FHP: Molino Man Suffered Medical Condition Before Fatal Wreck
April 29, 2022
A 39-year old Molino man was pronounced dead after a traffic crash Thursday afternoon in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was traveling west on Jackson Street approaching Benson Place when he ran off the roadway and collided with a utility pole and street sign.
“The driver suffered from a medical condition which caused the collision,” FHP said in their report. He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
These Escambia, Santa Rosa Items Named ‘Budget Turkeys’
April 29, 2022
Only a few Florida Tax Watch “turkeys” were in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County Total: $1,105,000
- Veteran Memorial Park Maintenance and Repair, $355,000
- West Florida Historic Preservation – Site Preservation and Operations, $750,000
Santa Rosa County Total: $1,050,000
- Town of Jay Bray-Hendricks Park Master Plan, $300,000
- Smart Stormwater Management, $250,000
- Milton North Santa Rosa Regional Water Reclamation Facility, $500,000
The Budget Turkey Watch report is Florida TaxWatch’s annual review of Florida’s upcoming budget. The report was started in 1983 and promotes oversight and integrity in the state’s budgeting process based on the principle that: because money appropriated by the Legislature belongs to the taxpayers of Florida, the process must be transparent and accountable, and every appropriation should receive deliberation and public scrutiny. The budget review identifies appropriations that circumvent transparency and accountability standards in public budgeting.
Budget Turkeys are items, usually local member projects, placed in individual line-items or accompanying proviso language that are added to the final appropriations bill without being fully scrutinized and subjected to the budget process, according to TaxWatch.
The Budget Turkey label does not signify judgment of a project’s worthiness. Instead, the review focuses on the Florida budget process. The group said the purpose of the Budget Turkey label is to ensure that all appropriations using public funds receive the deliberation, debate, and accountability they deserve.
Escambia Fire Lt. John Van Matre Retires After 44 Years Of Service
April 29, 2022
After 44 years of service, Escambia County Fire Rescue Lt. John Van Matre has retired.
“For the last 21 years, I’ve had the honor of working with the best firefighters that the state of Florida knows,” Van Matre said. “Thank you to these brave individuals for giving me the opportunity to serve alongside you. Thank you to my wife, Caryn, for her love and dedication all throughout my career. I pray that God will bless our firefighters and keep them safe as they continue to serve the citizens of Escambia County. Thank you again for allowing me to serve.”
Van Matre served the citizens of Escambia County through ECFR for the last 21 years. His career in fire rescue began as a volunteer firefighter at the age of 16, serving the Ferry Pass, Brent and Ensley volunteer fire departments from 1978 until 1987. He graduated from the Pensacola State Fire Academy in June 1999 and joined the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, fulfilling his goal of becoming a professional firefighter.
Later, in April 2021, while still serving with the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, Van Matre was hired as one of the original 10 “part-timers” with ECFR after its inception in January 2000. Then, in July 2001, he made the full-time move to ECFR where he served mostly at the Brent Station.
During his time with ECFR, Van Matre has received numerous commendations for his service during Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Michael. He has also facilitated rescues and led his crew during a variety of natural disasters and regional emergencies. In 2005, he was selected as part of the first group of Urban Search and Rescue members, eventually taking over as the USAR team coordinator. In May 2008, he was officially promoted to the rank of lieutenant. From 2010-2016, he served as the State of Florida USAR Region I representative.
“Lieutenant John Van Matre has been a long-time servant of the citizens of Escambia County and a vital team member to ECFR,” said ECFR Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams. “We are both saddened and happy over his retirement. Over 40 years of institutional and job knowledge will be leaving the organization, however, we wish John well on his retirement and future endeavors with his wife, Caryn, and their adult children.”
Northview Lady Chiefs Close Regular Season With Big 20-5 Win Over Catholic
April 29, 2022
The Northview Lady Chiefs wrapped up their regular season with a big 20-5 win over Pensacola Catholic Thursday night.
The Chiefs had a huge fifth inning with 13 runs.
Jamison Gilman earned the win, allowing seven hits and five runs.
