Escambia Jail Reaccredited, Recognized As ‘Excelsior Agency’
March 1, 2019
The Escambia County Jail for has been reaccredited by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission.
The agency’s fifth reaccreditation earned them the distinction of being named an “Excelsior Agency”. Only 16 other jails in Florida have achieved the designation.
Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. These standards are recognized as best practices in the corrections community. They exceed the standards established through the Florida Model Jail Standards. Reaccreditation requires maintaining these standards for three years.
Chief William Powell, Commander Scott Nash, Lt. Walter Jefferis and Sgt. Jonathan Stuckey went to St. Augustine to sit for the accreditation inquiry.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cat Country Morning Show’s Brent And Candy Win Top ACM Award
March 1, 2019
Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton of Cat Country 98.7 have been named Personalities of the Year by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for their Cat Pak Morning Show. Lane also won the ACM Personality of the Year in 2009.
“It is an incredible honor to even be considered for this recognition. Candy and I are so proud of our community. We are lucky to wake up every morning and dance around the studio, play songs, crack jokes, and celebrate what make Cat Country the greatest place to live,” Lane said.
The 54th Annual ACM Awards Show will be Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. in Las Vegas and will air live on CBS.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 1, 2019
Ransom Middle School has named Students of the Month for February. They are Emma Nigam and Johnny Nguyen. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Go Fly A Kite Saturday At The Molino Library
March 1, 2019
Go fly a kite Saturday at the Molino Branch Library. The Emerald Coast Kite Flyer’s Club will share their love for the high flying adventure of kites at 10:30 a.m. in a free program.
Northview Baseball Falls To Milton; Weightlifting Defeats Jay
March 1, 2019
BASEBALL
Milton 4, Northview 0
The Milton Panthers defeated the Northview Chiefs 4-0 Thursday night in Milton. After a scoreless first inning, Milton added one run in the second and one run in the fourth for a 2-0 lead in the fifth. The Panthers sealed the win with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Northview’s boys weightlifting team defeated Jay this week. Individually, Matt Caine, Jojo Parker, Jacob Hawkins, Lance McLaughlin, Aunterio Minor, Logan Bryan and Trent Kite took home first place.
Driver Crashes Into Wooded Area On Quintette Road
March 1, 2019
First responders were not immediately able to locate the driver of a vehicle following a wreck early Friday morning in Cantonment.
The Chevrolet Camaro left the roadway and crashed into a wooded are on Quintette Road east of the Highway 95A railroad crossing about 12:35 a.m.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
It’s Mardi Gras Weekend In Pensacola (With Info You Need To Know)
March 1, 2019
It’s Mardi Gras time in Pensacola.
Parade weekend kicked off Friday with the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Night Parade.
Saturday, Pensacola’s biggest parade and the year’s biggest event rolls in. The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade features nearly 100 Krewes with more than 200 entries and more than 6,000 people participating in the parade. Line-up begins at 9 a.m. along Spring Street south or Garden Street. Law enforcement will close streets along the parade route at 1 p.m., or when it is deemed necessary for safety. Rain or shine, the parade will roll at 2 p.m., and will be broadcast live on WEAR ABC-3, with hosts Bob Solarski, Allen Strum and April Baker.
The Pensacola Grand Parade is the biggest day of the year in downtown Pensacola, with over 70,000 in attendance in previous years, and this year with over 200 entries and 6000 revelers actually participating in the parade. Pensacola’s Grand Parade is known for its throws. The Grand Parade will have food vendors throughout the route, and there will be handicapped parking and viewing on the west side of Gregory and Palafox. The Grand Parade is family friendly.
The fun continues Sunday on Pensacola Beach, as the Krewe of Wrecks presents its annual parade along Via de Luna. The parade proceeds westbound to the Casino Beach parking lot starting at 1 p.m.
Mardi Gras 2019 wraps up on Fat Tuesday, March 5, with an all-new celebration. Pop-Up Parades will take place along Palafox Place/North Palafox Street between Main and Wright streets at irregular intervals between 4 and 7 p.m. and again between 9 p.m. and midnight. Some of Pensacola’s top Krewes will participate in these mini-parades designed to keep the festive Carnival spirit visible throughout downtown Pensacola.
Molino Man Facing Drug Charges After Traffic Stop, Battery Charges From Tryst
February 28, 2019
An Molino man was arrested on drug charges and an outstanding battery warrant after a traffic stop for speeding in Walnut Hill.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy clocked Jason Fayard at 80 mph on Highway 97 near Highway 164 and pulled him over. The deputy immediately noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to an arrest report. During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported finding about 50 grams of marijuana, a clear bag containing methamphetamine, Alprazolam pills, a grinder with marijuana residue, rolling paper, glass pipes and other items. He was also cited for speeding.
