Firefighters Battle Van Fire At Cantonment Gas Station
March 2, 2023
Firefighters battled a vehicle fire at a Cantonment gas station Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported in the engine compartment of a passenger van at the gas station on Highway 29 near Tree Street, across from International Paper. The fire was quickly extinguished by Escambia County Fire Rescue..
There were no injuries reported, and no damage to any structures.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Manager, Customer Charged After Shots Fired Disturbance At Century Mexican Restaurant
March 2, 2023
The manager of a Century Mexican restaurant and a customer are facing charges following in incident an which a juvenile employee allegedly fired a gun.
Manager Salvador Sotelo-Nunez (pictured left), age 48 of Flomaton, was charged with furnishing a weapon to a minor under age 18, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and battery. Customer Brent Allen Johnson (pictured right), 21, was charged with felony criminal mischief with damage over $1,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call January 19 at Vallarta’s Restaurant at 9010 North Century Boulevard.
According to an arrest report, Johnson and a female were asked to leave because the restaurant was closing. Sotelo-Nuneztold deputies that Johnson paid his bill and became angry on the way out, lunging toward him in an aggressive manner. He said a scuffle followed at the door when Johnson repeatedly pulled on the door in an attempt to open it and regain entry to the restaurant, the report states.
Sotelo-Nunez told deputies that “Johnson forcefully pulled the door open against his attempts to hold it closed, he punched Johnson in the face”. Sotelo-Nunez said he and Johnson began to fight outside the business, at which time Johnson went to his truck and returned with a firearm, the report continues.
Sotelo-Nunez went to his office to retrieve his .380 handgun, and a juvenile employee told Sotelo-Nunez to give him the handgun, ECSO said. The juvenile employee then allegedly fired the gun out the door of the restaurant. He later told deputies he fired three shots — two rounds fired into the air as warning shots and one at the rear wheel of Johnson’s truck as he was leaving the restaurant parking lot. Three shell casings were recovered by investigators.
Sotelo-Nunez claimed damage to the door was caused by Johnson punching it, deputies said, and Sotelo-Nunez stated he wished to file charges.
Johnson told deputies that after Sotelo-Nunez forced them to leave, Sotelo-Nunez stepped outside and punched him in the face. He told deputies that he punched and kicked the door because he was angry after being punched in the face, the report states. He told deputies that he never pointed the gun at anyone and kept it in his waistband.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance video showed Johnson exiting the restaurant at 10:14 p.m., and Sotelo-Nunez following and pushing him in the back and out the door. Sotelo-Nunez then pushed him again, prompting a physical altercation between the two. The video continues to show Sotelo-Nunez retrieve the weapon and give it to the juvenile employee who unlocked the door, went outside and fired a round over North Century Boulevard. After two more shots, the juvenile returned the gun to its holster and placed it inside on the bar.
A second video, the ECSO said, showed the parking lot with Johnson and Sotelo-Nunez in a physical altercation, and it showed Johnson punching the door. It shows Johnson retrieve a firearm from his truck but never point it at anyone, keeping it pointed at the ground. Deputies said the video showed the juvenile employee fired across North Century Boulevard and at Johnson’s truck twice. The employee then exited the restaurant into the parking lot, still pointing the gun at the pickup as it drove northbound on Century Boulevard, according to the arrest report.
It was not immediately clear if the juvenile was charged in the incident.
First Baptist Bratt Holding Spring Fling On Saturday
March 2, 2023
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a community Spring Fling this Saturday.
The free event from 1-3 p.m. will include games, food, popcorn, snowcones, a bounce house and more.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt is located at 4570 West Highway 4 in Bratt, just west of Northview High School.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Return To Their Towers
March 2, 2023
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have returned to their towers on Pensacola Beach.
Initially, one to three towers at Casino Beach will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, shifting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Sunday, March 12. As summer approaches, staffing will increase to provide coverage at up to 10 towers, including the towers at Gulf Islands National Seashore, which begin staffing Memorial Day weekend.
In preparation for the 2023 season, Pensacola Beach hired 14 new lifeguards and welcomed 36 returning lifeguards with over 60 hours of open water training, emergency medical training and more.
Last season, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards performed 98 rescues from drowning and 115 assists to swimmers experiencing moderate distress. They also attended to 54 major medical incidents and assisted 30 patients for EMS transport.
“Our lifesaving team is prepared to prevent and respond to all unknown events that may occur in this amazing and wonderful part of our world,” said Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood.
Annual Rotarians Against Hunger Event Provides 40,500 Meals For Manna
March 2, 2023
Rotary Clubs of Northwest Florida joined Manna Food Bank in the fight against hunger for the 11th Annual Rotarians Against Hunger event.
Rotarians recently packed approximately 40,500 lentil casserole meals for neighbors in need served through Manna’s pantry and food security programs.
The Rotarians Against Hunger project provides much-needed food during the winter and early spring months when giving has decreased and need has increased,” said Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker. “Last year, Manna provided food assistance to 69,095 people – a 122% increase over the year prior. Many are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family due to rising food, utility, and housing costs. Thanks to our Rotary friends, thousands of our neighbors in need will be given the gift of nutritious food.”
