Couple Charged With The Death of Their Infant Child
January 28, 2021
A Pensacola couple has been charged with killing their infant child in 2018.
The infant’s father, 31-year old Quadarris Saulsberry, was charged with homicide and child neglect causing great bodily harm or death. The mother, 24-year old Brianna Scott, was charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm or death.
The incident that led to the death of the child happened December 29, 2018, at Pensacola Village at 500 East Fairfield Drive.
“I am heartbroken over the loss of this child,” Interim Pensacola Police Department Chief Kevin Christman said.
“At the same time I am proud of the way Detectives Lisa Alverson and Keith Tourney relentlessly pursued this case in order to bring justice for this victim,” he said. “The Pensacola Police Department is, and always will be, committed to solving horrible crimes such as this one, no matter how long it takes.”
New Location Identified For 300 Foot Cell Tower In Century
January 28, 2021
Earlier this month, the Century Town Council could not reach a consensus on a location to allow a new 300-foot tall cell tower to be built, but now the mayor believes he has found a location that will be agreeable to all involved.
Motions to approve a variance and lease property by the library or the town’s maintenance shop to a tower company both failed to even receive a second during the January 19 council meeting.
Mayor Ben Boutwell tells NorthEscambia.com that he worked with Diamond Towers to find another location that would alleviate council concerns, provide ongoing income for the town and provide much needed improved cellular coverage.
“If our town is going to progress, we need the coverage. I was not going to let that die,” he said.
Monday night, Boutwell will propose a lease with Diamond Towers for an AT&T tower on a small parcel of land in the town’s Anthony Pleasant Park off West Highway 4. It’s small area tucked away essentially at the back of the park.
“It will be a great spot,” Boutwell said. “It will be out of the way on a big area back there that’s never been used. It’s away from residents, surrounded by a wooded area so you would not see the base. It’s not too far from Highway 29 and is still in the area where AT&T needed it.”
Two parcels owned by the town were previously under consideration for the tower site:
- A 0.698 acre lot directly south of the Century Branch Library. The tower would be located less than 50 feet from the library property, which is owned by Escambia County.
- A 0.68 acre area located on the northeast corner of the town’s maintenance building property on Alger Road, just across the railroad tracks from the playground at Showalter Park.
“I would not want a tower in my neighborhood,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said of the Alger Road location at the council’s last meeting. “They don’t want it on Alger Road…I’m going to respect those residents.” She said Alger Road residents were concerned about possible ill effects to their health, and she said there would be no changing their minds.
Council President Luis Gomez said January 19 that he did not think the tower belonged along Highway 29, between the library and a commercial building he owns. He said that while he personally does not want it located on Highway 29, it is important to consider that someone might want to locate a business on the property in the future.
“We need cellphone service in Century,” Gomez said. “No one wants to put a business in Century with the stagnant service we have.”
A motion by council member James Smith to locate the tower at the town’s shop on Alger Road and a motion by Jackson to locate it on Highway 29 both failed at the last council meeting to reach a vote due to a lack of seconds.
Diamond Towers had requested a variance to the required 200 foot setback requirement for the tower. At 300 feet, the tower would be about the equivalent of a 30 story building, according to interim City Manager Vernon Prather.
If the council had approved, Diamond Towers would have leased one of the two properties at $1,000 total for one year with an optional extension for one more year at $1,000. Once a tower was constructed, Diamond’s lease would have increased to $1,500 per month for at least five years, with another $500 per month due for additional cellular providers collocated on the tower.
A similar lease option for the Anthony Pleasant Park location is expected to go before the council at their February 1 meeting.
Pictured: The entrance sign at Anthony Pleasant Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Trend Downward
January 28, 2021
After setting a pandemic record of 291 two weeks ago, current hospitalizations in Escambia County have trended downward.
There were 200 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Wednesday.
“It’s important that we continue to work together to bring these numbers down for our community and for our hospitals,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please be vigilant and take preventive actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often. Remember, the City of Pensacola still has an ordinance in place that requires face coverings to be worn while inside businesses within city limits.”
According to Escambia County, there were 16 adult ICU beds available in Escambia County Wednesday night — none at Baptist, six at West Florida and 10 at Sacred Heart.
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data source: Escambia County, City of Pensacola. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of Man That Nearly Bit Off His Cousin’s Nose At Century Gas Station
January 28, 2021
The First District Court of Appeals on Wednesday unanimously upheld the conviction of a Pensacola man that nearly bit his cousin’s nose off at a Century gas station.
Anthony Darnell Powell, 33, was found guilty of aggravated battery causing bodily harm and carjacking by an Escambia County jury. He was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to three years in state prison.
