West Florida HS Teacher Charged With Shooting Wife, Brother-in-law While In Tennessee For Wedding
November 13, 2023
A now-suspended West Florida High School English teacher is charged with shooting his wife and brother-in-law this past weekend in Tennessee.
Cody Wiggins, 29, is charged with two counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated domestic assault, and tampering with evidence. He was being held in the Williamson County, Tennessee Jail on a $3.5 million bond.
The incident happened about 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee. Police responded to the hotel after receiving a call about an active shooter. They found the two gunshot victims who were transported to local hospitals; an update on their conditions was not provided. Local police said Wiggins had fled the area, but they found him a short distance away in a subdivision with a semi-automatic handgun.
Franklin Police haven’t said what led to the shooting. However, they said Wiggins and the victims were attending a wedding in that city.
The Escambia County School District said Wiggins has been suspended from his position while the investigation continues.
Several Inches Of Rain Possible This Week
November 13, 2023
Tuesday through Thursday looks soggy with widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain possible with locally heavier amounts. The heaviest rain will likely fall along the coast with less rain further inland.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast
Tonight: Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Showers. High near 59. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: Showers. Low around 53. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 62. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Chestnut Road Closes Thursday for Bridge Work
November 13, 2023
Chestnut Road between Chance and Barrineau Park roads will be closed to thru traffic beginning Thursday, Nov. 16, while construction crews perform structural work to the Chestnut Road Bridge. During this time, traffic will be detoured along Highway 29 from Barrineau Park Road to Chance Road in both directions. Chestnut Road is expected to re-open by December 2023.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
If other roadway closures are necessary or work is delayed, another notice will be issued.
The bridge, constructed in 1967, is about 16 feet long and spans Dry Creek.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Flomaton Police Cars Wrecked During Chase; Suspect Arrested on Drug Charges
November 13, 2023
Two of the Flomaton Police Department’s Dodge Charger patrol vehicles were damaged during a chase early Friday morning.
About 1 a.m. Friday, the Flomaton Police Department became involved in a chase with a suspect reportedly fleeing from the Brewton Police Department. The chase ended after one of the Flomaton Officers was able to perform a maneuver on the suspect’s vehicle disabling it on Sydney Manning Blvd in Flomaton.
Suspect Devante Knight was ordered from the vehicle but was noncompliant with the officers. Knight was Tased and arrested on multiple charges, police said.
Inside Knight’s vehicle, officers reported finding 74 grams of marijuana, 42 grams of crack cocaine, 43 grams of synthetic marijuana (spice), nine grams of powder cocaine, 34 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of MDMA, and four grams of LSD.
Knight was charged with :
- two counts of Felony Assault 2nd
- Felony attempting to elude
- Trafficking in Cocaine
- Trafficking in Methamphetamine
- Trafficking in Amphetamine
- 2 counts of Possession of a controlled Substance
- Possession of Marijuana 1st
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
Auburn University Raptor Center Visits Bratt Elementary School
November 13, 2023
The Auburn University Raptor Center visited Bratt Elementary School Monday to present a program sponsored by the Bratt P.T.A.
Photo for a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekly Traffic: Coring Operations Continue On Highway 97, Other Delays For This Week
November 12, 2023
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 (Bayfront Parkway) Pensacola Veterans Day Parade – Drivers may encounter road closures on Bayfront Parkway westbound from South Spring Street to 12 Avenue (Wharf Avenue) Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the Pensacola Veterans Day Parade.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29/(State Road (S.R.) 95) from Cervantes Street (S.R. 10A) to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) – A portion of the right turn lane from northbound North Palafox Street to Brent Lane will be temporarily closed Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 as crews construct a retaining wall and pour concrete. Drivers will still be able to access most of the right turn lane.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing from Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) to west of Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) - Drivers may encounter nighttime lane closures, between Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road, Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – Construction crews have completed the truck parking area improvements, and all parking lots are now open. The entire project is scheduled for completion this winter.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the end of the year as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from north of U.S. 98 to east of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. as crews perform concrete work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through fall 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90), from north of I-10 to Davis Highway - Northbound traffic, between Pelican Lane and Scenic Ridge Drive, is shifted to the inside so crews can perform construction activities. The shift will remain in place until the work on the shoulder is completed. During construction, one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction and left turns will be permitted.
- S.R. 727 (West Fairfield Drive) Routine Maintenance from 69th Avenue to U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree trimming operations.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Coring Operations from C.R. 95A to the Alabama State Line – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for coring operations.
