FHSAA Honors Tate Girls Golf, Volleyball Teams As Academic Champions
December 7, 2023
Tate High School’s girls golf team has been named the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 3A Academic Team Champions for the fall of 2023-24. The team’s unweighted GPA was 3.876.
Also, the Tate girls volleyball team finished in 7th place for class 6A teams. Their team unweighted GPA was 3.683.
Each classification winner receives a commemorative plaque.
Byrneville Elementary School Presents Annual Christmas Musicals (With Gallery)
December 7, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musicals this week under the direction of Elaine Holk.
The K-2 musical and 3rd-5th musicals were presented at Grace Fellowship Church in Atmore.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Receives $1.4 Million For Downtown Area Sewer Improvements
December 7, 2023
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management on Wednesday announced $1.4 million in financial assistance for West Escambia Utilities using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for sanitary sewer system improvements in the downtown Atmore area.
The project consists of sanitary sewer line inspection by a closed-circuit TV to locate defects. Sewer lines would be rehabilitated by internal lining with a cured-in-place liner and/or physical removal and replacement of defected sewer lines. Service lines will be reinstated by internally opening up the liner at each service location. Completion of this project will provide for an improvement to the sanitary sewer system.
Coffee Shop Announced For Molino
December 7, 2023
A coffee shop is coming to Molino.
Cozy Corner Grooming and Boarding is building a new pet grooming facility and leasable retail space at 4178 Highway 29 on two adjacent lots totaling 1.82 acres between the Florida Forest Service fire tower to the south and Highway 196 to the north.
Cozy Corner announced Tuesday on social media that The Parking Latte Cafe “will be parking for good at the other Corner of Cozy Corner with a drive-through and indoor service”.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspect In Custody After Bomb Threat At NAS Pensacola
December 6, 2023
Navy Security Forces (NSF) in conjunction with Pensacola area law enforcement agencies responded to a bomb threat at approximately 9:35 a.m. Dec. 6 onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.
No one was injured. The individual suspected of making the threat has been apprehended, but a name has not been released.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Terry Shashaty lauded the efforts of NSF and responding local law enforcement agencies during the hour-long incident.
“The security and safety of the service members, civilian employees and visitors to Naval Air Station Pensacola remains our top priority,” he said. “The professionalism of our Naval Security Forces is unparalleled and the partnership we share with local law enforcement is critical in ensuring the safety of both the installation and surrounding communities.”
The suspected bomb threat came four years to the day after the shooting onboard the installation.
“This incident unfortunately occurred on the fourth anniversary of the shooting here, but these two incidents are unrelated,” Shashaty said. “Our Naval Security Forces personnel are highly trained, and responded to the suspected incident quickly and efficiently.”
Both gates to NAS Pensacola have since re-opened.
No Injuries Reported In Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash
December 6, 2023
There were no injuries reported in a two vehicle crash Wednesday morning at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The driver of a passenger car apparently failed to stop and ran under a utility trailer being pulled by a van.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Babour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Names Top 5 Teacher of the Year Finalists
December 6, 2023
Escambia County Public Schools has announced the Top 5 Teachers of the Year nominees. Nominated teachers will compete for selection as the school district’s overall Teacher of the Year.
In alphabetical order, they are:
- Candice Blackburn — Molino Park Elementary
- Priteyja Olige Brannon — C. A. Weis Elementary
- Tammy Jo Dublin — Hope Horizon
- Cassi McGee — Pine Meadow Elementary
- Rionna Wages — Lipscomb Elementary
“We are proud to honor these outstanding educators,” stated Superintendent Keith Leonard. “They are a great representation of all of our employees, and we would like to take time to thank them, as well as all of our employees, for all of the hard work and dedication they contribute to our students each and every day.”
The overall Teacher of the Year for Escambia County Public Schools will be announced in early February, and honored, along with all district teachers of the year, at a special event.
Beulah Man Convicted Of Sexual Battery Of Juvenile Girl
December 6, 2023
A Beulah man has been convictedof the sexual battery of a juvenile girl.
Jesse William Craig, 42, was convicted of two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, and battery of a child by projecting or expelling certain fluids or materials. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced early next year.
In late August, deputies responded to the Craig’s home after the victim disclosed instances of sexual abuse to a third party who then contacted law enforcement. While deputies were on scene the victim disclosed that the sexual abuse had been ongoing for months. The investigation was then turned over to the Special Victim’s Unit at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia Man Gets 40 Years For Murder
December 6, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison.
Gerand Battle Jr. entered a plea of no contest on August 9, 2023, to second degree murder with a firearm for the killing of Leonard Troutman, Jr. on October 27, 2021.
On October 27, 2021, Troutman was found shot multiple times as he sat in the driver’s seat of a car in his driveway. There were 16 spent shell casings located at the scene in the 8600 block of Figland Avenue.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy Holds First Graduation
December 6, 2023
This week marked a historic first for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as 19 recruits took the oath of office and became Sheriff’s deputies during the graduation ceremony for the very first Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy. The ceremony was marked by a badge pinning from a family member/friend, followed by the oath of office.
In February of 2023, the ECSO became one of only six law enforcement agencies in the state to gain commission approval to operate their own law enforcement academy. In June of 2023, the first class officially began. These 19 deputies engaged in state-of-the-art coursework, physical training, firearms training, and other aspects of professional law enforcement. The academy immerses recruits in our culture, standards, and policies from day one. These 19 deputies will continue their training when assigned to field training over the next few weeks. The next academy class is set to begin in January of 2024.
The new recruits are:
- Deputy Peter Baird
- Deputy Brady Barnes
- Deputy Adam Burns
- Deputy Jonathon Burton
- Deputy Hudson Callaway
- Deputy Don Campbell
- Deputy Tyler Daigle
- Deputy Anthony Davis
- Deputy Nayanna Fichtner
- Deputy Mario Garcia-Saldivar
- Deputy Jordan Hammock
- Deputy Aidan Hemmert
- Deputy James Karels
- Deputy Garrett McClelland
- Deputy John Nemergut
- Deputy Hunter NeSmith
- Deputy April Reynolds
- Deputy Robert Rhodes
- Deputy Shanna Secchiari
