Century Switches Prison Water Supply To Backup System From Central Water Works
June 22, 2022
It’s been just over two years since water first flowed through a permanent system interconnect under Tedder Road to the Century Correctional Institution.
And it paid dividends this week when the Town of Century well serving the prison was shut down for unscheduled repairs, according to town officials.
The permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system was completed in late May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. The interconnect was installed after the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison failed in early May 2020. That forced the town to use two-inch fire hoses from a Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road until a permanent solution was in place and the well was repaired.
The town expects the unscheduled repairs to their water tower at the prison to be completed as early as Wednesday. In the meantime, the town was purchasing water for the prison from the Central Water Works interconnection.
Pictured: The Town of Century’s water tower at the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Cmdr. Andrew Hobbs Completes FBI Academy
June 22, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs has completed the 282nd session of the FBI National Academy
Hobbs has returned to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office after completing an intensive 10-week program focusing on communication, leadership, and fitness training led by FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees. The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities.
Hobbs is the first from the ECSO to complete the FBI National Academy in over 10 years. He joins Sheriff Chip W. Simmons and Chief Tommi Lyter as graduates of this prestigious law enforcement executive program.
“We continuously look for opportunities to improve our service to the community. Training and professionalism are paramount to this mission. We are proud of Commander Hobbs and are certain the training he received will make him an even better public servant,” Simmons said.
Biloxi Shuckers Beat The Wahoos
June 22, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos missed out on an attempt to clinch the South Division on Tuesday, falling 5-3 to the Biloxi Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos will need to win only one of their five remaining first-half games against the Shuckers to claim a postseason berth.
A.J. Ladwig (L, 2-1) completed six solid innings, but allowed four early runs that Pensacola couldn’t overcome. Joey Wiemer drove in the game’s first run in the first inning with an RBI single, Terence Doston doubled the lead in the second with an RBI hit of his own, and Jakson Reetz lined a two-run homer in the third for a 4-0 Biloxi lead.
Noah Zavolas (W, 2-1) was dominant in his start for the Shuckers, allowing only three unearned runs over 6.2 innings. He was aided by defense from Wiemer, as the right fielder robbed a home run from José Devers in the third and made two more leaping grabs at the wall later in the game.
The Blue Wahoos broke through in the seventh inning with a Cobie Fletcher-Vance sacrifice fly and Devin Hairson two-run single, but the Shuckers added an insurance run in the eighth and Luis Contreras (S, 1) got the final six outs to earn his first save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series at the Shuckers on Wednesday.
by Erick Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Highway 31 Crash Near Atmore Claims Life Of Alabama Man
June 22, 2022
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 31 west of Atmore claimed the life of an Alabama man.
The crash happened in Baldwin County about 3:22 p.m. Monday. Tuesday night, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said a 2003 Saturn Ion driven by 85-year old Winston Killam of Bay Minette was struck by a 2014 Nissan Altima driven by 33-year old Andrew Shoots of Foley. Killam was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Driver Of Stolen Jeep Charged After Ramming State Trooper, Pursuit
June 21, 2022
A suspect in a stolen vehicle rammed a state trooper’s vehicle and attempted to flee Tuesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a state trooper located a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited driven by Gregory Bernard Henderson in the parking lot of a Whataburger on Pensacola Boulevard, and the trooper attempted to make a traffic stop.
As another Trooper responded as a backup unit and entered the parking lot directly in front of the stolen vehicle, Henderson drove into the right side of the trooper’s patrol car.
Henderson drove out of the Whataburger parking lot and traveled north on Highway 29. As a FHP supervisor arrived on scene, Henderson then drove recklessly across the median and into the Tom Thumb parking lot at Highway 29 and Airport Boulevard
He then drove west on Airport where he disregarded the red light at the intersection of North W Street and at Marcus Pointe Boulevard. Additional troopers arrived on scene and attempted the PIT maneuver and were able to surround the vehicle at the intersection of Highway 29 and W Street.
Henderson refused multiple commands to exit the vehicle, and access was gained through a broken window. With the assistance of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies, troopers were able to arrest Henderson “after a brief moment of resistance”, according to FHP.
Henderson, 36, was charged with felony aggravated fleeing and eluding, two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, driving as a habitual traffic offender, possession of a stolen vehicle and felony marijuana possession. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $108,500.
A female passenger in the Jeep was not charged in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and others, click to enlarge.
Police Searching For Armed, Dangerous Atmore Attempted Murder Suspect
June 21, 2022
The Atmore Police Department is looking for a man wanted for attempted murder.
Rayvon Desha Madison, age 31 of Atmore, is wanted for attempted murder and multiple other charges.
Atmore Police responded to a residence in Atmore just after midnight for a domestic disturbance with shots fired and determined Madison was a suspect.
Madison should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police, and should not be approached. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Cantonment Man Charged With Alleged Sexual Assault Of Young Girl
June 21, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of the sexual assault of an underage girl.
Garrett Lee Constantine, 29, was charged with capital felony sexual assault on a victim under 12. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $200,000.
The victim told investigators that Constantine entered her bedroom and touched her inappropriately and “that it occurred almost every night”, an arrest report states.
An adult female told deputies she questioned him on two different occasions about being in the underage female’s bedroom. He told her that he heard the girl making strange noises and went to check on her, and he caught her using the wrong bathroom in the house and went into the room to make sure she was asleep,” according to the arrest report.
The adult female told investigators that after the second incident she purchased a surveillance camera for the girl’s bedroom, but never recorded Constantine doing anything inappropriate.
After the allegations surfaced, Constantine agreed to meet with investigators from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and families. His arrest report states that his statements throughout the interview were inconsistent, but his statements were redacted from the report.
FWC Asking Residents To Report Wild Turkey Sightings
June 21, 2022
See a wild turkey? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents to report it to help biologists learn more about Florida’ wild turkey population.
Report all wild turkeys seen during normal daily activities through August 31.
FWC is interested in sightings of hens with and without poults (young wild turkeys), and male birds (jakes and gobblers) from all regions of the state, including rural and developed areas. When reporting numbers of poults, be sure to look carefully because young birds may be difficult to see in tall grass or brush.
First Day Of Summer: Heat Wave Continues, Slight Chance Of An Afternoon Shower
June 21, 2022
Even though we’ve had many days in the mid to upper 90s, today is the first official day of summer (the astronomical summer on the calendar).
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Heat index values as high as 106. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Tate Showband Of The South Getting A New Band Tower
June 21, 2022
Now this will bring back some memories for a lot of people.
Construction on a new band tower at Tate High School began on Monday.
“The first tower was located on the original front sideline facing the visitor bleachers. It was put up in the mid 70’s,” District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton wrote on social media. He was the band director for the Showband of the South from 1971 to 1987. “This tower (pictured) was put up when the new cafeteria was built and the field was turned 90 degrees.”
It is expected to take a few weeks to finish construction on the new tower.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.