Overall Crime Rate Falls in Escambia County
June 25, 2019
The total crime rate in Escambia County dropped last year, according to a report released Monday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The overall crime rate dropped by 6.2 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to the report, and the number of crimes solved increased from 29.7 to 31.9 percent. The number of murders dropped from 19 to 12. In the other major crime categories the total numbers dropped for robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and larceny. The number of rapes and motor vehicle thefts increased.
The countywide report covers crimes investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and other agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol, FDLE, University of West Florida Police and the Pensacola State College Police Department.
The statewide crime rate in Florida fell by 9 percent, according to the 2018 Annual Uniform Crime Report, marking the 48th consecutive year Florida has seen a drop in its crime rate. The report also shows a 7.4 percent decrease of total index crimes, with 45,154 fewer reported offenses compared to 2017.
Cantonment Man Gets Seven Years For Trafficking Meth
June 25, 2019
A Cantonment man stopped by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies for a window tint violation has been sentenced to state prison for drug trafficking.
Dalan Lamar Beasley, 29 Beasley pleaded no contest to trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison and received $100,000 fine plus various court costs and fees. He was immediately remanded into custody following his conviction.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in an unmarked vehicle conducted a traffic stop January 18 on a Dodge Dart driven by a female on West Hope Drive, near I-10 and Highway 29, due to the dark window tint on the vehicle.
When Beasley exited the passenger side of the vehicle, he did not comply with multiple orders from the deputies, according to an arrest report. Instead, he struggled against deputies and placed his hand down his pants. As he continued to “violently resist” he was tased before being taken into custody.
During a search, deputies found a bag containing methamphetamine in Beasley’s groin area. Inside they car, they found a marijuana cigarette.
The female driver received warnings for a window tint violation and improperly wearing a seat belt.
Century Cuts Splash Pad Hours Due To Programming Mistake
June 25, 2019
The Town of Century has cut hours for their splash pad due to a mistake, and it will be closed Tuesday due to a water leak.
On Saturday, NorthEscambia.com reported that when checked on Friday, the first day of summer, the splash pad was not working shortly after 5 p.m., and numerous readers reported it had been shutting off two hours early for weeks. The water would stop flowing daily at 5 p.m. instead of the 7 p.m. advertised by the town.
On Monday, the town said that “due to unexpected programming errors” the splash pad will now be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Pictured: The Century splash pad on a very hot Friday, the first day of summer, at about 5:30 p.m. The splash pad was not working. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate JV, Freshmen Cheerleaders Place At FSU Camp
June 25, 2019
The Tate High School junior varsity and freshmen cheerleading squads won several awards at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp this past weekend at Florida State University.
The JV squad earned straight superiors on their evaluations. They were first place in Cheer and Rally Routine and second place in the open division for Overall Game Day Performance.
The freshmen squad finished the weekend with straight superiors, fourth place for Cheer and third place in Overall Game Day and Rally Routine. They were were the only freshmen team competing against all JV teams in their division.
McKenzie Alfred, Kaleigh Chism, Jada Floyd, Autumn Johnson and Kainey Patrick, were named “Pin It Forward” recipients.
Alfred, Chism, Floyd, Patrick, Paige Foxworth and Karigan Kowal were also selected as UCA All-American Cheerleaders.
The Tate cheer program also earned the Leadership Award, which is voted on by the athletes at the camp. This award recognizes teams who inspire leadership on and off the field. Teams voted for one team that they would want to be a part of as a cheerleader.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Hot One, But Some Will Get Heat Relief From Rain
June 25, 2019
Tuesday will be another hot day, but a some lucky people will get heat relief from a scattered shower. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Light north wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
NEP Blue 8U Wins All-Star Tournament
June 25, 2019
NEP Blue won the 8U Coach Pitch All-Star Tournament this past weekend in Gulf Breeze. During tournament play, NEP Blue went a perfect 5-0 outscoring opponents 55-30.
Team members are Sean Smith, Coleman Godfrey, Parker White, Trenton Godwin, Nate Rieland ,mason Williams, Bryson Barberi, Carson Ohman, Grayson Mclellan, Grayson Miller , Tysen Faulkner, Talan Williams and Austin Land. Coaches are Allen Miller, Tim Land, Joe Barberi, Jack Ohman, Bobby Godfrey and Greg Mclellan.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Griffin Jax Throws Seven Scoreless Innings In Hard-Luck Wahoos Loss
June 25, 2019
With his teammates facing a major league starter Monday night, Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Griffin Jax knew he had to match on the mound.
The Air Force Academy grad performed even better.
Jax worked a season-best, seven shutout innings, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rallied in the eighth inning against the Blue Wahoos’ bullpen for a 4-2 win in the deciding, series finale to start the second half schedule at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Miami Marlins lefthander Caleb Smith, pitching for Jacksonville on an injury rehab assignment, tied an all-time Southern League record with eight consecutive strikeouts as part of the 11 he recorded in 4.1 innings.
