Escambia District Extends School Choice Application Deadline
December 3, 2020
The Escambia County School District has extended the school choice enrollment window for the next school year.
“We will continue to accept applications through Dec. 11th. Families need to know that we will be unable to accept any application after the new deadline,” said Chris McFarland, ECSD’s coordinator of Student Assignment, Home Education and Student Records. “This application period is for middle and high schools only, the elementary application window will open Jan. 25th.”
For families who are still reaching a decision, a recording of this year’s virtual School Choice Expo is still available. The virtual live event can be found on the district’s website. Scroll down to find the logos for each ECSD middle and high school and open a list of all of the academies at each school.
For more information, contact the ECSD School Choice Office at schoolchoice@ecsdfl.us, call (850) 469-5580, or visit their office located in the J.E. Hall Center at 30 East Texar Drive in Pensacola. The office is open weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pictured: The recent Escambia County School District’s School Choice Expo.
No Serious Injuries In Molino Wreck; One Vehicle Grazed Building
December 2, 2020
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash late Wednesday afternoon in Molino.
The collision occurred at Highway 29 and Molino Road about 4:30 p.m. One of the vehicles then grazed an unoccupied building near the southeast corner of the intersection.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Monday’s Century Triple Shooting Homicide Suspect Was Recently Released From Prison For 2015 Manslaughter
December 2, 2020
A Century triple shooting homicide suspect arrested Tuesday night was just released from prison after serving time for a 2015 shooting death.
Jaran Britt Myles, 26, is charged with first degree homicide, home invasion robbery, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is accused in the shooting of three people Monday night in Century, one of which died at the scene on Alger Road.
Myles was released from state prison in March after completing a sentence for a January 2015 shooting in Century. He was to remain on felony probation until 2026, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
At age 21, Myles pleaded no contest and was sentenced to prison for manslaughter with a firearm for the January 31, 2015, shooting death of 20-year old Jonathan Ray Wilson on Backwoods Road in Century.
In 2015, a witness told deputies that “Run Run”, later identified as Myles, pulled out a gun and asked him if he was scared of it before taking the magazine out of the weapon and pointing it him. Myles then pulled the trigger of the gun, without the magazine, but it “dry fired”, he said.
The witness said Myles then pointed the gun to Wilson’s head after loading the magazine back into the gun. Wilson then adjusted the height of the gun to his head, “correcting the placement of the gun pointed at him”. The witness said when Wilson let go of the gun, Myles pulled the trigger and shot Wilson in the head.
As a high school sophomore, Myles was a member of the 2012 state champion Northview High School football team and was named “Mr. Versatile” during a team awards banquet.
Pictured: The scene of a January 31, 2015, fatal shooting on Backwoods Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Five Arrested In CARES Act Fraud Case, Including Man That Bought A Corvette
December 2, 2020
Five people have been arrested for their alleged involved in CARES Act fraud, including on the purchase a Corvette.
Antonio Slocum Jr., Megan Slocum, Ari’obasi Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, and Elijah Simmons were all charged with grand theft and scheme to defraud. Daniel Cole was also arrested for unrelated drug charges.
On Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office served seven search warrants throughout Escambia County involving CARES Act fraud. Five suspects were arrested for stealing victims’ identities and information to obtain CARES Act loans and defrauding financial institutions if amounts from $4,000 to $70,000.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We anticipate many more days of investigation and many more arrests. It is infuriating that the money intended to help those in need was used and fraudulently obtained in this manner,” said Chief Deputy Chip Simmons.
According to investigators, the suspects would apply and receives CARES Act loans and open accounts at financial institutions including Navy Federal with the intent to scheme and defraud. Jenkins allegedly used stolen funds to purchase a 2017 Corvette.
While serving the search warrants, the ECSO seized 50 fraudulent bank cards, nine firearms, and over 600 other pieces of evidence.
The investigation was conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, ATF, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, Pensacola Police Department, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Corrections, and US Postal Inspector . The Navy Federal Credit Union security team also assisted.
Rachel Venable Named Molino Park Elementary Teacher Of The Year
December 2, 2020
Rachel Venable has been named the Teacher of the Year at Molino Park Elementary School. She currently teaches language arts and social studies to students in the fourth grade. Venable has been at Molino Park since 2007. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDLE Confirms Escambia County Administrator’s Office Was Bugged Illegally
December 2, 2020
Authorities have confirmed that an illegal listening device – commonly called a bug — was found in the office of Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley.
Gilley said she requested that her office be swept for a bugs after details of a private conversation were leaked to the public. The device, which had both audio and video capabilities, was discovered during the summer. The entire fourth floor of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building was swept, but no other devices were located. The offices of the county attorney and the five county commissioners are located on the floor.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that the bug was found, and that they launched an investigation on August 1. That investigation was closed September 30 due to a lack of further information.
Former Escambia Virtual Academy Administrator Charged With Sexual Assault Of Teen
December 1, 2020
A former Escambia Virtual Academy administrator has been charged with sexual battery of an underage girl over a period of several years.
Jeremy Shane Lowery, 46, was charged with one first degree felony count of sexually battery against a victim between 12 and 16 years of age by an adult in a familial or custodial authority. He was released from the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon on a $10,000 bond.
None of the abuse was reported to be directly related to his employment at the school program.
Lowery allegedly molested the girl beginning when she was 13-years old, between January 2013 and January 2017. The victim told investigators that the molestation started with inappropriate touching and progressed over time to sexual intercourse, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
He would buy the girl items she needed or wanted and tell her that she owed him, the report continues, and he would also pay her for inappropriate pictures.
