Woman Charged After Allegedly Shooting At Ex-Girlfriend In Cantonment
August 8, 2024
A woman was arrested Thursday morning after she allegedly opened fire from a vehicle near several people in a Cantonment neighborhood.
Hailey Marie Star Smith, 23, was charged with four counts felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and intimidation. She was booked into the Escambia.com County Jail without bond.
About 3:20 a.m., Smith pulled up to a residence in he 1000 block of Woodlake Driver near Goldenrod Road and fired a gun at her ex-girlfriend while several other people were nearby, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ex-girlfriend then fired back, according to deputies.
No one was hit by the gunfire, and there were no injuries.
Here’s A Sneak Peek At The Playland, Pavilion For New Park At Former IP Golf Course
August 8, 2024
Last week, we told you that the Escambia County Commission was purchasing a new playland and pavilion for a new park. And today, we have a sneak peek at the playground design.
In April, Escambia County leased the 68-acre former International Paper golf course in Cantonment to develop it into a park.
The Escambia County Commission approved the purchase of a play structure and 704 square feet recreational shelter with tables for the property. The total was $369,775.76 for purchase and installation of the GameTime equipment. The recreational area will be open to the public free of charge during daylight hours once completed and opened.
The playground renderings pictured here are the design and colors that will be installed, according to Escambia County Recreation Director Michael Rhodes. The pavilion is also pictured below. (The backgrounds are, of course, just computer generated and not the actual park in Cantonment.)
The purchase will be funded from the Cantonment Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
The golf course has been closed since 2017. Escambia County plans to use the land for disc golf and walking trails in addition to the pavilion and playground. The park will be open only during daylight hours.
Under the lease agreement for, Escambia County will pay a $5,000 lease fee the first year with an annual increase of 5% with the lease reading $6,077.53 by year five.
The property was previously known as the Champion Golf Club.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smokey Bear Celebrates 80th Birthday At Molino Library (With Gallery)
August 8, 2024
“Only you can prevent forest fires!”
Smokey Bear celebrated his 80th birthday with an event Wednesday at the Molino Branch Library.
The West Florida Public Libraries and the Florida Forest Service hosted the 80th birthday celebration for Smokey. Children enjoyed a video and hearing the story about Smokey’s early life.
Children had a chance to meet Smokey and pose for a photo, and the library’’s mascot owl Who also made a special appearance.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Middle 70s Tonight; Middle 90s Friday
August 8, 2024
There is heat advisory in effect again for Thursday.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 109. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Reverb By Hard Rock Pensacola Planned For Maritime Park
August 8, 2024
Hard Road International has announced development plans for a Reverb by Hard Rock Pensacola location at Maritime Park
Developers plan to break ground in 2026 and open by 2029. The announcement came a day before the Pensacola City Council votes on the 100-year lease.
Hard Rock Pensacola will feature more than 125 hotel technology-enhanced rooms, a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, lobby bar and lounge, quick service restaurant and fitness center. An exclusive Reverb City Guide for Pensacola will feature local artist-curated lists of favorite drinks, dining, and entertainment locations throughout the local area. Additionally, the property will host a podcast recording studio for local talent and creators as well as a meeting space for conferences.
The property will be located downtown at Maritime Park along Pensacola Bay with views of the water and Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The project is expected to create an economic boost to the area and generate over 500 construction and 75 permanent hospitality employment opportunities with competitive pay.
“Hard Rock is thrilled to keep growing our REVERB hotel portfolio with what will be the second planned property in Florida, this time in the heart of Pensacola Bay. We have full confidence in our partner, the Dawson Company, to deliver a best-in-class hotel based on their four decades of proven experience executing complex and catalytic projects throughout the eastern United States, and their extensive knowledge of the Pensacola market,” said Todd Hricko, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Hotel Development at Hard Rock International.
The Dawson Company is a second generation Pensacola-based development firm.
Other partners contributing to the development include Pensacola native, NFL Hall of Famer and real estate entrepreneur, Emmitt Smith, CEO at EJ Smith Enterprises.
FHP Charges Man With DUI, Hit And Run, Battery In Road Rage Incident
August 8, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol has charged an Escambia County man in connection with a road rage incident.
Mitchell Hayden Coffey, 62, was charged with aggravated battery, hit and run, driving under the influence, providing false information and refusal to submit.
Troopers said Coffey and a 34-year-old male driver were involved in an altercation on Graves Road off East Olive Road after almost being involved in a collision where a death threat was made. The two parties separated before Coffey went to his home but reentered the roadway when he observed the other driver on the road.
