Family Looking For Two Cats Missing After House Fire In Cottage Hill
March 3, 2022
A Cottage Hill family is looking for their cats following a house fire Monday.
The fire caused significant damage to the home on Highway 95A at McKenzie Road [More info..] Escambia Fire Rescue rescued a dog from the home, but two cats ran away.
“I’m desperate to find them,” Jourdan Truitt said.
Sylar is a tuxedo black and white cat, and the other is a tabby cat named Miles. Miles is blind in one eye, so it appears to be glassed over.
“I have weaned both these cats from birth and they are very important to me,” Truitt said.
Anyone that has seen Sylar or Miles can call or text (850) 341-3920.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Argos Football Team Reads To Pine Meadow Elementary Students
March 3, 2022
Members of the University of West Florida Argos football team read books to students Wednesday at Pine Meadow Elementary School.
Wednesday was National Read Across America Day, an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
The Pine Meadow Panthers were very excited to listen to the stories and lessons from the players.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
600 Inmates To Be Moved Out Of Old, Moldy, Leaky Jail
March 3, 2022
Escambia County plans to move 600 inmates out of the old county jail and annex due to mold, leaks and other unacceptable conditions.
The inmates will be shifted into four currently unused housing units, known as pods, in the new jail while about 200 minimum security inmates will move to the Work Release Center on Fairfield Drive. The move will begin next week.
The old jail and annex were built in 1981 and 1984 respectively but still house prisoners in addition to the new jail that opened last year. In the older facilities, there is mold growing on walls and ceilings, cracked windows, and leaks that have been repaired with tarps that catch water before it is drained away with a hose.
NorthEscambia.com was first last week to report on the problems in the old jail. Click or tap here for that story.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to discuss the future of the old buildings and if they should be repaired or replaced.
The Escambia County jail is managed by the county, not the sheriff’s office.
Contributed photos by Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clerk Childers Sues County, Three Commissioners Over Retirement Plan Contributions
March 3, 2022
Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers and the Escambia County Commission have now filed suit against each other in an ongoing retirement plan dispute.
It’s called a 401(a) annuity program, and under state statute is offered only to senior management service employees and commissioners that opt out of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It’s available statewide, not just in Escambia County.
Last summer, Childers said commissioner participation in the plan is illegal. Childers, who essentially holds the county’s checkbook as clerk, started withholding contributions to the retirement plan. The county commission then filed suit against her.
Wednesday, she answered with a motion to quash the county’s suit and filed her own lawsuit against Escambia County and commissioners Steven Barry, Robert Bender and Lumon May – the three commissioners that currently participate in the 401(a) plan. She also wants $130,000 paid into the plan for the commissioners returned, claiming the payments were made without legal authority.
“As Clerk, and in my duties as Auditor, I have an obligation to shield the public from unlawful expenditures,” Childers said. “It has come to my attention that Escambia County has directed payment to private retirement accounts for Barry, May and Bender, without legal authority. I have obtained a legal opinion that those payments, deemed to be compensation, must be authorized by general law for these commissioners. I find no general law so authorizing.”
After learning of the lawsuit in which he is named, Barry told NorthEscambia.com, “In contrast to the apparent interest of some, the issue will be decided in an actual court of law, not a court of public opinion, and I look forward to that opportunity.”
Judges in Escambia County have recused themselves from the county’s action and it has been referred to Judge William Stone in Okaloosa County. Childers said she will be moving to consolidate the lawsuits.
401(a) Annuity Program
The plan does not cost Escambia County taxpayers anything extra when contributions are made in a timely fashion; the employee contributions are exactly the same whether or not the money goes into FRS or the annuity program. FRS has significant administrative overhead and fund liability that is funded from employee contributions. The 401(a) annuity plan participant costs are lower, so participants can earn significantly more retirement dollars.
That means what taxpayers contribute for the 401(a) annuity program individually for Barry, Bender and May is equal to the taxpayer cost individually for commissioners Jeff Bergosh and Doug Underhill, both of which opted for a FRS retirement benefit.
Escambia County has offered a 401(a) annuity program to senior management employees and elected officials since 1997.
