DeSantis Fills ECUA Board Seat Empty For 10 Months
November 27, 2019
After a 10-month vacancy, Florida’s governor has filled a vacant seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Cedric Alexander to the District 3 seat that was left empty after the death of board member Elvin McCorvey on January 20.
Alexander, a Pensacola native, is a retired law enforcement executive. He began his career as a deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in 1977. He served as a police officer and detective in Orlando and Miami, as deputy chief and chief of police of the Rochester Police Department in New York and as federal security director with the United States Department of Homeland Security overseeing the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
In 2013, he was appointed chief of police for DeKalb County, Georgia and later transitioned to deputy chief operating officer/public safety director for the department. He served as deputy mayor for the City of Rochester. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s degree in family therapy from St. Thomas University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Wright State University.
Pictured: Cedric Alexander at a U.S. House hearing on facial recognition technology in May 2019. Image courtesy C-Span for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm City Week Thanksgiving Meals Distributed To 800 Families
November 27, 2019
About 800 Thanksgiving meals were distributed to Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents Tuesday as part of Farm City Week.
The meals were distributed to 400 pre-registered applicants at the Waterfront Rescue Missing in Pensacola and 400 at the Milton Community Center.
FFA members, Boy Scouts and other volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked Monday worked to harvest fresh items for the meals Monday. They harvested produce including turnips and cabbage, bagged sweet potatoes, grits and cornmeal.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The produce was paired with all of the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal from Feeding the Gulf Coast. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service was also in attendance to demonstrate how to prepare and cook the produce being distributed, as well as how to can fresh produce.
National Farm to City Week is a national effort to bring about a better understanding between rural and urban people by increasing knowledge and appreciation for agriculture.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Huge McDavid Solar Farm Project Gets County Development Approval
November 26, 2019
The Escambia County Development Review Committee has granted its approval for the Cotton Creek Creek Solar Energy Center , a huge solar farm planned for McDavid.
At 74.2 megawatts, the Gulf Power solar farm will generate enough electricity to power 15,000 homes annual, according to Gulf Power. By comparison, Gulf Power’s largest solar field at Saufley Field is 50 megawatts.
“Gulf Power has been securing the necessary permits and approvals for Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in northern Escambia County and at this time we do not have a projected construction timeline for this site,” Kimberly Blair, Gulf Power spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com.
The Escambia County development order allows 18 month for a building permit to be obtained, and a time can extension of up to 12 months can be granted. The order does not authorize site development to commence; a valid Escamiba County building permit must be obtained prior to any building construction.
NorthEscambia.com was first to report last December that facility was planned for West Bogia Road. Documents show the project to be about 640 acres, only 353.18 acres of which will be disturbed.
The development is planned for an area north of West Bogia Road between South Pine Barren Road and Highway 29, just west of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. There are currently no structures on the project property.
No water or sewer infrastructure will be necessary to serve the development, and no habitable space will be constructed. The facility will be monitored remotely and will not require onsite personnel for day-to-day operation, but personnel will occasionally visit the site to conduct required maintenance activities, according to previously filed documents.
Once the project makes it through the permitting process, it is expected to create 200-250 jobs during peak construction, according to Gulf Power.
Last week, Gulf Power announced the installation of the first solar panels at Blue Indigo Solar Energy Center in Jackson County, its first wholly owned and operated solar energy center that is under construction on nearly 700 acres. It is nearly identical in generation capacity to the facility planned for McDavid.
Once completed, approximately 300,000 solar panels will capture energy from the sun to generate 74.5 megawatts at Blue Indigo – enough to power approximately 15,000 homes annually and prevent emissions equivalent to removing 12,000 cars from the road every year. In addition, the new solar energy center is expected to save customers millions of dollars in avoided fuel and other costs over the long term.
Gulf Power is also developing another solar energy center in Jackson County — Blue Springs Solar Energy Center — which will add another 74.5 megawatts of energy to the electric grid.
Alleged Theft Ring Used Switched Barcodes To Steal From Retailers
November 26, 2019
FDLE Agents arrested three suspects charged with organized retail theft who are suspected of an elaborate scheme stealing thousands from retailers throughout the Southeast United States, including here in Escambia County.
Agents believe the theft ring is responsible for more than 100 thefts in 23 Florida counties. Two suspects remain at large.
The investigation began in May after FDLE was contacted by The Home Depot about a barcode switch scam. Agents believe the suspects printed fraudulent UPC barcodes on adhesive stickers and then placed the false labels over UPC barcodes on more expensive products at The Home Depot and Target stores.
Suspects printed UPC codes for $7.99 electrical outlets and placed them over barcodes for wireless smart dimmer switches costing $99.95 and home wi-fi systems costing $299. They also printed UPC barcodes for $19.97 rotary tool accessory kits, using the fraudulent codes to purchase $199 smart thermostats.
The investigation shows one suspect placed the false barcodes on the merchandise in store while another purchased the products. Suspects routinely purchased dozens of items costing stores thousands of dollars in a single transaction.
After the purchases, suspects mailed the items to another suspect who sold them online for large profits. FDLE agents say the thefts cost retailers more than $150,000 in Florida alone.
Suspects arrested or charged Monday are:
- Usman Ali, 33, 12958 NW 23rd St., Pembroke Pines, FL, is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft, arrested on November 22, 2019, booked into the Broward County Jail.
- Rand Clark, 58, 865 Cadogan Ave., Orlando, FL, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, arrested September 17, 2019, in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, for a theft that occurred in a Home Depot store.
- Gwendolyn Walker, 53, 8001 Stirrupwood Ct., Orlando, FL, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, arrested on November 22, 2019, and booked into the Orange County Jail.
