No Serious Injuries In Cantonment Highway 29 Crash
September 13, 2019
There were no serious injuries in a traffic crash Thursday night in Cantonment. A Chevrolet pickup and a Nissan Sentra collided shortly after 8 p.m. on Highway 29 at Woodbury Circle. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not released further information. Reader submitted photos by Dylan Shipman, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Second Graders Visit Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
September 13, 2019
Byrneville Elementary School second graders got up close with nature this week at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment. The students met Simon the bearded dragon and Ozzie the diamondback terrapin, and they compared and contrasted reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals as part of their visit. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Latest Advisory: Watching Tropical Development
September 13, 2019
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON NORTHESCAMBIA.COM
The National Hurricane Center is now issuing statements on Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. It is expected to become a tropical storm and bring tropical storm force winds to the Bahamas. The storm could bring tropical storm force winds and rainfall to portions of the Florida east coast over the weekend.
Any local impacts are uncertain at this time.
The latest information is in the graphics on this page.
Friday Night Football Schedule
September 13, 2019
Here are Friday night’s high school football games in the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Baker at Northview*, 7 p.m. (live on WFGX TV 35)
Tate at Tallahassee Leon*, 6 p.m.
Pine Forest at Lake City Columbia, 7:30 p.m.
Arnold at West Florida*, 7 p.m.
St. Stanislaus (Miss.) at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Gulf Breeze at Washington*, 7 p.m.
Choctaw at Pensacola High*, 7 p.m.
Milton at Fort Walton Beach*, 7 p.m.
Jay – Off
Escambia – Off
Pace at Mosley
allahassee Lincoln 35. Navarre 20(Thursday)
*District game
ALABAMA
Escambia County (Atmore) at Hillcrest (Evergreen) 7 p.m.
Escambia Academy at Clarke Prep, 7 p.m.
Excel at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
St. Michael Catholic at T.R. Miller, 7 p.m.
W.S. Neal at Clarke County, 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years After Impersonating Parole Officer
September 13, 2019
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for impersonating a parole officer.
Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh sentenced Benny Jay Burrell to 30 years in state prison. Burrell entered a plea of no contest to home invasion robbery with a weapon, grand theft auto, grand theft, false imprisonment, fraudulent use of a credit card, and harassing a witness, victim or informant involving a first degree felony.
On September 19, 2018, Burrell knocked on the victim’s door claiming to be a parole officer looking for a parolee. After the victim declined to let Burrell enter her residence, he forced his way inside and tied her to chair before taking her credit card, car keys, cell phone and various other items. He then stole her vehicle and left.
Shortly after fleeing the scene, Burrell used her credit card at a gas station off Cervantes Street. Law enforcement responded and apprehended Burrell who was in possession of the victim’s vehicle and other items. The victim was transported to the gas station and identified Burrell.
After he was apprehended, the victim received a threatening letter with Burrell’s DNA on the envelope.
Stanley Ray Boutwell
September 13, 2019
Mr. Stanley Ray “Papa Smurf” Boutwell, Sr., age 57, passed away Sunday, September 8, 2019, at his home in Pollard, Alabama.
Mr. Boutwell was a native of Atmore, AL and had resided in Pollard, AL for most of his life. He was of the Baptist faith. He is preceded in death by his father, Jimmy Boutwell, Sr.; brother, Dean Boutwell and two granddaughters, Kylie Boyd and Kirstianna Boutwell.
He is survived by his mother, Nancy Boutwell of Atmore, AL; wife of 40 years, Barbara A. Boutwell of Pollard, AL; one son, Stanley Ray Boutwell, Jr. of Jay, FL; three daughters, Carolyn (Gary) Scott of Jay, FL, Stephanie (Ryan) Alldaffer of Flomaton, AL and Tiffany Garcia of McAllen, TX; four brothers, Jimmy (Rhonda) Boutwell of Canoe, AL, Randy Boutwell of Flomaton, AL, Todd Boutwell of Atmore, AL and Shawn (Angelia) Boutwell of Evergreen, AL; two sisters, Vickie (Eddie) Wright of Atmore, AL and Candy (James) Wright of Brewton, AL; 17 grandchildren, Austin, Matthew, Dyllan, Kiersten, Gabby, Dakota, Dawson, Kamden, Darryl, III, Luke, Rylee Ray, Ciara, Dominic, Jovanny, Adrianna, Stanley, III and Mercedes; extended family, Tommy Turk, Curtis Johnson, Gerald Hudson and Jerry Arrant and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, September 13, 2019, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Malcolm Harrelson officiating.
Burial was at Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Austin Boutwell, Dyllan Scott, Trent Wright, Samuel Wright, Tyron Boutwell, Steve Emmons, Bubba Tedder and Ryan Alldaffer.
Honorary pallbearers were Jim Wright and Matthew Boutwell.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Sunny Skies Friday, Rain Chances Into The Weekend
September 13, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. 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 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tropical Advisory Issued For Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine
September 12, 2019
THIS IS AN OUTDATED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
The National Hurricane Center is now issuing statements on Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. It is expected to become a tropical storm and bring tropical storm force winds to the Bahamas within 36 hours. The storm could bring tropical storm force winds and rainfall to portions of the Florida east coast over the weekend.
Any local impacts are uncertain at this time.
The latest information is in the graphics on this page.
No Injuries In Early Morning Highway 29 Rollover Crash
September 12, 2019
A driver was cited for leaving the scene of an accident following a single vehicle rollover crash sometime early Thursday morning on Highway 29 in McDavid.
The vehicle was found about daybreak on its roof in the median one mile north of Highway 164. There was no one in or around the vehicle when first responders arrived on scene. Hours after the crash, driver and vehicle occupants made contact with a concerned citizen who transported them to a nearby store.
The driver was northbound on Highway 29, ran off the roadway onto the shoulder and crossed back over to the median before overturning.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Gas Superintendent Quits; Pensacola Extends Helping Hand To Century
September 12, 2019
Century’s gas superintendent abruptly quit this week, and City of Pensacola is extending a helping hand to their neighbors to the north.
Kellett Resigns
Wally Kellett notified the town on Tuesday that Thursday would be his last day, according to interim Century City Manager Buz Eddy. He said Kellett has accepted another job in Sunrise, Fla.
The Century Town Council has asked “Where’s Wally?” several times this year after Kellett was a no-show for council meetings despite being instructed to attend.
The council requested Kellett keep them updated on the progress of new meter installations, back billing issues with the prison and other issues concerning the department. But with few updates, the town’s governing body has been in the dark on their natural gas department.
“Our gas superintendent won’t come to these meetings. We need this vital information,” council President Ann Brooks said at a July meeting.
Kellett worked as gas superintendent from June 2015 to May 2016 before leaving for another job. He returned to Century’s payroll in July 2018.
City of Pensacola Helping Hand
The City of Pensacola is offering to help Century with gas department and financial issues. The initial offer was made prior to Kellett announcing his departure.
“I think it’s critically important for local governments throughout our region to work together as a team, so I am committed to assisting the Town of Century in creating a strategic plan that will help resolve some of their existing issues,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “While the City of Pensacola cannot commit to solving these problems, we want to help Century assess their needs and create a plan to address them in a way that benefits their residents and moves the town forward.”
Pensacola Energy has not committed any staff to install meters in Century, but will be assessing the scope of work this week to make a recommendation to the Town of Century. Pensacola staff is helping Century assess what their next steps should be and prepare a strategic plan, specifically related to the town’s gas service and financial issues.
Pictured top: Century Gas Department Superintendent Wally Kellett addresses to the Century Town Council earlier this summer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.