Molino Man Facing Drug Charges After Traffic Stop, Battery Charges From Tryst
February 28, 2019
An Molino man was arrested on drug charges and an outstanding battery warrant after a traffic stop for speeding in Walnut Hill.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy clocked Jason Fayard at 80 mph on Highway 97 near Highway 164 and pulled him over. The deputy immediately noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to an arrest report. During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported finding about 50 grams of marijuana, a clear bag containing methamphetamine, Alprazolam pills, a grinder with marijuana residue, rolling paper, glass pipes and other items. He was also cited for speeding.
Fayard was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana more than 20 grams, possession of controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The battery warrant stemmed from a February 5 incident in Molino.
Deputies responded to a home on Highway 97 near Highway 95A where an adult female was crying and bleeding from the mouth. She told deputies she had been seeing Fayard for a few months for sex, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report that details the incident. She told deputies she consented to being restrained, byt he also placed a belt around her neck to the point she felt uncomfortable. She told Fayard she wanted to leave, and Fayard began to punch her in the head, the report continues.
After breaking free from the restraints, she made an effort to exit the residence, but Fayard snatched the belt, causing her to fall at which time he punched her in the head, the arrest report states. Fayard also allegedly dragged her through the home with the belt around her neck.
Deputies reported they arrived to find the belt still around the victim’s neck. She refused medical treatment.
Fayard denied the incident was anything but consensual, accord to the report. The incident was not considered domestic violence due to the cordial relationship and the fact they did not live together.
Fayard was transferred Wednesday to the Santa Rosa County Jail on outstanding warrants for battery and burglary.
Florida Bar Investigates Gaetz Tweet
February 28, 2019
The Florida Bar on Wednesday opened an investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who sent a tweet accusing Michael Cohen of infidelity as President Donald Trump’s former attorney prepared to testify before Congress.
Gaetz, a Northwest Florida Republican who is an outspoken ally of Trump, said complaints stemming from his tweet Tuesday were “frivolous.” In the tweet, he accused Cohen, who is married, of having multiple “girlfriends.”
“It seems that The Florida Bar, by its rules, is required to investigate even the most frivolous complaints,” Gaetz told The News Service of Florida.
However, Francine Walker, a spokeswoman for The Florida Bar, said the organization will investigate potential conduct violations any time the words of a Florida lawyer result in complaints.
After Gaetz’s tweet Tuesday, legal observers and Democrats said the Republican was engaging in witness tampering.
“Hey @MichaelCohen212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot…” Gaetz said in the tweet, which has since been deleted.
Gaetz apologized and said the tweet did not show his intent. That intent, he later told reporters, was to test Cohen’s credibility, not threaten. The tweet came on the eve of highly anticipated congressional testimony by Cohen that could be damaging to Trump. Cohen is heading to prison after pleading guilty last year to criminal charges including lying to Congress.
Under Florida Bar rules, Walker said she was unable to share any other information at this time about the investigation into Gaetz. But Walker confirmed it was in response to the Fort Walton Beach Republican’s tweet.
“The Florida Bar takes its responsibility of regulating lawyer conduct very seriously,” Walker said in a statement. “It handles thousands of complaints each year, filing charges and pursuing discipline against lawyers whose professional conduct is not in keeping with the rules.”
In addition to being a Trump ally, Gaetz has been described as a right-hand man to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gaetz’ influence on the DeSantis administration can be seen in issues such as the governor’s focus on lifting a ban on smoking medical marijuana.
Gaetz was admitted to the Bar in 2008 after attending law school at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, according to information on The Florida Bar website. He has not faced any discipline from the Bar during the past 10 years.
Gaetz was elected to the Florida House in 2010 before winning an open seat in 2016 in Congressional District 1, a conservative stronghold. He has become a fixture on cable news shows supporting Trump..
by Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz during a roundtable meeting in Century last week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
$160,000 In Grant Funds To Replace 55-Year Old Century Mobile Home
February 28, 2019
A contract has been awarded for what will likely be the most expensive grant-funding housing replacement in the history of Century.
