Officials Determine Cause Of 70-Acre Escambia County Wildfire
May 10, 2018
The Weller Avenue Fire remains 100% contained at 70 acres and Florida Forest Service personnel have completed their investigation into what caused the Monday blaze that threatened 20 homes and required a major response from multiple jurisdictions.
There was little evidence remaining after the fire burned through a wooded area between the Berkshire Estates and Weatherstone subdivisions but what was left lead investigators to believe the fire was sparked by some type of human cause.
“We found a small, camp-type situation in there,” said Adam Parden, the Florida Forest Service’s Forest area supervisor for Escambia County. “Make-shift shelters, tarps and a small fire pit. We can’t tell if it was a kids’ fort or homeless camp or what but with what’s left, everything points to that as the origin and cause.”
Pinning down the cause of wildfires is notoriously difficult as evidence is destroyed by the fire and investigators have little to go on.
Weller Avenue was the 65th wildfire of 2018 for the Blackwater Forestry Center (Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties) and brought the total acres to 2,732.
Weller Avenue is located just off Gulf Beach Highway in southwest Escambia County.
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Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Additional photo gallery photos by Kristi Barbour and others for NorthEscambia.com.
Three 15-Year Olds Arrested After Burglary At Beulah Store
May 9, 2018
Three 15-year olds were arrested after a burglary at a business on Mobile Highway in Beulah this morning.
Deputies responded to a burglary in progess call at Maria’s Country Store in the 7400 block of Mobile Highway about 2:30 a.m.
It was reported that a vehicle dropped off two white males who then broke a window and entered the store. Deputies noticed blood on the broken window of the unoccupied store.
Deputy C. Smith & K-9 Cairo tracked and located Caleb Teachey in a nearby wooded area. During the course of the investigation, Andrew Hintz and Trent Thompson were also identified as suspects. They were located at their residences and arrested. The vehicle, which belonged to a family member of one of the suspects, was found abandoned in a wooded area off Woods Road
All three were charged with damage to property, burglary and larceny.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Authorities Seek Info On Pace DUI Crash That Killed Child, Teen
May 9, 2018
Authorities are continuing to investigate a fatal crash that claimed the life of two girls Sunday, and they are seeking anyone that may have information.
The State Attorney’s Office said Wednesday morning that Kailen Alan Kelly, 35, was first seen at the boat ramp on Quintette Road shortly before 5:30 p.m. Kelly was driving a grey 2008 model Ford F-150 pickup truck.
A deputy with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was driving eastbound on Quintette Road in Pace on routine patrol when Kelly’s vehicle passed him in a no passing zone. He turned on Woodbine Road and minutes later crashed head-on into a Buick driven by 39-year old Melanie Harrell of Pace. Harell’s Buick came to rest in a ditch, while Kelly’s pickup overturned into a ditch on the opposite side of the road and ignited into flames. Stormie P. Harrell, 7, and Michaela D. Sidney, 17, were killed. Melanie Harrell and 18-year old McKenzie Murphy were seriously injured and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Kelly was charged with two counts of DUI-vehicular manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury to another, refusing to submit to a DUI test after license suspension, reckless driving, fleeing/eluding police and other traffic offenses. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
The State Attorney’s Office is in the process of filing a motion for pretrial detention; if granted, Kelly will remain in jail without bond until the case goes to trial.
The State Attorney’s Office is asking for anyone having information about this case to contact Investigator Billy Wheeler at (850) 981-5503. Anyone having video regarding this case is requested to provide a copy to investigators.
The continuing investigation is being conducted by the State Attorney’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Molino Man Busted On Drug And Weapons Charges Two Weeks After Prison Release
May 9, 2018
A Molino man was arrested on multiple felony charges after a traffic stop in Pensacola, just two weeks after he was released from prison.
About 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at Creighton Road and Tippin Avenue. A Pensacola Police Department K-9 unit assisted in a vehicle search, reportedly finding 43 grams of methamphetamines, prescription drugs, a .40 caliber handgun, two magazines, 26 rounds of ammunition and digital scales.
Shawn Anderson, 32, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, methamphetamine trafficking, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $50,500.
Anderson was just released from prison on April 24, according to the Florida Department of Corrections, after completing an 18 month sentence on a methamphetamine charge. In November 2016, deputies found Anderson passed out at a Nine Mile Road Whataburger with a bag of meth in his lap.
