WFHS Slides Past Northview Varsity; JV Battles To A Tie
April 5, 2024
West Florida 5, Northview 1 (Varsity)
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 5-1 in varsity action Thursday night in Bratt.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Grayson Phillips earned the win for the Jags, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings.
Jase Portwood took the loss for the Chiefs, going six innings while surrendering five runs and nine hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Phillips had two RBIs for WFHS. Jaxson Cramer, Dax Robbins, and Connor Powers each contributed two hits.
Brady Smith and Dane King had one hit each for the Chiefs.
Northview will host Pine Forest MOnday at 6:30 p.m. West Florida will travel to Crestview Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2:30.
West Florida 4, Northview 4 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Northview and West Florida battled to a 4-4 tie after five innings Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
J Boutwell opened on the mound for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and four runs while walking four and striking out five over four and one-third innings. G Harrison closed, tossing two-thirds of the final inning giving up no hits and no runs while striking out two and walking one.
Ayden Crabtree, Brayden Gindl, Easten Odom and Nate Jones each had one hit for Northview.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Moves Up To $36K To Make Gas Safety Relocation Project Loan Payment
April 5, 2024
The Century Town Council voted this week to transfer up to $36,000 in order to make a loan payment.
The council voted to transfer an amount not to exceed $36,000 in Local Option Sales Tax Funds to make a payment on USDA Rural Development loan for a gas relocation project.
The non-specific “up to” amount approved because the council’s agenda package had two different payments amounts — $36,000 and $32,082 — listed due to a scrivener’s error.
If the full $36,000, the payment would leave a LOST balance of $814,284.87.
Work began on the project in August 20114 on a leaking section of natural gas pipe under Highway 29 in Century, three and a half years since the leak was publicly revealed as a “major public safety issue”. In April 2012, Century signed off on a $1.4 million USDA Rural Development loan to cover the cost of replacing the pipe.
Peacock Signs With Mount Mercer University
April 5, 2024
Gage Peacock of Beulah has signed with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Lighthouse Private Christian Academy senior received baseball and an academic scholarships. He will also bowling for the school.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated: Volunteer Firefighter Attacked By Dog After Responding To Reported RV Crash; Driver Arrested
April 4, 2024
An Escambia County volunteer firefighter was attacked by a dog after responding to a reported vehicle crash with a trapped occupant Wednesday afternoon in Bratt, and the driver of the vehicle was arrested.
The Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were dispatched about 5 p.m. to the reported recreational vehicle crash on North Highway 99 near Hanks Road. The first firefighter to arrive was a Walnut Hill volunteer in his personal vehicle. The firefighter reportedly arrived to find the driver standing outside the vehicle with two unleashed dogs. As the firefighter walked toward the RV, one of the dogs attacked him, knocking him to the ground from behind.
A Escambia County Sherriff’s Office deputy had arrived moments before the firefighter and was told by the driver that two aggressive dogs were in the vehicle, along with his 80-year old mother, and ECSO spokesperson said Thursday morning. He was instructed to remove the dogs from the RV and complied. He then removed the dogs from their leashes before the attack.
The dog was shot by the deputy to stop the attack. The dog died a short time later.
The firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital where he was treated and released. Long and his mother were not injured.
The driver of the RV, later identified as 47-year-old Robert Timothy Long, age 47 of Pace, allegedly resisted a law enforcement officer on scene after Escambia County Animal Control arrived.
Long appeared to be very distraught and was holding the second dog, a pit bull, by the leash and refused to let the dog get out of arm’s reach, according to an arrest report.
“Long was already known to be a sovereign citizen and did not cooperate with law enforcement,” the report states, and he ignored multiple commands to move.
When a trooper attempted to speak with Long, he became “extremely aggressive” and began cursing at the trooper and “tightly gripping the dog causing the dog to whine in pain”, the ECSO report continues. He was instructed to tie the dog to a tree but refused.
Long walked to the back of the property.
“Long placed his back against a metal garage door and placed his dog in front of him knowing that law enforcement was hesitant to detain him due to fear of being bit by his dog,” the deputy wrote.