Fayard was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana more than 20 grams, possession of controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The battery warrant stemmed from a February 5 incident in Molino.
Deputies responded to a home on Highway 97 near Highway 95A where an adult female was crying and bleeding from the mouth. She told deputies she had been seeing Fayard for a few months for sex, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report that details the incident. She told deputies she consented to being restrained, byt he also placed a belt around her neck to the point she felt uncomfortable. She told Fayard she wanted to leave, and Fayard began to punch her in the head, the report continues.
After breaking free from the restraints, she made an effort to exit the residence, but Fayard snatched the belt, causing her to fall at which time he punched her in the head, the arrest report states. Fayard also allegedly dragged her through the home with the belt around her neck.
Deputies reported they arrived to find the belt still around the victim’s neck. She refused medical treatment.
Fayard denied the incident was anything but consensual, accord to the report. The incident was not considered domestic violence due to the cordial relationship and the fact they did not live together.
Fayard was transferred Wednesday to the Santa Rosa County Jail on outstanding warrants for battery and burglary.
Florida Bar Investigates Gaetz Tweet
February 28, 2019
The Florida Bar on Wednesday opened an investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who sent a tweet accusing Michael Cohen of infidelity as President Donald Trump’s former attorney prepared to testify before Congress.
Gaetz, a Northwest Florida Republican who is an outspoken ally of Trump, said complaints stemming from his tweet Tuesday were “frivolous.” In the tweet, he accused Cohen, who is married, of having multiple “girlfriends.”
“It seems that The Florida Bar, by its rules, is required to investigate even the most frivolous complaints,” Gaetz told The News Service of Florida.
However, Francine Walker, a spokeswoman for The Florida Bar, said the organization will investigate potential conduct violations any time the words of a Florida lawyer result in complaints.
After Gaetz’s tweet Tuesday, legal observers and Democrats said the Republican was engaging in witness tampering.
“Hey @MichaelCohen212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot…” Gaetz said in the tweet, which has since been deleted.
Gaetz apologized and said the tweet did not show his intent. That intent, he later told reporters, was to test Cohen’s credibility, not threaten. The tweet came on the eve of highly anticipated congressional testimony by Cohen that could be damaging to Trump. Cohen is heading to prison after pleading guilty last year to criminal charges including lying to Congress.
Under Florida Bar rules, Walker said she was unable to share any other information at this time about the investigation into Gaetz. But Walker confirmed it was in response to the Fort Walton Beach Republican’s tweet.
“The Florida Bar takes its responsibility of regulating lawyer conduct very seriously,” Walker said in a statement. “It handles thousands of complaints each year, filing charges and pursuing discipline against lawyers whose professional conduct is not in keeping with the rules.”
In addition to being a Trump ally, Gaetz has been described as a right-hand man to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gaetz’ influence on the DeSantis administration can be seen in issues such as the governor’s focus on lifting a ban on smoking medical marijuana.
Gaetz was admitted to the Bar in 2008 after attending law school at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, according to information on The Florida Bar website. He has not faced any discipline from the Bar during the past 10 years.
Gaetz was elected to the Florida House in 2010 before winning an open seat in 2016 in Congressional District 1, a conservative stronghold. He has become a fixture on cable news shows supporting Trump..
by Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz during a roundtable meeting in Century last week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
$160,000 In Grant Funds To Replace 55-Year Old Century Mobile Home
February 28, 2019
A contract has been awarded for what will likely be the most expensive grant-funding housing replacement in the history of Century.
For many years, the town has participated in grant programs to rehabilitate or replace substandard housing for needy Century residents. The construction projects are done at little or no direct cost to the town.
The council recently awarded a $160,000 contract to low bidder Parker Customer Built Home to replace a 55-year old mobile home at 581 Church Street with a site-built home. The project will be funded with a Community Development Block Grant, which will not allow another mobile home as a replacement.
Mayor Henry Hawkins recently told the town council that he did not believe this much grant money had ever been spent to replace a house in Century.
Consultant Robin Phillips said the higher amount is due to rising construction costs following Hurricane Michael.
According to property records, the mobile home and property belong to Mark Ward, Janet Ward and Stephanie Miller with a mailing address in Orange Park, FL. There is a homestead exemption in place for a local resident.
The new home will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and will be handicap accessible.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
