Arrest Made In 2023 West Nine Mile Road Hit-And-Run That Killed Molino Man
June 26, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol has made an arrest in the hit and run death of a Molino man last November.
William Ervin Lawler, 46, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
The crash happened about 8:40 p.m. on November 15, 2023, at West Nine Mile Road and Allegheny Avenue. The Florida Highway Patrol said 20-year-old Justin Kent’s motorcycle was struck by a silver sedan that fled the scene. Kent was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The silver sedan was captured on video (pictured above). FHP Traffic Homicide investigators were notified of a 2003 Infiniti M45 that was located abandoned with damage consistent with the crash. Troopers said Lawler attempted to salvage the vehicle in Alabama and signed it over to a junked car business.
FHP seized the vehicle in question, completed the investigation and filed a warrant for Lawler’s arrest.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $200,000.
First Responders Donut Strike For Manna Begins Today. Here’s Where To Donate Food.
June 26, 2024
Local law enforcement and fire departments are running to the rescue once more, teaming up again to fight hunger for the 2024 Donut Strike for Manna that begins today.
Local law enforcement and fire departments are going on strike later this month — once again teaming up again to fight hunger for the 2024 Donut Strike for Manna.
The brave men and women are going on strike against the doughnuts from Wednesday, June 26 through Friday, June 28 to encourage the community to fight local hunger by supporting Manna. They won’t give in until truckloads of nutritious food have been donated to the cause.
Donation locations are in the graphics below.
Each day of the Donut Strike, first responders will be stationed at grocery stores across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties from 3 to 6 p.m. to collect food and monetary donations.
Food donations and financial gifts to Manna may also be dropped off at their headquarters, 3030 North E Street, Pensacola, any day during the week of the Strike, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Because the cost of food and other essentials is rising, Manna is experiencing even greater demand than is typical in the summer months,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “At the same time, food donations are down, as everybody feels the pinch on their budgets. Every day, our first responders see children and families who are struggling — and we are so grateful for their efforts to impact change.”
This is the seventh year of the Donut Strike and so far, the pastry protest has raised more than 160,000 healthy meals to help fight hunger in our communities.
Participating agencies include the Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Breeze Fire Rescue, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Midway Fire District, Pace Fire Rescue District, Pensacola Fire Department, and Pensacola Police Department.
Pictured top: Donations were collected in 2023 for Manna at the Winn Dixie on Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $55,000 Sold On Highway 97 In Davisville
June 26, 2024
Someone is over $55,000 richer today after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The Quick Pick ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop at 11208 Highway 97 was one of two winning tickets in the June 25 evening drawing and is worth $55,099.86. The other winning ticket was sold at a Publix in Wilton Manors in the Miami metro.
The winning numbers were 2-9-27-28-30.
Vandals Break Windows Out Of 1880’s Walnut Hill Log Schoolhouse, ECSO Investigates
June 26, 2024
Someone recently vandalized a log schoolhouse building that dates back over 140 years in Walnut Hill.
Several windows were broken out of the Walnut Hill Schoolhouse, located next to the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, which moved the building to its current location. “This was done so the community could embrace its past and somehow come to understand our humble beginnings. We endeavor to maintain this part of our heritage, so to the person or persons responsible for breaking out the windows of our log schoolhouse please know we do not do this in Walnut Hill.”
Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
“It’s about heritage. This log schoolhouse was made a part of the community to educate the earlier children of the area. Children who went on to higher degrees becoming leaders in their community. When it was no longer needed for the children, the log schoolhouse became home to the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club,” current Ruritan Club President Ed Hudson said. ”
History of the Walnut Hill Schoolhouse
The log school, believed to have been built sometime around or just before 1880, was flattened by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The exact construction date of the one-room schoolhouse is unknown because school district records prior to 1880 could not be located. Financial records for the Escambia County School District indicate that William “Uncle Bud” Williams received $40 in April 1880 for “building a new school” and the school received a new heater at the cost of $10 in 1881.
The school was originally located near the corner of the present-day intersection of Arthur Brown Road and Highway 97. It was moved to its current location on Highway 97 after the construction of the Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the Walnut Hill Ruritan Building, in the late 1990’s.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Show Stoppers Stop The Show With Undefeated USSSA Summer Classic Win
June 26, 2024
The Show Stoppers 2030 ladies stole the show recently in Tiger Point as they went a perfect 6-0 in the USSSA Summer Classic for the championship.
