Man Found Shot To Death In Escambia County Front Yard
February 14, 2020
A man found shot to death in a front yard in Escambia County Friday morning has been identified as 33-year old Tony Grandison, Jr.
Grandison’s roommate came home to find Grandison in the yard about 6:30 a.m. near Brook Meadow Lane and Winodee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s OFfice. Shell casings were also found nearby.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation.
Photos by Mac McAllister WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rigby Road Bridge Closed For Repairs; Photos Show Conditions Under Bridge
February 14, 2020
Rigby Road in Bratt was closed Thursday for repairs to the bridge over Beaver Dam Creek.
The wood piling bridge constructed in 1965 is expected to be closed for about two weeks.
Photographs taken under the 75-foot long bridge Thursday afternoon showed obvious deterioration on a piling (pictured below) and a jack supporting the middle of the bridge (above). It was not known if the jack was in place prior to the closure, or if it was a sign of work that was already underway.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Grand Theft From Business On His Street
February 14, 2020
A 69-year old Molino man is charged with stealing two air compressors from a business just down the street from his home.
Winfred Arnold Sims, 69, was charged with felony grand theft, dealing in stolen property and criminal mischief with property damage.
Sims allegedly stole two 60-gallon air compressors valued at a total of $1,300 from a business on Omega Drive in Molino. On January 10, the business discovered that wires were cut and the compressors were missing from the outside of the building.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Sims, who lives just two houses away, contacted him multiple times asking if he had any leads about the missing compressors. The victim told deputies that he believed Sims was involved in the theft because they had a previous dispute, according to an arrest report.
The ECSO met with an individual that allegedly purchased the air compressors from Sims, and found them to be a match, according to the report. Deputies said the cut electrical cords on the air compressors matched the cords at the shop in Molino, and a broken part found at the scene of the crime also matched.
Sims told deputies that he “knew nothing about any air compressors nor had he had any air compressors to sell”, the arrest report says.
Sims was released from the Escambia County Jail on $8,500 bond.
Gary Amerson Of Bratt Named Cybersecurity Center Director At Auburn University At Montgomery
February 14, 2020
Gary Amerson of Bratt has been selected as the inaugural director of the Center for Cyber Security at Auburn University at Montgomery after an extensive national search.
Amerson has a strong functional background in cybersecurity in both industry and federal settings. He is joining AUM from the Naval Education and Training Command where he was the head of the Operational Cyber Security Support Branch at Saufley Field. At Saufley, he was responsible for the security and availability of training networks and complex transformation goals on three continents.
In addition to his operational cyber experience, Amerson has taught cybersecurity classes at Bellevue University, Nebraska, for twelve years and was instrumental in the evolution of their program.
Before retiring from the Air Force, he also wrote curriculum as the first superintendent of training at the schoolhouse for aircrew training for nine unique crew positions.
“I was drawn to AUM by the amazing growth AUM has demonstrated, especially over the last three years,” Amerson said. “U.S. News & World Report rankings continue to go up in multiple categories, and I want to see us recognized for our cyber program next. I can’t wait to help build on the growth already in place and I look forward to creating new, exciting opportunities for AUM students, both in the classroom and in the community.”
Amerson earned a bachelor’s degree in business information systems with information security concentration from Bellevue University in 2005 and a master’s degree in management information systems with a cybersecurity concentration from Bellevue University in 2008. He also became a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) in 2010.
‘You Came To Help My Dad’ – Valentine’s For Local Heroes At The Library
February 14, 2020
“You came to help my dad,” one child said after handing a hand-colored page to a fireman Thursday night at the Century Branch Library.
Children colored and made giant Valentine’s cards for local heroes from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS during the program.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Holds First-Ever Mardi Gras Parade
February 14, 2020
The University of West Florida host its first-ever Mardi Gras Parade Thursday.
The festivities kicked off with a parade pre-party before 26 parade units, including the national championship Argo football team, wound their way around the campus.
Organizer said the parade was a success, and it will become an annual UWF tradition.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Nearly 30 Years For Sexual Abuse Of Child
February 14, 2020
An Escambia County man will spend nearly three decades in prison for the sexual abuse of a child.
Jason James Vazquez, 40, was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford to 29 years after he entered a plea to four counts of sexual battery while in the position of familial or custodial authority, two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, and three counts of battery. Vazquez was designated a sexual predator and will be required to register as a sexual predator and comply with all statutory
requirements.
In May 2019, the 14-year old child disclosed to a family member that Vazquez had been abusing her for several years. Tthe Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Kid’s House launched an investigation that led to Vazquez’s arrest.
