Cantonment Man Accused Of Acting As Contractor Without A License
January 24, 2024
A Cantonment man has been accused of acting as a contractor without being certified or registered.
Logan Michael Martin, 24, was charged with fraud, falsely identifying self as a contractor and as an unregistered electric contractor, both first degree misdemeanors. He was released on a $4,000 bond.
According to a complaint filed by a property owner, Martin was hired to “demo and build out my property (in the 2000 block) of Desert Street into a quadraplex”, but did not complete the work after starting or respond to text messages, emails or phone calls.
When a complaint was filed with Escambia County, it was discovered that Martin did not pull permits and was not licensed. The complaint indicates he was paid a total of $40,000.
Wet Weather: Rain Likely Into Friday
January 24, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
FDEP: Century Missed Required Water Sampling For ‘DBPs’ For An Entire Quarter
January 24, 2024
The Town of Century failed to test their water system over a full quarter last year for what’s known as Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs).
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in many cases, drinking water must be disinfected to treat microbial pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites). However, disinfectants can also react with naturally-occurring materials in the water to form disinfectant byproducts (DBPs). Byproducts, if consumed in excess of the EPA’s maximum contaminant level over many years, may increase health risks.
According to a warning letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., stated Century “did not monitor for disinfection byproducts, including total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5), during the third quarter (July-September 2023).”
The town was required to mail or directly deliver a letter to each person served by the water system and publish a notice in a local newspaper.
The town responded in December that the missed sampling was just an “oversight” and that processes have been put in place by Gomez to make sure deadlines are met in the future.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Night Hunting, Spotlighting
January 24, 2024
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing was on patrol in an area that recently received reports of night hunting and observed a vehicle shining a spotlight in a manner likely to disclose the presence of wildlife. He heard two shots consistent with a .22 round and conducted a stop on the vehicle. While contacting two individuals in the vehicle, he discovered a spotlight, two .22 rifles and ammunition. Both subjects admitted to shooting at wildlife from the roadway. Officer Pettey assisted Officer Cushing and violations were documented accordingly.
While on patrol in the Perdido Wildlife Management Area during the early morning, Officer Cushing observed two vehicles parked near the clay pit in the Frank Reeder Trac. No one was in the immediate area. Officer Cushing waited in a concealed location when he heard two shots from a shotgun. After observing several birds being flushed from the area, Officer Cushing saw an individual along the wood line. Officer Cushing made contact with the subject when he neared the road. While speaking with the individual, it was determined he illegally shot a protected migratory bird, was hunting without a license and was illegally camping. The violations were documented accordingly.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Berryman and Officer Brown were on patrol in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they observed a subject hunting deer with dogs without the required 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment, above the waistline. Upon talking with the individual, the officers detected an odor of cannabis coming from the subject’s vehicle. The officers questioned the subject, who admitted there was cannabis in the car and told the officers where it was located. The subject was cited appropriately for the violations.
Lieutenant Berryman and Officer Brown were on patrol in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they heard a gunshot that sounded like it came from the boundary of the still hunt and dog hunt area. The officers conducted a search of the area and located two trucks; one had a dog box. The officers observed a subject in the woods near the still hunt area wearing camouflage and a blaze orange vest. When the subject noticed the officer’s patrol truck he started to walk to the road. While Officer Brown was talking with the individual, Lieutenant Berryman located a shotgun the subject admitted to dropping due to being nervous. The subject stated he was in the still hunt area to look for a dog but brought his shotgun. While talking with the subject, Officer Brown observed the subject in the other truck walk out of the still hunt area with deer dogs and a shotgun. Both subjects were cited appropriately.
Officer Brown received a call regarding a subject hunting in the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area during closed season. Officer Waters arrived at the area and located the subject attempting to leave. Upon interview, the subject admitted to hunting the WMA during closed season and walked the officers to the treestand he had been hunting from. The individual was cited appropriately.
Officers Bower and Brown were on patrol in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they observed multiple individuals dove hunting. Upon conducting a resource inspection, the officers found one subject was hunting with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. The individual was cited appropriately.
While on patrol in the Blackwater State Forest, Officers Mullins and Brown observed a large group of approximately 40 off-road vehicles operating in the area. The officers went to an area known for off-roading and encountered about 25 vehicles from the party illegally operating off trail. The officers spoke with trail ride leaders and all the vehicle operators. The appropriate citations were issued. The group was educated about forest rules and regulations and directed to use only named or numbered roads in the forest.
