Alabama Governor Awards $3 Million To Help Families Pay Utility Bills In Escambia, Six Other Counties
January 8, 2020
A $3 million grant will help needy residents in Escambia and six other south Alabama counties pay their utility bills.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced $46.2 million to enable 21 community service agencies throughout the state to provide emergency funding to help low-income families heat their houses this winter.
The Community Action Agency of South Alabama received $3.01 million to help families in Escambia, Baldwin, Clarek, Conecuh, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties.
Nine Mile Road Bank Robbed Tuesday Morning
January 7, 2020
A search is underway for a man that robbed a Nine Mile Road bank Tuesday morning.
The man walked into Synovus Bank at the northwest corner of Nine Mile Road and University Parkway and presented a note demanding money about 10:20 a.m., according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The man walked out of the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: A Tuesday morning bank robbery suspect inside the Synovus Bank on Nine Mile Road. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Man Facing Multiple Charges After Fleeing Traffic Stop, Manhunt In Cantonment
January 7, 2020
A local man was arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop and a subsequent manhunt Monday night in Cantonment.
River Austin Sewell, 24, was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding, petit theft, resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, according to ECSO Maj. Andrew Hobbs.
An Escambia County deputy attempted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, and the driver fled at a high rate of speed. The deputy deactivated his emergency lights and continued to follow the vehicle down Becks Lake Road before locating it on Elder Lane.
A passenger still in the vehicle told deputies that Sewell fled into a wooded area. K-9 units from the Escambia County Road Prison and Century Correctional Institution began to track Sewell.
Other deputies located Sewell wearing a pillowcase made into a t-shirt near Highway 29 at International Paper, according to Hobbs.
Sewell remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday with bond set at $13,000.
Woman Settles Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Escambia County, Cantonment Football
January 7, 2020
Escambia County and the Cantonment Football Club have settled a lawsuit over an injury at a Cantonment Cowboys football game for $65,000.
The county will pay $45,000 and the football club’s insurance company will pay $20,000.
Following an October 2017 Cantonment Cowboys game, Tonia Moye, a then 47-year old woman, fell from the third row bleacher bench onto a concrete pad, completely shattering her left ankle and breaking her right foot. Moye and two relatives contended the bench board sounded unusual and loose.
About two weeks prior to the incident, Moye underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor that left her completely blind in her right eye and affected her depth perception, according to county documents. After the fall from the bleachers, Moye made statements to EMS personnel and treating physicians that her poor depth perception contributed to her fall.
Moye was represented by a blood relative, Tallahassee personal injury attorney Dana Brooks. Brooks retained a forensic engineer who contended the fall was due to negligence because the bench boards and bolts were not inspected annually as required by Florida Building Code. A video taken shortly after the accident showed the first bleacher board was not connected to the frame and was easily lifted up. In addition, Escambia Parks and Recreation replaced a loose bolt in the area of the third bench board after the accident, according to county documents.
Moye underwent surgery and subsequent treatment including the insertion of rods and screws to stabilize bones at a cost of $115,000. She continues to have pain and significant lack of mobility in her left ankle which has limited her ability to participate in activities that she had enjoyed before the accident such as hiking, walking on the beach, cycling and dancing, county documents state.
“Due to the significant nature of the injuries to Ms. Moye and the possibility that the judge may allow testimony and video evidence concerning the general condition of the bleachers as a·n indication that there was negligent maintenance of the bleachers, this office recommends settlement for the County’s portion of liability in the sum of $45,000,” Escambia Deputy Attorney Charles Peppler wrote in a report to the Escambia County Commission, which signed off on the settlement.
Pictured: Fans in the bleachers watch Cantonment Cowboy football in September 2018. Escambia County and the Cantonment Football Club were sued for a 2017 fall from the bleachers. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Job Service Moves Into New Location Inside Century Town Hall
January 7, 2020
CareerSource Escarosa hopes to be up and running by Wednesday in their new location inside the Century town hall.
