Tate High Student Named Escambia County’s Sunshine State Scholar
June 28, 2023
Synoma Perea, an incoming senior at Tate High School, was named the Sunshine State Scholar for Escambia County. This honor is in recognition of outstanding achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Perea plans to major in mechanical engineering in college. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century, Flomaton Split Cost For Paving ‘Alley 5′ On The State Line
June 28, 2023
Century and Flomaton split the cost for the recent paving of a dirt road named Alley 5.
Alley 5 runs east off Old Flomaton Road at the state line. Part of the road is in Florida, and part is in Alabama.
Flomaton surfaced the roadway as several other streets were paved in that town. Century’s share of the paving cost was $35,369.55.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The red line depicts the state line along Alley 5. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Molino 5U Wins Gospel Projects T-ball Tournament; NEP Takes Runner-Up
June 28, 2023
Molino 5U won the Gospel Projects T-ball World Series tournament Tuesday. NEP Gold claimed the tournament runner-up spot. Pictured: Molino 5U above, NEP Gold below. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP 7U, 8U And 15U Baseball Take First In Gulf Coast Rec Classic, 10U Second
June 28, 2023
Three NEP teams finished on top at the recent Gulf Coast Recreation Classic. NEP 7U baseball, NEP 8U baseball, and NEP 15U Baseball took first, while NEP 10U took second placed in the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Third Atmore Man Charged In Wallace Lake Road Murder In Pace
June 27, 2023
A third Atmore man was arrested Tuesday for a fatal shooting June 19 in Pace.
Joseph Liebe, 24, was in the area of Wallace Lake Road off Quintette Road and was shot while driving away. His vehicle crashed into a nearby wooded area.
The third and final suspect, 20-year old Ty’jerrious Keon Malone of Atmore, was arrested for first degree murder Tuesday afternoon. He remains in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center awaiting extradition to Santa Rosa County.
Last week, Ja’cobey Quartise James, 20, was charged with first degree murder, and Marcus Terel Dickinson, 29, was charged with second degree murder. Both have been extradited to Florida and are in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said last Thursday that a definite motive is not known, but investigators believe it was a robbery. Johnson said there was no evidence of any drug activity, but it is believed the suspects had some sort of contact with Liebe earlier in the day and knew he might have been carrying money.
Shortly after the murder, deputies received a basic description of the suspect vehicle as a maroon Tahoe. That vehicle was later traced to Atmore, where search warrants were served on the vehicle and at the residences of James and Dickinson.
Johnson said that social media rumors that this was some sort of gang activity are not true.
“There is no gang activity,” the sheriff said. “We don’t have any evidence to link this to gang activity.”
Century Water System Experiences Lower Pressure After Contractor Hits Water Main
June 27, 2023
A large part of the Town of Century water system experienced a drop in water pressure Tuesday after a contractor hit a water main on the north side of town.
Century Water Supervisor Heath Burkett said the contractor hit a water main on State Line Road that goes to a booster pump, lowering the pressure.
The water department was able to valve-off the area, restoring pressure by early afternoon.
Burkett said the pressure did not drop low enough to mandate a boil water notice; the water remained safe to drink.
Mayor Ben Boutwell praised the department for their quick response while working in Tuesday’s extreme heat.
Reminder: District 5 Cottage Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Day Is Wednesday
June 27, 2023
Residents of Cottage Hill will have the opportunity to dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge on Wednesday, June 28 during a District 5 Neighborhood Cleanup.
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy: Residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of residences in the area by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Tires and paint cans should be separate from all other debris. Debris piles should not be placed under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. All items, including containers, will be collected.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The collection area is east of Highway 95A, between the side streets north of McKenzie Road to Eden Road and to the east of Williams Ditch Road (see map above).
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive cleanup effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 5,898 tons (11,796,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Cantonment Man Charged With Hitting Woman In The Face With A Laptop
June 27, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of hitting a woman in the face with a laptop computer.
