Two Escaped Alabama Inmates Are Back Behind Bars
January 14, 2019
Two inmates that escaped from work release in Brewton are now both back behind bars.
Christopher Ladale Pugh (pictured left), 27, was arrested as he walked along I-65 on Sunday, according to Sheriff Heath Jackson. Christopher Blake Moye (pictured right), 27, was tracked by K-9 teams to Wawbeek where he was taken into custody on Saturday.
Both escaped from the barracks at the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office in Brewon on Friday.
Moye’s arrest came after deputies responded to an attempted burglary in on Whites Lane along the Alabama-Florida state line in the Wawbeek community on Saturday. Nearly seven hours later, a K-9 tracking team took him into custody.
On Sunday, Pugh was spotted along I-65 wearing only boxer shorts. Pugh told the officer “please take me back to jail,” according to Jackson.
Pugh was jailed for violation of probation, receiving stolen property and burglary. Moye was jailed on charges of violation of probation and theft of property. Both are expected to face additional charges for the escape.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 teams, Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 teams, Century Correctional Institution K-9 teams, and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force all participated in the hunt for the escapees.
Pictured: About 5:30 p.m. Friday, the manhunt was centered around railroad tracks at Old Fannnie Road and Welka Road, east of Flomaton and about a half mile north of Alabama-Florida state line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 14, 2019
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings scheduled this week:
Monday, Jan. 14
ECAT Trolley Operator Interviews – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Area Transit,
1515 W. Fairfield Drive
Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee – 5:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Northwest District 1 Advisory Committee – 6 p.m., Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road
Tuesday, Jan. 15
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission Board of Directors – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Merit System Protection Board – 5 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor Training Room
Escambia County Extension Council – 5:30 p.m., 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
Wednesday, Jan. 16
Ensley North Neighborhood Cleanup – 7 a.m.
Escambia County Soil & Water Conservation District – 8 a.m., 151 Highway 97, Molino
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Central Booking and Detention Facility Ceremony – 11 a.m., 1190 W. Leonard St.
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program Technical Committee – 1:30 p.m., City of Gulf Breeze Council Chambers, 1070 Shoreline Drive
Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program Policy Board – 3:30 p.m., City of Gulf Breeze Council Chambers, 1070 Shoreline Drive
Thursday, Jan. 17
BCC Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Saturday, Jan. 19
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway and Public Workshop – 9 a.m., 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
NorthEscambia.com photo.
FWC Explains More About Rare Redhorse Fish Found In The Escambia River
January 14, 2019
After we published a story about a rare river redhorse fish being found in the Escambia River, numerous people responded on NorthEscambia.com and our social media with reports of frequently seeing or catching the fish.
Until the recent discovery, the river redhorse had not been documented in the Escambia River since 1976, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
NorthEscambia.com reached out to the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for more information. Here is their response:
The river redhorse is a species that may easily be confused with other commonly found fish – in particular, the spotted sucker and the blacktail redhorse.
The river redhorse is only found in the Escambia River, whereas the spotted sucker occurs in every river in the panhandle and the blacktail redhorse occurs in all drainages in Florida west of the Apalachicola River.
Ways you can tell them apart- a blacktail redhorse has a black strip that occurs in the tail, and the spotted sucker has noticeable spots on its scales.
Researchers captured a river redhorse during a night trawl. In Florida, the river redhorse is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
The fish prefers large, clean rivers with sand or gravel bottoms and swift currents. The river redhorse was implanted with an acoustic tag and released. The movement of the fish will be monitored to estimate site occupancy and assess population trend, according to the FWC. The fish was found as freshwater biologists were working on imperiled species trawl survey in the Escambia River.
Pictured top: The rare river redhorse fish documented in the Escambia River for the first time since 1976. Other fish that look similar are below, courtesy of FWC and the Florida Museum. Each photo is labeled. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Spotted Sucker
Above: Blacktail redhorse
Above: River redhorse
Driver Rolls Pickup Into Guardrail
January 13, 2019
There were no serious injuries reported when a pickup truck crashed and rolled over onto a guardrail early Sunday morning at the North Palafox Street overpass above I-10. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released any details in the 1:20 a.m. crash. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Football Banquet Honors Student Athlete Killed In Crash; Mom Addresses Attendees
January 13, 2019
“God’s got this.”
The mother of Sean Banks, Davisa Banks, addressed players, coaches and families Saturday night during the annual Tate High School football banquet.
She said she taught her children to do things the right way the first time and offered comfort to the Aggie family.
The Tate High School football program paused to honor Banks Saturday night during the football banquet. Banks was killed, along with his older sister Antoinette McCoy in an alleged DUI crash early Saturday morning.
“He was a special young man,” Tate Aggies Head Coach Jay Lindsey said during the banquet at Hillcrest Baptist Church. He said no other player will wear Sean’s #53 jersey. The number has been retired.
The jersey and Sean’s photo were at the front of the room, just off stage right, in memorial.
One by one, players hugged mom Davisa Banks and offered their support.
The Tate Quarterback Club released the following statement:
“Our hearts are broken to learn that Sean Banks, star varsity football player #53, and his sister Antoinette McCoy, died from injuries sustained in a car crash in the early morning hours of January 12th. This young man will forever live in our hearts. Sean was a hardworking student (3.91 GPA) with an enthusiastic view on life, and his smile was as bright as the sun. He was also a basketball and baseball player at Tate High School.
“Antoinette was Sean’s oldest sister, and his biggest fan! She was a sweet, thoughtful girl, full of life and light; she touched the lives of everyone she met.
“May God look down upon this family, and bless them during this time of grief and sorrow. Keep them in your prayers.”
