Volunteer Wanted West Florida Public Library Board of Governance
December 30, 2020
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance.
The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and making recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services.
West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4-6:30 p.m.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Friday, January 29. Resumes should be submitted to Todd J. Humble, Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL, 32502 or by email to tjhumble@mywfpl.com.
Resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
10th Fire Means Another Red Bulb On Escambia Fire Safety Wreath
December 30, 2020
Escambia County Fire Rescue has placed an additional red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign wreath to represent a fire on Madison Drive. That marks a total of 10 residential fires in December 2020.
ECFR arrived to find working kitchen fire about 11 p.m. Monday. There were no injuries, but one resident was displaced due to the damage.
The resident reported that the oven was left on and a pan of grease on the oven vent caught fire.
Smoke alarms were present, but did not work. If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
File photo.
Inmate Airlifted To The Hospital After Being Stabbed At Century Prison
December 29, 2020
An inmate was stabbed Tuesday morning at Century Correctional Institution.
It happened at the Tedder Road prison about 6:30 a.m.
The inmate was flown by medical helicopter to an area hospital.
The Florida Department of Corrections has not confirmed the identity of the victim or the extent of his injuries.
Two Century Correctional inmates were stabbed earlier this month. Both were transported by ambulance to area hospital after the inmate-on-inmate incident on December 5.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Motorcyclists Killed In Escambia County Crash
December 29, 2020
Two motorcyclists were killed Monday night in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 29-year old local woman was traveling west on Highway 98 in a SUV and turned left onto Fairfield Drive.
Two approaching motorcycles crashed into the SUV. The motorcycle riders — an 18-year old male from Cantonment and a 30-year old male from Pensacola — were both pronounced deceased at the scene. The SUV driver was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Multiple witnesses told the FHP that the motorcycles were traveling at a high rate of speed above the posted speed limit.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a FHP traffic homicide investigation. The FHP no longer releases the names of crash victims.
Deadline Is Thursday For Discount On Real Estate, Tangible Property Taxes
December 29, 2020
The three percent discount for payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends at midnight Thursday, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
To receive the three percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight December 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a December postmark;
- left by midnight, December 31, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online, check the status of your taxes or print a receipt 24 hours a day, as well as other tax collector services.
Customers who decide to visit one of our four convenient offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com and manage their time their way. Citizens select an office location and type of service, receive a message with approximate service time and then continue their regular activities until the service time approaches.
Pensacola’s Mardi Gras Celebration Postponed Until May
December 29, 2020
Pensacola’s 2021 Mardi Gras celebration as been postponed until May.
The 2021 Season Kick-Off Celebration and Blessing of the Krewe Fleets event previously scheduled on January 8 will no take place in May and will kick-off an even larger Pensacola “Carnivale Celebration”.
“We want to have the best Mardi Gras experience for our wonderful Krewes of Pensacola, in the safest way possible for the entire community,” said Danny Zimmern, president of Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc. “This year, that is just going to look a little different from the experience we all know and love, as we celebrate together in Carnivale”
The decision to postpone derived from many long and detailed conversations between Pensacola Mardi Gras, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson and city staff with focus centered on public health. Due to the current rising number of virus cases, the team members of Pensacola Mardi Gras and the city staff agreed that postponing the event was the most responsible course of action.
“The spike in hospitalizations makes a postponement of celebrations logical” said Robinson. “At city hall, we recognize how important the community of our great Krewes is, and we want to celebrate all together. We look forward to gathering after this pause, outside and being socially responsible at Roger Scott, and in the historic streets of downtown.”
The one-time, unique 2021 Carnivale Celebration will begin in May and is set to include a Kick-Off celebration to ignite the experience, as well as a Grand Parade, and a few other unique and exciting experiences inspired by the local krewes, and will lead into Pensacola’s celebration of its history, Fiesta. The Grand Fiesta Parade will be on Friday June 4, 2021.
