Century Man Tries To Run Over Man He Thought Was Convicted Sex Offender, ECSO Says
February 22, 2023
A Century man is charged after allegedly trying to run over a man he thought was a convicted sex offender as he walked out of a liquor store.
Kinte Hassan Franklin, 45, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Franklin was the driver of a maroon car with the window partially down outside the Fusion Liquor store next door to the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard.
The driver, Franklin, told him “I’m going to kill you because you are a convicted child molester,” according to an ECSO arrest report. He then turned the car around and struck the victim in the legs, the report continues. The victim’s wife was with him at the time. She told deputies that another occupant of the vehicle told Franklin, “You just need to run over this [expletive] you just need to kill him”.
According to the ECSO, surveillance video showed Franklin circle the parking lot multiple times and pull up to the victim and say something. The video then shows Franklin pull into a parking spot if front of the store, back out, and then pull forward, striking the victim with the vehicle multiple times.
Franklin was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice National Sex Offender Registry, the victim is not a convicted sex offender.
Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Auction Is This Saturday
February 22, 2023
The 48th Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction will be held this Saturday, February 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but also household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more.
The sale takes place at the Walnut Hill Community Center, 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School. The deadline for adding lots is 8:00 the morning of the auction.
This is an open, no reserve sale. Ten percent of the price will be assessed to the buyer for all lots sold, with a $500 maximum. There is a $5 minimum fee per lot, and sellers must be present to “no sale” a lot. Settlement must be made the day of the sale with cash, check, cashier’s check or credit card. All sellers will be paid by a check in the mail.
For more information or consignments, call (850) 294-0395 or (850) 380-9973.
Two Escambia Volunteer Firefighters Honored For Military Service
February 22, 2023
Two Escambia County Fire Rescue volunteer firefighters were recognized recently at the Pensacola Navy League Military Recognition Day.
Petty Officer Michael Rosa, USN, and Staff Sergeant Cheyann Smith, USAF, were honored during the ceremony. Outside of their military duties, Smith serves as a volunteer out of the Beulah Fire Station, and Rosa serves out of the Myrtle Grove station.
Rosa received the 2023 Volunteer Service Medal with a certificate of recognition signed by President Joe Biden. Rosa serves as the project lead for a combat support team, leading 26 sailors covering 10 lines of effort. He also is a target analysis report subject matter expert. He has dedicated over 500 hours of service to Escambia County, responding to several fire rescue calls as well as performing EMS-related services.
Smith was recognized as the 2023 Margaret Flowers Award recipient. She serves as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the commander’s support section. She completely overhauled the command booster club to hold 15 separate events which funded her squadron’s holiday party and provided financial support for a squadron mate that lost their spouse. While off-duty, Smith has responded to over 80 fire rescue calls for ECFR. In addition, she was named the 2023 Florida Mother of the Year by the American Mothers Organization.
“Taking the time and being willing to go out of your way to help others without being told to in itself is awesome,” said ECFR Assistant District Chief Yoshimi Core. “‘Service Beyond Self’ is a term heard in the military and in Public Safety. It is a trait of behaviors clearly evident by two of Escambia County’s firefighters. Both Escambia County representatives are also in the military and they share the ‘esprit de corps’ in serving their country and their neighborhood. We can all take pride in having members with these positive traits.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Garbage Rate Increase. For Some, It’s 5%. Others Will Pay 105% More.
February 22, 2023
The Century Town Council has approved a $1.25 garbage rate increase, but some residents will see an increase of over $13 a month.
Everyone has at least the minimum one-can residential service. But they were charged between $12.98 to $24.85 due to billing blunders.Town Clerk Leslie Howington said no one was paying what was the correct rate of $25.34.
Tuesday night, the council approved a 4.93% , or $1.25, increase, to the correct rate for one weekly pick up of a trash can and twice per month curbside debris pickup of household items and vegetative debris. That puts the new garbage rate at $26.59 across the board.