- S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) Turn Lane Operations South of Nine Mile Road – Drivers may encounter southbound lane closures Sunday, Nov. 12 through Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Milton Veterans Day Parade – Drivers may encounter road closures on S.R. 87 from Berryhill Street to Willing Street Saturday, Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the Milton Veterans Day Parade.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - The outside (right) lane of U.S. 90 eastbound on the Simpson River Bridge will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 14, through Thursday, Nov. 16, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities for the new bridge. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, Nov. 12, through Friday, Nov. 17, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Motorists accessing Whisper Bay Boulevard from U.S. 98 will encounter a new traffic configuration. Travel lanes will be shifted slightly west and reduced to one entry lane, and one exit lane, to allow for crews to perform roadway reconstruction activities on the north side of the westbound lanes.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Ice Flyers Produce A Night To Remember With Blue Angels, Special Uniforms, Shutout Win
November 12, 2023
by Bill Vilona
If this were possible, the Ice Flyers’ much-anticipated Blue Angels Night on Veterans Day exceeded its own lofty expectations.
The uniforms wowed. So did the crowd. The arena was loud. And the team’s dominating performance made a Pensacola treasure proud.
For more photos, click or tap here.
In an almost too-great-to-be-true experience inside the Pensacola Bay Center, the Ice Flyers started the game with two goals in the first 90 seconds, added two more in a 25-second span later in the first period and went on to a 6-0 victory against the Knoxville Ice Bear amid a crowd of 6,017 in the arena.
“An event like this, the front office with (team owner) Greg (Harris) and his crew have been working on this event for a year,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “You put in a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point, then you get the crowd in the building and then it’s up to the boys (players) to go ahead and put on the effort and put on the performance and they took care of business.
“What a special night. With the Blue Angels pilots in, with it being Veterans Day, the environment was unreal. The uniforms, creativity from Greg and his team about how good we looked. And it’s look good, play good, right? And that is kinda the type of night it was.”
From the Ice Flyers pregame entrance, it was followed by the ceremonial puck drop featuring Commander Alexander “Boss” Armatas, the commanding office of the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron based at Naval Air Station-Pensacola
When the game ended, the Ice Flyers players were joined in a center-ice salute with the Blue Angels and support staff and a photo was taken that will be a keepsake memory.
“Those guys are obviously very talented at what they do and I’m sure they had a great time coming out and seeing us and seeing those jerseys,” said Ice Flyers defenseman Zac Herrmann, who scored two goals in the game. “Pretty cool tribute for us. Yeah, it was a super fun night.”
The Ice Flyers wore specially-crafted uniforms, made by OT Sports and approved by the Blue Angels, were complimented by yellow gloves and helmets, made by Warrior Hockey to complete the look.
The game-worn jerseys were then part on auction that will conclude Monday.
The Ice Flyers pulled off the rarest feat in working with the Blue Angels and their legal team to make a night like Saturday possible. It became something unique in professional
sports and happened just one week from the Blue Air Angels homecoming air show at Naval Air Station-Pensacola to close out their 2023 national schedule.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey,” said Ice Flyers goaltender Kaden Fulcher, 25, an Ontario native, who played a game in 2019 in net for the Detroit Red Wings and has played on a several different American Hockey League teams – the next highest level to the NHL – during his career.
He stopped all 29 shots Saturday to record his second shutout in three days, his first at the Bay Center and reacted with visible emotion afterward.
“These guys are probably the best group of guys I have met in my life, so I am really excited to spend this year with them,” Fulcher said.
The win Saturday enabled the Ice Flyers (6-3) to record their third win in three nights, beginning with the 4-0 road shutout win at
Birmingham on Thursday, followed by Friday’s 5-4 win against Knoxville.
This latest one left no doubt.
Just 1-minute, 10-seconds into the game, Cooper Jones scored on an assist from team captain Garrett Milan. Hermann, who is playing with his younger brother, Lucas, an Ice Flyers center, for the first time in a long while, scored the game’s second goal 10 seconds later.
“Me and Coops were talking after that shift and we have never, ever had that happen before where two d (defensemen) scored on the first shift,” Herrmann said. “So obviously that creates a lot of momentum for the team and the crowd and it’s easy to build off that kind of stuff.”
Six minutes later, Mitch Atkins scored on a power play goal. Jordan Henderson followed 25 seconds later to find the back of the net and suddenly it’s 4-0 with more than 13 minutes left in the first period.
“It was great,” Graham said. “We talked about having a great start. That is very important for us on home ice to make sure we can kind of get the crowd involved in it right away.
