Escambia County Man Killed In I-10 Crash
August 27, 2019
An Escambia County man was killed when he crashed into a concrete barrier wall on I-10 Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Jasson Skot Smith was traveling west on I-10 approaching Davis Highway when he lost control, left the roadway and struck a concrete barrier wall.
Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Open House Events Are Tonight
August 27, 2019
Open house events will be held at Escambia County School District high schools at 6:00 tonight.
Parents will have an opportunity to meet their student’s teachers and learn more about their expectations for the class and course content.
At Northview High School, parents and students will begin in the library.
At Tate High School, parents will begin the evening in their child’s homeroom to obtain a schedule before attending each class for five minutes.
Huge McDavid Solar Farm Set For Development Review Committee Approval
August 27, 2019
The Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) is set to review the final DRC application for a huge solar farm project in McDavid on Wednesday.
At 74.2 megawatts, the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center will generate enough electricity to power 15,000 homes annual, according to Gulf Power. By comparison, Gulf Power’s largest solar field at Saufley Field is 50 megawatts, enough to power almost 7,400 homes.
NorthEscambia.com was first to report last December that facility was planned for West Bogia Road. At that time, it was dubbed the “Escambia County Solar Energy Center” on 541 acres. Now, documents filed with Escambia County are calling the project the Gulf Power Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on about 640 acres. Only 353.18 acres will be disturbed.
The development is planned for an area north of West Bogia Road between South Pine Barren Road and Highway 29, just west of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
There are currently no homes on the project property.
No water or sewer infrastructure will be necessary to serve the development, and no habitable space will be constructed. The facility will be monitored remotely and will not require onsite personnel for day-to-day operation, but personnel will occasionally visit the site to conduct required maintenance activities, according to previously filed documents.
Once the project makes it through the permitting process, it is expected to create 200-250 jobs during peak construction.
Dorian Continues On Path Toward Puerto Rico
August 27, 2019
Tropical Storm Dorian is expected to cross Puerto Rico Wednesday into Thursday. The cone of uncertainty shows Dorian approaching the Florida peninsula by weekend.
It is now yet known if Dorian will end up the Gulf of Mexico next week.
The latest information on Dorian is in the graphics on this page.
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National TV Show Features Local Sister Murder Story
August 27, 2019
A documentary show on national television Monday night explored the case of a Northview High School student that shot and killed her sister in 2011 in an argument over a cellphone.
The episode “A Shot in the Dark” on the series “Twisted Sisters” aired on Investigation Discovery and is now available for streaming from the network.
Elena Janelle Rendell — who was 17 at the time of the August 3, 2011, shooting — was convicted as a youthful offender for shooting 14-year old Christina Marie Sneary, a former Molino resident.
Rendell was sentenced to one year in the county jail, with no credit for nearly one year she spent behind bars awaiting trial. She also received five years probation. The reduced sentence was due to Rendell’s mental capacity at the time of the shooting.
She was also ordered to continue with mental health counseling and treatment.
The two girls had recently moved with their mother from Sunset View Lane in Molino to the 7600 block of Kipling Street in the Ferry Pass community.
Rendell told deputies that she began to argue with Sneary over a cell phone. During the argument, Rendell ran into her parent’s bedroom and retrieved her father’s 9 mm handgun from the top of a television shelf that stood about 12-feet high. Rendell then pointed the handgun at her 14-year old sister and fired a single gunshot into the right side of Sneary’s neck. Sneary died a short time later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The show was filmed in Escambia County back in February.
44 Blue’s recent crime and justice programming includes HBO’s top-rated documentary “Rock and A Hard Place,” produced in association with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, which took an in-depth look at an alternative sentencing program for young offenders in Miami. 44 Blue is also known for A&E’s top-rated “Nightwatch,” produced in association with Dick Wolf, MSNBC’S “Lockup,” the longest running prison documentary series on television, and its trio of spinoff series “Lockup: Raw,” “Lockup: World Tour” and “Life After Lockup,” as well as Animal Planet’s number-one rated “Pit Bulls & Parolees,” currently airing its ninth season.
Library Board Of Governance Meets In Century, Plans September Molino Meeting
August 27, 2019
The West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance held their regular August board meeting Monday at the Century Branch Library.
The board establishes policy and oversees the management of the West Florida Public Libraries and makes annual budget recommendations to the Escambia County Commission.
Four of the five members on the board attended, along with two library staffers. No members of the general public attended the meeting.
That board’s next meeting will be held Monday, September 23 at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library.
Pictured top: John Shelton, director’s aide; Kim Ball, assistant director; and WFPL board members Dr. Laura Bryant, Sally Fox, Brandy Vinson and Dr. Carol Tanksley Monday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
HS Volleyball: Northview Beats Escambia Academy
August 27, 2019
The Northview Chiefs junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams both defeated Escambia Academy Monday in Bratt.
The varsity Chiefs took three straight sets over the Cougars, winning the last 25-18.
For a varsity action photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
More Showers, More Thunderstorms
August 27, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Labor Day: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.
Pictured: A storm over the Perdido River as seen from Nokomis Road just west of Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Responds To Reported Shots Fired In Schifko Road Area
August 27, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shots fired incident near Molino early Sunday morning but could find no evidence that a weapon had been fired.
Deputies responded to the call in the area of Jacks Branch Road and Schifko Road to find a traffic accident just after 1 a.m.
Monday afternoon, the ECSO said there had been a large party in the area, but no one could confirm that shots were fired and no nothing was found to indicate shots had been fired.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to investigate the traffic accident.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge..
Former County Administrator Takes Airport Job
August 27, 2019
Former interim Escambia County Administrator Matt Coughlin as been hired as the new deputy director of the Pensacola International Airport.
Coughlin submitted his resignation from Escambia County in April, citing “tribalism” with the county.
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 agreed to stay temporarily as interim administrator after Amy Lovoy resigned as interim administrator.
Coughlin, who worked as the Assistant Director at Pensacola International Airport from 2014-2017, said he’s excited to rejoin the City of Pensacola.
“I’m very appreciative to the mayor, very appreciative of the city, the mayor’s staff, and the airport director for considering me for the position,” Coughlin said. “There’s obviously a lot of potential for the airport – they’re on the cusp of a lot of growth and development over the next several years, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
“There’s a huge amount of opportunity over there for the city, and not just the city, but the local area and all of the citizens,” Coughlin said. I look forward to trying to assist in providing a great asset to all of them.”
Along with assisting Airport Director Dan Flynn with overall airport operations, Coughlin’s job duties will include participating in major economic development projects at the airport, preparing and maintaining technical and administrative operating records and reports, and assisting with contract negotiations.
Coughlin will also act as a liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, along with other federal, state and local agencies.
His first day on the job at the airport will be September 9.