New Traffic Signal Now Active At Highway 95A, Old Chemstrand Road
June 19, 2022
A new traffic signal is now active at Highway 95 at Old Chemstrand Road in Gonzalez.
The Escambia County project, funded by about $330,000 in Local Open Sales Tax (LOST) included the installation of sidewalks and pedestrian signals in each corner for future expansion.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Crashes Vehicle Into Ravine At Cypress Lakes Golf Club
June 19, 2022
A woman was rescued Saturday after her vehicle plunged into a ravine at the Cypress Lakes Golf Club on Old Chemstrand Road.
The vehicle was some 30 feet down in a ravine off a gravel service road on the north side of of the golf course. Firefighters had to cut down several trees to reach the vehicle.
The woman was airlifted to an area hospital by medical helicopter.
Further details were not available.
Pictured: An Escambia County Fire Rescue Special Operations Team stands by at the Cypress Lakes Golf Club on Old Chemstrand Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High FFA’s Jaxson Stafford Named Florida’s 2022 State Star Farmer
June 19, 2022
Jaxson Stafford of the Tate High School FFA chapter was named the Florida FFA’s 2022 State Star Farmer.
The State Star Farmer Award is the longest standing award in Florida FFA history and is designed to recognize the student with the best production Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) in the state. The member must demonstrate outstanding achievement, active FFA participation and an exemplary scholastic record.
“My roots can be traced back many generations in production agriculture in northwest Florida and south Alabama. It has always been a personal goal of mine to learn by doing as I proceed forward in the industry,” Stafford said.
Stafford began working at an early age both in the hay field and with cattle. He began learning about the hay business from his grandfather before venturing out to start his own business.
He now oversees every aspect of the hay production process from planting, fertilization management, pest control management and harvest. He conducts regular testing to ensure that he is incorporating the proper amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for optimal production.
In addition to his role in the field, Stafford’s other responsibilities include equipment maintenance and repair, record keeping, financial management and customer relations.
Since he started his business, Stafford has grown his operation to over 50 acres of Bahia grass which he markets to the surrounding communities.
Stafford’s Agricultural Education teacher at Tate was Austin Courson, and FFA Advisors include Courson, Melissa Gibbs, Kristi Wise, Richard Coleman and Matthew Clem.
The State Star Farmer Award was announced during the 94th Florida FFA State Convention & Expo at the Caribe Royale in Orlando.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Fishing Violations, Vehicles In Clay Pit
June 19, 2022
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Long was conducting resource and safety inspections while on water patrol and on two separate occasions, found anglers to be in possession of short gray triggerfish. Gray triggerfish have a minimum size requirement of 15 inches to the fork. Both individuals were cited accordingly.
Officers Burkhead and Allgood were conducting resource inspections at Navy Point boat ramp when they observed a charter vessel returning from fishing. During their inspection, the officers observed several fish which appeared to be undersized. They measured the fish and determined that there were two undersized vermillion snapper and one undersized gray triggerfish. Officer Burkhead issued the captain a notice to appear citation for the violations. This was the second time in less than a month this vessel and captain possessed undersized fish.
Lieutenant Lambert and K-9 Handler/Officer Specialist Hutchinson received information about a possible illegal turkey hunting violation. They arrived at a large track of land where the violation was taking place. Officer Hutchinson deployed K-9 Zara to conduct an area search of the property. While searching, Zara located a bait site that had cracked corn lying on the ground and a fresh set of boot tracks. Zara began tracking and later located a food plot with a game feeder containing scratch feed. While searching the woods surrounding the food plot, they contacted the suspect. After a short interview, Lieutenant Lambert and Officer Hutchinson followed the subject to two other baited locations that he hunted earlier in the morning. The subject admitted to hunting turkeys within 100 yards from a bait site. At one of the baited sites the subject’s cell phone was found where he had been sitting. This was approximately 25 yards from a large amount of distributed corn. During the investigation, they discovered that the subject’s father also hunted with him earlier in the morning. After contacting his father and interviewing him, both subjects were issued the appropriate citations for the violations.
Officer Cushing received a report of several shoreline fisherman taking over the bag limit of pompano near Pensacola Beach. Officer Cushing located several fishermen on the beach that matched the description. After observing the fisherman actively harvesting pompano for a substantial period, Officer Cushing contacted them as they were returning to their vehicles. One of the subjects had nine pompano in his beach cooler and four more in his truck cooler putting him seven over the bag limit. Another fisherman returning to his vehicle was in possession of twelve pompano. Citations were issued to both subjects.
