Cantonment Man Charged With Felonies For Bad Check From Closed Company
May 18, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of fraudulently representing a fictitious company that went out of business years ago and writing a check on a closed account.
Bradley Parker Henderson, 41 was charged with felony criminal use of a fictitious person identification, felony uttering a false banknote, and misdemeanor petty theft.
Henderson paid a local locksmith company to make a vehicle key for him using a check from a company that went out of business in 2015, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Henderson’s bond on the charges was set at $50,000, but he remained jailed without bond due to a failure to appear charge in a traffic court case.
North End Elite Wins 8U Tournament
May 18, 2023
The North End Elite won the recent USFA 8U Softball Tournament at Pace. The team includes players from the Molino Recreation Association and Northwest Escambia 8U softball. Pictured above: (front, L-R) Mailei Milner, Paycen Cutler, Madison Daniel, Issy Mills, Bryndle Moye, (middle L-R) Abby Weaver, Bayleigh Enfinger, June Kilgore, Hadley Cook, Peyton Roberts, Caroline Peters, Tatum Godwin. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain Tonight
May 18, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Laney Eugene Strange
May 18, 2023
Laney Eugene Strange, 94, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on May 14, 2023. He was born in Darnell, Louisiana on September 27, 1928 to the late Josiah and Laura Jane Rawls.
Laney worked for the United States Civil Service at Naval Air Station Pensacola until retirement. He then moved onto his next adventure and opened his own business, Beulah Hardware and Excavating. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He was a member of Calvary Way Full Gospel Church.
Laney is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Lois P. Strange; parents; brother, Ray Strange; sister, Laverne Strange; and son in law, James LaJoie.
He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia LaJoie and Lois Jean (Mike) Barnes; grandchildren, Melissa Dorn, Michael Barnes, Patrick Roush and Matthew Barnes; great grandchildren, Mitchell Barnes, Roxanne Barnes, Jacob Gainey, Abigail Dorn, Makenna Dorn, Isaac Dorn, Kaylee Roush and Emerie Roush.
A Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Interment will follow in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Blue Wahoos Get 10th Straight Win
May 18, 2023
The way Patrick Monteverde has produced superlatives in prior starts, it was fitting the team’s left-handed ace would deliver the Blue Wahoos a 10th consecutive win.
Monteverde, named the Southern League’s pitcher of April for his first four stellar outings, worked out of two innings Wednesday with baserunners, while upping his league-best record to 5-0 in the Blue Wahoos 7-4 victory against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,678, which included middle school bands from Shoal River and Davidson schools in Crestview combining to perform the National Anthem, watched the Blue Wahoos catch a break from weather and power their way to a record-extending win total.
It was Pensacola’s 18th win in 19 games, continuing the best stretch of success in the team’s 11-year history.
One common element of the first two months this season has been Monteverde’s dominance on the mound.
The 25-year-old Pittsburgh native, who entered the 2023 season as the Miami Marlins’ No. 30 rated prospect, has now allowed just six runs in seven starts. His earned run average has dropped to 1.29. He allowed just one run on two hits and struck out eight in five innings. He’s now had 57 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 42 innings.
His night Wednesday had two pivotal moments. After allowing a walk and double to start the second inning, he got a line-out double play on a spectacular catch from third baseman Cody Morissette. In the third inning, he again allowed a double and a walk, but retired the next three batters on a pair of strikeouts and flyout.
That all proved decisive.
After Victor Mesa Jr. manufactured a second-inning run with a walk, moving over on a ground out and scoring on a throwing error while stealing third, the Blue Wahoos slugged their way to the other six runs in the game.
The biggest smash was Morissette’s 2-run homer into the right field berm in the fourth inning. José Devers led off the inning with a double and scored on Will Banfield’s single.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on Griffin Conine’s RBI sacrifice fly and Troy Johnston’s two-out single to make it 7-1.
The Smokies scored three runs in the ninth off reliever Austin Roberts before he ended the game on a force out.
Eight of the Blue Wahoos lineup reached base. Banfield had the team’s multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The game was delayed 27 minutes to get the field ready, following the off-and-on light rain all day. The Blue Wahoos kept the field tarp on from Tuesday night to ensure the game could get played.
Remarkably, the heavier rain which hit other parts of Pensacola, never materialized at the ballpark.
The series now heads into Thursday with Blue Wahoos newcomer Jonathan Bermudez, a lefthander, making his pitching debut with a new organization. He was released during spring training from the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
He was signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26 and spent the past couple weeks with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Marlins, the rookie league team. Tennessee will throw right-hander Kohl Franklin (0-1, 13.50 ERA).
The game is part of “Mullet Thursday” with the Blue Wahoos wearing their Pensacola Mullets uniforms.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Escambia Schools Over Book Bans
May 17, 2023
Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, and PEN America, a “free expression organization”, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Escambia County School District over the removal of books from school libraries.
The lawsuit alleges Escambia County schools have violated the First Amendment by setting out to remove or restrict access to books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities, against the recommendations of the district review committee charged with evaluating book challenges.
“Books have the capacity to change lives for the better, and students in particular deserve equitable access to a wide range of perspectives. Censorship, in the form of book bans like those enacted by Escambia County, are a direct threat to democracy and our constitutional rights,” said Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House. “We stand by our authors, their books, and the teachers, librarians, and parents who champion free expression. We are proud to join forces with our longtime partner PEN America.”
