17-Year Old Killed, Two Seriously Injured In Chumuckla Highway Wreck
November 17, 2022
A 17-year old was killed and two other people were seriously injured in a wreck Thursday morning on Chumuckla Highway in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 17-year old female from Milton was traveling northbound on Chumuckla Highway north of Hidden Oak Road when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, lost control and traveled into the southbound lan Her SUV collided with a pickup truck driven by a 28-year old Jay woman.
A passenger in the SUV, a 16-year girl from Milton, and the pickup truck driver were both seriously injured in the 6:30 a.m. crash.
FHP said the occupants of the SUV were not wearing seat belts, but the Jay woman was properly restrained.
State troopers no longer release the names of traffic crash victims.
Another unrelated crash claimed the life of anther Santa Rosa teen Thursday morning on White Road.
Falling Gas Prices: Truck Knocks Down Large Gas Station Sign In Century
November 17, 2022
Gas prices fell rapidly Wednesday evening in Century.
A work truck apparently struck a large gas price sign at a Century gas station, sending the sign down into the parking lot.
It happened about 5:15 p.m. at the Marathon station at Highway 29 and East Highway 4, next to the Whataburger.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not said how the accident occurred. There were no injuries reported.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Pictured above and below: A work truck apparently knocked over a large gas station sign in Century Wednesday evening. Pictured inset: A file photo take in October 2022 shows the size of the sign before the accident. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Army-Navy Game: Bettie, Ernest Ward Middle’s Goat, Joins The Navy For A Day
November 17, 2022
Wednesday was a big day for Bettie, one of the resident goats of the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA program, as she became an honorary member of the Navy for a day.
Bettie traveled from her home at EWMS in Walnut Hill to Naval Air Station Pensacola when she helped promote an upcoming watch party for the Army-Navy game.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Terrence Shashaty accompanied Bettie as they toured the base with Bill The Goat, the Navy’s football mascot, to encourage sailors to attend a watch party on December 10.
“Several sailors told me that seeing Ernest Ward’s goat made them feel like they were back home. Everyone had a great time as we came together as a community and cheered on our Navy home team,” said Steven Harrell, director of Workforce Education for Escambia County Public Schools. Harrell, dressed in overalls, was Bettie’s ride to NAS Pensacola.
Harrell said Bettie loved the attention she received and helped cheer, “Go Navy….Beat Army!”
The Navy Midshipmen will be at the Army Black Knights on December 10 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game is set to air at 2 p.m. on CBS.
The NAS Pensacola MWF Army-Navy Watch Party will begin at 1 p.m. at the National Naval Aviation Museum. The event is open to DoD cardholders only.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured: Betty the Ernest Ward Middle School goat, cheers on the Navy football team Wednesday at NAS Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged After Allegedly Using AirTag To Track His Ex-girlfriend
November 17, 2022
A Molino man is facing a criminal charge after allegedly using an Apple AirTag to track his ex-girlfriend.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she met her ex-boyfriend Bailey l. Wilson, 23, to exchange custody of their child. During the exchange, Wilson placed a diaper bag in her backseat and took a photo of her vehicle’s tag, according to an arrest report.
About five hours later, she received a notification on her phone about an AirTag tracking her location since the time she met with Wilson.
The victim told deputies that she searched the diaper bag and found the AirTag.
When confronted by text messages, Wilson told the victim that he wanted to know where the child was at all times and that “as long as she is not anywhere she shouldn’t be she shouldn’t be scared or worried”, the arrest report states. Deputies noted that text messages corroborated the victim’s statement.
Wilson told deputies that he fears for the safety of the child because he claimed his ex-girlfriend is dating a convicted sex offender, according to the arrest report.
Wilson was charged with unlawful use of a tracking device. He was released from jail on a $200 bond.
Poarch Creek Documentary Premieres On Alabama Public TV
November 17, 2022
A new documentary about Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians premiered on Alabama Public Television (APT) Thursday. Produced by Jacksonville State University’s Longleaf Studios, “The Forgotten Creeks” can also be streamed from APT’s website and the PBS video app.
More than two years in the making, this documentary tells the story of the Poarch Creek people through their long and important history. It also traces how the Tribe has evolved from being an impoverished, isolated community to the independent, self-sufficient Indian nation it is today.
“We are honored that our Tribe was selected to be the subject of this documentary produced by Jacksonville State University and Alabama Public Television,” said Stephanie Bryan, Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Chair. “We feel incredibly blessed to have this recounting of both our history and our lives today.”
“The Forgotten Creeks” recalls the history of Alabama’s Mvskoke Creek Indians from Spanish contact in the 1500’s through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The documentary explores what happened to those Mvskoke Creeks who remained in Alabama following the Trail of Tears and documents those ensuing years of poverty, assimilation and discrimination that nearly destroyed their indigenous identity.
