FDLE Arrests Cantonment Woman For Impersonating An FDLE Agent
July 31, 2023
A Cantonment woman has been charged with impersonating a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Officer.
FDLE agents arrested 35-year old Bobbie Lei Sales of Novak Road on one felony count of falsely impersonating a police officer.
FDLE agents began their investigation in May after receiving information that Sales identified herself as an FDLE agent. The investigation shows that Sales visited a victim’s home and presented a silver badge while wearing a firearm. She told the victim that he was under investigation and said she would be back in a couple of weeks to search his home, according to investigators.
On a separate occasion, Sales, while having her vehicle repaired at a local dealership, agents said she identified herself as working for FDLE.
FDLE said the agency believes there could be more victims. Anyone that maybe been approached by Sales identifying herself as a law enforcement officer is asked to contact FDLE in Pensacola at (800) 226-8574.
Burning Pole Causes About 150 Customers To Lose Power In Bratt
July 31, 2023
About 150 Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers lost power Monday morning for about two hours due to a burning power pole in Bratt.
The pole on North Highway 99 about 1,000 feet north of O’Farrell Road nearly burned in two near the top before EREC cut the power to replace it.
North Highway 99 was temporarily closed while the pole was burning.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
According to EREC, most of those that lost power were in the area of North Highway 99, Breastworks Road, Perdue Road and North Pine Barren Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Crashes Into Highway 168 Bridge Guardrail
July 31, 2023
A driver escaped injury when he crashed into a bridge guardrail Monday morning on Highway 168 near Bratt.
The driver of a Chevrolet Uplander was eastbound on Highway 168 about four-tenths of a mile west of Pine Barren Road. He drifted out of the travel lane and slammed into the guardrail before spinning out of control onto the bridge. The vehicle came to rest across the bridge, blocking both lanes of traffic.
The adult male declined medical treatment.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol investigated.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Crashes Into Bratt Park, Drives Through Park And Runs Through Another Fence To Exit
July 31, 2023
A driver crashed through a fence at a park in Bratt early Monday morning, drove through the park and exited by running through another fence.
The hit and run driver was westbound on Bratt Road when they failed to negotiate a sharp curve at the intersection with Ashcraft Road. The vehicle left the roadway, traveled through a ditch and went sideways through a fence into the back of Travis Nelson Park.
The unknown vehicle traveled about 700 feet through the park and exited into the parking lot by crashing through another fence before driving through a ditch and back to Bratt Road.
A nearby security camera showed what appeared to be the crash at 2:36 a.m.
The curve the driver missed is marked by signage at 25 mph.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Considers Widening 2.17 Miles Of Dangerously Narrow Highway 164 For $2 Million
July 31, 2023
Escambia County is considering widening about 2.17 total miles of dangerously narrow Highway 164 in two locations for $2 million.
Highway 164 has been the scene of several near head-on crashes and swideswipes attributed to the narrow roadway. Some of the roadway has 8-foot travel lanes — not wide enough for large vehicles like Engine 9 from the nearby McDavid Fire Station (pictured below).
The project would widen Highway 164 to 11-foot wide travel lanes two-thirds of a mile east from Highway 97 and a 1.5 mile stretch that is three-quarters of a mile either side of the Pine Barren Road intersection. (See maps below.) Highway 164 is about 11.5 miles long from Highway 97 to Highway 29.
According to Escambia County Engineering, the two areas have had seven sideswipes and other accidents between May 2018 and May 2023– the highest concentration areas on Highway 164. NorthEscambia.com has covered several other crashes on Highway 164 outside the proposed widening zone — including a fiery two pickup crash last April, and a pickup truck and school bus last year (detailed in photo descriptions below).
The Escambia County Commission will consider the $2 million in funding from Local Option Sales Tax monies at their next meeting on Thursday, August 3.
Pictured above and first below: A near head-on crash in April 2023 on Highway 164 about a mile west of Pine Barren Road — outside the area currently proposed for widening. Pictured second and third photos below: A pickup truck overturned in February 2022 after sideswiping a school bus on Highway 164 1.3 miles east of Pine Barren Road — outside the area currently proposed for widening. Pictured bottom two photos: A school bus and ECUA sanitation truck sideswiped in June 2022 jsut east of Pine Barren Road — our records do not indicate the exact distance from Pine Barren Road, but it was very near the three-quarter mile mark. NorthEscambia.com photos and graphics, click to enlarge.
Upper 90s Each Day, Chance Of PM Rain
July 31, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 108. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Heat index values as high as 105. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
No Injuries In Kingsfield Road Crash
July 31, 2023
There were no injuries reported in a two vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Kingsfield Road.
The wreck was reported about 10:50 Sunday morning on East Kingsfield Road near Ryales Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Panhandle Arsenal 7U Wins World Series
July 31, 2023
Panhandle Arsenal 7U went undefeated to win their World Series championship recently in Dothan, Alabama.
Arsenal’s overall record for the season was 36-7, outscoring opponents 519-247. They played in 11 tournaments and won eight of nine championship games.
Coaches are head coach John Buck, Marcus Moultrie, Davin Hathaway and Ryan Spikes.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Up 30¢ In Two Weeks Across Florida. Local Prices Are Still The Cheapest In The State.
July 31, 2023
Florida gas prices are inching lower after rising near 30 cents per gallon on average during the past two weeks, but local gas prices are the cheapest in the state according to AAA.
On Friday, the state average reached $3.67 per gallon. Although that was the highest daily average price since mid-April, it remains below the 2023 high of $3.72 per gallon.
The Pensacola metro market was the cheapest average in the state at $3.46. In North Escambia, a low of $3.27 could be found at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, several stations were at $3.25.
“Oil prices are the primary culprit behind the recent jump at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The U.S. price of oil rose 15% through the past five weeks, which raised the cost of producing gasoline.”
David F. Parish, Sr.
July 31, 2023
, age 79, a resident of Atmore, AL for 64 years, passed away on July 29, 2023. He was born on April 26, 1944 in Kenton, OH to Lenole and Eutalis Burbaugh Parish. David was a member of Grace Fellowship and a 1962 graduate of LaRue High School. He was stationed at Whiting Field while serving in the United States Navy. He retired from Container Corp of America in Brewton, AL. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Leanne Weist and his brother, Phillip Parish.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Geneva Beasley Parish; his son, David F. (Michelle) Parish, Jr. of Atmore, AL; his daughter, Terri Godwin of Wallace, AL; his brother, Joe Edward (Sandy) Parish of Gainesboro, TN; his grandchildren, Anna (Tony) Ellis and Kyle (Whitney) Parish; seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Active pallbearers will be Kyle Parish, Tony Ellis, Eli Norton, Easton Norton, Rett Parish and Cody Norton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Carlis Albritton, Calvin Schrock, James Smoker, Lester Huber, Jim Weber and James Helton.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.