Two Women Accused Of Trying To Sneak Drugs To Inmates; One Believed To Be In Century Area
January 12, 2021
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a woman last seen in the Century area. She’s wanted on drug charges after deputies say she and another woman left drugs outside the Baldwin County Courthouse for an inmate.
Alexis Biron, age 27 of Brewton, is wanted for attempted distribution of a controlled substance. The BCSO said Biron (pictured above) was last seen in Century and may still be in the area.
The BCSO said Biron and Rebecca Anne Willis (pictured below) were captured on video placing a package containing Suboxone, Xanax and methamphetamine near a courthouse entryway that is used for inmates. Investigators believed the drugs were places so that they could be retrieved by a current inmate.
Members of the Baldwin County Drug Task Force were able to located Willis and arrest her on an outstanding warrant for violating her parole. She was interviewed about her role in the incident at the courthouse and subsequently charged with attempted distribution of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The BCSO said Willis destroyed evidence when investigators arrived at her residence, and she was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Anyone with information on Biron’s whereabouts is asked to call the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 937-0202 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Alexis Biron. Pictured below: Rebecca Anne Willis.
Attorney Fred Levin Passes Away From COVID-19 Complications
January 12, 2021
Prominent attorney Fred Levin passed away Tuesday afternoon at age 83. Family members said he died from complications related to COVID-19.
Levin was recognized as one of the most successful trial attorneys in the nation, receiving over 25 jury verdicts in excess of $1 million. At various points in his career, he held the national record for jury verdicts involving the wrongful death of a child, the wrongful death of a housewife, the wrongful death of a wage earner, and the largest personal injury verdict in the state of Florida.
He received numerous national accolades.
In 1999, the name of the University of Florida law school named was officially changed to the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law after he made what was in 1998 the larger cash donation ever given to a public law school.
Levin also managed the careers of many champion boxers. In 1994, Mr. Levin received the Rocky Marciano National Boxing Manager of the year award. In 1995, he was selected as National Boxing Manager of the year by the National Boxing Writers Association.
Garcon Point Bridge Toll Suspension Extended Again
January 12, 2021
The toll suspension on the Garcon Point bridge has been extended through February 11, 2021, the Florida Department of Transportation announced Tuesday morning.
“The extension allows the Garcon Point Bridge to continue serving as a temporary detour route while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired from damage sustained during Hurricane Sally,” FDOT said in a news release.
FDOT has said they expect the Pensacola Bay Bridge to reopen sometime in March.
Residents Learn More About Escambia County’s Plans For Bristol Park Flooding FEMA Grant
January 12, 2021
Dozens of people attended a meeting Monday night to learn more about how Escambia County hopes to purchase homes in the flood-prone Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills neighborhoods from willing homeowners.
Homes in the neighborhoods have flooded multiple times, including the 2014 floods and during Hurricane Sally. Now, the county is applying for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that would allow the county to acquire the properties.
“You are not going to be forced into this program,” Steven White, senior project engineer for Mott MacDonald told the attendees at the Escambia County Extension Office in Cantonment. He said the program remains optional for homeowners up until a sales contract is signed.
Before Monday night’s meeting, the county sent letters to 194 homeowners in the area making them aware of the process. They received responses from 45. Of those, 28 requested applications and 13 requested one-on-one meetings for more information.
Eligible residents will need to apply in order to be included in the home purchase program. The county will determine an estimated funding need before they apply for the FEMA grant. Once the grant is awarded, Escambia County will have three years in which to acquire the properties.
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said it is important for homeowners to be included in the original grant in order to have their homes purchased.
Residents in the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills areas can contact either Kelli Reddick (kelli.reddick@arcadis.com) or Rob McCracken (rob_mccracken@myescambia.com to schedule an appointment, ask questions about the grant application or receive an application package.
Pictured above: A meeting Monday night at the Escambia County Extension Service. Pictured below: Belongings outside a home that flooding during Hurricane Sally; NorthEscambia.com photo. click to enlarge.
Another Cold Night, Clouds Clear For Wednesday
January 12, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 32.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Suspect Shot By Poarch Police Is Named As Charges Are Filed (With Photo Gallery)
January 12, 2021
The multi-county carjacking suspect shot Friday morning by Poarch Creek Police north of Atmore has been named as the first charges were filed against him.
Jose Rodriguez Xalate, of Hilltop, Minnesota, has been charged by the Greenville (AL) Police Department with two counts of first degree robbery and two counts of first degree theft. Xalate is expected to face additional charges from other Alabama jurisdictions, but at last report he remained hospitalized.
The shooting occurred Friday morning in the parking lot of the Creek Travel Plaza located at I-65 and Jack Springs Road, about a mile from the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Xalate was shot by a Poarch Creek Tribal Police officer and transported to an area hospital for treatment. An update on the suspect’s condition has not been provided. No officers were injured.
