Active Shooter Threat Cleared As False; Emergency Alerts Cleared
February 8, 2023
A false call of an active shooter Wednesday morning at Pensacola Catholic High has been cleared.
The call came in about 11:35 a.m. of a shooting — an apparent “swatting” where a false report is made to generate a law enforcement response.
“The Pensacola Police Department received information of a possible active shooter situation at Pensacola Catholic High School (3043 W Scott Street) and responded as an agency assist with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office,” Pensacola Police spokesperson Brittany Sturgeon said. “Our agency provided all available resources. The call was determined to be fraudulent, known as a ’swatting’ incident. Catholic High School is secure and back to normal operating procedures.”
Residents across a broad area received an emergency alert on their phone, televisions and other devices.
“Active shooter reported in your area, run hide or fight,” the emergency alert repeated twice. The message stated it pertained to Escambia County but did not give a location.
“As it relates to the previous Pensacola High School Alert, the situation is ALL CLEAR,” another message said.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “Many of you received an alert in reference to an active shooter at a local school. This was determined to be a SWATTING call. The ESCO, along with Pensacola Police Department, responded and have determined the school to be safe, secure and back to normal operations.”
NorthEscambia.com images.
Century Sets Special Election; Voter Registration Deadline Is Less Than A Week Away
February 8, 2023
The Town of Century has set dates for a special election, giving residents just a week to make sure they are registered to vote and setting the candidate qualification period.
Two council seats were left vacant in January because no candidate ran for them last year.
At a meeting on January 2, the sitting council temporarily appointed Shelisa McCall Abraham to Seat 3 and Alicia Johnson to Seat 4. Their positions are temporary until winners are determined in the special election.
If there are three or more candidates for any one of the seats, a primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 14. Any necessary runoff and the general election will be held on Tuesday, March 28.
Qualifying will be open from noon February 21 until noon February 24 at the Supervisor of Elections Office or the Century Town Hall on February 22. Any registered voter that lives in the town limits can seek election and pay a $50 qualifying fee.
For the March 14 primary election, voter registration books will close on February 14. For the March 28 general election, voter registration will close one month prior.
Pictured: Shelisa Abraham (center) was sworn in January 2 as an interim member of the Century Town Council, serving until a special election is held. Alicia Johnson, also appointed to the council, was sworn in on January 17. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rain And Thunderstorms Likely By Wednesday Night
February 8, 2023
Isolated thunderstorms with locally heavy rain and gusty winds are possible Wednesday night
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 3am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 70. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
ECAT Rolls Out Three Buses, Free Rides For Students
February 8, 2023
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) rolled out three new transit buses Tuesday — the first full-size new buses in nearly a decade.
The three new 2022 Gillig buses are the first buses to be added to the fleet since 2014. Equipped with seated capacity for 23 riders and additional hand straps for riders to safely stand, has wi-fi, contains automatic passenger counters, and can accommodate two wheelchairs and two bicycles.
ECAT is also promoting the Student Transit Empowerment Pass (STEP) Program that provides free rides for students under age 18. STEP pass applications will be available online or in person at ECAT customer service offices. Applications must be completed by a parent or legal guardian and are valid until the end of the school year.
Pictured: Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May speaks in front of a new transit bus during an ECAT event Tuesday afternoon. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Convicted Felon Accused Of Stealing Relative’s Truck And Shotgun In Molino
February 8, 2023
A convicted felon from Molino is accused of stealing a relative’s truck with a shotgun inside before returning both to the scene of the crime.
Robert Dale Stockstill II was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and armed burglary.
Stockstill allegedly stole a GMC 1500 work truck from a relative’s driveway on Bet Raines Road in Molino. The victim had returned home from hunting and placed a Remington shotgun in the driver’s seat before going to a nearby store for about 20 minutes. When he returned home, the truck was gone.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Stockstill later returned with the truck, and a verbal altercation followed before Stockstill left in his own vehicle before deputies arrived.
The business owner told deputies that he wished to pursue charges for theft of the truck. The shotgun was still in the truck when it was recovered.
“Due to the shotgun being moved into the passenger’s seat, Stockstill should have known a firearm was within the vehicle and known not to enter due to being a convicted felon,” an arrest report states.
Stockstill remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $15,000.
Escambia County Commission Cancels Their COW
February 8, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled Thursday’s planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
The January COW meeting was also canceled.
Escambia (Alabama) Sheriff Receives $1.2 Million Radio Grant From Rep. Jerry Carl
February 8, 2023
The Escambia County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office has received a $1.2 million grant to upgrade their radio system.
