County Websites And Services Restored After Morning Network Outage
September 14, 2023
Escambia County websites and services were down for a period of time Thursday morning due to network issues.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said all of his branches across the county were down and unable to assist citizens due to the outage.
The outage impacted networks managed by Escambia County. This did not include the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Man Found Deceased At Local Publix; Foul Play Not Suspected
September 14, 2023
A man was found deceased at local Publix Thursday morning, and investigators do not currently suspect foul play.
The man was discovered just before 10:30 a.m. inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Publix on Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the death appeared to have been from natural causes. The incident remains under investigation as is standard procedure.
NortheEscambia.com file photo.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Highway 297A, Sherrilane Drive Area
September 14, 2023
THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE HAS BEEN LIFTED.
Due to a broken 12-inch water main, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of Highway 297A and the surrounding area.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
- Hwy 297A (Address Range: 2800 – 3028)
- Sherrilane Drive (Address Range: 2334 – 2634)
- 2430 Sandicrest Dr.
This story will be updated when the advisory has been lifted.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Man Gomez Wanted As Century Town Manager Has Accepted Job In Arkansas
September 14, 2023
The man interim Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., wanted to hire as a temporary interim town manager has taken a job in Arkansas.
Minutes after he was sworn into office, Gomez asked the council to allow him to enter into negotiations with Robert Thompson to serve in the position for three months. The move came after Gomez admitted that he was in over his head, and presented Thompson as his choice to help lead the town on a temporary basis.
Texarkana, Arkansas, offered Thompson their city manager job on September 5, and he’s now inked a contract. Texarkana City Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson told NorthEscambia.com that Thompson’s first day on the job in the city of 36,000 residents will be next Monday, September 18.
Thompson is the former city manager of Defuniak Springs, Florida.
Last week, the Century town council declined to allow Gomez to begin negotiations with Thompson. The Century council voted 3-0 to advertise for an interim town manager or consultant through noon on September 19 with the Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors and League of City Managers. The motion did not include advertising locally. The council plans to consider their choice seven hours after the deadline during a regular council meeting.
Pictured top: Robert Thompson addressed the Century Town Council on August 28, shortly after interim Mayor Luis Gomez was sworn into office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter For I-110 Wrong Way Crash
September 14, 2023
A Pace woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash on I-110 last April.
Julia Katelyn Jablonski, 24, was driving her 2017 Toyota Yaris northbound in the southbound lanes of I-110 on April 22, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Carvin Darnell McGruder of Pensacola, Florida was traveling southbound in a 2018 Toyota Camry. Troopers aid Jablonski entered the interstate from Chase Street and collided head-on with the 2018 Toyota Camry driven by
McGruder. McGruder suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
FHP said Jablonski was identified as the operator of the vehicle traveling the wrong way and later discovered to be under the influence at the time of the crash.
Jablonski surrendered to FHP Wednesday and was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Molino Man Arrested On Drug, Resisting Charges After Traffic Stop
September 14, 2023
A Molino man is facing drug charges after allegedly running from a traffic stop.
Virgil Kenneth Mitchell, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
On Monday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a lights and sirens traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to yield to approaching vehicles as it pulled from a convenience store into traffic on Pensacola Boulevard at Kenmore Road. The vehicle came to stop behind the Extended Stay. Mitchell exited the vehicle and ran, leaping over several fences, according to an arrest report.
After a brief chase, Michell was detained in the area of West Pinestead Road and Pensacola Boulevard.
An ECSO K-9 alerted on the vehicle, leading to a search. Deputies reported finding 5.9 grams of amphetamine concealed in a paper towel, 1.5 grams of amphetamine concealed in a $1 bill, and methamphetamine residue in a clear plastic bag and a glass pipe.
Mitchell’s statements to deputies were redacted from the arrest report. He was also cited for failing to yield.
Flomaton Crash Claims Life Of Jay Man
September 14, 2023
A crash Wednesday morning in front of Flomaton High School claimed the life of a Jay man.
The crash happened on Highway 31 just after 9 a.m. when a Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by 68-year old Raymond McDaniel collided with a semi-truck.
McDaniel retired from the Town of Jay after nearly 20 years of service.
The Flomaton Police Department and troopers from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are continuing their investigation.
IMPACT 100 Announces Finalists For Eleven $108,364 Grants
September 14, 2023
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a women’s philanthropic organization, announced their 2023 grant finalists Wednesday. Eleven of the 15 nonprofit finalists will each receive a grant of $108,364 at the group’s annual meeting on October 22.
