Huge McDavid Solar Farm Set For Development Review Committee Approval
August 27, 2019
The Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) is set to review the final DRC application for a huge solar farm project in McDavid on Wednesday.
At 74.2 megawatts, the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center 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, enough to power almost 7,400 homes.
NorthEscambia.com was first to report last December that facility was planned for West Bogia Road. At that time, it was dubbed the “Escambia County Solar Energy Center” on 541 acres. Now, documents filed with Escambia County are calling the project the Gulf Power Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on about 640 acres. Only 353.18 acres 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 homes 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.
National TV Show Features Local Sister Murder Story
August 27, 2019
A documentary show on national television Monday night explored the case of a Northview High School student that shot and killed her sister in 2011 in an argument over a cellphone.
The episode “A Shot in the Dark” on the series “Twisted Sisters” aired on Investigation Discovery and is now available for streaming from the network.
Elena Janelle Rendell — who was 17 at the time of the August 3, 2011, shooting — was convicted as a youthful offender for shooting 14-year old Christina Marie Sneary, a former Molino resident.
Rendell was sentenced to one year in the county jail, with no credit for nearly one year she spent behind bars awaiting trial. She also received five years probation. The reduced sentence was due to Rendell’s mental capacity at the time of the shooting.
She was also ordered to continue with mental health counseling and treatment.
The two girls had recently moved with their mother from Sunset View Lane in Molino to the 7600 block of Kipling Street in the Ferry Pass community.
Rendell told deputies that she began to argue with Sneary over a cell phone. During the argument, Rendell ran into her parent’s bedroom and retrieved her father’s 9 mm handgun from the top of a television shelf that stood about 12-feet high. Rendell then pointed the handgun at her 14-year old sister and fired a single gunshot into the right side of Sneary’s neck. Sneary died a short time later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The show was filmed in Escambia County back in February.
44 Blue’s recent crime and justice programming includes HBO’s top-rated documentary “Rock and A Hard Place,” produced in association with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, which took an in-depth look at an alternative sentencing program for young offenders in Miami. 44 Blue is also known for A&E’s top-rated “Nightwatch,” produced in association with Dick Wolf, MSNBC’S “Lockup,” the longest running prison documentary series on television, and its trio of spinoff series “Lockup: Raw,” “Lockup: World Tour” and “Life After Lockup,” as well as Animal Planet’s number-one rated “Pit Bulls & Parolees,” currently airing its ninth season.
Library Board Of Governance Meets In Century, Plans September Molino Meeting
August 27, 2019
The West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance held their regular August board meeting Monday at the Century Branch Library.
The board establishes policy and oversees the management of the West Florida Public Libraries and makes annual budget recommendations to the Escambia County Commission.
Four of the five members on the board attended, along with two library staffers. No members of the general public attended the meeting.
That board’s next meeting will be held Monday, September 23 at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library.
Pictured top: John Shelton, director’s aide; Kim Ball, assistant director; and WFPL board members Dr. Laura Bryant, Sally Fox, Brandy Vinson and Dr. Carol Tanksley Monday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
HS Volleyball: Northview Beats Escambia Academy
August 27, 2019
The Northview Chiefs junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams both defeated Escambia Academy Monday in Bratt.
The varsity Chiefs took three straight sets over the Cougars, winning the last 25-18.
For a varsity action photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECSO Responds To Reported Shots Fired In Schifko Road Area
August 27, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shots fired incident near Molino early Sunday morning but could find no evidence that a weapon had been fired.
Deputies responded to the call in the area of Jacks Branch Road and Schifko Road to find a traffic accident just after 1 a.m.
Monday afternoon, the ECSO said there had been a large party in the area, but no one could confirm that shots were fired and no nothing was found to indicate shots had been fired.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to investigate the traffic accident.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge..
Former County Administrator Takes Airport Job
August 27, 2019
Former interim Escambia County Administrator Matt Coughlin as been hired as the new deputy director of the Pensacola International Airport.
Coughlin submitted his resignation from Escambia County in April, citing “tribalism” with the county.
