Cantonment Community Revival Begins Tonight At Carver Park
June 3, 2024
The Cantonment Community Revival is taking place June 3-8 at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The event is sponsored by the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) and the North Escambia Fellowship of Churches.
The Cantonment Community Revival schedule is as follows:
- Monday, June 3: Pastor Anthony Perry, Gonzalez Methodist Church
- Tuesday, June 4: Rev. Leon Bell, Associate Pastor Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment
- Wednesday, June 5: Pastor Gene McCants, Providence Baptist Church
- Thursday, June 6: Brother Vincent Wilson, Deliverance Tabernacle
- Friday, June 7: Pastor Robert Gross, Back to the Cross Christian Center
- Saturday, June 8: A Family and Friends Fellowship Day will wrap up the week from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m..
Bond Revoked For Suspect In Death Of Teen At Cottage Hill Party
June 2, 2024
Bond has been revoked for the 19-year old charged in the April fatal shooting of a 16-year-old at a party at a Cottage Hill home.
Ethan Alexander O’Brien, 19, is back in the Escambia County Jail charged with second-degree negligent manslaughter after Escambia County Judge John Simon revoked his $300,000 bond. He was also charged with tampering with evidence and improper exhibition of a firearm. Court hearing paperwork does not indicate whY bond was revoked.
O’brien is due back in court in September.
The investigation determined that during a large gathering at the residence, O’Brien (pictured) was showing off his firearm at which time it accidentally discharged hitting 16-year-old Bryson Allen. O’Brien fled the scene before deputies arrived,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 at a home in the 600 block of Wishbone Road. Allen was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Emergency dispatchers received one call from someone who told them she heard a gunshot from her neighbor’s house and someone screaming “help me”. Another caller reported that they heard one gunshot and two vehicles leaving, and people were knocking on other residents’ doors.
Another caller reported that there was a male that had a gunshot wound to his stomach and leg. Another 911 call reported that a 16-year-old male had been shot in the chest and was not breathing.
Deputies arrived on the scene and found a male on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest. Deputies unsuccessfully performed CPR and used an AED in an attempt to revive Allen, who was pronounced deceased by Escambia County EMS.
A 17-year-old witness told deputies that O’Brien pulled his gun from his trunk, and he had it out trying to shoot it, the report states. O’Brien then held the gun up midway and shot it. The witness told deputies that she did not feel that O’Brien was trying to shoot the victim on purpose.
Another witness, a 17-year-old male, said he heard a gunshot and screaming about five minutes after arriving at the home. He said O’Brien pointed the gun. “He believes he was messing around with the gun, and he felt that he didn’t shoot it on purpose,” the report states.
Another 17-year-old witness told deputies that she had invited a few friends over to her house and she was inside when the incident occurred. She heard a gunshot and went outside to find Allen on the ground and asked who was responsible.
“Do you want us to get in trouble, and he said I gots to leave,” she indicated O’Brien said. She continues that before the incident O’Brien showed her the gun that was in his trunk, and she asked to shoot it. She said she did not fire what she described to investigators as a “big gun”.
Allen grabbed his side after being shot and said, “You just shot me bro” before falling to the ground, an additional 17-year-old witness told law enforcement. He said O’Brien had an “AR style” rifle and he was playing with before the shooting.
Pictured top: The scene on Wishbone Road in Cottage Hill late Friday night, April 12, after a teen was shot and killed. Pictured below: Crime scene still surrounded the home the following Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Renews Contract For Lake Stone Caretaker
June 2, 2024
The Escambia County Commission is extending their caretaker agreement for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Dennis Keith Cole will continue to manage the facility for another year, until May 31, 2025. He will be paid $13,200 in 12 equal monthly installments of $1,100 with housing and utilities provided. Cole was first named Lake Stone caretaker in June 2013.
Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located at 801 West Highway 4. The campground has 77 campsites for everything from big RV rigs to tents. Lake Stone is the Escambia County’s only facility located on a freshwater lake. The facilities include a boat ramp , indoor public use pavilion, a playground, showers, restrooms, a fishing pier, security lights, electrical and water hookups, a sewage dump station, picnic areas and the lake.
The Lake Stone pavilion or campsites can be reserved by calling the Lake Stone campground manager at (850) 256-5555 or Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the County has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker/management services at the facility.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl After Nine Mile Road Traffic Stop
June 2, 2024
A woman was arrested for trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine after a traffic stop Saturday morning in Beulah.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Ashley Diane Carter at Nine Mile Road and Bridlewood Road.
Deputies said they found 115 grams of methamphetamine, 31.4 grams of fentanyl, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Carter was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
ECSO said Carter also had three active warrants out of Santa Rosa County for two counts of failure to appear for felony charges and trafficking in methamphetamine.
Photos by ECSO for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Patchy Fog Overnight
June 2, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 89.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
June 2, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform utility work:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Lane closure on North Palafox Street between Hope Drive and the bridge over I-10, beginning Tuesday, June 4 at 8 a.m. and lasting approximately six hours. In this configuration, north and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform median work:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Outside lane closures on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through June as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures after 9 a.m. on North Palafox Street for drilled shaft installation work at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street, Monday, June 3 through Tuesday, June 4 and at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue, Wednesday, June 5 through Thursday, June 6. Police will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Westbound over Blackwater River Resurfacing Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent I-10 westbound lane closures, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the east end of the Blackwater River Bridge, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to place thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 as crews perform shoulder grading and sodding operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform roadway widening and sidewalk reconstruction work.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, June 2, through Friday, June 7, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
New Coffee Shop, Pet Groomer Open In Molino
June 2, 2024
Grand opening celebrations were held Saturday for two news businesses in Molino.