PEN American and Penguin Random House are joined by several authors in the suit, including Ashley Hope Pérez. She is author of Out of Darkness, one of the books restricted by the school district after a challenge was filed by Northview High School language arts teacher Vicki Baggett. Baggett objected to the book due to “graphic depictions of abuse and sexual scenes”.
“Young readers in Escambia schools and across the nation deserve a complete and honest education, one that provides them with full access in libraries to a wide range of literature that reflects varied viewpoints and that explores the diversity of human experiences,” said Pérez. “As a former public high school English teacher, I know firsthand how important libraries are. For many young people, if a book isn’t in their school library, it might as well not exist.”
Escambia School Board Fires Superintendent Tim Smith
May 17, 2023
The Escambia County School Board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to terminate appointed Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith effective May 31 and named Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Keith Leonard as interim superintendent.
The motion to terminate Smith was made by board chair Paul Festsko (pictured left) and seconded by Kevin Adams. Board member David Williams was the third vote in favor, while member Patty Hightower and District 5 member Bill Slayton were opposed to the termination.
Festko said administrators in the district do not feel as if they were being led by Smith. “It’s uncomfortable. I can’t believe the number of principals that we have lost…I care about this school district.”
“I voted for the superintendent when he came in. I do not believe it is in our best interest with him in that position going forward,” Festsko said.
“It’s just remarkable that you would throw the district into this kind of turmoil at this particular time,” Slayton (pictured left) told Fetsko before a pause. “We have a lot of experts that act like they know how to run a school district. You participated in the hiring, you participated in the research, to pick one, but the people sitting out here who work for us, that’s where the turmoil is going to be….I’ve been through nine superintendents; nothing has ever been smooth. Everytime we change, we have turmoil in the district.”
Slayton continued, “This is no time to be doing this. I’m sorry, this is wrong. It’s a surprise at the last minute. I’m very disappointed. I almost want to say this has been a Sunshine Law violation. There’s got to have been a discussion on this.”
“Our district is hurting,”Williams (pictured left) said. “If you would interview a lot of the administrators, they are hurting. Teachers are hurting…We are losing administrators; we are losing teachers. We are losing students. Anybody would be in a tough situation right now being superintendent. If we really care as a board, we do what we think is best. ”
“If you are accusing me of a Sunshine Law (violation), I don’t speak to any of you outside of this (the board) room, and I don’t talk to any of you outside of being in this room. Not my part,” Williams added, looking toward Slayton.
Fetsko also denied any Sunshine Law violations. He said he had told Smith that he would move to terminate the contract. Fetsko said he withheld two pages of notes that he did not include in his written superintendent evaluation as to not disparage him, but did say Smith’s communication is poor.
Smith began his comments criticizing Festsko and Adams.
“There’s something bad that exists here. There’s something toxic that exists here. You all want to fire me; I think the answer would be for the two of you to resign from your positions. What’s the difference, is it you or me, right? I guess you outnumber me. If you care about kids, as you said, we need to do things right. But to constantly undermine and constantly seek to get me out,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of toxic stuff going on. How much poison has dripped on that podium over the past six months? It’s been extensive. It’s been ridiculous, actually. We are about kids.”
“I will hold my head up high because I have invested…my wife has been an amazing loyal individual and sacrificed, gave up her dream job in Orlando to do this.,” Smith said. “At least I can put my head on the pillow that I put everything I could into it. I fear for the future of this district. ”
Smith gathered his things during the discussion. After the volte, he walked out before the last few minutes of the meeting.
In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36 voting yes and 49.64 percent voting now. This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county; all of the other attempts failed.
The term of then superintendent Malcolm Thomas ended in 2020, and Dr. Tim Smith was appointed as the new school district boss.
NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
From This Day Forth: Tate Senior ‘Prank’ Was A Wedding?
May 17, 2023
From this day forth…the senior “prank” this year at Tate High School was a little bit different.
The Tate High School Senior Class of 2023 surprised the student body with a mock wedding in the school courtyard Tuesday.
Seniors, and student council members, Rilee Lowery and Adyson Illian took “vows” officiated by Principal Laura Touchstone.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The “vows” represented the beginning of a new chapter and signifying the bond of the members of the class of 2023. They even exchanged ring pops to symbolize the friendships made throughout the years.
Tyler Hurley objected to the marriage and went up for a battle. He lost the first round of rock, paper, scissors and gracefully surrendered.
The wedding party was:
Groom: Rilee Lowery
Bride: Adyson Illian
Bridesmaids:
McKenzie Alfred
Kaylen Brock
Ryleigh Maxwell
Paige McKinney
Groomsmen:
Drew Reeves
Frankie Randall
Cade Kelly
Landen George
Officiant: Principal Laura Touchstone
Honorary Guests: The senior class of 2023, faculty and staff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Possible Tonight
May 17, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Atmore Man’s Truck Catches Fire After Crashing Into Tree In Santa Rosa County
May 17, 2023
An Atmore man was seriously injured after suffering a medical emergency and crashing into a tree Tuesday afternoon in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 59-year old man was driving west on East Bay Boulevard just west of Grand Bay Circle in Navarre when he suffered a medical emergency. His pickup truck left the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man was rescued from the vehicle and transported to an area hospital, troopers said.
