FDOT To Install Traffic Signal At Nine Mile Road, Ashland Avenue Intersection
February 14, 2024
The Florida Department of Transportation will install a traffic signal at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry announced during a town hall meeting this week.
Barry said Escambia County will be responsible for the cost to construct a new left turn lane on Ashland Avenue.
“That’s what we have to do to get a light there; we certainly need one,” Barry said. “That’s the closest they (FDOT) are going to allow a light to Pine Forest on Nine Mile. We’ll take what we can get. It’s a good thing.”
A timeline for completion is not yet available as FDOT works to get the parts required for the signal installation.
Pictured: Looking south from Ashland Avenue across the intersection of Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Barry Discusses Development And Concurrency During Town Hall
February 14, 2024
During a town hall meeting this week, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said it may be time for the commission to talk more about concurrency in development.
Concurrency is the principle that public facilities and services necessary to support a proposed development should be available, or be made available, concurrent with the impacts of the development.
“Where are these students going to go, and Where are the roads going to come from,” Barrineau Park resident Bonnie Exner (pictured left) asked.
‘I don’t know where the kids are going to go to school,” Barry responded. “I know there’s a conversation with the school board district right now about parceling out a portion of OLF-8 for a K-8 school. There’s conversations about a new school in the north Cantonment- Quintette area.”
He said concurrency was removed out of the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan when it was no longer required by the state, around 1993.
“It is something that the board has discussed a little bit in the last year. It may be the time to begin having a little more of that conversation about some concurrency. It’s something that potentially adds cost to development; the majority of folks in my opinion that are doing development are trying to put a good product on the ground.”
For more town hall pictures, click or tap here.
Other residents that attended the District 5 town hall at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment expressed concerns about traffic, code enforcement and drainage issues.
NorthEscambia.ocm photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Attempted Murder
February 14, 2024
An 18-year old Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a woman in the head last year.
Ryan Earl Seals was sentenced to life in prison by Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson following his conviction for attempted second degree murder by an Escambia County Jury during a two-day trial.
On the afternoon of April 7, 2023, Seals and two others fired handguns at a home on Potomac Drive in Mayfair. After the initial volley, the suspects drove around the block and returned to the residence. Seals fired an additional five times before driving away. During the hail of gunfire, a 28 year-old woman was shot in the head. Despite suffering a grievous and permanent injury, she survived, prosecutors said.
Later that day, the suspect vehicle was located passing through Attucks Court. Seals was driving and led the police on a high-speed chase. After Seals crashed the vehicle, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Seals was visibly armed with a firearm which was recovered. Forensic testing confirmed this was the firearm used to shoot the five rounds in the Mayfair gunfire incident.
The jury also convicted Seals of Shooting from a vehicle, fleeing to elude law enforcement at high speed with lights and siren activated, and resisting an officer without violence. Judge Robinson sentenced him to serve concurrent terms of incarceration for those counts.
55-Gallon ‘Unknown’ Drums Removed From Century Water Well Site And Destroyed
February 14, 2024
According to a filing Tuesdaywith the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), four “unknown substance” 55-gallong drums have been identified, removed from a Century water well site, and destroyed.
In a January 30 warning letter, FDEP cited a possible violation after finding four 55-gallon drums on-site at the town’s Well #1 on Blackmon Street that had been there for at least four years with ” unknown substance” inside.
An account manager for the Layne Christensen Company, said in an email Tuesday to the town and FDEP that samples appeared to be the “same vegetable grade oil that was bailed from Well #1 when it was changed to water lubrication.” The barrels were removed and disposed of properly.
FDEP identified 34 other potential violations of Florida statutes and codes. Other findings included improper safety equipment, insufficient chlorine in the water, an emergency plan dated 2012, and that laboratory and other data was being falsified. A daily log sheet was pre-filled by the town’s operator with sampling results before the sampling analysis was conducted, FDEP said. The town has hired an attorney to respond to the remainder of the FDEP warning letter.
‘He’ll Be Dead By The Time They Get Here’ – Residents Say Escambia EMS Units Often Unavailable In Walnut Hill, Century
February 13, 2024
“He’ll be dead by the time they get here” – that’s how Bennie Davis of Walnut Hill described what his wife told a 911 operator as the couple waited for an Escambia County EMS ambulance to respond from Pensacola to his home near Walnut Hill as he was having a heart attack.
