Cantonment Cowboys Juniors Win 1st Place, Grand Champions In Aggie Cheer Classic
December 19, 2022
The Cantonment Cowboys junior cheerleaders won a first place and grand champion trophy in the recent Aggie Cheer Classic hosted by the Tate High Aggie cheerleaders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Killed In Escambia County
December 19, 2022
A pedestrian that was struck and killed over the weekend in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the unknown age male attempted to cross New Warrington Road at Flynn Drive. He stepped in front of a vehicle about 10:06 p.m. Saturday and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A Dayton, Ohio, woman who was driving the vehicle was not injured.
FHP has now identified the victim. The pedestrian’s identity has not been released pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.
Florida Gas Prices Decline; Escambia Sees Low Of $2.55
December 19, 2022
Florida gas prices dropped 12 cents per gallon last week. The state average has now declined five consecutive weeks, falling a total of 54 cents per gallon since mid-November.
On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.04 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since September 2021.
In Escambia County the average price per gallon Sunday night was $2.83. The North Escambia low price was $2.71, while stations on Nine Mile Road and the warehouse clubs in Pensacola were at $2.55.
“The plunge at the pump is the result of falling oil prices, which have plummeted primarily due to market concerns about a global economic recession,” said Mark Jenkins, Public Relations Manager, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Lower oil prices lowers the cost of producing gasoline. These low gas prices should hang around through the end of the year, unless oil prices unexpectedly rebound.”
Cantonment Woman Charged With Burglary, Providing False Name, Meth Possession
December 18, 2022
A Cantonment woman arrested for burglary was also charged with lying about her name to law enforcement.
Emily Reese Klercker, 19, was charged with felony burglary of an unoccupied residence, petit theft, felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and providing false identification to law enforcement.
Klercker allegedly broke into her stepfather’s home, where she does not reside, and took items worth $465 including medical marijuana, a grooming kit, smoking pipe, wine and AirPods. The alleged theft was caught on surveillance video, according to an arrest report.
When deputies located Klercker sitting on the front porch of a home on Lowndes Avenue, she provided a false name, according to her arrest report. They also reported finding a gram of methamphetamine in the pocket of her hoodie.
Klercker remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning with her bond set at $10,000.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Collect Over 2.3 Tons Of Peanut Butter For Food Banks
December 18, 2022
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge collected over two tons of the spread in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for local food banks.
Santa Rosa County collected 2,056 jars for 2,657 pounds of peanut butter to take the top spot in the state. With 1,981 pounds, Escambia County was third behind Hernando County with their 2,238 pounds.
The Peanut Butter Challenge has always been measured by its helpfulness to the community, said Libbie Johnson, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County agriculture agent and co-organizer of the event since it began in the Panhandle counties in 2012.
“All of the peanut butter collected goes to local food banks, backpack programs and other services that support our neighbors through difficult times,” Johnson said. “It feels like such a small thing – to collect peanut butter jars – but it’s meaningful to the local families who may be needing the extra support, especially during the holiday season.”
Santa Visits Carver Park In Cantonment
December 18, 2022
Santa Claus and Ascend Performance Materials made a special visit Saturday to Carver Park in Cantonment to spread some holiday cheer to good boys and girls. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Unemployment Rate Holds Steady Over The Past Month
December 18, 2022
The Escambia County unemployment rate held steady last month, according to newly released data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 2.7% in November, unchanged from October. That represented 4,090 people out of work out of a county workforce of 150,935. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 3.3%, or 4,917 people.
The area’s private sector employment increased by 3.9 percent over the year in November 2022, adding 6,400 jobs. The area labor force increased by 6,434 over the year, a 2.8 percent increase.
The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, increasing by 1,500 jobs; education and health services, increasing by 1,300 jobs; and construction, increasing by 1,100 jobs.
Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent — the lowest among the nation’s top ten largest states and 1.1 percent lower than the national rate. November marked two consecutive years that Florida’s unemployment rate remained below the rest of the nation.
“Florida’s continued success over the past two years is no accident. No matter the challenges, we have stayed on offense,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida’s economy is outpacing the nation for the second consecutive year because we have invested in our workforce and prioritized keeping Floridians at work and businesses open. As the new year approaches, we will continue investing in our workforce and infrastructure to create jobs and keep our economy moving forward.”
Escambia Seeks Volunteers For Merit System Protection Board
December 18, 2022
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Merit System Protection Board. Residents who wish to apply are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business on Dec. 29, 2022.
Resumes should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or mailed to:
Jose Gochez, Program Coordinator
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 1591
Pensacola, FL 32502
All submittals are subject to public records requests.
From Ukraine To Bratt: Christmas Cookie Exchange Brings Neighbors Together
December 18, 2022
Bratt resident Julie Jones hosted the 1st Annual Bratt Christmas Cookie Exchange Saturday.
She is from Ukraine and wanted to hold the event to meet more people from the Bratt area.
About a dozen people from Bratt braved a cold afternoon at the Travis Nelson Park in Bratt. They enjoyed hot cocoa, Christmas music and, of course, plenty of cookies.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff: Enough Fentanyl Seized In Escambia County Raids To Kill 800,000 People
December 17, 2022
During “Operation Blue Christmas” over the past week, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized enough fentanyl fentanyl to kill 800,000 people.
“We had enough lethal fentanyl to kill 800,000,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “That’s enough to conceivably kill every person in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County and Walton County — and probably a few of the neighboring counties as well…That tells you how dangerous this is.”
The drugs and multiple weapons were seized during the execution of five different search warrants that netted seven arrests with more expected. Marcus Shaun Williams, 44, and Andrion Russell Battle, 46, were among the arrests; the other names have not yet been announced.
Battle remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $300,000, while Williams was released on a $300,000 bond.
Simmons said authorities seized:
- 1,600 grams of fentanyl
- 30,268 grams of ecstasy, much of it mixed with fentanyl
- 681 grams of meth
- 1.25 kilos of crack cocaine
- 229 grams of powder cocaine
- 25 pounds of marijuana
- 16 guns
- 3 vehicles.
“We are committed to stopping these people that are ruining our neighborhoods,” Simmons said. “We are committed to stopping the ones bringing this stuff in, we are committed to stopping the ones selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior. Our Narcotics Unit has just been knocking it out of the park — and they’ve only begun.”
The search warrants were served in the 100 block of Diego Circle, 3000 block of West Lloyd Street, 7000 block of Chapel Street, 4400 block of Cora Lane, and the 3700 block of West Jackson Street.
The operation was named “Operation Blue Christmas” due to the season and a blueish color of many of the pills containing fentanyl.
“This is a Christmas present to these neighborhoods,” Simmons said. “Believe me, it’s probably better than any gift they’re gonna have.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