- Harold Wilson, 62, address unknown at this time, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, currently wanted for the charges stemming from this investigation.
- Keith Conyers, 56, address unknown at this time, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, currently wanted for the charges stemming from this investigation.
- The Home Depot and Target loss prevention associates assisted with this investigation. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute this case.
Help The Hungry: Annual Peanut Butter Challenge Ends Wednesday
November 26, 2019
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is underway, coordinated by Escambia County Extension, to collect jars of peanut butter to be given to area food pantries this December.
“The Peanut Butter Challenge not only raises awareness about the important contribution of North Florida’s peanut growers to the state peanut industry, but also helps provide a healthy, locally produced product to food-insecure families in northwest Florida,” said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the challenge
Through November 27, you can donate unopened jars of peanut butter at several locations throughout Escambia County. Drop off boxes can be found at:
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97 in Molino
Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. W St. in Pensacola
Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Drive in Pensacola
Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor in Pensacola
Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Last year, Extension county offices received 1,233 jars of peanut butter. The local peanut industry support also contributes an additional 3,000 jars.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Fishing Violations, Illegal Doe And Narcotics
November 26, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending October 31 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Long responded to an anonymous call regarding a subject catching and keeping undersized red snapper at NAS Pensacola’s fishing pier. Officer Long observed the subject catch a red snapper and found he had additional fish in his cooler. A resource inspection found one undersized red snapper. The subject was issued an appropriate citation.
Officer Long and Officer Specialist Clark were conducting resource and license checks on NAS Pensacola’s East Seawall. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection on two fishermen and discovered six undersized mangrove snapper. They educated the individuals on current regulations regarding the species and gave them online resources. The appropriate citation was issued.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos was patrolling Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and observed a vehicle parked with no occupants. He saw narcotics in plain view and provided the vehicle information to dispatch. The vehicle owner had an extensive criminal history. A short time later, two subjects returned to the vehicle. Officer Ramos conducted interviews with the subjects while waiting for Officer Matechik and Officer Land to arrive as backup. Officer Ramos removed a loaded .38 caliber revolver from one of the driver’s jacket pockets and confirmed the man was a convicted felon. The two men were also in physical possession of several bags of crystal methamphetamine, nine syringes which field tested positive for methamphetamine, and various other drug paraphernalia. The subjects were cited appropriately, arrested and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officer Specialists Mullins and Roberson responded to a call in Santa Rosa County regarding a doe that was shot in a field. They spoke to an individual who admitted to shooting the deer, but said the deer had been hit by a vehicle. Officer Roberson and Officer Hoomes talked with two witnesses on scene that said they saw the deer grazing on the side of the road when they heard a shot and observed the subject dragging the deer out of the woods. Based on the witness’s statements and no evidence that the deer had been hit by a vehicle, Officer Roberson filed charges against the subject.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Last Teams Standing: Friday Night’s Football Playoffs
November 26, 2019
Here are Friday night’s high school football playoff games in the North Escambia vicinity:
FLORIDA
6A State Semifinal
Gaither (Tampa) (12-1) at Escambia (13-0) , 7:30 p.m.
1A State Semifinal
Baker (11-1) at Blountstown (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
ALABAMA
3A State Semifinal
T.R. Miller (10-4) at Mobile Christian (8-4), 7 p.m.
Pictured: T.R. Miller’s Darius Webb with a touchdown catch last Friday night as the Tigers defeated Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tragic Wreck Claims Life Of Byrneville Elementary First Grader
November 25, 2019
A tragic accident in Evergreen, Alabama, Sunday claimed the life a Byrneville Elementary School first grader.
Daniel Stewart, 7, was a passenger in a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado driven by his mother, 30-year old April Graham of Byrneville. Their vehicle was hit by a 2017 Jeep Wrangler driven by 20-year old William Farris of Pensacola on I-65 at the 96.4 mile marker, according to the Alabama State Troopers.
Stewart was transported to Evergreen Medical Center where he passed away from his injuries. Graham was uninjured.
Farris was transported to Evergreen Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
A 2017 Chrysler Pacifica driven by 66-year old Philippe Abrigo of Orange Park FL. and a 2013 Ford F-250 driven by 55-year old Michael Callens, of Birmingham received minor damage in the crash. Abrigo and Callens were not injured.
Troopers are continuing their investigation and have not released any additional information.
Pictured: Seven-year old Daniel Graham in photo with Santa taken last Friday at Byrneville Elementary School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Charged With Assaulting Brother With Rake, Kicking Deputy In The Crotch
November 25, 2019
A Century woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to hit her brother with a rake and kicking a deputy in the crotch.
Shirley Ann Knight, 64, was charged aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance on Henry Street in Century where the victim told deputies that Knight had a water hose pulled to her property to steal water. That prompted an argument, and Knight soon came over swinging a metal yard rake and stating that she was going to kill him, according to an arrest report.
Knight began to complain of a medical issue after being placed into custody in the back of a deputy’s cruiser, and an ambulance was called. After being medically cleared, deputies attempted to place Knight back in the cruiser. She began to yell and cuss before spitting on two deputies and kicking one of them in the crotch, the arrest report states.
Knight remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday with bond set at $15,000.
Area Fire Departments Respond To Smoke Call At Davisville Home
November 25, 2019
Firefighters responded to smoke in a house on Highway 97 in Davisville late Sunday afternoon.
The source of the smoke was traced to an air handler unit. There was no fire damage reported, and no injuries.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Fire Department and Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department were initially dispatched to the home just south of Highway 4.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