Davis did receive care from the volunteers from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue. He was eventually flown to the hospital by medical helicopter and has since recovered.
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry has publicly said EMS units would be stationed at the EMS facility in Century and at the Walnut Hill Fire Station — just over two miles from Davis’s home. Barry has said the EMS units would remain at those posts, unless responding to calls in the Molino, Walnut Hill or Century areas.
During a District 5 town hall meeting Monday night in Cantonment, multiple residents told Commissioner Steven Barry that county ambulances are often not available in the far north end of the county because they are pulled south to answer calls elsewhere in the county.
“This is getting unacceptable,” Josh Edwards said. “It’s not happening once or twice; it’s happening more times than a lot. We need something done that we have a staff ambulance up there. I mean I realize we’ve waited and waited on (ambulances from) Pensacola but still it’s not a good situation when you don’t know if you’re going to live or die and nobody is there to help you.
Just recently, Edward’s father was down and in need of an ambulancee at his home on Oakshade Road, near Northview High School, and Edwards said no Escambia County EMS unit was available to respond. He said Walnut volunteer firefighters requested a MedStar EMS to respond from Atmore.
“One of the things that was important when we expanded (Escambia County) EMS was having a unit that would be stationed at Walnut Hill everyday,” Barry (pictured left) said. “I thought that it was staying. They started everyday up there; it turns out they weren’t staying up there. When there was a need, they were getting called to town. ”
Barry said after learning the units were being pulled south, he had numerous conversations with Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore and County Administrator West Moreno, and thought the situation had been rectified.
“If it’s the first call you’ve had that day and no one is there to respond; that’s the part that is unacceptable,” Barry added, noting that GPS and call records could be pulled to find out where the units have been and for how long.
“I knew it was a problem and became a problem, and I really thought after a handful of conversations it was addressed.”
“We thought that it was addressed,” Moreno (pictured left) said.”When that ambulance (in Walnut Hill) moves, I get a text message on my phone. I can log in and see where it goes and when it comes back. I’ve been doing that pretty regularly.”
“That’s unacceptable and that’s not going to continue. Something will happen as a result of the meeting tonight,” Barry said.
“We try to keep the ambulances up there; one in Century, one in Walnut Hill,” Gilmore (pictured below) said. He said during the incident involving Edwards’ father on Oakshade Road; both of the EMS units were on calls in the Molino area, one on Brickton road, and on Cedartown Road.
Gilmore noted that the commission has approved 18 additional EMS employees — nine medics and nine EMTS — that they are looking to hire right now. In addition, eight l EMS units are on order and are set to arrive in late February or early March.
Pictured top inset: Walnut Hill resident Bennie Davis speaks during a District 5 town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment. Pictured top:An Escambia County EMS unit at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Prison Carpentry Program Building Future For Inmates
February 13, 2024
Century Correctional Institution recently celebrated the latest inmate group to complet the Home Builders Institute’s 12-week carpentry program that is buiding hope for a brighter future for inmates.
The program, in partnership with the Home Builders Institute, provides hands-on experience in reading construction plans, estimating material and labor costs, and learning about job site safety. Graduates of the program receive industry certifications, which prepares them for success upon their reentry into their communities.
The Florida Department of Corrections said the department prioritizes rehabilitation and vocational training in order to improve public safety, reduce victimization, and facilitate the successful reintegration of inmates into society.
“Century Correctional Institution is proud to have a collaboration with Home Builders Institute. We’ve seen such a drastic improvement in the men in the 12 short weeks that they are in the program” Century CI Warden Kelly Watkins said.
“The program is going to give me the opportunity to change my lifestyle outside on the streets and give me a better future,”one inmate program participant said with a slight smile. “I’m going to be a better provider for my family and give me better reasons to stay away from this place.
“I get to see a transformation in their teamwork,” William Stark. Home Builders Institute instructor, said. “So when they come into this class, they’re very much by themselves. And as we go, they learn that they can ask questions and that this is a learning environment. This is not an environment that they’re used to. So they get to learn and grow and have fun, and hopefully prosper.”
Molino Man Charged With Home Invasion
February 13, 2024
A Molino man has been charged with home invasion after allegedly forcing his way into his ex-girlfriend’s home.
Gregory DeWayne Thames, 53, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of home invasion robbery, petit theft, criminal mischief, aggravated stalking and hindering communications to law enforcement. He also had an outstanding warrant for grand theft of a motor vehicle. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday with bond set at $43,000.
