Florida Gas Prices Jump 25 Cents In Just 10 Days
March 2, 2019
Florida gas prices jumped 14 cents in the past week, for a combined total increase of 25 cents in 10 days. After selling for nearly $2.23 per gallon – just 10 days ago – the average price for a gallon of gasoline in Florida is now up to nearly $2.50.
In Escambia County the average price per gallon was at $2.31 on Friday.
“While it may be hard to stomach, the recent jump at the pump is common this time of year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Maintenance season is underway for refiners along the Gulf Coast. While conducting spring cleaning at their plants, they have also begun sending out summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce. This likely isn’t the end for rising prices. AAA forecasts the national average will peak at around $2.75 by Memorial Day.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Crazy Hat Day Raises Money For Childhood Cancer Research
March 2, 2019
Hats off to Jim Allen Elementary School. Friday, the school raised $425 to donate to childhood cancer research with their Crazy Hat Day. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Tate Softball Beats Lincoln
March 2, 2019
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Lincoln Friday 4-3 in the Florida USA Challenge in Panama City Beach.
After three scoreless innings, the Lady Aggies held a four-run advantage after the top of the fifth, as Lincoln attempted a comeback with three of their own in in the bottom of the inning.
Beauchanie earned the win for the Aggies allowing three runs on three hits in six and two-thirds innings while striking out seven.
Cawby led the Lady Aggies at the plate going 2-4 with one run.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Holding Career Fair, Open House
March 2, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will hold an Open House and Career Fair on Tuesday, March 5 at the administration building at 1700 West Leonard Street.
ECSO personnel from SWAT, K-9, Dispatch, Investigations, Patrol, Crime Scene, Evidence, School Resource Office, and Cadet I & II Recruiters, will be on hand to answer questions.
The ECSO is currently hiring for law enforcement personnel: deputy sheriff (certified), cadet I, and cadet II positions; as well as, dispatchers, and dispatcher trainees. There are also careers available in accounting, IT civil, legal, human resources, mechanical, public relations, personnel, secretarial, crime scene technicians, evidence technicians, and administration.
All applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED), be a United States citizen and have no previous felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving perjury or false statements.
Click image to download flyer.
Regulations Coming On Plastic Drinking Straws In Florida?
March 2, 2019
A Florida Senate committee Monday will take up a proposal that would prevent local governments from regulating distribution of plastic straws, amid a broader national debate about discarded straws causing pollution problems in oceans and other areas.
The bill (SB 588), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, will be considered by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. It would give regulatory power over single-use plastic straws to the state — a practice known as “preemption” of local government authority.
“A municipality, county, or other local governmental entity may not adopt, enforce, or implement any ordinance, rule, or law that would further restrict a food service establishment from distributing single-use plastic straws to customers,” the bill says.
The bill would restrict restaurants and other establishments to only providing single-use straws if the straws are requested by customers. But that restriction would not apply to such things as take-out orders, delivery orders and orders placed with apps.
An identical bill (HB 603) has been filed in the House by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills. The bills are filed for the legislative session that starts Tuesday.
by The News Service of Florida
Passenger Killed When Molino Man Runs Off I-10 In Santa Rosa County
March 1, 2019
A passenger in a Molino man’s vehicle was killed in single vehicle crash Friday on the interstate in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year old Dustin Broxson of Molino was westbound on I-10 when he lost control, ran off the roadway and his 2003 GMC overturned. His passenger, 21-year old Nykolas Parodi of Gulf Breeze, was ejected and pronounced deceased at an area hospital.
Broxson was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Any charges are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
Ransom Middle, Kingsfield Elementary Placed On Precautionary Lockdown
March 1, 2019
Kingsfield Elementary and Ransom Middle schools were placed on a precautionary lockdown Friday afternoon.
A person off campus called in an unspecified threat against personnel at Kingsfield Elementary School, said Amber Southard, chief public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged perpetrator was taken into custody under the Baker Act. Florida’s Baker Act allows officers to take an individual into custody for an involuntary mental examination when it is believed they are a danger to themselves or others.
The lockdown was lifted by 2:40 p.m.
File photo.
Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher, Three Others Arrested In Friday Drug Raid
March 1, 2019
Four people, including a local elementary school teacher, were arrested during a narcotics raid at a home Friday morning in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged Susan Christina Maines 51, John L. Desposito, 57, Thomas Clyde Meadows, 51, and Brandon Blake Satterfield, 24, with possession of narcotics and other drug related charges. Desposito, was also charged with trafficking. All four were booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Maines was released Saturday morning on an $8,000 bond, and Desposito was released on an $18,000 bond. Satterfield remained jailed Saturday morning with bond set at $3,500, and Meadows was jailed with a $3,000 bond.
