Forest Service Grant To Establish Arboretum At Byrneville Community Park
August 1, 2024
A Florida Forest Service grant will be used to tree arboretum at the Byrneville Community Park.
Escambia County received a $23,650 Forest Service grant for the project. There will be 43 native trees planted at the park, which is located by the Byrneville Community Center, located at West Highway 4 and Highway 4A.
The project will enhance the public area but provide educational, aesthetic, and environmental benefits to this community, the county said. The park will become a learning tool with educational signage and serve as a local tree arboretum for citizens and students to see and learn about the diverse native tree species in our region and the many benefits provided by our tree canopy.
The Northview High School FFA and other volunteers have committed to assisting with maintenance of the trees.
It is expected that the first trees will be planted in October.
An arboretum is a place where trees or plants are cultivated for scientific or educational purposes.
Pictured: The Byrneville Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Proposed Property Tax Rate, And It’s A Decrease
August 1, 2024
The Town of Century has set a proposed property tax rate for the next fiscal year.
The town council voted unanimously in a special meeting to approve a tentative millage rate of .9204, which has been the steady rate for several years.
That is 5.9% less than the rolled-back rate of .9781 mills, according to documents filed Wednesday. The rolled-back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. While Century’s tax rate will hold steady, it by definition a tax decrease as it is lower than the rolled-back rate.
Century’s adjusted prior year ad valorem proceeds are estimated at $50,148 from a property in the town with a taxable value of $51,271,029.
The millage rate must be approved at two upcoming meetings before it becomes final. The first budget public hearing is set for Tuesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. The second and final public hearing is set for September 12 at 5:30 p.m.
With the same .9204 millage rate last year, Century effectively approved a nearly 300% property tax increase, as defined by state law.
Pictured top: The Century Town Council voted this week to set a proposed property tax rate for the next fiscal year. Pictured inset: Century council member Henry Cunningham reviews the tax rate information. Pictured below: Century interim town manager Howard Brown and procurement specialist Bobbi Williams attended the meeting remotely. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Couple Charged After Children Allegedly Found Living In Squalor Alongside Drugs
August 1, 2024
An Atmore couple was charged with the chemical endangerment of a child and multiple drug offenses after police reportedly found children living in squalor with drugs nearby.
Nikki Presley, 24, and her husband, 37-year-old Corderela Dirden were both charged with possession of a controlled substance, chemical endangerment of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were booked into the Escambia County Detention Center without bond.
The arrests came after the Atmore Police Department responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Jacks Springs Road. When the officers arrived on the scene, they encountered a male and a female in the front yard who claimed they weren’t involved in a disturbance.
After checking their identifications, officers discovered that 50-year-old Lori Nelson had an active felony warrant for failure to appear in a possession of dangerous drugs case with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Nelson was detained as officers continued to investigate.
Officers contacted Presley has she exited the residence. She informed police that they could go inside where Dirden was. Dirden had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant from APD.
“While looking for Dirden, the officers found three children under 4 years of age asleep in a bedroom and in the living room with drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in close proximity. Dirden was located and was
placed under arrest in reference to the active misdemeanor warrants,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “The officers also observed the residence was infested with roaches and other insects. The floor was littered
with dirty diapers, food, feces, and other waste. The Department of Human Resources was contacted, and the children were turned over to a family member.”
Nelson was turned over to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Hot, Chance Of An Afternoon Storm
August 1, 2024
A heat advisor is in effect again Thursday for a heat index reaching up to 110 degrees.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 110. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 114. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Crash At Bluff Spring Road
August 1, 2024
Two people were reportedly injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29.
The driver of a SUV apparently collided with the rear of a pickup truck at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road.
One person was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS, and a second person was going to the hospital in a private vehicle.
None of the injuries were considered critical.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Dies After Beulah Shooting
August 1, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a 25-year-old woman shot Saturday night in Beulah has passed away from her injuries.
The ECSO said a death investigation is now underway.