Alabama Congressman Jerry Carl presented the $1,204,277.52 grant to Sheriff Heath Jackson Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
The grant will allow for towers and equipment to upgrade the agency’s communication to digitally encrypted P25 equipment, similar to what is utilized in neighboring Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.
According to Carl’s office, the radios will “assist first responders in performing their job more efficiently and safely and to deliver an inbound and outbound communication structure to Escambia County, which will tie the East end of Escambia County to an already structured West end of the county, thus closing the gap in radio communications”.
“We will still have to come up with the money to buy radios for vehicles and belts, but this is the major step,” Jackson told NorthEscambia.com from Washington Tuesday afternoon. “I really appreciate the congressman’s help.
“I also want to thank Senator Katie Britt for her help pushing this grant across the finish line,” he added.
Other law enforcement agencies and first responders across Escambia County, Alabama, will have the opportunity to move to the new digital radio system.
Pictured: Alabama Congressman Jerry Carl (pictured top, left and below, right) presented a $1,204,277.52 communications grant to Sheriff Heath Jackson Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registration Underway For Tri-City Children’s Choir
February 8, 2023
Registration is underway for the Tri-City Children’s Choir (TCCC), a regional initiative of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
TCCC welcomes young singers in grades 1-6 who reside in Century, Flomaton, Jay and the surrounding areas in Florida and Alabama.
The choir will one again be under the direction of Holley Driver, a Century-based music teacher.
Singers will meet weekly at 4:30 on Thursdays beginning March 9 at Century First United Methodist Church, 530 Church Street. TCCC is a tuition-based program and costs from $15 to $65 per month. Families may choose the weekly amount that works best for their household finances, and scholarships are also available.
For more information on joining the choir, or make a contribution, visit www.tricitychoir.org.
Driver taught music in the Escambia County School District for over 15 years, served as the choral director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino for nine years, and teaches in her own studio.
If you need more information, call or text Driver at (850) 324-6182.
Pictured: A May 2022 performance by the Tri-City Children’s Choir. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Stadium To Host Tate, Northview In High School, College Series
February 8, 2023
High school and college baseball are returning to Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The high school baseball schedule at Blue Wahoo Stadium will begin on Saturday, February 25 when Baker High will take on Pensacola High, followed by West Florida High and Milton on March 9. The high school series will return March 23 through March 27, including Tate and South Walton High on March 23 at 7 p.m., Northview versus Jay on March 24 at 4 p.m., and Tate versus Arnold at 7:00 on March 24.
Eight teams will take part in a 29 game college series between March 14 and March 23. The tournament will feature UW-Whitewater (Wisconsin), Spalding University (Kentucky), Carroll University (Wisconsin), Edgewood College (Wisconsin), UW-Platteville (Wisconsin), Grinnell College (Iowa), Hendrix College (Arkansas), and Birmingham Southern College (Alabama).
“Blue Wahoos Stadium is a community ballpark and we’re thrilled to provide local high school players a full professional baseball experience under the lights as well as showcase our beautiful community to collegiate athletes from across the country,” general manager Steve Brice said. “We can’t wait to have the best fans in baseball back at Blue Wahoos Stadium throughout February and March as we prepare for Blue Wahoos Opening Day on April 7.”
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Navarre 12-4 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in March 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter and by Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Malnourished Horses, Pony Removed From Century Property During Investigation — With Additional Photos
February 7, 2023
An animal cruelty case near Century is under investigation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint Saturday in the 7600 block of Killam Road, between Highway 4 and Highway 4A.
According to the ECSO, the investigation involves animals including horses, a small pony and a goat.
“The owners moved away sometime last year,” said ECSO spokesperson Morgan Lewis. “They would then sometimes stop by and feed them.”
Lewis said the horses and pony both appeared to be malnourished.
According to ECSO, charges in the case are pending the outcome of the investigation.
Two horses and the pony were removed from the property, according to Panhandle Equine Rescue (PER) President Diane Lowery. One of the horses, she said, did not survive the night.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, the non-profit Panhandle Equine Rescue was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty cases in Escambia County.
For more information on Panhandle Equine Rescue and how to donate to the organization visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org. The group is specifically seeking donations to help with the care of the surviving horse and pony.
Pictured top: A malnourished pony is fed after being removed from a property near Century. Pictured first photo below: A malnourished horse was transported to Panhandle Equine Rescue. Pictured second photo below: Volunteers fight to save the horse. It did not survive the night. Pictured bottom two photos: A second malnourished horse. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
