Myrtle Ann Rolin
May 5, 2017
Mrs. Myrtle Ann Rolin, 68, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Rolin was a native and lifelong resident of Century, FL. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved gardening, canning, dancing and the outdoors. She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Rolin and brothers, Ray Walston and Charles Walston.
She is survived by her boyfriend, James Ray Foster of Century, FL; two sons, Matthew (Tonya) Rolin of Flomaton, AL and Tracy (Denise) Rolin of Flomaton, AL; one daughter, Tabitha (Tracy) Tedder of Century, FL; two brothers, Donald Wayne Walston of Milton, FL and Paul Walston of Walnut Hill, FL; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at the Beulah Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 6, 2017, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Rolin, Tracy Rolin, Tracy Tedder, Chris Rolin, Justin Rolin and Michael Tedder.
Honorary pallbearers will be Colby Taylor and Roosevelt Dixon.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Santa Rosa Detention Deputy Accused Of Using Excessive Force On Juvenile
May 4, 2017
A Santa Rosa County juvenile detention deputy was arrested Wednesday for allegedly using excessive force on a minor.
Detention Deputy Sgt. Ovando Vincente Blankenship was charged with cruelty toward a child and falsifying official documents, both third degree felonies.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said Blankenship used “inordinate force” to place a juvenile into a cell on April 21 and then falsified his report of the incident. Video obtained by detectives varied in detail from Blankenship’s official report of the incident, a news release states.
Blackenship’s mugshot has been withheld by authorities under Florida law. He is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The investigation is continuing.
Two Busted For Meth While Dropping Off Child At Jim Allen Elementary
May 4, 2017
Two people were arrested on methamphetamine related charges after dropped a child off at Jim Allen Elementary School.
Robert Clinton Wooten, 36, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for driving while license suspended and attached tag not assigned. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $5,500. Camie Denean Linton, 34, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,000.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy reported seeing Wooten turn into Jim Allen Elementary and recognized him as someone that has eluded law enforcement in the past. A computer checked revealed an improper tag on the vehicle, and the deputy conducted a traffic stop after a child exited the vehicle for school.
A K-9 alerted for drugs in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and other items in the center console, in reach of both Winton and Linton, according to an arrest report. Both were taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Rain Today, Upper 40’s Tonight As Powerful Cold Front Passes
May 4, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4pm. High near 72. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Escaped Century Correctional Prisoner Captured In Bratt (With Exclusive Photos)
May 4, 2017
A Century Correctional Institution inmate that escaped from a work release detail Wednesday afternoon is back in custody.
Inmate Richard L. Ethridge, 31, fled from the Escambia County “Camp 5″ Road Camp on Bratt Road at Camp Road. He was recaptured about five miles away off Toler Road in the edge of a wooded area that is about 2,000 feet off North Highway 99 about 1.5 miles south of Bratt Elementary School.
He was captured by a Florida Department of Corrections K-9 Unit from Century Correctional. He was taken into custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Escambia County Jail where he will be charged with escape and returned to the Department of Corrections.
The Florida Department of Corrections, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Florida State Troopers, the Escambia Road Prison K-9 teams and other law enforcement agencies participated in the manhunt.
Ethridge is less than one year into a five year, four month sentence on multiple burglary and stolen property charges out of Marion County, FL.
Northview High School was placed on a limited precautionary lockdown earlier this afternoon but school released as usual.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
New Neighborhood Watch Forming Tonight In Barrineau Park
May 4, 2017
An organizational meeting for Barrineau Park Neighborhood Watch will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School Board.
The guest speaker will be David Craig from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Community Services Unit. He will speak about crime prevention tips and how to keep criminals away..
For more information, call Craig at (850) 436-9281 or Megan Walters at (850) 777-0143.
Driver Extricated After Old Chemstrand Road Crash
May 4, 2017
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate a driver pinned in a single vehicle rollover crash early Wednesday evening in Cantonment.
The accident was reported about 6:45 p.m. on Old Chemstrand Road near Mill Creek Trail. The Jeep Laredo came to rest upside down against a utility pole. The driver’s injuries were no considered life threatening. The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Scott Declares Opioid ‘Emergency’ In Florida
May 4, 2017
Pointing to thousands of overdose deaths, Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Wednesday that said an opioid epidemic has created a “state of emergency” in Florida.
Scott’s order, and a related “public health emergency” declaration by Surgeon General Celeste Philip, came as lawmakers look to increase criminal penalties related to the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. It also came after calls across the state for the governor to declare an emergency because of deaths linked to drugs such as fentanyl and heroin.
“I know firsthand how heartbreaking substance abuse can be to a family because it impacted my own family growing up,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “The individuals struggling with drug use are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends and each tragic case leaves loved ones searching for answers and praying for help. Families across our nation are fighting the opioid epidemic and Florida is going to do everything possible to help our communities.”
Scott’s office said the order will allow Florida to immediately draw down $27 million in federal money that can be used for prevention, treatment and recovery services. Philip’s order authorizes pharmacists to dispense the drug naloxone to emergency responders. Naloxone can be used to block the effects of opioids and prevent overdoses.
The Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also have held a series of workshops this week across the state about issues related to opioid use.
A key lawmaker Wednesday praised Scott for taking action on the issue.
“He wanted to identify that the crisis was real, and get some evidence and gather some opinions from people and not go out half-cocked on it,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who said he had met with Scott’s staff about the opioid issue. “So, that’s what he did. I think the important thing is that he has done it.”
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill (HB 477) that would impose tough criminal penalties on people who traffic in fentanyl, which is often mixed with drugs such as heroin and is one of the causes of increased overdose deaths.
The bill, in part, would create a first-degree felony offense for trafficking in fentanyl and similar drugs, with trafficking defined as involving four grams or more. The bill still needs House approval because senators made a change that would give judges some discretion in sentencing people convicted of fentanyl trafficking.
During a debate Tuesday, senators described the effects of fentanyl on their communities.
“This is a fire out of control that is deadly,” said Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who son is a sheriff’s deputy.
by The News Service of Florida
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met recently with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan, Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and other local officials to discuss combating the opioid crisis in Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tall Order: Truck Collides With McDonald’s Drive-Thru
May 4, 2017
It was a tall order in the Highway 29 Cantonment McDonald’s drive-thru Wednesday afternoon when a moving van collided with a roof overhang. The truck suffered minor damage in the incident. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Conducts Hurricane Exercise At Emergency Operations Center
May 4, 2017
Officials and agencies from across Escambia County gathered at the county’s Emergency Operations Center for an annual hurricane exercise Wednesday. The four-hour even simulated the response as Category 4 Hurricane Grisales took aim at the Gulf Coast. The event focused on internal processes and training and the responsibilities found in the EOC. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