Maines a second grade teacher at Jim Allen Elementary School, according to their Escambia County School District. Associate Superintendent Norm Ross said the district will review the arrest and Maines’ status once complete information is received from the Sheriff’s Office.
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The narcotics warrant was served about 5 a.m. in the 7300 block of Mimosa Drive. The ECSO Narcotics Unit discovered methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, an assortment of pills, firearms, a pill press, more than $12,000 in cash and other drug paraphernalia. Deputies also seized a sign that states “Drugs Destroy Dreams” and depicts a person thinking about a graduation cap and diploma.
“The sign in the photo came from inside the home, and it’s right drugs do destroy dreams, said Amber Southard, chief public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Items sized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office during drug arrests Friday. Pictured middle: A Friday morning narcotics raid on Mimosa Drive in Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
FDLE Report: Double Fatal DUI Crash Suspect Tests Negative For Alcohol, Positive For Drugs
March 1, 2019
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab report showed there was no alcohol found in the system of the man accused in a Kingsfield Road crash that claimed the life of two siblings in January.
But Hunter Black’s blood test did have a positive report for narcotics. Alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-Nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, both which can be linked to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, were present, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Antoinette Marie McCoy, 22, and her brother, 15-year old Tate High School student Sean Banks, died at local hospitals shortly after the crash.
A Florida Highway Patrol report details the accounts of two crash witnesses. One reported a driver he was able to identify as Black was driving all over the roadway and was having trouble maintaining his lane in a curve. After the crash, he said he helped Black out of his vehicle. The second witness told the FHP he witnessed Black’s vehicle cross the center line as the collision occurred.
A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant that responded to Sacred Heart reported that Black was showing signs of impairment with slurred speech and trouble staying awake, according to an arrest report. A FHP trooper said Black had slurred speech, was unable to provide proper information and had “a white crusty substance on his lips.” Court records indicate a “green leafy substance” was found in the vehicle driven by Black.
“While attempting to talk to Black he seemed as if he was having issues understanding what was being said to him. When he attempted to speak he had very slurred speech to where it was sometimes difficult to understand him,” a Florida Highway Patrol trooper wrote in an arrest report. “Black was also unable to sign his paperwork to the point where a nurse advised him to just sign an X on his paperwork.”
Black was arrested after marking the discharge paper work.
In the days following the wreck, a judge signed a search warrant for Black’s Apple iPhone and “to use reasonable force if necessary” to require Black to unlock the phone with his thumb print to obtain information regarding the offense and Black’s whereabouts leading up to the traffic crash. A search warrant was also issued for information regarding Black’s phone use and location from his cellular provider.
After executing a search warrant for the vehicle Black was driving, troopers reported they took two unspecified paper receipts, data from the event data recorder, multiple swabs from the interior of the vehicle, two hairs and four airbags.
The FHP said Black had been involved in another crash before the fatal wreck when he ran off East Kingsfield Road and struck a tree near Berrydale Road. He then made a U-turn and traveled back west on Kingsfield Road a short distance before the fatal crash occurred.
Black remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1 million. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Third Century Council Member Fined In Sunshine Law Violation Case
March 1, 2019
A third Century Town Council member charged with a civil violation of the Sunshine Law entered a plea before a judge Thursday.
Council member Luis Gomez, Jr., entered a plea of no contest and was fined $250.
Last month, council member Sandra McMurray Jackson and entered a plea of no contest and was fined $200. Council president Ann Brooks also pleaded no contest and was fined $100. Adjudication was withheld in all three cases.
Brooks received a lower fine because “she was left culpable because she was at the meeting legally before Mr. Gomez and Mrs. Jackson arrived,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille previously said. “While she should have left immediately, she did not participate in the meeting to the extent that Mr. Gomez and Mrs. Jackson did.”
The three council members “did unlawfully engage in a discussion or exchange of information with other members of the Century Town Council regarding a matter which foreseeably could come before said board or commission for action, outside of a public meeting, in violation of … Florida statues,” according to the charging documents.
Last summer, three council members attended at least some portion of a closed-door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which would forbid more than one council member from taking part under Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
The maximum allowable fine was $500 for each council member.
Earlier this month, a grand jury investigated “a number of issues” related to the operation of the town. The results of that investigation have not yet been released.
Pictured top: Century Council members (L-R) Luis Gomez, Jr., Ann Cofield Brooks and Sandra McMurray Jackson at a December 17, 2018, meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.