One Injured In Cottage Hill Rollover Crash
January 31, 2025
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Friday morning in Cottage Hill.
Escambia County EMS transported the victim to a local hospital with injuries not considered serious following the 9 a.m. crash. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest off the roadway in the 1400 block of Wishbone Road just south of Williams Ditch Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Atmore Debates Curfew, Seeks Solution To Increased Violent Crime
January 31, 2025
There were three murders in just three months in Atmore and shooting incidents with dozens of rounds fired into homes.
And Police Chief Chuck Brooks is looking for solutions.
“Y’all, I’m getting tired of this violence in my community,” Brooks told a crowd of over 100 people gathered at city hall Thursday evening. “And by the looks of it, y’all are too.”
The meeting with Brooks, the city council, city attorney and other officials was called to discuss actions that might include a curfew. Brooks was the only city official to speak, saying that he did not think the curfew would be a workable solution.
“You’ve got to be able to freely move about, do your business, eat, and go to work or whatever, so that’s out” Brook said about a general curfew, before also explaining the problem with a juvenile curfew. “Juveniles are some of the problem here, but our problems are looking at the age group of 20 to 25.”
“So, if I’ve got a juvenile that needs to go to school, if they’re in dual enrollment, if they’re doing something at the high school, but they can’t even go out to the college out at the interstate. That ain’t gonna work,” he said.
His department has added more patrols and is turning to technology in their fight against crime. He said officers have body cameras, and there are tag readers and other equipment that has proven invaluable, even leading to the arrest of a murder suspect.
And they are recovering numbers of firearms and are working to identify gang members. Brooks acknowledged that while they may not be the notorious gangs, there are gangs in his city.
The police chief said potential solutions include an active neighborhood watch, a program in which residents and businesses can share security camera footage with police, a Crime Stoppers program, and an anonymous tip line. That tip line is in place now — citizens can call the police dispatcher at (251) 368-9141 and ask for extension 1168, which is often answered by voicemail.
Community members in attendance were divided on implementing a curfew, with many saying it would simply restrict the movements of good citizens and infringe on basic civil liberties.
No official action was taken Thursday night on implementing a curfew.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search Warrant Leads To Arrest Of Century Felon On Gun Charge
January 31, 2025
A convicted felon was arrested on a weapons charge after deputies served a search warrant in Century.
Edward Devon Johnson. Jr., 41, was charged with possession of a weapon by convicted felon. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $25,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a citizen complaint Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 100 block of Henry Street in Century. A woman told deputies that her driver’s license was suspended because she sold a car to Johnson, and he allowed the vehicle insurance to lapse.
When deputies approved the home, they could hear someone in the backyard. That’s where deputies made contact with Johnson holding a dark in color Smith & Wesson handgun in his hand, which he tried to hide, an ECSO report states. The deputy drew his weapon and ordered Johnson to put the gun down, and he complied. A deputy worked to determine if Johnson was a convicted felon and thus not legally allowed to own a handgun. Before the determination was made, deputies completed their business at the home and left.
The deputies immediately returned to the home when they learned of Johnson’s felony status, and he was detained.
Another party returned to the scene and told deputies that they had only seen a pellet gun in Johnson’s hands.
“(The witness) produced a black Marksman Repeater pellet gun that in no way resembled the gun I had seen in Johnson’s hands earlier,” a deputy wrote in his report. A search warrant was secured for the home and car. The warrant was executed Wednesday night.
During a search of the the trunk of a 2008 Honda, deputies located a dark in color Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun with one round in the chamber and seven rounds in magazine.
“It matched the handgun I had previously seen in Johnson’s hand,” the deputy stated in the report.
Florida Department of Corrections records indicate that Johnson served 15 months for a 2006 cocaine possession conviction.
Pictured above and below: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies serve a search warrant at a mobile home on Henry Street in Century, where they reported finding a loaded handgun hidden in the trunk of a car (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Community Park Coming Soon To Gonzalez
January 31, 2025
Thursday, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry announced that a ribbon cutting will be held soon for the new Jennings-Gonzalez Park.
The small community park in Gonzalez is under construction at the site of the former Escambia Charter School at 319 90 & 9 Ranch Road, just behind Gonzalez Utilities on Old Chemstrand Road. The park is named in honor of the Gonzalez community and the Jennings family from the Gonzalez Baptist Church area.