Sean Banks also played basketball and baseball, was a member of the Tate Academic Team and was recently named a Tate Student of the Month.
RELATED STORIES
Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks
Two Killed In East Kingsfield Crash; Cantonment Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
Grief Counselors Available Monday For Students, Staff At Tate High School
Pictured top: A memorial for Sean Banks Saturday night at the Tate High School football banquet. Pictured top inset: Sean Banks’ mother Davisa Banks addresses the attendees. Below: Players hugged Davis Banks and offered their support. Pictured bottom: Head coach Jay Lindsey looks toward Banks as he spoke Saturday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drivers Runs Off Highway 29, Hits Mobile Homes
January 13, 2019
The driver of a pickup truck ran off the roadway and struck two mobile homes in Cantonment Saturday afternoon.
The vehicle was apparently northbound when the driver crossed the median, struck several mailboxes, hit a utility pole, struck the corner of a mobile home before the truck came to rest under a second mobile home.
The driver was transported by Escambia County EMS with non-life threatening injuries. No one in the mobile home was injured.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Grief Counselors Available Monday For Students, Staff At Tate High School
January 13, 2019
Counselors will be available Monday at Tate High School for students and staff following the death of a student early Saturday morning.
Sean Banks, 17, and his older sister Antoinette Marie McCoy, 22, were killed in an alleged DUI crash.
Related Stories:
Tate Aggies Football Banquet Honors Student Athlete Killed In Crash; Mom Addresses Attendees
Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks
Two Killed In East Kingsfield Crash; Cantonment Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
UF/IFAS Extension Offering Pesticide Licensing Training Course In Walnut Hill
January 13, 2019
The UF/IFAS Extension Office will offer a public training session for individuals interested in obtaining a private pesticide applicators license or continuing education units. The training session will take place on Thursday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Class attendees will learn the basics of applying pesticides correctly and will be able to take the private applicator and core exam necessary to become a certified private applicator by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The cost is $20 and lunch will be provided. Continuing Education Units will be offered to those who are already licensed.
Attendees must register to ensure the correct number of exams will be available. To register for the class, contact Libbie Johnson at 850475-5230 or libbiej@ufl.edu. Participants can also register in person at 7:30 a.m. the morning of the class.
Arbor Day Art Contest Entries Accepted Now
January 13, 2019
Celebrate Arbor Day by participating in the UF/IFAS Extension Arbor Day mail art contest. Make your own drawing, collage, painting or photo — or decorate a postcard or envelope — related to the theme, “Plant Trees Today for Shade Tomorrow.” Be creative and have fun!
The contest age groups are children 12 and under, teens ages 13-18, and adults 18 and older. One winner will be selected from each age group, and winners will receive either a tree, a shovel or a book about trees.
Mail entries to: Arbor Day Mail Art Contest, Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Entries can also be dropped off at the Extension office. Include your name, age and phone number or email address on the back of your art. Entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Entries will be displayed at the Escambia County Extension office through the month of January. Artwork may be used in Extension programs, such as blogs, flyers and workshops. No received work will be for sale, and we reserve the right to omit offensive work. A panel will judge the works and choose one winner from each age group prior to Friday, Jan. 18.
Winners will be awarded Saturday, Jan. 19 during the mail art display and tree giveaway event at the Escambia County Extension office. If winners cannot attend, they may pick up their prizes at the Escambia Extension office by appointment.
For more information, contact Carrie Stevenson at 850-475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.
Gruters Tapped To Lead Florida Republicans
January 13, 2019
Entering an election cycle in which Florida will again be a key battleground in the race for the White House, state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota was chosen Saturday to lead the Republican Party of Florida.
Gruters, who defeated Charlotte County State Committeeman Bob Starr in a 192-25 vote at the party’s annual meeting in Orlando, will replace Blaise Ingoglia, a House member from Spring Hill who has served as chairman of the state party since 2015.
In a statement released after the vote, Gruters said he will work with county party officials and local elected officials heading into the 2020 elections, as President Donald Trump is expected to run for a second term. He also pointed to helping Gov. Ron DeSantis, who took office Tuesday.
“Our party is in a battle for the soul of America, and Florida will be critical heading into the next election cycle,” Gruters said. “I anticipate working with Governor DeSantis to push his bold agenda forward for our great state, securing another term for our President Donald J. Trump and making Florida red again.”
Gruters, a certified public accountant and longtime leader of the Sarasota County Republican Party, was elected to the Senate in November after serving two years in the House. Because he technically won a special election to replace former Sen. Greg Steube, who ran for Congress in November, Gruters will be on the ballot in 2020 for another term in the Senate.
But the 2020 elections will be dominated by the presidential race, as swing-state Florida will be a focus for Republicans and Democrats. Gruters served as a co-chairman of the Trump campaign in Florida in 2016.
The 2020 ballot is not expected to include other statewide races, as the next campaigns for governor, Cabinet offices and a U.S. Senate seat are not slated to occur until 2020.
But Gruters will preside over the party during an election cycle that will be important for the state Legislature, in part because the winners in 2020 will direct the once-a-decade redistricting process. The GOP, which has totally controlled the Legislature since 1996, is almost a sure bet to retain control of the Republican-dominated House in 2020, but it holds a narrower 23-17 edge in the Senate.
While Democrats made some gains in legislative and congressional races in the 2018 elections, Republicans took home the biggest prizes. DeSantis defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, and former Gov. Rick Scott toppled veteran Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
The most-notable win for Democrats was Nikki Fried’s victory in the race for agriculture commissioner. That victory put a Democrat on the state Cabinet for the first time in eight years.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida