Warm Today, A Little Cooler By Thursday
February 8, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Fourth Boyette Victim, A Beulah Mother Of Two, Has Passed Away
February 8, 2017
The 28-year old Beulah mother of two shot Monday died from her injuries on Tuesday afternoon.
Kayla Crocker was shot in the head during robbery home invasion early Monday morning at her home on Beulah Road by William Boyette, Jr. Her 2-year old was reportedly in the house at the time but was unharmed.
Boyette stole Croker’s 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, the same vehicle he eventually used to flee to Georgia.
Boyette took his own life Tuesday afternoon in Georgia when authorities surrounded in a hotel room. His accomplice, Mary Rice, is in custody in Georgia. There’s no word yet what charges she will face in connection with Crocker’s death.
Family members have established a GoFundMe account to assist with funeral expenses and to establish an educational fund for her two children – 2-year old James Ross and 6-year old Rhea Naomi. Click here.
Crocker is a 2006 graduate of Tate High School.
Boyette Search Shuts Down Kingsfield, Locks Down Ransom Middle School
February 8, 2017
As authorities were surrounding William Boyette and Mary Rice in a Georgia motel room Tuesday afternoon, authorities in Escambia County were surrounding an area on Kingsfield Road off Beulah Road.
Ransom Middle School, the largest in the county, was placed on a “code red” lockdown as a precaution, and extra deputies responded to protect the campus.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, including their mobile command unit and SWAT team, mobilized with other law enforcement agencies around the wooded area on Kingsfield Road. They knew about the developing situation in Georgia, but continued with their local search just in case until receiving confirmation that the deadly duo was apprehended in Georgia.
Once confirmation was received that Boyette had taken his own life and Rice had surrendered, authorities in Escambia County ended their days-long manhunt.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Traffic Alert: Nine Mile Road At Eight Mile Creek Delays Today
February 8, 2017
Traffic will be reduced to one lane at intersection of Nine Mile Road and Eight Mile Creek Wednesday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
A new detour configuration is being initiated on Nine Mile Road between Stefani and Waring roads. Please use extra caution when traveling through the construction zone as drivers adjust to the new traffic pattern. Alternating lane closures continue on Untreiner Avenue as crews drive temporary sheet pile and prepare for jack and bore operations.
IP Explosion: Command Team Cuts Daily Oversight
February 8, 2017
Since the day after the January 22 explosion at International Paper in Cantonment, a Unified Command team as met onsite at IP multiple times per day to develop, review and implement action plans. But those daily meetings are coming to an end.
The Unified Command Team has developed and approved the remediation plans that are currently being implemented by cleanup teams and have finalized the long-term monitoring plan that will continue for the next six months once active cleanup is complete.
Now, the team has implemented a 15-day plan with agency representatives transitioning back their normal jobs. The Unified Command Team is comprised of International Paper, Escambia County EMA/Public Safety, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Unified Command Team will continue their collaborative oversight of remediation efforts and continue to provide guidance and technical expertise through daily communications and data reviews.
“International Paper remains committed to completing the remediation effort. We are not going anywhere. We are going to be here,”Mill Manager Brett DeJong said.
The next in-person Unified Command Team meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22. The team is also ending daily updates provided to the media.
The Unified Command’s Joint Information Center (1-850-968-4208) will continue to be available for residents in the affected areas. Due to a progressive decrease in call volume, beginning today, live operators will now be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with voicemail available. Voicemail messages will be returned the next business day.
Of the approximately 150 homes identified as potentially being impacted by the uncident, about 90 percent have been partially or fully remediated.
All residents in the area impacted incident have been contacted or have had access forms left on the front door. A drop box has been left to receive the signed forms and a sign posted at the community entrance with an information phone number and location of the drop box.
Pictured top: The boots of cleanup team members are pressure washed as they leave Woodbury Circle in Cantonment. Pictured inset: A drop box on Woodbury Circle for providing signed forms to IP. Pictured below: Members of the Unified Command Team hold a press conference days after the Cantonment International Paper explosion. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Cantonment Three Vehicle Crash
February 8, 2017
One person was transported to an area hospital following a three vehicle crash Monday afternoon
The accident happened about 12:25 p.m. on North Highway 29 at Morris Road in Cantonment. At least three other people refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
High School Basketball Playoffs, Final Scores
February 8, 2017
Here are playoff scores from around the area Tuesday night:
District 1-8A
(3) Navarre 48, (2) Gulf Breeze 45
(1) Niceville 68, (4) Tate 52
Niceville at Navarre, Friday, 7 p.m.
District 1-7A
(3) Pace 53, (6) Milton 36
(4) Pine Forest 65, Escambia 54
Pace at Pine Forest, Friday 7:30 p.m.
District 3-1A
(2) Baker 49, (3) South Walton 46
(1) Chipley, (4) Freeport *
*Freeport forfeited due to a medical emergency
Baker vs Chipley, Friday 7 p.m. at Freeport
No Serious Injuries In North Century Boulevard Wreck
February 8, 2017
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash involving a car and 18-wheeler late Monday morning on North Century Boulevard at McCall Road. The car came to rest in a parking lot, while the truck came to a stop in the paved median of the highway. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Placed On Lockdown
February 7, 2017
Escambia County’s largest middle school was placed on lockdown this afternoon due to nearby law enforcement activity, according to Assistant Superintendent Norm Ross.
Ransom Middle School was place on “Code Red” lockdown, and the school is secure, Ross said. Officials were working with law enforcement to ensure a safe dismissal.
Law enforcement was seen surrounding and canvassing a neighborhood not far from the school in an apparent hunt for William Boyette and Mary Rice.
Prison Inmate From Escambia (AL) County Escapes
February 7, 2017
An Alabama prison work release inmate convicted in Escambia County (AL) escaped from custody Tuesday morning.
Winston David Howell, 36, escaped from the Mobile Work Release Center about 11:18 a.m. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, colored shirt and dark pants. He is described as a white male, brown hair, brown eyes, 6-feet 1-inch tall and about 200 pounds.
Anyone that knows his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Howell was convicted in Escambia County on May 24, 2016, for receiving stolen property first degree. He was sentenced to one year and seven months.
Howell was arrested in March 2016 after an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped with a pickup truck that sitting along Highway 21 north of Fountain Prison to see if the driver needed assistance. After deputies determined the truck had been reported stolen in Mobile, Howell fled in the vehicle.
The deputy gave chase south toward Atmore. Upon reaching the city limits, the driver turned back north on Highway 21. He eventually turned onto Wayside Road, about five miles north of I-65, and ran off the the roadway a few hundred feet into an open field. The deputy fired at the truck in order to disable it, according to Chief Deputy Mile Lambert.
There were no injuries, and no one was struck by the gunfire.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