Registration Underway For Molino Ballpark And Northwest Escambia Spring Seasons
December 29, 2020
Registration is underway at Northwest Escambia and Molino Ballpark for the spring 2021 seasons.
Northwest Escambia
Registration for Northwest Escambia is open until January 31 at NWEbaseball.com. Player assessments are February 1-2. Opening day is March 27 at Bradberry Park.
Molino Ballpark
Registration will continue for Molino Ballpark until January 31. The draft is February 4-5. Practices will being February 8, and opening day in March 6. To register, visit MolinoBallPark.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Attorney General Warns Of Scams Tied To Stimulus Money
December 29, 2020
Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians about the potential for a new round of scams related to stimulus payments as another round of economic relief is approved.
To highlight these scams and provide resources for Floridians to share with loved ones, especially seniors, Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance program just released two new downloadable brochures detailing information about how to spot common stimulus scams to stop fraud in its tracks. The brochure is printable and available in both English and Spanish.
The easy to read consumer awareness materials also provide tips on how to spot and avoid fraud. Common signs of scams related to stimulus payments include:
- Unsolicited calls or emails, especially if caller ID displays IRS or email message appears to be from a government entity. Spoofing technology allows scammers to change the caller ID display and scammers regularly change email addresses to impersonate government officials;
- High-pressure tactics or too-good-to-be-true offers;
- Threats of loss if immediate action is not taken; and
- Requests for immediate payment by wire transfer, credit, prepaid debit, or gift cards to expedite stimulus payment or other benefit.
To view the stimulus payments scams brochure in English, click here.
To view the stimulus payments scams brochure in Spanish, click here.
New Details Released In Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
December 28, 2020
We’re learning more details about the murder of a former Molino fire chief early Saturday morning and what led up to the shooting.
Gary Diamond was pronounced deceased from multiple gunshot wounds outside his home in the 400 block of Molino Road shortly after 3:30 a.m.
The suspect, 30-year old Jared Cordel Clakley, is charged with second degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find a Diamond with bullet wounds to his abdomen and neck. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Three witnesses told deputies that Clakley fired four or five shots at Diamond before fleeing in his vehicle. Deputies found the vehicle wrecked near Highway 95A and Molino Road, but Clakley had fled. A K-9 unit was deployed to track him down. He was later located at a family member’s home off of Holsberry Place.
Diamond’s daughter, who has children with Clakley, told investigators she stopped at the Homestead Lounge with her female friend. She noticed Clakley sitting at the bar with his father, and she went over to say hello. He became angry that she was the bar and not home with their kids, and a heated argument followed, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Clakley was asked to leave the bar.
The daughter said she began to receive threatening phone calls from Clakley, and he soon arrived at the family home on Molino Road. He remained in his car and began to argue with her, her mother and another relative. Diamond approached the car and an altercation with Clakley occurred through the car window.
Related Story: Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
In the middle of the altercation, Clakley put the vehicle in reverse and backed down the driveway with Diamond hanging from the driver’s window, the report states. The vehicle struck a tree. The daughter ran to the car and pulled Diamond away before Clakley’s vehicle struck the mother.
Investigators said Diamond ran to the car and began pulling Clakley out of the vehicle, at which time Clakley fired several rounds. Diamond fell to the ground.
One of the victims recorded the entire incident on her phone. According to deputies, the video corroborated the statements of all three witnesses.
Clakley’s statements to investigators were redacted from the arrest report.
Clakley is being held without bond. His next court appearance is set for January 15.
Pictured: The scene of an early Saturday morning murder in the 400 block of Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Crash Involves Truck Loaded With Propane Tanks
December 28, 2020
There were no serious injuries reported in a Sunday night wreck in Molino involving a passenger vehicle and a truck loaded with propane tanks.
It happened about 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. Southbound Highway 29 was temporarily closed by the crash.
None of the propane tanks were compromised.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
