Jay Man Tried To Crash Into Woman’s Car In Century With Her Kids Inside, ECSO Says
April 12, 2023
A Jay man was arrested after allegedly trying multiple times in Century to crash his vehicle into a woman’s vehicle with her children inside.
Bodie Lee Gibson, 30, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of child neglect, all domestic violence related felonies.
The victim was at Whataburger on North Century Boulevard to drop off three children with a friend when Gibson arrived and asked to buy food for the children. While Gibson was giving food to the children in the car, he told the victim that he was taking the children, according to an arrest report. The victim refused to allow him to take the the children due to him having no license and appearing intoxicated, she said.
She drove her vehicle around Whataburger and Gibson drove at her from the opposite direction, coming at her head-on, and then blocking the exit, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said. She drove to a nearby gas station when she reported he tried to hit her vehicle again. He then followed her closely on Highway 29 before turning off toward Jay, the report states.
Deputies said witnesses corroborated the allegations.
Escambia Schools Honor Career Academies, Students
April 12, 2023
The Escambia County Schools recently recognized career academies, schools and students of the year.
The winners included:
- Middle School Student of the Year: Jayden Williams, Vet Assisting Academy, Beulah Middle School (Teachers are Charlotte Trudeau and Leanne Jenkins)
- Middle School Career Academy Teacher of the Year: Libby Sears, Digital Discoveries Academy, Ransom Middle School
- Middle School Career Academy of the Year: Digital Discoveries Academy, Ferry Pass Middle School (Teachers are Allison Cameron, Bridgette Egly, Kolby Jernigan, and Tonya Jackson-Hall)
- High School Career Academy Student of the Year: Tydun Joy, Health Sciences Academy, Booker T. Washington High School (Teacher is Nancy Barger)
- High School Career Academy Scholar: Erich Amerson, Graphic Arts Academy, Northview High School (Teachers are Megan Carroll and Robert Myrick)
- High School Career Academy Student Intern of the Year: Lindsay Samojedny, Biomedical Sciences Academy, West Florida High School (Teacher is Jessica Rutherford, DCT Coordinator is Katherine Brand)
- High School Career Academy Teacher of the Year: Tom Connors, COX Telecommunications Academy West Florida High School
- High School Career Academy of the Year: Culinary Arts Academy, Northview High School (Teacher is Ashley Salter)
For more photos, click or tap here.
“We are so fortunate in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to have such active and robust career academies in our high schools and middle schools,” said ECPS Workforce Education Director Steven Harrell. “It is an honor to be a part of this enterprise. We are truly preparing our students for success after graduation.”
Pictured: Teacher Ashley Salter accepted the High School Career Academy of the Year award for the Northview High School Culinary Arts Academy. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Chances Increasing This Afternoon Into Thursday
April 12, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of afternoon showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Low around 58. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 73. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Resigns
April 12, 2023
Longtime Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant resigned from office Tuesday afternoon.
Bondurant cited medical advice as the reason for his resignation, which was effective immediately.
Mayor pro tem and council member Jim Johnson will temporarily serve as mayor. The council will then fill the vacancy with a council member or any other resident. In the event they do not within 60 days, each existing council member will submit a name to the governor for appointment. If the governor fails to make an appointment from the submitted names within 90 days, the probate judge will call a special election.
Bondurant was elected to a fifth term in 2020.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
T.R. Miller Slides Past Northview Varsity And JV (With Gallery)
April 12, 2023
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 2
The T.R. Miller Tigers slipped past Northview 3-2 Tuesday night in Bratt.
Cason Burkett went six innings, allowing three hits and three runs while striking out seven. Jamarkus Jefferson threw one inning in relief, striking out one.
Josh Landis led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-3. Burkett, Jefferson, and Kaden Odom each added a hit for Northview.
Next up, Northview will host Chipley at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 0 (JV)
T.R. Miller defeated Northview 3-0 in junior varsity action Tuesday afternoon.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Brodie Rhodes opened on the mound for Northview, giving up three hits and four runs in four innings while striking out nine. Jayden White closed with two innings, surrendering one hit and striking out four.
Bryant Mason and Luke Chavers had one hit apiece for the Chiefs.
Pictured: Northview Chiefs JV takes on T.R. Miller Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Escambia, Florida, Residents Charged With Drug Trafficking In Atmore
April 12, 2023
Two Escambia County, Florida, residents have been charged with drug trafficking in Atmore.
Jovante Sacorria Ducree (pictured left), 30, and Artavian Marquis Jenkins, 34, were both charged with drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were booked in the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center.
Their arrests came after an Atmore police officer made a traffic stop for running a red light. The office reported detecting a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle When the vehicle was searched, Amore Police said they discovered 47.2 grams of a white rock substance that field tested positive for crack cocaine, 0.5 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. eight grams of a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana, and a digital scale.
