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Manhunt Reported In Gonzalez After Traffic Stop

A manhunt was underway in Gonzalez Monday afternoon.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop at Highway 95A and Archer Road during the three o’clock hour. A white male reportedly ran from the vehicle.

Deputies were observed searching a vehicle pulled into the backyard of a home near the intersection.

A spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was unable to provide additional details.

Readers reported that Highway 95A and Pauline Street were closed or had delays between Old Chemstrand Road and Archer Road as of 3:45 p.m.

Pictured top: Deputies search a vehicle Monday afternoon near Highway 95A and Archer Road. Pictured below: The intersection of Highway 95A and Archer Road. Pictured bottom: A deputy blocks Pauline Street near the Gonzalez Baptist Church. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Assistant County Administrator Coughlin Resigns; Cites ‘Tribalism’, Failure of Mission

Monday, Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin  submitted his resignation, effective in 90 days.

In his resignation letter, Coughlin thanked former County Administrator Jack Brown, Interim Administrator Amy Lovoy, County Attorney Alison Rogers and department directors before writing “Regrettably, today in Escambia County there is neither the ability or willingness to rise to the occasion and lead together. Rather, those with the capability to help reverse this downward progression have resorted to tribalism. Its effects are pervasive and wide ranging. Unfortunately, along the way, our mission has become a failure and our citizens have become the casualty.”

Coughlin recently assumed the day-t0-day duties of public safety director after the resignation of Mike Weaver. He also oversaw the Public Works, Building Services, Parks and Recreation, Corrections, Waste Services, Developmental Services and Engineering departments. He was hired in 2017 after working as assistant director at the Pensacola International Airport.

In addition to Coughlin and Weaver, Lovoy, Fire Chief Rusty Nail and Human Resources Director Erik Kleinert have all resigned in recent weeks.

An Easter Day Miracle: A Lost Flip-Flop Leads To The Discovery Of A Lost Senior Citizen

Some are calling it an Easter Day miracle.

It’s a story that involves a lost elderly man, a lost flip-flop and an a happy ending to what could have been a very bad situation.

Clifford Reynolds, 83, drove left his home on Gulf Beach Highway about 6 p.m. Friday, and was spotted driving his white Chevrolet Avalanche in Brewton just over four hours later. He wasn’t seen again until a chance discovery Sunday afternoon, well after a silver alert had been issued.

Terrie Bickford said her family visits Spring Lake on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment a lot of weekends. Easter Sunday was no different, other than the kids in the group were riding 4-wheelers in a different area of the woods.

“They all came back except for my son Nicholas ” she said. “He lost his flip-flop and went back to get it. After a while, his younger sister said we better go back and get him because he had not returned.”

When Nicholas Deleon, 12, went back into the woods for his flip-flop, he found a white Chevrolet Avalanche on wooded trail. Beside the truck was a man on the ground – missing senior Clifford Reynolds. He wasn’t sure how long he had been in the woods or how exactly he got there.

Reynolds was transported to an area hospital for evaluation, but was believed to be in good shape, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m glad the kids were playing back there. They don’t go back there very often,” Bickford said. “It was a good Easter miracle.”

For more details on Reynolds and his rescue, click here.

Pictured top: A group of friends there were riding 4-wheelers in the woods at Spring Lake in Cantonment Sunday afternoon. Pictured inset: First responders in the woods with missing senior Clifford Reynolds. Pictured below: Sgt. Delarian Wiggins of theEscambia County Sheriff’s Office presented 12-year old Nicholas Deleon with a challenge coin for finding Reynolds. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

No Injuries In Jacks Branch Road Hit And Run Crash

There were no serious injuries in a crash involving three vehicles Sunday night on Jacks Branch Road.

The crash happened about 8:35 p.m. near Pepin Lane, about a mile south of River Annex Road. The crash reportedly involved a car that was parked off the roadway, a SUV and a pickup truck.

Initial reports indicated the driver of a Nissan Xterra fled the scene. Everyone else involved in the crash refused medical transport.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released any more information.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

One Minor Injury Reported In Molino Highway 29 Wreck

One minor injury was reported in a two-vehicle wreck about 8:30 Sunday night on Highway 28 near Stout Road in Molino.

One northbound lane of Highway 29 was closed by the crash for about four hours.

The crash was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not released.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Holman Contraband Raid Finds 356 Weapons, 400 Pills, Other Drugs, Phones

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is calling an illegal contraband sweep last week at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore a success.

As we first reported last Thursday, ADOC  along with local, county and state law enforcement conducted the joint operation . Officials conducted the day-long operation that began at 4:30 a.m. and ended late Thursday evening.  ADOC Director of Investigations and Intelligence, Arnaldo Mercado said the operation was an overall success.

“At the end of the day, our ADOC team assisted by officers from our partnering law enforcement agencies found and removed considerable quantities of contraband.  We inspected every inch of the facility and left no stone unturned,” Mercado said.

Officials seized large quantities illegal drugs, weapons, cellphones and various types of electronic devices.  The operation recovered 356 makeshift weapons,  91 grams of meth, 98 grams of marijuana, cocaine, more than 400 assorted pills, and 16 cell phones.

