Scattered Showers And Storms Possible Through The Weekend
June 11, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Pensacola Christian College Locked Down After Unfounded Report Of Person With A Gun
June 11, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pensacola Christian College Friday after a report of a person possibly armed with a weapon on the campus.
The ECSO was able to clear the campus and determine that the threat was unfounded.
“Pensacola Christian College received a report of a perceived threat,” PCC said in a statement. “The campus was placed on lockdown while the report was investigated. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded promptly and the report was found not to be credible.”
File photo.
Semi Overturns In I-10 Wreck, Spills Frozen Chickens Across The Road
June 11, 2022
Frozen chickens were scattered across I-10 in Escambia County following a semi wreck .
The 21-year old driver of a pickup truck entering I-10 at Scenic Highway lost control about 6:10 p.m. and collided with a semi-truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The semi collided with a concrete center median, causing the trailer loaded with frozen chickens to overturn and hit the Scenic Highway overpass. The chickens were spilled into the westbound lanes of I-10.
The pickup truck also collided with the wall of the overpass.
The occupants of the pickup truck were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The semi driver was not injured.
Photos: WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Married Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Employees Arrested For Elderly Exploitation And Fired
June 11, 2022
Two members of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office — a husband and wife — have been arrested and terminated
Carl Scheel III, a deputy, and Alicia Marie Scheel, a civilian clerk, were both charged with one felony count of exploitation of the elderly.
After a month-long investigation, investigators found the Scheel’s moved a pickup truck and money from his father’s name into their names without consent, according to arrest reports.
“Agency employees will always be held to high standards, both on and off duty. Although an arrest has been made, we are continuing this investigation and it remains very active,” said SRSO Sheriff Bob Johnson.
Mug shots of law enforcement officers are exempt from release in Florida.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Tahoe Collides With A Prius
June 11, 2022
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office unit collided with a Toyota Prius Friday.
The marked ECSO Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on Highway 295 with its lights and siren activated as a white Toyota Prius was traveling southbound. The Tahoe experienced a mechanical failure while negotiating a curve, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, and traveled across the median.
The ECSO Tahoe collided with the Prius. Neither driver was transported to the hospital, and only minor injuries were reported.
FHP said no citations were issued.
Blue Wahoos Overcome Early Deficit in Comeback 9-8 Win Over B’ham
June 11, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were undaunted by an 8-1 deficit in Birmingham on Friday night, scoring eight unanswered runs for a comeback 9-8 win over the Barons.
Josh Simpson (W, 3-0), Dylan Bice and Colton Hock (S, 5) combined for 6.0 innings of one-hit, shutout relief that allowed the offense to chip away at the Barons bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos extended their lead in the South Division by 4.0 games with 14 to play in the first half.
Griffin Conine opened the scoring for Pensacola in the first against Birmingham starter Scott Blewett, grounding an RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Blue Wahoos starter Bryan Mitchell allowed a two-run double to J.J. Muno in the second before things unraveled in the third inning.
Birmingham scored six runs against Mitchell in the third, though three errors from the Blue Wahoos made five of the runs unearned. The big inning was capped by a three-run homer from Luis Curbelo to put the Barons ahead 8-1.
Luis Aviles Jr. hit a solo homer to lead off the fourth and kick off the comeback effort, and Ray-Patrick Didder hit an RBI triple later in the inning to cut the deficit to 8-3. In the fifth, a two-out throwing error from Barons third baseman D.J. Burt made the score 8-5.
The Blue Wahoos completed the comeback in the sixth, scoring four runs against Taylor Broadway (L, 1-2). Paul McIntosh laced a two-run double to left-center and scored the tying run on a wild pitch before an Aviles sacrifice fly brought home the eventual winning run.
Simpson, Bice and Hock held the lead, facing just one over the minimum over the final four innings.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Escambia Looks At $40 Higher Fire Fee, But Lower Property Tax To Fund Fire Services
June 10, 2022
Escambia County property owners may see a $40 increase in a fire fee, but see their property tax rate decrease at the same time.
It’s the latest solution being considered as a way to increase funding by $6 million to meet the county’s fire services next year.
Chairman Jeff Bergosh pitched the “tax swap” during a Thursday workshop meeting of the Escambia County Commission. That, he said, “leaves the Escambia County tax paying property owner without a property tax increase…even though he will pay more if his property (value) went up.”
The $40 increase will raise the fire MSBU from $125 to $165 per year.
Ultimately, Bergh said he believes a sales tax increase is the way to fund Escambia County Fire Rescue, but the timetable to place the plan on the ballot means it can’t happen until 2024.
Bergosh also proposed cutting 125 jobs from a pool of 400 positions that are currently vacant to save millions more.
Commissioner Doug Underhill took the idea a big step further, recommending that 200 vacant positions be eliminated.