Century’s Gas Dept. Burning Through Cash Faster Than Customers Are Burning Gas
May 9, 2018
The Town of Century Gas Department is burning through cash faster than customers are burning gas, requiring the town supplement its operations from other funds.
The town’s accountant, Robert Hudson, told the town council that the gas department was about $62,000 in the red for the three month period February through April. And with the arrival of warm weather, there’s little chance of a profitable month before the end of the budget year on September 30.
“We are not selling much gas right now with the customer base we have,” Hudson said. The town sold about $150,000 in natural gas last December and January, but that dropped to $30,000 in February.
The council voted to transfer $5,000 per month from the garbage fund and up to $7,000 per month as needed from the town’s special revenue fund to supplement the gas department.
Council member Ben Boutwell expressed concern over transferring money from the designated special revenue fund following an audit that questioned the practice. Hudson said if funds could not be returned from the gas fund to the garbage and special revenue funds, it would be recorded as an operational transfer.
The audit for the fiscal year ending in 2016 found town’s general fund borrowed $285,248 from its special revenue fund to cover general operations of the town. As of September 30, 2016, the general fund owed the special revenue fund approximately $3.83 million. The revenues in the special revenue fund are restricted for specific purposes, and therefore, these funds will have to be repaid or it will be considered an inappropriate use of the restricted revenues, according to the audit.
The town council also voted to agree to an Escambia County ordinance that renews a 1968 franchise area. The franchise area includes Century, Bogia, Byrneville, Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and McDavid. Century currently provides gas service only in a portion of their franchise area — near the town limits, south along Highway 29 to and including a portion of Highway 164, west into Byrneville and an area of Bratt.
The franchise area has been disputed by Pensacola Energy. [Read an earlier story..]
NorthEcambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Band Holds ‘Jazz In The Courtyard’
May 9, 2018
The Tate High School Band presented a Courtyard Jazz Concert Thursday evening. The concert was held in the school courtyard, and included a performance of The Incredibles from Jazz I. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Night Work On Nine Mile Road
May 9, 2018
East and westbound traffic on West Nine Mile Road will encounter lane restrictions just east of Rebel Road in Escambia County from 8 p.m. Thursday, May 10 Through 5 a.m. Friday, May 11 as crews remove and replace pavement markings and install raised pavement markers. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Century Man Gets Jail Time After Trying To Run Over Victim
May 9, 2018
A Century man has been sentenced 90 days in the county jail for attempting to hit another man with his car and threatening to kill him with a knife.
Cortez Rasheen Davison pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery; he was originally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Davison, 24, drove to the victim’s home on Hilltop Road and began calling him racial slurs. The victim told Escambia County deputies that he tried to ignore Davison, but Davison pulled out a pocket knife and began to walk toward him. The victim told deputies that Davison threatened to shoot him, shoot up his home and burn down his shed.
After the victim called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Davison went back to his car and tried to run over the victim as he was driving away, authorities said. The victim told deputies he was not hit because he jumped behind a tree.
Court To Hear Felons’ Rights Fight In July
May 9, 2018
Moving quickly on the issue, a federal appeals court has tentatively scheduled oral arguments in July in a constitutional battle about Florida’s process for restoring the voting rights of felons.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear arguments the week of July 23 in Atlanta, though an online docket does not list a specific date. In an order filed late last month, the appeals court said it was expediting consideration of the case, a move that included speeding up deadlines for attorneys to file briefs.
The case went to the Atlanta-based appeals court after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker declared unconstitutional Florida’s process for restoring the voting rights of felons who have served their sentences.
Gov. Rick Scott and members of the state Cabinet, who serve as the clemency board, have defended the current process, which involves felons waiting five to seven years to apply to have their rights restored — and years after that to complete the process.
Walker had ordered Scott and the Cabinet to revamp the process by April 26. But state officials won a partial victory April 25, when a panel of the federal appeals court granted a stay of the order.
By The News Service of Florida
Baccalaureate Ceremonies Scheduled For Tate And Northview
May 9, 2018
Baccalaureate ceremonies have been schedule for Tate and Northview high schools.
The Tate High School Class of 2018 Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m. at Olive Baptist Church.
The Northview High School Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.