Sonic Boom From Returning SpaceX Capsule Rattles Escambia County
May 31, 2023
A sonic boom heard and felt across Escambia County and surrounding areas Tuesday night was caused a SpaceX Dragon capsule and Ax-2 crew returning to earth. After passing over the area, the capsule successfully slashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama City.
After the boom rattled the area shortly after 10 p.m., Escambia County 911 operators took a large number of calls, and NorthEscambia.com received hundreds of messages from Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Our readers reported what they thought was an explosion.
The capsule was caught in a NorthEscambia.com photo (above) streaking across the sky over Highway 164 west of Highway 29, between McDavid and the Christian Home community.
Pictured above: A SpaceX Dragon capsule streaks across the night sky above Highway 164 between McDavid and the Christian Home community Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Photos below courtesy SpaceX.
Escambia Schools Name Keith Leonard As Interim Superintendent
May 31, 2023
The Escambia County School Board voted unanimously in an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon to appoint Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Keith Leonard as interim superintendent.
Tim Smith’s contract as superintendent ends Wednesday after the board voted earlier this month to terminate him.
Leonard will serve as interim superintendent until June 30, 2024, unless that board terminates his contract earlier. The exact details of the contract are still being finalized; it will go before the board for approval in June.
Leonard told the board he is ready to get to work.
“We are going to give our students the best opportunity we can, and we are going to treat and support our employees every day like they are doing God’s work. You can rest assured of that,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do; we have a very diverse community, and all of their points are important and need to be listened to…Making certain that our students have the opportunity to be successful in life.”
“We are going to work on the foundation of the Escambia County School District. You can count on it now; you can count on it tomorrow,” Leonard said. “Thank you for the opportunity, and you’ll be proud of the work we do in the Escambia County School District.”
Leonard was a finalist for the appointed superintendent position that ultimately went to Smith. Multiple members of the public spoke in his favor Tuesday, while others voice support for Deputy Superintendent Sheena Payne and displeasure that she was seemingly passed over the job.
After a couple of hours of public comment at Tuesday’s meeting, Payne spoke to the board on her own behalf.
“We’ve got work to do. I can serve,” Payne said. “I’ll serve under Mr. Leonard. I’ll serve under whoever you put there.”
“God is holding us accountable for what we do from this day forward,” Payne said. She ended on a standing ovation by saying that the district must do things “on one accord”. She will remain in the deputy superintendent position.
Chance Of Rain Returns To The Forecast
May 31, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Atmore Police Identify Man Killed In Double Shooting
May 31, 2023
Atmore police are continuing their investigation into a double shooting Monday that left one man dead and another with serious injuries.
It happened about 2:15 a.m. in the area of Carver Avenue and King Street. The Atmore Police Department responded to a shots fired complaint and found the victims.
The Atmore Police Department said Robert Starks of Atmore died from his injuries, and the other person remains in serious condition at a trauma center.
“The motive is still under investigation and investigators have interviewed witnesses and are actively seeking other witnesses,” Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Pet Groomer, Retail Space Proposed For Highway 29, Highway 196
May 31, 2023
A pet groomer and other retail could be coming to Highway 29 near Highway 196.
Plans have been filed with Escambia County Development Review for the “Cozy Corner” pet grooming facility and leasable retail space at 4178 HIghway 29 on two adjacent lots totaling 1.82 acres between the Florida Forest Service fire tower to the south and Highway 196 to the north.
Plans show a proposed 4,740 square foot building and a parking lot on one of the parcels with an entrance driveway between the two parcels.
The plans are in the initial review process before the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
Here’s What Deputies Say Happened In Bratt Shooting Sunday Morning
May 31, 2023
More details have been released on a shooting and burglary Sunday morning in Bratt.
Tiana Brooke Chick, 20, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary with battery, battery, and criminal mischief. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail Sunday night with bond set at $202,000. Kendrell Devon Kyles, 18, was also booked into jail Sunday night, charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary with battery, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, battery and criminal mischief. His bond was set at $251,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Chick and Kyles went to a mobile home on Oakshade Road, behind Northview High School. Inside the residence, the victim and his current girlfriend were asleep, according to deputies.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy responding to a reported shots fired disturbance on Oakshade Road was waved down by a male holding a towel to his head and covered in blood, according to an arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
The male victim told deputies that he was sleeping in the back bedroom of his home with his current girlfriend. He said he woke up to find Chick, his ex-girlfriend, standing in his room striking his current girlfriend with a fist. The male victim stated he pushed Chick off his current girlfriend and out the room.
Chick then struck him in the forehead with a glass vodka bottle that broke on impact, the report states. The male victim said he blacked out for a few seconds.
The male victim said a black male he knows as “Butta” or “Budda”, later identified as Kyles, was in the house threatening to shoot him. Kyles pulled a firearm and pointed it at the male victim as he retreated to the bedroom and shut the door, the report continues.
