State Fire Marshal Investigating Beulah Camper Fire
August 9, 2022
The cause of a fifth-wheel camper fire in Beulah remains under investigation.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire about 4:45 p.m. Sunday on Oak Haven Road just north of Frank Reeder Road.
The 38-foot camper was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, and the fire was under control by 4:55 p.m.
There were no injuries, and the camper was a total loss.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Had Real Drugs And Fake Cash, Police Say
August 9, 2022
The Flomaton Police Department said a traffic stop led to the arrest of a man with real drugs and fake cash.
After a Flomaton Police traffic stop in the area of Upper Creek Road, and their K-9 Boo alerted on the vehicle.
Clinton Wiggins was in possession of clonazepam, hydrocodone, methamphetamine, marijuana, firearms and counterfeit currency, according to police.
Wiggins was charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute (methamphetamine), two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a firearm without a permit, and possession of a forged instrument. He was also issued a traffic citation for improper lane usage.
Wiggins was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Sample Ballots Are In The Mail
August 9, 2022
Sample ballots for the August 23 Primary Election are being mailed to Escambia County voters this week. The sample ballot, in both English and Spanish, includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on the three ways to vote: early, vote-by-mail, and on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.gov. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Missing, Endangered Woman Last Seen A Week Ago In Century Has Been Found
August 8, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Jeannine Kay Peterson has been safely located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered woman last seen a week ago in Century.
Jeannine Kay Peterson, 47, was last seen at the ECAT bus stop in front of the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century on August 1, the ECSO said Monday afternoon.
She is 5-feet, 5-inches tall with brown and gray hair and has blue eyes. She may be in need of medical attention.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620
ECSO Seeks Woman For Questioning Only In Ensley Homicide
August 8, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a woman wanted for questioning only in reference to homicide that occurred on Walnut Avenue in Ensley early Monday morning.
Investigators say they want to talk to 46-year old Amber Dawn Meadows, but there are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Walnut Hill Avenue is north of West Detroit Boulevard, four blocks west of Pensacola Boulevard.
Man Reportedly Struck By Lightning In Dogwood Park
August 8, 2022
A man was reportedly injured after being struck by lightning Monday afternoon in Dogwood Park, north of Molino.
It happened about 1:20 p.m. at a home on Parker Lane off Highway 97, just over a mile north of the Dogwood Park Baptist Church.
The man was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
The approximate location of the lightning strike is marked on the radar image above from about the time of the incident.
Toddler Airlifted To The Hospital After Reported Near-Drowning In Molino
August 8, 2022
A toddler was airlifted to the hospital after a near-drowning in Molino Sunday afternoon.
The toddler was reportedly found in a pool at a home on Chalker Road. The child was awake and breathing when deputies arrived, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The toddler was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter from the nearby Escambia County 4-H property to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Additional details were not made available.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Pictured: A toddler was airlifted by LifeFlight from the Escambia County 4-H property in Molino Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Mayor: Verizon, T-Mobile To Join AT&T On New Cell Tower
August 8, 2022
Century should have much improved cell service from the nation’s three largest carriers within the next several months.
AT&T went live on a new tower in town at the first of the year, and the mayor previously announced that T-Mobile is coming to the structure.
Recently, Mayor Ben Boutwell said he has been informed that Verizon will also collocate on the tower in the coming months.
In 2021, the Century Town Council approved a five-year lease with options out to 40 years with Diamond Towers for a tower with AT&T service on a parcel of land in the town’s Anthony Pleasant Park off West Highway 4. It’s a small area tucked away essentially at the back of the park.
Diamond Towers had leased the property at $1,000 for a year. When AT&T was added to the towner, the payment automatically increased to $1,500 per month for at least five years under the terms of the contract. There will be another $500 per month due for any additional cellular providers collocated on the tower in the future. There are annual options for slight increases.
Prior to AT&T service being activated, there was generally poor cellular service in Century regardless of carrier.
Pictured: This tower at Anthony Pleasant Park in Century provides AT&T service now, with officials saying T-Mobile and Verizon will collocate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Vernon High Head Football Coach Killed In Tragic Boating Accident
August 8, 2022
Trey Pike, Vernon High School athletic director and football coach, was killed in a boating accident over the weekend.
Pike’s 21-foot boat struck an electrical tower abutment in North Bay, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The boat was discovered early Sunday morning, but it was not known if the accident occurred late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
There were no other passengers on the boat.
Pike was just recently named as the new head coach of the Vernon Yellow Jackets. He had served two years as an assistant coach at Vernon after teaching and coaching at Holmes County High and an Asheville, Alabama, school.
The accident happened in North Bay, near the Highway 77 Bailey Bridge at Lynn Haven — nearly 30 miles south of Vernon.
Photo: Trey Pike, Vernon High School athletic director and football coach, was killed in a boating accident over the weekend.. Photo courtesy Vernon High School Athletics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices At Their Lowest Since Early March
August 8, 2022
Florida gas prices fell for the eighth consecutive week, declining 14 cents from a week ago. The state average is now $3.79 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since March 4th.
The state average has now declined a total of $1.10 per gallon since setting a new record high of $4.89 on June 13th. The average cost for a fill-up is now $57 for a 15-gallon tank. That’s $16.50 less than what drivers paid two months ago.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $3.68. A North Escambia low of $3.56 could be found at two Cantonment stations, while Pensacola bottomed out at $3.28.
“Falling oil prices and drooping gasoline demand has paved the way for the recent pump price plunge,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The downturn should continue this week, after another round of big losses in both oil and gasoline futures markets.”