Manhunt In Nokomis And Atmore For Escaped Prison Inmate
July 12, 2019
A manhunt was underway Friday in Nokomis and Atmore for an inmate that escaped from a work release center in Alabama Wednesday night, but he eluded capture.
The US Marshals and officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections were being assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department and other agencies.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. Authorities believe he was in the area of Rockaway Creek Road and Miller Road Friday. The manhunt was later expanded along Rockaway Creek Road in Atmore.
A perimeter was established and K-9 units were called to the scene. As of about 3 p.m., the original portion of Friday’s manhunt was called off. Authorities were still on the lookout for the escapee. By late afternoon, the manhunt had shifted to Highway 31 west of Atmore.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, AL.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida midday Friday. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Civilian Acts Canceled; Blue Angels Set To Fly Limited Performances
July 12, 2019
The civilian acts have been canceled for the Blue Angels Air Show at Pensacola Beach, and the Blue Angels will try to fly Saturday and Sunday.
The Blues will perform a limited show at 2 p.m. both days if the weather and winds fall within their limits.
The civilian acts were canceled due to winds from Tropical Storm Barry and a lack of availability of rescue units in the water.
The Santa Rosa Island Authority, FAA and Escambia County Emergency Management will decide at 8 a.m. Saturday if the Blue Angels will fly, and we’ll have the announcement on NorthEscambia.com.
In order to fly, the Blue Angels need the wind to be under 25 knots (28.76 mph) and a visibility of at least three nautical miles (3.45 statute miles).
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate High’s Kat Venettozzi Flies With The Blue Angels
July 12, 2019
Tate High School teacher and coach Kat Venettozzi flew with the Blue Angels Thursday morning in advance of the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
Venettozzi pulled 7.2 Gs and did not black out during her flight with U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot Lt. Cary Rickoff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Grades Are Out: How Did Your Child’s School Score?
July 12, 2019
School grades were released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education.
Among North Escambia area schools, Beulah, Bratt, Byrneville and Lipscomb elementary schools improved by one letter grade. At the middle school level, Ernest Ward also improved a letter grade. No North Escambia area school had a decline in their score.
Bratt, Lipscomb and Molino Park elementary schools are all A-ranked. Overall, the Escambia County School District received a B for the second consecutive year.
Here are the school grades for North Escambia area schools:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Beulah improved from a C to a B.
Bratt improved from a B to an A.
Byrneville improved from a C to a B.
Jim Allen held steady with a B.
Kingsfield received their first grade of a B.
Pine Meadow held steady with a B.
Lipscomb improved from a B to an A.
McArthur held steady at a C.
Molino Park remained an A school.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Beulah Academy remained at a C.
Beulah Middle received their first grade of a C.
Ernest Ward improved from a C to a B.
Ransom remained a B school.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Northview remained at a C.
Tate held steady with a B.
Complete Escambia County Scores:
Flash Flood Watch In Effect To Due Tropical Storm Barry (With Graphics, Local Forecast)
July 12, 2019
Tropical Storm Barry continues to move across the Gulf of Mexico toward a weekend landfall in Louisiana. For Escambia County, the biggest threats will be heavy rain of 4-7 inches with possible flooding, a high risk of risk currents and high surf of 5-8 feet.
There is a flash flood watch in effect until Sunday afternoon, and Escambia County has made free sand for sandbags available. For locations, click here.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
![[Image of probabilities of 34-kt winds]](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT02/refresh/AL022019_wind_probs_34_F120+png/024638.png)
![[Image of WPC QPF U.S. rainfall potential]](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT02/refresh/AL0219WPCQPF+gif/024638WPCQPF_sm.gif)
![[Image of WPC Flash Flooding/Excessive Rainfall Outlook]](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT02/refresh/AL0219WPCERO+gif/024638WPCERO_sm.gif)
Meet Maple: She Has A Nose For Tech And A Job With FDLE
July 12, 2019
Meet Maple. She has a nose for tech.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will official introduce Maple Thursday at the FDLE Pensacola Regional Operations Center. She is the agency’s first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) canine, capable of sniffing out electronic storage devices like thumb drives, cellphones, SD cards and more.
Maple is a 3-year-old rescued lab mix trained by FDLE Pensacola Special Agent Stephanie Cassidy.
Agent Cassidy, assigned to the Cyber Electronic Surveillance Support Team, trained Maple to search for hidden devices in cases where suspects may try to conceal their crimes by hiding storage devices.
“As we all know, criminals are only getting smarter with today’s technology. Having an ESD K9 can make all the difference during search warrants or area searches where it is suspected that an electronic device may have been hidden, especially with technology becoming smaller and smaller,”
Maple is the only ESD canine in the Panhandle and one of three statewide. She will be used to assist other law enforcement agencies upon request.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blood Drives Saturday At The Molino And Century Libraries
July 12, 2019
OneBlood will hold blood drives on Saturday at the Molino library from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and at the Century library from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. All blood types are needed.
OneBlood welcomes blood donations from donors 16 years old and older. Donors that are 16 years old must present a signed permission form from their parent or a guardian before the donation.
Pictured: The OneBlood Big Red Bus at the Molino Branch Library during a previous blood drive. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Animal Tales At The Molino Branch Library
July 12, 2019
The Summer Reading Program continued this week with Animal Tales at the branches of the West Florida Library.
Participants had a chance to get up close and personals with animals in a fun learning environment.
For more photos from the Molino Branch Library, click here.
Pictured: Animal Tales at the Molino Branch Library Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Application Period Is Now Open
July 12, 2019
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, according to the Florida Forest Service. Applications will be accepted through August 16.
“The southern pine beetle is one of the most economically devastating forest pests of the southeast,” said Jim Karels, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “Our desire is to help landowners take preventative action now, significantly reducing the risks and impacts associated with the southern pine beetle and improving the health and productivity of their pine forests.”
The last major southern pine beetle outbreaks occurred between 1999 and 2002, resulting in an estimated $59 million in timber losses. Since its inception in 2005, the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program has helped approximately 2,500 landowners on more than 187,000 acres.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant from the USDA Forest Service, is available to non-industrial private forest landowners in 44 Florida counties, the known range of the southern pine beetle. The program provides incentive payments to landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning. The program also offers partial cost reimbursement for activities such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine, which are less susceptible to southern pine beetle infestations.
Eligible landowners can apply for up to two practices per year. Funding requests may not exceed $10,000. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit FloridaForestService.com/SouthernPineBeetlePrevention.
Senate Confirms Wetherell As North Florida District Judge
July 12, 2019
The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge T. Kent Wetherell II to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Judge Wetherell has served the people of Florida for the past 20 years—first as a deputy solicitor general, then as an administrative law judge, and finally as an appellate judge on the First District Court of Appeal, where he has served with since 2009.
Pictured: appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 17, 2018. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.