“At one point Long sat back down and picked up a the end of a rake and when commanded to drop it, he complied. Long then picked up a plastic coffee can that was filled with dirt but again dropped it when commanded.”
“Due to the aggressive dog and Long not being compliant with law enforcement orders and fear of Long letting his dog go to attack an officer if we attempted to detain Long, I utilized my agency issued taser,” the deputy continued in his report. Long was then detained.
Long was booked into the Escambia County Jail Wednesday night on charges of resisting an officer without violence, felony intimidating or hindering law enforcement duties, and misdemeanor “dog owner reckless disregard”, according to jail records. He remained in jail mid-morning Thursday with bond set at $3,150.
Individuals reported that the RV had been in the ditch for several hours, since at least 2 p.m. Reports indicated that someone later reported it as a traffic accident with a trapped occupant about 5 p.m. There was a female occupant in the RV when first responders arrived that was unable to exit the RV due to its angle in the ditch and a pre-existing medical condition, but she was not “trapped”.
The southbound RV apparently left the roadway near Ashcraft Road and continued in the ditch for about one-quarter of a mile before coming to rest after striking a culvert past Hanks Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are continuing their investigation.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify that the dog was unleashed at the time of the time of the attack and shooting, according to information released Thursday morning by the ECSO. The story previously stated the dog was leashed when shot based upon preliminary information from the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge Sides With County Clerk, Rules Escambia Commissioners’ Retirement Plan Is Unlawful
April 4, 2024
An Okaloosa County Circuit Court judge has ruled that a local retirement plan used by three Escambia County commissioners is unlawful.
Judge William Stone released a ruling Wednesday morning upholding a decision by Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers to withhold payments to the plan.
“It is not lawful for elected officers (e.g., county commissioners), to participate in the Local Plan,” Stone wrote in his ruling. “The County’s contributions to the Local Plan on behalf of county commissioners constitute unlawful compensation.”
Commissioner Steven Barry and Lumon May joined the plan in early 2021 after reelection in 2020. Former commissioner Robert Bender joined the plan shortly after his reelection in 2019.
On July 1, 2021, Childers reduced contributions to the local plan to 8.34% for the three commissioners. On January 1, 2022, Childers stopped making payments for the three county commissioners into the local plan.
Escambia County sued her to force her to make the contributions, contending the Childers did not have that authority under a state law from the 1990’s. The case went to trial in February, and the judge’s ruling Wednesday was the conclusion. Escambia County still has the right to appeal.
Stone agreed with the county’s assertion that the cost to taxpayers is exactly the same regardless of a commissioner’s participation in the local plan or FRS.
“The Court acknowledges the County’s argument that the cost to the County is the same under the Local Plan as in FRS,” Stone wrote. “However, that surface-level appeal cannot be the end of the inquiry.”
According to the ruling, the Florida Retirement System (FRS) required employer retirement contribution rate is 12.39%. In the court’s example, a commissioner serving three terms (12 years) with a salary of $98,501 annually would have an FRS contribution of $146,451.24. Under the local plan the county’s contribution rate for commissioners is 56.68%, which would amount to $693,604.68, or about 4.74 times more in accrued contributions than a commissioner who enrolled in FRS.
Stone noted that his ruling does not suggest that retirement plans constitute unlawful compensation, and that Childers “properly exercised discretion in ceasing to make the payments to the Local Plan”.
“The County Commission is disappointed in the ruling and is considering its options,” Andie Gibson, Escambia County public information officer, told NorthEscambia.com following the ruling.
Failed Urban Development Center Program Wants More Time To Finish Repaying Unsecured Loan From Century
April 4, 2024
The CEO of the Urban Development Center says she wants more time to finish repaying what started as an unsecured $61,925 loan for the YouthFirst Century program that suffered a complete funding cut by the Escambia County Children’s Trust (ECT).
At this week’s Century Town Council meeting, Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. read an April 2 letter from Dr. Jessica Griffen acknowledging UDC still owes the town $21,295 of an original interest-free $61,925 loan.