While on patrol, officers Brown and Mullins encountered a group partying on a sand bar in Blackwater State Forest. The group had numerous violations including litter, alcohol, and vehicles off trail. Each subject was issued multiple citations. The subjects were directed to clean up and remove prohibited items from the area.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
$1.7 Million Dawson Road Bridge Replacement Is Complete
January 23, 2024
After almost a year, a $1.7 million Escambia County bridge replacement project on Dawson Road just south of Century is now complete, and the bridge is open.
Temporary repairs were made in 2016 to the structurally deficient timber bridge over Pritchell Mill Branch that was constructed in 1965.
It has now been replaced with a 76-foot long concrete structure. The project also included replacement of about 270 feet of roadway, curb and gutter, guardrail improvements and ditch grading. The Town of Century also moved two a 3-inch water main and a 3/4 inch Town of Century gas main
The Florida Department of Transportation will pick up about $1.2 million of the cost through a Florida Department of Transportation Local Agency Partnership Agreement (FDOT/LAP) approved in 2017.
The bridge has been closed for construction since early February 2023. A short detour of about one mile was in place during the work.
Pictured: A new bridge on Dawson Road as seen January 22, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Graduation Rate Increases To 88%; Escambia County At 80.5%
January 23, 2024
Monday, theFlorida Department of Education announced that the state’s 2022–23 high school graduation rate climbed to 88 percent, while Escambia County’s was several points lower at 80.5%, up from 78.4% in 2021-2022.
Florida’s graduation rate was an increase of 0.7 percentage points over the previous school year and a 1.1 percentage point increase over the pre-pandemic graduation rate in 2018–19.
The 2022–23 high school graduation rate also represents the highest rate ever, with the exception of the pandemic school years 2019–20 and 2020–21, in which graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in state law.
Escambia County graduation rates were as follows:
- Tate High School — 91.3%
- Northview High — 90.3%
- Pensacola High School — 78.1%
- Escambia High School — 84%
- Pine Forest High School — 80.9%
- Escambia Westgate School — 93.8%
- Washington High — 86.9%
- West Florida High — 98.4%
“Florida’s graduation rate continues to climb because our educators place a sole focus on academics in the classroom,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Whether Florida students choose a four-year university or non-traditional post-secondary learning, they will have built a strong foundation to set them up for success.”
NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Hosting Literacy Week Family Night (And There’s Pizza)
January 23, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School will celebrate Literacy Week with a Family night on Thurday, January 25 from 5:30 until 7 p.m.
Families are encouraged to attend as the school shares building blocks to student success. Families will rotate through literacy stations and receive student data. Take-home packages will be available.
Pizza will be served.
Tacky Tourists: Celebrating Literacy Week At Jim Allen Elementary
January 23, 2024
Escambia County Schools are celebrating literacy this week with a variety of activities and dress-up day. At Jim Allen Elemenatry School Monday, “tacky tourists” were everywhere as students dressed up. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Rain And Storms Becoming Likley By Wednesday
January 23, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
James Michael Helms
January 23, 2024
Mr. James Michael Helms, age 78, of Atmore, Alabama passed away peacefully on January 21, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. He was a was born, October 26, 1945, in Brewton, AL; before moving to Atmore, AL. He retired as a truck driver with many years of service.
Mr. Helms was an avid Alabama Football and Atlanta Braves Baseball Fan who also enjoyed watching westerns and collecting coins. He was a hard worker, that loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed coaching baseball and softball through the years. He loved his chihuahua “Skip” that loved riding in his lap on the lawn mower.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Coy Dow (Ardie Lee McCurdy) Helms, daughter, Nannette Helms, and two sisters, Neva Glen Gomillion, Joyce Dean Farrish.
Mr. Helms is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Carolyn Helms, of Canoe, AL; two sons, James Matthew Helms, of Canoe, AL; Joseph Bryan Helms, of Canoe, AL; one daughter, Tametha Spring Helms, of Canoe, AL; five grandchildren, Sebastian Helms, Anastasia helms, James Dorriety, Makayla Barlow, Franklin “Mikie” Helms, four great-grandchildren, Brantlee Dorriety, Lileigh Dorriety, Jaxen Barlow, Lakeland Barlow, a special niece, Jenifer Dykes, of Atmore, AL; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Graveside service will be held Monday, January 29, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Canoe Freewill Cemetery with Rev. Bill Stuckey officiating.
Visitation will be held Monday, January 29, 2024, from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Bradley Dykes, Glendon Harrison, Kevin McKinley, Don Ellis, James Watson, and Stephen Gomillion.
Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Farrish, James Conway, and Johnny Ray.