FHP Donates Food To Ronald McDonald House After ‘Stuff The Charger’
December 14, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol made a donation of about 250 pounds of nonperishable food items to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida on Tuesday. The food was collected during FHP’s annual “Stuff the Charger” campaign. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Child ID Kits Going To All Escambia County Kindergarten Students
December 14, 2022
Free child ID kits will be distributed to every kindergarten student in the Escambia County Public Schools.
Parents of kindergarten students will receive a call out from their child’s school, informing them of the date the kit will be distributed. Parents who do not want a kit may contact their student’s teacher or the school administration to make that request.
“Child ID kits are a great, low-tech tool that helps parents record and safely store important identification information about their children. Parents keep total control of the kits and, should an emergency arise, they can quickly present it to law enforcement,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “As a mother, I truly hope no parent ever needs to utilize the kit—but should a child go missing, it could prove vital in helping law enforcement and the public in their search.”
Child ID kits make it easier for parents to collect identifying information by easily recording the physical characteristics, photographs, fingerprints and DNA of their children on identification cards that are kept at home by the parent or guardian if ever needed, the school district said.
The kits are being distributed by the ECPS in cooperation with Attorney General Ashley Moody, the National Child ID Program, Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, the Florida Sheriffs Association, and representatives from the Department of Education, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and Florida Association of School Resource Officers.
First Ever UWF QB Kaleb Nobles Named New Argos Head Coach
December 14, 2022
The University of West Florida has named Kaleb Nobles as the second head football coach in program history, as announced by University President Dr. Martha Saunders and Athletics Director Dave Scott.
“We are super excited to announce Kaleb Nobles as our head coach and welcome him and his wife Katy back to Pensacola and the UWF family,” Scott said. “He spent four seasons as a player and member of the coaching staff under Pete Shinnick and understands the culture and values that helped create the foundation the program.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to be the next head football coach at the University of West Florida,” Nobles said. “My wife and I are true Argos as we are both UWF graduates, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of Building Champions For Life.”
Nobles has spent the past two seasons at Clemson University where he had the role of offensive player development under head coach Dabo Swinney. He assisted with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, all game preparation and planning, along with various game day duties. In 2021, Clemson went 10-3 with a Cheez-It Bowl victory and compiled an 11-2 record in 2022, winning the ACC Championship while earning a berth in the upcoming Orange Bowl against Tennessee.
“I am so happy for Kaleb Nobles. He was born to be a football coach and equipped to be a head coach,” Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney said. “One of the main reasons I went and hired him from West Florida is I knew he would come in and really make us better. He has a high aptitude for the game, he’s passionate about it and is a great communicator. Having the opportunity to work with him these past two years has been really fun to see him up close to see how knowledgeable he is, how detailed he is, how good he is with people and what a great communicator he is. His knowledge of West Florida and his understanding of the scope of that job is exciting. I’m really happy for him and proud of him, and I don’t have any doubt that he will continue the great success and great tradition at the University of West Florida.”
Nobles spent three seasons on Pete Shinnick’s staff from 2017-20 as the quarterbacks coach for the Argonauts and was named the co-offensive coordinator in May of 2020. He also served as the director of Football Operations for two-plus years.
Nobles mentored some of the best signal callers in UWF history. In 2019, Austin Reed was named the National Freshman of the Year after he threw for 4,089 yards and 272.6 yards per game to rank 13th nationally. He also completed 57 percent of his passes and tossed 40 touchdowns while rushing for six more.
The 2019 quarterback group established program records with a 56.8 completion percentage, a 148.6 pass efficiency rating, 14.6 yards per completion and 411.9 yards of total offense per game.
In 2018, the Argonauts completed 55.2 percent of their pass attempts, tying the school record at the time. The group averaged 229 yards passing and had 23 touchdowns.
Nobles worked daily with a quartet of QBs during the historic 2017 season that culminated with a run to the national championship game. Mike Beaudry finished with 3,215 yards through the air and 29 touchdowns while being named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year.
As a student-athlete, Nobles spent four seasons at Valdosta State from 2012-15, appearing in 23 games with six starts as a freshman and sophomore. He threw for 2,009 yards and 19 touchdowns as a Blazer.
In 2016, he transferred to UWF and helped provide immediate leadership and focus to the upstart program. He led the Argonauts to a 5-6 overall record and threw for 3,058 yards with 28 touchdowns. He also established a school record that still stands with 277.3 passing yards per game.