“I have been on the other side of it, too, (down 4-0), so I try to enjoy while I can, because the way that hockey is have been on the other side too, so you try and enjoy it while you can.”
At that point, Knoxville pulled its goaltender Cody Karpinski and put in Kristian Stead. In the second period, Herrmann got his second goal, then Ivan Bondarenko broke free in the third period and made a nifty move to get the puck past Stead for a 6-0 lead.
It all led into an unforgettable night for the players and the Ice Flyers franchise, which is celebrating its 15th season and attracted more than 11,000 fans in two weekend games against Knoxville.
“It’s really hard to find words to describe it, to be honest,” Fulcher said. “The guys opened up out there, four quick ones in the first (period). We
knew going in how special this night was, how special it was for the community. And just to see the support from the fans for the Navy and for us, it was unbelievable.
“I think when I look back at the end of my career, this is going to be one of those games that is going to be very hard to beat.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Birmingham Bulls
WHEN: Nov. 17-18
WHERE: Friday’s game in Birmingham at 7:05 p.m.. Saturday at Bay Center, 7:05 p.m.
Tate Cheerleaders Win At UCA Regionals, Earn Bids To Nationals
November 12, 2023
The Tate High Cheerleading program earned several awards in the UCA National Championships competition in Mobile over the weekend.
Varsity
-Traditional: 1st place and a bid to Nationals
-Game Day: 3rd place and a bid to Nationals
JV
-Traditional: 1st place
-Game Day: 1st place and a bid to Nationals
Freshmen:
-Game Day: 2nd place and a bid to Nationals (in an all JV division)
Photos for NorthEscambai.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Property Tax Bills Are In The Mail. Here’s How You Can Get A Discount.
November 12, 2023
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector has announced the collection of the 2023 real estate and tangible personal property taxes began on November 1. This year’s rolls include 183,797 accounts totaling over $436 million. Bills were delivered to the post office on October 31 for mailing.
Chapter 197.162, Florida Statutes provides discounts for early payments as follows:
• November payments are discounted four percent
• December payments are discounted three percent
• January payments are discounted two percent
• February payments are discounted one percent
• March payments receive no discount, and the gross amount is due by close of business on March 31, 2024. Any payment made April 1 and after is considered delinquent and will be assessed a penalty.
When mailed, discounts are determined by postmark of payment. When a discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the discount period will be extended to the next business day for online payments or walk-in customers.
Many options are available:
• online payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com – Pay by eCheck. There is never an extra fee. Once your payment has posted, proof of payment may be printed online.
• 24–hour drop box
In addition, help is available for those taxpayers who may need to make partial payments. If a property owner decides to make partial payments, the following information applies:
• Property owner must submit an application (found on the back of the tax bill, online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com or available at the tax collector’s office) with initial partial payment.
• Partial payments are accepted for current year taxes only between November 1 and March 31.
• No discount allowed for partial payments.
• A $10 processing fee is deducted from each partial payment.
• Partial payments are not accepted after March 31, and any remaining balance as of April 1 is delinquent and subject to all applicable penalties and fees.
Lunsford also encourages taxpayers to take advantage of the Tax Payment Installment Plan. By utilizing this plan, taxpayers make four quarterly payments instead of one lump sum payment. Each quarterly bill will receive a different discount for early payment as prescribed by Florida Statutes. The quarterly payments are due by the last day of June, September, December, and March. The Installment Payment Plan application deadline for 2024 property taxes is April 30, 2024.
Property owners can apply online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Lunsford said, “The installment program not only helps ease the financial burden on taxpayers by allowing them to spread out the payments, it also provides a discount for making payments on time.”
Lunsford said, “The installment program not only helps ease the financial burden on taxpayers by allowing them to spread out the payments, it also provides a discount for making payments on time.”
Find more information on the installment plan by clicking here.
Tax revenue is generated for the various taxing authorities and is approximated as follows:
• Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – $208 million
• District School Board – $162 million
• City of Pensacola – $28.4 million
• Sheriff MSTU – $13.9 million
• Escambia Children’s Trust – $12 million
• Library MSTU – $10 million
• Northwest Florida Water Management – $669,200
• Downtown Improvement Board – $777,300
• Town of Century – $50,100
MSBU collections are detailed as follows:
• County Fire Protection – $18.2 million
• City Stormwater – $3.1 million
• Other MSBUs – $4.6 million
Beulah Master Plan Meetings Rescheduled For December
November 12, 2023
Beulah Master Plan Meetings have been rescheduled.
The meeting will be held December 5-6 at the Beulah Senior Citizen Center on Woodside Drive.