It also traces how finally, in 1984, after more than 40 years of unwavering advocacy by Tribal Leaders, the federal government recognized the Tribe as a sovereign, or independent, Indian nation with ancestral lands in Atmore, Alabama and elsewhere in the state. Federal recognition was the beginning of a new chapter in the Tribe’s history. Economic development brought self-sufficiency and the Tribe’s focus on educational opportunities, family values, and faith guided its transition to prosperity.
Man Charged In Highway 29 Hit And Run Pedestrian Fatality
November 17, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a suspect in a fatal Highway 29 crash that claimed the life of a 53-year old woman on November 1.
Yahir Adan Moreno, 19, is charged with hit and run causing a fatal injury and tampering with evidence.
FHP said they located Moreno Wednesday with the 2020 white Chevrolet 2500 HD truck that struck and killed the woman on Highway 29 near Kenmore Road about 1:40 a.m. on November 1.
“The pedestrian was in the center lane of northbound U.S. Highway 29, traveling in an unknown direction. The vehicle’s front struck the pedestrian,” FHP said after the crash. “The vehicle continued traveling northbound, without
stopping.”
The pedestrian, Lisa Rowe., was pronounced deceased at the scene.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Saturday At Nine Mile Road Church
November 17, 2022
A 10,000 pound food distribution will be held Saturday.
Empowerment Church International will host the food giveaway at 2 East Nine Mile Road (the shopping center with Harbor Freight) beginning at 9 a.m. There will be groceries and a limited number of turkeys and hams distrributed.
Nine ‘Purple Star Schools’ Designated In Escambia County
November 17, 2022
Nine schools in Escambia County have been recognized as Purple Star Schools by the Florida Department of Education for their support of children of military families
The schools are:
- Bailey Middle
- Beulah Academy of Science
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Escambia High School
- Global Learning Academy
- Jim Allen Elementary
- N.B. Cook Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- West Florida High
Additionally, the DOE will work with Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties to create a first of its kind teacher leadership program at Purple Star schools to both help veterans earn their teaching certification and help other teachers learn how to best serve military families. This program will allow Purple Star schools to fill teaching positions and help qualified teachers receive their certification more quickly.
“Purple Star schools have the tools and knowledgeable faculty needed to help children of military families succeed regardless of the obstacles they face,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We also recognize that no one can better relate to these children than those who have served, which is why we are encouraging our veterans to teach at these schools and across the state.”
“We are so proud of our relationship with our area military bases, and welcome the opportunity to continue to work closely with them to support our military families,” stated ECPS Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith. “This recognition validates the efforts of our schools as they seek to meet the needs of our local military community.”
Purple Star campuses must meet certain requirements designed to support the unique needs of military children and their families as they transition into a new school and navigate a new community. Those requirements include:
- Designating a faculty member as the military liaison to directly support families;
- Updating the school website with resources for military students and families;
- Offering a student-led transition program to assist military students in acclimating into a school;
- Expanding staff professional development training opportunities on issues relating to military students; and
- Reserving controlled, open enrollment seats for military-connected students to utilize to ensure school choice opportunities are available to them, regardless of the time of year their military transfer takes place.
The Purple Star teacher leadership program builds on legislation signed earlier this year to allow veterans with four years of military experience and an associate’s degree to obtain a 5-year temporary teaching certificate while they work towards earning a bachelor’s degree.
Through the program, schools in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Walton counties will actively recruit veterans to become teachers and then help them earn their certification directly from the school, without having to experience any delays from DOE. The program will also connect veterans with opportunities to finish their schooling at nearby colleges, getting veterans experience in the classroom and partnering veterans with mentor-teachers.
Five Injured In Wednesday Morning Wreck In Beulah
November 16, 2022
Five people were injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday morning in Beulah.
A silver Ford van and a red Ford pickup truck collided about 6:30 a.m. at West Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road.
The driver of the van, a 38-year old man from Robertsdale, was headed east on Nine Mile when he failed to yield the right of way and turned left in front of the pickup truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The front of the truck collided with the right side of the van, and a trailer from the van was disconnected and blocked the intersection.
A passenger in the van, an 18-year old male from Robertsdale was in serious but stable condition. The driver of the van and a third passenger, a 17-year old male received minor injuries. The 61-year old pickup truck driver and his 63-year old male passenger, both from Pensacola, also received minor injuries.
The driver of the van was cited for failure to yield right of way while turning left and driving without a driver’s license.
Century Sets Hours Of Operation For All Parks, Closing Them At Night
November 16, 2022
Century has now established hours of operations for the town’s parks.
Tuesday night, the town council voted 3-0 to set park hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, seven days a week. The new hours are effective immediately at parks including Anthony Pleasant Park, Marie McMurray Park, Showalter Park and Nadine McCaw Park.
The resolution setting the hours does allow the mayor to close parks for emergencies and other problems, or extend hours for scheduled public events like ball games.
After problems with vandalism and individuals in the parks late at night, the town learned recently that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office could not ask people to leave the parks because there were no official hours established.
“This helps us with the sheriff’s department,” Mayor Ben Boutwell said. “They can enforce now that we’ve got this.”
Pictured top:: Marie McMurray Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo. Pictured below: The playground at Showalter Park.