He had six games with at least 300 yards passing, including a 503-yard, 6-TD performance in the win over Missouri S&T in the inaugural home game on Sept. 10, 2016. That passing mark ranks tenth all-time in GSC single-game history. He was also a GSC All-Academic selection that season.
Nobles has coaching in his blood, following in the footsteps of his late father, Buddy. The elder Nobles spent more than 30 years as a high school coach in Florida and Georgia. His Irwin County (Ga.) High School team won the Georgia Class A title in 2019, nine days before the Argos won the national championship.
Nobles, who was born in Jacksonville, Florida and attended high school in Fitzgerald, Georgia, earned his bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Valdosta State in December, 2015 and added a master’s in Health Leisure and Sport Science from UWF in December, 2017.
He and his wife, Katy – a former UWF women’s volleyball student-athlete and Argo alumnus – were married in June, 2021.
Flomaton Schools Go On Lockdown After ‘Prank’ Active Shooter Threat
December 13, 2022
The Flomaton schools were placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after an unfounded report of an active shooter.
Someone called the Flomaton Police Department and reported an active shooter on the campus of Flomaton High School, according to Flomaton Police.
Flomaton Police, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency responded and searched every room of Flomaton High and the adjacent Flomaton Elementary School. The Escambia County (AL) Schools district said no threat was found.
According to Flomaton Police Chief Johnny Wilson, the caller had a foreign accident and “was difficult to understand”. He said the Brewton, Bay Minette, and Evergreen police departments received similar active shooter calls from the same out of state phone number.
The case remains under investigation in each jurisdiction.
“Unfortunately this seems to be happening in many schools around the state,” the district said, referring to the incident as a “prank”.
Both schools had returned to a normal schedule by early afternoon.
File photo.
Car Runs Under Semi Trailer
December 13, 2022
A passenger car ran under a semi-trailer Tuesday morning on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road.
Preliminary information indicated that were no serious injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating how the crash occurred and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Drug And Weapons Offenses; Woman Accused Of Running A Drug House
December 13, 2022
An Escambia County man is facing multiple drug and weapons charges, and a Cantonment woman is charged with running a drug house, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home on Niall Drive, just off Frank Reeder Road on November 10.
They reported finding:
- 1,496 grams (about 3.3 pounds) of marijuana
- approximately 15.4 grams of Oxycodone pills
- loaded Ruger pistol, and a “AR-15 style rifle/pistol”,
- ammunition
- $21,080 in cash
Brandon Martez Black, 24, was charged with possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, possession of an armor piercing bullet while committing a felony, trafficking in oxycodone, possession or marijuana with the intent to distribute, and using or displaying a firearm during a felony. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday evening with bond set at $115,000.
Jacarla Sha’Kiyah Purifoy, 25, was charged with keeping a public nuisance structure for drug activity. She was released from jail on a $15,000 bond.
“It is apparent she (Purifoy) is aware of the narcotics that are being sold from her home and her vehicle and allowing (the second suspect) to continue to do so,” an arrest report states. Additionally, deputies reported finding photos and videos on her phone showing marijuana being smoked in the home and large quantities of cash on the countertops.
Inflation: Century Wastewater Project Bids Come In $1.2 Million Over Grant Funds
December 13, 2022
The Town of Century expected the cost of the first phase of a multi-million wastewater project to be higher than first anticipated due to inflation. They did not expect about three times — nearly $1.2 million — higher due to inflation, as they learned Monday night.
The project was to replace a sludge press at the wastewater treatment plant and two lift stations, which ensure wastewater, more commonly called sewage, keeps flowing rather than backing up into homes and businesses.
The town received a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant for the project, based upon a calculation and grant application about two years ago. But the lowest bid for the work came in at $1.9 million.
Town engineer Dale Long suggested dropping the WWTP sludge press for now, moving it to a second phase. That would leave the town on the hook for about $350,000 over the value of the grant.
Century Town Council President Luis Gomez asked Long whose fault it is that the Pilgrim Lodge lift station has been down for three years, and Long said it was ultimately fault because the state took a couple of years to get from the grant application to an award. The lift station is located across from Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue. It has been out of service with a temporary bypass pump in place for months.
“The State of Florida needs to bite that over half million,” Gomez said, referring to the cost increase for the two lift stations.