The nonprofit agency that provides employment and training resources for area job seekers and employers is leasing about 200 square feet of a storage room just off the lobby of the town hall for zero rent. They will reimburse the town $150 per month for utility costs.
CareerSource CEO Sheryl Rehberg said phone and internet service are scheduled to be installed Wednesday, allowing the office to open. A video conferencing system that allows face to face interaction with the Social Security Administration was operated by CareerSource at their previous standalone location in a mobile home on North Century Boulevard won’t be available immediately at the town hall location.
The agency vacated the mobile home at the end of their lease term because it was “falling apart”, according to Rehberg.
The contract between the town and CareerSource can be terminated by either party upon 30 days notice.
Pictured: CareerSource Escarosa was in the process of moving into space at the Century Town Hall on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Brooks, Gomez Selected To Lead Century Town Council
January 7, 2020
Ann Brooks was re-elected as Century Town Council president Monday night, and Luis Gomez, Jr. was elected as council vice president.
Both were elected on a 4-0 council vote; Gomez arrived late and missed the vote.
The council elects new leadership at the beginning of each calendar year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Facing Felony Charges For Allegedly Trying To Cash Forged Checks
January 7, 2020
A Cantonment woman is facing two felony charges for allegedly trying to cash bad checks at a local credit union.
Jessie Nicole Fisk, 23, attempted to cash two forged checks at Navy Federal Credit Union where she had an account, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. An alert Navy Federal teller noticed the writing on the front and the endorsement on the back of the check appeared to be the same handwriting, and Fisk’s Navy Federal account was already flagged for fraudulent activity over $800 in the past. The checks were written on a PenAir Federal Credit Union account, and when called PenAir advised that the checks were no good.
The owner of the PenAir account told the ECSO she had never given any checks to Fisk and did not believe her PenAir account was even still open.
The two checks Fisk attempted to pass totaled $700. She was charged with two felony counts of uttering a forged instrument and was released from Escambia County Jail on a $7,000 bond.
Here’s Your Sign: Police Recover Guns, A Sword, Narcotics And Stolen Street Sign During Search Warrant
January 7, 2020
A search warrant executed in Atmore turned up narcotics, guns and a stolen street sign.
The Atmore Police Department, Alabama Drug Task Force, and U.S. Marshal’s Service executed a search warrant at a residence in the 5000 block of Highway 31 near West Road during the early morning hours last Friday.
“The search warrant was obtain after agents completed an investigation of illegal narcotic activity at the residence,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. Agents found an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia including scales and pipes, multiple firearms, ammunition, a sword and a road sign stolen from Peacock Lane.
“No arrest were made at the completion of the search, but warrants have been signed for the person responsible,” Brooks said.
Peacock Lane is located near Little Rock, about 14 miles northeast of search warrant location.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Enter The Escambia Extension Arbor Day Art Contest
January 7, 2020
The annual Escambia County Extension Service Arbor Day Art Contest is underway.
Make your own drawing, collage, painting or photo based on the theme “Spreading Roots and Branching Out” and send in by postal mail or drop it off at the Extension OFfice.
The contest age groups are children 12 and under, teens ages 13-18, and adults 18 and older. One winner will be selected from each age group, and winners will receive either a 7-gallon tree, a shovel, gloves or a book about trees. For complete details, click here (pdf).
Mail entries to: Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Entries can also be dropped off at the Extension office. Include your name, age and phone number or email address on the back of your art. Entries must be postmarked by Monday, January 13, 2020.
Entries will be displayed at the Escambia County Extension office and Beulah Middle School.
Winners will be awarded Saturday, January 18 during the mail art display and tree giveaway event from 8:30 a.m. until noon at Beulah Middle School.
For more information, contact Carrie Stevenson at (850) 475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.
Escambia Students Back In Class On Tuesday
January 7, 2020
The long Christmas and New Year’s break is over for students in Escambia County as they are back in class on Tuesday. Teachers in Escambia County started back with a work day on Monday.
Officials are also reminding drivers that those big yellow school buses are back on the road.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.