Tate Lady Aggies Beat Escambia, Drop To West Florida; Aggie Baseball Beats Catholic
February 14, 2020
SOFTBALL
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Escambia High 5-1 and dropped one to West Florida 1-0 in Thursday preseason softball
Tate 5, Escambia 1
Coming off a three-run fourth inning, Christina Mason (pictured) homered for the Tate Lady Aggies Thursday as they beat Escambia 5-1.
Avery Beauchaine tallied no runs on five hits in four innings while striking out five and walking one. Abby Burks tossed three innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits.
At the plate: Hannah Halfacre 3-4, 2R, RBI; Courtney Adams 1-2; Avery Beauchaine 2-3, RBI; Bri Fulmer 1-2, 2RBI; Cristina Mason 1-2, R, RBI; Sophia Jones 1-3, R; Courtney Lundquist R.
West Florida 1, Tate 0
West Florida topped the Tate Lady Aggies Thursday 1-0.
Burks took the loss for the Aggies, going for three innings while allowing one run on two hits and striking out four. Courtney Lundquist pitched one inning, striking out four.
Lundquist and Courtney Adams each had a hit for the Lady Aggies.
BASEBALL
Tate 8, Catholic 1
The Tate Aggies defeated beat Pensacola Catholic 8-1 Thursday in preseason baseball.
Jadon Fryman went three innings, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out five and walking one.
At the plate: Cole Fryan 2-4, 2RBI; Jadon Fryman 1-3, RBI; Chase Tolbert 2-3; Adam Nisewonger 1-4; Drew Reaves 2R; Ethan George 2R; Grant Gill R; Trenton Norton R; Dylan Godwin 1-1, R, 2RBI; Trevor Norton R; Aaron Noack R.
Contractor Hits Water Main On Nine Mile Road
February 13, 2020
A 16-inch water main was hit by a contractor working near the Kangaroo Express on Nine Mile Road at I-10 Thursday morning, according to ECUA. The contractor worked to make the necessary repairs.
A resulting water outage impacted part of the surrounding area, including the Navy Federal campus on Nine Mile Road.
The situation did not prompt a boil water notice, according to ECUA spokesperson Nathalie Bowers, because the water pressure at the damage location did not drop low enough.
Apartment Developer’s Utility Lawsuit Against The Town Of Century Has Been Dismissed
February 13, 2020
An apartment developer’s utility deposit lawsuit against the Town of Century has been dismissed after the court ruled the town was immune from the suit.
The court adopted both arguments that the town raised in defense that sovereign immunity and fraud statutes each preclude the developer’s claims. The developer has filed an appeal with the Florida First District Court of Appeal.
The Paces Foundation and Century Park Apartments contended they owed $63,750 for water and wastewater connection fees, but instead they were forced to pay over $100,000 more.
Paces contended that they elected to make their $10 million investment in Century in late 2015, at which time a 2015 water rate ordinance was in effect. Those rates were in effect until increased in a series of acts by the town council, increasing costs over $100,000 for the developer, according to the motion.
Paces argued it was not “just and equitable” to increase the rates after the property was developed.
The Dispute
In February 2018, Paces submitted a $165,180 check to the town for water and wastewater tap fees along with a protest letter from attorney William J. Dunaway of the Clark Partington law firm in Pensacola. The letter informed the town that the payment was made in full, but the amount remained in dispute.
Paces asked for a declaration that they owed the town $63,750 for full payment and an additional $101,430 deposit charged was invalid.
The lower fee of $63,750, according to Paces, was decided upon during a 2015 meeting with then-Mayor Freddie McCall and Town Planner Debbie Nickles. The only written agreement to come out of that meeting was a handwritten page showing calculations that Paces said were based upon the 2015 rates as published online in the town’s municipal code. The handwritten document also included a proposed fee for natural gas; however, the developer later opted to go all-electric.
In 2017, the town council passed two resolutions increasing the water and sewer tap fees and charged Paces based upon 50 connections. The apartment complex, according to the lawsuit, has only one master meter that serves all 50 units.
Paces contended they relied upon the lower payment quote in determining their financial options with the apartment development. They contended they were forced to submit the higher fee in order to obtain utility services and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the apartments.
McCall and Nickels did not deny the meeting, nor did they deny the agreement or the approximate $63,000 tap fee. “The town made a commitment to them. To me, they should do the right thing and honor that commitment,” Nickels said during a March 2018 town council meeting also attended by McCall.
Pictured top: Century Park Apartments. Pictured top inset: A check submitted under protest to the town by the Paces Foundation. Pictured bottom inset: The handwritten document Paces contends demonstrated a lower water and sewer tap fee as authorized by town code. Pictured below: Century’s justification for the $165,180 tap fee charged to the developer. NorthEscambia.com photo and images, click to enlarge.
