Boil Water Notice Resdinded For Quintette Road
February 29, 2024
UPDATE: This boil water notice was rescinded Saturday morning, March 2.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Cottage Hill Water Works customers on Quintette Road from Stacey Road west to Highway 29 and south to 1985 Highway 29.
Scheduled system upgrades took place along Quintette Road that resulted in a disruption of water service.
Therefore, as a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient, or as an alternative, bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
For more information, contact the utility at (850) 968-5485.
This story will be updated when the advisory has been lifted.
Search Underway For Escaped Prisoner
February 29, 2024
A search is underway for an escaped inmate in Escambia County.
Florida Department of Corrections inmate Korey Robert Culver, 32, Pensacola Community Release Center facility on L Street about 3:48 a.m. Wednesday.
He is wanted for battery on a law enforcement officer and escaping, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
FDC records show Culver was serving a year sentence out of Okaloosa County for robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
ECSO: Deputies Located Drugs And Deer Carcass After Traffic Stop Of Cantonment Man
February 29, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after deputies determined he had drugs and a deer carcass following a traffic stop, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Leonard Van Kirksey, 49, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, knowingly driving with a suspended license, and possession of a freshly harvested deer during closed season.
An Escambia County deputy pulled Kirksey over on Memphis Avenue after a records check on the vehicle tag indicated Kirksey has no driver’s license.
AN ECSO K-9 alerted on the vehicle, according to an arrest report. A subsequent search located a broken glass pipe, a grinder with marijuana, methamphetamine and a fresh deer carcass and a crossbow, the report continues.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission responded to take possession of the deer carcass and crossbow.
Kirksey was released from jail on a $7,000 bond.
Rain By Friday
February 29, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Applications Open For Escambia Summer Youth Employment Program
February 29, 2024
Applications Now Open for 2024 Summer Youth Employment Program.
Applications are now open for the Escambia County Summer Youth Employment Program. Applications are accepted beginning Wednesday, Feb. 28, until Friday, March 22, at 3 p.m. Online applications are available at MyEscambia.com/youthemployment. Physical applications are not available. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
The program is open to Escambia County youth ages 16-24 interested in an opportunity to receive paid work experience this summer. Qualified youth who are accepted into ECSYEP will be able to work up to 30 hours a week, with positions available in various county departments along with the Escambia County School District, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector’s Office and Supervisor of Elections Office. Participants will also receive job readiness training prior to job placement as well as post-employment briefings.
Last summer, over 200 youth participated in the program, working in county departments including Engineering, Public Safety, Escambia County Area Transit, West Florida Public Libraries and more.
Limited positions are available. Requirements for the program are as follows:
- Must submit complete application packet by prescribed deadline.
- Must be a resident of Escambia County, Fla. at the time of application and for the duration of program participation.
- Must complete up-front job readiness preparatory training classes.
- Must complete post-employment debriefing sessions.
- Must not have any felony convictions.
- If enrolled in school, must submit enrollment verification.
- Must be between the age of 16 years old and 24 years old at the time of enrollment.
- Must show proof of identify (state-issued driver’s license or state ID card).
- Must show proof of address.
- Must meet hiring criteria of the temporary employment agency.
- Must submit completed application with all supporting required documentation to be considered.
- Must attend the end of the Summer Youth Program Award Ceremony.
For additional information, call Neighborhood and Human Services at (850) 595-4094 or (850) 595-1620.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries When Atmore Police Unit Overturns
February 29, 2024
An Atmore Police Department officer was not injured when his patrol vehicle overturned onto its side Wednesday afternoon.
The officer was responding to an unrelated traffic crash with injuries between a railroad crossing and East Ridgely Street.
“The officer was attempting to position his patrol car behind the vehicles involved in the traffic crash,” Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “The officer was unsuccessful in that endeavor and inadvertently left the roadway.”
When the patrol vehicle left the roadway, the tires slowly slid into a ditch, causing the vehicle to overturn onto the passenger side.
The drivers involved in the original traffic crash were not seriously injured, and offered assistance to the officer to exit his patrol unit.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Votes To Hire Hollywood, Florida, Auditing Firm
February 29, 2024
The Town of Century has hired a Hollywood, Florida, firm to complete the town’s required annual audit to submit to the state.
HCT Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, LLC (HCT) will charge $34,840 to audit the FY2023 ending September 30, 2023, according to a three-year proposal that totaled $104,510. The council, however, voted to hire the firm for just one year and negotiate any agreement going forward.
Interim Town Manager Howard Brown solicited proposals from HCT and Mauldin & Jenkins of Bradenton, Florida. Mauldin’s proposed fee was $58,700 for FY2023 and $61,000 for FY2024.
HCT has or is providing several government agencies across Florida, including Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Miami, North Miami and Tampa, according to their proposal.
The legal deadline for submitting the Annual Financial Report, often referred to simply as an audit, to the Florida Department of Financial Services is June 30 of each year.Century has filed their audits late every year for about a decade. Each audit has found financial issues that repeat for several years without being rectified.
