The Century Town Council Has Canceled Their Next Meeting. Here’s Why.
March 12, 2020
The Town of Century has canceled the next regular meeting of the town council.
The meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 16 – the day before the Presidential Preference Primary. The Supervisor of Elections Office will move voting equipment into the room on Monday.
“The voting equipment will be in the council chambers Monday and they must be secured,” Mayor Henry Hawkins said.
“We indicated the equipment needed to be secured, even if in an adjoining office,” Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford said.
The canceled council meeting has not been rescheduled. The council generally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
McAnally Tosses Complete Game Shutout As Tate Freshmen Blank Navarre
March 12, 2020
Ethan McAnally threw a complete game shutout as the freshmen Tate Aggies blanked Navarre 12-0 Wednesday.
McAnally allowed three hits with no runs and no walks in four innings, striking about two.
McAnally, Jackson Perryclear, Dayton Powell and Jamil Sardar had two hits each for the Aggies. James Davis, Cade Kelley, Rilee Lowery and Michael Sadar had one hit each for Tate.
State Will No Longer Seek Death Penalty In Naomi Jones Murder
March 11, 2020
The state is no longer seeking the death penalty in the case Robert Howard, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year old Naomi Jones in 2017.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Wednesday afternoon “that additional witness information and evidence has developed in the Robert Letroy Howard case. As a result of those developments and evidence, it is no longer appropriate to seek the death penalty in this case. The mother of the victim was consulted and is in agreement with this decision.”
Eddins did not provide further information because the case is still pending. Jury selection in the case begins Monday in Escambia County.
Prosecutors say Howard kidnapped, murdered and dumped the body of 12-year old Naomi Jones.
Authorities say Howard was living with his girlfriend in the same apartment complex in which Jones lived in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue. He lived in a nearly adjacent apartment to Jones. She was last seen May 31 in that apartment complex.
Jones likely died within 24 to 36 hours after her May 31 disappearance, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. Her body was then later dumped into Eight Mile Creek, some 4-5 miles away, where it was found days later by two men looking for a fishing location.
According to court documents, Howard admitted to being at the apartment complex the day Jones went missing and having contact with her at his apartment. He became extremely angry and committed “a violent act” against Jones causing her death. He then placed her body in the backseat of his Nissan Altima and traveled to multiple locations, including Brewton, AL, before returning to Pensacola and throwing Jones’ body into the creek.
Howard is convicted sex offender. He was convicted in 1999 on two counts of first degree rape to two adult females in Escambia County, AL. One of the victims was 19-years old at the time. He served 15 years.
UWF Students Won’t Return For Two Weeks After Spring Break, Moving To Online Classes Due To Coronavirus
March 11, 2020
University of West Florida students won’t return to campus for at least two weeks after spring break conclude this week and will move to online-only classes on Monday due to coronavirus.
“The Florida State University System has mandated all universities transition to remote instruction, effective immediately. Face-to-face instruction is currently set to resume on March 30, 2020. If this date changes, the University will notify the campus community,” UWF said in an email to students Wednesday afternoon. There are no identified cases of COVID-19 at UWF.
Students are urged to remain off campus during the period that ends March 30, but housing and student dining services will remain open. Essential services such as counseling and the library will remain available.
UWF already had “courses shells” available for online delivery of all courses, and face-to-face remote instruction will begin March 16.
UWF is making the transition in response to a directive issued by the State University System of Florida and the Florida Board of Governors.
” Effective immediately, all universities will make plans to transition to remote instruction as soon as possible,” a press release from the Board said.
“All universities will continue to provide essential services, such as dining, counseling, health services, library services, etc., potentially on a limited basis or remotely. Each university with clinical and other non-classroom based programs will communicate directly with those students.”
Escambia County, Health Department Discuss Coronavirus Preparedness
March 11, 2020
Escambia County Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County held a joint meeting for community partners to discuss the coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.
During his presentation, Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, addressed preparedness, containment and mitigation strategies for COVID-19. Lanza and Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore provided answers to questions from partner organizations.
