Fire Departments Respond To Possible Lightning Strike At Molino Home
June 28, 2018
Firefighters responded to a report of the smell of smoke inside a Molino residence Thursday night, possible from a lightning strike.
They were unable to located any fire and traced the smell of smoke to a clothes dryer inside the home on Molino Road near Barrineau Park School Road. There was no major damage reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Storms Leave Thousands Without Power
June 28, 2018
Update: Gulf Power now reporting 528 customers without power in Escambia County. 9:02 pm
Previous story:
Evening storms have left 3,850 locations without power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
As of just before 9 p.m. Escambia River Electric Cooperative is reporting 1,083 customers without power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in 80 outage locations.
Gulf Power is reporting 2,662 customers without power in Escambia County, all but about 50 are south of I-10. There were 105 Gulf Power customers without power in Santa Rosa County.
Pictured: EREC outages as of about 9 p.m.
Alabama To Offer Pay Hike For Many Correctional Officers
June 28, 2018
A portion of a $30 million supplemental appropriation lawmakers added to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) 2018 budget will give a boost in compensation for many correctional officers, state prison officials announced Wednesday. Correctional officers employed at maximum and medium security prisons will receive a location pay differential effective July 1.
“Our correctional officers and security staff are on the front lines every day keeping the public safe under oftentimes dangerous conditions and they deserve to be adequately compensated for their service,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn.
Most security employees assigned to maximum security facilities will receive a four-step, or 10 percent pay differential while those employed at medium security facilities will receive a two-step, or 5 percent pay differential. The location pay differentials will apply to correctional officers, correctional officer trainees, correctional supervisors, canine security staff and wardens.
Dunn said for too long correctional officers have been undercompensated when you compare starting salaries with other state law enforcement agencies. He added that the location pay differentials are designed to attract and retain highly skilled correctional officers and staff at maximum and medium security facilities of which most have staffing levels below 50 percent.
Before the pay differentials, an entry-level correctional officer with a high school diploma earned $28,516.80 compared to the starting salary of $35,589.60 for a state trooper with the same requisite education. The differentials will increase an entry-level correctional officer’s effective rate of pay to $31,368.48 at maximum security prisons and $29,942.64 at medium security facilities, allowing ADOC to offer more competitive effective rates of pay when compared to other state law enforcement agencies.
The location pay differential incentive will help ADOC’s recruitment and retention initiatives for major correctional facilities, leading to higher staffing levels and safer prisons for both employees and inmates.
School Grades Are Out: How Did Your Child’s School Score?
June 28, 2018
The Florida Department of Education released the state’s 2018 school report card Wednesday.
The Escambia County School District improved from a C to a B.
Among North Escambia elementary schools: Molino Park remain an A, Jim Allen improved from a C to B, Bratt and Lipscomb fell from an A to B, Byrneville fell from a B to a C, Pine Meadow remained a B, and McArthur remained a C.
Ramsom Middle School remained at a B, while Ernest Ward remained a C. Tate High school remained a B school, and Northview remained at a C.
Complete grades for Escambia County schools are below:
Man Accusing Of Helping Deadly Hit And Run Suspect Avoid Capture
June 28, 2018
A Pensacola man has been charged with being an accessory after the fact for helping Markquise DeShawn Wallace avoid capture.
Wallace is wanted for a hit and run on June 6 on Cervantes Street that killed an 8-month old infant and a 28-year old woman.
Tadrian Rushing, 20 years of age, has been charged by Pensacola Police with being an accessory after the fact, a second degree felony, for assisting Markquise Wallace avoid capture. Rushing remains in jail with bond set at $605,500.
On June 14, a press conference was held releasing Wallace’s information, the charges against him and the fact he was now driving a gray Lexus 350. The investigation revealed shortly after the press conference Rushing purchased a tarp, parked the Lexus 350 Wallace had been driving, and covered it with a tarp, hiding it from view. The vehicle was found by detectives later that afternoon.
