Lower Minimum Age For Prison Guards Passes Florida House Committees
March 29, 2019
Thursday, a bill that would allow 18-year old corrections officers in Florida passed its final committee in the House.
The bill, backed by the Florida Department of Corrections, unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee.
The minimum age for a corrections officer in Florida is currently 19. The 18-year old minimum, if passed would apply not only to the state prison system, but also to county jail in an effort to solve staffing issues.
A similar bill is working its way through the Florida Senate.
Pictured: Inside a prisoner dorm at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate Tennis Tops Navarre
March 29, 2019
The Tate High School boys tennis team is now 7-3 in the district, and the Tate girls are 8-2 with a win over Navarre Thursday night. Tate will host the Escambia Gators Tuesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nora Knowles
March 29, 2019
On March 26, 2019 Nora Knowles age 82, received her angel wings. Nora was fondly known to many as Nana. She was blessed to have been a stay at home wife and mother. Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother. She loved children and was a Nana to many. She was a warm and loving person who enjoyed camping, needlework, gardening, her cats and thrift store shopping.
In March of 2010 she lost her husband Frankie who was the love of her life and best friend. Then in March of 2013, she lost her grandson Branden Penegar. Today there is a joyous reunion in heaven. Nora had a strong Christian faith and loved God.
She is survived by her daughters, Tammie Penegar and Rhonda Lawson and grandsons, Tyler Penegar, Ryan Porter and Rhen Porter.
Brother Michael Ramsey and daughter Tammie Penegar will be sharing words of comfort and praise.
Serving as pallbearers were Tyler Penegar, Ryan Porter, Rhen Porter, Elbert Penegar, Royce Frederick, David Meredith.
Funeral services were held March 29, 2019, at Faith Chapel North.
Interment was at Cottage Hill Baptist Church.
Brenda Murl Salter
March 29, 2019
Mrs. Brenda Murl Salter, age 65, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at her home in Flomaton, Alabama.
Mrs. Salter was a native of Brewton, AL and had resided in Flomaton, AL for most of her life. She was a loving mother and grandmother, caring and loving to all. She was an avid fisherman and was a member of the McCullough Christian Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tommie and Seney Shivers and sister, Lorie Matlock.
She is survived by her two sons, William J. (Megan) Salter, III of Pensacola, FL and Matthew A. Salter of Flomaton, AL; and three grandchildren, Madison, Garrett and Caitlyn.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, March 31, 2019, at 5 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Tommy Smith officiating.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 31, 2019 from 4 p.m. until memorial service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Shooting Sleeping Man
March 29, 2019
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a sleeping man last year.
Barry Locklear III, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of attempted first degree premeditated murder with a firearm. The jury also found Locklear to be in actual possession of a firearm, that he discharged the firearm and caused great bodily harm.
On January 27, 2018, Locklear was involved in an argument with the victim regarding Locklear’s girlfriend. Locklear pulled a gun and threatened the victim during the argument.
The victim walked away and went to sleep. Shortly thereafter, the victim woke up to Locklear shooting him. The victim was shot in the face, the chest and the arm. Locklear then fled the scene with the firearm.
He was apprehended on February 4, 2018, in possession of a firearm matching the description given to law enforcement the day of the shooting. He was captured at the corner of Pine Forest and Stratford Road, near the 5 Flags Speedway.
Locklear has several prior convictions including convictions for assault on a female, assault, communicating threats, sell or delivery of a controlled substance, breaking and/or entering, larceny after breaking and/or entering, possessing with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
West Florida Softball Defeats Gulf Breeze; Pine Forest Baseball Tops Crestview
March 29, 2019
West Florida 3, Gulf Breeze 1
Both teams were strong on the rubber Thursday ,but the West Florida Jags defeated Gulf Breeze 3-1. Jeya Prasad allowed just two hits to Gulf Breeze.
Prasad was the winning pitcher for the Lady Jags. She lasted seven innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out 15 and walking zero.
West Florida J racked up seven hits. MacKenzee Mcbride and Kenzi Wiley each racked up multiple hits the Lady Jags
Pine Forest 14, Crestview 1
Pine Forest Scored eight runs in the fourth on its way to a 14-1 victory over Crestview on Thursday.
Tekoah Roby, Nolan Rigby, Christian Munoz, Jaylen Bryant, Bryce Alderman, and Timmy Williams each had RBIs in the fourth.
Pine Forest fired up the offense in the first inning; the Eagles scored one run when Jason Roberts tripled.
Pine Forest put the pressure on, lead by walks by Rigby and Munoz, singles by Williams and Wyatt Gill, doubles by Roby and Alderman, and by Bryant.
Roberts was credited with the victory for Pine Forest. He allowed three hits and one run over four innings. Jared Riddell threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Pine Forest collected 10 hits on the day. Roberts and Roby managed multiple hits for Pine Forest.
Paula Vardeman
March 29, 2019
Paula “KieAnn” Vardeman a native of Pensacola, Florida passed away on March 26, 2019, at the age of 69.
