Library Youth Program Fed Over 3,700 During Summer Meal Program
August 25, 2022
The numbers are in from the summer “Meals for Youth” program at the West Florida Public Libraries.
From May 25 until August 9, the libraries distributed 3,719 meals at seven locations.
The number of meals distributed at each location was as follows:
- Molino: 521
- Century: 226
- Tryon: 1,142
- Genealogy: 209
- Pensacola: 821
- Southwest: 422
- Westside: 378
The “Meals for Youths” program from Feeding the Gulf Coast provided the free lunch for Escambia County residents ages 18 and younger. Disabled individuals 19 years of age and older who participate in a public or private non-profit school program during the school year were also eligible to receive meals.
Local Moonshiner’s New TV Show ‘Alabama Shine’ Premieres
August 25, 2022
A couple of years ago, a Flomaton man competed on national TV with his old McDavid moonshine recipe, and now he’s back on television co-starring in his own show.
Johnny Griffis competed on Moonshiners: Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel in 2020. In the end, his “old school corn liquor moonshine” took second place.
“Since the show aired I have had much success,” Griffis told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday.
His new television series “Alabama Shine” premiered Thursday night exclusively on The Country Network (TCN). It showcased Griffis in Flomaton and Jimbo Bray in Carbon Hill, Alabama. Bray won the very first episode of Master Distiller on Discovery.
“I had an old timer from McDavid that had many years experience in moonshine teach me how to do it,” Griffis said said. “He gave me his old school family recipe.”
“The show is about moonshine and music,” he said. We will have a special musical guests each week.”
On the premiere episode, guests were country rocker Jelly Roll, singer and songwriter Steve Oliver, and Nikki Nelson from the group Highway 101.
Jelly Roll has been at No. 1 n the Billboard Emerging Artists chart for the past two weeks and recently performed his song “Son of a Sinner” on Jimmie Kimmel Live.
Watch “Alabama Shine” Thursdays at 7 p.m. or on demand later at tcntoday.com.
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $165K From Church, Bible College
August 25, 2022
A church secretary is facing charges for allegedly taking over $160,000 from her employer.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested Lisa Michelle Hively, 55, on one count of organized scheme to defraud and one count of grand theft, both first-degree felonies. She was secretary at Faith Baptist Church and Faith Bible College from 2008 to 2021 where her husband was an assistant pastor, according to court documents.
The investigation began in February 2022 when FDLE agents looked into allegations of potential embezzlement by employees of a local church. Investigators conducted forensic audits of the church’s finances and interviewed Hively.
According to FDLE, Hively embezzled approximately $164,716 from her employer between 2015 and 2021.
The investigation showed that Hively, whose duties included writing checks to pay church bills, would write checks from the church or Bible college and deposit them into her personal bank account. FDLE said approximately 232 checks were made out to Lisa Hively or her husband, Christopher Hively. Investigators say that she then altered the church’s financial ledger to disguise the checks as payments for services rendered to the church.
Hively surrendered at the Escambia County Jail and was released on a $30,000 bond.
Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Rained Out in Pensacola
August 25, 2022
Rain forced the postponement of Wednesday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The contest will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday, August 25, with first pitch of game one beginning at 4:05. Both games will be seven innings, and gates will open to all fans at 3:30.
Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s game may exchange them at the Blue Wahoos box office for tickets to a future 2022 Blue Wahoos regular season home game, subject to availability.
Fire Sparked By Clothes Dryer Damages Cantonment Townhome
August 24, 2022
An early morning fire damaged a townhome in Cantonment.
The fire was reported at 3:44 a.m. at the Pine Forest Oaks Townhomes in the 3300 block of Pine Forest Road. Firefighters arrived to find light smoke coming from the roof of one of the quadplexes and entered to find a fire in the laundry room of one unit.
The fire caused extensive damage in the laundry room and adjacent hallway. The fire caused a water pipe to burst, causing additional damage to an adjacent townhome. The occupants of both townhomes were displaced by the damage and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said the fire was caused by the clothes dryer.
There were no injuries reported.
The Ensley, Cantonment, Bellview, Osceola and Brent Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Salzman Easily Defeats Hill In House District 1 Republican Race
August 24, 2022
Incumbent Michelle Salzman easily defeated challenger Mike Hill in the Florida House District 1 Republican primary on Tuesday. She will now face Democrat Franscine Mathis in the November general election.
Salzman received 65% of the vote to Hill’s 35%, or a margin of about 6,200 votes.
“It was a great victory for Northwest Florida,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com from her victory party Tuesday night. “All across the board, the right people won. We are going to pick up the pieces and head toward November and continue the momentum.”