Corrections Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Charles Daniels, led the operation with assistance from ADOC investigations and intelligence agents, correctional emergency response teams, and correctional K-9 drug units.  Supporting law enforcement included Pardons and Paroles, AEMA, ADOT, Atmore, Bay Minette, Brewton Police Departments, and support from the Baldwin, Butler, Escambia and Monroe County Sheriff’s Departments.

Pictured top and bottom: Some of the contraband discovered during a raid early Thursday morning at Holman Prison in Atmore. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Nice Weather Continues, And It’s Getting Warmer

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

District Runner-up Tate High Girls Tennis Headed To Regionals This Week

The Tate High School girls tennis team is headed to regionals on Tuesday.

Last week, Tate won the District 1-3A runner-up title 4-3  over Pace High. Tuesday, they will travel to Tallahassee to face Tallahassee Chiles.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Wahoos Get 8-5 Easter Sunday Win

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a pair of home runs from Jaylin Davis and Ernie De La Trinidad and a clutch, late heads up defensive play to beat the Mobile BayBears 8-5 on Easter Sunday, improving their record to a league-best 12-5 on the season.

RHP Jorge Alcala took the ball for the Blue Wahoos for the fourth time this season and delivered his fourth win. The righty was excellent early, allowing just one hit through the first four innings. In the fifth, he finally ran into problems, allowing five runs on two home runs (Brendon Sanger and Brandon Marsh), a double, two singles, and a walk. The crooked inning was the first blemish for a Blue Wahoos starting staff that entered the evening with a 1.39 ERA.

The Blue Wahoos offense had Alcala’s back. Jordan Gore led off the bottom of the first with a double and game in to score on a single by Taylor Grzelakowski. The Wahoos added five runs in the third, stringing together a single by De La Trinidad, double by Caleb Hamilton, and home run by Davis to go up 4-0. Grzelakowski followed with a walk, and Luis Arraez doubled him to third. Jimmy Kerrigan singled home Grzelakowski and a Joe Cronin sacrifice fly plated Arraez and made it 6-0.

Two more runs crossed the plate for Pensacola in the fourth. De La Trinidad led off the inning with a no doubt homer to right. Hamilton followed with a single, and Davis doubled him to third. Grzelakowski lofted a sac fly to center to make it 8-0.

After Mobile put the five-spot on Alcala in the fifth, LHP Tyler Jay tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Wahoos, striking out four. Rehabbing LHP Gabriel Moya entered in the eighth and opened the inning with a pair of strikeouts, but then allowed a single and two walks to load the bases.

Dusten Knight entered with the bases full and two outs. He uncorked a wild pitch, but the ball took a friendly hop off the backstop to catcher Brian Navarreto. The Blue Wahoos defense caught the BayBears in a rundown, completing an unusual 2-4-3-5 putout, ending the inning with Hamilton chasing down the runner from third and making a sprawling tag at the plate for the final out.

There was less drama in the ninth, as Knight set down the side in order, striking out the final two hitters to earn his fourth save of the season. He capped off the Blue Wahoos win with a signature backflip.

Hamilton was 3-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and two runs. Arraez was 2-2 with a triple, a double, a walk, and a run scored. De La Trinidad and Davis each had two hits, including their homers.

Pensacola and Mobile will continue their five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium tomorrow evening at 6:35 PM with Twins top pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol on the mound.

Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Hot Spots

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Escambia County:

• ·            U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27.

• • Northbound U.S. 29 off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road: will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 19 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 22 to provide safe work zones for crews to construct partial segments of the future off and on-ramps. The following detour will be in place:
    • Nine Mile Road to U.S. 29 Northbound – Palafox Street, 9 ½ Mile Road, to U.S. 29.
    • U.S. 29 Northbound to Nine Mile Road – W. Hood Drive, Palafox Street, to Nine Mile Road.
  • Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
  • U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.

• U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Sunday, April 28:

• • U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
  • North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).

• State Road (S.R.) 296 (Bayou Boulevard) Turn lane Construction- The westbound, right turn lane on Bayou Boulevard, just east of Ninth Avenue, will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 as crews repave the turn lane.
• U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29-  Southbound Fowler Avenue at Nine Mile Road will be closed until 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27 as crews place drainage pipes across the roadway. Traffic will be detoured as follows:
  • Nine Mile Road east and westbound: Untreiner Avenue, Detroit Boulevard, Fowler Avenue.
  • Northbound Fowler Avenue: Detroit Boulevard, Cove Avenue or Untreiner Avenue
  • During the temporary closure, the left turn from westbound Nine Mile Road onto Untreiner Avenue will be reopened
• County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on County Road 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, are underway. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
• Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert.  Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
• Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4.  Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road.  The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
• Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4.  Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.

Santa Rosa County:

• S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday until Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
  • From U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road.
  • From U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road.

• U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Sunday, April 28:

• • U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
  • North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).

• I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) –Crews will be placing the final layer of asphalt on the following ramps between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
  • Wednesday, April 24, I-10 eastbound on-ramp.
  • Sunday, April 28, I-10 eastbound off-ramp.
  • Monday, April 29 I-10 westbound off-ramp.

Additionally, drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, and on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Friday, April 26 as crews perform construction activities.

• U.S. 98 Utility Operations from Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County east to Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County- Drivers will encounter intermittent and alternating lane restrictions between Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County and Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 and Wednesday, May 1 as Pike Electric performs routine maintenance on power lines. In addition, there will be intermittent daytime shoulder closures from Monday, April 22 until Thursday, May 2.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

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