KieAnn was born on September 17, 1949 to the late Sam Huggins and Grace Ward Huggins. For most of KieAnn’s life she did what she loved and that was waitressing. She loved being around people and taking with them. She also loved that she had learned just enough technology to become a member on FB. Reuniting with old friends and family gave her great joy. But KieAnn’s favorite hobby was being “DanDan” to her great grandbabies and nothing could put a smile on her face bigger than watching and cheering them on at any sports or school activity.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Travis Griner; and son-in-law, Rin Jones.
KieAnn is survived by her sweetheart of 40 years, Gene Vardeman; daughters, Sonja (TJ) Davidson and Kendra (Jimmy) Jones; sons, Gene (Dawn) Vardeman, Jr. and Winston (Julie) Vardeman; sister, Marsell (Jacky) Parker; eight grandchildren, Samantha Luker, Christopher Jones, Thaddeus Jones, Sebastian Jones, Dylan Griner, Levi Vardeman, Logan Vardeman, and Deslynn Davidson; seven great-grandchildren, Kayson, Payton, Ava, Eli, Kael, Kallan, and Kota; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Ronnie Carnley officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery in Bratt, Florida.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to services.
Pallbearers will be Jackson Smith, Dillion Vardenman, Thaddeus Jones, Christopher Jones, Mike Cooley, and Sebastian Jones.
Dan Rudd, Lane Shiver, David Huggins, David Vardeman, and her great-grandchildren will act as honorary pallbearers.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
All Aboard Plan To Reduce Train Delays In Cantonment
March 28, 2019
Governmental leaders, International Paper and two railroads are continuing to work to reduce the number of delays caused by trains blocking crossings in Cantonment.
In late January, Florida Sen. Doug Broxson and Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry met with CSX and International Paper to discuss the problem. Broxson and Barry learned there are four parallel tracks beds on the IP property just west of the crossing that merge into a single track across Highway 29. Those tracks are not managed by CSX; they are operated by the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (AGR). AGR was not part of the initial discussions in January.
On March 12, IP’s Pensacola Mill host a meeting between CSX and AGR to discuss the problem.
On Wednesday, IP hand delivered a letter to Broxson and Barry confirming AGR is now on board with the effort to reduce blocked crossings.
“After discussion, both companies were able to identify opportunities within their systems to make improvements in their service both inside and outside of the Pensacola Mill, particularly with respect to operation issues along their lines in areas away from the mill,” IP Pensacola Mill Manager Scott Taylor wrote in the letter. “These improvements would speed their service and limit the amount of time that Highway 29 was blocked on any given day.”
“The Pensacola Mill will continue to monitor rail service and will immediately communicate any issues directly to the railroad companies,” Taylor continued. “As a customer of both CSX and AGR, we are pleased with the transparent conversations and open communication with all parties involved.”
“We take our responsibility to be great neighbors very seriously,” Taylor concluded.
“I’m very pleased to see that our three private corporate partners followed through with the cooperative spirit from our January meeting,” Barry said after receiving Wednesday’s letter. “I want to thank International Paper, CSX, and AGR for all working together to improve the quality of life for not only my constituents in District 5, but also for all the citizens of Escambia County. Also, I want to thank Senator Broxson again for hosting the January meeting, and I’m optimistic about an improved commute for all the people who travel Highway 29.”
In February, CSX also proposed a plan to keep their stopped trains from completely blocking the Cottage Hill area east of Highway 95A. For trains under 10,000 feet, CSX trains that stop to service a Cantonment customer will be pulled far enough south that they will not block the neighborhood. That’s because the McKenzie Road crossing will remain open, Barry said. A stopped train over 10,000 feet will initially block the neighborhood, but CSX will break the train at Eden Lane as soon as possible.
Barry also said real time communication between Escambia County and the railroad would help solve public safety issues. There are documented incidents where fire trucks and EMS units were unable to respond to medical emergencies in blocked neighborhoods due to stopped trains.
Pictured below: Escambia County Fire and EMS vehicles blocked from responding to emergency calls by a train on Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola, Century Mayors Join ‘Mayors Day’ In Tallahassee
March 28, 2019
Dozens of mayors from across Florida, including Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson and Century Mayor Henry Hawkins, descended on Tallahassee Wednesday for “Mayors Day at the Capitol” sponsored by the Florida League of Mayors.
The mayors are concerned about dozens of bills and the attack on “home rule” — allowing each city and town to craft its laws specifically to its own unique needs instead of increased state control of local issues.
Robinson also met one-on-one with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Pictured: Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson (left) met with Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smokable Medical Marijuana Now Available In Escambia County
March 28, 2019
Smokable medical marijuana is now being sold in dispensaries in Northwest Florida, including Escambia County.
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis legalized the smokable-flower form of medical marijuana in the state. Within days, the product was available in dispensaries like Trulieve in Pensacola.
According to the Florida Department of Health, there are nearly 200,000 patients in the state qualified for smokable medical marijuana, and about 2,000 doctors qualified to issue prescriptions.