Thames allegedly forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s home on Cedartown Road, busting through the front door and a bedroom door. He then snatched the victim’s cell phone, according to an arrest report. The victim was able to run next door and call 911.
Thames returned to the residence as deputies were leaving, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and he was placed under arrest.
Deputies said the victim had applied for a domestic violence injunction against Thames, but it had not been served at the time of the alleged home invasion.
Century Responds To Records Request On Urban Development Center’s Loan Repayment
February 13, 2024
The Town of Century on Monday responded to a February 7 public records request regarding a payment that the CEO of the Urban Development Center said she made toward what started as an unsecured $61,925 loan for the YouthFirst Century program that suffered a complete funding cut by the Escambia County Children’s Trust (ECT).
Last Tuesday, Jessca Griffen told the Century Town Council by phone that she had made a $20,000 payment to the town. Our public records request to the town for any proof of the payment (such as a copy of the check or deposit slip) remained ignored until February 12.
Monday, Town Clerk Leslie Howington provided copy of a $20,000 cashier’s payable to the Town of Century from The Urban Development Center.
Last year, Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) awarded a contract to the Pensacola non-profit Urban Development Center for “YouthFirst Century” to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period at a total cost of $1.2 million. In reality, they only reached 30 children in their targeted ages of 11-18. They requested to lower their target age group to just 5-years old, but that was also denied by ECT.
The Town of Century fronted an unsecured $61,925 loan to UDC to purchase items like computers and workbooks. Previously, Griffen stated another $20,000 was previously repaid to the town, according to audio from a council meeting. However, public records requests by both NorthEscambia.com and Rick’s Blog to the town produced no documentation of the payment.
Griffen had proposed that the remaining $41,295 be repaid by December 31, 2023, but that deadline was missed. She requested an extension to March 31, 2024.
UDC has been reimbursed $164,903.50 by ECT through October, according to records from the taxpayer funded Escambia Children’s Trust, but those funds were not used to fully repay the Town of Century.
UDC has requested a $189,256.70 reimbursement for their first year of operation, despite reaching just 56 children, with less than 30 of those in the target age range. That equals $6,308 per targeted child in the 11-18 age group.
Pictured top: A copy of a $20,000 loan payment from The Urban Development Center. The account numbers were redacted by NorthEscambai.com. The Urban Development Center’s Dr. Jessica Griffen introduces YouthFirst Century to a group at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century in February 2023. NorthEscambia.com file photo. click to enlarge.
Woman Charged In 9 1/2 Mile Hit And Run That Killed Man On A Scooter
February 12, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol has made an arrest in a fatal hit and run that claimed the life of a 34-year old male on an electric scooter on January 26.
Sarah Rachel Nowlin was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
Trooper said Nowlin was driving a 2008 Toyota Prius that was traveling west on 9 1/2 Mile Road about 9:30 p.m. when it struck a 34-year old male on an electric scooter. Nowlin slowed the vehicle then sped off, traveling westbound while leaving the scene, FHP said. The on scene investigation identified the vehicle and the information was disseminated on NorthEscambia.com and other media outlets..
On January 27, a bystander located the vehicle abandoned behind the trees on a vacant property. The bystander contacted the Florida Highway Patrol and the vehicle was impounded.
Nowlin remained inthe Escambia County Jail with no bond pending first appearance for the charges.
Jay Man Charged With First Degree Murder After Buried Skeletal Remains Located
February 12, 2024
A Jay man was charged with murder after skeletal remains were found buried Saturday south of Jay.
Jeffrey Scott Bostwick, 53 was charged with first degree murder without premeditation and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Friday, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office received information that a Milton resident was missing and believed to have been killed in the 2900 block of Cobbtown Road in Jay and that the suspect has numerous firearms.
The SRSO obtained a search warrant and found multiple firearms in Bostwick’s possession. They also received information that the missing person was buried at another location in the same block of Cobbtown Road.
A warrant was obtained to search that area, and the reported grave was identified. Major Crimes Investigators, SRSO Crime Scene, and the District One Medical Examiner’s Office excavated the grave and recovered skeletal remains.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
“Currently our investigators have been able to presumptively identify the remains, however this has not yet been officially confirmed through DNA testing,” Jillian Durkin, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said.
Bostwick remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail Monday morning without bond.