A shot was fired through the door, grazing the male victim in the right upper arm, according to deputies, before both suspects fled in an unknown vehicle.
Deputies entered the home to find broken glass from a large bottle in a hallway, bullet holes in the bedroom door and a chest of drawers and a projectile in the bottom of the chest. The ECSO said the male victim suffered a cut to his head near his hairline, small cuts on his face and a laceration to his right upper arm.
Kyles and Chick then allegedly went to a home on Chaudron Road off Highway 97 in Molino. The resident, who stated he knows Kyles, told Chick and Kyles that they were not welcome there, deputies said.
Deputies said Chick was known to drive a 2006 Honda Civic which was later located and recovered from the parking lot of Arby’s on East Nine Mile Road. Deputies later responded to Taco Bell on Nine Mile Road where security camera footage showed a white Scion sedan with an Alabama tag backing into a parking space. The driver pulled out and stopped in the parking lot where two people running through the parking lot got into the Scion before heading west on Nine Mile Road. The vehicle tag led deputies to the owner in Atmore. The report does not detail where Kyles and Chick were captured.
For more photos from the scene, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall 3-2 To Shuckers
May 31, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their series opener against the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday night by a score of 3-2.
Biloxi was held scoreless and hitless from the third inning on, but their early run support for Justin Jarvis (W, 5-2) held up. For the second straight game, the Blue Wahoos left the tying run at third base in the top of the ninth.
Jonathan Bermudez (L, 0-2) allowed an unearned run in the first, as Jackson Chourio reached on an error and scored on a Wes Clarke double. Tyler Black capped a two-out rally in the second inning with a two-run triple to put the Shuckers ahead 3-0.
The Blue Wahoos finally broke through in the fifth when Troy Johnston laced his third hit, an RBI single, to right field. José Devers led off the sixth by reaching on an error, and scored on a Griffin Conine RBI single to bring the score to 3-2.
A trio of Pensacola relievers worked 4.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Brady Puckett and Zach Willeman were followed by rehabbing Marlins closer A.J. Puk, who struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth.
Conine led off the ninth with a walk against Abner Uribe (S, 3), but pinch runner J.D. Orr was left at third base as the Blue Wahoos dropped their third in a row.
The Blue Wahoos’ lead in the South Division decreased to 4.0 games ahead of second place Biloxi and Montgomery in the South Division with 23 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series at the Shuckers on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer
Woman Killed After Crashing Over I-10 Overpass At Pine Forest Road
May 30, 2023
A 43-year old Pensacola woman is dead after crash down an I-10 overpass Tuesday morning.
It happened about 4:45 a.m. at I-10 and Pine Forest Road. The woman was traveling west on I-10 when her vehicle drifted in the median, went through a barrier between the two bridges and went airborne. The vehicle overturned one and half times on the embankment, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Traffic on Pine Forest Road was delayed for several hours for the crash investigation.
The name of the woman has not been released.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Driver Of Stolen Jeep Arrested After Highway 29 Crash
May 30, 2023
At least two people were reportedly injured when a driver slammed into a stolen vehicle stopped in a travel lane of Highway 29 Monday night in Cantonment.
Witnesses the driver of a passenger car tried unsuccessfully to swerve around the Jeep on Highway 29 at Archer Road. Another car and a truck came to rest in the median after avoiding the crash.
Dustin Gregory Williams, 39, was charged with burglary of the business, two counts of burglary of the vehicles, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and felony criminal mischief. His bond was set at $25,000.
The owner of Pensacola Auto Brokers in the 6400 block of Pensacola Boulevard drove past his business Monday night and observed that someone had apparently driven through his front gate. In addition to the damaged iron gate, he found the front door of the business was shattered, a lockbox was broken, a Toyota Tacoma had been burglarized and had a broken gear shifter, and a Ford F250 had a broken interior door panel and a broken ignition switch. The total damage was estimated at $13,550.
A $50,000 2021 Jeep Gladiator was also missing. The Jeep was found on Highway 29 after the traffic crash, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck and additional charges may be pending.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Man Took Off From Traffic Stop, ECSO Says
May 30, 2023
A Century man allegedly took off in his vehicle after being stopped by an Escambia County deputy.
Drake Isaiah White, 24, was charged with felony with fleeing and eluding, and with misdemeanor obstructing an officer.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a Chevrolet Aveo on Highway 29 with no license plate late and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at the intersection of HIghway 29 and Detroit Boulevard. A records check revealed White has never had a Florida’s driver’s license and his identification card was expired.
Upon smelling “raw marijuana” from the vehicle, the deputy ordered White out of the vehicle White ignored the order, placed the vehicle in drive and fled eastbound on Detroit Boulevard, according to an arret report. Due to just having traffic charges on White, the deputy did not pursue and an arrest warrant was issued.
White was also cited operating a motor vehicle without a license, and for never having a license. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $9,000 bond.