Rushing, who had several active felony warrants of his own, was initially arrested on June 26, after being spotted by Pensacola Police Det. Sgt. Amy Parsons. When patrol units attempted to stop Rushing to arrest him for the felony warrants, he fled in his vehicle. He crashed at Davis Highway and Hart Drive and fled on foot. Off. Jose Matos was able to capture Rushing after a short foot chase and place him under arrest. A large amount of narcotics was found in Rushing’s possession after the arrest resulting in several new charges. In addition to the active warrants, Rushing was charged with fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting and officer without violence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug equipment.
Investigators are still searching for Wallace, following leads both within the community and out of state. The investigation involving others who have assisted Wallace is continuing with more arrests anticipated, police said.
Three people were crossing Cervantes Street near M Street when they were hit by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Neariaah Ikerria Williams, age 8 months, and a family friend, 28-year-old Nephateria Monique Williams, died. The child’s mother, 27-year-old Quineka Tyon Baldwin, was injured.
Anyone with information on the crash or Wallace is asked to call 911, the Pensacola Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
County Seeking Applications For Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
June 28, 2018
The Board of County Commissioners is soliciting applications for representatives to the Escambia-Pensacola Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. The committee was established per F.S. 420.9076 for the purpose of reviewing affordable housing incentives available within the county and to make recommendations concerning those incentives to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Pensacola City Council. The committee will also help in the development of the Local Housing Assistance Plan for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program.
The board is seeking to fill six slots from the following specializations, as outlined per Florida Statute:
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing;
- One citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments;
- One citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction;
- One citizen who actively serves on the local planning agency;
- One citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan
The committee will meet monthly during review and development of the affordable housing incentives and the new LHAP and at least quarterly thereafter. Members will serve a three-year term. Positions will be recommended to the board for approval in July and approved through resolution in September.
Citizens interested in serving should download an application online or request one via email at NED@myescambia.com. Completed applications should be forwarded to Neighborhood Enterprise Division/AHAC, 221 Palafox Place, Suite 200, Pensacola, FL 32502. All applications must be received no later than Friday, June 29 for consideration.
Flomaton-Century Fireworks Show And Celebration Is Saturday
June 28, 2018
Century and Flomaton will begin this year’s Independence Day celebration a little early with a celebration and fireworks show this Saturday.
The schedule of events at Anthony Pleasant Park and Showalter Park is as follows:
- 3:00 – 3:15 Welcome and Opening Remarks
- 3:15 – 3:30 D.J. Music
- 3:30 – 4:00 Jewelstones
- 4:00 – 5:30 Announcements and D.J. Music
- 4:30 – 5:30 Sawmill Bluegrass Band
- 5:30 – 6:00 Announcements and D.J. Music
- 6:00 – 8:00 Ricky Crook and the Horseshoe Halo Band
The show alternates between Century and Flomaton each year and is jointly funded.
The Century and Flomaton Independence Day Celebration is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Kids Show Off Their Artistic Skills During Library Summer Reading Program
June 28, 2018
Summer Reading Club program participants had a chance to show off their artistic skills Wednesday at the Century Branch Library.
Mike Artell, author of “Petite Rouge The Cajun Red Riding Hood”, visited the library to share his unique talents including cartooning and music.
Artell also appeared Thursday morning at the Molino Branch Library.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Showers Possible Tonight
June 28, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 90. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Independence Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Jimmie Taylor
June 28, 2018
Jimmie Taylor, 79, of Jay, Florida passed away Sunday, June 24, 2018.
He enjoyed fishing, working on lawn mowers, loving his family and drinking sweet tea.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Willie Bee Taylor; sons, James Boots Taylor and Eugene Taylor and brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his grandchildren, Adam Taylor, Amber Taylor, Ashley Taylor, Alex Moody and Angie Moody, many great-grandchildren and his sister, Addie Lee Moore.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm with services following at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Ebenezer Church, 4200 Ebenezer Church Road, Jay, Florida with Brother Bobby Conley officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.