Even with that, the Blue Wahoos led 2-0 against Smith, who has pitched in 37 major league games, including 12 starts this season with the Marlins.
Smith won his first four starts this season against Philadelphia (twice), Washington and Cleveland before developing a left hip inflammation, which placed him on the injured list since June 7.
Monday night, his second pitch was blasted by Travis Blankenhorn over the right field wall for a lead off homer. It was Blankenhorn’s 13th homer this season, tied for the Southern League best, as he continues being the Blue Wahoos’ bright spot in the offense.
From that point, however, Smith was virtually unhittable. He struck out the next eight batters until Blankenhorn grounded out to end the third inning and end the strikeout streak.
In the fifth inning, Mark Contreras led off with a homer against Smith for a 2-0 lead.
The lead held up well behind Jax and his stellar performance. Jax retired the first 10 batters he faced in order.
Riley Mahan broke up the perfection with a fourth-inning single, then Brian Miller singled with one out. Jax pitched out of the jam by getting two flyouts – the latter with runners on second and third.
Jax then retired the Jumbo Shrimp in order the next three innings. He has allowed only 11 earned runs this season on 12 starts with the Blue Wahoos.
Unfortunately for Jax and the Blue Wahoos, the Jumbo Shrimp pounced on relievers Jeff Ames and Sam Clay for four runs in the eighth inning that decided the game.
The unraveling began when Stone Garrett led off the eighth with a single, then stole second base against Ames. Adrian Nieto walked. Anfernee Seymour lined a double to left, scoring Garrett.
After a mound visit, Blue Wahoos fill-in manager Steve Singleton, the team’s hitting coach, who worked the series as manager while Ramon Borrego took an extended vacation break, brought in left hander Sam Clay.
The first batter he faced, Corey Bird, tied the game with a single. With one out, Brian Miller hit a hard grounder that deflected off Clay’s glove, scoring the go-ahead run. Justin Twine’s two-out single scored Miller with the fourth run.
The Blue Wahoos, who managed only three hits in the game while striking out 15 times for a second consecutive day, were held scoreless by three Jumbo Shrimp relievers. The trio combined to allow no walks, one hit, four strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Alex Kirilloff had the Blue Wahoos only other hit with his sixth-inning single.
The Blue Wahoos (40-35, 2-3 in second half) returned to Pensacola across Interstate-10, arriving early Tuesday and will begin a five-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday night.
The Shuckers, winners of the first half South Division crown, swept the Blue Wahoos in a defining, five-game series three weeks ago, prior to the Southern League All-Star game in Biloxi.
The Jumbo Shrimp (32-43), who finished tied for last in the first half, had lost 10 of 12 games against the Blue Wahoos before winning the final three games of this series.
Firefighters Extinguish Kitchen Fire, Saving Home And Several Pets
June 24, 2019
Quick work by Escambia County Fire Rescue saved not only a home, but also several family pets in Gonzalez Monday evening.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a kitchen fire in the home on Rachel Circle just before 7 p.m. They rescued cat and parakeet from the home, two dogs from the backyard and also had a second cat outside safe from the fire. There were no injuries to people or pets reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Large Hay Barn In Bratt (With Video)
June 24, 2019
Fire destroyed a large hay barn in Bratt Monday afternoon.
The blaze reportedly spread from a field to the barn, but the cause of the fire was not immediately available. The 2,250 square-foot barn was about 130 feet from the nearest structure; there were no other structures damaged.
The fire was reported about 4:20 p.m. behind a home in the 4500 block of West Highway 4, across the street from the Travis M. Nelson Park. The fire was declared under control by 6 p.m. The hay bales were expected to continue smoldering through the night.
The Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Looks To Form Charter Review Committee
June 24, 2019
The Town of Century is accepting applicants for a Charter Review Committee.
Applicants must reside within the town limits and submit an application by 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 25.
If the town council goes forward, the committee will explore the town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The current Century charter has not been updated in almost 40 years.
The town council held a workshop in May with Lynn Tipton of the Florida League of Cities explained to the council that municipal governments in Florida often review and update their charters to meet the ever-changing landscape of government.
The Century town charter was adopted on November 27, 1979, and ratified by referendum on January 8, 1980. It has been unchanged since.
Tipton said the first step toward possible changes to Century’s charter would be the formation of a charter revision committee. The committee would hold several public forums and would work to involve local citizens every step of the way in a process that could easily take a year.
“The role of citizens in this process is crucial,” Tipton said.” Representation of the public, ability to weigh issues and to understand the charter’s importance of the city’s governing foundation.”
The number of council members, the length of their terms and how the mayor is selected could all be changed through an updated charter.
To download an application (PDF), click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.