“Good luck with that,” council member James Smith said. “At that time, that was the estimate, but everything is skyrocketing now.”
The Pilgrim Lodge lift station is the town’s top priority because it’s totally non-functioning. Second priority is a failing a lift station that keeps the wastewater flowing from an area that includes the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center
“When that lift station goes down, it backs up the entire nursing home,” Heath Burkett said. “They call us at 2 o’clock in the morning and tell us their toilets won’t flush.”
“Astronomical,” is how grant consultant Robin Phillips described bids on grant applications for multiple governmental entities. “I’ve had to cut back on all my grants.”
“The economy has crashed,” Phillips said.
The council voted 3-0 to move forward with awarding the $1.9 million project to Brown Construction of Northwest Florida, but include a change order to remove the sludge press. The town will contribute $350,000 above the grant, and seek the funding from Escambia County, the Local Options Sales Tax or American Rescue Plan Act funds, rather than from the town’s general fund.
Pictured: A wastewater lift station near Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue in Century out of service and running on a temporary pump as seen May 10, 2022. Pictured inset: Engineer Dale Long addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Mailing A Package For Christmas? Here Are The Post Office Deadlines
December 13, 2022
This is the last week to get holiday gifts and greetings in the mail by the recommended deadlines. Customer traffic at all post office locations has been steadily increasing since December. 5, and this week is expected to be the busiest, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
The postal service recommends the following Christmas shipping deadlines:
- Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except zip 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
- Dec. 17 — USPS Retail Ground service
- Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
- Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
- Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service
- Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express service
And the deadlines are a bit different if you are shipping to Alaska or Hawaii:
Alaska
- Dec. 18 — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
- Dec. 21 — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– Priority Mail Express
Hawaii
- Dec. 17 — Hawaii to/from mainland – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
- Dec. 21 — Hawaii to/from mainland – Priority Mail Express
And here are some other helpful tips from the post office:
- Packages containing used electronics or other hazardous materials — lithium ion batteries, in particular — must now be shipped via surface transportation using Parcel Select Ground, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Return Service or Ground Return Service.
- Certain items may have restrictions or prohibitions when sent through the mail. See the list of hazardous, restricted and perishable mail or ask a Postal Service employee for more information on what can and cannot be sent through the mail.
- Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces and/or are more than a half-inch thick and use stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, take them to a retail associate at a post office location. This requirement does not apply to Click-N-Ship customers.
Pictured: The Cantonment Post Office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
What’s A ‘Purple Alert’? One Was Issued In Escambia County
December 13, 2022
Many people are asking what’s a “Purple Alert” after one was issued in Escambia County.
The Purple Alert was issued Sunday night for a missing and endangered 33-year old woman last seen on West Fairfield Drive. By early Monday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported that she had been safely located.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began issuing Purple Alerts on July 1. A Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Purple Alert Criteria:
- The person is 18 or older and does not qualify for a state- or local-level Silver Alert.
- The person has an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse and does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder.
- The local law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention.
- There is a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution.
- The missing person information has been entered into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC).
- The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.
When issued, Purple Alert information is distributed to citizens who have signed up to receive the alerts, displayed on dynamic highway message signs when applicable and local alerts will be posted by media including NorthEscambia.com.
Flomaton Man Charged With Catalytic Converter Thefts In Century
December 13, 2022
A Flomaton man is facing charges in connection with catalytic converters in Century.
Nikki Lee Odom, 31, was charged with grand theft, attempted grand theft, attempted burglary of a vehicle, two counts of felony criminal mischief, two counts of burglary, misdemeanor criminal mischief, and petit theft.
Odom was caught on a video as he tried and failed to steal a catalytic converter from a Lincoln Town Car parked at Century Marine, next door to the Century Town Hall on North Century Boulevard, according to an arrest report. The owner found one of the vehicle’s catalytic converters nearly sawed off on both ends, and made a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Odom returned the next night, Odom returned and was caught on video once again as he used a battery operated saw to remove both catalytic converters from the same Town Car. The damage to the car suffered $1,000 in damage, and the converters were worth $1,400, the report states.
Four days earlier, Odom attempted to cut a catalytic converter from a Ford Escape at a home on Maple Street in Century, the ECSO said. The homeowner scared him away, but not before video and photos were captured.
The Sheriff’s Office said Odom was identified in the photos by two Flomaton Police Department officers and his mother.
Odom remained the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $33,500.