For many years, the town has participated in grant programs to rehabilitate or replace substandard housing for needy Century residents. The construction projects are done at little or no direct cost to the town.
The council recently awarded a $160,000 contract to low bidder Parker Customer Built Home to replace a 55-year old mobile home at 581 Church Street with a site-built home. The project will be funded with a Community Development Block Grant, which will not allow another mobile home as a replacement.
Mayor Henry Hawkins recently told the town council that he did not believe this much grant money had ever been spent to replace a house in Century.
Consultant Robin Phillips said the higher amount is due to rising construction costs following Hurricane Michael.
According to property records, the mobile home and property belong to Mark Ward, Janet Ward and Stephanie Miller with a mailing address in Orange Park, FL. There is a homestead exemption in place for a local resident.
The new home will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and will be handicap accessible.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ray’s Chapel Youth Thank First Responders In Century
February 28, 2019
Escambia Fire Rescue firefighters in Century received “care packages” and thank you cards from the youth at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid.
“Every month or two, we like to have our students come up with an idea for some sort of outreach. Something that allows them to encourage or support others while sharing their faith,” said Nikki Kelly, who teaches a high school Sunday School class at Ray’s Chapel along with her husband Daniel Kelley. “We started with Century volunteers, but hope to branch out to others as well in the future. It was completely the kids’ idea.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Science Honor Society Students Prep Roy Hyatt Greenhouse To Become Butterfly House
February 28, 2019
About 50 members of the Tate High School Science Honor Society volunteered Wednesday to clean out the inside of a greenhouse at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center (RHEC) as a service project. The greenhouse will be transformed into a butterfly house.
The project is funded by a $100,300 grant awarded by Impact 100. An existing building is being designed into an undersea classroom.
The students ended the day with a hike through some of the trail at RHEC. They saw a red shouldered hawk, white topped pitcher plants, pink sundew, lots of woodland birds, Cherokee rose vine in bloom, Carolina jessamine in bloom, mud armadillo digs, deer tracks, evidence of coyotes and more.
The facility is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
(The snake was not inside the greenhouse; it was part of a planned demonstration.)
Bratt Elementary School Names February Students Of The Month
February 28, 2019
Bratt Elementary School has named Students of the Month for February. They are:
Pre-K
Zyla Rothschild
Ta’kia Bush
Kindergarten
Nyla Rolin
Marshall Nall
Ka’Myiah Russell
Eliljah Peebles
First Grade
Gabriel Key
Mary Summerall
Brylee Peters
Riverly Heathcock
Joanh Carter
Second Grade
Jepp Godwin
Eric Anthony
Kyndal Hadley
Jaxon Byrd
Third Grade
Zachary Flowers
Camden Jacobson
Billy Zhang
Reese Jones
Shane Alexander
Fourth Grade
Presley Amos
Hallie Emmons
Hunter Griffis
Fifth Grade
Landon Watson
Jackson Simmons
Jackson Bridges
Zakehl Clemmons
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All-Star High School Soccer Game Rosters Announced
February 28, 2019
Pensacola Sports has announced the tentative rosters for the 11th Annual Subway High School All-Star Soccer game to be held Thursday at Ashton Brosnaham Park beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are $8 at the gate or $6 with a canned good or a student ID. Pensacola Sports is teaming with Manna Food Bank for a canned good drive and encouraging everyone to help families by bringing a canned good item.
