It’s A Girl! Escambia 911 Dispatcher Helps Deliver Baby
December 22, 2022
It’s a girl!
On Saturday, December 17, Escambia County emergency dispatcher Ashley McLellan took a 911 call from a woman in labor.
McLellan calmly provided instructions on how to deliver the baby safely before EMS arrived. After a few minutes, the new mom told McLellan that it was a healthy baby girl.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
December 22, 2022
One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened on Highway 29 near Archer Road about 3:15 p.m. The vehicle came to rest partially on its side in the edge of a wooded area.
The injured person was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash, and the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ensley Chiefs Cheerleaders Donate Toys To Ronald McDonald House
December 22, 2022
The Ensley Chiefs Cheerleaders recently made a toy donation for the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola just in time for Christmas. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Continues Through Christmas Eve
December 22, 2022
It only takes a moment to make a donation to the Salvation Army during their Red Kettle campaign outside retailers in Escambia County. And many of the donation kettle locations even accept donations by phone using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo or PayPal.
The Red Kettle campaign is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Salvation Army of Pensacola, and at last report, they were behind on their yearly goal.
Pictured: The Salvation Army’s red kettle outside Publix in University Town Center Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
December 22, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month.
They are:
Kindergarten: Bradley Linton and London Mixon
- 1st Grade: Anna Cox
- 2nd Grade: Brayden Mullins and Kolin Rogers
- 3rd Grade: Charlie Trawick and Ryan Hoomes
- 4th Grade: Cohen Linton and MaryStephen Moody
- 5th Grade: Jayden Carter and Sawyer Odom
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tenth December Residential Fire Reported In Escambia County
December 22, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue added three more red bulbs to the wreath on Wednesday, bringing a total of 10 red bulbs during the 2022 “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
At 5:40 a.m., Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire in the 1400 block of Portland Street. Smoke was showing from a single-story family dwelling and fire was discovered in a storage room. Smoke detectors were functioning and alerted the occupant to the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished, and due to numerous closed doors throughout the home, fire and smoke damage was limited. Repairs will be needed, resulting in the eighth red bulb being added to the wreath. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Bureau of Fire and Arson.
At 9:06 a.m., ECFR responded to a residential laundry room fire at the 3100 block of West La Rua Street. The main electrical power feed was damaged, displacing the occupants until repairs can be made. As a result, the ninth red bulb was added to the wreath. The home did not have functioning smoke detectors, so ECFR installed them throughout the home. The cause of the fire was determined to be from a toaster oven located in the laundry room that was too close to combustible items.
At 12:07 p.m., ECFR responded to a reported commercial structure fire in the 2000 block of North Pace Boulevard pictured above). Firefighters arrived to find a RV camper trailer fully engulfed in flames behind the business. The camper trailer was a total loss, and the nearby commercial structure was also damaged. One person was transported to the hospital with injuries. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. Since the camper was being utilized as a residence, this fire counted as the tenth red bulb added to the wreath.
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for City of Pensacola residents.
Jacob Kevin Byrd
December 22, 2022
Mr. Jacob Kevin Byrd, age 38, passed away, Friday, December 16, 2022, in Atmore, AL. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore, AL
Mr. Byrd enjoyed singing and dancing. He really enjoyed going fishing and crabbing. Jacob always had a vibrant personality, was always the life of any party, and never met stranger.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl (Rosie) Byrd, and Jack (Velma) Amos.
He is survived by his parents, Winston (Cindy) Byrd, of Atmore, AL; one sister, Heather (Gary) Presley, of Flomaton, AL; two nephews, Micah Presley, Jayden Presley, one niece, Kayleigh Presley, one uncle Melvin Byrd, of Atmore, AL; one aunt, Tammy Graham, of Atmore, AL; other relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be held Friday, December 23, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Rev. Ronald Hall officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Rock Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 23, 2022, from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Micah Presley, Taylor Graham, Dustin Graham, Malcom Buckhault, Noah Martin, and Jayden Presley.
Honorary pallbearer will be Gary Presley.
School Janitor Charged With Lewd Act With Georgia Teen; Soliciting Local Student, And Child Porn
December 21, 2022
A school janitor from Beulah is facing multiple charges after allegedly exchanging explicit videos and messages with a teen in Georgia and attempting to solicit a local student.
Eric William Poston, 24, was charged with possession of child pornography, lewd and lascivious sexual offense involving a juvenile, using a computer to solicit or lure a child, transmitting harmful material to minors, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Poston worked as a contracted janitor at Warrington Elementary School and befriended a 13-year old female student at Bellview Middle School while he was working there, according to an arrest report. He allegedly attempted to meet her outside of school and provide her with marijuana, alcohol and electronic cigarettes.
Poston told deputies that he had three non-nude images of the student on his phone, and he denied having sent or exchanged nude images with her, the report continues. The victim told deputies that Poston used Instagram to send an explicit picture of himself to other possible students, but the name of the school was redacted from the report.
The ECSO seized the phone and obtained a search warrant.
The search found that Poston was a member of a group chat named “14-18 teens” and appeared to have exchanged nude images with a 16-year old female 10th grade student in Georgia. Investigators found that he had sent and received several explicit messages and videos with the girl, the arrest report states.
Poston was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $60,000 bond.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Poston was employed by ABM Industries, not the Escambia County school district.
Arctic Front Bringing Extreme Cold, Extreme Wind Chills
December 21, 2022
An arctic cold front will be extremely cold weather through the Christmas weekend. Beginning Friday, wind chills — the “feels like” temperature — will plunge into the single digits. North Escambia overnight lows will be in the upper teens to around 20 with Friday’s high not expected to rise above freezing.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high near 55. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 39.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
ECUA Sanitation Truck Rolls Over In McDavid
December 21, 2022
There were no serious injuries reported when a Emerald Coast Utilities Authority sanitation truck rolled over near McDavid Tuesday afternoon.
The ECUA truck came to rest on its side at Highway 29 and Mystic Springs Road, just under a mile south of the McDavid Fire Station. There were no other vehicles involved.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash. The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