In June 2020, he again told her that she owed him for something and she was supposed to “pay him back” by engaging with him sexually, the ECSO said. She told deputies she decided to report the incident because Lowery was attempting to move away to avoid an investigation.
When she was 13 or 14 years old, the girl was sending nude photographs to someone that she had engaged in an online relationship, but she found those photographs on Lowery’s phone while helping him officiate a sporting event, the report indicates. Lower yadmitted to her that he had been looking at the nude photographs she had been sending someone else, the ECSO said.
The victim told investigators that the situation continued after she turned 18 and moved to college. She said Lowery would send her a list of things to due in lewd photos, send her money for sex or nude photos, and go to her house for sex.
Lowery met an investigator at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. According to the report, he stated that he did not have his phone with him, but deputies found it in the trunk of his vehicle. Exterior cameras at the Sheriff’s Office showed Lowery walk toward the front door, check his pockets, return to his vehicle and place something in the trunk.
“It is reasonable to believe Lowery lied about forgetting his cellphone at a friend’s house to conceal the phone from law enforcement,” the investigator wrote.
The ECSO obtained a search warrant for the phone, finding searches for “delete Instagram account”, deleted snapchat, and “how to cancel facebook” that were made the day after the victim contact law enforcement. The victim identified herself in a nude photograph found on the phone, but it was taken after she was legal age, the report states.
Search warrants were listed as pending on additional digital devices.
Lowery made numerous statements to law enforcement, but they were redacted from the arrest report.
Lowery worked for several as an administrator for the Escambia County School District at the Escambia Virtual Academy.
In 2019, Lowery’s Florida educator certification was suspended by the state for three years as part of a settlement agreement. He was accused of making approximately 1,380 entries to 121 student records in the Escambia Virtual School summer program, modifying or entering 995 specific grades during July 2017, according to Florida Department of Education documents.
Using A Space Heater? Here Are Quick Tips To Be Safe
December 1, 2020
Escambia County Fire Rescue is encouraging residents to practice space heater safety and know the potential risks associated with home heating equipment.
Home fires occur more in the winter months than any other time of year. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths and space heaters account for four out of five home heating fire deaths.
“As cold air rushes into our area, space heaters and fire places will be used. Most heating fires can be prevented from happening by following simple tips,” said Ray Melton, Escambia County Fire Rescue fire and life safety specialist. “ECFR wants to remind our citizens that space heaters, furnaces and fire places should all be checked prior to use. Last year during a cold period, ECFR responded to several chimney fires that displaced residents.”
Follow these tips to stay safe while heating your home:
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 ft. away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
- Portable space heaters should be turned OFF every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
- Never plug a space heater in a power strip.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
For portable electric heaters:
- Place them on a solid, flat surface, away from high traffic areas and doorways.
- Use and purchase heaters with an automatic shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.
- Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
- Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections; replace before using.
Heating Fire Facts:
- Most home heating fire deaths (86%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.
- The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (27%) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
- The leading factor contributing to ignition for home heating fire deaths (54%) was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.
- Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.
For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call (850) 595-HERO (4376). City of Pensacola residents may call (850) 436-5200 for smoke detector installation assistance.
Chase Ends With Suspect Dead After Officer Involved Shooting
November 30, 2020
A wanted felon was killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday afternoon in Pensacola.
It happened near the intersection of Ninth and Langley avenues after a vehicle pursuit after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a request from a bail bondsman for assistance in arresting someone with several local felony warrants, according to Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Deputies began to pursue the suspect in the area of 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard, near Target.
“The suspect exited the vehicle with a firearm in his hand, ran toward the small business area over there with our officers in foot pursuit,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said at the scene. “He turned with a weapon in his hands toward the officers. That’s when gunfire was exchanged, and the individual is deceased.” The suspect was shot just outside a small business called the Pensacola Ballroom, which was damaged in the shooting
There were no injuries to officers or the general public in the pursuit or in the shooting.
ECSO Chief Deputy Chip Simmons he could not release the name of the suspect at this time, but said the man had a “slew of felony warrants to include robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault”. Simmons said three deputies fired their weapons.
The Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol assisted.
“They attempted two different PIT maneuvers, which is a maneuver where you attempt to hit the rear of the vehicle to spin them around to get the vehicle to stop. Both of those failed,” the sheriff stated.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is standard procedure in any officer involved shooting.
Ascend Developing Restart Plan After Power Failure Leads To Complete Shutdown, Chemical Releases
November 30, 2020
Ascend Performance Materials is currently working on a plan to restart production at their Gonzalez plant following a weekend power failure that led to chemical releases.
At 11:50 p.m. Friday, the power failed at the plant on Old Chemstrand Road, leading to an anhydrous ammonia release that last three hours and the release of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide that lasted for 33 hours.
“Although this is an unfortunate event that was out of our control, we are thankful to report that there were no injuries and no risk to our employees or the surrounding community,” Ascend’s Vice President Global Communications & External Affairs Alison Jahn told NorthEscambia.com.
On Monday, the company was working on a plan to restart production.
“The power outage on Friday evening was a site-wide outage caused by a failure of both the primary and back-up electricity supply systems from Ascend’s external utility supplier, Gulf Power. The outage resulted in a complete shutdown of the facility. Some aspects of our production require a phased restart; at this point we’re putting together a timeline but don’t have any additional information to share,” Jahn said. “We are currently assessing the status of our assets and are developing our restart plan.”
The power failure led to the release of 692 pounds of nitric oxide and 2,408 pounds of nitrogen dioxide from a thermal reduction unit, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The leak was stopped at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, according to FDEP.
Ascend reported that a total of 61.275 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was released, less than the 100 pounds that the company was required to report.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.