They are now preparing for the national championships in Gulf Shores in a few weeks.
The Show Stoppers finished the season ranked No. 4 in Florida and No. 18 in the country in USSSA amongst 12uB class teams.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Cottage Hill Water Works Customers On And Near Cedar Tree Lane
June 26, 2024
THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS RESCINDED ON JUNE 26.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Cottage Hill Water Works customers on Cedar Tree Lane.
The utility said a system upgrade took place Monday to tie-in the connecting streets of Cedar Tree Lane to a newly upgraded main. The affected area includes Cedar Tree Lanen, Cedar Park Drive, Cedar Point Road, Phalrose Lane, and Cooley Road
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
This story will be updated with the boil water notice is rescinded.
Wahoos Rally Falls Short In 5-4 Loss To Shuckers
June 26, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their second half opener on Tuesday night, falling 5-4 to the Biloxi Shuckers despite a spirited ninth-inning rally.
Down to their final strike in the ninth, Harrison Spohn hit a three-run homer to draw the Blue Wahoos to within a run before Jakob Marsee struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
The Shuckers manufactured an early run against Pensacola starter Adam Laskey (L, 3-2), turning a hit-by-pitch of Darrien Miller in the second inning into a 1-0 lead thanks to an Adam Hall sacrifice fly. That would be the only blemish for Laskey, who completed a season-high 5.0 innings and struck out six.
Biloxi starter Jacob Misiorowski (W, 2-2) was even better, turning in 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in an encore performance after earning Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday.
The Shuckers extended their lead to 2-0 without a hit in the sixth, as Carlos Rodriguez drew a walk against Chandler Jozwiak and stole two bases before scoring on a throwing error from catcher Joe Mack. Three more unearned runs scored in the seventh, as a Jacob Berry throwing error at third base opened the door for RBI singles from Dylan O’Rae and Rodriguez.
The Blue Wahoos got on the board in the seventh with an RBI double from Cody Morissette, but even the Spohn homer in the ninth was not enough as Pensacola dropped just their third game out of 12 against the Shuckers this season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday. First pitch from Keesler Federal Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
ECSO K-9 Streeter Treated And Released After Jumping Off Bridge In Pursuit Of Suspect
June 25, 2024
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Tuesday morning that K-9 Streeter was treated and released after jumping off the Highway 90 bridge over Escambia Bay in pursuit of a drive-by shooting suspect Monday evening.
Simmons called Streeter a hero and said, “he deserves an extra treat today”.
He was transported to Davis Animal Hospital Emergency Center for evaluation overnight. He was released Tuesday morning after further evaluation at Westside Animal Hospital.
Streeter is on “desk duty” until Friday as he recovers from minor injuries.
For more on the drive-by shooting , the chase, and the death of one suspect, click here.
New Costco Planned For Nine Mile Road
June 25, 2024
Preliminary plans were filed Monday for a new Costco on Nine Mile Road.
The plans filed with Escambia County show the 161,780 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 885 parking spaces at 235 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of a current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store.
The plans show the currently buildings being demolished for the new Costco on seven parcels totalling just under 22 acres.
The outlying parcels with Well Fargo Bank, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Dairy Queen will remain with the gas station between Sam’s Seafood and Well Fargo.
Thomas Engineering Group of Tampa filed the plans with Escambia County.
The plans have not been set for formal review by the Escambia County Development Review Committee and must go through numerous steps before a building permit is issued.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Florida Man Charged With Murder In Flomaton Shooting
June 25, 2024
A Florida man is charged with murder following a fatal shooting Sunday evening in Flomaton.
Bradford Charlse Eusea of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, remains in the Escambia County Detention Center without bond.
Flomaton Police Chief Dereck Lowry told NorthEscambai.com that his department responded to the 20000 block of Highway 31, near Southern Wood Specialties, about 6 p.m.
“A family dispute turned deadly when the victim was shot,” Lowry said.
Family members have identified the victim as 26-year-old Tanner Coleman.
“It is an open investigation at this time,” Lowry said.