Byrneville Man, 74, Charged With Shooting At His Live-in Girlfriend
April 21, 2022
A 74-year old Byrneville man is accused of firing a gun at his longtime girlfriend.
George Alanson Hoffman, 74, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Hoffman allegedly fired a gun at his live-in girlfriend of 20 years at a residence in Byrneville. The victim told deputies that he had been drinking, and they had been arguing.
The victim “stated she was sitting in her chair when she heard a shot go across her head and that her ears began ringing due to the gunshot”, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report states. She said Hoffman said “you are going to die today”, along with other threats.
The woman fled outside the residence and found herself locked out, the report continues. She was waiting for some period of time and flagged someone down to call the Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived, they found Hoffman still inside the locked residence. A neighbor was able to talk Hoffman out.
Hoffman told deputies that he was tired of his girlfriend and had been trying to get her out of his residence. He stated he had been drinking and got irate with her, causing him to grab his Ruger .380 and fire it toward her, according to the arrest report.
Deputies reported finding a bullet hole in the wall just above the girlfriend’s chair and the handgun next to the chair Hoffman was sitting in, the report states. An empty .380 caliber shell casing was located just in front of Hoffman’s chair.
Hoffman remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $5,000.
Century Approves Free Rent, Short Term Lease With Startup Transportation Company
April 21, 2022
The Town of Century has approved a free rent, three month lease with a startup transportation business.
Tuesday night, the council approved the lease with Metro Rapid Transport and their for profit non-emergency medical and other transportation service business.
The town will revisit the lease before it ends and consider options going forward; there is not an automatic renewal or extension. During the three months, the company will be required to pay utilities, but the town does not currently have a separate electric meter for the 1,000 square foot portion of the building leased by Metro Rapid.
The council unanimously approved the zero-dollar lease for the first three months. In February, the council received a business plan from Metro Rapid that indicated the company had budgeted $20,000 for leasing a facility, plus $25,000 to renovate the facility.
“I don’t want to deprive Century of the benefit of having a transit system,” Council President Luis Gomez, Jr.
“After the three months, we come back to the council and say well how much we are doing this lease for now and how much we can afford,” owner Trina James-Tanner said. “Century is small. There is no big money coming through. So it’s not like I’m gonna go right in and start making a thousand dollars a day with what I’m doing.”
“I’m trying to help the elderly. I’m trying to help the disabled. So if y’all can work with me would be great, she added.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser, who drafted the lease, refrained from suggesting a dollar amount for the lease citing insufficient familiarity with the Century Business Center.
Dannheisser stated in an email that he was instructed to refrain from including any requirement that the principal owners of Metro Rapid personally guarantee the rent and other obligations. The town has not conducted any due diligence into the company’s owners.
“Please recognize that because Metro Rapid is a new company (having been formed in Dec. 2021), it may have little assets. Correspondingly, in the event of breach of any terms of the lease (including, for example, breach of insurance or indemnification requirements of Sections 11 and 12), the Town may have difficulty effectively enforcing its rights under the lease,” Dannheisser warned.
Under the lease, Metro Rapid accepts the premises “as is” with the town having no responsibility for any repairs or alterations.
Metro Rapid also has nonexclusive right to use the paved parking surfaces and driveway. The lease also allows the company to use a portion of the property to the east of the Century Business Center as a bus parking area, but the buses and other vehicles are not allowed at the Century Business Center at anytime. Their use is limited to overnight and temporary parking of less than 12 hours. They are not allowed to make any repairs or service the vehicles on the property.
Metro Rapid must also maintain liability insurance with limits of at least $1 million per person or $2 million for injuries to more than one person and $250,000 for property damage.
Metro Rapid Transport plans to operate 18 hours a day, six days a week, according to their business plan and be based in the “northern Pensacola area”.
Proposed rates for the service are $2.50 “in town” or $5 round trip. For “out of town” trips, it will be $45 for the first 30 miles ($90 round tip) plus 20 cents per additional mile, according to the company’s undated business plan submitted to the town.
Metro Transit estimates nearly $4.2 million is needed to establish and maintain the service for three years. The plan states they have been able to generate about $8,000 in home equity from the owner, they are applying for state funding, and they are working to establish a line of credit at Navy Federal Credit Union.
Pictured: Metro Rapid Transport owner Trina James-Tanner addresses the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
These New ‘Kids’ At Beulah Middle May Just Be The Cutest Thing You See Today
April 21, 2022
The two new “kids” at Beulah Middle School may just be the cutest thing you see today.
At 10:02 p.m. Wednesday, the Beulah Middle family welcomed two new kids to the farm.
Ms. Ruby gave birth to a boy and a girl. Mom and kids were both doing fine.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 27 Years On Child Porn Charges
April 21, 2022
An Escambia County man has been sentenced on multiple child porn counts.
Scott Alexander Chappelear was sentenced to 27 years in state prison and designated a sexual offender by Judge John Simon. Chappelear entered a plea straight up to the court on 15 counts of possession of child pornography, six counts of transmission of harmful materials to a minor, and one count of using a computer to solicit the sexual conduct of a child.
FDLE began its investigation in August 2021. An undercover agent, posing as a 14-year old female, began communicating with Chappelear, who tried to coax the “child” into performing sexual acts and sent adult pornography, according to the agency.
Chappelear believed that he was communicating with a minor child. During the course of the communications, Chappelear solicited sexual acts, transmitted pornography, and agreed to meet with the undercover agent.
FDLE said Chappelear also agreed to meet the person he thought was a 14-year old girl at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze.
