Atmore Man Arrested On Child Sex Abuse Charges
September 20, 2017
An Atmore man has been arrested on child sex abuse charges.
Ricky Terrell Pratt, age 19 of Liberty Street, was charged with enticing a child and sexual abuse of a child under 12. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center with bond set at $250,000.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office said Pratt lured a child under the age of 12 into a room “for the purpose of lewd and lascivious behavior” and subjected the child to sexual abuse. Investigators said the child later disclosed the sexual abuse.
The Child Advocacy Center and the Department of Human Resources assisted the Sheriff’s Office with their investigation.
Town Rents Century Business Center Office To Attorney
September 20, 2017
The Town of Century is renting space at the Century Business Center to a Pensacola attorney.
The “main office” of the center will be rented to Gerald McKenzie for $100 per month, plus $7.50 in sales tax, and he will be responsible for the electric bill, according to Century Mayor Henry Hawkins. Hawkins said the non-profit Northwest Florida Legal Services will continue to use the office to periodically meet with clients.
The Century Business Center on Pond Street is a former school that was converted into a business incubator known as the “Habitat for Opportunity Building” until being renamed in 2015.
McKenzie recently told Century Chamber of Commerce members that he looks forward to becoming actively involved in the Century community. He said his office in Century will be staffed a few days each month; he will retain his main office and staff in Pensacola.
Pictured top: This corner of the Century Business Center contains restrooms (foreground) and a small office that will be rented to a Pensacola attorney. Pictured below: The Century Business Center on Pond Street. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Volleyball Loses To Central In Three, Tate Beats Fort Walton
September 20, 2017
The Central Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs Tuesday night in Bratt 3-1.
The Chiefs dropped the first set by a score of 18-25 before losing the second set 19-25. Northview turned the tables on Central, bouncing back to win the third set 25-18. The Chiefs could not find success in the fourth and final set, falling 15-25.
Teriana Redmond led the Chiefs with seven blocks and 13 digs, while Natasha Walker recorded six serving aces.
The Northview Chiefs will travel to Jay on Thursday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 3, Fort Walton 0
The Tate High School Lady Aggies defeated the Fort Walton Beach Lady Vikings Tuesday 3-0. The Aggies won straight sets at home in Cantonment 25-17, 25-21, 25-23. The Lady Aggies will be at Pensacola High School on September 26
Tate 2, Fort Walton 0 (JV)
In junior varsity action, the Tate Lady Aggies beat Fort Walton’s Lady Vikings 2-0. The Aggies won the first set 25-13 before beating Fort Walton 25-15 in the second set.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Partly Sunny, 40 Percent Chance Of Rain Today
September 20, 2017
Pictured: Tuesday evening’s sunset as seen from Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Portion Of Stefani Road To Close Friday Morning
September 20, 2017
The closure of Stefani Road between Nine Mile Road and 9 1/2 Mile Road in Cantonment has been rescheduled. The segment will now experience closures and detours beginning Friday at 7 a.m. Construction will consist of the installation of a sanitary sewer manhole.
The roadway closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately two weeks. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road on or before Friday, October 6. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time period, another notice will be issued.
Florida Tourism Marketing To Ramp Up After Irma
September 20, 2017
Florida will begin a post-Hurricane Irma marketing plan to lure tourists back to the Sunshine State.
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that the public-private agency Visit Florida will lead a marketing campaign. Scott’s office said the campaign will be “multi-phased and include digital, social, broadcast and traditional components in both domestic and international markets.”
The state, which before Irma was on pace to top last year’s 113 million visitors, has yet to calculate the potential economic impact the storm had on the tourism industry. Irma made landfall Sept. 10 in Monroe and Collier counties and traveled up the state. The announcement Tuesday didn’t put a price tag on the post-storm marketing.
In a prepared statement, Visit Florida President and CEO Ken Lawson described the marketing plan as one that will showcase “sunshine, blue skies and good times.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who has questioned the use of tax dollars for Visit Florida, said Tuesday the Legislature could support post-disaster marketing. “In 1996, (Visit Florida) was created and the concept was, when you have an oil spill, when you have a 9/11, and people are afraid to travel to big places like Disney World, because they think that’s the next terrorist attack,” Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said. “That was the point in ‘96, to give an entity some funding to go out there in those type of situations and say, `Look, there isn’t a single tar ball on our beaches, Disney World is the safest place to be, our beaches are fine and our communities are together, come visit.’”
