Escambia County Self-Reports Sunshine Law Violation By Library Board To State Attorney
April 30, 2021
Escambia County has self-reported a Sunshine Law violation by the library board to the State Attorney’s Office.
For now, prosecutors won’t take any action against four members of the West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance for a meeting they held Monday in Century.
“We are not taking any action at this point, but there clearly was an apparent violation,”Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon.
The meeting was advertised for the Main Library downtown, not Century. Florida’s Sunshine Law requires that adequate public notice be given for public meetings, including time and the correct location. When NorthEscambia.com notified the board of the discrepancy in the legal notice, the board continued the meeting for a short period of time. And that, according to the State Attorney’s Office, is where they went wrong.
“It was accidental and unintentional, but the meeting should not have gone forward once they learned of the problem,” Marcille said. He added the county “will correct any issues created by the meeting and the manner in which it was held,” and hold additional training.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers confirmed Thursday night that she is sending an assistant county attorney to the next WFPL Board of Governance meeting to provide a Sunshine Law refresher lesson.
For more about Monday’s meeting, click or tap here for an earlier story.
Pictured top: West Florida Public Libraries Director Todd Humble (far left), and Board of Governance members (L-R) Robin Reshard, Grace Buenatista, and Bradley Vinson during a meeting Monday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Humble, with board member Dr. Laura Bryant in the background. Pictured below: Reshard and Bryant remained the Century Branch Library parking lot at 6:33 p.m. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Afternoon Showers Today; Then It’s Sun For Saturday, Rain For Sunday
April 30, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Opening Still Planned For Week Of May 31, FDOT Says
April 30, 2021
With just over a month left to finish the job, the Florida Department of Transportation says the Pensacola Bay Bridge will open with at least two lanes of traffic by the week of May 31.
FDOT contractors have completed the installation of multiple stay-in-place forms and are currently pouring and leveling concrete on the bridge. Following the completion of the concrete pours on the bridge deck, crews will construct barrier walls designed to create a reinforced, protective wall for motorists traveling over the bridge. Additional work will include the installation of electrical conduit and roadway striping.
“The targeted reopening of the bridge remains the week of May 31, 2021. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022,” FDOT said Thursday afternoon.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Jay Man Charged With Pistol Whipping Woman During Escambia Armed Burglary
April 30, 2021
A Jay man has been charged after allegedly breaking into a home, pointing a gun at a woman, and pistol whipping her.
Darrell D. Gandy, 35, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and armed burglary of an occupied residence.
Gandy allegedly forced his way into a residence on Bush Street.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office she was inside her residence when she was attacked by a man she did not personally know, but she said the man knows her wife. The victim said Gandy pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at her. He then approached her, pistol whipped her across her forehead, and then slammed her against the living room wall, according to an arrest report. He then ran from the home.
The victim’s wife witnessed the incident and corroborated the victim’s statements. She stated she recognized the suspect immediately as Gandy, a family friend.
Gandy remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
ECSO: Man Beat Woman With Chair For 30 Minutes, Punched Deputy In The Face
April 30, 2021
An Escambia County man beat a woman with a chair for half an hour and punched a responding deputy in the face, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Cornelious Williams, 47, is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and aggravated battery in a domestic violence situation.
About 6:40 Thursday morning, ECSO deputies responded to a man down call in the 700-block of Yonge Street. Once on scene, deputies found a female victim severely beaten and in the middle of the road. The domestic violence occurred inside a nearby home, where the victim was beaten with a chair for 30 minutes, deputies said.
The woman was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
Deputies found Williams inside the home.
“Williams punched a deputy in the face while resisting arrest; however, he was taken into custody,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Williams was booked into the Escambia County Jail with no bond.
Jefferson Throws Shutout As Northview Beats Jay For District 1-1A Title
April 30, 2021
Jamarkus Jefferson threw a one hitter Thursday night as the Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals 2-0 for the District 1-1A championship.
Jefferson allowed just one hit in seven innings and sat down four at Jay’s home field. The sophomore also led Northview at the plate, going 1-2.
“It felt good. We did what we had to do to win,” Jefferson said. “We’re a young team, and we are going to do it.”
For a game action gallery, click here.
For a gallery from the post game celebration, click here.
Northview really is a young team with just two seniors and one junior.
“It feels great. These young guys stepped up, the seniors stepped up and they continued to lead like we expected them to,” coach Jeremy Greenwell said. “It’s a good feeling for our program, but it’s coming together for the last five years and it’s finally where we want for sure.”
It was the first district title for the Chiefs since 2015.
Carson Walters took the loss for the Royals, giving up two runs and one hit while striking out six in seven innings. Todd Macks had Jay’s only hit of the night.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the regional tourney beginning Friday night, May 7. They will play the loser of Friday night’s Holmes County (Bonifay) and Paxton game.
“I think everybody is about equally talented,” Greenwell said. “It’s going to be fun to host it.”
“We are going to win it,” Jefferson predicted.
For a game action gallery, click here.
For a gallery from the post game celebration, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Wins District 1-1A Crown; Niceville Beats Tate In District 1-6A
April 30, 2021
District 1-1A
Jay 2, Paxton 1 (8 innings)
The Jay Lady Royals walked off with the District 1-1A championship 2-1 over Paxton Thursday night.
