Webb Nall Retiring Today After 52 Years At Pepsi Bottling Of Atmore
October 29, 2019
An Atmore icon is retiring after more than half a century.
Webb Nall is retiring effective today from Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore after 52 years.
Often the public face of the company, Nall has been around longer than any other employee. He’s been there since the Matthews family bought the soft drink distributor in 1967.
In 2015, the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore was named one of the top three Pepsi bottling companies in the United States and Canada as a finalist for the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award. Named for PepsiCo’s co-founder and former chairman and chief executive officer, the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award was created in 1994 to honor the best of the best among Pepsi-Cola bottlers in the United States and Canada.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Man Faces 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire
October 28, 2019
A Beulah man is facing up to 30 years in prison for the attempted murder of his live-in, pregnant girlfriend by lighting her on fire and hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer multiple times with enough force to cause a brain bleed.
Kenneth Duaine Swanger entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and aggravated battery on a pregnant person. He will be sentenced November 22.
Swanger, 43, and the 23-year old victim had been romantically involved and resided together for about a year preceding these offenses. The victim had originally worked for defendant as a maid prior to their relationship.
Between July and September 2018, Swanger set the victim on fire with lighter fluid, hit her over the head with a blunt object, and punished her with other numerous acts of verbal and physical abuse. Swanger misled friends and family by telling them the victim was a drug addict, and attempted to explain her injuries away as being related to her addiction. Though he told friends and family that he took her to the hospital and contacted law enforcement, it was later learned the victim was unable to leave the home without him, and he had screwed all of the doors and windows shut from the inside.
On September 15, 2018, the victim escaped, leaving everything behind, and ran to the Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road where she called her family in Mississippi. Once she received proper medical attention for her injuries, it was discovered she had second degree burns over 15% of her body, subdural hematoma, and broken fingers. It should be noted, at the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.
Cantonment Man, Two Others Charged With Homicide For Sunday Shooting
October 28, 2019
Three people have been charged after a man was shot and killed on Tiki Lane Sunday morning.
Christopher Staten, age 25 of Cantonment, was charged with homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and using a firearm during a felony. Reggie Lewis and Ladarryl Paige, both of Pensacola, have been charged with homicide. All three were booked into jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call on Tiki Lane and Travis Street where they found Malik Tyquan Jenkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later died.
Investigators were looking for a dark-colored sedan that may have been involved in the shooting, but the exact make and model were not known.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured (L-R): Reggie Lewis, Christopher Staten and Ladarryl Page.
Cantonment Man Charged With Human Trafficking, Sexual Battery
October 28, 2019
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges including human trafficking for the alleged abuse of a woman.
John Chess Foster, 50, was charged with human trafficking, sexual battery, false imprisonment and battery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance on Balboa Road in Cantonment Saturday night. The victim told deputies she “stayed” with Foster, and the two had an argument over money that turned physical after he spent all the money they had at the casino. She stated she was slapped twice in the face and pinned against an outside trailer wall by his arm. She stated she bit Foster’s arm, and deputies observed a bite mark on his arm, according to an arrest report.
The victim stated, “It’s only going to get worse. Tell him I did not call 911.”
The arrest report states the victim told deputies he gets high on methamphetamine, brings guys over and forces her to perform sexual acts on them. She stated that he has facilitated sexual contact between her and over 20 men where he forces her to sit naked before telling her what acts to perform on them. When finished, Foster forces her to bathe in bleach, the report continues.
She said she was not allowed to leave the house except for short periods of time with a family member.
As the deputy was speaking with the victim, she was cleaning dishes and crying, telling him that if he did not get the dishes cleaned Foster would beat her when released from jail. The victim stated that the mental abuse was so severe that she has considered suicide.
Foster remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Monday.
Fire Heavily Damages Cantonment Home
October 28, 2019
Fire destroyed a home in Cantonment Sunday morning as the occupants escaped out the windows.
The fire in the 600 block of Booth Avenue was just two blocks behind the Cantonment fire station; the first firefighters arrived on scene in just a couple of minutes to find fire showing from the kitchen and garage.
Smoke alarms did function, however they did not alert occupants. Two adults and two children were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The Cantonment, Ensley, Bellview and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
If you live in Escambia County and do not have a working smoke detector, call (850) 595-HERO for free smoke detector installation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Story updated to reflect that smoke detectors did function but did not alert the residents. Previous information from ECFR stated the smoke detectors were nonfunctioning.
Tate High Holds Senior Night
October 28, 2019
Tate High School honored seniors Friday night for Senior Night. Pictured are senior football players, cheerleaders and band members. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For game and homecoming court photos, click here.
No Injuries In South Highway 99 Rollover
October 28, 2019
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover crash near Enon Sunday afternoon.
A southbound driver lost control and left the roadway with the Jeep Grand Cherokee coming to rest on its roof in a ditch. The crash happened on South Highway 99 about a mile south of Highway 97A.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. 
Escambia County Honors Beulah Fire Chief Steve McNair
October 28, 2019
The Escambia County Commission recently issued a proclamation honoring Beulah Fire Chief Steve McNair for his many years of service to the community.
McNair (pictured right above) started his fire service involvement at just eight years old volunteering to clean the firehouse. By 11, when the air raid siren sounded in Beulah to alert volunteers, McNair would run, bike or be dropped off at Lakeside Inn to get a pump running to supply water to a dry hydrant — the only source of water to fight fire in Beulah at that time.
When the original Beulah fire station burned down, he used his construction skills to rebuild the fire station that stands today. He was an International Paper employee. In his position as fire safety manager, he was instrumental in helping Escambia County by provided fire training ground and facilities teach hazmat at IP.
In 2014, McNair was rescued by some of the very firefighters he trained during a major flood event. He was checking the structural integrity of a bridge on Nine Mile Road when his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters.
“It happened fast,” McNair told NorthEscambia.com after being rescued. “I was in the vehicle under the water. I knew I had to remain calm and do the right thing. I got out and managed to get a hold of a tree and hang on.”
A watercraft arrived on the scene, and Escambia firefighters fought the raging to creek to reach and rescue him from the tree.
“It was 100 percent the Lord,” McNair said. “There’s no other way I would have survived. I give Him all the credit for the great job done by the firemen.”
After a quick check from Escambia County EMS, McNair was on duty again.
According to the proclamation:
“Chief McNair is consistently training and influencing others to be better firefighters and better people. He does not ask anyone to perform a task that he is not willing to do himself,” the county proclamation states.
“Chief McNair’s leadership style changes with the situation. He always lets people learn by doing, but he enhances learning by incorporating different learning styles and techniques that fit the individual. He always asks, ‘What did you learn?”
“Chief McNair has selflessly responded to thousands of calls for assistance at all hours, in all kinds of environments and weather conditions, endearing himself to the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, and Escambia County. He also has played an instrumental role in the Beulah Sausage Festival.”
NorthEscambia.com photos and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Holds Annual Open House
October 28, 2019
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center annual open house was held Friday night.
Attendees had the opportunity to tour the facility’s newest building and see birds of prey, reptiles and more.
The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, UF/Escambia County Extension Sea Grant, and the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association also took part. Students from the Ransom Middle School FFA and the Tate High School Honor Society also volunteered during the event.
The facility is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students of The Month
October 28, 2019
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for October. They are Kristyne Yelverton and Maddox Braswell. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.