Officer Allgood was on patrol when he observed a male fishing. Officer Allgood conducted a resource and license inspection. When Officer Allgood ran the subject for a fishing license check, he determined that he did not have a fishing license. It also showed the individual had an active warrant in Escambia County for failure to appear. Officer Allgood arrested the subject for the warrant and issued him a resource citation for no valid fishing license.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis was on patrol in Blackwater River State Forest when he observed a vehicle operating off the designated road in a clay pit. Vehicles must operate on named or numbered roads in the forest. After speaking with the driver, the officer ascertained that there were three other vehicles off-roading in the clay pit. The officer wrangled up the vehicles and learned that two of the vehicles contained open containers of alcohol. One of the vehicles did not have a license plate, one had an expired tag, and one of the driver licenses was expired. While dealing with these four vehicles the officer observed another vehicle doing donuts on a nearby forest road. Officer Lewis was able to quickly contact the driver of that vehicle and had the driver park with the group of other vehicles. The officer learned that the driver of the vehicle doing donuts had a suspended driver’s license. While Officer Lewis was dealing with the five vehicles another vehicle unlawfully entered the clay pit. Officer Lewis contacted the driver of the fifth vehicle and found that the driver did not possess a driver’s license. Officer Lewis subsequently issued eight citations and five warnings for the violations.
Officers Lewis, Lugg, Hutchinson, and Roberson were on patrol in Blackwater State Forest and received information about alcohol violations in a camping area that had approximately 30 people. The forest does not allow alcohol on the premises. Officers arrived on scene and observed multiple violations including alcohol, glass containers near a water way, and litter. The officers issued 12 citations and three warnings.
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Unchanged
June 19, 2022
The Escambia County unemployment level held steady last month, according to newly released data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 2.5% in May, unchanged from April.. That represented 3,803 people out of work out of a county workforce of 149,377. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 4.5%, or 6,541 people.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Pensacola area gained 7,700 private sector jobs (+4.9 percent) over the year in May 2022. The Pensacola area labor force increased by 7,391 over the year, a 3.2 percent increase.
The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,000 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (+1,800 jobs).
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in May 2022, unchanged from the April 2022 rate, and down 1.9 percentage points from a year ago.
Hot Saturday Night For The Wahoos With Their Fifth Straight Win
June 19, 2022
Jeff Lindgren overcame a rocky first inning and delivered yet another quality start on Saturday night, helping the Pensacola Blue Wahoos win their fifth in a row over the Tennessee Smokies by a score of 5-3.
Lindgren (W, 1-1) allowed the first four batters of the ballgame to reach base, and fell behind quickly on a two-run double from Matt Mervis, but rebounded for his fifth quality start in seven appearances for the Blue Wahoos this season. The righty struck out a season-high nine batters to earn his first Double-A win of the year.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their 4.5-game lead in the South Division with 7 to play in the first half. A combination of three Blue Wahoos wins or Biloxi losses will clinch Pensacola’s first playoff berth since 2019 and their first division title since 2017.
In front of a sellout crowd, the Blue Wahoos answered quickly in the bottom of the first with five runs against Tennessee starter Riley Thompson (L, 0-2). The righty recorded just one out, allowing two-run homers to Troy Johnston and Griffin Conine, before departing. Devin Hairston added an RBI infield single to score Pensacola’s fifth run, enough to last the rest of the ballgame.
The Smokies got a run back in the third on a solo homer from Jake Slaughter, but that would be the final run of the night for either team. Lindgren was relieved by Eli Villalobos, who turned in two scoreless innings of relief, and Colton Hock (S, 6) retired the Smokies in order in the ninth.
At 97 degrees, Saturday’s first pitch temperature was the hottest of the season for the Blue Wahoos.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Trial Ends With Mistrial For Cantonment Man Accused Of Murdering His Navy Wife In 2001
June 18, 2022
The Cantonment man charged with the first degree premeditated murder of his wife over two decades ago walked out of a court Friday night.
After four days of testimony and four hours of deliberations, an Escambia County jury was unable to reach a verdict Friday night, and the trial of Gregory Paul Malarik ended in a mistrial. The state is expected to try the case again.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Malarik in 2020 for the 2001 murder of his wife, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik. Gregory Malarik, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, was employed by the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The body of Sherri Lynn Malarik was found September 22, 2001, at about 8 a.m. inside a Dodge Caravan in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie and Movie Gallery at 1550 South Highway 29, less than three miles from the couple’s home.
Here’s Who Qualified For The Ballot This Year Locally, And Who Won Automatically
June 18, 2022
Candidate qualifying ended at noon Friday in Florida, setting this year’s ballot in Escambia and Santa Rosa County.
Several candidates were automatically elected Friday because no one qualified to run against them. They are noted below.
