Three Jailed After Flomaton Police Execute Narcotics Search Warrant
March 21, 2022
Three people were arrested Sunday afternoon after a narcotics search warrant was executed at a mobile home in Flomaton.
The Flomaton Police Department served the warrant at a residence on Wiley Drive off Highway 113. They reported finding methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids (“spice”), marijuana and drug paraphernalia including hypodermic needles and pipes.
Amanda Charlene Pugh, 41, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of a controlled substance (spice), possession of marijuana II, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
David Keith McCory, 33, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), and possession of drug paraphernalia (pictured middle below).
Danny Lamarr Harrellson, 57, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of a controlled substance (spice), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three were booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office assisted in the operation.
Florida Gas Prices Back Off Record Highs
March 21, 2022
The price of oil suffered steep losses last week, enabling the price of gasoline to back off from record highs.
The state average price for gasoline is on a nine-day streak of declines, dropping a total of 20 cents per gallon. On Sunday, drivers paid an average price of $4.18 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average was $4.11 per gallon.
A low price of $4.04 could be found Sunday night in North Escambia at a station of Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, the lowest price Sunday night was $3.91 at a station on Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley.
“The oil market remains extremely volatile, after seeing big swings in both directions during the past few weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Last weekend, oil prices dropped on demand concerns regarding a COVID outbreak in China, which resulted in lockdowns. By the end of the week, oil prices charged higher again as global crude supply concerns – regarding the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict – moved back to the forefront. Fortunately, oil prices are well below the high we saw more than a week ago. This should enable gas prices to slip lower this week, unless oil suddenly spikes again.”
District 5 Commissioner Barry Holding Town Hall Meeting Monday Evening
March 21, 2022
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting Monday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center.
Residents of District 5 are invited and encouraged to attend the open forum event at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 21. County staff will be in attendance to address any additional questions or concerns from residents.
The Langley Bell 4-H Center is located at 3730 Stefani Road.
Pictured: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry during a June 2021 town hall meeting at the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Joyce Booth Knowles
March 21, 2022
Joyce Booth Knowles, age 69, of Butler, AL passed away on March 17, 2022. She was born on April 10, 1952 in Escambia County, AL to Isac and Ella Moye Booth. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Mary Marie Booth and two brothers, Frank Booth and Willie Booth.
She is survived by her sons, Donnie Blackman of Atmore, AL and Steven Knowles of Atmore, AL; her daughter, Rachael Knowles of Walnut Hill, FL; her brother, Robert (Tina) Booth of Excel, AL; her sisters, Edna (Jim) Powers of Atmore, AL, Dorothy (Mac) Rolin of Walnut Hill, FL and Mary Simmons of Atmore, AL and her grandchildren, Thomas Blackman, Ella Blackman, Crimson Blackman and Landon Blackman.
Graveside services will be held Monday, March 21, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at Bowman Cemetery in Wawbeek, AL. Interment will follow at Bowman Cemetery.
Robert Lee Johnson
March 21, 2022
Robert Lee Johnson, age 91, of Atmore, AL passed away on March 14, 2022. He was born on October 9, 1930 in Jackson, TN to Henry and Beulah Johnson. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, TN and later became a member of Robinsonville Baptist Church. He was a proud winner of the Tennessee Senior Bowling Championship. He is preceded in death by
his parents; his wife, Helen A. Jones and his daughter, Phyllis Parks.
He is survived by his son, Rev. Phil Johnson (Shea) of Atmore, AL and three grandchildren, Dan, Ellen and Gabriel.
Funeral services will be held Monday, March 21, 2022 at noon at Robinsonville Baptist Church in Robinsonville, AL with Rev. Phil Johnson and Dr. Larry Patterson officiating. Interment will follow at Robinsonville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Charlie Woods, Joe Ray, Jerry Janes, Andrew Willis, Dan Johnson and Jimmy Langford.
Visitation will be held Monday, March 21, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until service time at noon at Robinsonville Baptist Church.
