Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting In Perdido, Alabama
January 9, 2022
One person was shot in Perdido, Alabama, Saturday, and a relative of the victim has been charged.
The shooting happened on Lonnie Hadley Road off Lottie Road, about 3.5 miles northwest of the Florida state line. The victim was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital, and an update on their condition was not available.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man described as a “family member” of the victim. Dillon Kirk Johnson, age 24 of Lonnie Hadley Road in Perdido, was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center in Bay Minette without bond.
Sheriff’s Office Warns About Scam Phone Calls
January 9, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning on Saturday about a scam.
Someone called a potential victim claiming to be a member of the ECSO administration. The scammer claimed the person had a current warrant but could choose to make a payment instead of being arrested, according to ECSO.
“The ECSO will never contact you to collect money,” the agency said in a release. “The recipient became suspicious and contacted the ECSO – which is exactly what they should have done.”
Deputies said there are multiple versions of the scam currently where fraudsters claim to be sworn law enforcement officers or other employees of the sheriff’s office.
The ECSO offered the following safety tips:
- Always be suspicious of any threatening calls claiming to be from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
- A legitimate business will not resort to threats as a first response to a late or missed payment.
- Always be suspicious when asked to send an electronic payment, Green Dot card payment, or wire transfer.
- Trust your instinct. If you feel that something “just isn’t right”, don’t give any personal or banking information to anyone over the phone. Hang up and contact your local law enforcement agency and report it.
“It is much easier to prevent fraud in the first place than to recover your money after the fact,” ECSO said.
West Florida High School Named Laura Rainey As Teacher Of The Year
January 9, 2022
West Florida High School named Laura Rainey as their teacher of the year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia and Santa Rosa Private Applicator Training Coming To Jay
January 9, 2022
Santa Rosa Extension is welcoming anyone interested in obtaining a Private or Ag Row Crop license to attend a pesticide safety training.
The training will be Friday, January 21 at 9 a.m. at the Linda Carden (Jay) Community Center at 5259 Booker Lane in Jay. Training should be completed by mid-afternoon, which will allow time for exam completion.
Attendees will learn the basics of applying pesticides correctly and will be able to take the exams (private applicator and core) necessary to become certified private applicators by FDACS.
Anyone using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides on agricultural or related sites in Florida needs a restricted use pesticide license. Agricultural and related sites include, but are not limited to the following areas: farms, plant nurseries, livestock operations, forests, ornamental and turf not associated with structures. A “private applicator” is an individual who has reached the age of maturity (generally 18 years old) and is licensed by FDACS to use or supervise the use of any restricted use pesticide for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by the licensed person or that person’s employer. This license is for farm, ranch, grove, nursery, sod farm applications, etc.
CEUS offered at this training include 2 Core, 2 Aerial, 2 Ag Row Crop, and 2 Private Applicator. The core points will be available in the morning part of the class while the category training will take place after lunch.
The cost per person is $15, which includes lunch. Advanced registration is required to ensure adequate preparations are made for lunch, materials and exams. To register please contact: Bethany Caraway at (850) 857-2313 or by email at bethanydiamond@ufl.edu.
Here Are Next Week’s Road Construction Slow Zones
January 8, 2022
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 through Saturday, Jan. 15. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures between A and N streets as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures and shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 through Wednesday, Jan. 12 between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 interchange to allow crews to place the thermoplastic striping and to perform worklist items.
- Sorrento Road (State Road (S.R.) 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14, as crews place a water main.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) –Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14 as crews place final striping and complete final work items.
- North Ninth Avenue (S.R. 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) Routine Maintenance near Sorrento Road – Motorists will encounter north and southbound lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 through Friday, Jan. 14 as crews perform paving operations.
Santa Rosa County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 through Saturday, Jan. 15. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – The eastbound lane will remain reduced to one lane at the County Road 191 Overpass Bridge (Exit 26) until work associated with bridge approach construction is complete. Motorists can also expect intermittent lane closures from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. the week of Monday, Jan. 10 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Major roadway construction activities are currently underway. Improvements include widening the roadway from four to a six-lanes with a raised median, safety, and drainage upgrades, resurfacing Avalon Boulevard from U.S. 98 to Garcon Point Bridge, extending the existing shared-use path on the south side of U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard, and new signage and pavement markings.