“We are clearly able to conduct government business without them,” Underhill said. “We are clearly able to run this government with 400 fewer people than what we’ve got on the books.”
“Keep in mind, none of this discussion means going to somebody in any of our offices and saying, ‘you’ve got to go home’. This simple means eliminating the billets that are clearly not needed….because the staff we’ve got is doing the same job,” Underhill continued.
Commissioner Steven Barry said little during the board’s discussion, stating ““put this on the agenda next week, we’ll solve the problem” when pressed for comment by Bergosh.
“I agree with our chairman about it being a good day for the taxpayers of Escambia County,” Barry told NorthEscambia.com following the meeting. “I support, and expect based on the conversations we have had at board meetings, that there will not be any type of rate increase of any kind recommended by board, whether MSBU or ad valorem. Also, I do believe Commissioner Bergosh’s long term idea of funding fire services through a sales tax voted on by the taxpayers and removing the MSBU altogether seems to make a lot of sense.”
Century Man Gets Life In Prison For 2020 Century Shooting Death
June 10, 2022
A Century man has been sentenced to life in prison for a November 2020 shooting in Century that left one man dead and two others injured.
Tacorius Cordale Stallworth was convicted by an Escambia County jury of first degree murder for the death of Joseph Christopher Smith and two counts of aggravated battery for two others that were shot and survived.
In addition to the life sentence, Judge John Simon also sentenced Stallworth to an additional 15 years in prison to run concurrently for each of the aggravated battery counts.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting about 11:35 p.m. Monday, November 30, 2020, in the 8200 block of Alger Road, just off North Century Boulevard.
The victim, Joseph Christopher Smith, was found shot to death outside a shed near the mobile home. Multiple shell casings were found near the body, in the shed and leading away from the body. The inside of the shed had a couch, several chairs, tables and a lamp. The items were in a state of disarray with the lamp glass shattered.
Two other adult males were sitting near the mobile home when deputies arrived; both had been shot.
Suspect Jaran Britt Myles was recently sentenced to 45 years in state prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of his probation on a 2015 conviction for manslaughter with a firearm. After the November 2020 shooting, deputies arrested Myles at the Liquor Liquor Cabinet on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road in Gonzalez. He attempted to hide a gun on the store shelves. He is awaiting trial on the murder and aggravated battery charges.
A third suspect, Emonee Demontae Long, is also awaiting trial and is due back in court in August.
Pictured: Deputies look for evidence at the scene of a of a triple shooting on Alger Road Century the night of November 30, 2020. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
License-Free Freshwater Fishing This Weekend In Florida
June 10, 2022
Anglers can fish for free in freshwater in Florida this weekend.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said license-free freshwater fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for those new to fishing without needing to first purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers, including residents and non-residents. All other rules including seasons, bag and size limits still apply.
Pictured: Fishing at Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Ends Today
June 10, 2022
Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, offering savings on hurricane supplies, ends today, June 10.
This year, household pet supplies such as pet food, leashes, collars, beds and portable kennels are also included in the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free (see the bottom of the list below).
Floridians are expected to save $25.6 million on the purchase of tax-free items such as flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries and fire extinguishers. This is more than double compared to the $10.5 million Floridians saved during the 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
The sales tax holiday continues through June 10.
Here is the list of included items:
Selling for $20 or less:
- Reusable ice (ice packs)
Selling for $40 or less:
- Any portable self-powered light source* (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank or gas):
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Candles
Selling for $50 or less:
- Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries):
- AA-cell and AAA-cell
- C-cell
- D-cell
- 6-volt
- 9-volt
- Two-way and weather band radios* (powered by battery, solar, or hand-crank)
* Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.
Selling for $60 or less:
- Nonelectric food storage coolers
- Portable power banks
NEW THIS YEAR: Selling for $70 or less:
- Smoke detectors and smoke alarms
- Fire extinguishers
- Carbon monoxide detectors
Selling for $100 or less:
- Tarpaulins (tarps) or other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems
- Tie-down kits
- Bungee cords
- Ratchet straps
Selling for $1,000 or less:
Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
NEW THIS YEAR: Supplies necessary for the evacuation of household pets, including:
- Cans or pouches of wet pet food selling for $2 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if
- sold in a box or case
- Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls selling for $15 or less per item
- Manual can openers selling for $15 or less per item
- Cat litter pans selling for $15 or less
- Pet waste disposal bags selling for $15 or less per package
- Hamster or rabbit substrate selling for $15 or less per package
- Leashes, collars, and muzzles selling for $20 or less
- Pet pads selling for $20 or less per box or package
- Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds and selling for $25 or less
- Bags of dry pet food weighing 15 or fewer pounds and selling for $30 or less
- Pet beds selling for $40 or less
- Portable kennels or pet carriers selling for $100 or less