Jim Allen Elementary Fifth Grade Scientists Explore At Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
January 12, 2024
Fifth grade scientists from Jim Allen Elementary visited the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center this week and participated in the Infinitely Big! Infinitely Small! program.
These explorers blasted off into space studying planets and the moon, observing constellations and so much more. They also studied the flow of energy through an ecosystem while observing microscopic food chains in their microscopes right in front of them.
The students ended their day meeting Tood, Roy’ Hyatt’s Florida kingsnake animal ambassador.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Child Abuse Of Two Children
January 12, 2024
A Century man has been accused of abusing two children as they were riding their bikes.
Cortez Rasheed Davison, 30, was charged with two counts of cruelty towards a child without great bodily harm and resisting arrest.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at the intersection of Ashford Alley and Jefferson Avenue in Century. Davison allegedly punched and slapped kids riding their bikes. According to an arrest report, Davison babysits at least one of the children while his mother is at work.
Davison denied that he ever touched or hit either child.
As a deputy grabbed Davison’s arm, telling him that he was under arrest, Davison jumped off his bike and took off running, the report states.
Davison was later arrested on outstanding warrants. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $12,500.
Man Gets 40 Years For Murdering Pensacola Woman In Monroe County, Alabama
January 12, 2024
An Alabama man has been sentenced to 40 years for murdering his wife — a Pensacola woman — in July 2020.
Monroe County District Attorney Todd Watson said 37-year old Joshua Simpson, of Beatrice, pleaded guilty to the 2020 murder of Stephanie Rivers-Simpson, 55, of Pensacola.
The case began when a missing person report was filed on Rivers-Simpson July 7, 2020. During the initial investigation, law enforcement received numerous tips that led them to believe Simpson killed Rivers-Simpson and hid her body. A multi-agency search combed the Beatrice area and a state lake attempting to find Rivers-Simpson. Forensic digital evidence eventually led law enforcement to her body in a shallow grave within a heavily wooded area near Black’s Loop.
Simpson was subsequently arrested and indicted for murder.
Simpson admitted his guilt in open court before Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Jack Weaver. Weaver then sentenced Simpson to 40 years in prison.
“No amount of punishment will bring back the life that was taken,” Watson said. “There are no winners in a murder case. However, we are satisfied with the sentence in this case since Mr. Simpson was willing to admit his guilt and accept the punishment. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved in this tragic incident.”
Three Ejected In Munson Crash; One Dead
January 12, 2024
A 23-year-old man is dead and two others are critically injured after a crash Wednesday in Santa Rosa County.
It happened around 9:30 p.m. on Munson Highway south of Indian Ford Road.
Three Milton men — two aged 23 and another age 20 — were traveling north on Munson Highway in a pickup truck. FHP says it’s still unclear who was driving at this time.
A 66-year-old Milton woman was turning left in her sedan northbound on Munson Highway into the Lake Kristina Campground.
The driver of the truck began to pass the car on the left, but collided with the vehicle’s left front. The pickup overturned, ejecting the three men.
There were no other injuries.
FDLE Arrests Escambia Sex Offender For Online Solicitation
January 12, 2024
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested 51-year old Charles Alvey of Escambia County for use of a computer to seduce a minor, transmission of material harmful to a minor, use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, failure to register an internet identifier and failure to register a phone number.
Alvey has been on Florida’s Sex Offender Registry since 2023 after being convicted of using a computer to solicit a minor out of Okaloosa County.
FDLE began its investigation in November 2023 after Alvey started communicating with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. Alvey engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the “child” and sent pornography.
FDLE, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI served a search warrant at Alvey’s residence on Olive Road in Pensacola. Florida Department of Corrections, Office of Probation Services assisted.
Agents believe Alvey may have been communicating with juvenile victims. If you have information about Charles Alvey that may assist investigators, call FDLE Pensacola at (800) 226-8574.
In addition to Alvey, agents also arrested Jeffrey Gunter, 33 of Pensacola, on a Department of Corrections warrant for violation of probation. Gunter has been on the Sex Offender Registry since 2022 for using a computer to solicit a minor.
Both Alvey and Gunter were booked into the Escambia County Jail. Alvey’s bond was set at $100,000.
Ernest Ward Middle JV Downs Workman Middle
January 12, 2024
The Ernest Ward Middle School JV Lady Eagles defeated the Workman Middle School Jaguars Thursday in middle school volleyball action.
Next week, EWMS will take on Brown Barge Middle School.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Judge Denies Motion To Dismiss Escambia ‘Book Ban’ Lawsuit
January 11, 2024
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit that alleges the Escambia County School District violated free speech by removing and restricting library books.
U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell issued the ruling in the federal lawsuit against the Escambia County School board.
“Today, we urged the court to vindicate the Constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers. We are heartened that Judge Wetherell agreed and that our case can proceed. These books need to be returned to the shelves where they belong, and every day that students are refused access is a day they’re not getting the high-quality education they deserve. This case cuts to the heart of who we are as a country, and for the sake of our children and the future of our democracy, it’s critical that we adhere to the language of the First Amendment and the precedents of our federal courts,” said Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office..
Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, PEN America, a “free expression organization”, and several individuals allege Escambia County schools have violated the First Amendment by setting out to remove or restrict access to books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities, against the recommendations of the district review committee charged with evaluating book challenges.
The Escambia County District filed a motion in Pensacola federal court to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming recently enacted state law, HB 1069, shields the district and that the district is empowered to decide which book to allow or remove.
The board also contended the restriction or removal of books from school libraries “does not create a constitutional injury”.
Judge Wetherell urged the parties to settle the case in mediation rather than moving forward in court.
Pictured: The Northview High School media center on August 10, 2023, the first day of school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Children’s Trust Approves Hiring New Executive Director With Requested Pay Increase
January 11, 2024
The new executive director of the Escambia County Children’s Trust is getting a raise beginning with her first day on the job.
Lindsey Cannon asked that her salary be increased by $5,000 to $125,0000 a year plus benefits.
She had offered to forgo certain health benefits and moving expenses to fund the increase.
Her employment contract for $125,000 annual was approved Wednesday night on a 6-3 vote, with David Peaden, LumonMay, and David Williams voting no.
May saide couldn’t justify increasing the base salary, when there are so many children living in poverty in his district.
“I would like to see somebody come in, take the job, do a good job, and then at 12 months from now be evaluated and possibly have a raise,” Peaden remarked. “If we had advertised this job at $125K, maybe we would have had a different pool of candidates, we won’t know that. But I think she understood what it was walking in from the get-go when it was advertised $120K. I can’t be supportive of that salary increase at this time.”
Second Suspect Found Guilty Of Ladarius Clardy Murder
January 11, 2024
The second suspect in the 2021 murder of 18-year old Ladarius Clardy was found guilty on Wednesday.
A jury found 22-year-old Amos Snowden guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. The charge carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Snowden was also found guilty of attempted first-degree premeditated murder for shooting another occupant in the vehicle at the time, Eric Young.
His brother Da’Quavion Snowden was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison last summer.
Clardy, a former standout Pine Forest High School quarterback, was found shot dead in a vehicle crash about 1 a.m. on July 1, 2021. His vehicle was found with over 50 bullet holes in a ravine. Authorities say the murder was a case of mistaken identity.
Registration Open For Molino Park Spring Ball
January 11, 2024
Registration is underway for Molino Park Spring Ball.
Sign-ups close on January 25. Tryouts begin January29. The cost is $125.
To register and for more info, visit www.molinoballpark.com.