The media was not invited to the “community partner” meeting; the county provided information for this story and photos to media outlets hours after the meeting concluded.
“We were pleased to see representatives from more than 30 community partner organizations at today’s meeting, and we know these representatives will help disseminate important coronavirus safety information throughout the community,” Gilmore said. “The number one priority is the safety of our community, and we are actively continuing to engage with community partners, media outlets and state and local health officials to ensure proper planning and preventive action is in place.”
Lanza reiterated FDOH’s best method of protection against the virus is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and that it is important for everyone to be play their part in protecting against the spread of influenza, coronavirus, or similar diseases:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Coronavirus Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121 or you can email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Pictured top and second below: Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County discusses coronavirus preparedness. Pictured first below; Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Drunk Driver Backs Into Deputy’s Patrol Vehicle, FHP Says
March 11, 2020
A 60-year old Escambia County man was charged with DUI Tuesday night after crashing into an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Ronald Franklin McGee backed his Ford Fusion into a marked ECSO Tahoe driven by Deputy Kody Haley in the parking lot of the La Casita restaurant and convenience store on Saufley Field Road a little after 6 p.m.
The deputy was outside of his vehicle and speaking to a witness in another incident at the time. The FHP said there were no injuries, and damage was minor.
McGee was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of driving under the influence with property damage.
Here’s How A Flomaton Moonshiner Did In A National TV Competition (Spoiler Alert)
March 11, 2020
“I’m an illegal distiller; I work in the backwoods.”
That’s how Flomaton resident Johnny Griffis described himself during Tuesday night’s episode of Moonshiners Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel.
He competed against two other distillers for bragging rights and a chance to have his moonshine bottled by the Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Griffis made it to the final competition of the show where he made his “old school corn liquor moonshine” using a recipe he got from a McDavid old timer some 13 years ago.
Spoiler Alert — Scroll down below the photo to see if Griffis won.
In the end, Griffis finished second in the competition.
To watch the episode, click here. (You must be a subscriber to a cable, satellite or streaming provider and have a package that includes the Discovery Channel.)
Pictured: Johnny Griffis of Flomaton on Moonshiners Master Distiller Tuesday night. Pictured first below: Griffis and his still somewhere near Flomaton. Images courtesy the Discovery Channel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Warm Spring-Like Days Ahead
March 11, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 78. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Cantonment Man Caught With Cocaine In Hand And Stolen PB&J Uncrustables In His Pants, ECSO Says
March 11, 2020
A Cantonment man was caught at a Walmart store with stolen peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables in his pants and cocaine in his hand, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
George Javier Diaz, 22, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and retail petit theft. His girlfriend Jessica Nicole Lynn Blackmon, 23, was charged with retail petit theft after the incident at Walmart on Mobile Highway.
They were caught on surveillance video stealing sunglasses, a necklace, t-shirt, shorts, and peanut and jelly Uncrustables with a total value of $44.67 while paying only 91 cents for the items, according to an arrest report.
When Diaz was detained, deputies told him multiple times to drop the items in his left hand, which included a Walmart receipt and yellow piece of paper that contained a white powdery substance later identified as cocaine, the report states. Deputies recovered the peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables from inside Diaz’s pants legs, along with a necklace in his right pocket. The stolen clothing items were removed from Blackmon’s person.
The ESCO also reported removing a spoon with cocaine residue, a bag unused syringes, one used syringe with blood in it, and a bag of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine from Diaz’s vehicle in the parking lot.
The stolen items were returned to Walmart.
Lose Cable And Internet In Molino Or Barrineau Park Tuesday? Here’s Why.
March 11, 2020
Lose internet and cable TV in the Molino or Barrineau Park area Tuesday? This is likely why.
About 2 p.m., a dump truck brought down a cable line in a construction zone at Highway 29 and Highway 196. Escambia Fire Rescue was called, but determined power lines were no involved and their was no danger.
Reader submitted photo by Vincent Alexander, click to enlarge.