Here is the complete list for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties:
FEDERAL OFFICES
U.S. Senate
- Val Demings (D)
- Steven B. Grant (NPA)
- Dennis Misigoy (LPF)
- Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA)
- Marco Rubio (R) (incumbent)
- William Sanchez (D)
U.S. Representative District 1
- Matt Gaetz (R) (incumbent)
- Bryan Jones (R)
- Rebekah Jones (D)
- Mark Lombardo (R)
- Greg Merk (R)
- Peggy Schiller (D)
FLORIDA STATE OFFICES
State Senate District 1
- Doug Broxson (R) (incumbent)
- John Mills (R)
- Charlie Nichols (D)
State Representative District 1
- Mike Hill (R)
- Franscine Mathis (D)
- Michelle Salzman (R) (incumbent)
State Representative District 2
- Alex Andrade (R) (incumbent)
- Greg Litton (R)
- Carollyn Rabeca Taylor (D)
State Representative District 3
- Mariya Calkins (R)
- Sandra Maddox (Write-in)
- Joel Rudman (R)
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Partisan Races
County Commission District 2 (open primary)
- Kevin Brown (R)
- Michael Kohler (R)
- Chance Walsh (R)
County Commission District 4
- Robert Bender (R) (incumbent)
- Myra J. Van Hoose (D)
- Stan McDaniels (R)
ECUA District 2
- Lois Benson (R) (incumbent)
- Anderson “Andy” Romagnano (D)
ECUA District 4
- Dale Perkins (R) (automatically elected)
Non-partisan races
School Board District 1
- Kevin Adams (incumbent)
- Connor Mann
School Board District 2
- Paul Fetsko (incumbent)
- Raymond Guillory
- Kells Hetherington
School Board District 3
- Laura Dortch Edler (incumbent)
- David Williams
Santa Rosa Island Authority
- Thomas Campanella
- Jeremy Johnson
Escambia Soil & Water Conservation District Group 2
- Johnnie Odom (automatically elected)
Escambia Soil & Water Conservation District Group 3
- Travis Tharp (automatically elected)
County Judge Group 1
- Paul Hamlin
- Scott Ritchie
County Court Judge Group 3
- Barry Dickson Jr. (automatically elected)
Century
Related story: No Candidate Qualifies To Run For Two Century Council Seats. It’s Unclear What Happens Next.
Council Seat 3
- (no candidate qualified)
Council Seat 4
- (no candidate qualified)
Council Seat 5
- Sandra McMurray Jackson (automatically elected)
Pensacola
Mayor
- Jewel Cannada-Wynn
- Sherri Myers
- Darcy (D.C.) Reeves
- Steven Sharp
Council District 2
- Charletha Powell
- Brian Hoffman
- Charles L. Bare
- Brian Wyer
Council District 4
- Jared Moore (automatically elected)
Council District 6
- Allison Patton
- Maureen “Mo” Padden
- Ann Hill (incumbent)
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Partisan Races
County Commissioner District 2
- Jeff Ates IV (R)
- Rickie Cotton Jr. (R)
- Kerry Smith (R)
- Clifton Wheeler (Write-in)
- Howard Steele (R)
County Commissioner District 4
- Ray Eddington (R)
- Harlan Hall (Write-in)
- Dave Piech (R) (incumbent)
Non-partisan races
County Court Judge, Group 1
- Robert Hilliard
School Board District 1
- Wayne Patterson
- Linda Sanborn (incumbent)
School Board District 3
- Carol Boston (incumbent)
- Alisabeth Janai Lancaster
School Board District 5
- Scott Peden
- Pete Peters
- Gregory Seltzer
Jay
Mayor
- Shon Owens (automatically elected)
Councilmember
- Nina Hendricks (automatically elected)
Councilmember
- Josh Holloway (automatically elected)
No Candidate Qualifies To Run For Two Century Council Seats. It’s Unclear What Happens Next.
June 18, 2022
No candidates filed to run for two of three Century town council seats that are up for election this year.
And for now, it’s not clear what will happen.
Incumbent Sandra McMurray Jackson was automatically reelected Friday when she was the only candidate to qualify for Seat 5 on the five-member council.
No one qualified by the state-mandated noon deadline on Friday to run for Seat 3, currently held by Leonard White, and Seat 4, currently held by James Smith, Jr.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford had just one simple statement for now as his office works to determine what happens next.
“We are looking into it,” Stafford texted NorthEscambia.com Friday afternoon.
Century Town Clerk Leslie Howington said she believes the possibility exists to reopen the qualifying period, but it remains to be seen if that is the next step.
Pictured top: Leonard White, James Smith, Jr., and Sandra McMurray Jackson at a Century Town Council meeting on May 3. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Suffers Life Threatening Injuries In Dirt Bike Crash
June 18, 2022
A Cantonment woman suffered life-threatening injuries in a dirt bike crash Friday evening on Quintette Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the dirt bike was traveling west on the shoulder of East Quintette Road near Frank Ard Road when the driver lost control and the bike overturned about 7:30 p.m.
A 24-year old female passenger was thrown from the dirt bike. She was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital and was listed in critical condition Friday night, according to FHP. The 36-year old male driver suffered only minor injuries.
Neither was wearing a helmet, according to troopers.
FHP is continuing their investigation.