For a resident that was paying the incorrect rate of $12.98, the new correct charge of $26.59 equates to an increase of $13.61, or 105%.
The town contracts with Republic Services to collect garbage within the town limits. Republic has a provision in their contract that allows them to increase the rates they charge the town each December to match the Consumer Price Index. The town annually passes the rate increase directly along to residents, usually in December.
But over the last several years, town staff had failed to actually adjust the rates in the billing system, so the town has been losing the revenue while paying Republic more.
ECUA D5 Member Stephens Pays Off Student Lunchroom Debt At Tate, Ransom, Kingsfield
February 22, 2023
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 5 member Kevin Stephens has paid off the lunchroom student debt at three North Escambia schools.
Stephens made personal donations to pay off cafeteria balances at Tate High, Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools. He said $1,000 per school will pay off any outstanding balances and cover future balances for the remainder of the school year.
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of income, without any application at 44 schools in Escambia County due to the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program for schools in low income students.
Tate, Ransom and Kingsfield are among the schools in Escambia County that are not eligible for the program, but parents may still apply for free or reduced price meals. Applications are available here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Trafficking Fentanyl
February 22, 2023
An Escambia County man is facing up to 30 years in prison for fentanyl trafficking.
Ryan Donald Snodgrass was found guilty of trafficking in fentanyl over 28 grams and driving while license revoked pursuant to habitual traffic offender.
In April 2021, the Florida Highway Patrol stopped Snodgrass for driving with a suspended license. After a K-9 alerted on the vehicle, 56 grams of fentanyl were found under the driver’s seat.
Snodgrass will be sentenced on April 20 and must serve at least a 25 year minimum sentence.
Tate Aggies Tennis Tops Escambia 7-0
February 22, 2023
Tate High School boys and girls tennis defeated Escambia High 7-0 Tuesday. Up next, Aggies tennis will travel to Gulf Breeze on Tuesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Airlifted After Highway 97 Crash Into A Utility Pole
February 21, 2023
One person was airlifted to the hospital following a wreck on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
The driver of a SUV was northbound on Highway 97 just south of Ernest Ward Middle School when she failed to properly negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the roadway, traveled between several trees and struck a utility pole. The pole was broken in the crash, sending power lines to the ground.
One adult was airlifted by MedStar helicopter to a Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Another adult and a toddler were not seriously injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported about 10 customers lost power along Highway 97 as a result of the downed lines.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of 2020 Murder
February 21, 2023
An Escambia County man has been convicted of a 2020 murder.
An Escambia County jury found Trenton Dominic Capri Newkirk, 22, guilty of second degree murder with a firearm.
In the late evening hours of December 29, 2020, at Forest Creek Apartments in Warrington, Newkirk shot and killed 16-year-old Jeffrey Kennell at the front door of Kennell’s apartment. The following day, Newkirk fled to Oregon. Newkirk was subsequently arrested and charged for Kennell’s death.
During Newkirk’s trial, the jury heard evidence that Kennell’s killing was possibly in retaliation for another homicide, which occurred two days prior to Kennell’s. Although Newkirk previously denied being at Forest Creek Apartments on the day of the crime, or having a cell phone, witness testimony placed Newkirk at the scene of the shooting, which was corroborated by location data from his cell phone.
He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced in April.
Juvenile Murdered In Atmore, Second Juvenile Charged
February 21, 2023
Atmore Police have released few details about a murder Monday night.
According to police, a female juvenile was shot in a vehicle about 10 p.m. near an intersection on Carver avenue by another juvenile, according to Sgt. Darrell McMann The suspect then drove the female to the emergency room at Atmore Community Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The suspect has been charged with murder and was transported to the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center.
Atmore Police have not released any names because both parties are juveniles.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured top: A shooting reportedly occurred inside this vehicle, seen parked behind the Atmore Police Department Tuesday morning. Pictured below: The intersection of Carver Avenue and Ashley Street, just over a block from the Atmore Police Department. The shooting reportedly happened somewhere along Carver Avenue. Pictured below: Atmore Community Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