Century’s previous auditing firm, Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors of Pensacola, chose not to renew when their contract expired last year. Warren Averett’s other local government clients include Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, City Milton and Santa Rosa County. Brown said the town did not wish to hire Warren Averett again.
The Town of Century’s audit for the previous fiscal year shows the town is again in deteriorating financial condition.
The audit, which was due June 30, 2023, was not received and posted by the state until early 2024.
According to the 2021-2022 fiscal year audit, as of September 30, 2022:
- The Town’s overall financial condition demonstrates signs of a deteriorating financial condition described by Florida statute. Overall factors contributing to this condition include lack of short- and long-term financial planning, improper cash management activities and lack of analysis of existing tax rates and fee structures for proprietary operations. The local option sales tax revenues recorded in the special revenue fund are restricted for specific purposes; therefore, these funds will have to be repaid or it will be considered an inappropriate use of the restricted revenues. The town has experienced recurring operating deficits in the natural gas fund causing cash shortages.
- There was a deficit of $2.7 million in the town’s general fund and $1.9 million in the natural gas fund. Both of these funds have borrowed significant amounts from other funds of the town. The general fund and natural gas fund owed the special revenue fund approximately $2.8 million and $212,000, respectively. In June 2018, the council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month for the interfund loan between the general fund and special revenue fund.
- The town experienced the following cash management issues during the fiscal year, with inadequate funds held for customer deposits in the natural gas fund, and inadequate funds were held for required debt service reserves in the natural gas fund.
- The town did not properly reconcile multiple general ledger accounts as of year end. The town’s general ledger accounts should be reconciled monthly to detail subsidiary ledgers, and any reconciling items be promptly investigated and adjusted, and adequate supporting documentation for the adjustments be maintained.
- The town may have assets that have not been correctly recorded in the Town’s records, and there may be assets recorded on the Town’s records that are no longer in use or cannot be located. The town had not completed an inventory of assets on hand.
- A list of deficiencies and problems were also identified, many repeated from previous years.
Tate Lady Aggies Down Milton 7-6
February 29, 2024
Tate 7, Milton 7 (Varsity)
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Milton 7-6 Wednesday night in Milton.
Peyton Womack earned the win for the Aggies in the circle, giving up four hits and four runs in five innings, while striking out four and walking three. Jordan Smith earned the save, going for two innings, allowing three hits and two runs while recording three strikeouts and two walks.
Womack went 2-4 at the plate for the Aggies. Smith, Amburleigh Laird, Kara Wine, Blakely Campbell, and Kaylie Mitchell each added a hit for Tate.
The Panama City Tournament is up next for the Aggies.
Tate 11, Milton 0 (JV)
Photos by Dellaina O’Donovan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Milton 3-2
February 29, 2024
The Tate Aggies defeated Milton 3-2 Wednesday night in Milton.
Zane Warrington earned the win for the Aggies, allowing no hits and no runs over one inning, striking out one and walking two. Neal Croom opened on the mound for Tate, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings, walking one and striking out seven. Madox Land went for one-third of an inning surrendering one hit and two runs while walking two. Gabe Patterson pitched two-thirds of an inning, recording no hits, no runs, one strikeout and one walk.
Ketch King went 2-3 at the plate for Tate. Land, Bray Touchstone, Clif Quiggins, Conner Hassell, and Cole McNair each had a hit for the Aggies.
Up next, the Aggies will host Pace on Thursday with the JV at 4 p.m. at the Varsity at 7 p.m. The games were previously scheduled for Friday but were moved due to forecasted rain.
Melissa Kay Ellis
February 29, 2024
Mrs. Melissa Kay Ellis, age 66, passed away, peacefully, February 28, 2024, surrounded by her family in Flomaton, Alabama. She was a native of Century, Florida and a lifelong resident of Flomaton, Alabama.
Mrs. Ellis was a member of Gospel Light Chapel; she was devoted to her family and dedicated caregiver to her son. She greatly enjoyed fishing and watching Alabama football, a proud member of Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She was a 1993 graduate of Jefferson Davis Community College. She had many friends from around the world, she was an avid video gamer, loved to read and was a very hard worker which was something she greatly enjoyed to do.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Barnhill; two brothers, Roger Wayne Barnhill, Michael Wayne Barnhill; sister Terri Watkins.
Mrs. Ellis is survived by her husband of 25 years Philip Ellis of Flomaton, Alabama; son Mickey Powell of Flomaton, Alabama; daughter Kelly (Lyndal) “Lyn” Emerson of Flomaton, Alabama; father Dillard Barnhill of Atmore, Alabama; two step-daughters Sarah (Kenny Solomon of Rutledge, Tennessee, Stephanie Ellis of Rutledge, Tennessee; step-son Phillip (Courtney) Ellis of Rutledge, Tennessee; brother Ronald Lane “Rocky” Barnhill of Atmore, Alabama; sister Madonna Faith of Atmore, Alabama; four grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Bro. Clarence Rolin officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Kaicen McKinley, Lyn Emerson, Kenny Solomon, Deluca Green, Tracy Owen, and Phillip Ellis.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements