Incumbent Clerk Of The Court Pam Childers Prefiles
September 1, 2019
Incumbent Escambia County Clerk of the Court Pam Childrens prefiled Friday as Republican for the 2020 election.
Childers was first elected in 2012, defeating Ernie Lee Magaha who first took office in 1956 and had won 14 straight elections.
Escambia County Woman Dies In Mobile Bayway Crash
September 1, 2019
An Escambia County woman died in a crash involving a contract mail truck Friday on the I-10 Bayway in Baldwin County.
Alabama troopers said 64-year-old Estrelita Tuazon Naranja of Pensacola was eastbound in a 2010 Ford Fusion when it experienced a “disabling event” and came to rest near the inside retaining wall. Naranja activated the emergency flashers and exited the vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, a 2011 International truck driven by 59-year old James Powell of Robertsdale collided with the rear of the Ford. During the crash, Naranja went over the bridge retaining wall and into the Blakeley River area of the Mobile delta. Her body was recovered by Alabama Marine Police.
The truck, which was contracted to carry U.S. Mail, caught fire and was destroyed. Powell was transported to an area hospital.
The crash, included why Naranja’s vehicle was disabled, remains under investigation by Alabama troopers.
Escambia Road Prison Grows Over 40 Tons Of Food For Inmates – Including This 134 LB Watermelon
August 31, 2019
In the last 10 months, the Escambia County Road Prison work camp in Cantonment has produced over 40 tons of fruits, vegetables and fish used to feed inmates and save taxpayer dollars.
The facility has grown over 80,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables in the last 10 months, including a 134 pound watermelon, at the facility on Highway 297A.
Inmates who work at the Road Prison camp also typically produce thousands of pounds of tilapia annually through an aquaculture program that’s been in operation for almost a decade.
Pictured top: Escambia County Road Prison Officers Larry Meacham and Robert Olive with a 134 pound watermelon, just a small part of over 80 tons of food grown at the facility. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Takes State Line Battle Over Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2019
It was a game of cross the state line rivals that ended with the defending Alabama 3A state champ Flomaton Hurricanes defeating the Northview Chiefs 34-26 Friday night in Flomaton.
“The saying goes it’s a game of inches; tonight was a game of inches. You can really go back and look at two or three plays that won that game for them,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “We gave up too many plays on special teams, we gave up big plays, we gave up boneheaded mistakes that we shouldn’t give up.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a early first quarter seven point lead over the Chiefs before the Chiefs answered with a Trent Peebles touchdown. With a missed kick, the Canes saw their lead cut to 7-6 with 2:01 in the first.
Early in the second, Flomaton cashed in on a run from Da’quan “Money” Johnson. A wayward kick, the it was Flomaton’s ballgame 13-12.
Northview’s Peebles added another touchdown and with a good two point attempt from Jayden Jackson for a 20-13 Northview lead with 22.7 seconds in the half.
In the third, Canes quarterback Zeb Vickery punched it in for a one point contest, 21-20 Flomaton on top. Alex Cash returned Northview punt to the Chiefs’ 3-yard line before Flomaton scored again on a Jate’vius Franklin run with just under three minutes in the third.
Northview regained the lead in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard run from Jackson, Northview on top 26-21.
The Chief were forced to punt, and it went straight into the hands of Cash who returned it to the 3-yard line before being brought down by Northview’s Keaundre Richardson. Franklin ran straight through a big hole in the middle for the TD.
In the end, the Canes topped the Chiefs 34-26.
“We gave up too many plays on special teams, we gave up big plays, we gave up boneheaded mistakes that we shouldn’t give up. We played extremely hard, we worked extremely hard all night,” Marshman said “The kids left it all on the field, both teams left it all on the field so that’s something that they can be proud of and they can continue to work on. We go back and fix the the little things. In the grand scheme of things this is game two; we’ve got a lot of fish to fry down the road.”
Both coaches gave credit to the other team as a very formidable opponent.
“What a game. Northview is a super, super good football team, very physical football team. We knew that all summer going in. The Peebles kid is a heck of a running back; the Jackson kid is a good running back; they got a lot of good running backs. We knew it was going to be a battle, but I think we just persevered and made some plays at the end,” Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery said. “We knew it was going to be a battle, but I think we just persevered and made some plays at the end.”
The Canes take on the Jay Royals next Friday night, an Vickery is confident that his Hurricanes will be read, despite losing a lot of experience from last year’s state title team.
“We lost 11 really good seniors last year and now we have a whole new bunch of kids coming out persevering,” Vickery said. “It’s a long season ahead of us. We’ve got a lot to build on.”
The Chiefs will sit it out with a bye week before hosting the Baker Gators on September 13, and they’ll be using every available moment of that downtime to prepare.
“We are going to continue to get better and I think big things are still ahead of this football team,” Marshman said.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest Eagles Soar Past Tate (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2019
The Pine Forest Eagles soared past Tate 31-7 Friday night.
The Aggies were coming off a 37-0 rout of Pensacola High last Friday night.