According to Wetumpka (AL) Assistant Police Chief Earl Reeves, their first contact with Xalate was during suspicious persons call at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. Xalate told police officers he had just been discharged from a hospital and was waiting on a ride. Police said his story was verified, and he was told not to panhandle or harass anyone.
At 5:41 a man driving a Nissan Armada left his vehicle running as he went inside the Pace Car Gas Station in Wetumpka. Xalate allegedly jumped in and drove away with an assault rifle that had been left in the vehicle, according to AL.com.
The suspect took the Armada to Evergreen where it was discovered abandoned at 10:40 p.m. but the assault rifle was missing. He then reportedly then took another vehicle at gunpoint and drove to north to Greenville, Alabama.
Xalate then carjacked a vehicle at a gas station in Greenville near I-65, according to Greenville Police Chief Justin Lovvorn. He then carjacked another vehicle at a Murphy gas station at the Greenville Walmart, also near I-65.
Lovvorn said Greenville Police pinged the location of vehicle and discovered it was near Atmore. Poarch Creek Police located the vehicle in the Creek Travel Plaza parking lot, where Xalate attempted to run over the officer, according to Greenville Police. The Poarch officer then shot Xalate.
“After being approached by uniformed officers and marked patrol vehicles, an altercation ensued forcing officers to discharge their firearms,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said.
A Chevrolet vehicle with the windows shot out was directly in front of the truck stop’s diner. Multiple shell casings could be seen in the parking lot, and about a dozen bullet holes were in the windows of the diner.
An assault-style rifle was removed from the scene by law enforcement.
Special agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are investigating the officer involved shooting. SBI said the results of their investigation will be turned over to the Escambia County (AL) District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Creek Travel Plaza is owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, but is not located on the reservation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tom Thumb Temporarily Closed Store On Highway 29 At West Roberts Due To COVID-19 Case
January 12, 2021
Tom Thumb said Monday that they closed their store at Highway 29 and West Roberts Road after a team member informed them of a positive COVID-19 test.
The store was closed at 4 p.m. Friday to be cleaned and sanitized by an industrial cleaning crew. The store has since reopened.
“We are grateful to all our customers for your patience and understanding during this time,” Tom Thumb said. “We are making every effort to provide the affected Team Member and our broader team with the necessary resources and support.”
Another Escambia County Tom Thumb was also closed due to COVID-19 on Monday. The store at 5450 Saufley Field Road was closed for cleaning after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Over $1.1 Billion Up For Grabs This Week In Powerball, Mega Millions Drawings
January 12, 2021
Over $1 billion is up for grabs this week as the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots continue to climb.
The Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated $615 million and Power Ball rolled over to an estimated $550 million.
Jackpot winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum cash option of approximately $451.8 million for Mega Millions and $411.4 million for POWERBALL. In addition to the jackpot prize, players can win lower-tier prizes of up to $2 million with Powerball and up to $5 million with Mega Millions.
The next Mega Millions drawing will be at 10 p.m. Tuesday, and the Powerball drawing will be at 9:59 p.m. Wednesday.
Gulf Power And Florida Power & Light To Ask State To Approve Merged Power Rates
January 12, 2021
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) plans to file a formal request in the coming months for new base rates for all customers, including Gulf Power.
FPL’s parent company NextEra purchased Gulf Power in 2019, and the companies legally merged on January 1, 2021. FPL now serves 5.6 million customer accounts from Miami to Pensacola across more than half of Florida.
Through the consolidation of FPL and Gulf Power, the typical residential customer bill in Northwest Florida is projected to decrease by the end of FPL’s proposed four-year rate plan. FPL customers currently pay $99 for the 1,000-kWh typical bill bench mark, while Gulf Power customers pay $140.
The proposal FPL plans to file with the Florida Public Service Commission will include:
- In 2022, an adjustment to base rates to generate approximately $1.1 billion.
- In 2023, another adjustment would generate approximately $615 million.
- In 2024 and 2025, a request will be made to recover solar projects each year. That, FPL estimates, will cost customers $140 million in both 2024 and 2025, which would be partially offset by a reduction in fuel costs on customer bills.
FPL said monthly customer would still remain below the national average if the PSC approves the plan.
While now part of FPL, the Gulf Power name will remain for now in Northwest Florida.
Update: Gonzalez Teen Missing For A Month Has Been Located
January 12, 2021
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has located Gonzalez teen that was missing for a month before someone called them to file a report.
The Sheriff’s Office said 14-year-old Jordan Winfield Smith was safely located but did not provide any additional information.
He was last seen on December 8 in an area along Jack Kaufman Lane in Gonzalez, just east of Ashton Brosnaham Park. No one reported the teen missing until last Thursday, January 7.
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