Last year, Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) awarded a contract to the Pensacola non-profit Urban Development Center for “YouthFirst Century” to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period at a total cost of $1.2 million. In reality, they only reached 30 children in their targeted ages of 11-18. They requested to lower their target age group to just 5-years old, but that was also denied by ECT.
The Town of Century fronted an unsecured $61,925 loan to UDC to purchase items like computers and workbooks. The loan was to be repaid by December 31, 2023, but the town council previously approved an extension to March 31, 2024.
Griffen requested another extension to pay until May 31, 2024, “citing continual slow financial receivables for delay”. A NorthEscambia.com email to Griffen the afternoon of April 3 requesting more clarification was not immediately answered.
She did not specifically mention the Children’s Trust in her letter.
“The Urban Development Center, Incorporated is committed to meeting its obligation of repayment to the Town of Century,” she wrote. “In our view, it is critical to maintain clear communication and transparency throughout this process.”
According to ECT documentation, ECT’s contract for the year period prior to March 1 was $397,556, of which $264,058.03 was paid as of February 29, and $133,497.97 was “surrendered” because it was part of the awarded but not spent by the contract end date.
“It was use it or lose it,” ECT Executive Director Lindsey Cannon told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon regarding the surrendered funding. “It’s rolled back into (other) programs, because they (UDC) didn’t use it.”
The town council voted 5-0 to approve the loan payment extension.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Atmore Community Hospital Closing Surgery Department
April 4, 2024
Atmore Community Hospital is closing their surgery department effective June 1.
Officials pointed to low patient volumes, poor reimbursement rates including the lack of Medicaid expansion, and rapidly inflating costs as major reasons behind the closure.
“It is an unfortunate reality in today’s rural healthcare climate that hospitals are having to closely look at which services they are financially able to continue to provide. Atmore Community Hospital remains committed to providing our patients with quality healthcare and offering services locally. However, surgical services are not something we can continue offering and remain viable.” stated Brad Lowery, hospital administrator. “This decision was not made lightly, as we feel we have a very strong surgical team. Significant time and resources have gone in to trying to sustain the service, but we simply don’t have the necessary volume to support it at this time.”
According to hospital officials, Atmore Community Hospital is actively working to have outpatient surgical consults locally through visiting specialists, including D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital. Along with this change in service, visiting specialists who were located in the ACH Specialty Care building will now be relocating to other areas of the hospital and clinics.
“We continue to review what is working from a financial perspective,” stated Debbie Rowell, Escambia County Health Care Authority board chairperson. “We cannot continue to offer services that decrease our financial feasibility. We continue to research impacts of Medicaid Expansion and better reimbursements options for rural healthcare facilities.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate Defeats Northview In Flag Football (With Gallery)
April 4, 2024
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 21-0 in girls flag football Wednesday afternoon in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate quarterback Gabrielle Smart had 103 yards passing, completing 14 of 20 attempts. Smart also had 60 yards rushing and one touchdown on six carries. Hannah Pitman had 100 yards rushing on six carries for the Aggies. Ryan Clarke had 34 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Northview stats were not provided.
Wednesday was senior night for Northview with the team honoring seniors Carsyn Dortch, Kendal Beasley and Ava Gurganus before the game.
The Chiefs ended their season at 3-5 overall. The Tate Aggies, currently 5-5, will end their season Thursday against Gulf Breeze.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Veterans Outreach Events Planned In North Escambia
April 4, 2024
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold three public meetings in North Escambia to give veterans a chance to discuss benefits with an accredited veterans services officer.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates at community centers in North Escambia:
- Friday, April 5: Byrneville Community Center, 1707 Highway 4A in Byrneville
- Thursday, June 6: Davisville Community Center, 10200 Highway 97 in Davisville
- Wednesday, July 10: Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A in Molino.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and reevaluating VA disability.
For more information, contact the Veterans Services Office at (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com. Learn more about Escambia County’s Veterans Services Office at MyEscambia.com/veterans-services.
NWE Hosting 8U, 10U Baseball Tourney With Free Entry
April 4, 2024
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park will host a recreational 8U and 10U baseball tournament on April 13 and 14 with a three-game guarantee.
Registration is free. Click here for a registration form.