Gilchrist went 3-3 to lead Northview at the plate. Gilman, Emma Gilmore, Kailyn Watson and Kaitlin Gafford each added two hits. Chloe Ragsdale, Kayla Dixon, Alanna Roberson and Aubrey Stuckey had one hit apiece.
The Chiefs racked up 18 stolen bases, including four from Emma Gilmore.
The No. 3 Northview Lady Chiefs move into the 1-1A district quarterfinals on Monday against No 6 Laurel Hill.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Kimbro-Cothron Named Tate High’s Sunshine State Scholar Nominee
April 29, 2022
Raegan Kimbro-Cothron was selected as Tate’s Sunshine State Scholar Nominee based on her excellent PSAT scores, EOC scores, and her high GPA. Her participation in dual enrollment math classes and her community service hours helped push her to the top of Tate’s selection list, according to the school.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat By Biloxi Again
April 29, 2022
For the second straight game, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t provide enough offense to back up a solid pitching performance in a 3-0 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
Will Stewart (L, 0-1) turned in the team’s second quality start of the season, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.2 innings, but the Blue Wahoos suffered back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2018.
A first inning home run from Biloxi’s Freddy Zamora gave an early edge to Victor Castaneda (W, 1-1), who earned his first Double-A win for the Shuckers with 5.1 innings of scoreless, three-hit ball.
Three of Pensacola’s four hits came from Jerar Encarnacion, who raised his batting average to .366 in a 3-for-4 night. Biloxi added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh with two-out RBI hits from Cam Devanney and Jakson Reetz against Colton Hock.
Zach Vennaro (S, 2) maneuvered around an Encarnacion single in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash In Walnut Hill
April 28, 2022
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
The driver of a passenger car lost control, left the roadway, went airborne, and overturned into a field on Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road.
The driver was extricated from the vehicle by firefighters in about four minutes and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, which occured about 2:10 p.m.
Pictured: EMS personnel arrive on scene at a crash on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mostly Nude Airbnb Renter Assaulted Disabled Man Over Age 65, ECSO Says
April 28, 2022
An Airbnb renter is facing charges after allegedly running around mostly nude and assaulting a disabled man over 65 years of age.
Stephanie Joanne Lewis, 47, was charged with felony lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of an elderly and disabled person, assault on a person 65 years of age or older, and resisting an officer without violence.
Lewis overstayed her Airbnb rental in the upstairs area of the victim’s home, according to an arrest report which states she is a narcotics user with a history of violent, erratic behavior and keeps “a collection of butcher knives” in her room.
Deputies arrived at the residence to find Lewis outside wearing “sensual/erotic clothing of the lingerie type” that left her almost naked, the report states.
The victim stated he has tried to get Lewis removed from the residence, but he struggles to get to the courthouse due to a disability from a stroke and has hired an attorney. The victim told deputies that Lewis frequently walks around naked in the common area of the home shared with other tenants. He stated that she had been throwing household items and causing a disturbance, the report states.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis threw a can of soda at the victim. He told officers that he is constantly in fear of Lewis’ behavior due to drug use, and he is unable to defend himself due to his stroke.
Lewis pulled away from deputies and refused to comply with orders during her arrest, the report continues.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $3,000.
Northview Names Students Of The Month
April 28, 2022
Northview High School has named their Students of the Month for March. They are senior Torian Richardson and junior Charles Wood. They are pictured with principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Escambia 13-1; Head Into Districts As No. 2 Seed
April 28, 2022
The Tate Aggies wrapped up their regular season with a 13-1 win over Escambia 13-1 Wednesday night.
The Aggies put two on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Bray Touchstone doubled on a 2-2 count, and powered ahead with a seven-run fourth inning.
Rilee Lowery earned the win for Tate in five innings, giving up one run and four hits while striking out two and walking one.
Frankie Randall led the Aggies at the plate, going 3-3. Touchstone and Madox Land were both 2-3. Jay Davis, Cade Kelly and Jackson Penton each added a run.
Tate’s regular season ended at 21-2
No. 2 Tate moves into the 1-6A quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Monday as they host No. 7 Washington (8-14).
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Krause Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