Salzman defeated Hill in the 2020 GOP primary by about 1,000 votes — five percentage points. In her campaign, Salzman highlighted the fact that Hill failed to get any bill that he sponsored passed or any appropriation approved during his previous time in the Florida Legislature.
Sheriff Chip Simmons Addresses Molino Neighborhood Watch Group
August 24, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons spoke to the Molino Mid-County Neighborhood Watch about fighting crime in their neighborhood Monday evening.
The Molino Mid-County Neighborhood Watch group is scheduled to meet again on September 26 at the Molino Community Center on Highway 95A.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Primary Election Recap: Here’s Who Won The Primary Election, Local Results
August 24, 2022
Florida Governor
Democrat Charlie Crist defeated challenger Nikki Fried to face Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis in November.
U.S. House 1st Congressional District
Republic incumbent Matt Gaetz defeated challengers Mark Lombardo and Greg Merk. He will face Democrat Rebekah Jones in November. Jones defeated Peggy Schiller in the primary Tuesday.
State Senate District 1
Republican incumbent Doug Broxson received 76% of the vote Tuesday to win the primary over John Mills. He will face Democrat Charlie Nichols in November.
Florida House District 1
Incumbent Michelle Salzman won the Republican primary with 65% of the vote over Mike Hill with 35% of the ballots cast. Salzman will face Democratic Franscine Mathis in the general election in November.
Florida House District 2
Republican incumbent Alex Andrade beat Greg Litton Jordan Karr. Andrade will be up against Democrat Carollyn Rabeca Taylor on November 8.
Escambia County Judge Group 1
Scott Richie was elected as Escambia County judge Tuesday with 64.5% of the vote to 35.5% for Paul Hamlin.
Escambia County Commission District 2
Mike Kohler, a retired Navy captain, defeated Kevin Brown and Chance Walsh for the Escambia County Commission District 2 seat. Incumbent Doug Underhill did not seek reelection.
Escambia County Commission District 4
Incumbent Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender garnered 78.6% of the vote, beating Stan McDaniels. He will face Democrat Myra Van Hoose in the general election.
Escambia County School Board District 1
With nearly 72% of the vote, Escambia County School Board Chairman Kevin Adams retained his seat with a landslide victory over his challenger, Connor Mann.
Escambia County School Board District 2
Paul Fetsko, with 45.6% of the vote, and Ray Guillory, with 35.4%, will be in a November runoff. A third candidate, Kells Hetherington, received 18% of Tuesday’s vote.
Escambia County School Board District 3
Incumbent Laura Edler was defeated by former Pensacola High School principal David Williams.
Pensacola Mayor
D.C. Reeves was elected as Pensacola’s next mayor with 51.44% of the vote, defeating Jewel Cannada-Wynn (19.67%), Steve Sharp (16.06%) and Sherri Myers (12.83%).
Pensacola City Council District 2
Charles Bare (41.19%) and Char Powell (26.05%) will be in a runoff in November.
Pensacola City Council District 6
Allison Patton (42.70%) and Ann Hill (35.27% will be in a runoff in November.
13 Suspects Accused Of Traveling To Santa Rosa County For Sex With Underage Girls
August 24, 2022
There were 12 arrests with 45 felony charges after a child sex sting in Santa Rosa County, and one suspect is still on the run.
The suspects all believed they were communicating online with girls age 13-14 and traveled to Santa Rosa County to have sex with the minors, according to Sheriff Bob Johnson.
Treveon Mitchell of Pensacola, pictured above on the bottom row, fled when deputies tried to arrest him. He was later arrested.
Pictured above are suspects:
(Top row, L-R)
- Erick Menchaca, 33, DeFuniak Springs.
- Bryan Mejia, 22, Pensacola.
- Anthony Martinez, 32, Pace.
- Jose Leonardo-Ramirez, 30, Pensacola.
(Second row, L-R)
- Patrick Bradt, 50, Crestview.
- Tristan Thrower, 24, Pensacola.
- Andrew Walters, 29, Gulf Shores.
- Joshua Prows, 35, Milton.
(Third row, L-R)
- Zachary Frantz, 26, Pace.
- James Ray II, 45, Pensacola.
- Terry Deer, 57, Fairhope.
- Michael Preston, 40, Pensacola.
(Bottom row)
- Trevon Mitchell, 27, Pensacola.
Baker Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2022
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in three straight sets Tuesday night in Bratt, 25-13, 25-12, 25-18.
The Lady Chiefs also dropped their season opener Monday night 3-2 on the road at W.S. Neal.
The Northview Chiefs (0-2) will be on the road Thursday to play the Hoboes of Laurel Hill (0-1).
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