WEST BOYS ROSTER
-Kenny Skinner of Escambia High School
Catholic – Nelson Libbert – MF/Striker
Catholic – William Hamrick – GK
Catholic – Quinton Endacot – CB
Catholic – John Kizziah – Def LB, CB
Catholic – John Carlson – Striker
Escambia – Breshon Bradford – GK
Escambia – Rachuan Coleman – Fullback
Escambia – Matthew Garza – Wing
Escambia – Liam Koebel – CB/Holding Mid
Pensacola – Jacob Ferris – MID/FWD
Pensacola – Kojo Dahn – FWD/CAM
Pine Forest – Marco Galvez – Def/Mid
Tate – Jake Estes – CB
Tate – Austin Johnson – Def
Washington – Logan Smith – F/CB
Washington – Jordan Roberts – CB
Washington – Dawson Kuba – MF
Washington – Jonathan Silva – LB/CDM
West Fl Tech – Mason Tampary – GK
West Fl Tech – Danny Ramos – MF/Striker
West Fl Tech – Justin Wamsley – Wing Def/ wing MF
West Fl Tech – Greg Hardy – Wing Def/ wing MF
EAST BOYS ROSTER
-Emidio DaGraca of Milton High School
Baker – Bryan Holley – D/MF/Holding
Choctaw – Tim Kiehu – GK
Choctaw – Frank Dalpine – CB
Crestview – Trevor Dahlgren – MF/Def
Crestview – Luke Lindenberger – Defender
Crestview – Reese Gomez – MF/Def
FWB – Garrett Ellis – GK
FWB – Andrew Mai – Def Mid
FWB – Daniel De Souza – LW
FWB – David Clark – Attck Mid
Gulf Breeze – Caleb Passmore – LW
Gulf Breeze – Christian McEwan – LB
Gulf Breeze – Colby Copeland – RW
Milton – Michael Oliveria – Mid/Striker
Navarre – Ethan Green – CB/RB
Navarre – Kenny Morillo – DM/CM/LB/LW
Navarre – Maison Fralick – DM/CM
Niceville – Anthony Morales – GK
Niceville – Caleb Stalnaker – CM
Niceville – Luke Brockington – F
Pace – Caleb Confusione – Any
Pace – Isaac Kelly – Any
Rocky Bayou – Cade Eason – LB
WEST GIRLS ROSTER
-Head Coach, Mike Cantin of Escambia High School
Catholic – Caroline Buer – Def/Fw
Catholic – Victoria Toellner – CM
Escambia – Brianna Pope – Fw
Pensacola – Lillian Wiggins – CB
Pensacola – Mimi Sherrill – Holding MF/Back
Pine Forest – Karla Salazar – GK
Tate – Makenna Stafford – CM
Tate – Abbie McCammon – MF/D/GK
Tate – Kara Killam – F/Mid
Tate – McKenna Royer – Def
Tate – Jazmine Endress – F
Tate – Emma Williams – F/Mid
Washington – Carlisle Gaston – Back
Washington – Jenna Stevens – Mid
Washington – Simone Fletcher – FW
Washington – Sara Paulsen – FW
West FL Tech – Jasmine Paynter – GK
West FL Tech – Brooke Carr – M,D
West FL Tech – Haleigh Carter – D
West FL Tech – Ginger Huggins – M,D
West FL Tech – Deandra Lowe – D,M
EAST GIRLS ROSTER
-Head Coach, Rob Simon of Navarre High School
Choctaw – Cassie Cole – DMF
Choctaw – Carolyn Castelin – MF/FW
Crestview – Melea Stokes – Def
Gulf Breeze – Katie Player – CM
Gulf Breeze – Nicole Manderson – GK
Gulf Breeze – Sydney Wood – Def
Milton – Niaya Wells – CB
Milton – MC Mina – Cent Mid
Navarre – Rosie Martino – GK
Navarre – Anaka Madril – MF
Navarre – Jennifer Seward – FW/MF
Navarre – Jessika Seward – GK
Navarre – Jocelyn Fernandez – MF
Niceville – Avery Hanson – Center Back
Niceville – Brayden Thomas – Center mid/Cb
Niceville – Kayla Fernandez – center mid
Niceville – Liliana Fernandez – center mid
Niceville – Yazmyne Valencia – OB/ Outside Mid
Pace – Destiny Kornegay – Outside Def
Pace – Valerie Goodwin – CM
Rocky Bayou – Alicyn Grete – Striker/Mid
Rocky Bayou – Kara Lawson – Center Mid
Eastbound Bike Lane Closed On Nine Mile Road
February 28, 2019
The dedicated, eastbound bike lane on Nine Mile Road between Surrey Drive and Highway 29 in Escambia County has been closed to accommodate widening activities. Bicyclists and motorists will share the eastbound travel way until the completion of the project.
