Church Outside Century Needs Town’s Blessing – And Land – To Expand
September 21, 2017
The Poplar Dell Baptist Church is located nearly four miles outside Century, but the town may hold the key to the construction of new fellowship hall.
“Our church is starting to grow, and we’ve run out of room,” Pastor Mitch Herring said.
For years, the church has cut the grass and maintained a lot about one acre in size behind their sanctuary and cemetery on Highway 168 in the Gandyville community. And they had eyed the lot to build their new fellowship hall. But the learned the property actually belongs to the Town of Century. Century’s gas department maintains a “natural gas gate station” — a connection between the town’s gas system and supplier — on one end of the property next to Poplar Dell Road. The remainder of the property is large grassy lot.
Now, the church wants to buy the lot from the town, minus the area of the gas station and any required pipeline easements.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins has instructed the church to stake out the area where they want to build, and the the town will look at easements and regulations involving the natural gas gate station to determine if the sale is feasible.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police Put Drug Dealers On Notice After Man’s Life Sentence
September 21, 2017
An Escambia County Jury convicted Marcus Dewayne Jackson for first degree murder by distribution of heroin in the death of Jim Cady.
Judge Gary Bergosh presided over the two day trial and after the jury verdict sentenced 35-year old Marcus DeWayne Jackson to life in prison. Under Florida law, he is not eligible for parole.
On November 20, 2015, the Pensacola Police Department found Cady deceased in a halfway house on Barcelona Street in Pensacola. An investigation determined that Jackson sold a quantity of heroin to Cady on November 19, 2015. A medical examiner’s report determined that heroin was the victim’s cause of death.
Under Florida law, a person who distributes a controlled substance to a person which results in their death has committed first degree murder by distribution of heroin. This prosecution is the first conviction under this statute in the First Judicial Circuit.
State Attorney Bill Eddins, stated that his office will vigorously prosecute heroin dealers whose actions result in the death of addicts who are captives of this dangerous drug.
“This is another example of excellent police work from Sgt. Parsons and Sgt. Hubley,” said Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter. “I can’t stress the importance of this case to our continued fight against drug dealing within the city of Pensacola, all drug dealers should be on notice.”
Northview High Names Students Of The Month For September
September 21, 2017
\Northview High School has named students of the month for September. They are (pictured L-R) Tyler Ray, 9th grade; Aurora McCann, 10th grade; Aaliyah Tucker, 11th grade; and Bria Hardy, 12th grade. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT Orders Emergency Closure Of Arthur Brown Road Bridge
September 21, 2017
The Florida Department of Transportation as ordered the emergency closure of a Walnut Hill bridge after it failed a state inspection.
The Arthur Brown Road bridge over Boggy Creek, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, was closed and barricaded Wednesday night by the Escambia County Road Department.
In July, work began at the location to construct a temporary road and bridge in order to construct a new permanent bridge. That temporary bridge is not yet completed, meaning residents that use the bridge will face at least a seven mile detour.
It is expected that the temporary bridge will be completed before the roadway is reopened. Then a new bridge over Boggy Creek will then be constructed, with 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge replacement project was estimated to take eight months from its July start date, weather permitting.
Pictured: Temporary barricades (above) were replaced (below) as the Arthur Brown Road bridge over Boggy Creek was officially closed Wednesday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Top Dog: K-9 Units Put To The Test In Field Trial Event
September 21, 2017
There are 23 teams from Florida ,Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas competing in the Southeastern States Manhunt Field Trials this week in the Blackwater State Forest.
The three-day event is hosted by the Escambia County Road Prison at the Coldwater Equestrian Campground.
Teams compete in one day and one night events on scent tracks that are 1.5 miles long and two hours old. A combined average time is used to determine the winner.
Contributed photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Over 18 Years In Prison For Teen Sexual Battery
September 21, 2017
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to over 18 years in state prison for the sexual battery of a teen.
Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced 57-year old Phillip Arnez Benjamin to 226.5 months state prison on one count of lewd or lascivious battery.
Under Florida law, lewd or lascivious battery generally carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
However, based on Benjamin’s lengthy prior record, including six prior felony convictions, the court was allowed to exceed the maximum term of imprisonment and sentenced the defendant to more than 18 years in prison. He was also designated a sexual offender.
In October 2016, Benjamin was at a gathering watching football games. The other adults fell asleep, leaving Benjamin the only adult awake in the home. Benjamin went into the 13-year-old victim’s bedroom where she slept with her siblings. At that time, he committed a lewd battery on the victim. The child woke up, and Benjamin told her not to tell anyone what he had done.
Soon after, Benjamin left the home, and the child frantically called her mother at work to tell her what happened.
West Florida Libraries Offer Special Edition Library Card
September 21, 2017
West Florida Public Libraries will offer a special edition library card in September in honor of Library Card Sign-up Month.
The special edition card features Teen Titans, a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners officially proclaimed September as Library Card Sign-up Month during the regular board meeting Thursday, Sept. 7.
While library cards are always free for Escambia County residents, the usual $3 replacement fee for lost or damaged cards will be waived during the month of September, as part of the celebration.
Escambia County residents can find information about getting a library card or sign up online by clicking here.
September was designated as Library Card Sign-up Month by the American Library Association in 1987, after then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett issued a challenge. The challenge was for a national campaign encouraging every child to obtain and regularly use a library card.
Driver Injured After Hitting Mailbox
September 20, 2017
One person was trapped in their vehicle following a single vehicle accident on Kings Road off East Kingsfield Road Wednesday morning.
The vehicle overturned after the driver left the roadway and struck a large residential mailbox. The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS after being extricated from the vehicle.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Local Students Won’t Be Required To Make Up Missed Irma Days
September 20, 2017
Students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will not have to make up two days of school lost to Hurricane Irma. Even though Irma had little or no direct effect locally, schools where closed September 8 and September 11 on order of Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott said schools outside Irma’s strike zone might be used as shelter for evacuees.
Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart told superintendents Tuesday that the state is waiving the two days for all districts in the state.
Both Escambia and Santa Rosa County already have extra days built into their school years to account for emergency closures.
Business Tax Receipt Renewal Deadline Approaching
September 20, 2017
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford is reminding business owners that the deadline to renew their Business Tax Receipt (BTR) is quickly approaching. Businesses may renew their BTRs anytime between now and September 30.
Businesses can make online payments at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
“Paying online is easy and secure, and there is no wait time,” said Lunsford. E-checks and credit cards can be used for online transactions. Businesses also can make payments by mail or at one of four convenient offices.
Also, business owners are encouraged to take advantage of the installment plan for tangible personal property tax payments. By utilizing this plan, business owners with a tangible personal property tax bill of at least $100 can make four quarterly payments instead of one lump sum payment. Each quarterly bill will receive a different discount for early payment as prescribed by Florida Statutes. The quarterly payments are due by the last day of June, September, December and March. Paper applications are being accepted now, and businesses can apply online after November 1, 2017. The Installment Payment Plan application deadline for 2018 property taxes is April 30, 2018.
Lunsford said, “The installment program not only helps ease the financial burden on taxpayers by allowing them to spread out the payments, it also provides a discount for making payments on time.”