During the 2017 legislative session, Scott and the Senate maintained $76 million in state funding for Visit Florida after battling with House leaders.
by The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Man Facing Drug, Burglary Tool Possession Charges
September 19, 2017
A Cantonment man was arrested on multiple felony charges after deputies found him in the early morning hours on a street that had recently been hit by a rash of car burglaries.
Escambia County deputies reported finding 36-year old Jeffrey Scott Walker in a Nissan Altima parked next to a privacy fence on private property off Wasatch Range Loop, east of the Mobile Highway intersection.
After deputies observed the ripped-off corner of a plastic baggie next to the driver’s door of Walker’s car, a K-9 was called and alerted on the vehicle.
Deputies reported finding multiple baggies of crystal methamphetamine with a combined weight of 18.4 grams, multiple baggies of powder cocaine with a total weight of 2.2 grams, 30 amphetamine tables, a digital scale and two burnt glass pipes with residue. Walker was also in possession of a “daily log” notebook which is often used to record drug transactions, according to an arrest report. In the trunk of the vehicle, deputies found a large bag containing “slim jims” and metal lock picking tools in a bag labeled “vehicle lock picking tools”.
Walker was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, loitering and prowling, and possession of burglary tools with intent to use.
Walker was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $66,000 bond. His vehicle, $129 in cash and the lock picking kit were seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Slight Rain Chance, Otherwise Sunny And Warm
September 19, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Town Denies Donation For Autism Walk, Votes To Donate To Local School
September 19, 2017
The Century Town Council has denied an autistic resident’s request to sponsor a fundraising walk for autism this weekend, instead opting to support autism education locally in the town.
Jake Livingston, known to many North Escambia residents as “Northview’ Biggest Fan”, addressed the council Monday night, asking them to sponsor the Steps for Autism walk in an amount from $100 to $10,000. Livingston said the monies raised by the walk Saturday morning at Wahoos Stadium would be used by Autism Pensacola for local programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
When council members learned that they had zero available donation dollars in their budget for the current fiscal year ending on September 30, they voted to donate $500 next month from their next fiscal year’s budget to the Century Academy. The private non-profit K-12 school is in it second year of operation in Century.
Century Academy specializes in teaching children diagnosed with autism and other related learning disabilities. It is a subsidiary of East Hill Academy in Pensacola.
The council noted that the school would be made aware that the donation was being as a result of Livingston’s efforts for autism awareness..
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cross Country Results: Northview, Flomaton, Ernest Ward (With Gallery)
September 19, 2017
Results from a cross country meet held Monday afternoon at Northview High School are below.
For a photo gallery of most finishers, click here.
Boys Team Placement
- Northview High School
- Flomaton High School
- Ernest Ward
Girls Team Placement
- Northview & Ernest Ward (tied)
Flomaton did not field girls team.
Boys Individual
- Kevin Meeks/Flomaton — 21:28
- Tanner Levins/Northview — 21:46
- Oscar Rodriguez/Northview — 22:13
- Logan Doremus/Northview — 24:22
- Will Rollin/Flomaton — 25:51
Girls Individual
- Kara Santorelli/Ernest Ward — 24:45
- Cheyanne Johnson/Northview — 27:29
- Julianna Money/Ernest Ward — 27:43
- Addison Albritton/Northview — 33:51
- Aurora McCann/Northview — 34:24
Northview — Top 5 Boys
- Tanner Levins 21:46
- Oscar Rodriguez 22:13
- Logan Doremus 24:22
- Samm Bradley 26:44
- John Chivington 27:21
Northview — Top 5 Girls
- Cheyanne Johnson 27:29
- Addison Albritton 33:51
- Aurora McCann 34:24
- Allie Carter 39:05
- Rebekah Amerson 39:06
Flomaton — Top 5 Boys
- Kevin Meeks 21:48
- Will Rollin 25:51
- Wyatt Kent 29:00
- Dustin Martin 29:05
- Jacob Strehl 33:50
Ernest Ward — Top 5 Boys
- Kole Stewart 25:59
- James McElhaney 30:55
- Anthony Weaver 31:05
- Bryson Sanders 31:26
- Jacob Daw 31:24
Ernest Ward — Top 5 Girls
- Kara Santorelli 24:45
- Julianna Money 27:43
- Emily Levins 36:46
- Ava Gurganus 36:51
- Adrianne Shanks 43:44
Pictured top: Top boy finisher Kevin Meeks from Flomaton High School and top girl finisher Kara Santorelli from Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