FHP said Coffey intentionally collided with the other driver’s vehicle three times. He then retrieved a handgun from inside his home and placed it in his vehicle, they said.
Coffey remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $41,000.
Pine Forest Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest For Possession of Gun, Drugs
August 8, 2024
Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested a convicted felon out on parole on gun and drugs charges after a traffic stop on Pine Forest Road.
About 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, a FHP trooper clocked a copper Dodge Charger traveling 76 mph in a 45 mph zone on Pine Forest Road. The trooper conducted a traffic stop and reported a strong smell of burnt marijuana from the vehicle.
Oderious Anthony Merritt, 34, was charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of drugs (meth) with intent to sell, possession of drugs (heroin) with intent to sell, possession of drugs (marijuana) with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance without prescription. He was also cited for speed and illegal window tint.
FHP said Merritt stated he had a medical marijuana card; however, his actions were not consistent with the conversation. Following the arrival of a second trooper, a thorough investigation of Merritt and vehicle were conducted, leading to the probable cause to search the vehicle.
Troopers reported finding 386 grams of cocaine, 188 grams of heroin, 39 grams of marijuana and three grams of methamphetamine. In addition to the drugs, the driver was discovered to be a convicted felon currently out on parole and was in possession of loaded handgun, FHP said.
Merritt was arrested without incident and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $60,000.
Escambia, FL, Man Arrested On Drug Charges In Atmore
August 8, 2024
An Escambia County, Florida, man was arrested on multiple drug charges in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to reported disturbance at a residence on Lindberg Avenue.
That’s what they found 55-year-old Jonathan McGhee standing in the yard screaming, Sgt. Darrell McMann said. He said offers were able to see a “large” marijuana plant in a vehicle in the driveway, and there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence.
Atmore Police Department Narcotics Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and the vehicles in the driveway. APD said agents discovered methamphetamine, suboxone, “numerous items commonly used to ingest narcotics”, and “evidence indicating the manufacturing of controlled substances”.
McGhee was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance second degree, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
McGhee was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Late Drama Leaves Wahoos Wanting In 5-4 Loss To Braves
August 8, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Pearl, Miss. – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 5-4 to the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday night, charging back to tie the game once but coming up short in another ninth-inning rally.
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the Braves scored two runs against Nigel Belgrave (L, 0-1) as Bryson Horne hit a go-ahead RBI double and Bryson Worrell followed with an RBI groundout.
Down to their final out in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos rallied with three straight baserunners and drew to within a run on an Andrew Pintar RBI single before Elison Joseph (S, 2) closed things out for a 5-4 final.
Mississippi initially jumped ahead in the third with a two-out rally of their own against Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios, stringing together a walk and RBI singles from Cal Conley and Tyler Tolve to take a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away in the middle innings, scoring their first run against Braves starter Darius Vines in the fifth on a Graham Pauley sacrifice fly and adding another in the sixth on a Jacob Berry RBI single.
In the seventh, the Blue Wahoos manufactured a rare run against Landon Harper (W, 2-0), who had not allowed an earned run since late May. Shane Sasaki led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Jakob Marsee RBI single to tie the game 3-3.
Mississippi answered back with their two eighth-inning runs to even up the series one game apiece.
The Blue Wahoos kept pace behind the first-place Biloxi Shuckers, who fell 1-0 in Montgomery to maintain a 3.0-game lead in the South Division with 34 games remaining in the regular season.
The series in Mississippi continues on Thursday. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT.
New 24/7 Career Fire Crews Coming To Molino This Month
August 7, 2024
Career fighters will staff the Molino Fire Station 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning Saturday, August 17.
The four-member crews will be a special operations team, providing light technical and special rescue services in addition to responding to fire and medical calls across North Escambia. The station will respond in the Molino fire district, and provide assistance in the McDavid, Walnut Hill, Century and Cantonment fire district, along with any other local to assist.
“This will really bolster our response in the north end,” Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “This will benefit the entire area.”
The current “Squad 9″ truck (pictured below) that was assigned to the McDavid Fire Station in September 2023 will be transferred to the Molino Fire Station, becoming known as “Squad 18″ for the new crews. “Engine 9″ and other apparatuses will remain in McDavid.
Work is currently underway at the Molino Fire Station to remodel the bunk rooms, living quarters and the kitchen to better support occupation by 24/7 crews.
Molino will become what is known as combination department –volunteers would still respond to calls alongside the paid crews. Fire stations currently also respond to neighboring areas to assist.
“I’m pleased to know that my friends and neighbors in the Molino area will have coverage 24/7 out of the Molino Fire Station, and I certainly appreciate the brave men and women who will be providing the service, be they volunteer or career,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
