Cantonment Man Charged With Two Counts of Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon
December 27, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with allegedly pointing a rifle at a woman and attempting to run over a man.
James Lee Fields, 29, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $30,000.
A witness told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Fields grabbed a rifle from his vehicle and pointed it at a woman during an armed disturbance on Muscogee Road. The woman told deputies that Fields was angry over a missing marijuana blunt.
Another witness told deputies that as Fields was driving away from the area, he began doing burnouts drove toward him at one point.
New Educational Born Learning Trail For Kids Is Now Open In Century
December 27, 2020
A new interactive Born Learning Trail for kids at Showalter Park in Century is now open.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, is a series of 10 signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at a park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century is the second of five that will be in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The first opened in Jay during the summer, and three more will be announced.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
To visit the Born Learning Trail in Century, head to Showalter Park off East Hecker Road. Drive north around the baseball and softball fields and follow the road past the cemetery. The trail begins in portion of the paved trail that is under the trees. For a Google map, click here. The park is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Low Around 40 Tonight
December 27, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 43. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Mobile Home Blaze Was The Ninth Residential Fire Of December In Escambia County
December 27, 2020
A Christmas Eve fire added an additional red bulb to the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath in Escambia County.
That make nine red bulbs, representing nine residential structure fires in December 2020.
The fire occurred in the 900 block of Lookout Drive at 10 p.m.. Escambia County Fire Rescue was on scene within three minutes, but the mobile home is no longer habitable.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There was no one home at the time of the fire and no injuries reported. There were no smoke alarms in the home.
If your home does not have a smoke alarm, you can have one installed for free by calling Escambia Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376).
Photos ECFR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Donates $134,500 To Support Non-Profits
December 27, 2020
Gulf Power donated $134,500 to area organizations in December – to aid with everything from COVID-19 impacts to area Councils on Aging for ‘Meals on Wheels’ to STEM educational efforts.
“Our mission has always been to support our communities, where our employees live and work – particularly during difficult and uncertain times like 2020 has presented,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “We are honored to provide assistance in focused areas to help our local community organizations continue to help and support those who need it most while also investing in our region’s future by supporting educational efforts for area youth.”
The contributions are being spread throughout the Gulf Power service area in Northwest Florida.
“We are so excited and honored that Gulf Power chose the Baptist Health Care Foundation to support,” said Maegan Leonard with Baptist Health Care Foundation, one of more than 40 local organizations receiving funding in December. “It certainly has been a tough year for everyone, and this donation will make a huge impact on those in need that we help through our Helping Hands program.”
The December contributions were distributed in five main focus areas to local non-profit organizations throughout Northwest Florida:
- Community Outreach – COVID-19 support: $71,500
- HOOPS Program
- Men In Action
- UNCF
- Montclair Elementary
- Rhodes Elementary
- Epps Christian Center
- Emmaus Outreach
- Milk & Honey
- Health and Hope Clinic
- African American Heritage Society
- Kukua Institute
- SYSA
- Carver
- ACTS-SO
- Youth Village
- Food for Thought
- Conexion – United For A Good Cause
- Eleanor Johnson Youth Center
- Matrix Community Outreach Center
- ASAP
- Girls Inc
- Bay NAACP
- Lead Coalition of Bay County
- TJ Roulhac Enrichment & Activity Center
- Wiregrass Omega Lamplighters
- STEM support: $10,000
- Kukua Institute
- Community holiday support: $17,500
- Communities Caring at Christmas
- Fresh Start for Children and Families
- Salvage Santa
- Meal support for elderly: $11,500
- Council on Aging of West Florida
- Elder Services of Okaloosa County
- Walton Council on Aging
- Bay County Council on Aging
- Washington County Council on Aging
- Calhoun County Senior Citizens Council
- Jackson Senior Citizens Organization
- Holmes County Council on Aging
- Utility assistance programs: $24,000
- Samaritan Hands
- We Care Ministries
- Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Opening Doors NWFL
- Sharing and Caring of Niceville
- Baptist Health Care Foundation
“We are always floored by the generosity of Gulf Power, and all that you do for our great community,” said Matthew F. Knee, executive director for the Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.
Here’s The Latest Local COVID-19 Case Count Information
December 27, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
On Saturday, the Florida Department of Health reported four additional COVID-19 deaths and 531 new cases in Escambia County since Wednesday, December 23.