A search warrant was served at his home at 8126 Crystal Wells Place, off East Olive Road. Agents found dozens of child sexual abuse material photos with some children as young as one to three years of age on two of his cell phones, according to the report.
“This defendant posed a significant danger to the community. He went from possessing child pornography to actively seeking out minor children online. This sentence will ensure that the community is safe from any future actions of Mr. Chappelear,” said prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer.
This investigation and arrest were conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Tate Aggies Varsity Beats Pine Forest; JV Eagles Top Tate
April 21, 2022
Tate 2, Pine Forest 1
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pine Forest Eagles 2-1 Wednesday night.
Dalton Biggs earned the win for Tate, going five and two-thirds innings while allowing one run, one hit and striking out nine. Reaves threw one and on-third innings in relief allowing one hit and striking out one Eagle. Bray Touchstone was 1-3 for the Aggies.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pine Forest 3, Tate 1 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Pine Forest topped Tate 3-1.
In four innings, Cameron Patrick allowed two hits and three runs while striking out four. McNair and Lynn
Ketch King and Anthony Longo each had one hit for the JV Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Krause Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get First Home Game Win Of The Season
April 21, 2022
Jerar Encarnacion had four RBIs, including the game-tying double and game-winning home run, to lift the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a 6-4 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night.
Encarnacion tied the game 4-4 with a two-out, two-run double in the sixth, and provided the decisive blow with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to give the Blue Wahoos their first home win of the season.
Cody Mincey delivered 5.0 solid innings in his second Double-A start, allowing three runs on three hits. Brett Wisely hit a solo homer in the second and a Grant Witherspoon RBI single in the third as the Blue Wahoos fell behind 3-1.
Biscuits starter Caleb Sampen allowed only one hit in his 3.0-inning start, an RBI triple to Griffin Conine that put Pensacola on the board. A solo homer from Montgomery’s Hill Alexander in the top of the sixth gave the Biscuits a 4-1 lead, but the Blue Wahoos charged back against Michael Costanzo in the bottom of the sixth.
On a windy night, a dropped infield fly off the bat of Paul McIntosh brought home a run to bring the score to 4-2. With two outs, Encarnacion drove a two-run double into the right field corner to tie the game 4-4.
Josh Simpson (W, 1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Encarnacion lined a go-ahead two-run homer off the top of the left field wall against Trevor Brigden (L, 1-2) to give Pensacola their first lead. Simpson returned for the ninth, striking out three more batters to close the door.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night.
$7.2 Million In Safety Improvements Begin Next Month On East Nine Mile Road
April 20, 2022
The Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin work next month on a $7.2 million project to improve safety on a 2.3 mile segment of East Nine Mile Road.
Planned safety improvements between Chemstrand Road and Baldridge Road include:
- Widening the turn lanes to include five-foot bicycle lanes in each direction.
- Traffic signal upgrades.
- Guardrail, pavement markings, and sidewalk enhancements.
- Drainage improvements.
- Milling and resurfacing all turn lanes and bicycle lanes.
FDOT said the project is anticipated to be complete by the Summer of 2023.
During construction, drivers and bicyclists can expect lane closures and traffic shifts. Lane closures will be limited to the 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. timeframe seven days a week. Pedestrian detours will be in place while sidewalk improvements are underway.
Century Joins Area Governments In Calling For State Review Of FPL’s Rates
April 20, 2022
The Century Town Council on Tuesday night agreed to have Mayor Ben Boutwell write a letter to the Florida Public Service Commission asking them to reconsider Florida Power & Light’s rate structure.
Escambia County, Pensacola, Milton, Gulf Breeze and Crestview have already sent similar letters to the state.
Pictured: The Century Town Council Tuesday night: (L-R) Sandra McMurray Jackson, Luis Gomez, Jr., Dynette Lewis and James Smith. Council member Leonard White participated by Zoom. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Over $6,000 Stolen During Vehicle Burglary At Pine Forest Road Walmart
April 20, 2022
Over $6,000 in cash was stolen during a vehicle burglary Tuesday afternoon at a Pine Forest Road store.
The burglary happened about 1:30 p.m. at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in the 9300 block of Pine Forest Road, near Nine Mile Road.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’’s Office, the suspect left the scene in a newer model BMW SUV with tinted windows and a temporary tag.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Gilmore Has Two Home Runs, Including Grand Slam, And Dixon Homers At Northview Routs Escambia; Tate Beats Crestview
April 20, 2022
Northview 19, Escambia 3
Emma Gilmore led the Northview Chiefs in a 19-3 rout of Escambia Tuesday night in Pensacola,
Gilmore had two home runs, including a grand slam, with six total RBIs on three hits. Kayla Dixon also had a home run in the
And in the pitcher’s circle, Gilmore went a complete five inning game, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six.
Gilmore and Dixon had three hits each for Northview. Chloe Ragsdale, Jamison Gilman, and Watson each had two hits. Berklee Hall, Kaitlin Gafford, Aubrey Stuckey, and Aubree Jordan added one hit apiece.
Tate 15, Crestview 6
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Crestview 15-6 Tuesday night.
Kate Balagbagen went three innings in the circle for the Aggies, allowing six runs and eight hits while walking one.
The Aggies had three home runs for the night — Sophia Jones in the first inning, Kara Wine in the third and Olivea Latner in the seventh inning.
Latner led the Aggies with three hits. Jones, Christina Mason, Lacy Wilson, Wine, and MacKenzie Cook had two hits each, and Jordan added one.
Pictured top: Northview’s Kayla Dixon (left) had one home run, and Emma Gilmore had two, including grand slam, for Northview Tuesday night against Escambia. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.