Both remained jailed without bond.
Alabama Woman Dies In Head-on Crash With Semi Driven By Atmore Man
April 12, 2023
An Alabama woman died in a crash with a semi truck driven by an Atmore man Tuesday morning.
Monica Gail McCall, 30, was fatally injured when her Toyota RAV4 collided head-on with a Peterbilt semi driven by 67-year old Dewey Levi Bethea, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
McCall was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Alabama Highway 84, about 15 miles west of Evergreen in Conecuh County.
Alabama troopers are continuing their investigation.
Baker Tops Northview; Niceville Gets Past Tate
April 12, 2023
Baker 7, Northview 6
The Baker Gators defeated Northview 7-6 Tuesday night in Baker.
Aubrey Stuckey opened for Northview, allowing seven hits and six runs in four innings with five strikeouts. Jamison Gilman went for three and two-thirds innings
Stuckey had a dinger in the second inning, one of two hits for the night. Chloe Ragsdale, Mary-Clayton Dawson, Rylee Brooks, Makayla Golson and Allison Flowers also each had two hits for Northview.
Northview will host Gulf Breeze Thursday at 6 p.m.
Niceville 8, Tate 6
The Tate Lady Aggies fell on the road to Niceville 8-6 Tuesday.
K Balagbagan went four innings in the circle for Tate, allowing five hits and seven runs with three strikeouts. J Smith went for two, surrendering three hits and one run.
Latner led the Aggies at bat, going 2-3. Balagbagan, B Campbell, A Laird and T Showalter added one hit each.
On Thursday, Tate will travel to Crestview.
Pictured: Aubrey Stuckey for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Foiled By Shuckers In 10 Innings
April 12, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had the makings of a memorable win on Tuesday night in Biloxi, twice overcoming a deficit to take a 6-5 lead to the bottom of the 10th in the opener of their road series against the Shuckers.
Instead, Jackson Chourio showed why he is currently ranked the top prospect in Minor League Baseball. After hitting his first career Double-A homer in the fifth, the 19-year-old outfielder launched a walk-off two-run blast to send the Blue Wahoos to a 7-6 defeat.
The contest was a pitchers’ duel early, as Justin Jarvis took a perfect game into the fifth for Biloxi and M.D. Johnson fanned eight over 4.0 solid innings for Pensacola in his Double-A debut.
The Shuckers took a 4-0 lead on Chourio’s first homer in the fifth inning, but the Blue Wahoos jumped on the Biloxi bullpen in the seventh to tie the game. Paul McIntosh got Pensacola on the board with a solo homer before Griffin Conine brought home a pair with a two-run triple. José Devers tied the game when he reached on a throwing error, scoring Conine from third.
Biloxi reclaimed the lead in the seventh with an Isaac Collins RBI single, handing T.J. Shook (W, 1-0) a 5-4 lead going to the ninth. Down to their final strike with the bases loaded, the Blue Wahoos got a game-tying RBI single from Joe Rizzo before Devers was thrown out trying to score from second.
After a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning from Cristian Charle (L, 0-1) in his Double-A debut, the Blue Wahoos took their first lead in the 10th when Troy Johnston brought home Rizzo from third on a sacrifice fly. Charle got the first out of the 10th before Chourio blasted the walk-off homer beyond the center field wall.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday
written by Bill Vilona
Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Grant Public Meetings This Week
April 12, 2023
Escambia County will hold two public meetings this week to discuss the county’s participation in the Hurricane Sally Voluntary Home Buyout Grants process. The meetings will be held April 12 at 3 p.m. and April 13 at 10 a.m. Both meetings will take place at the Central Office Complex, 3363 W. Park Place, Room 104. The public is welcome to attend both meetings.
The Rebuild Florida Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Voluntary Home Buyout Program is designed to address needs that remain after all other assistance has been exhausted. This plan details how funds will be allocated to address remaining unmet need in disaster-impacted areas in Northwest Florida and reduce vulnerability through acquisitions and buyouts. This program will primarily benefit low-to-moderate income households with properties that are in a special flood hazard area and in high-risk flood areas to help reduce the impact of future disasters.
The first option is to leverage CDBG-DR funding as match for projects that are also eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. The second option is to work directly with the county on projects located in LMI areas to buyout residential areas in support of permanent open space supporting green infrastructure or other floodplain management systems.
The county will prioritize home buyout projects that focus on the acquisition of concentrations of residential areas that meet LMI area requirements.
Full project descriptions are available at MyEscambia.com/sallyrecoverygrant. Public comments can be emailed to sallyrecoverygrant@myescambia.com.