More than 170 Rotarians representing all 12 clubs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties participated, donating more than 340 hours of service.
“This was the 11th year that Rotary teamed up with Manna packing meals that will be distributed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to help families in need,” said Mike Stahl, Rotarians Against Hunger Project Chair. “Through this project, local Rotarians are striving to exemplify the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, and support our local community.”
Rotarians Against Hunger is a service project of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) that launched in 2012, and since then, more than 771,900 meals have been assembled for distribution to the hungry.
Enjoy A ‘Night Of Nature’ Friday Night At The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
March 2, 2023
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center’s annual “Night of Nature” will be Friday night from 5:30 until 8:30.
The event is free and open to the public. It will be a fun filled night for the entire family. Visitors can meet owls with the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, peer through telescopes into the beautiful night sky with the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association, observe aquatic animals in their different aquatic habitats, learn about exotic creatures, visit with the resident reptiles in the Reptile Room, stroll through the butterfly house, and more.
There will be food trucks on site (not free).
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment For more information, call (850) 937-2117.
Donations will be accepted. Some suggested items are:
Food for animals:
- Wild bird seed
- Black oil sunflower seed
- Turtle pellets
- Greens (kale and collard)
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Frozen shrimp
Miscellaneous Items:
- Hand sanitizer
- Bleach
- Lysol/Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Paper Towels
- Copy paper
- Batteries (AA, AAA, D, and CR2032)
- Nectar and host plants for butterflies
- Ticonderoga pencils #2
- Compost
- Sprinklers
- Garden hoses
- Window cleaner (for tanks)
Gift cards to pet stores, hardware stores, other major retailers are also needed. The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is part of the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To Robertsdale
March 2, 2023
Robertsdale defeated the Tate Aggies 6-2 Wednesday night in Robertsdale.
Kate Balagbagan went three and a third innings for Tate, allowing four hits, four runs, one walk and striking out two. Jordan Smith pitched one and a third innings, striking out two and walking one. Peyton Womack went for one and a third innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and walking one.
Olivea Latner had a homer for the Aggies in the seventh inning, Charli Vinson, Karea Wine and Womack also added a hit each for Tate.
After a weekend tournament, Tate will host Pace on Tuesday.
Tate Tennis Boys And Girls Defeat Milton
March 2, 2023
Tate High School Tennis boys and girls defeated Milton 7-0 on Wednesday. The boys team is 3-3 overall while the girls improved to 5-1. Up next, Tate will host East Hill Christian School on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspect Robbed Convenience Store, Fled On Scooter, ECSO Says
March 1, 2023
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says this suspect has been identified. No further details were provided.
The suspect robbed the Circle K at Nine Mile and University Parkway on February 20, the ECSO said Wednesday. The suspect fled on a red and silver scooter.
“The suspect may be responsible for other thefts at the location and is believed to reside in the area of University Parkway and Nine Mile Road,” according to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Rep. Michelle Salzman Calls For Resignation Of School Superintendent Tim Smith
March 1, 2023
Rep. Michelle Salzman is calling for the resignation of appointed Escambia County School Superintendent Tim Smith in a letter sent Wednesday to Smith and the school board.
Salzman said she has concerns that include “Warrington Middle School grades, military student access to magnet schools, student discipline, Escambia Children’s Trust, workforce development and mental health/wellbeing of the children”.
“On several occasions I offered every resource available to create pathways to success for our students in this community,” she said, including Triumph dollars, workforce development partnerships guaranteeing jobs for graduates, a Mental Health Taskforce, magnet schools for military families and more.
“The list goes on and on, where the community leaders alongside me have literally begged in some cases for our superintendent to take action and he has failed,” Salzman said. “This failure is one that the community must own. Dr. Smith’s inability to be effective is not solely on him.”
Salzman’s call comes as the school district is set to discuss a referendum that would put an elected, versus appointed, superintendent back on the ballot.
“I always promised my community I would be the first to admit my mistake if the appointed model did not work. Having said that, we have only had one appointment. Before I will support changing the appointed model back to elected, the school board needs to hire a leader who can make progress in the district that will bring trust back into the process, empower our parents and our teachers, as well as provide true community collaboration in our schools. Every day that we prolong this transition to new leadership there is a child who is bullied, a child who drops out, a child who attempts suicide, a child who loses hope. We cannot stall any longer. For the sake of our children’s future in Escambia County, we must have a true leader. If our school board as a majority cannot make this choice for our children, I am asking Dr. Smith to make it for them. Save the taxpayers the time and effort, but most importantly, save our children.”
Salzman said the call for Smith’s resignation should come as no surprise to Smith because she has held “dozens of meetings” with him and other stakeholders and members of the community.
In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36 voting yes and 49.64 percent voting now. This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county; all of the other attempts failed.
The term of then superintendent Malcolm Thomas ended in 2020, and Dr. Tim Smith was appointed as the new school district boss.
District 1 member Kevin Adams intends to present a resolution to the school board on March 21 that, if approved, will officially request a referendum to switch superintendent back to an elected job. The Escambia County Commission would then have to pass a resolution asking the legislature to place the question on the ballot during the presidential preference primary on March 19, 2024.