- U.S. 90 Routine Utility Maintenance at Woodbine Road Intersection – Westbound Motorists will encounter turn lane closures at Woodbine Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan.10 through Friday, Jan 14 as crews replace utility poles and overhead lines. The merge lane on Woodbine Road at U.S. 90 westbound to Pensacola will also be closed intermittently during nighttime hours as crews perform utility maintenance operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Lindsey Jeremiah Selected As McArthur Elementary Teacher Of The Year
January 8, 2022
Lindsey Jeremiah has been selected as the McArthur Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She is a first grade teacher at the school. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Reschedules Three Council, Charter Review Meetings For January
January 8, 2022
The Town of Century has shuffled the schedule for three public meetings during the month of January.
The Century Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. following a 6:45 p.m. bill list review on Tuesday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 18 in council chambers at town hall. The first meeting was moved from January 3 to January 11 due to a council scheduling conflict, and the second meeting was delayed a day due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
A Century Charter Review Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 18 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the community center on West Highway 4. The change was to avoid a conflict with a rescheduled council meeting.
Pictured: Century council president Luis Gomez, Jr. discusses an agenda item during the council’s last meeting on December 20, 2021. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: Escambia Had 3,701 New COVID-19 Cases Last Week
January 8, 2022
There were 3,701 new COVID-19 cases reported last week in Escambia County, according to a Florida Department of Health report. That compares to 2,417 in the previous week.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 60,828 (+3,701)
Positivity rate last week: 42.93%
Case Rate per 100k: 1,162.68
People vaccinated: 165,865 (+929)
Fully vaccinated rate: 52.2%
Partially vaccinated rate: 60.6%
Current hospitalizations: 144
Total deaths last 7 days: <10 (CDC data)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 34,032 (+1,919)
Positivity rate last week: 27.0%
Case Rate per 100k: 1,040.08
People vaccinated: 96,424 (+503)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 51.2%
New hospital admissions: 18
Total deaths last 7 days: 0 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 4,562,954 (+397,114)
Case positivity rate: 31.2
Deaths: 62,688 (+44)
Driver’s License Clinic To Assist Participants In Restoring Driving Privileges
January 8, 2022
The First Judicial Circuit will host a Driver’s License Clinic on Friday, March 25 to assist individuals whose licenses have been revoked, suspended, or cancelled.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. Due to COVID-19, it is possible that restricted access to the courthouse could resume and impact the clinic. If changes do occur, notification and instructions will be sent to all registered participants prior to the clinic.
Registration will begin on January 14 at 9 a.m., and is open to the first 150 registered participants. To register, go to https://escambiacountydriverslicenseclinic2022.eventbrite.com.
Participants should closely monitor the email address provided at registration, as email will be the primary form of communication between participants and the clinic staff. Additional information may also be requested by email. Failure to provide requested information may result in cancelled registration.
Individuals who registered for previous clinics and failed to appear will be placed on the waiting list until all eligible participants have had an opportunity to register. Walk-ins will not be able to participate.
Staff from the Florida Department of Revenue, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Escambia County Clerk of Court, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the State Attorney, and the Office of the Public Defender, along with judges and court staff, will work together to assist registrants and provide individualized information relevant to each participant’s personal circumstances. The goal of the clinic is to provide “one-stop shopping” for citizens to interact with the appropriate state agencies and/or the court so they can determine how to regain their driving privileges. The clinic will not be able to assist individuals with licenses revoked, suspended, or cancelled due to out-of-state matters. Additionally, the clinic will not address pending criminal charges.
Driver’s licenses may be suspended for a variety of reasons, including failure to pay traffic tickets or child support, accumulation of too many points on one’s driving record, or designation as a habitual traffic offender. Licenses may also be revoked as a consequence of entering a plea to certain crimes, such as driving under the influence or certain drug-related offenses.
EREC Accepting Applications From High School Seniors For Annual Scholarships
January 8, 2022
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will award scholarships to graduating seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties whose parent or guardian is a member of the cooperative. Two $4,000 scholarships – awarded in honor of former director Herman D. Johnson – will be offered. Students must show proof of enrollment and maintain a grade-point average of 2.5 to continue to receive the funds each year.
For scholarship applications, seniors should check with their high school guidance counselors; contact EREC’s Marketing and Communications (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848; or go online at www.erec.com. The deadline to submit applications is March 1. Winners will be announced at EREC’s Annual Meeting on April 30.
In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. Legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships for graduating seniors in EREC’s service area.
“Delivering safe, reliable, and affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities,” says Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC. “For more than 24 years EREC has had the opportunity to provide these scholarships to deserving seniors in our local high schools.”
Pictured above: 2021 EREC scholarship winners Libby Pugh (left) from Northview High School and Andrea Moorer from Central High School. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.