“We don’t’ have the space for everything you see behind me,” Barry said at the ribbon cutting for the new Paper Park in Cantonment. “But it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a great amenity for those folks that live in that Gonzalez community.
RELATED STORY: New ‘Paper Park’ At Former IP Golf Course Is Now Open
Construction is continuing on the Jennings-Gonzalez Park. An exact opening date has not been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sensory-Friendly Hours This Saturday At The Molino Library
January 31, 2025
The Molino Library will offer sensory-friendly browsing hours this Saturday, February 1.
Sensory Saturdays are designed to provide a safe and friendly environment for individuals who are neurodivergent and/or have special needs and their families.
The special hours will be on the first Saturday of the month at the Molino Library from 8-10 a.m. A sensory room will be open from 8-11 a.m. filled with comfortable seating, sensory activities, toys, engaging fidgets, and fun brain games. Users can come and go as they please.
The library opens for everyone as usual at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Additionally, WFPL now has Sensory Tool Kits and Calm Corner kits available every day for patrons to check out.
The sensory hours will also be available at the Tryon Library on the second Saturday of the month and at the Bellview Library on third Saturdays.
Pictured: Children’s books at the Molino Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Celebrate Literacy Week: Bratt Elementary Hosts Family Literacy Night
January 31, 2025
It’s Celebrate Literacy Week at schools across Escambia County.
Thursday evening, Bratt Elementary hosted a Family Literacy Night. Students and parent took part in literacy activities, and students also received a book and learning activities to take home.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Unoccupied Home Near Davisville Burns To The Ground
January 31, 2025
An unoccupied home near Davisville burned to the ground Thursday morning.
Escambia County Fire Rescue was called to the 5000 block of Sandy Hollow Road, just south of West Highway 4 about 5:18 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find that the home had burned to the ground.
The home reportedly had not electricity or gas service.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. There were no injuries.
The Walnut Hill, Molino, and McDavid stations of Escambia County Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies 30 Inning Game Is Saturday
January 31, 2025
Tate Aggies baseball will host their 30-inning game on Saturday. That’s right — 30 straight inning of Aggie baseball — beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Concessions will be open and there will be $12 fish plates (including drink) until they are sold out.
- 10:30 – 9th vs. 9th
- 11:45 – JV vs. JV
- 1:00 – 9th vs. JV
- 2:15 – JV vs. Varsity
- 3:30 – Varsity vs. Varsity 7 Inning Live Game
Admission is free.
Morning Fog, Otherwise A Sunny Weekend Ahead
January 31, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Saturday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 43. Calm wind.
Sunday: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 45. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Wednesday: Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Valerie Lynn Bullock Hicks, Charity Lynn Hicks
January 31, 2025
Valerie Lynn Bullock Hicks, 66, of Molino, Florida, and Charity Lynn Hicks, 30, of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on January 23, 2025. They were tragically killed in a car accident.
Valerie was born in Grants, New Mexico on November 14, 1958 to Lynwood and Pearlie Bullock. She was married to Edward James Hicks for 42 years and they created a beautiful life together. Together they had two children, three grandchildren, and attended Lighthouse Baptist Church. Mrs. Hicks wore many hats over the years and had many passions. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelor’s degree and taught at Atmore Baptist Temple. Mrs. Hicks was so loved by all of her students, parents, and teacher friends. She loved teaching and homeschooling and was an extremely hard worker. When she wasn’t teaching, she enjoyed many other things such as being a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, business owner and whipping up a delicious meal at the drop of a hat.
Mrs. Hicks is preceded in death by her father, Lynwood Nelson Bullock.
Charity was born in Pensacola, Florida on February 11, 1994 to Edward and Valerie Hicks. Growing up, Ms. Hicks was homeschooled by her mother and then later graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She worked at Temple Christian Academy for four years before becoming a realtor. Once she became a realtor, she worked at FlynnBuilt Custom Home Builders, where she excelled at real estate sales. Ms. Hicks was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church and had a passion for life, people, and adventure.
Ms. Hicks was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Fred Frank Hicks and Kathryn Abramovich Hicks, as well as her maternal grandfather, Lynwood Nelson Bullock.
Both ladies will be missed and forever in our hearts. They were perfect examples of love, kindness, faith, and hope. We mourn their death today but look forward to the day we meet them again in heaven. Both ladies lived a beautiful life that deserves to be beautifully remembered. Please pray for her husband and all family members at this critical time.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 12:30 pm at Smyrna Baptist Church with Ben Hicks officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the church. Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.