Tate High Placed On Lockdown Wednesday Morning
March 2, 2022
Tate High School was on a lockdown Wednesday morning after reports of someone with a gun on campus.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a student with a gun, but there was no issue, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident involved a student that was suspended recently, according to Southard. The student had a letter in hand that stated that he could return to campus Wednesday, but he missed a meeting on Tuesday where that return permission was to have been canceled.
“He did not trespass because he was never trespass warned from the campus before today and had the letter,” Southard said. “He was informed today and sent on his way.”
Shortly after the incident, with many parents still outside the school gates, Escambia County EMS responded for an unrelated call of an adult with a minor medical issue.
Florida Power & Light Says Reliability Has Improved Over Gulf Power
March 2, 2022
Florida Power & Light Company says customers in Northwest Florida have seen a 58% improvement in the reliability of their electric service since becoming part of NextEra Energy in 2019.
An annual report filed Tuesday with the Florida Public Service Commission shows that the average amount of time an FPL customer in Northwest Florida experienced an outage in 2021 was 58% lower than in 2018 – the best score in history for the former Gulf Power Company, which was purchased by NextEra Energy in 2019. Customers began receiving service under the FPL name at the beginning of this year.
Another key industry metric used to track electric service, the average number of interruptions experienced by a customer, was also the best in history for the region. This metric improved 48% since 2018.
Woman Gets 20 Years For Killing Teen In 2019
March 2, 2022
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the shooting death of a 16-year old in 2019.
Kristian Ard, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child; possession of cocaine with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver; possession of tetrahydrocannabinol with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver; possession of cannabis with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver; three counts of tampering with evidence; possession of drug paraphernalia; contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child; false report to law enforcement; and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.
On December 18, 2019, Ard shot a 16-year old on Grace Drive, just off Guidy Lane. The victim was later pronounced brain dead, taken of a ventilator and ultimately died.
During the investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located the firearm that was used to shoot the victim in the Ard’s purse, as well as the spent shell casing from the shooting hidden in the bottom of her cigarette pack. Law enforcement also located cocaine, marijuana, THC cartridges, ammunition, counterfeit currency, alcohol, and drug paraphernalia in her vehicle. In addition, Ard provided false information to law enforcement throughout the investigation.
“The defendant’s actions in this incident and throughout the investigation show that she is a danger to the community,” Assistant State Attorney Jessica Etherton stated during sentencing.
Bratt Elementary Literacy Night Promotes Reading Fun
March 2, 2022
Bratt Elementary School held a Family Literacy Night Tuesday evening.
Principal Amy McCrory welcomed families into the cafeteria where they were served a light dinner. A presentation of Dr. Seuss’, The Cat in the Hat, was given by Elisabeth Ward, Mandi Carter, and Pam Trice.
Families were then directed to the multi-purpose room where every student received a free book and game from their teacher. Parents received a copy of their child’s most recent test data.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Students and families also had the chance for fun pictures in a photo booth.
The event was organized by Shonna Gilmore, Bratt Elementary School media specialist.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Girls Tennis Tops West Florida; Boys Play To Tie
March 2, 2022
The Tate High School girls tennis team took a 7-0 win over West Florida High School Tuesday.
Girls #1 Kingsley Cline stays undefeated for the season.
The Aggies boys ended with a 3-3 tie with West Florida.
Up next, Aggies tennis will travel to Gulf Breeze on Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
STARBASE Pensacola Opens To Escambia County Students
March 2, 2022
A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday to official open STARBASE Pensacola at the National Flight Academy onboard NAS Pensacola.
STARBASE is a Department of Defense program that allows fifth grade students from Title I schools in Escambia County to have a place to learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related topics.
Students from Brentwood Elementary School were the first class to arrive Tuesday.
The STARBASE Pensacola director and instructors worked with Escambia County School District to develop a customized curriculum from a large offering of peer-reviewed learning opportunities in each STEM area such as Newton’s Laws and Bernoulli’s principle, robotics, coding, rocketry and 3D printing. Students will also be introduced to Computer Aided Design (CAD) to design space stations, all-terrain vehicles, and submersibles.
Additional programs will also be available at STARBASE Pensacola for students not at Title I schools outside of the traditional school schedule, such as during the summer. Additional details will be released on those programs.
