One Injured In Molino Fire
July 18, 2017
One person was injured in fire in a mobile home Monday morning.
The fire was in the 1400 block of Omega Drive. A man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with severe burns on his hands.
The fire was reportedly a grease fire contained to the kitchen.
The fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Business With 40-60 Jobs Considers Century Industrial Park Location
July 18, 2017
The former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park is being eyed by a business that would bring dozens of jobs to the town.
“We have a serious business inquiry, ” Danita Andrews, director of business development for the economic development group FloridaWest, told the the Century Town Council Monday night.
While the company’s name and exact plans will remain secret for now, as allowed under Florida law, Andrews (pictured left) said the company would bring 40-60 jobs to town if it should choose Century. She said Century is not the only location in the area being considered by the company.
Andrews asked the Century council to fund an appraisal of the building at an estimated cost of $3,000 to $4,000. After some discussion, the council voted to spend up to $2,000 for an appraisal, with FloridaWest chipping in a 50 percent cost share for the balance.
Andrews said she hopes to return to the council in the coming weeks with more details on the potential business.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the region’s economic development organization.
The former Helicopter Technology building is a 40,000 square foot office/warehouse building with full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and new energy efficient lighting. The town re-acquired the industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain, Otherwise Partly Sunny
July 18, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Cantonment Man Gets 35 Years In ‘Heart-Wrenching’ Child Abuse Case
July 18, 2017
A Cantonment man was sentenced Monday to state prison in a child abuse case that Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan called “heart-wrenching” and one of the worst he has ever seen.
Jeffrey Scott Linton was sentenced to 35 years in state prison for aggravated child abuse and multiple counts of child neglect by Judge Thomas Dannheisser. His wife, Rachel Watkins Linton, is awaiting trial on the charges against her.
“It is one of those things that bring tears to your eyes to think that a child would be treated in this manner,” Morgan said during press conference following the couple’s arrest in May 2016. He said there were nine total children in the home – eight biologically belonging to Rachel Linton, one the biological child of Jeffrey Linton. The charges filed relate to the three youngest of the children.
All of the children have been removed from the home.
The investigation began after the Department of Children and Families received an anonymous tip. That led to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office opening an investigation and executing a search warrant at the couple’s Cantonment home.
The allegations against the Lintons span the period August 2015 to May 23, 2016, according to an arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The remainder of this story details some of the severe physical child abuse allegations in this case. There are details that some readers will find disturbing.
The report indicates that one of the victims suffered a broken leg and then a broken arm caused by one of the siblings, and that Rachel Linton did not feed or bathe the children or take them to medical appointments. Two of the victims were born prematurely and are developmentally delayed.
DCF received a tip that Rachel Linton was planning to flee the area and has a history of fleeing when she is under investigation.
DCF received a report that two victims had injuries to their faces and heads, and Rachel Linton took the victims to West Florida Hospital where a trauma survey found that one victim had two broken arms and a broken leg and all three victims were malnourished.
The report says Rachel Linton frequently hits the victims’ heads on the walls and that Jeffrey Linton also abuses them. Rachel Linton threatened the children with further punishment if they provided any information to DCF about the ongoing abuse in the home. Both allegedly told the children to blame their injuries on the other children in the home.
One child allegedly suffered a broken arm as the result of Jeffrey Linton twisting an arm. DCF discovered the children had multiple bruises on their faces, back and arms, and that the children had knots on the back and tops of their heads. They suffered a variety of other injuries, including an abscess on the bottom of a foot, scarring and scabbing of lips, scarring of a nose, lacerations to their ears and bruising to their genital areas.
A witness alleged that Jeffrey Linton would hold the victims upside down by their feet and hit their heads on the floor as punishment and that he would hit them with a paddle “2-3 feet long” and throw them and slam their heads against a wall, and he would allegedly hit them with a fly swatter.
The witness said the paddle is now broken from use, and that she would hear the children cry and scream in pain.
Ask MyEscambia App Now Available for Residents
July 18, 2017
Escambia County has launched Ask MyEscambia, a mobile and web application making it easier than ever for residents to connect with county services 24 hours a day.
With Ask MyEscambia, residents can request non-emergency services for road issues, code enforcement, stray animals, stormwater maintenance and much more. The app also provides a convenient way for citizens to request public records from Escambia County.
Making a request through Ask MyEscambia is very easy. Simply find the request type that best fits the problem you are encountering, then enter the information promoted by your specific request – which may include information like the address, a photo and detailed description of your issue or question – and click the submit button. There is no need to wait for a return call, you have the ability to receive notifications, monitor the status and communicate with staff at your convenience via the Ask MyEscambia app.
Ask MyEscambia can be accessed on a desktop computer at MyEscambia.com/ask, or residents can download the mobile app for free by searching “Ask MyEscambia” in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or searching “PublicStuff” in the Windows Store or BlackBerry App World.
Weekly Escambia County Meeting Schedule
July 18, 2017
Here are Escambia County meeting scheduled for the remainder of the week:
Tuesday, July 18
Community Redevelopment Agency, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 9 a.m. (Agenda)
Committe of the Whole Budget Workshop Continued, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 9 a.m (Agenda)
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1:30 p.m. (Agenda)
Benefits Committee, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 2 p.m.
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission, 418 W. Garden St., Pensacola, 2 p.m.
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum at 4:30 and Regular Meeting at 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
Wednesday, July 19
Development Review Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m. (Agenda)
Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 20
Board of Electrical Examiners, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 3 p.m. (Agenda)
Update: Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested
July 18, 2017
Update: James Levoy Foster was booked in the Escambia County Jail about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man and his female accomplice in connection with several robberies.