Search Warrant Served At Gun Shop In Investigation; Officials Seek More Info
March 20, 2022
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is asking the public for information about an Escambia County gun shop after a search warrant was served there on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media there as local, state and federal authorities executed a search warrant Friday at Don’s Gun Shop at 9413 North Palafox Street, just north of Nine Mile Road. On Friday, FDLE confirmed they were involved in serving the search warrant.
On Saturday, the agency said they have received “multiple citizen complaints” about the gun shop. FDLE said they are investigating the allegations in a joint investigation with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). No further information about the “complaints” has been released.
“We believe members of the public may have additional information that could aid in our investigation,” FDLE said, asking for the public to submit any tips by calling their Pensacola office at (850) 595-2100.
A sign on the front door of the business on Saturday stated, “Closed. If your gun was here, please call the number on the card below. Sorry for the inconvenience.” That number is FDLE Special Agent Chelsea Atzel at (850) 595-2012 or cell (850) 378-6746.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Wrong-Way Bicyclist Lands In Jail On Multiple Charges
March 20, 2022
A man riding his bicycle the wrong way on Highway 31 in Flomaton early Saturday morning landed in jail on multiple charges.
Hubert Lamer Johnson, 43, was charged with public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana second degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
A Flomaton Police Department officer observed a man identified as Johnson riding his bicycle without proper lighting and headed the wrong direction on a four-lane portion of Highway 31.
“Johnson possessed illegal narcotics and was also believed to be under the influence of a substance,” Flomaton Police said, adding that he resisted arrest but was quickly controlled.
Johnson remained in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond early Sunday morning after his bond was revoked in a previous case.
Straight Line Winds, Not A Tornado, Destroyed Mobile Homes, Injured 10, NWS Says
March 20, 2022
Straight line winds, not a tornado, were responsible for the injuries and damage at a mobile home park north of Atmore Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
A team from NWS surveyed the damage Saturday morning, determining that “a swath of damaging straight line winds impacted the Poarch, AL, area,” about 9:04 a.m.
A total of 10 people were injured, two critically, at the Big Oak Mobile Home Park at 7400 Jack Springs Road, just north of the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation. There were no fatalities.
At least nine mobile homes were completely destroyed, and other structures in the area were damaging, including structures at Perdido River Farms, a tribe-owned beef farm.
“A narrow swath of intense wind gusts estimated at 90 to 100mph affected a mobile home park where several mobile homes were rolled/destroyed. The surrounding area sustained severe wind gusts to the southeast where several trees were snapped/uprooted and a farm and nearby residences sustained roof damage to several buildings. The survey team found no evidence of convergence with all damage laid out in a southwest to northeast swath suggesting straight line wind damage,” the NWS report states.
“It’s devastating. Those people have nothing left,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “We are so thankful that no one was killed or severely injured, but to know everything that you owned is no more. That’s difficult to see.”
“It looked like a bomb hit some of them,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
Several of the homes were blown from their foundations and scattered about the mobile home park. First responders from Poarch Creek, Escambia County, Alabama, Baldwin County and the state combed through the wreckage looking for anyone injured or trapped.
“We have one guy that was in his mobile home when the storm hit. He was asleep. He said when he woke up, he was in the woods,” Jackson said. “Obviously the Good Lord was looking out for him.”
Escambia County (AL) Emergency Management Director David Adams said Friday that while there were indications of some rotation in the damage, it appeared straight line winds were the likely cause.
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Flood Warning Issued For The Escambia River Near Century
March 20, 2022
A flood warning is in effect for the Escambia River near Century until early Wednesday morning. Minor flooding is forecast.
Early Sunday morning, the stage was 16 feet. The river is expected to rise to a crest near 18 feet Monday morning. It will then fall below flood stage late Tuesday evening.
At flood stage of 17 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands occur.
The Perdido River near Barrineau Park is expected to crest at 8.9 feet on Monday, just below action stage of 9.0 feet. Minor flood stage for the Perdido River is 13 feet.
Sunny Monday, Watching Another Threat Of Strong Storms By Tuesday
March 20, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 43. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 75. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 61. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71.