The only score of the night from the Aggies came when sophomore quarterback Dalton Biggs found senior Keaton Solmonson in the endzone.
The Aggies (1-1) are on the road with back to back road trips to Tallahassee the next two weeks. — September 6 at Lincoln and September 13 at Leon. The Aggies won’t be back in their house at Pete Gindl Stadium until September 20 when they host the Bulldogs of Crestview.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
September Food Assistance Benefits Released Early For All Florida Counties
August 31, 2019
Food assistance recipients in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Florida’s other 65 counties will receive their benefits now due to Hurricane Dorian.
To assist families as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release September food assistance benefits to all Florida counties which were included in Governor Ron DeSantis’ state of emergency order
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers who were scheduled to receive their benefits between September 1 and September 14 will now be able to access benefits through their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards immediately. This is an early release of regular benefits, not a distribution of additional funds.
“I applaud Governor DeSantis and President Trump for their swift action in response to the needs of Florida’s vulnerable children and families preparing for this major hurricane,” said DCF Secretary Chad Poppell. “The early release of benefits will allow families to purchase much-needed food prior to Hurricane Dorian’s landfall.”
North Escambia Area Friday Night Finals
August 31, 2019
Here are Friday night football finals from the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
Flomaton 34, Northview 26 [Details, photo gallery...]
Pine Forest 31, Tate 7 [Details, photo gallery...]
Jay 40, Cottondale 16
Washington 22, West Florida 0
Milton at Pensacola High, 7 p.m.
Escambia 32, Crestview 0.
Catholic 24, Gulf Breeze, 14
Navarre 34, Pace 0
ALABAMA
Flomaton 34, Northview 26
Escambia County (Atmore) 41, Wilcox Central 0
Satsuma 40, W.S. Neal 21
T.R. Miller 45, Choctaw County 0 (Thursday pm)
Pictured: Flomaton got past Northview 34-26 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections Cancels All Visitations Statewide In Advance Of Dorian
August 31, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections has canceled weekend visitations at all correctional facilities statewide through Monday, September 2, in response to Hurricane Dorian.
The cancelation includes all major institutions, work camps, work release centers and annex facilities such as the Century Correctional Institution, Century Work Camp, the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution and the Blackwater River Correctional Facility.
FDC staff throughout the state are working to prepare facilities for the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian. Staff resources will be devoted to emergency response efforts.
Department staff have begun working to make necessary preparations for inmates housed in facilities located in the path of the storm. Extra water and food supplies are being brought in to all facilities that may be impacted by the storm. Decisions to evacuate facilities will be made on a case-by-case basis and on what is in the best interest of the public, staff and inmate safety.
Offenders on community supervision will be given specific instructions from their probation officers in the event evacuations are deemed necessary or if the probation office closes during normal reporting hours.
In the event of an institution evacuation, announcements will be made upon completion. Inmate locations will be posted on the website approximately 24-hours after relocation, per standard protocol.
Ashley McArthur Guilty; Sentenced To Life For Killing Private Investigator
August 30, 2019
A former crime scene investigator has been convicted of first degree premeditated murder killing a woman for money and burying her body in Cantonment.
Ashley McArthur has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing private investigator and former police officer Taylor Wright over $34,000. Earlier this year, she was sentenced to seven years in state prison for racketeering and organized fraud in an unrelated case.
On September 14, 2017, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.
Pictured top: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.
Molino Man Captured After Alabama High Speed Chase, Facing Charges In Two States
August 30, 2019
A Molino man is facing multiple drug and other charges after a high speed chase through South Alabama, and he’s also wanted in Escambia County for vehicle theft and in connection with the theft of over 100 guns and knives in Cantonment.
Bay Minette Police said 29-year old Hunter Grant Myrick fled from a traffic safety checkpoint and led officers on a high speed pursuit at speeds reaching near 100 mph through northern Baldwin County, Mobile County and into Washington County.
Mt. Vernon (AL) Police and the Washington County (AL) Sheriff’s Office used spike strips in an attempt to end the pursuit. Three of Myrick’s tires were flattened, but he continued for another five miles before driving off the shoulder of Highway 43 and fleeing into a wooded area. He was captured in the woods after a lengthy search by an Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 team.
The vehicle was reported stolen from Escambia County, FL, and it contained methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Bay Minette Police.
Myrick was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude and multiple traffic offenses. He was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center without bond, and Bay Minette Police said more charges are pending as their investigation continues.
Myrick is also wanted on numerous felony warrants in Escambia County, FL, including warrants in connection with the vehicle and theft of 31 guns, 100 knives, two chainsaws and other items valued at $20,000 from Pinoak Lane in Cantonment.
On Thursday, NorthEscambia.com reported on three other arrests in the Cantonment burglary. Martin Joseph Shaughnessy, 35; Dawn Cheree Brooks, 39; and Charles Kettering, 42, were each charged with 15 counts of felony grand theft of a firearm and one count of burglary. In addition, Shaughnessy was charged with felony resisting an officer with violence, misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence and violation of probation, and Brooks was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.