In his resignation letter, Coughlin thanked former County Administrator Jack Brown, Interim Administrator Amy Lovoy, County Attorney Alison Rogers and department directors before writing “Regrettably, today in Escambia County there is neither the ability or willingness to rise to the occasion and lead together. Rather, those with the capability to help reverse this downward progression have resorted to tribalism. Its effects are pervasive and wide ranging. Unfortunately, along the way, our mission has become a failure and our citizens have become the casualty.”
Coughlin agreed to stay temporarily as interim administrator after Amy Lovoy resigned as interim administrator.
Coughlin, who worked as the Assistant Director at Pensacola International Airport from 2014-2017, said he’s excited to rejoin the City of Pensacola.
“I’m very appreciative to the mayor, very appreciative of the city, the mayor’s staff, and the airport director for considering me for the position,” Coughlin said. “There’s obviously a lot of potential for the airport – they’re on the cusp of a lot of growth and development over the next several years, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
“There’s a huge amount of opportunity over there for the city, and not just the city, but the local area and all of the citizens,” Coughlin said. I look forward to trying to assist in providing a great asset to all of them.”
Along with assisting Airport Director Dan Flynn with overall airport operations, Coughlin’s job duties will include participating in major economic development projects at the airport, preparing and maintaining technical and administrative operating records and reports, and assisting with contract negotiations.
Coughlin will also act as a liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, along with other federal, state and local agencies.
His first day on the job at the airport will be September 9.
Bank Drive-Thru Hit By Truck, Significantly Damaged
August 26, 2019
The drive-thru at a bank just off Nine Mile Road suffered significant structural damage when it was struck by a delivery truck late Monday morning.
The drive-thru clearance a the Beach Community Bank on Palafox Street was apparently too low for the truck. It appeared the driver attempted to drive around the end of the drive-thru when he struck the corner of the roof.
The collision caused obvious structural damage, with the entire drive-thru left leaning and damage to the roof.
There were no injuries, but the bank was evacuated after the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck That Closed Eastbound Nine Mile Road
August 26, 2019
One person was injured in a crash that temporarily closed eastbound Nine Mile Road Monday morning.
An adult male was temporarily trapped in his pickup truck following the wreck on Nine Mile at Westside Drive near Pen Air credit union. Firefighters were able to extricate him quickly, and he was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The driver of a GMC Denali was not injured.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Update: Nine Mile Road Traffic Shift At Navy Federal Rescheduled For Tuesday Night
August 26, 2019
A traffic shift has been rescheduled for Tuesday night on the portion of Nine Mile Road near Navy Federal Credit Union. Rainy weather delayed plans to make the change Monday night.
East and westbound drivers on Nine Mile Road between Leisure Lakes RV Park and Eleven Mile Creek will be transitioned to the newly constructed eastbound roadway Tuesday night. The traffic shift will be in place while crews begin reconstruction on the eventual westbound travel lanes. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Cantonment Man Charged With Felony Stalking Of His Estranged Wife
August 26, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged with felony aggravated stalking for allegedly calling his estranged wife over 50 times, tailgating her to her mother’s house as a deputy watched and following her to a job interview.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the victim reporting that 43-year old Guy Maxwell Peters was continuously following her. A deputy arriving in the area observed Peters’ F150 tailgating the victim, some 1-3 inches away from her bumper. The deputy activated his blue lights, and both vehicles continued a short distance to the home of the victim’s mother in Cantonment.
The estranged wife told deputies Peters that she was living with her mother, and Peters had no right to be there. She said she was interviewing for a job on 9th Avenue, and Peters was waiting for her outside the building. When she returned for a second interview, Peters was once again outside waiting, an arrest report states.
Peters had become upset because she requested her half of the money after Peters sold a firearm, the victim said.
A statement Peters gave to deputies was redacted from his arrest report, with the exception of statement that he had given her $40 to “get back on her feet”, and he wanted his $40 back.
Peters was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond. A restraining order against him has since been issued.