Gunfire Exchanged In Cantonment Street; Man Charged After Bullets Hit Vehicles
February 10, 2020
A Cantonment man allegedly involved in the exchange of a gunfire in a local street is facing charges after bullets hit two nearby vehicles.
Davonta Terrell Allen, 20, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for a deadly missiles weapons offense and criminal mischief with property damage.
On September 1, 2019, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 100 block of Sheppard Street in Cantonment for a criminal mischief complaint. A resident told deputies that he found a bullet hole in the back rear window and the windshield of his Chevrolet S-10. His Isuzu SUV also had a bullet hole in the left rear fender well and backseat. He estimated the damage to both vehicles at $1,600.
The victim said several people exchanged gunfire near his home about an hour earlier. He told deputies Allen was one of those shooting and later identified him from a photo lineup.
Allen remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
Crary Road Has Two New Names
February 10, 2020
Crary Road now has two new names — North Crary Road and South Crary Road.
Escambia County approved the name change at a recent county commission meeting after 69% of the property owners signed a petition in favor.
Crary Road, from Byrneville Road to the north end at Tedder Road, will be “North Crary Road”, and Crary Road, from Byrneville Road to the south end at North Century Boulevard will be “South Crary Road”.
The total cost to the county for the change will be $535.80 for five new street signs.
Pictured: The northern end of North Crary Road at Tedder Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECSO Finds Fentanyl, Cocaine, Other Narcotics and Guns Inside Escambia Home
February 10, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recovered fentanyl, heroin and a quantity of other narcotics and weapons after executing a search warrant recently.
The ECSO Narcotics Unit, High Intensity Patrol Unit, and SWAT team executed the search warrant at a home in the 6700 block of Flagler Drive, off Highway 95A north of Burgess Road. Inside the home, investigators found 125.6 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture, 116 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, and Ecstasy/MDMA tablets. Investigators also located three firearms and $382 in cash.
Jarvis DeMichael Andrews, 40, was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of ammo by a convicted felon, possession of bulletproof vest while committing a controlled substance offense, trafficking cocaine, trafficking heroin, trafficking fentanyl, possession of Ecstasy/MDMA with the intent to sell, manufacture, and/or deliver, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jarvis Andrews also had an outstanding warrant which was served at the jail.
Andrews remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $345,500.
Captain Ken Kercher Retires From Escambia Fire Rescue, Recognized By BOCC
February 10, 2020
The Escambia County Commission recently adopted a resolution recognizing Captain Ken Kercher upon his retirement from the volunteer service at the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Kercher first volunteered in September 1993 at the age of 18.
“I hope I have done enough for my community and this county,” Kercher said. “I only wanted to help others. I just hope I made a difference.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Chaparrals Take Second In Gulf Coast Color Guard Percussion Competition
February 10, 2020
The Tate High School Chaparrals finished in second place this past weekend in the Gulf Coast Color Guard Percussion Circuit hosted by Choctawhatchee High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Up A Couple Of Pennies
February 10, 2020
Florida gas prices are declining again after briefly rising early last week. The state average jumped 6 cents per gallon, Tuesday. However, that increase was cut in half by the weekend.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.39 per gallon. Sunday’s state average is 2 cents per gallon more than this time last week, and 14 cents more than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.29 on Sunday, with two Cantonment stations a nickel lower at $2.24.
“Retail gas prices increased last week, despite fundamentals that suggested a decline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Fuel supplies are strong, demand is down, and crude and gasoline futures have remained low. However, retailers likely raised prices to offset the cost of new fuel contracts that come with a new month. Despite the initial bump, pump prices are falling again, and could reach the low $2.30s in the coming weeks.”
New Market Street Closure At Nine Mile Road
February 10, 2020
New Market Street will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County beginning Monday as crews perform drainage work. These operations are anticipated to take seven to 10 days to complete.