The Parking Latte coffee shop and Cozy Corner Grooming and Boarding, both locall owned, are now open at 4178 North HIghway 29, between the Molino fire tower and Highway 196.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Furious Comeback Helps Wahoos Beat Shuckers 8-7
June 2, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 8-7 on Saturday night.
Buoyed by a season-high three home runs and a strong performance from the bullpen, Pensacola got back in the win column and secured a series victory with one game to go in their weeklong set against the Shuckers.
Despite the win, the Blue Wahoos fell to 2.0 games back of first-place Montgomery with 19 games to play in the first half. The Biscuits swept a doubleheader over the Braves in Mississippi, gaining a half-game on Pensacola.
Leadoff batter Jakob Marsee started the game with a bang, hitting a solo home run off starter Bradley Blalock for an immediate 1-0 lead. It was Pensacola’s first leadoff home run since Kameron Misner in September 2021, ending an unusual drought for the franchise and beginning a 3-for-4 night for Marsee with three runs scored.
Pensacola starter Paul Campbell, who had completed at least 5.0 innings in each of his first seven starts, struggled mightily. The Shuckers put up six runs on three hits and three walks, bouncing Campbell after just 0.2 innings. The big blow came from catcher Andy Yerzy, who turned around the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer and a 6-1 Biloxi lead.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away with solo homers from Sean Roby in the second and Nathan Martorella in the third. In the fourth, Blalock was removed from the game after back-to-back walks. Will Childers (L, 0-2) fared little better, allowing a bunt single to Marsee before Paul McIntosh hit a two-run double to draw the Wahoos to within a run at 6-5. Marsee scored on a wild pitch to tie the game before McIntosh came home on a fielding error from shortstop Eric Brown Jr. to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 7-6.
Marsee singled, took second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on an error and scored on a McIntosh sacrifice fly in the sixth inning for an insurance run that would prove to be the game-winner.
Adam Laskey (W, 2-0) led a dominant relief effort for Pensacola, working 3.1 scoreless innings. Matt Pushard, Dale Stanavich and Raffi Vizcaíno (S, 3) held the lead for an 8-7 final.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their road trip in Biloxi on Sunday. First pitch from Shuckers Ballpark is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Family Seeks Answers In Century Murder Of Young Father, Former High School Football Player
June 1, 2024
Jaheem Durant, 20, was murdered in Century last year.
His body was found with multiple gunshot wounds on a sidewalk along North Century Boulevard, near Ramar Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday. The body was just yards from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation in Billy G. Ward Courthouse building.
Now, over seven months later, his family and the mother of his 2-year-old child are still seeking answers.
“We don’t understand why it’s taking the police so long to make an arrest,” Kirsi Crawley, mother of Jaheem Durant Jr., told NorthEscambia.com. “Jaheem deserves justice for what they did to him, and his family deserves closure and answers3″
Crawley said family has received little information from investigators.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office tells us the case is still active, and the investigator speaks to Jaheem’s father frequently, most recently last week.
“We are still waiting for crime lab results and social media results,” Sgt. Melony Peterson said.
Durant played high school football for both the Northview Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes.
At Northview, Durant was named 2nd Team Defensive End for the Florida 1A All-State football team. He was a member of the Flomaton High School first ever state championship team.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured first below: Jaheem Durant gains yardage for the Northview Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge. Other photos above and below: Submitted photos of Jaheem Durant
Escambia County Receives New $36 Million Offer For 540 Acre Entirety Of OLF-8
June 1, 2024
Escambia County has received another offer for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile road — this time $36 million for the entre 540 acres parcel.
The offer was received from Tri W Development, a subsidiary of Jim Wilson and Associates (JWA) of Montgomery, Alabama, along with CAH Developments, an affiliate of The 1559-Collective in Pensacola.
There’s still an offer on the table from Beulah Town Center, which increased their purchase offer in mid-May to $25 million for 290 acres.
If the county accepted the new offer for the entire 540 acres, they would likely lose a Triumph grant for Frank Reeder Road and other infrastructure improvements that can only happen on property owned by the county.
They are offering to donate 15-25 acres to the school board for construction of a public school.
JWA real estate projects have included Eastchase in Montgomery on 330 acres with retail, hotels, restaurants and shops; the Redstone Gateway business park in Huntsville on 470 acres with office, industrial, hotels, retail and restaurants; Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, a mixed use development with retail, hotels and office space; and New Park in Montgomery, a 1,000 acre master planned community that currently has 400 single family homes, a school, YMCA and more.
CAH developments include Ransley Station on 60 acres at the corner of I-10 and Pine Forest Road in Pensacola, and the East Garden District in Pensacola.
The new offer does not directly address how the current Master Plan for the property would be addressed.
The new offer is on the agenda for discussion at the next Escambia County Commission meeting on Thursday, June 6.
Pictured: The OLF-8 property as seen from Nine Mile Road in May 2024. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.