On July 27, 2019, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Marathon gas station on North Century Boulevard at East Highway 4 to find a bloody man with his nose barely hanging on by a piece of skin, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim told deputies that he had agreed to drive Powell, his cousin, to Castleberry, Alabama, for $20 in gas money. They stopped in Century for gas, and the victim asked for the cash.
Powell yelled at his cousin and accused him of trying to kill him. The men fought for the car, with Powell biting the victim’s hand and almost biting his nose off. The victim back off, and Powell sped away with the car and his cousin’s cellphone, according to court records.
Powell is scheduled for release from state prison in July 2022.
Florida Lottery Has Highest Sales Week On Record
January 28, 2021
With over $1.7 billion up for grabs last week in the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings, the Florida Lottery reported record tickets sales of $239.8 million.
That, according to the Florida Lottery, generated an estimated $64.6 million in contributions to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
“We are extremely excited and grateful to our loyal players for this unprecedented sales record,” said Florida Lottery Secretary John F. Davis. “This record sales week translates into more prizes for players, higher commissions for Lottery retailers, and best of all, more revenues to enhance education in our great state.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Register For Virtual 2021 Panhandle Row Crops Update Series
January 28, 2021
The annual spring UF/IFAS Extension Panhandle Row Crop meetings are moving to a virtual format for 2021.
To update growers with current research findings and provide pesticide safety CEUs to licensed applicators, the Panhandle Ag Team will offer a four-session virtual series to replace traditional regional meetings this year. Each meeting will be provided at no cost to participants and will have a specific focus: cotton, peanut, soybeans/corn, or precision agriculture.
To learn more about the programs and registration, click or tap here.
No Injuries When Driver Rear-Ends Bus With 20 Students On Board
January 28, 2021
There were no injuries when an Escambia County school bus with 20 students on board was rear-ended on Davis Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 26-year old man in a Honda Civic rear-ended the bus on Davis Highway at Airport Boulevard. The school bus was transporting 20 students to Workman Middle School at the time of the collision.
There were no injuries.
Developers Make $16 Million Unsolicited Offer For OLF-8 Property
January 27, 2021
Developers have once again made an unsolicited offer for the county-owned property on Nine Mile Road in Beulah known as OLF-8.
Hemmer Consulting of Pensacola, and 68 Ventures of Spanish Fort, made the $16 million offer Tuesday to purchase about 400 acres for $40,000 cash per acre. Escambia County would retain about 130 of the 530 total acres for roads, government buildings, parks, schools and a dedicated commerce or business park.
The developers will, according to their proposal, follow design aspects guidelines set forth in a master plan once it is approved by the Escambia County Commission. DPZ Codesign has developed four master plan concepts for OLF-8 (click or tap here to see the plans in detail). The county commission has finalized a master plan.
If the sale were to take place, the Hemmer and 68 Ventures will construct a main boulevard from Nine Mile Road to the property retained by the county, and the county would be required to continue the roadway to Frank Reeder Road.
Hemmer Consulting and 68 Ventures also made an $18 million unsolicited offer for the full 530 acres in early 2019. At that time, County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners that they would be legally obligated to declare the property surplus and sell it to the highest bidder, rather than accepting an unsolicited offer.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 helicopter field in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County at a total cost of about $18 million. A portion of the property was previously sold to Navy Federal to expand their campus.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Launching After-School Tutoring Program (With Free Snacks)
January 27, 2021
Ernest Ward Middle School is launching a new after-school tutoring program for students that comes with free snacks.
The middle school in Walnut Hill is offering the program to 80 selected students per week on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. The selected students have received a letter indicating the day or days of the week and subject area or areas (math, science, language arts or civics) in which they are eligible for tutoring.
“Ernest Ward Middle School students have been presented with an awesome opportunity,” said Principal Nancy Perry. “Our district is funding a tutoring program at EWMS beginning next week through March 26.”
Parents or guardians must provide transportation home; bus transportation will not be available.
The tutoring sessions will not be for regular homework. They will be true tutoring sessions delivered by teachers based upon student need as indicated by their assessment data, according to the district.
Nutritious snacks will be provided through a USDA program at no charge to students taking part in the tutoring sessions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Places In District Girls Weightlifting Meet; Six Headed To Regionals
January 27, 2021
The Tate High School Girls Weightlifting Team placed fourth in the recent District 1-3A meet.
The following Tate athletes qualified for the regional meet:
DISTRICT 1-3A
129 Pound Class
- Melanie Brown
139 Pound Class
- Haleigh Sluder
169 Pound Class
- Aaliyah Jordan
183 Pound Class
- Riley Williamson
199 Pound Class
- Morgan Warrington
Unlimited Pound Class
- Kayla Bennett
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