James Levoy Foster A.K.A. “Skigge”, 45, has multiple outstanding warrants for robbery and theft, and he’s also wanted for grand theft of a motor vehicle. Deputies said he may be in a silver Chevrolet Impala.
Deputies are also looking for his accomplice; she’s described only as a white female. She was the getaway driver in two separate robberies.
Anyone with information on the duo or that recognizes the pictured vehicle should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Tate Aggies Kick Off Youth Football Camp, Still Time To Join
July 18, 2017
Monday was the first evening of the Tate Youth Football Camp at Pete Gindl Stadium.
The camp continues 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. According to organizers, there is room for more participants. To join the camp, be at the stadium at 5 p.m. Tuesday to register.
The camp is beingdirected by Tate football coaching staff with assistance from Tate football players. It is an opportunity for youth to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team. No football equipment will be needed. Cleats are recommended, but not required.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Mississippi On #TeamBarrow Night At The Ballpark
July 18, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Josh VanMeter and Shed Long both belted pitches from Atlanta Braves top pitching prospect, Kolby Allard, out of Blue Wahoos Stadium to left field.
It was #TeamBarrow night for the Wahoos to benefit the Barrow family. The Barrows recently experienced the loss two family members to cancer — mother Joanna Barrow died on January 30 and son Zachary Barrow passed away on February 8. Monday night at the Wahoo’s game, Holly Weaver performed the national anthem, while first pitches were tossed by Ryne Barrow, Kevin Barrow and Lauren McCall. The Wahoos also presented a $1,000 donation to Byrneville Elementary School.
The long balls in the second inning Monday ignited the Blue Wahoos lineup that scored five runs or more for the first time in nine games to beat the Mississippi Braves, 5-2, in front of 4,363 on its home field. Pensacola also hit two homers in a game for the first time in 10 games.
In a series that has featured two 2-0 games, a 2-1 game and a 4-3 game, the live bats were welcomed by Pensacola manager Pat Kelly and nail-biting Blue Wahoos fans. The Blue Wahoos earned 10 hits and six walks.
“Those two lefties (VanMeter and Long) were the key,” Kelly said. “Long and VanMeter did a great job taking Allard the other way and were very successful.”
Left fielder VanMeter and second baseman Long, who are both left handed hitters, launched homers to the opposite field to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.
VanMeter, who was 3-3 with a double, walk, run and two RBIs, has four home runs this season and leads Pensacola with 38 RBIs. He also had his 22nd multi-hit game this year.
Long, who has struggled at the plate hitting .162, has two home runs with Pensacola and 15 on the year counting his stint with the High-A Daytona Tortugas. Long recorded his first multi-hit game with Pensacola, going 3-3 with a double, walk, two runs and one RBI for seven on the season.
“He’s seeing better pitching every night,” Kelly said about Long’s slow start at the plate. “As much as you don’t want to admit it, they’re pretty good. I think it humbled him a little bit.”
Long said it humbled him enough to seek out Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin and star outfielder Eric Davis to help him this past week to start swinging the bat again like he was when he was in Daytona. He said their advice was invaluable.
“They’re a big part of my life, especially in baseball,” Long said. “It doesn’t get better than those guys. I was doing the same thing in Daytona and I’m starting to get that feeling back. That’s an awesome feeling. I just need to keep it going.”
Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan scored on a two-out wild pitch by Allard and VanMeter hit a bullet to right field that drove in Blue Wahoos first baseman Gavin LaValley to put Pensacola ahead, 4-0, after three innings.
Mississippi got a home run of its own when third baseman Austin Riley smacked his first Double-A homer for his first RBI on a solo shot to right center in the fourth inning to trail Pensacola, 4-1.
Pensacola got the run back to go ahead, 5-1, when pitcher Jose Lopez hit a slow roller to second base that allowed Long, who doubled to left center, to score from third base. It was the first professional RBI for Lopez.
Making his seventh start, the 23-year-old Lopez pitched his third straight solid outing, working six innings, giving up two hits, including Riley’s homer, walked one and struck out two. He improved to 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA.
“He was great,” Kelly said. “He’s throwing strikes and going after hitters.”
The right-handed Lopez pitched eight scoreless innings in his July 6 start and one run in seven innings in his July 11 start, while striking out a career-high 11. Over his last three starts, he has allowed two runs on eight hits and three walks in 21 innings and struck out 20. He has a 0.86 ERA and WHIP of 0.52 and limited opposing hitters to a .121 average against him.
Meanwhile, Allard, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft by Atlanta and the organization’s No. 3 ranked prospect, dropped to 5-8 with a 3.31 ERA. The 19-year-old is 0-3 against Pensacola and has struggled in his last two starts giving up nine runs, eight earned, on 17 hits in 10 innings.
Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel’s hitting streak ended at 16 games Monday when he went 0-5. He tied Jackson General’s second baseman Kevin Medrano for the longest hitting streak in the Southern League this season.
Meanwhile, Pensacola is 31-18 at home this season and 13-12 in the second half to regain first place in the Southern League South Division over the Mobile BayBears. The South Division first half champions improved to 53-42 overall.
Photos by Barrett McClean/Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Killed In Highway 4 Crash
July 17, 2017
A two vehicle crash in Century claimed one life Monday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 77-year old Emmie Wilson of Century was stopped at a Campbell Road stop sign, facing south toward Highway 4. Wilson then proceeded to drive her 2001 Chevrolet Malibu south through the intersection and into the path of a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina driven by 38-year old Christoper Mooney of Mobile.
Both vehicles came to rest in the ditch following the crash.
Wilson was pronounced deceased at the scene after being extricated from her vehicle. Mooney was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