Here is the latest data, with numbers in parenthesis noting case increases since Wednesday, December 23.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 21,268 (+531)
Non-Florida residents: 2,328
Total deaths: 356 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths : 158 (-2)
Current hospitalizations: 172 (+13)
Number of tests last day: 859
Percent positive last day: 11.2%
Percent positive last week: 13.5%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 15,535 (+390)
Cantonment: 1,804 (+63)
Century: 1,000 (+5)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 264 (+3)
McDavid: 131 (+3)
Walnut Hill: 38
Bellview: 30 (+1)
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 9
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 10,382 (+357)
Non-Florida residents: 122
Total deaths: 121 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 24
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 523*
Number of tests last day: 372
Percent positive last day: 18.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 5,221 (+172)
Navarre: 1,969 (+72)
Gulf Breeze: 1,794 (+73)
Pace: 806 (+40)
Jay: 259 (+4)
Bagdad: 25 (+1)
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,264,588
Florida residents: 1,243,118
Deaths: 20,135
Hospitalizations: 61,288*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Theresa D. Tichi
December 27, 2020
Mrs. Theresa D. Tichi, 86, of Davisville, FL passed away on December 24, 2020 at herresidence. She was born to the late Alec C. and Nettie Evelyn Adams Douglas on November 26, 1934 in Mobile, AL. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sam Tichi; two brothers, Buddy Douglas and George Douglas and one sister, Mary Alice Hansen. She and her husband owned and operated Tichi’s Garage in Davisville for many years and she had such a generous heart and loved helping people during their time of need.
She is survived by her two daughters, Dr. Lee Ann McGill (Charles D. Anderson) of Orange Beach, AL and Anna Marie Bauman of Willow, AK; brother, Henry (Ellen) Douglas of Mobile, AL; granddaughter, Courtney Bauman, many loving nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The family would also like to give a special thank you to all the caregivers that have helped through the years and especially Mrs. Mary Lee for taking special care of Mrs. Tichi for the past 10 years.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 28, 2020 at 2 PM from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Otis Thames officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, December 28, 2020 from 1 PM until service time at 2 PM at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Northview High NJROTC Orienteering Team Earns Bid To National Championship
December 27, 2020
The Northview High School NJROTC Orienteering Team has earned a repeat trip to the NJROTC National Orienteering Championship.
Cadet Commanding Officer David Lamb, the three-time defending Area 8 varsity champion, was unable to attend the event. The other Northview team members stepped up to the plate and ran hard for their missing teammate, according to Chief Jeffrey Simpkins.
Orienteering involves navigation with a map and compass with a goal of getting from point to point in the fastest time possible.
TEAM AWARDS
- Third place Overall Varsity course:
- John Bashore
- Jonathan McCarthy
- Skylar Wise
- Antoni Weaver
- Ethan Kilburn
- Third place Overall Junior Varsity course:
- Michael Cody
- Dallon Rackard
- Erich Amerson
- Garret Bodiker
- Drake Driskell
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- John Bashore 3rd place Varsity course
- Michael Cody 4th place Junior Varsity course
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
“He Dedicated His Life To Serving And Protecting Others” – Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
December 26, 2020
Brother. Friend. Father. Grandfather. A heart of gold. Servant.
Those were just some of the words being used Saturday to describe Gary Diamond who was murdered at his home in Molino early Saturday morning.
“He was more than just a man. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting others,” Diamond’s son Joseph Diamond said.
Diamond was a longtime firefighter, serving during his career as the volunteer chief in Molino, a captain at Navarre Beach and fire service instructor at Pensacola State College.
Related Story: Former Fire Chief Murdered Saturday Morning In Molino; Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to Molino. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He was currently volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“I was saddened and heartbroken to hear the news about Gary this morning,” Interim Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Paul Williams said. “He was not only a longtime part of Escambia Fire Rescue, but a longtime friend as well.”
“He was very nice with a very laid back kind of attitude. He was obviously willing to give and volunteer his time, and willing to serve the community,” Williams added.
Diamond was a captain at Navarre Beach Fire Rescue for a decade, retiring to take care of a family member. He recently returned to Navarre Beach Fire, pulling extra shifts as a fill-in captain.
“He worked his way up through the ranks until he retired as captain of C Shift,” Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Chief Danny Fureigh said. “He was an extremely well educated, well seasoned firefighter known throughout the area.”
Fureigh said that Diamond was always there for the department – always around cooking and volunteering at department events.
“He was always there. He and his family were a big part of us,” the Navarre Beach fire chief said. “He never met a stranger, would give you the shirt off his back. He was legitimately a good guy…this is a horrific event.”
Former Fire Chief Murdered Saturday Morning In Molino; Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
December 26, 2020
A longtime firefighter was shot and killed early Saturday morning in Molino, and a suspect has been arrested.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 400 block of Molino Road about 3:30 a.m. and arrived to find the adult with multiple gunshot wounds. Gary Diamond was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The suspect, 30-year old Jared Cordel Clakley, was taken into custody shortly before sunrise Saturday. He was charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The shooting appeared to be the result of a domestic situation, according to ECSO Sgt. Melanie Peterson.
Relatives said Diamond stepped in front of the gun to save the lives of his family.
“What was to be a family spending the holiday together turned tragic. It’s incredibly sad it would happen at Christmas’,” Escambia County Sheriff-elect Chip Simmons said. “The fact that he was committed to public service his entire life makes it an even greater tragedy.”
“An arrest has been made, and we will continue to work with the State Attorney’s Office on prosecution,” Simmons added.
Related Story: Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
Peterson said deputies quickly developed Clakley as a suspect, and a K-9 unit was called to the scene to assist in the manhunt.
The investigation is continuing.
Pictured: The scene of an early Saturday morning murder in the 400 block of Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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