The area closed is about three miles, from the Walmart entrance west of Pine Forest Road and east to Highway 29.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to obey the 35-mph speed limit and to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone. Motorists should also watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Showers, Maybe A Thunderstorm
February 28, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Alabama Governor Proposes 10-Cent Gas Tax Increase For Roads
February 28, 2019
Alabama’s governor is proposing a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase.
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced her Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan at a press conference, alongside a host of legislators, stakeholder groups and other state and local officials.
The Rebuild Alabama plan proposes a 10-cent increase in Alabama’s fuel tax with an index designed to coincide with the rising costs of building roads. The state currently imposes a flat excise tax of 18 cents-per-gallon on gas and 19 cents-per-gallon on diesel, without adjusting for inflation and other construction and maintenance costs.
This combined fuel tax revenue generates 80 percent of Alabama’s transportation funding. The plan’s 10-cent increase will be phased in over the next three years.
New revenue generated by the increase will be dispersed between state, county, and municipal governments in Alabama. These funds are to be used for transportation infrastructure improvement, preservation and maintenance projects. A separate portion of the revenues will go to pay a bond to be issued to finance improvements to the ship channel providing access to the facilities of the Alabama State Docks.
“My Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan is a comprehensive approach to a glaring issue affecting citizens in every corner of the state,” Governor Ivey said. “After 27 years of stagnation, adequate funding is imperative to fixing our many roads and bridges in dire need of repair. By increasing our investment in infrastructure, we are also making a direct investment in public safety, economic development, and the prosperity of our state.”
A 2019 report by the University of Alabama’s Alabama Transportation Institute and Alabama Transportation Policy Research Center found that cars and trucks are putting approximately 69 billion miles on Alabama’s roadways annually, a 17 percent increase over the past 15 years.
With more travelers on the road, areas of congestion and public safety are a major concern. One-third of all traffic fatalities are estimated to be a direct result of a deficient roadway feature, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
State Representative Bill Poole has been instrumental in the crafting of this plan and will sponsor the Rebuild Alabama bill during the 2019 Regular Legislative Session.
“Today’s announcement is a major step in the right direction to improving Alabama’s infrastructure. I appreciate Governor Ivey for leading the charge and allowing me to help develop this plan,” Rep. Poole said. “A number of studies have concluded that Alabama’s aging infrastructure cannot continue to operate in its current state without severe consequences; these are simply facts we can’t ignore.”
According to TRIP, a national transportation research group, 30 percent of major roads and highways in Alabama are in poor or mediocre condition because of inadequate state and local funding. In 2015, Alabama’s roads received a D+ grade in a report card released by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ideally, county road resurfacing should operate on a 15-year schedule; yet, county governments are currently operating on a 56-year schedule. Additionally, a striking 1,200 bridges are classified as structurally deficient in Alabama, ranking the state as 17th in the nation. Even worse, counties should be operating on a 50-year bridge replacement schedule, but they are actually operating at a rate of 186 years.
State Senator Clyde Chambliss, who represents parts of rural Alabama, will carry the bill in the Senate.
“With one of the South’s biggest ports and the state’s growing economic development success, improving our poor infrastructure system allows us to remain competitive nationally and globally,” Sen. Chambliss said. “As a civil engineer, I applaud Governor Ivey’s efforts to address this pressing issue and look forward to working with stakeholders, from all levels of government, to ensure her infrastructure bill is successful.”
State government currently provides 40 percent of Alabama’s total transportation funding, while the rest comes from the federal government. However, increasing uncertainty about federal infrastructure funding has created a sense of urgency for states to have reliable funding sources.
Pictured: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday proposed a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.