Traffic will be detoured to Parkside Street and Milestone Boulevard. Signs and variable message boards will be in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and alternate route.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Blue Wahoos New Batboy Wade Vadakin Elected To Southern League Hall Of Fame
February 10, 2020
Wade Vadakin, the beloved former batboy for the Mobile BayBears, who will work games this season for the Blue Wahoos, has been elected to the Southern League Hall of Fame.
Vadakin, 40, born with congenital brain-stem damage and visual impairment, was voted to the 2020 class through the league’s annual Special Consideration Ballot. He endeared himself to the BayBears and Mobile community as the team’s batboy since their inaugural season in 1997.
On August 11, the Blue Wahoos announced Vadakin will work Blue Wahoos home games as their batboy. Team president Jonathan Griffith presented Vadakin that day with a Blue Wahoos jersey during the final “Bay to Bay” series between the teams in Mobile at Hank Aaron Stadium.
After 22 seasons in Mobile, the BayBears’ Southern League franchise transferred to Huntsville following the 2019 season and will debut as the Rocket City Trash Pandas in April.
“Once we knew Mobile was going to leave (as franchise) and knowing that Wade had been at our ballpark (visiting batboy) along with being at Hank Aaron Stadium since day one, it came up in conversation,” Griffith said.
“We talked about what is Wade going to do without baseball and it became one of those things where we said we wanted to make sure he still has baseball and he’s still around baseball enjoying something he loves.”
Vadakin, who lives in Fairhope with his parents, was elected to the Southern League Hall of Fame for his two decades of dedication and effort with the BayBears. He was given the title of “Director of On-Field Operations.
His signature moves were “Riding the Bull” when he pretended to be on horseback, after picking up a bat whenever the BayBears scored a run.
As he said during the Aug. 11 ceremony, “On one hand, it sucks saying goodbye to Mobile, saying goodbye to Hank Aaron Stadium – a place I called home for 22 years. On the other hand, it’s exciting being part of a new team (Blue Wahoos), being with a new organization, being with new players.”
Vadakin will be formally enshrined as part of the 2020 class in June during the Southern League All-Star game. He will be entering with a star-studded class that includes legendary Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, who got his start with the former Asheville (N.C.) Orioles when that franchise was member of the Southern League.
Also inducted will be former Seattle Mariners star Edgar Martinez, who was inducted last summer into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. for his decorated career. Martinez played two full seasons with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1985-86.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who was manager of the former Greenville Braves, now Mississippi Braves, will be inducted as well.
The fifth member of the class will be former Charlotte O’s general manager Frances Crockett Ringley, who was the first female general manager in professional baseball during a 12-year span.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Selects Next Executive Director
February 9, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has selected J. Bruce Woody to be the agency’s next executive director.
Woody has been city manager since 2011 in St. Joseph, Missouri, a town of 76,000 people with a $234 million annual budget. His other work experience includes assistant director of public works in St. Joseph, engineer in Olathe, Kansas, and assistant city engineer in Kansas City, Kansas.
He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a M.A. in public administration.
“Good governance of a utility requires regular and honest communication between the Board, the Executive Director, regulators, the district’s customers, and its employees,” Woody said in an introdctory statement on his resume. “Of equal concern are developing relationships with large industry, neighboring property owners and developing strong community partnerships and intergovernmental relationships with its member political jurisdictions. Good relationships are powerful tools to get things accomplished, especially community-wide goals and long-term initiatives.”
ECUA must next come to terms on an employment contract with Woody. That’s expected to take about two weeks, possibly in time for the ECUA board’s next regular meeting on February 25.
The salary range for the position is $160,000 to $225,000 annually.
Tree Giveaway Friday To Mark Anniversary Of Century Tornado
February 9, 2020
The 4th Annual Tree Giveaway and Tornado Remembrance will be held Friday in Century.
During the 10 a.m. program at the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4, attendees can choose from red maple, Shumard oak and flatwoods plum trees while supplies last.
The program is sponsored by the Town of Century, Escambia County and the Florida Forest Service. It marks the fourth anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, 2016.
Pictured: A 2019 tree giveaway in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.