The game was tied at one in the bottom of the eighth when Madison Mathis singled on a 1-2 count to score one run. Jay had tied things up in the bottom of the fifth with one run when Caitlyn Gavin lined out.
Mattie Cochran gave up one run and four hits over eight innings, striking out seven and walking none.
Brett Watson led Tate at the plate, going 2-4. Alayna Lowery, Christa Sanders, Mathis and Kassidy Nevels also had hits for the Lady Royals.
District 1-6A
Niceville 8, Tate 1
Niceville defeated the Tate Lady Aggies in the District 1-6A playoffs Thursday night, 8-1.
Abbie Burks took the loss for Tate, allowing 12 hits and seven runs over six innings while walking one.
Hannah Halfacre and Cam Wolfenden led the Lady Atties at bat, both going 2-3. Christina Mason and Michayla Kent each added one hit for Tate.
Escambia Records Another 53 COVID-19 Cases
April 30, 2021
THIS IS ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were another 53 COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday in Escambia County.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,890 (+53)
Non-Florida residents: 3,675
Recovered: 33,240*
Total deaths: 678
Long-term care facility deaths: 282
Current hospitalizations: 29 (-3)
Number of tests reported last day: 741
Percent positive reported last day: 6.8%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.5%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,868 (+47)
Cantonment: 3,217 (+4)
Century: 1,176
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 490
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 58
Walnut Hill: 55 (+1)
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,128 (+19)
Non-Florida residents: 247
Total deaths: 284
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 894*
Number of tests reported last day: 449
Percent positive reported last day: 4.2%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,652 (+8)
Navarre: 3,740 (+4)
Gulf Breeze: 3,342 (+3)
Pace: 1,469 (+4)
Jay: 550
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,228,212
Florida residents: 2,186,477
Deaths: 35,084
Hospitalizations: 90,262
*“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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
David R. Senn
April 30, 2021
David R. Senn passed away peacefully at home with family and loved ones by his side on April 27th in Barrineau Park, Fla.
David was born in LaCrosse, Wis., to Robert and Annabelle Senn in 1947. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974 with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, leading to a long career at Monsanto. Throughout his life, his diverse ambitions led him to many passions, including his most recent project completing a custom hand-built 1931 Plymouth hot rod with a 426 super charged Hemi. He was a self-taught banjo player with a deep love for Catahoula leopard dogs, a HAM radio operator who also enjoyed clogging and was well-known as an award-winning pistol shooter.
David’s parents and brother Tommy preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughter Emily Benner, his sisters Mary Vieth (Jim) and Ruthie Reising, a nephew Brian Lilly, and four grandchildren Chaz, Matthew, Tanner and Faith who brought him immense happiness. David also leaves behind many cousins and family in Wisconsin and Minnesota, whom he visited often at family reunions.
David’s close friends and family will remember him for his tenacious spirit and strong opinions, on some occasions referred to as stubbornness, as well as a kind heart and wonderful sense of humor. He was a great friend to many, and will be missed by all he knew. Please join us in a celebration of David’s life at the Barrineau Park Community Center on May 2nd at 1 p.m. (6055 Barrineau Park School Road, Molino, Fla.).
Covered dishes are welcome but not expected, and musical friends are invited to bring instruments for a jam session, as he was known to host in his home often. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Barrineau Park Historical Society in David’s name.
Mike Carter
April 30, 2021
Mike Carter of Cantonment, FL, one of the truest heroes of the faith and a beloved husband, father, and friend to many, was born on February 27, 1958 in Bloomington, IN and passed away on April 24, 2021. Married for 43 years to his darlin’, Lori. Mike had a deep and abiding love for his family, his church family, vacations with his grandchildren, the Great Smoky Mountains (his home away from home) and more than anything else – his God. Mike loved his family deeply and was incredibly proud of him and Lori’s children, and grandchildren. He had a special way of encouraging and witnessing about the goodness of God to anyone he came in contact with. All he met were impacted and encouraged by his great faith and trust in the Lord.
Mike owned and operated a successful excavation business that he started in 1984. This business has provided him an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on so many. He loved to play the bass guitar and sing praises of worship in his favorite room “the music room” at home as well as in the worship band where he attended church at First Pentecostal Church in Pensacola. Without a doubt, when God called Mike home, he left this world with a song of praise in his heart and is now part of the most beautiful heavenly choir. While he will be missed so dearly by those left behind, it brings us so much peace and joy to know he is healed and whole, and walking the streets of gold. He received the gift of his final transplant “a brand new body”. We are forever thankful for the 15 years given to us by the families who chose organ donation and blessed us with his first two livers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Sylvia Carter and his sister Donna Carter Richardson. He is survived by his wife, Lori Carter; son and daughter-in-law, Joe & Rachael Carter; daughter and son-in-law, Amy & Ben Cawby; son and daughter-in-law Wesley & Ashley Carter; and six beautiful grandchildren as well as a host of other family and friends who loved him dearly.
Visitation for friends and family will be on Tuesday, May 4, from 12 to 2 pm with a home going celebration following at 2pm at First Pentecostal Church, 6500 North W Street, Pensacola, Florida.