officiating.