Adam Hassan Houssini, 42, was charged with felony aggravated battery misdemeanor obstruction of justice.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a reported disturbance at a Cantonment home to hear a man and woman inside fighting and both yelling for help. Due to the circumstances, the deputy kicked the door open to find Houssini approaching and yelling, asking if the deputy was going to shoot him, according to an arrest report. The deputy had his service weapon drawn at the low ready position.
“Houssini ignored multiple commands from all officers on the scene to turn around, put his hands behind his back, and quit resisting, per the report. Houssini closed the door again before deputies kicked the front door again.
Houssini continued to resist multiple deputies, before he “was assisted to the ground while being tased”, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
During an argument over finances, Houssini grabbed a laptop and hit the woman across the face,” the report states. Deputies said the woman suffered multiple facial injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
Houssini was released from the Escambia County Jail with a $8,500 bond.
Local Hams Take To The Airwaves For Amateur Radio Field Day, Practicing Emergency Communications
June 27, 2023
Local ham radio operators at two locations in Escambia County took part in the 2023 American Radio Relay League Field Day this past weekend.
ARRL Field Day was an opportunity for about 40,000 amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spent the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association operated continuously from 1 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park off East 10 Mile Road.
“After Hurricane Ivan in Escambia County, we were the only thing talking for the 36 hours,” said amateur radio operator Gene Bannon, call sign KB4HAH. “Sheriff’s deputies couldn’t talk to each other; the fire departments couldn’t talk to each other. We were the communications source for the first 36 hours, and by then they brought in the satellite trucks and all the other stuff. That’s one of the reasons why we like to think amateur radio exists.”
Club member set up their amateur radio equipment — ranging from old 1980s radios to modern digital gear and satellite communications. With a generator, solar panels and portable antennas, including a wire antenna spanning half a soccer field, they were soon communicating with ham operators across the United States and Canada.
The goal was to reach other ham operators in as many Canadian provinces and U.S. states as possible, including Alaska and Hawaii. The Hawaii contact was checked off by about 4 p.m. Saturday.
“Amateurs are out here doing what we’re doing out in the parks, out in the fields, out in the woods,” he said. “Trying to make as many contacts as we can,” Bannon said.
During our visit to Ashton Brosnaham Park Saturday afternoon, a digital scan of the 10-meter amateur radio band showed just one other weak signal, but they were able to make contact with the operator in Venezuela.
The Southern Amateur Radio Union (SARU) participated from Travis Nelson Park on West Highway 4 in Bratt, near Northview High School. Club members from both Escambia counties (Alabama and Florida) participated from noon Saturday until noon Sunday. The equipment in Bratt was a bit simpler including handheld radios to reach a nearby repeater. Operators would carefully tune radios, repeat their call sign and see who would answer from where.
“Sidney, Australia, mate,” the radio boomed at Travis Nelson Park Saturday evening. Contact had been made from some 9,000 miles away from a picnic table in Bratt.
Local hams participate in providing emergency communications during hurricanes and other disasters when normal communications can be knocked out of service.
The amateur radio operators have their own equipment inside the Escambia County Operations Center, ready to provide needed communications during local emergencies. That room is being named for Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, a ham operator that passed away in May 2021.
For a photo gallery from both field day sites,, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
He Shot Himself In The Leg. Now He’s Looking At Up To 30 Years In Prison.
June 27, 2023
An Escambia County man who shot himself in the leg last year is facing up to 30 years in prison.
Kopelyn Gerard Gildon, 52, was found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The State Attorney’s Office will pursue habitual felony offender status against him.
Gildon was in possession of a firearm when he shot himself in the leg on May 12, 2022. But he tried to convince the jury that he had no knowledge of the firearm, and that the firearm was accidentally discharged. His testimony conflicted with the testimony of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement firearm analyst’s testimony that the particular handgun, a 107 Military 22 semi-automatic handgun, could not discharge without a trigger pull.
He will be sentenced in August.