The shooting happened about 8:40 Saturday night at a home on Cali lane near Frank Reeder Road.
Deputies responded to a report of a female with a gunshot wound and found the woman had in fact been shot. She was transported to an area hospital where she later died.’
Further details have not been released.
Escambia Tax Preparer Sentenced To Federal Prison For Preparing False Tax Returns
August 1, 2024
An Escambia County tax preparer has been sentenced to 26 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to charges of preparing false tax returns.
Between 2015 and 2019, Jean-Pierre, owner of WJP Financial Services, LLC., a tax preparation business in Pensacola, prepared and filed approximately 1,949 false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various clients. Jean-Pierre falsely represented the taxpayers’ income, deductions, credits, and the refund due, to steal funds from the American taxpayers for his gain.
Jean-Pierre’s prison sentence will be followed by 1 year of supervised release and he was ordered to pay $830,840.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
“The United States and its citizens rely on the payment of taxes to defend our country and maintain its operations,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Efforts to steal from hardworking American taxpayers – here by a corrupt tax preparer – will result in swift and significant sanctions.”
“Clients place special trust in their tax preparers, who have a duty to prepare their clients’ returns accurately and in compliance with the law,” said Ronald A. Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI’s Tampa Field Office. “Mr. Jean-Pierre is now paying the price for violating that trust for his own personal gain. This sentencing should serve as a warning to those tax preparers who choose to line their own pockets rather than do what’s best for their clients.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
Wahoos Rout Lookouts In Historic Doubleheader Sweep
August 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept the Chattanooga Lookouts in convincing fashion on Wednesday night, winning game one of their doubleheader 16-7 and setting a team record with a 19-run margin of victory in a 20-1 nightcap.
Making up Tuesday’s rainout with a twin bill, the Blue Wahoos were invigorated by the arrival of new players in the aftermath of the MLB trade deadline. In game one, Jared Serna, acquired over the weekend from the Yankees in a trade that sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to New York, burst onto the scene with a 4-for-5, 3 RBI game in his Double-A debut. Jakob Marsee tied a Blue Wahoos single-game record with 6 RBI in the first game, hitting the team’s first grand slam of the season as the Wahoos scored 16 runs on 18 hits.
Luis Palacios (W, 8-5) allowed only two earned runs over 5.2 innings, earning his team-leading 8th win of the season and moving into a tie for second place in team history with his 18th career win. He outdueled Kevin Abel (L, 4-5), who allowed six runs in 4.0 innings before the Chattanooga bullpen let things get out of hand.
Joe Mack capped the 17-run outburst with his team-leading 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning to highlight a 4-RBI game for the Pensacola catcher.
In game two, Tristan Stevens (W, 2-1) worked 5.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win for the Blue Wahoos. Pensacola scored two runs in the first inning without a hit against Jose Acuña (L, 0-2), setting the tone for a wild night.
The Blue Wahoos added to their lead in the third as Andrew Pintar executed a double steal of home, just the eighth in team history, followed by a two-out, two-run single from Cody Morissette. An opposite-field two-run homer from Paul McIntosh in the fourth extended the Pensacola advantage to 7-1.
The seventh inning saw the Lookouts wave the white flag, ultimately sending in position player Francisco Urbaez to serve up 10 Pensacola runs on five hits, six walks and a hit batsman. Serna added a two-run double and a bases-loaded walk for a 4-RBI game, McIntosh drove in his fourth run of the night with a bases-loaded walk, and Jacob Berry put the finishing touches on an historic night with an RBI single.
The 19-run margin of victory marked the most lopsided win in team history, surpassing a 22-6 win in Birmingham in May of 2023.
The Blue Wahoos pulled into a tie for second place with the Mississippi Braves with the pair of wins. Both teams are 2.0 games behind the Biloxi Shuckers in the second half South Division race.
The series in Chattanooga continues on Thursday. First pitch from AT&T Field is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT.