Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks
January 12, 2019
The Tate High School Aggie family is mourning the loss of sophomore Sean Banks and his older sister Antoinette Marie McCoy in a tragic car crash early Saturday morning. Their vehicle was hit by an alleged DUI driver.
Banks, 15, was a varsity basketball player and also played baseball and varsity football for the Aggies.
He was a member of the Academic Team and had a 3.91 GPA. He was named the October Student of the Month at Tate High School.
“Sean was a very gentle and kindhearted young man, who enjoyed helping others,” the Tate Aggies Basketball program said in a statement. “Antoinette McCoy was Sean’s older sister and one of his biggest supporters. Antoinette was a very kind and generous young woman with a great love for her family. She spent many nights in the stands along with her mother cheering on her brother and our Aggies.”
“The Tate Aggie Basketball Family loved them both and they will truly be missed.”
For more on the wreck, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Killed In East Kingsfield Crash; Cantonment Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
January 12, 2019
Two people were killed in a crash early Saturday morning on East Kingsfield Road, and a Cantonment man has been charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 24-year old Hunter Russell Black was traveling west on Kingsfield Road near Kingslake Drive in a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu when he crossed the centerline and into the path of a 2001 Mitsubishi driven by 22-year old Antoinette Marie McCoy of Pensacola. McCoy attempted to avoid the collision but was hit head-on.
It took firefighters about 30 minutes of extensive extrication to free McCoy and her passenger, 15-year old Sean Alexander Banks of Pensacola, from their overturned vehicle. McCoy was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital and Banks was transported to Baptist Hospital by Escambia County EMS. Both were later pronounced deceased from their injuries.
Black was charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter and booked into the Escambia County Jail. He was released early Sunday morning on a $25,000 bond.
Banks was a sophomore at Tate High School. Read more…
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Behind Bars: ECSO Nabs Man On The Run Since November Molino Manhunt
January 12, 2019
A man Cantonment man that was the focus of a manhunt two months ago in Molino is now behind bars.
Colby Chase Myrick, 27, was taken into custody in the area of Massachusetts Avenue Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after he was featured in a NorthEscambia.com story about his outstanding warrants.
Myrick is charged with two counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon, vehicle theft, damage to property, larceny and a probation violation. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
On November 12, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant got behind a white pickup truck pulling a utility trailer with no tag. Before the deputy initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle pulled into the yard of a residence on Molino Road just east of Nicholson Drive. A few minutes later, the resident called the Sheriff’s Office to report that a male had ran from the truck toward a wooded area.
Deputies responded and a female that was in the vehicle identified the male as Myrick.
Escambia County deputies and a K-9 team from the Century Correctional Institution searched the area south of Molino Road and east of Highway 95A for several hours. Their search continued well into the afternoon and progressed at least as far south as Meharg Road.
During the search, deputies located a gun in the woods that they believe Myrick left behind, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Heath Jackson Sworn In As First Republican Sheriff In Escambia County, AL
January 12, 2019
Heath Jackson was sworn in Friday afternoon as the first-ever Republican sheriff in Escambia County, AL.
Immediately after taking the oath of office, he swore in the deputies of Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“This is a path we chose years and years ago. When we chose that path, we knew it was something we wanted to do one day. We didn’t know if we would ever get there, but we were going to fight as hard as we could to make that happen,” Jackson told a standing room only audience in the main courtroom at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton as he thanked numerous supporters and mentors.
A visibly emotional Jackson spoke about his family. A family, he said, that worked “to make sure that the last name that we carried meant something. I appreciate that from them.”
“The guys and gals of the Sheriff’s Office are hard workers,” Jackson said. “And they have done more in the past 30 days to help me than they will ever know that they have done.”
Jackson also thanked outgoing Sheriff Grover Smith for his service.
Before his election, Jackson was a sergeant at the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office and served as the team leader of agency’s Hostage Negotiations Team.
The T.R. Miller High School graduate’s nearly two decades of law enforcement experience includes service with the Brewton Police Department, the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force and work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Alabama. At the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, he also worked in the Narcotics Division, the Robbery/Homicide Division and the Public Information Office.
He is a native of Brewton.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Saturday Showers, Partly Sunny Sunday
January 12, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 65. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Pictured: Friday’s sunset at Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Manhunt For Escambia County (AL) Jail Escapees
January 12, 2019
For an update to this story, click here.
A manhunt was underway into the night Friday in Escambia County, AL, for two men that escaped from work release in Brewton.
Christopher Ladale Pugh, age 27 of McGougin Road, Brewton, and Christopher Blake Moye, age 27 of Moye Drive, Brewton, escaped from the barracks at the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office on Friday.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 teams, Flomaton Police and other agencies were involved in the manhunt.
About 5:30 p.m. Friday, the manhunt was centered around railroad tracks at Old Fannnie Road and Welka Road, east of Flomaton and about a half mile north of Alabama-Florida state line.
As of about 10 p.m. Friday, both escapees were still at large.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Early Morning Mobile Home Fire
January 12, 2019
Firefighters responded to a Saturday morning kitchen fire on old Atmore Road about three miles west of Flomaton.
The fire was contained to the kitchen area of the mobile home. There were no injuries reported in the fire about 7 a.m.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Wawbeek Volunteer Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, MedStar EMS, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and others responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Nine Mile At Highway 29 Rollover Crash
January 12, 2019
There were no injuries reported in a two vehicle rollover crash Friday afternoon about 4:15 p.m. on Nine Mile Road at the southbound ramp from Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
High School Hoops Scores
January 12, 2019
Friday night high school basketball scores:
BOYS
Baker 54 Northview 46
– For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 67, Niceville 36
– Caleb Young and J. Qualls led Tate with 18 points. Love Bettis was also in the double digits with 13.
Pine Forest 77, Escambia 73
Washington 69, Pensacola High 41
Escambia County (AL) 69, Baldwin County 54
Baker 32 Northview 27 JV
GIRLS
Northview 44 Baker 40
Escambia County (AL) 40, Baldwin County 32
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fracking Ban Proposed In Florida House
January 12, 2019
With the idea getting support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, a House Republican has filed a proposal to ban the oil- and gas-drilling process known as “fracking” in Florida. Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, filed the bill on Thursday, the same day DeSantis released a series of environmental proposals that included opposition to fracking.
Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed a similar proposal (SB 146) last month to try to ban fracking.
The bills are filed for consideration during the legislative session that starts March 5. Environmental groups and some lawmakers have long wanted to block potential fracking in Florida, but legislation has not passed.
During the 2018 session, a Senate version was approved by two committees, while a House version was never heard.
Fracking, in part, involves injecting water, sand and chemicals underground to create fractures in rock formations, allowing natural gas and oil to be released. While supporters say fracking increases production and holds down energy costs, opponents argue it threatens water supplies and can cause environmental damage.