Woman Charged With Making Terroristic Threat Toward Flomaton Elementary
January 18, 2023
A Flomaton woman is facing felony charges for allegedly threatening to kill everyone at a local elementary school, and the sheriff says the state’s mental health system has failed to help people like her.
Lynda Ann Thompson, 39, was charged with felony making a terrorist threat and disturbing the peace after the incident last Friday at Flomaton Elementary School.
“She went to the school, talking out of her head and basically threatening to kill everyone,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. She did not have any weapons.
According to the school, the campus was immediately placed on lockdown, and law enforcement immediately responded when Thompson was discovered on campus. The school said she did not enter any building on campus.
“She is one of those individuals that mental health has turned their back on and failed to provide the services to those that drastically need it,” Jackson said. “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our schools safe, even if that includes doing mental health’s job.”
Thompson remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Trash Fire Spreads, Ignites Shed
January 18, 2023
A trash fire sparked a fire that destroyed a shed in Cantonment Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 4:15 p.m. in the 2100 block of Pompano Street, just off East Kingsfield Road and Highway 29.
Firefighters arrived to find the shed engulfed in flames that were threatening other nearby sheds. The first shed was destroyed, but Escambia County Fire Rescue was able to prevent damage to the others.
An ECFR investigation determined that a trash fire spread, catching the shed on fire.
There were no injuries reported .
The Cantonment, Ensley, Bellview, Brent, Ferry Pass, and Osceola stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
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Escambia Man Faces Up To Life In Prison For Sexual Battery Of Three Children
January 18, 2023
An Escambia County jury has found an Escambia County man guilty of molesting three children in his care.
James Randall Moehle, 65, was convicted on six counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 16 years old.
“During the trial, it was revealed that James Moehle had been sexually abusing three minor children over several years,” the State Attorney’s Office said.
Moehle faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when he is sentenced on April 20.
Town Of Century Issues Proclamation Honoring Northview Chiefs Football
January 18, 2023
The Town of Century issued a proclamation Tuesday night honoring the Northview Chiefs football team and their season that ended in the FHSAA 1-Rural state title game.
“Thank you all for representing, not only the town, but our local communities as well,” Mayor Ben Boutwell said.
Northview finished an astounding 2022 season, the best in school history, at 13-1. In the state championship game December 10 in Tallahassee, the Chiefs fell to Hawthorne.
Pictured: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell presents a proclamation Tuesday night recognizing the Northview Chiefs to head coach Wes Summerford and assistant coach Jace Gandy. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Crash Claims One Life Of Motorcyclist On Highway 95A In Molino
January 17, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 60-year old Nallen, West Virginia motorcyclist died the the crash.
Troopers said he was southbound on Highway 95A approaching Cedartown Road behind a car driven by a 73-year old Molino woman. She began to slow to turn onto Cedartown Road, and the motorcyclist attempted to pass her. The front of the motorcycle struck the left rear of the car, causing the motorcycle to overturn into the northbound lane. The motorcycle and its rider were then hit by a pickup truck driven by a 56-year old Cantonment man.
The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other two drivers received minor injuries.
No names were released.
Escambia County EMS, the Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With $19K In Public Assistance Fraud
January 17, 2023
A Cantonment woman is facing felony charges for alleged public assistance fraud.
Jessica Lee Showalter, 35, was charged with two counts of welfare fraud.
Between August 21, 2017, and March 31, 2022, Showalter falsely represented permanent household members, wrongly collecting $14,592 worth of food stamps and $4,427.62 in Medicaid benefits, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Funeral Services Set For Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Emond, 104
January 17, 2023
Funeral services have been set for local Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond who passed away January 10 at age 104.
A visitation and reception will be held Friday, January 20 from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Oak Lawn Funeral Home on New Warrington Road, followed by a funeral service from 1:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Emond, CWO4 USN (RET.), spent his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes”.
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
He remained a music man; sometimes leading the music at Gonzalez Methodist and performing with the Pensacola Civic Band.
Last May, Emond broke his own world record when he led the Pensacola Civic Band in the seventh annual Pensacola Memorial Day Concert at the Community Maritime Park amphitheater.
He held the Guinness World Record as “World’s Oldest Conductor” for leading the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note in Glenn Miller’s iconic “In the Mood” at the American Veteran Center’s “America Valor: A Salute to our Heroes”. He set the previous record at age 103 last November in Washington, D.C.
Donna McMillan Named Northview High School Teacher Of The Year
January 17, 2023
Donna McMillan was named the Northview High School Teacher of the Year.
McMillan has taught for eight years, including four years as a reading teacher at Northview. She also coached basketball for three years.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
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Escambia Gas Price Averages $3.08 Per Gallon
January 17, 2023
Florida gas prices declined 6 cents per gallon, during the past week. On Monday, the state average was $3.26 per gallon.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.08. A North Escambia low of $3.04 was available Monday night on Muscogee Road in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices bottomed out a $2.87 at a Nine Mile Rod station.
Fuel prices have ping ponged in the first two weeks of 2023. The year began at $3.24 per gallon, which is currently this year’s low. The state average then jumped to $3.31 on the 5th, before eventually setting back to $3.26/g during the weekend.
Northview’s Olivia Doyle Selected For Florida All State Honors Band
January 17, 2023
Olivia Doyle, a freshman member of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, was selected to perform with the Florida All State Honors Band at the Florida Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference in Tampa this past weekend.
RELATED: Tate Showband’s Olivia Morehouse Performing With Florida All State Honors Band
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.