Argos Volleyball Earns 18th Straight NCAA Tournament Appearance
November 26, 2024
The University of West Florida women’s volleyball team has made its 18th straight NCAA DII Tournament appearance. During the NCAA selection show on Monday evening, it was announced that the Argos earned the No. 6 seed in the South Region.
UWF will take on No. 3 seed Tampa in the first round. The Argos played Tampa back in September when the Spartans were ranked No. 1 in the nation. Since that game, UWF has not lost a match, having won 22 straight and only dropping a total of six sets during that span. The Argos enter the NCAA tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country.
“We are excited to compete in another South Region Championship,” said head coach Melissa Wolter. “Our region is deep, but we are part of the depth. We had a chance to play Tampa earlier this fall so we are familiar with them. But both teams have changed a lot since then. Our team is excited about this opportunity and will take it one match at a time. But make no mistake, we are playing to win!”
No. 1 seed Lynn University will serve as the host for the South Region bracket. Tournament play will begin on Thursday, Dec. 5.
West Florida (27-5, 20-0 GSC) won the Gulf South Conference Championship on Sunday, defeating Alabama Huntsville, 3-1.
Photo: Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seeks Homicide Suspect
November 26, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a homicide suspect.
Monday, ECSO said deputies are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 35-year-old Arrington Marcellas Moultrie who has an active warrant for homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and obstruction of justice-evidence tampering.
Deputies said the charges are related to an incident on November 16 on Hampton Road.
Anyone with information on Moultrie’s whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Trump Backs Jimmy Patronis For Gaetz Seat; Michelle Salzman Not Running
November 25, 2024
Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman has withdrawn from a Congressional run after President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis Monday morning.
Salzman announced on social media that she would endorse Patronis for Congress as she continues here work for Florida District 1 in the Florida Legislature.
“Politics is an ever-changing chessboard. Our first priority as elected officials should be our constituents. If we put them first, we all win! Jimmy Patronis has been endorsed by the leader of our party and that should be enough for us to get behind him.” Salzman wrote in post with a picture of her with Patronis at Trump rally.
“Put me to work, Mr. President,” Patronis wrote on X in response to the Trump endorsement.
“As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
Gaetz resigned his Florida’s First Congressional District seat after Trump announced he was the president-elect’s pick for U.S. attorney general. Trump later picked former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi after Gaetz withdrew from consideration.
Florida Rep. Joel Rudman has also announced his intentions to run for the Congressional seat. Rudman, Patronis and any other candidate that currently holds office will be required to resign to run by today. Salzman has not submitted a resignation.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison For Drug Possession, Evidence Tampering, Fleeing
November 25, 2024
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to station prison in a 2023 drug and evidence tampering case.
Charlie Clifford Davis, 54, was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana tampering with evidence, fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license third or subsequent offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper tag.
He was sentenced to 18 months in state prison by Judge Coleman Robinson.
In September 2023, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop near Durand Avenue and Elliot Street. Deputies said the driver of the vehicle threw a clear plastic bag containing a “large quantity” of methamphetamine out of the driver’s side window and continued driving until eventually stopping.
Deputies located more methamphetamine in the driver’s floorboard area, the driver’s seat, and on the driver’s door of the vehicle, the ECSO said. Deputies also located marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
K-9 Tracks Down Man For Attempted Vehicle Burglary In Assisting Living Parking Lot
November 25, 2024
A man was arrested after a brief manhunt for allegedly attempting to burglarize a vehicle in the parking lot of an assisted living facility.
Jacob Edward Whalen, 43, was charged with felony attempted vehicle burglary. He was later released on a $5,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an attempted vehicle burglary at Solaris Cantonment Assisted Living on Crossville Street, just off Nine Mile Road where an employee had witnessed a male attempting to break into a vehicle in the facility’s parking lot.
Deputies arrived in time to see Whalen fleeing the scene. He was apprehended by K-9 Walker a short time later in the parking lot of a nearby church.
A Warming Trend To Begin Thanksgiving Week
November 25, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then a chance of showers between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Escambia County Fire Rescue Fire Academy Holds Graduation
November 25, 2024
Member of the Escambia County Fire Rescue Fire Academy graduated over the weekend during a ceremony at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Escambia County Fire Rescue administration gave directions to the ECFR Training Division to proceed with the development and implementation of the ECFR Fire Academy in May 2024. With the projected growth of Escambia County and the need to provide the highest level of protection for its citizens, the training division conducted a physical abilities test, hired 12 employees as fire cadets, and began their education journey through the Florida State Fire College with a required 492 hours of training to become Firefighter 2-certified.
Three volunteer firefighters joined the fire cadets to continue the training for their state certification test last week. The education offered during the fire academy included Firefighting, emergency medical responder, live fire training and vehicle extrication.
The ECFR Fire Academy instructors are all ECFR firefighters and lieutenants led by Lt. Jason Crabbe.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
CSX Plans More Crossing Closures For Monday
November 25, 2024
Two CSX railroad crossings in North Escambia area scheduled to close Monday for maintenance.
A temporary road will be place as the Becks Lane Road crossing is closed Monday and Tuesday. It is expected to reopen on Wednesday.
The Mystic Springs crossing will be completed Monday with paving.
CSX also plans to close the Bogia Road crossing Monday for paving. The crossing was closed Saturday for maintenance work and reopened temporarily.
Pictured: The CSX crossing on Becks Lane Road in Cantonment as seen Sunday. Pictured below: A temporary road and crossing were constructed to allow access to the area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP Encourages Drivers To Register Emergency Contact Information
November 25, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol is encouraging Florida drivers to register emergency contact information (ECI).
Last year, FHP and other law enforcement agencies across the state responded to 394,953 crashes, of which over 60% involved injuries.
FHP said timing is critical during an emergency. In many cases, it could the difference between life and death. In such situations, law enforcement and other first responders, including medical professionals, often need to contact family members or friends to notify them of the status of their loved one who was involved. Whether it is information related to transportation to a local medical facility or, in the worst case, a death notification, emergency contact information is crucial.
In 2022, ECI was initiated by Florida mother, Christine Olson, whose daughter Tiffiany died in a fatal crash, and it took over six hours to notify her. Law enforcement agencies and medical facilities have access to this emergency contact information for the purpose of notifying designated individuals in case of an emergency. As of August 2024, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) recorded 20,617,304 licensed drivers who had registered their ECI.
If you haven’t registered an emergency contact, it’s free, easy, and secure to do so through FLHSMV, all you need is a valid Florida driver’s license or ID card. You can register up to two designated people by visiting Emergency Contact Information History – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov).
Century Town Hall Closed Again Monday Afternoon For Final Staff Training Session
November 25, 2024
The Century Town Hall will be closed Monday afternoon for a final of three staff training sessions.
Town hall will be closed from 1-4 p.m.
During the closures, staff and administration attend training training by Harris Computers and Florida Gas Utilities on the town’s utility billing software.
The town billing clerk recently abruptly left the position, leaving the staff without much of the knowledge needed to use the Inhance billing software, according to Mayor Luis Gomez. Jr.
Gomez said due to billing problems, the town will not be enforcing cutoff dates in November. The town council also authorized the mayor to use a staffing agency to find a temporary billing clerk at a rate not to exceed $18.20 per hour.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.