The 15 finalists are:
ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY
- General Daniel Chappie James Jr. Memorial Foundation — General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Memorial Plaza
- Pensacola Children’s Chorus dba Pensacola Children’s Chorus – STEP BOLDLY: Building Confidence with a Reliable Performance Stage
- The Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee dba Santa Rosa Creek Band — Traditional Council Roundhouse
EDUCATION
- Santa Rosa County 4-H Association dba Santa Rosa County 4-H — To Make the Best Better: Finish the 4-H Field Education Facility
- The Pensacola State College Foundation – Supporting Excellence and Capacity through Pensacola State College’s Nonprofit Center
- Umbrella Learning Academy Corp. dba Umbrella Learning Academy — ULA Gives Kids a Life
ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION
- Dixon School of Arts & Sciences dba Dixon School of Arts and Science – IMPACT 100 Natural Wonders Park
- Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge dba Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge – Near to Nature: Environment Education “Wild Pursuits” Nature Clubhouse
- Ocean Hour dba Ocean Hour – Improving Sustainability in Our Pensacola Parks
FAMILY
- Children in Crisis – Wheels of Impact
- My Father’s Arrows – Rolling On to a Bigger Vision
- Valerie’s House dba Valerie’s House Pensacola – Build for Valerie’s House Pensacola Permanent Location: The Kitchen Is The Heart of a Home
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida dba CIL of Northwest Florida – MILES Project (Mobile Independent Living Education and Services-Health and Wellness)
- Health and Hope Clinic dba Health and Hope Clinic – Building Health and Wellness for our Community
- Santa Rosa Kids’ House dba Santa Rosa Kids’ House – Healing: The Experience
This is the 20th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 142 impactful grants totaling $15,092,020 to nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Buxton Debuts, Banfield Homers In 3-2 Wahoos Win
September 14, 2023
The Blue Wahoos’ latest new pitcher shined on Wednesday.
And another team feat was attained.
In his Double-A debut, Ike Buxton set an early tone by throwing four scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit, then Pensacola’s bullpen sealed a 3-2 victory against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium that added another season superlative.
It was this team’s 77th win, pushing them into the second-most wins in team history. In addition to that, Will Banfield’s solo home run in the fourth inning – the first run of the game – was the Blue Wahoos’ 162nd homer this season, which is now tied for the sixth-most in modern Southern League history since 1964.
On Wednesday, the team transformed into the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok as part of the Copa de la Diversión in Minor League Baseball.
The game began with Buxton in command. He joined the team earlier this week after pitching in 2023 for the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin. The 23-year-old right-hander from Sun Valley, Idaho was a 15th round draft selection in 2022 by the Marlins.
He was 6-2 with a 3.01 earned run average before Wednesday’s no-decision. Chandler Jozwiak, another pitcher who began this year in Beloit, followed and got his second win with two hitless innings.
Luarbert Arias and Dylan Bice preserved the win in late relief, with Bice getting his second save.
In the ninth inning, the M-Braves’ Cade Bunnell blasted a one-out Bice pitch out of the ballpark to make it a one-run game. With two outs, Drew Campbell singled and Cody Milligan walked on a 3-2 pitch Bice believed was a strike.
But Bice then responded by getting Luke Waddell to fly out to end the game.
Pensacola got its second run when Banfield came back up in the fifth inning and drove in Nasim Nuñez on a sacrifice fly. Nuñez had walked and advanced to third on Paul McIntosh’s single.
Norel González provided the game-winning RBI with his eighth-inning single to score Bennett Hostetler.
The third game of series with the M-Braves is Thursday, with the Blue Wahoos (77-55) taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing their specialty uniforms on “Mullet Thursday.” There will also be drink specials for those of legal age at various locations on the stadium concourse.
The Blue Wahoos will enter with a 4-6 record in the Mullet uniforms.
The Blue Wahoos’ top pitcher, left-hander Patrick Monteverde (10-4, 2.97 earned run average), will make his final regular-season start Thursday against M-Braves righthander Daniel Martinez (0-2 5.56).
Pregame activities will begin at 6:15 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 6:35 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
‘Armed And Dangerous’ Suspect Wanted For Burglaries In Walnut Hill, Atmore, Bay Minette
September 13, 2023
Authorities are searching for an “armed and dangerous” suspect in connection with burglaries in Walnut Hill, Atmore and Bay Minette.
Mario Dewayne Mendez. 46, is wanted for a September 5 burglary on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill where a golf cart, tools, camera accessories and other items were stolen, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe Mendez is responsible for multiple thefts Monday and Tuesday in Atmore where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
“Various Items from weapons and other property have been stolen,” APD said. “Mendez is presumed to be armed and dangerous due to the items stolen from various properties.”
He is also wanted by the Bay Minette Police Department.
Anyone with information on Mendez’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Image page top and first image below from a Walnut Hill burglary courtesy of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Bottom two images and photo inset courtesy Atmre Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
